A leisurely life starting in a bar after being reborn

The arrival gate of Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport is bustling with people.

Xu Wenshu stood in the crowd of people welcoming guests, wearing a camel-colored cashmere coat with a scarf casually draped over her shoulders, scrolling through messages on her phone. Around her were people holding signs—some welcoming foreign guests, some welcoming tour groups, and a few young girls holding banners with their idols' names, chattering excitedly.

A young man wearing glasses stood next to her; he was also there to pick someone up and couldn't help but steal glances at her several times.

Xu Wenshu has a very pleasing appearance; she's not the kind of person who's stunning at first glance, but the more you look at her, the more charming she becomes. Her eyebrows and eyes are sharp, her jawline is well-defined, and she exudes an aura of "I don't waste words" just by standing there.

She's a financial news anchor on CCTV-2, usually dressed in a suit and tie in the studio, spouting off about "macroeconomics" and "capital markets." But today, she deliberately didn't wear makeup, just lipstick, and her hair was down, making her look completely different from usual.

Unfortunately, the person I'm meeting today isn't someone I can be too formal with.

My phone vibrated.

"We've landed and are waiting for our luggage."

Xu Wenshu's lips twitched, and she replied with a single word: "Mm."

Then I deleted it and typed it again: "Received."

After sending it, I felt it was too abrupt, so I thought about it and added a message: "It's cold outside, don't dawdle."

The other end replied instantly: "Yes, sir, Master Xu will preside."

Xu Wenshu rolled her eyes and stuffed her phone back into her pocket.

She had known Fu Yan for three years. Back then, she was still working at the US bureau, and the station sent her to Silicon Valley to do a special report on internet entrepreneurship. She interviewed a bunch of big names, and Fu Yan was the last one.

Despite being called a "big shot," Fu Yan was only twenty-eight at the time, having just finished his postgraduate studies less than two years prior. However, he was five years older than Xu Wenshu, who was only twenty-three at the time and had just graduated from the Communication University of China before being assigned to the US-based correspondent station.

The interview was arranged at a coffee shop, and Fu Yan arrived wearing a hoodie and flip-flops. Xu Wenshu thought to herself, "Is this guy trying to be funny?"

As soon as they started talking, Xu Wenshu realized she was wrong.

This person's understanding of business logic and judgment of the financial market are completely unlike those of a young man in his early twenties. He talks about internet trends, capital flows, and the US economic bubble, and every point he makes is so accurate that it sends chills down your spine.

After that episode aired, it achieved a record high viewership rating on CCTV's financial channel for the year.

But Fu Yan himself didn't read it at all.

"It aired?" he asked later on the phone. "And how did it go?"

"Number one in annual viewership."

"Oh." Fu Yan's tone was as casual as if she'd just heard the weather was nice. "Then contact me again next time you need an interview, I'll give you a discount."

"You're charging me?"

"Just kidding."

After that, the two kept in touch intermittently. Sometimes they would talk about the market, and sometimes they would chat about trivial matters. Xu Wenshu found that Fu Yan was frighteningly clear-headed when he was talking about serious matters, but outrageously casual when he wasn't.

For example, he might suddenly message you asking, "What do you think people should do after they've made enough money?"

Xu Wenshu replied earnestly, "Make investments, do charity, or do something meaningful."

Fu Yan replied with two words: "Boring."

For example, he might post a photo of the San Francisco skyline at 3 a.m., with the caption: "The skyline here, after seeing it so many times, it's all the same."

Xu Wenshu thought at the time that this person was probably rich.

But despite her words, she knew in her heart that Fu Yan wasn't the kind of person who flaunted his wealth. He didn't even have social media accounts; he was well-known in the Chinese community in Silicon Valley, but almost impossible to find any information about him in China.

When her colleagues at the station occasionally asked about her interviewee in Silicon Valley, Hsu Wen-shu would only say, "A friend, someone who works in the internet industry."

Nobody knew that this "friend" was worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

-

The glass doors at the arrival gate opened again, and a stream of people poured out.

Xu Wenshu glanced around and quickly spotted Fu Yan.

He wore a long, dark gray coat over a black turtleneck sweater. He was very tall and easily recognizable in a crowd. He was dragging a suitcase, one hand in his pocket, walking at a leisurely pace, looking more like a tourist than someone who had just flown for over ten hours.

Fu Yan also saw her, paused for a moment, and then smiled.

That kind of smile wasn't just polite; it was the kind of smile you only have when you see an old friend—a smile of relief.

"Master Xu," he said, walking up to her. "It's been three years since we last met, and you've become even more beautiful."

"Stop being so pious." Xu Wenshu glanced at him. "You've lost weight."

"American food is not good."

"Aren't you in Silicon Valley? There are Chinese restaurants everywhere."

"My homemade food doesn't taste good."

"You can cook?"

Does instant noodles count?

The two looked at each other for a second, then smiled simultaneously.

Fu Yan opened his arms, and Xu Wenshu didn't hesitate to step forward and hug him.

It's that kind of natural, polite hug between friends. A pat on the shoulder, let go, and that's it.

But this scene happened to be seen by someone not far away.

"Wen Shu?"

A woman's voice came from the side.

Xu Wenshu turned her head and was stunned for a moment: "Sister Zhou? What are you doing here?"

The newcomer was Zhou Lihua, the deputy director of the station's news center. She was in her forties and usually didn't smile much, but she was all smiles at this moment. Her gaze swept over Fu Yan and then returned to Xu Wenshu's face.

"Just landed from my business trip," Zhou Lihua said, then looked at Fu Yan, "This is...?"

Just as Xu Wenshu was about to introduce them, Fu Yan had already reached out his hand.

"Hello, my name is Fu Yan, and I'm Wen Shu's friend."

"Fu Yan?" Zhou Lihua shook hands. "A good name. Friend..." She emphasized the word "friend" meaningfully.

Xu Wenshu didn't catch the implication and asked with a smile, "Sister Zhou, where are you going on a business trip?"

"A news seminar in Chengdu." Zhou Lihua glanced at Fu Yan again. "You guys get back to work, I'll be going now."

After saying that, he turned and left, but after taking a few steps, he looked back one last time.

Fu Yan whispered, "Your colleague?"

"The station's leaders." Xu Wenshu didn't take it seriously. "Let's go, I'll take you to the hotel first."

"You're leaving already? Aren't you going to treat me to a meal?"

"You've been flying for over ten hours, aren't you tired?"

"Not tired." Fu Yan pushed his suitcase in front of her. "The best way to adjust to the time difference is to keep yourself busy. Come on, let's go eat at Houhai first."

How did you know about Houhai as soon as you arrived?

"I did my research before I came."

"You're a billionaire, and the main thing you're doing your homework on is eating?"

"Food is the most important thing for people."

Xu Wenshu shook her head helplessly and led him outside.

A cold wind blew in from outside the airport, and Fu Yan shrank his neck.

"The wind in Yanjing is harsher than in San Francisco."

"This is nothing, try it in December." Xu Wenshu wrapped her coat tighter. "The car's parked outside, hurry up."

Fu Yan followed, the wheels of his suitcase making rhythmic sounds as they rolled on the ground.

He glanced back at the terminal lights and took a deep breath of the dry, cold air of Yanjing.

came back.

This time, I'm not leaving.

-

At that moment, Zhou Lihua, sitting in the back seat of the taxi, had already taken out her phone.

She texted a colleague at the news center: "Guess who I just saw at the airport?"

"who?"

"Xu Wenshu." Zhou Lihua typed quickly, "She picked up a man and even hugged him."

The reply came instantly: "!!! Wen Shu has a boyfriend???"

"I'd say it's probably him," Zhou Lihua sent a meaningful emoji. "He looks quite energetic, tall, and well-dressed."

"Oh my god, she always said she didn't want to be in a relationship..."

Zhou Lihua smiled, put down her phone, and looked out the car window at the scenery rushing past.

She's not one to gossip, but in her workplace, this kind of thing spreads faster than a press release.

Xu Wenshu probably doesn't know that when she goes to work tomorrow, the news that she "has a boyfriend" might be even more popular than the show she hosts.