Chapter 22: An Unexpected Encounter

  The next day, after breakfast, Cong Ye didn't go out to find odd jobs as he usually did. Yan Qing Cheng didn't ask much either. After cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks, she changed into a purple suit, casually draping a light yellow scarf over her shoulder, and swapped her leather sandals for a pair of grey and white sneakers. Her white socks just covered her ankles.

  "Cong Ye, if you're free today, would you like to accompany your sister-in-law to see the sea?"

  "See the sea? I've never seen it from childhood to adulthood. It was just that day when I went to the dock to work, and took a quick glance."

  "Haven't you ever seen the sea?"

  Congye nodded. However, Congye did not immediately agree with Yan Qingcheng. Just now seeing her dressed so neatly and suddenly saying she wanted to go see the sea, Congye secretly suspected that his sister-in-law must have had another purpose and it was impossible that she just wanted to see the sea.

  "Sister-in-law, is there anything else you need to do?"

  Yan Qingcheng understood the implication behind Cong Ye's words, which was actually a question to himself, whether having her by his side would have any impact. Yan Qingcheng didn't expect Cong Ye's thoughts to be so meticulous, and immediately smiled and said:

  "There's nothing much, just going to take a look at the sea. Every year on this day, I have to go to the seaside and take a walk. Let's go, you can also take a rest today, money isn't something that can be earned in one day, and we should also pay attention to balancing work and rest."

  Yan Qingcheng's words had reached this point, and Cong Ye couldn't decline even if he guessed that there was another purpose. Originally, he didn't plan to go find work today, intending to take a break for two days and carefully think about how to deal with Yu Xiaopeng's secret calculations. He couldn't just passively suffer, having worked hard for so many days, earning only over a thousand yuan, but because of Yu Xiaopeng's small calculation, he not only almost got accused of burglary, but also lost five thousand yuan. If it went on like this, it would be better to do nothing at all.

  Congye didn't go back to his room to change clothes, the few pieces of clothing he had were all bought a year ago. Apart from that, there were only two old military uniforms. Congye was still wearing the short-sleeved shirt and brown casual pants he usually wore when doing odd jobs.

  The two walked shoulder to shoulder out of Rizhao Lane and arrived at the bus stop. Since Cong Ye was not familiar with the roads in Guanhai City, he simply followed Yan Qingcheng's arrangements.

  It's interesting to note that until I graduated from college, I had never seen the sea.

  Always dreamed of going to the seaside to take a look, didn't expect that at graduation, I was actually assigned to work by the sea.

  "What was your first impression when you saw the sea for the first time?"

  "How to say it? It's not as exciting as the books describe. The sea gives people a sense of tolerance, a feeling of grandeur. Standing by the sea, even the most restless heart will calm down."

  Get on the bus at the station, to the sightseeing dock of Guanhai City, it's just over ten minutes. The two got off the bus and walked slowly onto the beach. At this time, Congye saw a hint of sadness, a hint of nostalgia, and even a hint of sorrow on Yan Qingcheng's face. Not knowing what his sister was thinking, Congye couldn't comfort her with words, so he just followed silently.

  The wind blowing over the sea in late autumn seems to be slightly warmer than the temperature on land. The faint smell of blood mixed in it is not very pleasant for Congye. This day was a calm and peaceful day, the surface of the sea under the sunlight was like a piece of light blue silk, with slight wrinkles in the gentle breeze. The birds flying in the sky, Congye couldn't tell whether they were seagulls, sea swallows, or other seabirds. Unfamiliar with the habits of fishermen going out early and returning late, Congye felt somewhat puzzled that there was almost no shadow of fishing boats on the sea.

  "Thicket of leaves."

  When he heard Yan Qingcheng's cry, Cong Ye withdrew his gaze that had been fixed on the distant sea.

  "Today is the day I marry Xiao Zhi."

  "Sister-in-law."

  Upon hearing this sentence, Cong Ye didn't know how to comfort his sister-in-law who was both beautiful and sorrowful in front of him.

  "We took our wedding photos here on the day we got married. Since then, no matter if Xiao Zhi is around or not, every year on this day, I will come here to take a walk and have a look."

  Unable to find suitable words to comfort Yan Qingcheng, Cong Ye could only choose to be a faithful listener.

  "It's already our sixth wedding anniversary, time sometimes feels like it's passing slowly, and sometimes it's fast to the point of being a little frightening."

  "Overturning the city."

  Just as Yan Qingcheng was lost in thought about past events, Cong Ye was also deeply affected by her emotional changes when they were suddenly interrupted by a loud shout from behind. The two of them turned around at the same time and were both stunned on the spot. Standing behind them was none other than Yu Xiaopeng and that woman who looked seven-tenths like Yan Qingcheng.

  "Enchanting city, it's been many years since we last met, you're still as beautiful and captivating."

  Can't help but say that Yu Xiaopeng with a bright smile on his face and a slightly magnetic voice has an extremely infectious power over any woman.

  "Oh, it's Director Yu, what a coincidence."

  At this point, Yan Qingcheng couldn't help but respond, especially since Yu Xiaopeng had shown complete gentlemanly demeanor.

  Yan Qingcheng had already sensed the sharp gaze of the woman beside Yu Xiaopeng, but Yan Qingcheng didn't even glance at her with the corner of his eye. At this time, Yu Xiaopeng took another step towards him, and Yan Qingcheng subconsciously leaned half a step towards Cong Ye beside him.

  Yu Xiaopeng stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at Cong Ye, still with a smile on his face.

  Cong Ye Ba? Yu Xiao Peng.

  Yu Xiaopeng surprisingly stretched out his hand to Cong Ye, Cong Ye hesitated for a moment, also stretched out his hand, and lightly shook hands with Yu Xiaopeng.

  "Lin Li, come and meet her. This is Yan Qingcheng, the most beautiful doctor in our Guanhai City."

  Yu Xiaopeng kept his eyes on Yan Qingcheng when introducing Lin Li, without even turning his head.

  "Yan Dafu, I've often heard Xiaopeng mention you. Every time he says your name, it's with such deep feeling."

  Lin Li walked over, her hands clasped together at her abdomen, gazing at Yan Qingcheng with a scrutinizing expression.

  "Hello."

  Whether it was Yu Xiao Peng's praise or Lin Li's obviously sour compliment, Yan Qing Cheng seemed to have not heard them at all, and only faintly greeted them.

  "Qing Cheng, we were just about to go play by the sea, if you don't have anything else going on, why don't you come with us?"

  "Thank you, General Yu, we still have things to attend to, so we won't disturb you any further, goodbye."

  Yan Qingcheng finished speaking, glanced at Cong Ye, and Cong Ye immediately nodded to Yu Xiaopeng, took a step forward, and left shoulder to shoulder with Yan Qingcheng.

  "Alright, we'll meet again someday."

  Yu Xiao Peng looked at Yan Qing Cheng and Cong Ye walking side by side into the distance, and said a sentence with deep meaning.

  Yan Qingcheng and Cong Ye heard Yu Xiaopeng's words coming from behind, but neither of them made any movement, continuing to walk forward in silence.

  It wasn't until they couldn't see Yu Xiaopeng and the other person's figures that Yan Qingcheng and Cong Ye slowed down.

  "Cong Ye, what do you want to eat for lunch today? Sister is treating."

  "Sister-in-law, let me treat this time, I'm a person with an income now."

  Neither of them was willing to mention Yu Xiaopeng, so they changed the subject to lunch.

  "Since you've never seen the ocean, I suppose you haven't really had seafood before?"

  "I haven't really eaten properly. When I was in the army, occasionally having fried belt fish or braised hairtail fish was already considered eating seafood."

  "Alright, let's go have seafood for lunch today. I know a small restaurant that's like a family-run place, it's fresh and affordable. Let's go there to eat."

  "Is it far?"

  "It's not close, let's walk for a while first, anyway there's still more than an hour before noon, and we can take the bus when we're tired."

  Looking at Yan Qingcheng, who had returned to normal, Cong Ye felt a little grateful for Yu Xiaopeng's sudden appearance. Otherwise, his sister would probably have difficulty getting out of her thoughts about him for a while.