Tomorrow Will Still Love You - Chapter 5

Ye Xicheng put down his phone and took his time finishing the soup, his movements unhurried.

Every so often, he glanced up at Pei Ning.

She kept her head lowered, focused on her bowl, but whenever she accidentally looked up and met his gaze,

her eyes darted away almost instantly.

When he finished, he set the empty bowl beside her hand.

Another bowl.

Pei Ning froze for a second.

He added lightly, Assistant Pei, if you please.

For a moment she wanted to refuse. But after a brief hesitation, she set down her chopsticks and filled his bowl again.

The business delegation’s flight arrived on time no delays. They had arranged to meet at three that afternoon,

right in their company’s conference room.

After lunch, Pei Ning went back to his office to finalize some details. Ye Xicheng was sitting on the sofa this time,

not behind his desk.

She handed him the updated files, neatly printed. He looked up and gestured toward the seat beside him. Sit.

This time, she didn’t repeat her usual six words No need, thank you, President Ye.

Instead, she said simply, It’s fine.

And remained standing.

Pei Ning had always been quietly stubborn. The only people she ever obeyed without question were Ye Xicheng’s parents.

Everyone else she never compromised for anyone.

In the end, it was Ye Xicheng who yielded. He understood what her refusal meant.

To her, he was now just a boss. Nothing more.

Her heels were only a few centimeters high not much by most standards but after standing all morning,

even that felt like punishment.

Sit down, he said again, pointing to the opposite chair.

All right. She finally complied.

The afternoon meeting went smoothly. It wasn’t just the two of them another vice president from the group also attended.

Pei Ning’s performance was calm and confident.

Ye Xicheng said nothing, but the vice president praised her openly.

Her negotiation skills were impressive, he said, and her French fluent and precise.

The vice president was in charge of hosting the foreign delegation that evening.

After a brief conversation with their French partners, Ye Xicheng left the conference room, and Pei Ning followed him out.

Once they were gone, another senior manager turned to the vice president, frowning.

Did I remember wrong? I thought President Ye spoke fluent French. Why’d he need a translator?

The vice president chuckled, lowering his voice.

That’s why we’ll never be presidents ourselves.

The other man blinked, half-understanding, half-lost.

The truth was, even the vice president wasn’t entirely sure.

If it was to give Pei Ning a chance to shine well, that hardly seemed necessary.

Everyone knew she was capable, and everyone also knew Ye Xicheng’s French was excellent.

If he truly wanted her to perform, it almost seemed too deliberate.

And deliberate wasn’t his style.

So why had he done it?

No one knew.

As they walked out of the meeting room, Pei Ning asked softly, President Ye, do you have any other plans?

Something you need to do? he asked, though he already knew.

Pei Ning met his eyes. Madam Ye invited me to dinner tonight.

My mother’s back?

Apparently, he hadn’t known.

Yes. She came home yesterday.

He nodded, as if filing the information away.

No other plans, he said. Then after a brief pause: But make sure to report everything clearly before you leave.

Pei Ning bit back a sigh.

All this… over a few letters.

In his office, Ye Xicheng poured himself a glass of water. When he turned around, two envelopes were sitting neatly on the desk.

Pei Ning’s gaze was fixed firmly on the ashtray beside his computer anywhere but him.

He took a slow sip of water, eyes flicking toward the letters.

One’s missing, he said calmly.

Pei Ning pressed her lips together.

He added, The one with the photo.

Her heart skipped. She still didn’t look at him.

He could tell from her silence that she had no intention of admitting anything.

Assistant Pei, he said, his tone even. You’ve only been back for one day and you’ve already taken my personal belongings.

Do I really need to remind you what your duties are?

Pei Ning’s voice came small, almost defensive. I’m sorry, President Ye.

He set down his cup. Is that how you treat your work with carelessness and excuses?

It’s personal, she said quietly. Those letters… are a private matter.

Are you sure it’s personal?

Their eyes met. She lasted a few seconds before looking away.

Silence. Admission.

Then I’ll treat it as personal, he said lightly.

The moment the words left his mouth, she knew she’d walked straight into whatever trap he’d set.

Your phone, he said.

What?

Give me your phone.

Why?

Borrowing it.

She hesitated, then unlocked it and handed it over. There was nothing to hide, after all.

He opened her photo gallery. Most of the pictures were from hiking trips—mountains, trails, sunlight filtering through trees.

He selected one of her recent photos and sent it to himself.

Once it showed up on his screen, he handed the phone back.

Now we’re even.

Pei Ning stared at the message thread, dumbfounded.

He looked at her, expression unreadable.

My phone already has plenty of old pictures of you. But fairness is fairness you owed me one, now we’re square.

And one more thing, he added, the letter you took was six pages long.

Six? She honestly didn’t remember. When she was in grade school, her letters were usually five pages.

Later ones she’d never counted.

By the end of this month, he said, you’ll give me a letter. Two thousand words.

She blinked. What?

A letter. Consider it repayment.

I’ll find the original and return it, she said quickly.

No need. Write a new one. End of the month.

He finished his water and left before she could argue.

President Ye  she called softly.

No negotiation, he said without turning back.

The door closed behind him.

Pei Ning exhaled slowly. This was her own doing, really.

Still, it wasn’t a total loss at least she’d gotten that old, awkward photo back.

After tidying the office, she locked up and headed out.

She thought Ye Xicheng had already left, but he was still waiting by the elevators, looking down at his phone.

He didn’t say anything when she approached, and she didn’t ask why he was waiting.

Once inside the elevator, she asked politely, President Ye, are you heading home?

Mm.

He didn’t even look up, still scrolling on his screen.

She said nothing more.

Hadn’t he told his cousin at lunch that he had plans tonight?

On his phone, Ye Xicheng quietly changed his wallpaper to the photo he’d just sent himself.

His previous one had also been of her but from years ago, when everything between them was still soft and unbroken.

Pei Ning assumed he was checking emails. She didn’t see what he was doing.

By the time they reached the lobby, he slipped his phone into his pocket.

In the car, silence settled again thick and familiar.

Pei Ning realized that the only time they ever got along effortlessly was when they were completely immersed in work. In that space, deadlines, negotiations they could almost forget.

But once business ended, all that remained between them was silence and something far more fragile than distance.

Six years ago, even though they’d lived in two different cities Beijing and Shanghai it had felt as if a

single step could bridge the space between them.

Now, sitting side by side, it felt like a galaxy apart.

At a red light, the driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror. Both stared out opposite windows, faces turned away.

The evening air was mild. The driver asked, President Ye, shall I open the windows? It’s a cool night.

Ye Xicheng nodded. Go ahead.

The air-conditioning clicked off. The windows slid down halfway.

A soft summer breeze slipped through, carrying the faint scent of rain.

Music played gentle, unhurried. The melody twined with the night wind, stirring something neither of them could name.

When they arrived at the Ye residence, both of his parents were home.

Pei Ning greeted them politely and stayed with Madam Ye in the living room, chatting. Ye Xicheng followed his father into the study.

The desk was piled high with documents, mostly on EFG’s proton exchange fuel cell project materials

Ye Xicheng had brought back from overseas.

His father flipped through them first, then handed him a cigarette.

Smoke?

He shook his head.

Quit?

No.

His father shrugged and lit one for himself.

So EFG’s deal Xihe Industries is confirmed to invest?

Yes.

His father frowned slightly. And what’s your take on it?

We’ll see how strong they are, Ye Xicheng replied evenly.

Xihe produced lithium batteries for smartphones and digital devices but had recently expanded into electric vehicles

direct competition with their group, Huaining.

This cooperation would be the perfect opportunity to size them up.

In the end, there were only two possible outcomes: either crush them, or absorb them.

He wouldn’t allow a rival like that to grow unchecked.

Good, said his father. Just be cautious. Xihe’s CEO isn’t easy to deal with. Know your enemy, and yourself.

After a pause, his father added, The Xiang family’s side is being handled by Xiang Yilin. If you’d rather avoid him,

have Assistant Wan take over.

No need, Ye Xicheng said flatly. I’m not that sentimental.

His father opened his mouth, thought better of it, and changed the subject.

Why was Assistant Wan attending an agricultural summit?

I’m starting a project of my own.

On your own? What kind of project?

Something new to me, he said mildly. You wouldn’t know it even if I explained.

Try me.

Community Supported Agriculture.

His father blinked. That’s it? I’ve heard of it started in Switzerland, right?

Yes.

Why the sudden interest? His father leaned back, exhaling smoke. That field doesn’t make much money. Not exactly promising.

Didn’t say I wanted to make money.

His father studied him for a long moment. Then he gave a low, humorless laugh.

You’ve really got time to waste, huh?

Ye Xicheng didn’t respond.

Downstairs, dinner was ready. A housekeeper came to call them.

Let’s eat, his father said.

Ye Xicheng followed.

Madam Ye and Pei Ning were still chatting when they came down.

When he looked up, their eyes almost met but she turned away just before they did.

Worked all afternoon, Madam Ye said kindly. You must be starving.

I’m fine, Pei Ning answered with a polite smile.

I made all the dishes you and Xicheng like.

The dining table was set the same way it had always been.

His parents sat on one side; the two chairs opposite were close together.

Just like before.

Every time she’d come here for dinner in the past, she’d sat beside him.

Back then, she’d been too shy to serve herself food, especially when she was younger so he’d quietly filled her bowl,

sometimes even moved an entire plate closer so she could have it all to herself.

Now, as memories flickered by, Pei Ning shifted her chair slightly to the side just enough so they wouldn’t be sitting too close.

Ye Xicheng was still in the kitchen washing his hands. Everyone waited for him to start.

Hurry up, his mother called. We’re all waiting.

Coming, he said. His tone, as always, was calm.

When he finally came out, he glanced at Pei Ning, expression unreadable, then looked away and pulled out his chair.

As he sat down, his arm brushed hers lightly.

She turned her head, startled.

He was sitting closer than she’d realized.

Close enough that she could feel the warmth she’d spent six years trying to forget.