The Vanishing Beauty - Chapter 10 - 9

Chapter 10 - 9

Han Guang was going to have a "flash marriage" with Yu Rui.

They didn't plan on a grand ceremony; a simple meal with family and friends would suffice to settle things. However, after his "escape from death," he had virtually no friends left. His former enemies naturally ignored him, while his former allies who hadn't turned into enemies had essentially become strangers. Consequently, most of the guests invited were from Yu Rui's side.

Han Guang called his daughter, Xiqian, and told her to return to China. When Weng Yue found out, she was furious enough to lose her mind. Setting aside any pretense of saving face, she immediately called Yu Rui. She couldn't very well scold her brother-in-law, but chewing out Yu Rui was fair game—the little hussy had seized the opportunity to take advantage of someone in their moment of vulnerability.

Even though today's Han Guang was someone even Weng Yue looked down upon slightly, he was essentially a celestial being cast out of heaven and forced into reincarnation. To re-enter the celestial ranks, he would have to cultivate all over again—and whether there was any hope of that in this lifetime was hard to say. Weng Yue had no desire to play the role of a retirement caretaker or charity worker. Yet seeing Yu Rui step in to care for and support him still rubbed her the wrong way.

At this moment, she found herself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her deceased sister once more. Sisters could fight among themselves, but when an outside enemy invaded, it was an unforgivable offense. Over the phone, Weng Yue's spittle practically sprayed across the Pacific Ocean. "I knew why you refused to leave! You think you've picked up some kind of treasure, but the day will come when you'll be crying your eyes out!"

The masks were off.

Whatever Weng Yue said, Yu Rui listened in silence without a word of rebuttal. It was out of respect for her former boss and for Han Guang. Of course she knew the difficulties she would face by marrying Han Guang, but the greater the obstacles, the more resolute her determination. She firmly believed Han Guang could stage a comeback (and even if he didn't, it didn't matter). Besides, weren't these very hardships what made her choice complete? She wanted to walk by his side precisely when he was at his lowest. In the past, he stood high above; now, they were equals.

She viewed him as an ordinary man, a child, and half an elderly person. Yuyu was so shocked her jaw nearly unhinged, and she asked her sister, "Have you thought this through?"

Yu Rui replied that she had. Yuyu stuttered, "But..." She had married for love, and she hoped her sister would marry for love too, rather than tying herself to an "old codger." "Without love, this marriage... down the road..." Yuyu trailed off, leaving her words unsaid.

Yu Rui rebuked her sternly, "Who told you we don't have love?"

Yuyu clamped her mouth shut. No one could change her sister's mind, so she could only wish her happiness.

Yu Shuang, on the other hand, was all for Yu Rui's decision, "cheering and shouting" her support. She had always been a rebel who detested conventionality, believing that what Yu Rui was doing was the true realization of an "artistic life."

Rui was an artist and deserved the Best Actress award.

Yu Rui smiled, turning modest in response. "What Best Actress? I'm just marrying an old codger."

"If he were still a corporate president acting all high and mighty, would you have married him? Would you be willing to?" Yu Shuang asked excitedly. "Where would the romance be in that?"

"I'm getting married, not doing performance art."

"This is love—letting go of everything, not caring about a single thing!" Yu Shuang stood up on her bed. "I'm about to cry. Rui, you're so great! So adorable!"

Chuner wandered over and asked, "Auntie Xiaorui, are you getting married?"

Yu Rui gave an affirmative reply.

Chuner continued, "My aunt wants to get married too."

Yu Shuang snapped, "Chuner!"

Only then did Yu Rui turn the conversation back to Shuang and Kang Long.

"Don't mention him to me." Yu Shuang had yet to emerge from the lingering pain of her heartbreak.

Yu Jia maintained a reserved attitude toward Yu Rui's flash marriage. It wasn't that she doubted Rui's feelings; objectively speaking, she believed a girl like Rui was better off finding an older partner—someone with worldly experience, maturity, and the capacity for tolerance who could provide a steady shelter.

She was simply worried that a flash marriage right at the moment Han Guang was nearly "overthrown" might drag Rui down into future entanglements. Yu Rui insisted that the storm had already passed and Old Han was in the clear.

Yu Jia wanted to ask about their future livelihood. Sensing her thoughts, Yu Rui spoke up before Sister Jia could ask, "Living expenses won't be a problem." Seeing Sister Jia hesitate to speak further, Rui added, "As for children, we'll let nature take its course."

Yu Jia didn't know how to respond; it seemed Rui had thought through every single detail. Yu Rui then asked if Yu Jia's younger sister-in-law had come to cause any more trouble. Yu Jia replied that Sisi had stepped in to negotiate with her husband's family, and the matter was essentially settled.

"You're the only one who could put up with all that," Yu Rui said with indignation.

"It's all just fate," Yu Jia sighed.

Yu Rui immediately retorted, "Didn't you hear that Dr. Kang quote: first fate, second luck, third feng shui, fourth accumulated virtue, fifth education. You've accumulated plenty of virtue, so it's about time you found some happiness."

Yu Jia brushed it off with a vague remark that she was just muddling through.

"You need someone to protect you," Yu Rui said earnestly.

"I can manage on my own."

"Did you catch what Old Bai was hinting at?"

Yu Jia was startled. She considered a romance between herself and Bai Yuankai impossible. How on earth did Yu Rui know about it? In the past, Yu Rui had felt a twinge of jealousy toward Yu Jia, largely because she had once harbored feelings for Bai herself. Now that she had found her own happiness, she desperately wanted everyone else to find theirs too, growing anxious over Yu Jia's "stubborn obduracy."

Yu Rui smiled. "These days, what does it matter? I can find an older man, so why can't you find a younger one? Breaking the rules is no big deal."

Yu Jia was entirely resolute. "It's genuinely impossible."

Yu Rui spoke from the heart. "Sis, there were many things I couldn't say before, but I can tell you now: Xiaobai's feelings for you haven't been a matter of just a day or two." Yu Jia was struck with astonishment, her eyebrows lifting as she waited for the rest. Yu Rui continued, "Back then, he brought Yuyu over because he was interested in her, but he later realized that wasn't it—his heart had always belonged to Sister Jia, lingering on without fading. Now that Yuyu has left and gotten married, it's wonderful—everyone is finally in their proper place." Yu Rui let out a sigh. "In all honesty, it's only recently that I've come to understand: many things in life require you to follow your own heart. If you blindly follow social rules and cram yourself into society's pre-made molds, you'll just exhaust yourself to death. Sis, haven't you spent all these years acting as a virtuous wife and good daughter-in-law, and what did it get you? Did anyone ever praise you for it? You only live once; the most important part is the process, and making sure you are satisfied with it yourself."

Yu Jia felt a wave of melancholy. She had assumed Bai Yuankai's "confession" that day was merely a spur-of-the-moment tactic to help her out of a crisis, or at most, a recent development. She hadn't expected his intentions to be buried so deep and for so long. Ever since the incident with Yu Meng, Yuankai hadn't come around. Once Luan went to rescue Meng and the two of them reported that they were safe, Yu Jia had called Yuankai just to let him know. After all, given how enthusiastically he had helped out, it was only polite to inform him.

There had been no follow-up since.

Yu Jia had thought deeply about it. As friends, she and Bai Yuankai were fine; even as confidantes, it was acceptable. But to take things a step further? She was unwilling. It wasn't because he wasn't good or outstanding; rather, she was afraid of holding him back and ruining the wonderful feeling they shared.

Between a man and a woman, many things were best when they arose from genuine emotion but stopped short of crossing ethical boundaries. It didn't mean that every instance of mutual affection had to culminate in marriage. Once the distance vanished and they scrutinized each other under a microscope day in and day out, the hazy, poetic charm would dissipate, and even the most beautiful things would lose their luster. She had already rolled around in the walled fortress of marriage once; why invite a second round of trouble?

Smiling, Yu Jia changed the subject and asked when Rui's official ceremony would take place. Yu Rui said it would be soon and told her to watch out for the invitations, adding that her only regret was that Sister Meng probably wouldn't be able to return in time.

When Han Guang announced his remarriage, Weng Yue had originally planned to use her niece as a wedge to keep Yu Rui in check. Yet the moment the news arrived, Weng Yue reeled off a litany of terrifying stepmother horror stories. However, Xiqian was someone who knew how to read the room and adapt to circumstances.

With her father "cast down from grace," he desperately needed someone to look after him, and she had no plans to return to China to develop her career anytime soon. Neither her maternal aunt nor her maternal uncle could be relied upon, so having someone take care of her old man was just what she needed. Moreover, among all the women who had ever surrounded her father, to be completely honest, the one Xiqian disliked the least was Yu Rui. She was understated, gentle, and possessed an inner resilience. Since they were closer in age, they could actually hold a conversation. Furthermore, the fact that Yu Rui was willing to offer charcoal in the middle of a snowstorm made Xiqian respect her even more. It was true love straight from the heart—the kind of romance shared by Rose and Jack on the Titanic.

Therefore, the moment her father Han Guang announced his marriage, she even entrusted friends in New York to start looking at wedding dresses for Yu Rui. When Weng Yue learned that her niece had defected to the enemy camp, she cried out that it was the end of the world.

Her brother, Weng Yang, on the other hand, knew how to "repay gratitude." His business ventures over in Zhejiang were still running smoothly, and he remained a prominent "CEO." Thus, upon hearing of Han Guang's remarriage, he specifically prepared a generous monetary gift.

Hearing the niece's snitching, Weng Yue angrily scolded her brother, "Whose side are you on anyway?! Who is family and who is an outsider?! Get your head straight!"

With his elevated corporate position, Weng Yang's temper had grown proportionally, and he immediately retorted, "When I, Weng Yang, walk the pugilistic world, the code I value most is loyalty! A brother for a day is a brother for life!"

Weng Yue turned green with envy.

As the "united front" negotiations drew to a close, Han Guang and Yu Rui won over general consensus. Accepting her role as a representative of the groom's family, Weng Yue accepted the invitation and decided to attend the wedding after all—since Mrs. Xin had accepted it, how could she be so tactless as to refuse? Once the storm passed, Mr. and Mrs. Xin had re-emerged on the social scene, remaining right at the center of elite circles. When winds and rains battered down, the best strategy was simply to wait them out.

Mrs. Xin asked Weng Yue how Yu Meng was doing lately.

Weng Yue replied, "Still stubbornly grinding away in Myanmar."

Mrs. Xin clicked her tongue. "So stubborn!" She added, "To push herself to that point and exhaust herself like that—is it worth it? Why can't she see the bigger picture?"

Seizing the opportunity, Weng Yue laughed and said, "It's because men always spoil them!"

Mrs. Xin smiled without answering, leaving it at that.

To her sisters in the Women Entrepreneurs Association, Weng Yue claimed that Rui's was a "shotgun wedding"—a carefully calculated trap by the bride, though unfortunately Han Guang was now left with nothing to his name.

One of the sisters chimed in: "If it were me, I'd marry him too. Old Han has so much character and charm!"

Weng Yue grew anxious. "What kind of charm? Smelly foot odor? You call that charm?!"

The sister replied straight-faced, "Masculine charm, absolute dominance! Even when Xiang Yu was defeated, he was still Xiang Yu." That hit the nail right on the head, sending Weng Yue back into a state of melancholy.

In the realm of love, the timing of one's appearance was simply too crucial.

Preparations were underway in full swing. To show her respect, Yu Rui managed to get in touch with Yu Meng through intermediaries to announce her upcoming marriage. Yu Meng sent her remote blessings, calculating that the schedule made it impossible for her to make it back in time. She also asked after Old Han, deliberately avoiding any mention of the Moon City project. With their wedding imminent, she had no wish to put a damper on things, and bringing it up with Old Han right now would be useless anyway.

He had fallen like a tiger trapped in the plains, dragged back home by Yu Rui.

Haosiyu and Zhengyu returned to China and were looked after by Yu Jia. As it happened, Sisi also returned, and the group of overseas students engaged in lively exchanges. Xiqian was also back in the country, and having fallen out with Luan Haosiyu once more, they were currently locking horns in a battle of wills.

She found Luan Haosiyu too childish, still preferring the type represented by Bai Yuankai.

Besides, Xiqian thought long-term: with her father overthrown, it was uncertain whether he could ever bounce back, meaning the family's future resurgence would depend on her. Choosing a partner required extreme caution, which made Haosiyu an absolute no-go.

Xiqian was far from naive.

Hanging up the phone, Yu Meng said to Luan Chengyun, "Xiaorui is getting married."

"Is that so?" Luan sounded somewhat incredulous.

"With Old Han."

"Which Old Han?"

"Han Guang."

"Didn't he go to prison?"

"He got out, though he's as bare-handed as they come now."

"Remarkable," Luan praised.

"What's so remarkable about it?" Yu Meng didn't understand.

"Xiaorui is remarkable."

"She's just foolish."

"Isn't love always like that?"

"So cheesy," Yu Meng gave him a sidelong glance. "You make it sound like you're an expert on love."

"If we aren't going to talk about love, let's get back to work." Luan Chengyun changed the subject. Following their surveys, Luan believed that since the fighting had already reached this area, they needed to consider whether it was still appropriate to continue building Moon City here. Yu Meng countered that the combatants were guerrilla fighters roaming all over the mountains; even if they relocated to another hill, there was no guarantee others wouldn't show up. Moreover, the government forces had already taken control of this region. Living here for this phase offered honest local customs, orderly conditions, and guaranteed security with no need to worry. Rebuilding on the original site was the safest bet.

Most importantly, it would help prevent landslides during the rainy season. Securing the license had not been easy; how could they casually abandon it? Knowing it was difficult to persuade Yu Meng, Old Luan could only follow her lead and see how things developed. However, Yu Meng currently faced a critical problem: she couldn't get in touch with Min Jianzhong. With their financial backer out of reach, funds couldn't be disbursed, and construction would grind to a halt.

Yet every time Yu Meng complained for a couple of days, Vice President Min's side would contact her again, releasing just enough funds to relieve their most urgent crisis. Yu Meng understood Min's anxieties as well—with the project stretching on indefinitely without even a phased milestone to show for it, investors lost confidence. Yu Meng could only reassure them, urging patience as concrete results were just around the corner.

Standing atop a high slope, Yu Meng and Luan Chengyun gazed out over the entire Moon City construction site. The clouds on the horizon hung very low, looking as though another rainstorm was brewing. The rains in Myanmar carried a terrifying weight. Once the rainy season set in, it truly felt as though the gods of thunder, rain, and wind were unleashing their fury all at once. Rivers overflowed their banks, and streets and alleys were completely submerged, though fortunately, the houses along the roads were propped up on tall wooden stilts and massive pillars. Beneath the houses, fish, shrimp, snakes, soft-shelled turtles, tree leaves, flowers, jars, and urns drifted aimlessly with the swirling currents. Yu Meng couldn't help worrying whether Moon City would survive this rainy season.