Three days later, Qin Lie boarded a flight to Xi’an alone.
Before takeoff, he glanced at his phone and saw a WeChat message from Chen Xi.
Qin Lie opened it to find the final draft of the tenth character design.
He lowered his gaze, looking at the character Chen Xi had stubbornly insisted on completing according to her vision.
It had no impressive three-dimensional proportions, no eye-catching makeup or styling, yet at first glance, it struck him with tremendous impact.
It was a kind of self that emanated from deep within, carrying an indescribable and elusive sense of mystery.
It made people want to know more about the woman in the image, to explore her more deeply.
Sunlight streamed through the small window beside him, falling on his phone screen and adding a dazzling filter to the image.
Qin Lie stared at the screen for a long time, then suddenly curved his lips slightly.
Without a word, he directly transferred the remaining design fee to Chen Xi.
The note read four characters: “Completed, thank you for your hard work.”
After a while, Chen Xi sent back a WeChat message.
“No need, use it to offset the renovation deposit. I’ll return the remaining hundred thousand by year’s end.”
Qin Lie was stunned for a moment before realizing what Chen Xi meant by the renovation deposit.
He said nothing and silently put away his phone.
Wang Danyang arrived an hour earlier than Qin Lie and waited for him directly at the airport.
Standing at the arrival gate, he watched Qin Lie’s tall figure appear in the crowd, walking toward him at an unhurried pace.
The cold white fluorescent lights in the hall cast their glow on Qin Lie, adding another layer of noble distance to his already aloof demeanor.
But regardless, he had appeared.
During the two years Qin Lie was away, Wang Danyang had sat in his former position and finally understood how solid a man’s shoulders needed to be to lead a team through waters full of hidden reefs and treacherous rapids.
How strong one needed to be to remain composed and confident through one crisis after another, both internal and external.
For some unknown reason, Wang Danyang suddenly felt so moved that his nose stung.
Having lived this long, he was experiencing the profound emotion of loss and recovery through another man.
He waved at Qin Lie, and when Qin Lie walked step by step to stand before him, he suddenly clenched his fist and punched him hard on the shoulder.
“You damn… walked so slowly.”
Then he hooked his arm around Qin Lie’s neck and led him toward the parking garage.
After taking a few steps, Wang Danyang suddenly said, “It’s so good that you could come.”
Qin Lie smiled and said nothing.
The two walked to the parking garage, where Qin Lie immediately spotted his former driver, Xiao Song.
Wang Danyang smiled and said, “When Xiao Song heard you were coming, he insisted on coming with me.”
Seeing Qin Lie, Xiao Song hurried over with quick steps.
“President Qin.”
There was a trace of excitement in his voice.
Qin Lie smiled at him, “Long time no see.”
Xiao Song suppressed his surging emotions, his expression nearly breaking.
The three got into the car and drove out of Xianyang Airport.
Approaching noon, there were few vehicles on the airport highway.
The sun blazed overhead, and outside the windows stretched a vast expanse of sky and clouds.
Sitting in the back seat, Qin Lie watched the groves of trees rapidly retreating outside the window.
Behind the lush green groves lay expanses of open fields.
For no particular reason, he thought of Dunhuang’s endless Gobi Desert, which under the blazing sun and clear sky possessed a vastness and openness found nowhere else.
Even the air seemed filled with a carefree flavor.
The scenery outside suddenly seemed somewhat bland and tasteless. Qin Lie withdrew his gaze and glanced down at his phone.
No messages.
He put away his phone, thinking that at this time, the three people next door were probably still busy, likely having lunch at the shop.
When he realized what he was thinking about, Qin Lie felt somewhat dazed, wondering which nerve of his had misfired.
As he was slightly lost in thought, Wang Danyang in the passenger seat turned around and asked enthusiastically, “Old Qin, what do you want to eat for lunch?”
Qin Lie: “Whatever.”
Wang Danyang laughed, “I knew you’d say ‘whatever.'”
He turned to Xiao Song and said, “Let’s go to that Chang’an food stall in Xiaozhai.”