Qingfeng Longying Xianfei Jue

Chapter 238 The Light at the Crack in Time: Reunion

Lin Yue stood in the bustling airport hall, her coffee long since cold, her gaze constantly searching for that familiar figure in the crowd. The announcement of a flight delay rang out amidst the noise, and she instinctively gripped the handle of her suitcase, her unease growing stronger.

Ten years have passed. Returning to this city, every place feels both strange and familiar. Back then, she resolutely left, severing all ties with this place, but now, the gears of fate have pulled her back. For the upcoming project, and even more so for that unspoken anticipation in her heart.

"Yueyue?" A gentle male voice sounded from behind, tinged with a hint of probing.

Lin Yue turned around abruptly and met Su Ran's deep eyes. He was still the same as before; time seemed to have left few traces on his face. He was still wearing a white shirt with a dark coat, clean and neat.

"Su Ran, long time no see." Lin Yue tried to make her voice sound calm, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Long time no see. I never expected we'd meet again in this way." Su Ran narrowed her eyes slightly, a complex emotion flashing in them.

The two walked out of the airport side by side, chatting about trivial things—work, the weather—as if their passionate past had never happened. It wasn't until the car stopped in front of the hotel that Su Ran broke the brief silence.

"Yueyue, how have you been all these years?" His voice was soft, but it struck Lin Yue's heart heavily.

Lin Yue gazed out the window at the flashing neon lights of the street, like a dreamlike illusion. "It's all good. How about you?" she asked softly.

“I…” Su Ran paused, about to speak, when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen, his brows furrowing slightly. “I have something urgent to attend to, I have to go now. I’ll pick you up at the project launch meeting tomorrow.”

Lin Yue nodded, watching his hurried departure, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Once, they were the most important people in each other's lives, but now, they were like the most familiar strangers.

Memories

Back in her hotel room, Lin Yue lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, as memories she had deliberately buried flooded back.

In college, she and Su Ran were the envy of everyone on campus. They studied together in the library, strolled together on the playground, and planned their future together. Su Ran loved photography and always carried his camera to record every little moment of their lives. Lin Yue still remembers that on her twentieth birthday, Su Ran used his savings to buy her the art supplies she had longed for, and then took her to the beach to watch the sunrise. As the first rays of sunlight shone on them, Su Ran hugged her tightly and said he would protect her for life.

But beautiful times are always fleeting. After graduation, Lin Yue's parents hoped she would develop her career in a big city, while Su Ran wanted to stay in this small town full of memories to start her own business. The two had a fierce argument about this, neither willing to give in. Finally, on a night of torrential rain, Lin Yue dragged her suitcase and left without looking back. That night, rain and tears blurred her vision, and also washed away their love.

Over the years, Lin Yue worked tirelessly in the big city, growing from a fledgling designer into a well-known design director in the industry. She used her busy schedule to numb herself, thinking that time could heal everything, but whenever the night was quiet, Su Ran's image would involuntarily appear in her mind.

contradiction

The following day, the project launch meeting was held in the company's conference room. Lin Yue, as the representative of the partner, presented many innovative design concepts, winning unanimous approval from everyone present. However, when discussing the specific implementation plan, a disagreement arose with Su Ran's team.

Su Ran believed that while Lin Yue's proposal was highly creative, it was too costly and difficult to implement, which would affect the project's schedule and budget. Lin Yue, however, insisted on her own ideas, believing that the project was not only about profit but also an opportunity to showcase their design capabilities and brand image. The two held firm to their opinions, neither willing to yield, and the meeting atmosphere became tense.

"Lin Yue, when we do projects, we can't just consider the artistic effect; we also have to take into account the practicalities. Your plan is simply not feasible," Su Ran said in a rather forceful tone.

“Su Ran, that’s a conservative approach. If we only pursue low cost and fast pace, this project will ultimately become mediocre,” Lin Yue retorted without backing down.

The heated argument between the two drew the attention of other attendees, and the meeting ultimately ended unhappily. Lin Yue sat alone in the conference room, her spirits plummeting. She couldn't understand how Su Ran, who had once understood and supported her, had become such a stranger.

In the evening, Lin Yue went to the beach alone. The sea breeze gently caressed her face, carrying the salty, damp scent unique to the ocean. Gazing at the shimmering sea in the distance, she was lost in thought.

"You like coming here too?" Su Ran's voice came from behind.

Lin Yue didn't turn around, but simply said, "The scenery here is still the same as before, it hasn't changed at all."

Su Ran walked to her side, remained silent for a moment, and said, "Yueyue, I was too impulsive in today's meeting. I know your proposal has its value, but I was too one-sided in my thinking."

Lin Yue turned her head and looked into his eyes. "I was wrong too. I shouldn't have been so stubborn. Perhaps we should sit down and communicate properly to find a compromise."

They smiled at each other, and the conflicts caused by work seemed to vanish in that moment. They walked slowly along the coastline, as if they had returned to the past.

misunderstanding

As the project progressed, Lin Yue and Su Ran's teams gradually found a tacit understanding in their collaboration, and the project proceeded very smoothly. During this process, the relationship between Lin Yue and Su Ran also subtly changed. They worked overtime together to discuss plans, visited the construction site together to check on progress, and those fond memories from the past were gradually rekindled.

However, just when everything was going well, a misunderstanding plunged them into trouble again.

That day, Lin Yue waited for Su Ran in his office to go meet a client together. She inadvertently noticed a photo album on Su Ran's desk and, driven by curiosity, opened it. The album mostly contained photos of Su Ran's life over the years, but one photo in particular caught her eye. In the photo, Su Ran stood intimately with a young and beautiful girl, their faces beaming with happiness.

Lin Yue's hands trembled slightly, a feeling of being deceived welling up inside her. Before she could think any further, Su Ran walked into the office.

"Yueyue, what's wrong?" Su Ran asked with concern when she saw Lin Yue's pale face.

Lin Yue held up the photo album, her voice trembling slightly: "Who is this girl?"

Su Ran was taken aback for a moment, then understood what she meant and hurriedly explained, "She's my cousin. She came here to visit a while ago, and we took this photo together. Don't misunderstand."

"Cousin?" Lin Yue looked at him suspiciously. "Why have you never mentioned her?"

"I... I didn't think it was important, so I didn't say anything," Su Ran said somewhat helplessly.

"Su Ran, you know what I hate most is deception. What am I to you?" Lin Yue's eyes reddened as she turned and ran out of the office.

No matter how Su Ran explained, Lin Yue refused to believe him. She felt that the years of separation had created too much distance between them, and perhaps they could never go back.

settlement

Over the next few days, Lin Yue deliberately avoided Su Ran and threw herself into her work. The project was nearing its final stages, and she didn't want her personal feelings to affect the entire project.

Su Ran didn't give up. He knew that if this misunderstanding wasn't cleared up in time, it would really be the end for them. So, he sent Lin Yue messages every day to explain what happened that day, but Lin Yue never replied.

It wasn't until the celebration banquet at the project's completion that Su Ran walked up to Lin Yue in front of everyone.

“Yueyue, I know you’re still angry with me. But I really didn’t lie to you, that girl really is my cousin. Here’s her ID and contact information, you can call to verify.” Su Ran said, handing a slip of paper to Lin Yue.

Looking into his sincere eyes, Lin Yue's defenses gradually crumbled. She took the note and whispered, "Su Ran, I..."

"Yueyue, all these years, you've always been the only one in my heart. I know we've been through a lot together, but I've never forgotten our vows. Give me a chance to start over, okay?" Su Ran looked at her affectionately.

Tears welled up in Lin Yue's eyes, and she nodded heavily. At that moment, all the misunderstandings and conflicts vanished, and they seemed to have returned to that sunny campus, back to the time when they loved each other.

future

After the celebration banquet, Lin Yue and Su Ran walked hand in hand down the street. The city lights shone brightly at night, just like their mood at that moment.

"Yueyue, will you leave after this project is over?" Su Ran asked softly.

Lin Yue stopped and looked at him, her eyes full of tenderness: "I'm not leaving. I want to stay here with you. Over the years, I've been searching for my direction, and it wasn't until I saw you again that I realized you are the most important person in my life."

Su Ran hugged her tightly, as if he possessed the whole world. Together they planned for the future. Su Ran said he wanted to open a larger photography studio to capture more beautiful moments; Lin Yue said she wanted to establish her own design studio to convey warmth and strength through her work.

In the long river of time, they were lost and missed opportunities, but ultimately, fate brought them together again. The pain and regrets of the past have transformed into the cherishing and steadfastness of this moment. They know the road ahead is long, filled with storms and hardships, but as long as they hold hands, they will surely overcome all darkness and usher in their own light.

In this city full of love and hope, Lin Yue and Su Ran's story has only just begun...