The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Chapter 104 Cloud Valley Retreat, Octagonal Pavilion

The "Cuiyun Pavilion" is a world apart, seemingly isolated from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. It is quiet and elegant, with a faint aroma of tea in the air, accompanied by the sound of a guzheng wafting from the inner room, making people feel relaxed and happy.

The private rooms inside the "Cuiyunxuan" teahouse are separated by waist-high bamboo fences, creating an atmosphere conducive to refined tastes and leisurely conversations. Strictly speaking, it's not suitable for gatherings or business meetings, but fortunately, it's still morning and there aren't many people here yet.

As Shang Yibo walked through the quiet corridor, a few steps away from "Yunjian Yashe," he heard Jian Zheng's loud and boisterous voice. Jian Zheng was sitting in a seat facing the corridor and saw a slender young man dressed casually with a baseball cap on his head walking towards him.

As the young man approached, Jian Zheng recognized him as Shang Yibo, the CEO of Rushang Group, whom he had met at the charity gala the previous night. Since seeing Shang Yibo last night, Jian Zheng had spent the entire night searching online for information about him. He discovered that Shang Yibo was currently a very popular celebrity, with news reports, videos, and photos about him readily available online.

No matter how you look at it, this is Wang Jie, except for the age and background. Then again, isn't a person's identity composed of their age and background? He spent the whole night in a daze, still unable to figure out why a young man named Shang Yibo had appeared in front of him.

Especially when he recalled his grandfather's cryptic words before his death: "Wang Jie is gone too, I have nothing left to worry about." From his grandfather's tone, Jian Zheng felt that these words were not as simple as they seemed on the surface. He originally thought that his grandfather's words "Wang Jie is gone too" meant that Wang Jie was going to study abroad, but now, thinking back, it seemed that these words had a deeper meaning.

Anyway, I'll be able to see Zhou Yanruo soon, and maybe she can explain all these incredible things.

Thinking of this, Shang Yibo had already walked to their tea table.

Jian Zheng stood up and greeted, "President Shang, hello! It's nice to see you again."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanruo followed Jian Zheng's gaze and turned around to see Shang Yibo already standing behind her.

She asked in surprise, "Shang Yibo, what brings you here?"

Shang Yibo lowered his eyelids and said calmly, "Have some tea."

Jian Zheng immediately said enthusiastically, "Did President Shang make an appointment? Why don't we go together?"

Shang Yibo replied "okay" without ceremony and pulled out the empty chair next to Zhou Yanruo to sit down.

Zhou Yanruo gave Jian Zheng an awkward smile, as if to say, "Sorry, my child is really too formal."

Jian Zheng pressed the call server button on the table, and a moment later, a waitress in a cheongsam came over from the doorway. "Sir, is there anything you need?"

Jian Zheng asked Shang Yibo, "Mr. Shang, what would you like to drink? This is a small tangerine ripe Pu'er tea."

Shang Yibo replied, "Same."

Jian Zheng then said to the waiter, "Please change our tea and add another tea seat."

The waiter responded and turned to leave.

Jian Zheng glanced at Zhou Yanruo and said to Shang Yibo, "President Shang, Zhou Yanruo and I were just talking about you."

Shang Yibo glanced at Zhou Yanruo and asked, "Oh, are you talking about me? What are you saying about me?"

Jian Zheng said, "President Shang looks a lot like one of our friends, almost exactly the same."

Shang Yibo remained calm and composed, his expression unchanged. "Is that so? Then I am honored."

Zhou Yanruo's expression was unnatural. Even though she knew it was Shang Yibo in front of her, Jian Zheng's appearance had given her a glimmer of hope—maybe some kind of superpower had really appeared on them. What if? She didn't dare think any further...

“It doesn’t seem like it anymore. My friend doesn’t talk like you…” Jian Zheng wanted to say, “Not like you, so sarcastic,” but out of politeness and respect for the major shareholder of Rushang Group, he swallowed the words back.

Shang Yibo asked, "President Jian, you came from Hong Kong Island? You and Yan Ruo were old friends?"

Jian Zheng smiled and said, "How could President Shang think I came from Hong Kong Island?"

Shang Yibo said, "Mr. Jian's floral shirt, people on Hong Kong Island like to wear floral shirts with a round-neck undershirt underneath."

Jian Zheng laughed, "President Shang is very observant. I come from Singapore, but I have indeed lived in Hong Kong for many years."

Shang Yibo added, "They're about the same."

Jian Zheng said, "I haven't been back for several years, and I haven't been in contact with Zhou Yanruo for almost twenty years. She has changed a lot."

"Oh, Zhou Yanruo, don't misunderstand. I didn't mean you've changed a lot. Actually, you haven't changed much. I recognized you at a glance last night," Jian Zheng quickly explained to Zhou Yanruo.

Then, he said to Shang Yibo, "You can't say that a woman changes a lot, that would be breaking a law."

Zhou Yanruo replied shyly, "You haven't changed at all; you still talk so nonsensically."

Jian Zheng said, "When I said the changes were big, it really were. I thought you had become a big star, but who knew you would go into investing? That's quite a change, it's beyond my expectations. But what's even more surprising is that you're now a big star's agent. After all the twists and turns, you've still entered the entertainment industry, but with this identity and opportunity."

Shang Yibo thought to himself, "Jian Zheng hasn't changed. He's still the same chatterbox, but with his big belly, he just seems greasy when he talks too much."

Zhou Yanruo was so embarrassed that she wished she could leave as soon as possible.

Jian Zheng turned back to Zhou Yanruo and said, "I haven't asked you yet, have you been back to Xichuan in recent years?"

“Oh, Zhou Yanruo and I are both from Xichuan,” Jian Zheng explained to Shang Yibo.

Zhou Yanruo said, "We just came back from Xichuan. I hadn't been back for many years before this."

Chien Cheng said, "Tell me, who did 'we' go back to Xichuan with?"

“Follow me,” Shang Yibo replied from the side.

Jian Zheng glanced slyly at Shang Yibo and then at Zhou Yanruo, asking, "Are you two going back to Xichuan together? Is President Shang also from Xichuan?"

Shang Yibo responded, "Zhou Yanruo and I met by chance in Xichuan. Well, I guess you could say I'm half a Xichuan native."

Jian Zheng asked curiously, "What did the half-Xichuan person say?"

Shang Yibo explained, "I've been to Xichuan before and I really like that place. There are also some things I can't let go of. In recent years, I've often gone there to visit."

When Zhou Yanruo heard Shang Yibo talk about his connection with Xichuan for the first time, she couldn't help but sit up straight and listen carefully. When she heard Shang Yibo say that he had been to Xichuan in recent years and that there were things he couldn't let go of, her eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

Jian Zheng remarked with emotion, "Look at how young President Shang is, yet he already has things he can't let go of?"

Shang Yibo said dismissively, "This has nothing to do with age."

Jian Zheng stared at Shang Yibo with sharp eyes and suddenly asked, "President Shang, have you seen me before?"

Shang Yibo smiled smugly and replied, "Didn't we just meet last night?"

Jian Zheng smiled meaningfully, "Yes, yes."

'Yunjian Yashe' is just like the octagonal pavilion on Yangxi Road back then. Wang Jie, Zhou Yanruo, and Jian Zheng sat together... Can time be turned back?