Reunion

Luo Xinyu: [Are you in London?]

The name was from a very long time ago, yet it brought back vivid memories for Zhang Yang.

The former owner of COFCO Seaview No. 1...

That unforgettable night on the Huangpu River...

The promise to meet again at the peak of our lives as we parted...

Although they had a few brief interactions on WeChat afterward, this person eventually disappeared from his world as time went on.

He even forgot about it later.

Zhang Yang lowered his head and replied casually.

[Come visit... You're abroad, you didn't happen to be in London, did you?]

[bingo, you got it right! Want to meet up? Judging from the angle of your photo, you should be living not far from me.] Luo Xinyu replied.

Remember when Luo Xinyu left for abroad? It was because her family was on the verge of bankruptcy, and she sold her house because she was short of money.

It seems they've already settled down in London.

Should we meet?

Zhang Yang smiled, but the words he had said when they parted came to mind.

Meeting at the peak...

There are many kinds of peaks... In a sense, his life has already reached the peak in various forms.

The so-called winners in life cannot even describe one in a million of his achievements.

But what about Luo Xinyu?

Is she alright?

There wasn't much agonizing or overthinking; at this moment, Zhang Yang didn't see any regrets or missed opportunities caused by various reasons.

If you want to see me, then I will.

[See.] Zhang Yang responded very decisively.

"[Is it really convenient? You're not alone, are you?]" Luo Xinyu asked again.

Zhang Yang glanced amusedly at his two assistants who were fast asleep in the bedroom in the distance.

[You don't need to worry about that. What about the time and place?]

"Okay, let's go out for a drink. You seem to have changed a lot. I'm really curious about how you've been lately," Luo Xinyu said.

The address arrived shortly after.

According to Luo Xinyu, it's a well-known jazz bar in London with a great atmosphere.

Upon receiving the address, Zhang Yang simply put on a coat and left the hotel room, traveling light.

As soon as he stepped out of the room, he immediately saw a tall man standing a few steps away in the hallway.

It was his Honey Badger Security personnel.

Even though they were in London, and even though this was one of London's most prestigious luxury hotels, they still strictly followed Honey Badger Security's security manual when on duty.

The so-called "post every three steps, sentry every five steps".

"Mr. Zhang." As soon as he came out, the group immediately greeted him respectfully.

"You've worked hard, I'm going out for a bit... You guys." Zhang Yang was about to tell them to go back and rest, but seeing their determination to stay close, he said, "Fine, you can come with me if you want."

Rules and regulations are set in order for those above to follow.

Although he was the big boss of Honey Badger Security, he didn't want to be treated specially and preferred to lead by example and cooperate with his subordinates.

However, he didn't let Chris know.

A moment later, all the Land Rover Defender arrived, and the group headed to the jazz bar owned by the Rosewood Hotel.

In the early hours of the morning, London's nightlife is quite vibrant and diverse.

The streets were full of groups of drunken British teenagers, similar to the "spirited young men" in China, but even more fearless, which once made foreign students avoid them.

Several Land Rover Defender pulled up one after another in front of the bar.

Zhang Yang ignored the security personnel who accompanied him and got out of the car directly towards the bar.

As a team aspiring to become a world-class security company, maintaining an appropriate distance while ensuring the safety of our clients is a fundamental requirement.

They stay close by, yet never appear in the employer's sight.

Zhang Yang simply pretended they didn't exist.

Inside the jazz bar at midnight, the lights were dim, the music was soothing, and the atmosphere was quite quiet.

A jazz band is performing on stage.

Inside the hall, small groups of people sat together, sipping drinks and chatting quietly, enjoying the atmosphere.

Zhang Yang looked around and immediately spotted a tall, long-haired figure in the distance.

That silhouette was infinitely beautiful, with a fair chin and a cool profile faintly visible.

It was Ms. Luo I hadn't seen in a long time.

"Long time no see." Zhang Yang went straight to Luo Xinyu and sat down, drawing her surprised and amazed gaze. "You seem to have lost some weight. Are you not used to the food abroad?"

He scrutinized Luo Xinyu, who was resting her chin on her hand. She wore delicate light makeup, and her face remained exquisite and elegant, though she had become slightly thinner.

"Zhang Yang?" Luo Xinyu's gaze followed him intently, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"It's me. How have you been lately?" Zhang Yang glanced at Luo Xinyu's empty glass, beckoned the bartender over, and ordered two more drinks.

"You... are not me..." Luo Xinyu's emotions were clearly still not calm.

Her impression of Zhang Yang was still that of him at the moment of parting, but was the man before her still the same person she remembered?

Those ethereal features, those graceful gestures—they exude an otherworldly charm.

And confidence, even... an arrogant confidence?

"I... I'm doing alright, I guess." Luo Xinyu took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on Zhang Yang, "But you... Zhang Yang, you've really changed, you've been completely transformed!"

The bartender brought over the drinks.

"Thank you." Zhang Yang picked up his glass and clinked it with Luo Xinyu's, smiling faintly without saying a word.

He has indeed changed.

When I first met Luo Xinyu, he already had a handsome appearance and a perfect physique, but compared to now, it was just a tiny change.

Back then, only the surface changed; now, it's a true transformation, from the inside out, even reaching the genetic level. Then there's the added boost of wealth, power, fame, and all sorts of other status and influence...

The difference compared to before is more than a hundredfold.

He truly achieved a meeting at the pinnacle, but what about Luo Xinyu?

Their eyes met, a gaze that seemed to last an eternity, yet they remained speechless.

"I haven't been back to China in a long time. I'm sorry, I broke my promise. That money didn't bring my family back from the brink of collapse." Luo Xinyu sipped her wine, deliberately looking away. "There's no such thing as a reunion at the peak; it's just a matter of prolonging our lives... Zhang Yang, will you laugh at me?"

She mustered her courage and looked at Zhang Yang again.

"No..." Zhang Yang shook his head and chuckled.

Whether Luo Xinyu is at her peak or in her trough, what difference does it make in his eyes?

Actually, they are all the same; there is no essential difference.

Luo Xinyu's family's former competitor, that guy surnamed Tang, I think. Now he's just some nobody. He can just say a few words and have his underlings come out and make sure the other family has nowhere to hide in Magic City.

"I'm glad you're not laughing at me." Luo Xinyu pursed her lips. "Let's talk about you... Your eyes tell me you should have succeeded."

"What should be done?"

"See you at the peak!" Luo Xinyu stared intently at Zhang Yang, admiring his composure and confidence. "That watch on your wrist, it must be worth over twenty million, right? How successful do you have to be to wear that watch?"

She still remembered the first time she met Zhang Yang; the watch on his wrist was only worth a few million.

Just like her.

"This watch?" Zhang Yang smiled but didn't answer.

This watch is from when he first became successful; he hasn't changed it in over a year. As for linking it to his current status? That's a joke...

Even with all his wealth, he couldn't be bothered to fuss over a watch.

Piling up clothes and using external objects to symbolize status? That's something only the newly rich, eager to prove themselves, would do.

For him, there was no need.

"No way... You didn't even care about such an expensive watch?" Luo Xinyu observed Zhang Yang's expression and suddenly asked in surprise. "You're not much more capable than I thought, are you?"

"Pretty much. Come, let's toast to this long-awaited reunion." Zhang Yang raised his glass in a toast. "Have you considered going back to China?"

"Go back? What would I do back there?" Luo Xinyu's face showed a hint of bitterness. "The family company has failed, and I have no place in the industry anymore. When I was successful, I returned home in glory; when I'm down on my luck, I have no choice but to leave for distant lands."

Zhang Yang knew that although Luo Xinyu's family was down on their luck, it was only relatively so; even now, they were far from being as well-off as ordinary people.

She doesn't go back because she can't accept the fall from such a height.

Therefore, she prefers to stay abroad.

"Do you want to go back? Tell me the truth?" Zhang Yang asked.

"Who says I don't miss you... I'm not used to anywhere abroad, but everywhere in China is familiar with the people and things." Luo Xinyu glanced at Zhang Yang for a moment, "Actually... when I'm abroad, I still think of you occasionally."

"There are so many girls who miss me, you wouldn't even know where you rank," Zhang Yang laughed.

"Narcissistic." Luo Xinyu rolled her eyes at Zhang Yang, then suddenly became somewhat convinced, "But you certainly have the right to be narcissistic."

"Narcissistic? Whatever you say," Zhang Yang said indifferently.

Compared to the many advantages he possesses that represent a leap in the essence of life, his appearance is merely one of the most insignificant external manifestations of his perfect genes.

"If you want to go back... I can actually help with the things you're worried about," he suddenly said.

Luo Xinyu suddenly smiled, her eyes softening.

"Zhang Yang... I'm already so happy that you came to see me, but... we can't go back now," Luo Xinyu said with a light laugh. "Could you come for a walk with me?"

"Can."

In November, the nights in London are very cold.

Luo Xinyu on her coat and walked with Zhang Yang along the Thames River in the early morning.

The Thames River shimmered under the streetlights, the buildings on both banks exuded an ancient charm, and the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben on the banks of the Thames River in the distance.

The two walked and talked, setting aside their identities, like long-lost friends reunited.

As they walked, in the cold night, Luo Xinyu gently approached Zhang Yang, and then Zhang Yang naturally put his arm around her waist.

The late-night meeting left everything unsaid.

"Want to come to my apartment?" Luo Xinyu stopped and faced Zhang Yang, her eyes showing a hint of anticipation.

Zhang Yang smiled but did not answer.

Luo Xinyu blinked, and the next second she suddenly tiptoed and wrapped her arms around Zhang Yang's neck, giving him a long-awaited passionate kiss.

On the banks of the Thames River, the two embraced and shared a deep kiss, celebrating their long-awaited reunion.

Under the streetlights, the two people's shadows were stretched very long.

Laughter echoed from the distant alleyways.

"They're teenagers." Luo Xinyu suddenly Zhang Yang, glanced at them from afar, and said, "Let's go, don't pay them any attention."

She took Zhang Yang's hand and prepared to leave quickly.

"Ching chong"

"Ching chong"

Several boys dressed in outlandish clothes and drunkenly followed behind, laughing and joking while raising their eyes and making discriminatory gestures.

"Is this a common occurrence in London?" Zhang Yang looked back.

"Most of the time they won't...but there are certain places and certain times they will," Luo Xinyu said. "In broad daylight, we can just take pictures of them with our phones. They're afraid of being labeled as racist, but right now...we should probably avoid them."

"It's alright, I'm here." Zhang Yang glanced back.

"Your people?" Luo Xinyu turned around in surprise, her eyes widening slightly.

In the distance, a dozen tall and burly security personnel suddenly jumped out of the several Land Rover that had been following them at a distance.

Without saying a word, he immediately stopped them.

"Alright, stop looking at the rest." Zhang Yang smiled, covered Luo Xinyu's eyes, and pulled her around.

Behind them, however, came the sounds of punches and kicks, sometimes near and sometimes far, interspersed with screams of pain.

That's truly tragic.

It was so miserable that I screamed in agony.

"You..." Luo Xinyu looked at Zhang Yang in disbelief, "You travel with so many bodyguards? It seems... your wealth is truly far beyond my imagination."

"That's why I said you should think it over carefully," Zhang Yang said, putting his arm around Luo Xinyu. "If you go back, I'll take you flying."

"What kind of flight?" Luo Xinyu suddenly blinked and leaned closer, her eyes sparkling. "The kind that goes straight to the summit? Maybe tonight..."

"I'm talking to you about serious business. You can play games with me." Zhang Yang casually slapped her on the butt. "Anyone you don't get along with can apologize to you personally. As for your family's business, I can easily introduce you to some connections and guarantee your family's wealth will flourish."

For him, all of this was simply a matter of lifting a finger.

He couldn't bear to see a girl he'd been involved with end up in such a miserable state. If he didn't have the power to change things, that would be one thing, but now he could change someone's fate with just a flick of his finger or a word. Why should he stand idly by?

Luo Xinyu stared blankly at Zhang Yang.

"You··"

"Alright, you don't need to give me an answer now." Zhang Yang checked the time. "Where exactly is your apartment?"

"Oh... it's not far ahead." Luo Xinyu came back to her senses and said, blushing.

Having once been extremely wealthy, Luo Xinyu's residence in London was naturally not shabby; it was only about 200 square meters in size and worth less than two million pounds.

Of course, it can't compare to domestic products.

The two walked back to the apartment side by side. As soon as the door closed, their uncontrollable emotions ignited and burned within them.

"Have you lost weight?" Zhang Yang asked, holding Luo Xinyu.

"What do you think? Hmm... do you want to touch it?" she said gently, feigning annoyance.

In the dead of night, Zhang Yang looked out at the fog-shrouded city and, by the light of the lamp, examined the fair and smooth back before him.

Its crystal-clear whiteness seems to extend a silent invitation.

He once said he would take Luo Xinyu flying, but how high does it have to be to count as flying?