Come to think of it, was there a possibility that Tan Linyuan, just like her, was also facing some unavoidable difficulties and a predicament that he couldn't break free from for the time being?
But in just a second, she quickly dismissed this speculation.
Realizing that she had such a thought, Nan Yu herself found it rather amusing. How could Tan Linyuan possibly have any difficulties?
Just like his words, his actions were always spontaneous, driven by his own preferences.
Thinking of this, she decided to stop her wild imagination, rolled over and turned off the light.
---
The day of the performance arrived.
As it was a charity performance, the organizer had not only invited the families of disabled children in Jiangcheng but also prominent figures from all walks of life.
In the lounge, Nan Yu accidentally heard a staff member sigh that in previous charity events, many high - ranking individuals had always found excuses to decline the invitations.
But this time, so many business owners and wealthy merchants had come. It seemed that a substantial amount of money would be raised.
That money could then be used to treat more children.
Qu Jiaran, who was sitting beside her applying makeup, naturally heard this too. She leaned towards Nan Yu mysteriously, looking as if she knew everything. "Nan Yu, do you know why so many important people in Jiangcheng are here today?"
Nan Yu wanted to say that she actually didn't want to know and that she didn't care about such things at all.
"Hehe, it's because Linyuan is coming today!" she said proudly, her face beaming with excitement. "So the other members of the Jiangcheng Chamber of Commerce also want to show up."
After the performance, when it came to the donation session, there would surely be a lively scene of each family outbidding the others.
It wasn't that these people were particularly kind or compassionate. It was just that Tan Linyuan believed in Buddhism and was the biggest philanthropist in Jiangcheng.
If they could make a good show today, they might leave a good impression of being charitable in his mind.
Qu Jiaran also said, "Linyuan has just taken the top position in the chamber of commerce. The members are all afraid of this new leader and are trying to figure out his temper."
Nan Yu regarded these inside stories as mere chitchat. She didn't really care about the ups and downs in the business world. But from these words, she could tell that Tan Linyuan's status was indeed extremely high.
However, she also noticed a contradiction. "Then why aren't you afraid of him?"
From Nan Yu's observation, Qu Jiaran not only wasn't afraid of Tan Linyuan but even behaved like a spoiled young lady, ordering him around.
"Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, no matter how powerful he is, he still ranks at the bottom," Qu Jiaran said casually. "Moreover, I have no interests involved with him. What do I have to be afraid of? Maybe one day he'll even have to ask me for help when he can't handle something."
Nan Yu remembered that Qu Jiaran's mother used to be a tough figure in the business world, and the connections she had accumulated were unmatched.
At this point, Qu Jiaran said seriously, "Yuyu, remember, a girl must take the initiative in a relationship. Otherwise, she'll just be led around by a man in the future."
Nan Yu listened expressionlessly.
...
The whole performance went smoothly. After their curtain call, Qu Jiaran was still extremely excited. She tried to control herself and walked off the stage steadily.
As soon as they got backstage, she couldn't help but jump up and hug Nan Yu around the neck. "Wow, we did so great today! No wonder it's us. We're so in sync!"
Nan Yu nodded casually and was about to go back to the dressing table to pick up her Buddhist beads and leave.
She had taken off the Buddhist beads before going on stage, but when she got back to the dressing table, they were gone.
Besides, there was a bouquet of flowers on the table.
Not finding the Buddhist beads, Nan Yu suddenly felt as if something was missing from her heart. But on the surface, she remained calm, showing no signs of anxiety or panic.
Qu Jiaran came over. When she saw the flowers, she exclaimed, "Wow, such beautiful flowers!"
Nan Yu glanced at Qu Jiaran's table. "There's one on your table too."
This elicited an even louder exclamation from Qu Jiaran. "Who sent them? They're so beautiful!"
In contrast, Nan Yu's expression was much calmer. She was just about to get up and ask if anyone had seen the Buddhist beads when she saw Tan Linyuan walking in from the back door.
Her eyes froze for a moment.
Qu Jiaran followed her gaze. When she saw Tan Linyuan, she immediately bounced up happily. "Linyuan, are you here to see me?"
Tan Linyuan walked towards them.
To be precise, he walked towards Nan Yu.
Seeing that Tan Linyuan only looked at Nan Yu, there was no change in Qu Jiaran's expression. She was still very happy. "Did you send the flowers?"
Tan Linyuan then turned to look at her. "No."
His tone was flat, and there was no change in his eyes. He didn't even glance at the two bouquets of flowers.
"I know you didn't," Qu Jiaran pouted and whispered. "I bought these myself to celebrate. But couldn't you just lie to me?"
Tan Linyuan answered with silence.
Suddenly, Nan Yu seemed to realize something. She directly reached out her hand towards Qu Jiaran.
"Give it back to me."
This action left Qu Jiaran a bit confused. " ... What?"
"The Buddhist beads. Give them back to me," she said, her eyes meeting Qu Jiaran's without avoidance, and her tone showing no special emotion. "My Buddhist beads were gone after the performance. They should be with you."
This was a lounge for just the two of them, and no one else would come in during the performance. Since Qu Jiaran had bought these two bouquets of flowers, the Buddhist beads could only be in her hands.
As it turned out, her analysis was correct.
Qu Jiaran was only stunned for two seconds, then she generously took out the Buddhist beads from her pocket and placed them in Nan Yu's palm. "Nan Yu, you're so smart! But how did you guess that I took them?"
After getting back the Buddhist beads, Nan Yu asked expressionlessly, "Why did you take my things?"
But Qu Jiaran didn't feel the slightest bit guilty for taking someone else's things. "I wanted to buy a string like yours, so I was going to ask my subordinates to look for one later."
"However," she smiled, "the material of this string of Buddhist beads is really rare. It's a bit like the one Linyuan always wears."
Then she turned to Tan Linyuan and ordered, "Linyuan, let me take a look at your Buddhist beads. Are they exactly the same as Yuyu's?"
Hearing this, Nan Yu was truly stunned.
Where did he still have any Buddhist beads? Weren't the ones in her hand his?
Nan Yu's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she stared at Tan Linyuan.
"Come on, take them out and let me have a look," Qu Jiaran said. Seeing that Tan Linyuan didn't move, she simply shook his arm and pouted. "I've never taken a good look at your Buddhist beads."
She was also looking forward to seeing how this so - called "Jade - faced Buddha" would lie smoothly to get out of this.
Would he say that he forgot to bring them? That he lost them? Or that he had already found a new string of Buddhist beads to wear?
Then Tan Linyuan parted his thin lips slightly, and his calm voice sounded especially clear in the room.
"Hers is mine."