"It really is you." Chen Cheng said with a smile.

Xu Huanshan also laughed heartily and reached out to shake Chen Cheng's hand. "What a coincidence."

"I knew you were in the capital, so I didn't dare disturb you."

"I didn't expect to run into you here."

Beside them, Sun Xin's eyes widened like copper bells.

She sized up Xu Huanshan's outfit of a shirt and casual suit, then frowned.

When did Chu Xiaoyu ever have this style?

And what on earth was 'Old Xu'?

At this moment, Sun Xin had countless question marks in her mind.

After Chen Cheng and Xu Huanshan finished exchanging pleasantries, Xu Huanshan glanced at Sun Xin, who was holding Chen Cheng's arm.

The smile on his face became even brighter than before as he gave Chen Cheng an ambiguous look. "Old Chen, this is...?"

"Oh~" Chen Cheng pretended to just realize and reached out to wrap his arm around Sun Xin's slender waist, introducing them.

"This is my girlfriend, Sun Xin. She's also my college classmate."

"Xin Xin, this is Old Xu. Xu Huanshan, President Xu. My neighbor from Shanghai and a very talented fireworks designer."

girlfriend?

How many does this make?

Xu Huanshan immediately gave Chen Cheng a thumbs up.

This could no longer be described as just 'awesome'.

One should say—he knows how to play!

Xu Huanshan smiled and extended his hand to Sun Xin. "Hello, Miss Sun."

Sun Xin was dazed at this moment, frowning as she sized up Xu Huanshan.

Seeing that his expression didn't seem fake.

Could there really be two people in this world who look so much alike?

Seeing her daydreaming, Chen Cheng suppressed a smile and gently patted her waist, reminding her, "Xin Xin?"

"Oh~"

Sun Xin finally snapped out of it, forced a smile, and gently shook Xu Huanshan's outstretched hand.

"Hello, President Xu."

By this time, Lin Youyou had been waiting nearby for a while.

Xu Huanshan glanced at Lin Youyou and explained, "This is UU, a young lady sent by President Yu's company to assist me with my work."

He knew Chen Cheng was close with Gu Jia and was worried he might say something he shouldn't.

Chen Cheng slightly raised his hand and waved it down, telling him to put his heart at ease; his buddy wasn't the type to snitch.

Having a 'shared secret' is what makes true buddies.

Besides, his buddy wasn't stupid.

If you don't keep a mistress outside, how can Gu Jia follow me wholeheartedly?

Chen Cheng turned his head and gave Lin Youyou a faint nod as a greeting.

Lin Youyou saw that Xu Huanshan had no intention of introducing Chen Cheng.

So she didn't say much and just nodded in response.

This guy was handsome, but he looked young, probably some rich second-generation heir.

She didn't like rich second-generation heirs.

These people were unstable; they could change the pretty girl by their side every few days.

She didn't want to just find a meal ticket for three or five days.

Since she was looking for a meal ticket anyway.

She might as well find an 'iron rice bowl'.

Otherwise, it wasn't worth it.

Clearly, the successful man in front of her, who was already a bit tired of his wife and had a rebellious streak like a big boy, was an easier target to secure a position with.

Xu Huanshan looked at Chen Cheng and Sun Xin. "Are you two here to eat as well?"

"How about... we share a table?"

Chen Cheng immediately shook his head. Gu Jia wasn't here, so eating with him was pointless.

"Old Xu, you'd better not disturb our world for two."

As he spoke, he gave Lin Youyou a meaningful look, then turned back to Xu Huanshan. "You guys continue your chat, we won't disturb you."

"In the next couple of days, if you're free one evening, you can hit me up for a drink."

"I'll be in the capital for the next few days."

Xu Huanshan laughed. "Alright then."

He glanced at the tall, beautiful, and glamorous Sun Xin. "I won't disturb your world for two then."

With that, Chen Cheng nodded and led Sun Xin to a spot in the distance to sit down.

As for Lin Youyou, she was completely ignored by Chen Cheng.

Until she sat down, Sun Xin would occasionally look strangely at Xu Huanshan, who was chatting warmly with Lin Youyou in the distance.

Chen Cheng glanced at Sun Xin and asked pretentiously, "What's wrong, Xin Xin?"

"Is there a problem?"

Sun Xin frowned. "Do you think there are people in this world who look exactly the same?"

Chen Cheng looked back at Xu the Firecracker and frowned. "Are you saying Old Xu looks like someone?"

Sun Xin immediately nodded. "Mhm. It's him."

"He looks a bit like Chu Xiaoyu."

Chen Cheng 'stiffened'. "Really?"

Sun Xin huffed playfully. "Why would I lie to you?"

"They really look alike, it's just that this President Xu feels a bit chubbier. Probably because his life is too well-arranged and he lacks exercise."

Chen Cheng chuckled. With a nanny at home and Gu Jia being a full-time housewife, his life was indeed very well-arranged.

"They really look that much alike?" Chen Cheng continued to play along.

Sun Xin nodded. "When you get a chance to see Chu Xiaoyu, you'll know."

She curled her lip. "I guarantee you'll be shocked."

Chen Cheng, however, was thinking that if Sun Xin ever saw Zhong Xiaoqin, that would be the real shock.

But then again.

If Zhong Xiaoqin... Sun Xiang... Sun Xin...

Oh my god, I simply dare not imagine...

Scum Cheng was salivating at the thought.

Jie jie jie~

At nine in the evening, the two of them watched the fireworks show at the theme park and were just about to head back.

They ran right into Xu Huanshan and Lin Youyou.

"Old Chen, how was it?"

The corner of Chen Cheng's mouth curled up; he knew he was asking about his fireworks.

"Truthfully?"

"Of course," Xu Huanshan laughed loudly.

Chen Cheng glanced at him. "They're very brilliant, but I really don't like them."

"Huh?" Xu Huanshan was stunned. "Why?"

Chen Cheng chuckled. "I'm the type of person who doesn't like things that are fleeting."

"I prefer lasting, eternal beauty."

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on Sun Xin's hand.

Sun Xin immediately knew what he was implying, and her heart felt as if it had been smeared with honey.

The way she looked at Chen Cheng was beaming.

She smiled and looked at Xu Huanshan with a strange look in her eyes.

After thinking for a moment, she took a breath and spoke up to smooth things over for Chen Cheng.

"President Xu, don't listen to him."

"I liked it very much."

"A flower exploding in the sky, fragments splashing toward the ground like a meteor shower."

"Then, a second one, a third one, layer upon layer."

"Light and shadow are reshaped in this moment, and the faces of the people watching the fireworks are illuminated and then dimmed."

"In everyone's eyes, there is a reflection of a brief, vanishing universe."

Xu Huanshan's eyes widened, and he gave Sun Xin a thumbs up. "Miss Sun's understanding is truly refreshing to me."

"A brief, vanishing universe."

Lin Youyou, standing beside Xu Huanshan, also spoke up:

"While the roar of the explosion is still echoing, the brightest colors begin to dim and dissipate."

"Leaving behind only a wisp of smoke and the memory of the night sky being scorched."

She looked at Xu Huanshan with an adoring face. "I think it's very romantic."

Xu Huanshan's eyes brightened even more; this was his original intention for becoming a fireworks designer.

The momentary brilliance of fireworks is so similar to a person's life in the context of the entire universe.

Even the greatest person, in the face of vast time and the infinite universe, is but a momentary blossom of brilliance.

To him, rather than saying he was doing fireworks design...

...it was more like he was having a dialogue with this vast universe and infinite time.

Using objects as metaphors for people.

He turned his head and shared a look with Lin Youyou, a smile spreading across his face.

Chen Cheng glanced at the two of them, whose eyes seemed to be practically sparking, and gave a faint smile.

"Old Xu, we'll be going now."

...