Chapter 119:
Chicago.
After class on Thursday, Mia ran over to find Meng Shuyou and said excitedly, “Yaoyao, shall we go see the NASCAR race the day after tomorrow? I hear this year’s competition will be exciting, and my cousin gave me three tickets!”
Meng Shuyou said embarrassedly, “Sorry, Mia, I might not have time.”
Mia asked curiously, “What are you busy with? Winnie said you haven’t had much homework lately. Why not take this opportunity to go out and relax?”
Meng Shuyou explained, “The day after tomorrow is Mister Pei’s birthday, and I want to give him a painting. I’m still rushing to finish it.”
She had thought about it for a long time. Pei Yuzhou lacked nothing. Giving him a shirt, tie, fountain pen, or the like lacked originality, and he might not even like them. It was better to paint an oil painting by hand and give it to him.
“Oh…” Mia drawled teasingly, “Got it, got it. Then good luck to you. Looks like it’ll just be me and Winnie going to the competition.”
Meng Shuyou smiled faintly, “You two have fun.”
These two days, she hurried to put the finishing touches on the painting. It had taken a week, with repeated color matching, applying color, and refinements, and it was finally completed on Friday.
Painting Pei Yuzhou was much harder than painting others. His features, figure, and temperament were all too superior. Without precise control, it was impossible to capture even a third of his demeanor.
However, Meng Shuyou was surprised to discover that, without realizing it, his brows and eyes had already been etched in her mind, and they naturally emerged when she put brush to canvas.
The oil painting was left to dry for a day but was not fully dry yet. Meng Shuyou found a picture frame to mount it, then wrapped it layer after layer in kraft paper to avoid damage from bumps.
She took out her suitcase, spread it open on the ground, carefully placed the picture frame inside, and before zipping it up, suddenly remembered something. After hesitating for a moment, she took the strapless dress she had worn on Halloween from the wardrobe, a flush rising on her face.
After lunch and a half-hour rest on Saturday noon, she pulled her suitcase to the airport, having bought a flight ticket in advance for the three o’clock flight to New York.
Boarding at 2:50 and landing at LGA airport at 5:30.
She hadn’t told Pei Yuzhou in advance that she was coming to New York. She wanted it to be a little surprise.
Coming out of the airport, Meng Shuyou hailed a vehicle at the roadside and returned to the mansion in downtown Manhattan.
Night had just fallen, the brightly lit city bustling with endless traffic, neon lights flashing past the car window, the prosperous buildings on both sides rapidly receding in the peripheral vision.
Incoming vehicles could only park at the residential area doorway.
Meng Shuyou paid and got out, pushing her suitcase inside.
The wheels rolled over the ground with a light sound, the evening breeze stirring her hair tips, a chill brushing her face.
The villa was brightly lit inside.
She walked to the doorway and entered the password directly.
Tina heard the noise and looked toward the entryway, surprised to see her. “Miss, you’re back!”
“Mm.” Meng Shuyou curved her lips slightly. “Has Mister Pei returned?”
“Mister has plans with friends at the club to celebrate his birthday tonight. He might come back very late.” Tina, afraid she would wait too long, said, “Why don’t you go straight over to find him?”
Meng Shuyou shook her head. “He has plans with friends. It would be too disruptive if I went.”
Tina: “I heard Mister on the telephone call say it was a gathering organized by Mister Zhao. Don’t you all know each other? It should be fine.”
Meng Shuyou took out her mobile phone. “I’ll call and ask first.”
She found Pei Yuzhou’s number and dialed. The ringtone sounded for a long time, but no one picked up.
“I’ll just wait for him at home.”
“Okay.” Tina asked again, “Have you had dinner?”
“Not yet.”
“Then I’ll have the kitchen make a few dishes you like.”
Meng Shuyou was indeed a bit hungry. “Mm, thank you.”
She first took the suitcase upstairs to the room, took out the picture frame, unwrapped it, and let it air out to dry.
In the painting was the scene of her first encountering Pei Yuzhou in the banquet garden.
He was sitting relaxed and casual on the sofa chair, fingers playing with the midi ring, exuding noble arrogance, unattainably high.
What had first attracted Meng Shuyou at the time was his voice, followed by those deep and mysterious eyes of his, excessively beautiful yet harboring danger.
Such a pair of eyes that appeared icy cold could, in certain special moments, brim with desire—forceful yet laced with tenderness, the contrast overwhelming. Meeting his gaze felt like being drawn into an unfathomably deep whirlpool.
Her thoughts stopped.
The kitchen finished preparing dinner, and Tina came upstairs to call her to eat.
Until past eight in the evening, Pei Yuzhou still hadn’t called back.
Meng Shuyou wasn’t sure if he would return before midnight. After thinking, she called Mark.
After a few rings, the other side picked up. “Miss Meng.”
Meng Shuyou: “I called Mister Pei but couldn’t get through. I want to know if he’ll be back tonight.”
Mark quickly reacted. “You’ve come to New York?”
“Mm.”
“I’m not with Mister tonight. There’s some company business to handle.” He said, “Mister is in the 608 private room at The Core. You can go find him.”
“Okay.”
Hanging up the telephone call, Meng Shuyou prepared to go out. “Tina, I’m heading out.”
Tina reminded her, “Okay, be careful going out at night.”
“Mm.”
