Entering the doors of the airport, Ning Qing and Lu Shaoming separated. Lu Shaoming now went forward to welcome Song Yajing, and Ning Qing stood quietly by the side to observe. There was a woman beside Song Yajing. Ning Qing recognized her. She was the only grandchild of the world’s largest winery’s founder. The Zhou family’s red wine was world famous; they had numerous wineries under their name. The Lu and Zhou families have been friends for generations. Lu Shaoming and Zhou Zhilei could be considered childhood sweethearts.
Zhou Zhilei was a beauty. She had graduated from a prestigious university with a double Master’s. After graduation she entered the winery and had stellar results. She was a classy career woman. Ning Qing remembered Song Yajing’s requirements for her daughter in law, coming from a wealthy family, elegant, reserved and noble. She was probably talking about Zhou Zhilei. The standard image of a daughter from a noble household, and a socialite in society.
“Mom.” Lu Shaoming received the luggage from Song Yajing’s hands, and looked sideways to glance at Zhou Zhilei. He said warmly, “Zhilei.”
“Brother Ming.” No matter how dignified and reserved Zhou Zhilei was, upon looking at Lu Shaoming, her small face was blushing red, and her eyes were ultimately gentle. Lu Shaoming was familiar with this kind of gaze, he pretended not to notice, and he did not have any emotions.
“Shaoming.” Song Yajing saw Zhou Zhilei’s feelings for son was all written on her face. She had a satisfied smile. “This time, Mum is here in T city. Zhou Zhilei has also came along intentionally. I thought this was also good. With you young people being together, it will be easy for you to develop feelings.”
“Mum, I reserved a table at the hotel, let’s go have dinner together.” Lu Shaoming quickly changed the subject and walked to Song Yajing’s side.
Song Yajing knew that her son has his own pace. The more haste she was in, the less speed there was. She smiled and patted Zhou Zhilei’s hand that was cupping her elbow, “Zhilei, let’s go, let’s have a meal as an entire family.”
Her words, “entire family”, made her Zhou Zhilei smile shyly. She could not control herself, and had to sneak another peek at Lu Shaoming. Lu Shaoming was accustomed to this, but it was the first time Ning Qing noticed. She stood by the side to look on, and her heart felt uncomfortable as if acid were pouring out if it.
Her husband and her mother in law were standing beside another woman at this moment. She heard that this Zhou Zhilei was 26 this year. She’d spent her entire youth waiting for Lu Shaoming, and she was really infatuated with the man. Song Yajing walked towards the doors and passed Ning Qing, who was standing there. She looked at Ning Qing’s negative facial expression. She addressed Lu Shaoming in a low voice, “Shaoming, you need to see those around you clearly. As for those with bad intentions, and women who intentionally come towards you, you need to maintain a distance from them. The doors of the Lu family don’t allow just anyone to enter that easily.”
Lu Shaoming did not look at Ning Qing. His handsome figure was like a gust of swift and fierce wind brushing by Ning Qing. “Yes, Mum. I know what the appropriate behaviour is.”
…
Ning Qing walked out of the doors of the airport. She looked at Lu Shaoming gentlemanly open the doors to the passenger seat. Song Yajing and Zhou Zhilei both went inside and sat down. The Bentley left in a flash. Ning Qing hastily flagged a cab and said, “Driver, follow that Bentley.”
…
Lu Shaoming was driving the Bentley. Song Yajing and Zhou Zhilei were seated in the back, and he did not hear what they were chatting about. Whatever they said to him, it went in one ear and out the other.
He used the rear view mirror to look at the taxi that followed them all along. He suddenly wanted to know why the girl was following her.
…
Ten minutes later, the Bentley stopped in front of the hotel. Three people got out of the car and sat by the windows in the lobby. The waiter served the dishes. Because Lu Shaoming was driving, he did not have any alcohol, only a glass of water. When he lifted the glass, he saw the shadow of the girl through the windows. She stood by the side of the road and looked towards his direction in a blur. Was she looking at him?
Lu Shaoming knew that she was looking at him! “Shaoming, Shaoming…” Song Yajing, who was seated on the opposite side, called out to him. “What?” He regained his attention and replied lazily. Song Yajing said unhappily, “Shaoming, Zhilei and I came all the way to visit you. Why don’t you even say a word? You seem to be distracted.”
“Mum, didn’t you find someone to chat with you? Then what else do you want me to say?”
“This kid…”
“Aunt, don’t be angry. Brother Ming has such a personality. Oh right, Aunt, why didn’t Uncle come back this time?” Zhou Zhilei was used to Lu Shaoming’s gaze and she comforted Song Yajing gently and wisely.
“Your uncle is busy with his work. Didn’t he say previously that he would go to Europe with your grandfather to attend some high end red wine banquet? Your uncle and your grandfather’s personalities match very well; their relationship is just like a father and son.”
Song Yajing and Zhou Zhilei were chatting happily. Lu Shaoming used his chopsticks to pick a piece out of smoked bean curd on the plate. He did not have an appetite, and his gaze could not help but land outside the glass windows. It started to drizzle out of nowhere outside the windows. Lu Shaoming lifted his gaze; it was raining outside.
He placed his chopsticks down and looked downwards. That girl was looking at her own feet. Maybe she felt cold. Her two slim arms were wrapped around her waist. Lu Shaoming felt his breathing go unsteady. He lifted his hand and was prepared to call the waiter over. But before he could speak, the girl outside the window was swarmed by some passionate fans; everyone was pestering her for an autograph.
She curled her lips into a smile, got ready to sign some autographs, and a fan gave her an umbrella. She turned her body sideways and slowly opened the umbrella, it was light purple with lace trimmings on the side. She stood stiff for a while and never looked towards his direction; she chose to walk away. After walking two steps, there was a roadside stall selling donuts. She took some coins from her pocket and bought a strawberry donut.
Lu Shaoming looked at her. One hand was holding an umbrella, and she was casting her eyes downwards. There were some strands of hair by her cheeks, which outlined her gentle and small face. She was like a kitten who had been abandoned by someone. She stretched out her tongue to lick the cream on the donut. While she ate, tears rolled down her face. Yes, she was crying again. Lu Shaoming’s vision was too god. He could clearly see her bright and beautiful lips shiver with sadness and helplessness. A passer-by knocked into her shoulder. She did not lift her head, and she cried while she ate the donut. Lu Shaoming shut his eyes, and used some strength to open them again.
Song Yajing who was sitting opposite him, realized that her son was behaving abnormally. She asked with concern, “Shaoming, what happened to you? Are you having a headache again?”
“Brother Ming, should I give a call to my big brother? He…” Lu Shaoming stroked his forehead and his face was a little pale. He stood up and said, “Mum, my head hurts. You guys take your time and enjoy the meal slowly. I have to go.”
“Shaoming”
“Brother Ming.”
…
Lu Shaoming sat in the Bentley. He really did have a headache, and also a part of his heart felt like it had been stung by bees. He used his thumb to press on his temples. At this moment, his phone rang; it was a call from Zhou Dayuan.
Zhou Dayuan was Zhou Zhilei’s brother by blood. They had a good relationship with one another. Zhou Dayuan graduated from Harvard Medical School. After graduation, he stayed in England to be a doctor. He was only 30 but he was already a medical professor. He was his primary physician when he got the surgery in England. Lu Shaoming answered the phone and said with a frown, “Hello, Dayuan.”
Zhou Dayuan could hear his abnormal voice over the phone. In a warm, clean voice he asked, “Shaoming, what has happened to you? You are having headaches again?”
“Yes.” Lu Shaoming nodded his head. “I already told you that you need to recuperate after you recover from such an illness. You are not suited to start work immediately. Also, the surgery led to a partial loss of memory. Don’t force yourself to dig up the things in the past.”
Lu Shaoming placed his head on the seat, depressed. He said, “Dayuan, can you tell me what I lost in that part of my memories? Why do I feel like my heart has been emptied? Everyone by my side has changed, also…”
Also, there was a girl, a girl who made him know the feeling of heartbreak.
…
Ning Qing lifted her head after she ate the donut. Without realizing it, she had already walked to the Tea Pavilion Villa. She took one step at a time as she ascended the stairs. She stood at the winding staircase outside the doors of the villa. There were many memories in that winding staircase. She previously stood here many times to wait for Lu Shaoming to return, and ran into his arms barefoot…
Now, the villa was empty. The villa did not have a warm light. The field was cold and the villa was in darkness. Every part of it was deathly still. Her white hand touched every inch of the red sandalwood door, it was adorned with carvings of flowers. After she was tired of touching it, she sat on the stairs and buried her head in her knees. Her Lu Shaoming. When would her Lu Shaoming return? 3 months. The time was short. Would he fall in love with her again?
She admitted that she was hurt deeply by the scene at the hotel. 3 of them were sitting under the view of everyone, but she was alone, standing in the rain. Her mother in law did not like her, and there was another woman who appeared by his side. She was very jealous. Lu Shaoming, did he know at all? She was his little wifey, he could only belong to her!
…
Xiao Zhou got out of the car and she saw a person shrivelled into small bundle on the stairs. She hurriedly ran forward and said, “Ning Qing, what are you doing here? I was worried to death when I couldn’t call or locate you. It’s raining now and you are not using an umbrella. Your body is soaking wet! Come quickly, get in the car. Don’t catch a cold.”
Ning Qing lifted her head slowly. She looked towards Xiao Zhou and said, “Xiao Zhou, I have thought of it.”
“What?”
“I have thought of a better advertisement for Cabbage Plume.”
Xiao Zhou did not understand. She used her hands to help Ning Qing get back up. she touched Ning Qing’s forehead. Feeling sorry for her, she said, “Ning Qing, you must be hallucinating now due a fever! You sat here thinking about the Cabbage Plume advertisement? Come with me, quick.” Xiao Zhou pulled Ning Qing’s small hand and brought her onto the car.
…
In the car, Ning Qing wiped away the water droplets on her clean hair, and wrapped herself in a wool shawl. Xiao Zhou passed a cup of hot milk tea to her and Ning Qing drank a sip of it. “It’s delicious, thank you, Xiao Zhou.” Looking at Ning Qing’s heartless smile, Xiao Zhou felt her vision blur with tears. Ning Qing has always been a strong girl. But when there were nobody around, she would lock herself up to lick her wounds.
“Ning Qing, if you are upset then you can just say it as it is. You ran to the love nest that you and Lu Shaoming shared in the past. Wasn’t it to fondly recall the days gone by? Why are you talking about the advertisement? You’re scaring me!”
Ning Qing had an innocent and pure smile. “Xiao Zhou, I really thought of a good advertisement. I want Lu Shaoming to fall in love with me again in these 3 months. But first, I have show him something to fall in love with. He isn’t a superficial person; he would not fall in love with me just because of my pretty face showing up a few times in front of him. So I need to get results to make him to sit up and take notice of me. Wait for me to appear in his eyes, then I won’t worry that I’m not in his heart.”
Xiao Zhou was relieved, it turns out that Ning Qing was normal. But she was curious. “Ning Qing, what is this great plan, exactly?” Ning Qing winked secretly and held the milk tea in her hands as she lay back in the seat in contentment. Lu Shaoming, prepare to give your heart up!
…
The next day, she went to Guang Qing. Ning Qing went straight to Ye Ting’s office. “Manager Ye, I have thought of better advertisement video idea for Cabbage Plume.”
“Oh, is that right?” Ye Ting did not expect that Ning Qing would really take this matter to heart. She responded half-heartedly and continued with the work in her hands.
“Manager Ye, we will change the catwalk modelling to a stage play, then we will insert the advertisement of Cabbage Plume into the stage play.” Ye Ting lifted her head while looking at a project list. She asked, astonished, “What? Insert an advertisement? Ning Qing what are you thinking? Product placement is a matter that is done under the table. Now you want to use the method of product placement in a stage play to advertise Cabbage Plume? Everyone’s attention would be fixed on the stage play; Cabbage Plume would merely be a supporting role. You have really reversed the roles with this plan.”
“How could this work?” Ning Qing’s white and flawless face was full of confidence. She explained slowly. “The script of this stage play would be written personally by me. This story definitely starts with Cabbage Plume. The stage play would be a harmony of both the modern beauty of the catwalk and the flexibility of the story. We will invite the popular kings and queens in the entertainment industry to act out these roles and use star power to the maximum.
“Also, although the placement of advertisement isn’t something that can be done on the table, you cannot deny that product placement is rampant everywhere. It has since started a furious debate. Now we could move product placement to the stage and make use of the debate to stir up interest. The more controversial the matter is, the more famous the product will be. Cabbage Plum will definitely be a hit in the market.
“Lastly, these few years, there has been a rigid standard of using the catwalk added with the advertisement clip. Why don’t we start a new trend? We need to think daringly, be unconventional, and be willing to experiment. This is what the market needs right now: new blood. We can be the leader of the pack and spawn a new movement in the advertising world.” Ye Ting heard her words in a blur. If she was being honest, she did not place Ning Qing’s plans in her heart at all yesterday, because each was a master in his own special field. Ning Qing was not familiar with this part of advertising.
But she realized she was wrong. If memory serves, Ning Qing majored in Market Advertising and Production in Media and Communications school. She could not help but agree that her unorthodox plan was daring and original. Why didn’t she think of this?
Ye Ting felt a little threatened. As the pride of Harvard, her abilities were recognized by everyone. Listening to Ning Qing’s plans, she could predict that the stage play advertisement would bring a large amount of attention and profit. She had always been imitated by others, and was bested by no one.
Would Cabbage Plume be her miracle?
Ye Ting coughed. Concealing the shock in her heart, she opened her mouth to ask, “Then what is the theme of the advertisement of Cabbage Plume? Have you thought of it?”
“Yes.” Ning Qing nodded her head and lifted her head to look at the shining sunlight streaming in from the French windows. She said with a loving smile, “The theme of Cabbage Plume this time is – The journey to find love.”
Ye Ting was silent for a few seconds. “There will be some difficulty implementing this plan. Go back to make a detailed proposal. After, we will discuss it with the team to see if it is plausible.”
“Ok!” Ning Qing saw hope, and quickly nodded her head to agree.
