Chapter Sixteen: Tears of Joy

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Su Xue and Chu Jun—these two names were as familiar to the citizens of Jinghua City as their own. The news anchorwomen of Jinghua TV, elegant and composed, fresh and beautiful, graced the screens each evening. At half past six, who could say how many people would settle in before their televisions, tuning in to Jinghua TV or switching channels on time, eager to see these two. Their partnership had repeatedly set viewership records, earning them the moniker “the Twin Jewels of Jinghua.”

In the beginning, countless entrepreneurs, businessmen, and young scions would linger at the Jinghua TV center, hoping to invite Su Xue and Chu Jun to dinner. They tried everything—luxury cars, lavish mansions, whatever means necessary—things that could easily sway even the most popular stars, yet not once did they succeed with these two. Their reserved dignity only enhanced their sterling reputations.

Later, because neither woman had a boyfriend and they were often seen together, rumors began to circulate that they were lovers. But the two merely laughed such talk off, and the people of Jinghua mostly didn’t believe it. Everyone knew such tales were likely spread by those with ulterior motives—sour grapes from those who couldn’t win them over. Time passed, and their popularity remained undiminished.

...

“Miss Su Xue, have lunch with me. I’ll buy you a lollipop!” Wang Zheng smiled at Su Xue, pulling a lollipop from his pocket with one hand and removing his sunglasses with the other.

A lollipop—just a fifty-cent lollipop!

Su Xue was momentarily taken aback, her eyes fixed on the candy in the man’s hand. Slowly, her gaze shifted up to his face, now revealed with the sunglasses gone.

She studied him carefully, but could not recall knowing such a person. Yet, after years working in the national security bureau, she had a certain instinct. His eyes, his smile—there was something achingly familiar. And the lollipop—that had been her childhood habit. Aside from the dozen or so siblings she had grown up with, no one else knew, not even her closest friend Chu Jun. She’d never spoken of it.

“Are you... Wang Zheng... brother?” Su Xue asked in a daze, her beautiful, clear eyes shining with emotion.

“Heh, I thought you’d forgotten me after becoming the ‘First Lady of TV,’” Wang Zheng replied, smiling gently. “I’m back from Africa. I won’t be leaving again.”

His smile was soft, suffused with a rare tenderness, a warmth capable of melting ice and snow. To see such gentleness on the face of a man so strong and proud would make anyone doubt their eyes. But rub your eyes as you might, you’d find it all true.

Even iron-hearted men have their moments of tenderness.

As the truth dawned, Su Xue’s body trembled, her eyes reddened, tears welling up until they spilled over in a torrent, as if a summer downpour had broken at last. Her gaze was full of affection, longing, and joy. Her voice choked with sobs as she tried in vain to stifle her tears behind her hand, but could not. Her helpless appearance would wring anyone’s heart.

With a muffled cry, Su Xue flung herself into Wang Zheng’s arms, clutching the “brother” she had missed so dearly. They had met as children, and that bond had only deepened because of it. Among all their siblings, they had been the closest. Over the years, as she watched her brothers and sisters die, one by one, she had suffered terribly, and her yearning for Wang Zheng, far away in Africa, had only grown.

There are only so many eight-year spans in a lifetime; for some, those eight years last longer than eight centuries.

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Wang Zheng held Su Xue tightly. Even the man known as Africa’s strongest felt his eyes redden, an ache rising in his chest that he barely managed to restrain. Su Xue seemed to have forgotten where she was—after years without shedding a tear, she now poured out eight years’ worth of sorrow and joy in her brother’s arms.

Her shoulders shook as pain and happiness mingled in her tears, soaking a broad patch of Wang Zheng’s shirt.

It was lunchtime, and the lobby was crowded. When people saw the famous anchor Su Xue clinging to a man and weeping, the place buzzed with speculation. In no time, a crowd had gathered, eyes filled with curiosity, confusion, and intrigue.

After a long while, Wang Zheng gently patted Su Xue’s shoulder and spoke kindly, “You’re not a child anymore—if you keep crying, I won’t buy you candy!” His voice was full of brotherly affection.

“I... I thought I’d never see you again!” Su Xue looked up at him, her face streaked with tears, smiling through her sobs.

“Excuse me,” Bai Bing interrupted, looking at both of them. “Maybe we should go somewhere else? Unless you want to be tomorrow’s headline on the entertainment news.”

Only then did Su Xue let go and notice the crowd in the lobby, their myriad expressions forming a tangled web of curiosity and speculation.

“I know a good restaurant nearby. Why don’t we go there and talk?” Chu Jun suggested, seeing that Su Xue was too shaken to think straight. As her best friend, she had to step in—rumors spread quickly in a place like a TV station, where gossip was king.

“Yes, let’s go,” Su Xue agreed, looking gratefully at Chu Jun. She was too emotional to collect herself; even her voice trembled.

“I’ll get the car,” Chu Jun said with a smile, heading off ahead.

Su Xue clung to Wang Zheng’s arm like a child, heedless of the stares as they left the television station together, leaving behind a sea of speculation.

It took Chu Jun about five minutes to drive her Beetle to a pleasant-looking restaurant, where the four of them took a private room.

Su Xue sat close to Wang Zheng, gripping his sleeve, unwilling to let go. She scrutinized him—eight years had transformed her childhood “brother” beyond recognition.

“Brother Wang Zheng...”

“Enough!” Wang Zheng interrupted her with a smile. “We’re both in our twenties now. Don’t call me that—just Wang Zheng, or Wang.”

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“Brother, how have you been these eight years in Africa? How did they let you leave? We’ve had no word from you for so long—I thought I’d never see you again.” Su Xue’s voice was thick with emotion.

“Ah, don’t ask about Africa. I’m lucky I didn’t turn into a caveman!” Wang Zheng replied. “I’m not like you—you know my old man’s temper. If I hadn’t proved myself, how could I come back? But I’ve done it now. I’ve left the organization. I’m out for good.”

“Really?” Su Xue’s eyes lit up with happiness and excitement. She knew that for someone as capable as Wang Zheng, minor matters would never trouble him—only big, dangerous ones. Now he was out, the danger was gone, and she’d have more time to spend with him.

“Of course,” Wang Zheng smiled, then looked disdainfully at Bai Bing. “But look, the organization still sent a female agent to keep tabs on me. They think a honey trap will work? Please—I gave up all the women in Africa to come home. How could she tempt me?”

“You mean Bai Bing is the agent?”

“You know her too?” Wang Zheng asked.

“She’d just joined when I left—I saw her a few times,” Su Xue replied, turning to Bai Bing with a cold smile. “Bai Bing, you’d better give up. My brother’s not going back with you.”

“Life is full of surprises. I like a challenge,” Bai Bing retorted coolly. When beauties meet, neither wants to concede an inch—each strives to outshine the other. Such is the contest of a hundred flowers in bloom.

“You—!”

“Xue, let’s just ignore her. Don’t be fooled by her icy demeanor—it’s all an act. She was just playing tricks on me in the TV station lobby. Don’t be misled—I was fooled myself the first time I met her...”

“When did I ever trick you, Wang Zheng?” Bai Bing couldn’t stand being called a trickster to her face, and blushed furiously, shouting despite herself.

“See? Her true colors come out,” Wang Zheng said smugly, as Bai Bing could only respond with furious, grinding teeth.