009 The Passing Years Scatter Through Fingers

——The years flow like a gushing river, and time is like a hazy dream. Waking up with the bygone years as a pillow, you've already reached the other shore.

Ming Xichen was innately infatuated with the south of the Yangtze River, which was closely tied to her deep - seated love for Shen Yunfei. After the accident, why didn't she choose to go to her grandfather's place in Beijing? Why not to her aunt's in Lvgu, a place even more enchanting with a year - round spring - like climate? Instead, she picked Xizi. It was not only her mother's hometown but also Shen Yunfei's. The misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River nurtures peerless beauties and elegant gentlemen. She felt that only here could she draw nearer to him. She was guarding a nebulous soul, waiting for another life cycle.

This seemed to be a well - hidden secret in her heart, yet it was as clear as day to everyone. Who would be so heartless as to expose it? Growth always exacts a price. There's youthful exuberance, loss, confusion, stumbles and rises, being battered and bloodied, loving, hurting, and then mustering the courage to move forward. After that, life would no longer be a void.

The mortal world's past, the entanglement of love and affection, all end in sorrow. A stretch of mountains and waters, a flower on the other shore, a simple turn, and the mountains turn hazy while the waters fall silent. The passing years slip through fingers like fine sand; a broken thought, a fateful encounter, a gentle chant turns into a sorrowful melody.

Ming Xichen, clad in a plain white dress, stood by the West Lake, lost in a daze. With a faint smile on her face, she looked so forlorn on either side of time. Guarding that illusory soul and the cold tombstone, there was no reincarnation in this world.

She waved her hand, but there were no clouds to take away. As the years rolled by, what kind of life awaited her ahead?

Chu Rui accompanied Ming Xichen on his uncle's private plane to Switzerland. On the plane, she was brimming with excitement. Although she knew little about her grandparents, she was incredibly eager to meet them.

This meeting was not only unexpected but also utterly shocking to her. For a moment, she felt as if she were trapped in a dream. Everything in front of her shattered all her previous conceptions. It was like a fairy - tale, unfurling a magical journey right before her eyes.

The plane landed on a small island. Then, someone led Chu Rui and her onto a boat bound for a castle. When she saw the castle perched between the steep hillside and the vast lake, her heart was deeply jolted by the pointed towers that seemed to pierce the very sky.

The castle was like a floating temple on the water, a hidden deity amidst the idyllic lake and mountain scenery. The sturdy stone walls, the neatly arranged towers, the slightly carved windows and balconies all attested to the castle's value and the passage of time.

In fact, the castle was built on a small stone island in the lake. There was originally a drawbridge connecting the island to the lake shore, surrounded by water on all sides and open in the front and back. The castle's architectural concept was truly unique. In the center stood a main tower about twenty meters high, encircled by four courtyards. Outside the courtyards were halls and rooms.

Walking into one of the courtyards, the surrounding high walls were crafted from white stone. The courtyard was deathly quiet, and one could feel the cold and dampness of the stones seeping in. Looking up at the sky from the courtyard, the surrounding stone walls loomed large, dark, mottled, and immovable. Only the sky was ever - changing, full of endless possibilities. Compared with the eaves, one could see that the clouds were scurrying by at breakneck speed. The sun illuminated the edges of the clouds and then shone a beam into the courtyard. Suddenly, a small area in the courtyard lit up, as if a torch had been ignited in a cave. But this change was fleeting, making people feel dizzy. The lake - blue sky peeked through the clouds, like a blue river, like the sole splash of color on a sketch. It made people feel as if they could never escape this well - like courtyard. It seemed that when one's fingers grazed the bright edge of the cloud, one could sense a thing called the soul, which transcended Xichen's wisdom and all her previous beliefs, leading her into an illusory realm.

A winding path paved with white stones led to the hall outside the courtyard. Entering the hall, the decoration was refined, exuding a low - key luxury. On the entire opposite wall was a mural depicting a bird's - eye view of the castle. The whole painting was so captivating that one couldn't tear their eyes away. In the middle of the hall stood a luxurious white grand piano. The golden sunlight streaming in through the large floor - to - ceiling windows hit the piano, and the piano surface emitted a cold glow, looking serene and elegant. A large crystal chandelier hung down from the top floor, shining brightly and opulently. The pillars in the hall were all masterpieces of art, with wonderful carvings.

The light from the crystal chandelier bathed the old man standing there in a glorious glow. The old man's face was as hard as a chiseled statue. His hair was completely white, but he was full of vitality. His eyes were as deep as the ocean, and he held a golden walking stick in his hand, with ancient patterns intricately carved on it.

Ming Xichen, in white clothes with black hair, bright eyes and white teeth, was like an elf who had wandered into the mortal world. Looking at this stern - looking old man, she felt neither strange, scared, nor nervous. There seemed to be a warm current surging within her. In an instant, the warm current coursed through her meridians, and her whole body grew hot. She involuntarily threw herself into the old man's arms, "Grandpa, Grandpa!" She hugged her grandpa tightly, and tears streamed down her face like broken pearls.

The golden walking stick fell to the ground resentfully. The old man's deep eyes welled up with tears. He had been decisive in killing and cold - hearted all his life. When had he ever been so out of control? His hands trembled as he hugged her, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Then her grandma came out and snatched Ming Xichen from her grandpa's arms.

She looked at her grandma, who was nothing like she had imagined. The grandma in front of her had skin as smooth and delicate as a baby's and a plump figure, like a young Yang Guifei. Of course, she had never actually seen Yang Guifei, and it was just a passing fancy.

Grandma hugged her, calling her darling over and over again. She felt so blissful inside. Her grandpa was domineering, and her grandma was adorable. It seemed that her days wouldn't be lonely in the future.

Ming Xichen lived on the top floor. The semi - transparent house had light - green window screens and transparent crystal bead curtains. The bedroom was spacious. In front of the floor - to - ceiling window was a classical - style imperial concubine chair with green cushions carelessly tossed on it. The large - sized bed was designed with an air of lazy nobility. The silk sheets on the bed rippled gently.

There was an old - fashioned European - style study. The background wall of the study was decorated as an in - built bookshelf. The old - fashioned green sofa had an air of mystery.

Standing on the rooftop and looking down, the castle was veiled in mist, and the water and the bridge seemed to merge into one, looking like a dreamscape.

Over the years, Chu Tian had white - washed the early Tianlong Association. Its industries gradually expanded to Switzerland. He was weary of the underworld's troubles and handed over all the affairs to Chu Muhan and his son, no longer bothering with them.

Chu Muhan managed the business in Switzerland, and Chu Rui shuttled between China and Switzerland. During school holidays, he would always find time to accompany Ming Xichen.

They strolled along the shores of Lake Léman in Geneva. They visited the Fraumünster Church in Zurich, and she was particularly smitten with the stained - glass windows and murals in the church. They wandered on Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. This 1.4 - kilometer - long avenue housed two dazzling consumer paradises, Globus and Jelmoli. The shops on both sides displayed luxurious goods, antique treasures, precious furs, watches, jewelry, and intoxicating French perfumes. It was a mecca for those in pursuit of world - famous brands.

Chu Rui gave her a limited - edition star - studded delicate watch, fully inlaid with top - grade diamonds, noble and sumptuous. She was an extremely low - key person, but she fell head over heels in love with this watch at first sight. Although she knew it was outrageously expensive, she didn't hesitate to slip it onto her wrist and never took it off again.

Ming Xichen studied at the Swiss International Hotel Management School. To learn more about the development of world - class hotels, they visited the Ford Hotel in the UK, Club Med, a vacationer's paradise, the Kempinski, a cultural paragon in Germany, the Peninsula Hotel, the pride of Hong Kong, and the Gloria Plaza Hotel, which combined ancient and modern, Chinese and Western elements.

These four years of study and research laid a solid foundation for Ming Xichen's future development. The four years in Switzerland had a profound and lasting impact on her life. She was grateful to her grandparents, her uncle, Chu Rui, and also to Leng, Chu Rui's shadow, who accompanied her to study and took care of her life in Switzerland.

When she returned to China with a heart full of gratitude after four years of study, it was the end of summer. She was fortunate enough to witness the opulent opening of "Phoenix Dancing in the Nine Heavens". It could have opened in spring, but Chu Rui set the opening date for the day she returned. He hoped that she could witness the birth of Phoenix Dancing in the Nine Heavens with him and help him build it into a top - notch club. He hoped that in the years to come, she could stand at the pinnacle of the world with him.