Shine on Me

Nie Xiguang had been sitting in the car for nearly ten minutes without getting out.

The driver who had brought her to Shanghai for this charity auction was a long-time employee her mother had worked with for almost twenty years. He treated her like family and couldn't help but remind her, "Xiguang, I think it's about time. You should head in now."

Xiguang knew she couldn’t stall any longer. She responded with a quiet acknowledgment and reached out to open the car door.

This was a charity auction jointly organized by several renowned collectors in Shanghai. The invitation had been sent to Jiang Yun, who was too busy to attend, so she had sent Xiguang in her place.

It should have been a simple task—mingle a little, bid on something casually, and then leave. The problem was, the moment the car pulled into the parking lot, she had spotted Lin Yusen.

Her ex-boyfriend, from whom she had broken up three months ago.

Why did she keep running into him like this?

This was the third time they had crossed paths since the breakup.

She should have expected it. Of course, an event like this would invite Sheng Yuan. With Sheng Xingjie now sidelined and Lin Yusen back at the company’s headquarters, he was practically being groomed as the successor. It made perfect sense for him to represent Sheng Yuan here.

Yet, she still hesitated.

She didn’t even know why she was so reluctant. Three months ago, he had been the one to inexplicably end things. Why should she feel guilty?

Besides, maybe today would be like the last two times—they’d be at the same event but wouldn’t even have to exchange greetings. There was no need to worry in advance. And even if they did have to acknowledge each other, it wouldn’t be a big deal. In fact, she had something to ask him this time.

Having steeled herself, Xiguang’s steps grew more resolute. At the entrance, she handed her invitation to the attendant, and immediately, a sweetly smiling Miss Li came forward to greet her. "Miss Nie, Uncle Liu was just asking about you."

Uncle Liu was one of the auction’s organizers and the most prominent art collector among them.

"Sorry, I’m a little late."

"Not at all. The main event starts at 7:30 on the third floor," Miss Li said, guiding her upstairs. "Right now, there’s a cocktail reception on the second floor. You’ve come a long way—why not relax and have something to eat first?"

Xiguang nodded.

The second-floor reception was elegantly arranged. At the center stood an ornate, antique-style long table laden with exquisite pastries and drinks. Surrounding it were glass display cases of the same aesthetic, showcasing the items up for auction. Guests could enjoy the refreshments while admiring the pieces.

Miss Li led Xiguang to Uncle Liu, who then introduced her to several other attendees. After a round of polite small talk, she finally managed to slip away, grabbing a few snacks before retreating to a corner.

The pastries were delicious, but after a few bites, her mind began to wander.

The reception area wasn’t particularly large, so why hadn’t she seen him yet? Had he already gone up to the third floor?

If their seats were far apart later, would today… once again be a perfect avoidance?

That should have been something to celebrate, yet somehow, she felt even more listless.

The indoors were growing stifling. Noticing a dimly lit balcony outside—likely empty—Xiguang decided to step out for some air.

Pushing open the balcony door, the crisp night air sharpened her senses. She pulled her coat tighter around herself and took a few steps forward, intending to find a quiet spot, when her gaze suddenly caught on a figure standing in the shadows of the far corner, just beyond the reach of the light.

She froze.

She didn’t need a closer look to know—it was Lin Yusen.His slender figure leaned slightly against the railing, head bowed slightly. The faint light from the terrace only illuminated the space before him, leaving his entire form shrouded in darkness, inexplicably giving off an air of inscrutability.

Xi Guang found herself at a loss, unsure whether she should turn and leave immediately.

The figure in the darkness seemed to sense her movement and lifted his gaze toward her. Instinctively, Xi Guang spoke first: "I didn't know you were here."

He nodded calmly. "This isn't my territory. Feel free."

As he spoke, he straightened up and stepped out of the shadows as if to leave.

He was actually going to leave?

"Wait, I have something to ask you." Without thinking, as they passed each other, Xi Guang hastily voiced the question on her mind: "Was it you who put Ma Nianyuan in prison?"

He abruptly stopped and turned his gaze to her. "Are you questioning me? Do you think her crime didn't warrant that?"

"No, but—"

Before Xi Guang could articulate her vague thoughts, Lin Yusen had already given her a definitive answer.

"Of course it was me. Perhaps her crime didn't warrant it, but Xi Guang, can't you see?" Lin Yusen said gently, "I was venting my anger."

He still called her Xi Guang.

Nie Xi Guang was shaken by the tenderness in his voice when he said her name and found herself asking in confusion, "What are you venting your anger about?"

"Venting my anger because of her—because she made me act too late, made my girlfriend hesitate."

"I didn't hesitate!"

The words burst from Nie Xi Guang's lips.

She couldn't help but explain again: "I was just shocked, just... a little regretful, but I never once thought of breaking up with you to be with him."

Just a few months ago, Zhuang Xu had somehow discovered that she and Lin Yusen hadn't been together during New Year's. He had actually stopped her outside her apartment in Shanghai, demanding that she break up with Lin Yusen.

She had refused him outright.

"You might not know me well, but once I decide to be with someone, I would never waver. As long as he doesn't betray me, I won't betray him." That was how firmly she had responded to him at the time.

But Zhuang Xu's smile had been mocking. "If you wouldn't, then you wouldn't. No need to swear oaths."

His gaze had shifted past her, smiling toward someone behind her. Startled, she had turned around to see Lin Yusen standing not far away.

Zhuang Xu had looked at Lin Yusen and said, "Congratulations. She feels a sense of responsibility toward you."

"Responsibility." Zhuang Xu had repeated the word with a laugh, his gaze toward Lin Yusen almost haughty. "As long as you don't break up with her, she never will."

"That's not true!" she had retorted angrily.

But Lin Yusen had been calm at the time, even saying just four words to him: "You only just realized?"

The matter had seemed to pass just like that. Afterward, she had tried especially hard to be the best girlfriend she could be, yet Lin Yusen had asked her, "Xi Guang, why do you always feel like you need to make it up to me? Why do you feel like you've wronged me?"

Had she?

Lost in her thoughts, Lin Yusen let out a soft laugh. "Finished asking?"

"Then it's my turn to ask you."

A flicker of anticipation rose in Xi Guang's heart. "What do you want to ask?"

"I remember you don't like attending events like this," he said, his voice light and detached. "But this is the third time we've run into each other in the past few months. Why? To see me?"Xi Guang had never probed into the reason behind her recent enthusiastic participation in various events. Suddenly confronted with such a direct question, she had an epiphany while simultaneously feeling the embarrassment of being exposed.

She hastily denied it, as if trying to cover up: "No, of course not."

"Is that so? Then I must have overthought it. Goodbye."

With a casual nod, he took a step back and left the terrace without hesitation.

Xi Guang stood there dumbfounded, hardly believing he had just walked away like that.

After a while, she heard footsteps again. Hopeful, she turned to look—only to see a waiter approaching to inform her, "Miss Nie, the auction is about to begin. You may take your seat now."

Most of the auction guests had already settled in. Xi Guang was led to her seat by the waiter, and as soon as she sat down, she caught sight of Lin Yusen’s impeccably suited figure in the row ahead and to her right.

He was chatting with the woman beside him.

Xi Guang recognized her—they had met before at another event. She was the daughter of a family closely connected to the Sheng family, if memory served, her surname was Wu.

They seemed to be getting along well, with Miss Wu smiling and laughing throughout their conversation.

Xi Guang bit her lip lightly and lowered her head to flip through the auction catalog.

Soon, the auction began.

Feeling restless, Xi Guang decided to bid on something at random, fulfill her duty, and leave early. So when the second item came up, she raised her paddle.

It was a night pearl the size of a pigeon egg—likely more of a gimmick than anything—but it did emit a faint glow when the lights dimmed. The starting bid was 200,000 yuan.

Unexpectedly, someone else raised their paddle at the same time—none other than Miss Wu.

The auctioneer, Uncle Liu himself, was handling the proceedings in a relaxed manner. Seeing the simultaneous bids, he immediately grew excited.

"Xi Guang and Nana placed their bids almost at the same time, but Xi Guang seems to have been a fraction earlier. Nana, would you like to raise your bid?"

Miss Wu smiled faintly and raised her paddle again.

"250,000."

Xi Guang wasn’t one to enjoy competing with others, but this was a charity auction, so a higher price didn’t matter. Besides, she was representing her parents—backing down now would make her seem weak. So she raised her paddle once more.

"300,000!"

The bidding continued like this until it reached 600,000.

Xi Guang felt it was enough and was about to give up. After Uncle Liu asked twice, she shook her head slightly to indicate she wouldn’t raise further. Just as the gavel was about to fall, the young man seated to her right, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly raised his hand.

Uncle Liu exclaimed excitedly, "Now we have a new bidder—young Mr. He! 650,000. Nana, do you wish to continue?"

Surprised, Xi Guang turned to look at Mr. He on her right—only to meet his smiling gaze. He looked at her politely and said, "Miss Nie seems to truly admire this pearl. If I’m fortunate enough to win it, I hope you’ll allow me to gift it to you."

Huh?

What was this about? Xi Guang was stunned. She had just met this Mr. He at the cocktail party on the second floor—they had only exchanged names after being introduced by Uncle Lin and nodded in greeting. Why was he suddenly offering her such an extravagant gift?!

Of course, she couldn’t possibly accept. Xi Guang thought she might as well win the bid herself and then make up some excuse about it being a family obligation to politely decline him.

The new bidder seemed to make Miss Wu hesitate. Just as Xi Guang steeled herself to raise her paddle again, she heard Uncle Liu’s even more enthusiastic voice.

"700,000!""Mr. Lin has bid 700,000!"

Mr. Lin?

Lin Yusen?!

Xiguang's hand froze instantly. She whipped her head around to look at Lin Yusen's back, only to see Miss Wu's suddenly delighted eyes gazing at him.

Xiguang suddenly felt ridiculous.

Especially when she recalled how she had hastily explained herself to him on the balcony earlier—it made her feel even more humiliated.

"800,000."

The new bid snapped Xiguang out of her thoughts. Uncle Liu's voice grew increasingly excited, "Mr. He has directly bid 800,000! And—"

"1 million," Lin Yusen said.

Mr. He's expression visibly darkened, as he could already sense Lin Yusen's determination to win.

Afraid he might continue bidding, Xiguang quickly interjected, "Mr. He, thank you for your kindness, but it's unnecessary. Honestly, I don’t like it that much—I just thought the box was pretty."

She forced a joke, then paused before adding, "If I truly liked it, I wouldn’t give up so easily."

Xiguang hastily bid on something else and returned to Wuxi that same night. Though exhausted from the day’s travels, after washing up and lying in bed, she found herself unable to sleep.

The abrupt ringing of her phone yanked her thoughts back from the void. She reached for her phone, glanced at it absently, and immediately sat up.

The caller ID read "Driver Xiao Wang."

This was Lin Yusen's driver. She had saved his number during their relationship for convenience and never bothered to delete it after their breakup.

Why would he call her in the middle of the night?

It took her a full ten seconds before she answered. Xiao Wang's earnest voice came through: "Miss Nie, you’re still awake, right? Sorry to disturb you, but Mr. Lin asked me to deliver something to you."

Nie Xiguang had an inkling but hardly dared to believe it. Her heart pounded violently as she leaped out of bed, threw on a coat, and rushed downstairs.

Xiao Wang was already waiting below.

But only Xiao Wang.

She couldn’t tell if she felt disappointed or something else as she steadied her rapid breathing.

"Miss Nie." Xiao Wang handed her a paper bag. Xiguang stared at the charity auction logo printed on it, unmoving.

Her suspicion was confirmed, but she still asked, "What is this?"

"I don’t know," Xiao Wang shook his head. "Mr. Lin told me to deliver it and make sure it reaches you personally. Once you’ve accepted it, I’ll head back."

It was already late, and he still had to return. Not wanting to delay him further, Xiguang took the bag.

Back in her bedroom, Nie Xiguang sat at her vanity, glaring at the bag on the table for a long time before finally pulling out its contents—sure enough, it was the wooden jewelry box. The unique color made her recognize it instantly as the one that had held the luminous pearl.

Suppressing her racing heart, she gently opened the box—only to freeze completely the next second.

It was empty.

Completely, utterly empty.

Xiguang was stunned for a moment, even checking inside the paper bag again to confirm that Lin Yusen had indeed sent her an empty box in the dead of night.

In an instant, fury surged through her. What was this? A cruel joke in the middle of the night?!

She couldn’t hold back any longer. Snatching up her phone, she called Lin Yusen.

The call connected almost immediately.

Xiguang blurted out, "What’s the meaning of sending me an empty box?""Did you receive it?" His voice on the other end sounded utterly nonchalant. "I originally wanted to give you the pearl too, but I couldn't bear to part with it."

Couldn't bear to? Couldn't bear to give it to her? Then who did he want to give it to?

Xiguang remembered Ms. Wu sitting beside him, remembered the delighted look in Ms. Wu's eyes when Lin Yusen made his bid.

Had he given the luminous pearl to Ms. Wu instead, then sent her an empty box to mock her?

Just because she'd said the box was pretty?

This terrifying thought made Xiguang feel suffocated, her fingers trembling slightly. She knew she shouldn't ask—wasn't the answer obvious? Yet she wanted to hear him say it himself, almost as if she were punishing herself.

"So what? You bought one item to give to two people?"

"Two people? Who else would I give it to?" Lin Yusen seemed momentarily startled, then chuckled softly. "I kept her for myself."

Xiguang froze.

"She's resting in my palm right now," he said quietly. "Xiguang, she glows."

Xiguang sat rigidly holding her phone, unable to speak. After a moment, the line went dead with a beep—he'd hung up first again.

Nie Xiguang jolted awake, sitting up abruptly in bed.

2

Lin Yusen was awakened by a pillow hitting his face.

Even with Dr. Lin's usual quick wit, he was momentarily disoriented upon waking.

He sat up, turned on the light, and stared blankly at the pillow in his hands as his wife angrily accused him: "You actually broke up with me!"

It took him only a second to process this. "What were you dreaming about?"

Though Dr. Lin usually focused on academics, he was energetic and well-read, having naturally come across online anecdotes about wives dreaming of their husbands cheating and then beating them upon waking.

He never expected it would happen to him.

Suddenly intrigued, he grabbed his wife's hands eagerly. "You dreamed we broke up? And I initiated it? Over what? Did I have good reasons?"

Why was he so excited about this? As for the reasons...

Well...

The dream had been unusually vivid, so much so that Xiguang felt slightly embarrassed. How strange—after being married for years, she'd still dreamed about that incident from their university days. It didn't make much sense.

But now wasn't the time for reason. Xiguang huffed, "Even if you had good reasons, does that mean you could just break up with me?"

"You're absolutely right." Her husband skillfully affirmed his wife's unreasonable stance, then applied his scientific research skills to dissect the situation. "You said 'break up' not 'divorce,' so in the dream, this happened before we were married?"

Nie Xiguang: "..."

She couldn't let him analyze this further. Xiguang cleverly skipped over that part and redirected his attention: "It was just a dream—there weren't any breakup reasons, just you being unreasonable."

Lin Yusen took the bait: "How was I unreasonable? Tell me."

"In the dream, I went to a charity auction where you were also attending, and you kept ignoring me." Xiguang summarized the dream, embellishing his misdeeds for emphasis. "During the auction, you sat in front of me and rudely kept chatting with some girl next to you—it was so disruptive. The worst part was when I tried to bid on a luminous pearl I liked, and you outbid me with a million dollars to take it from me.""Was I the one who... gave it to you?"

"Right, you gave it to me." Xi Guang gritted her teeth. "You gave me the box and kept the pearl for yourself!"

"Hmm." Lin Yusen pondered for a moment. "This... brother in your dream seems quite cunning. Breaking up yet doing this—his motive must have been..."

"You."

"What?"

"You," Xi Guang emphasized.

"..." Lin Yusen obediently shouldered the blame. "My motive was likely a strategic retreat."

"In that case, my ultimate goal was still to win over our Miss Nie. So, Xi Guang, why would the 'me' in your dream propose a breakup?"

Nie Xi Guang: "..."

Wait, how did he circle back to this?

But recalling the unfamiliar, almost coldly rational version of Lin Yusen from her dream, she couldn’t help but grow curious.

She quietly lay back down, pulling Lin Yusen beside her, and leaned against him as she asked, "Yusen, if—a long, long time ago, when we had just gotten together—I had been a little uncertain, a little hesitant, what would you have done?"

Lin Yusen immediately understood, looking slightly surprised but smiling with certainty as he replied, "You never were."

"So sure?" Xi Guang couldn’t help but feel a bit indignant.

"I have basic judgment." His palm gently brushed over her bright eyes.

Those eyes always shimmered brilliantly when they looked at him, brimming with joy and light. How could he ever doubt, ever waver?

"But what if?"

"What if." Lin Yusen sighed—it seemed she wouldn’t sleep without an answer.

Helpless, he wrapped his arms around her and thought for a moment before saying, "My girlfriend is a sincere, kind, intelligent, and tender-hearted girl. With someone like her, I don’t think any tactics would apply. If she didn’t like me enough at first, I’d win her over openly and honestly, not torment her."

"Besides, how could I ever risk using permanent loss as a gamble?"

Nie Xi Guang gazed at him, her eyes shining. She didn’t tell him that, though she had been lively and playful since waking up, the suffocating weight from her dream seemed to have lingered in reality, hovering over her heart without dissipating.

Until now.

The last traces of gloom in her heart were finally swept away, replaced by warmth that filled every corner of her being.

She leaned in and kissed him on the lips, declaring with satisfaction, "Time to sleep!"

Lin Yusen: "..."

Silently, he reached out and turned off the light.

Yet, after only a minute of quiet, she tugged at his pajama sleeve again.

"Yusen."

"Hmm?"

"This dream was a mess, but there was one good thing about it."

"What?"

"Even though we temporarily broke up in the dream, we’d definitely end up together in the end, right?"

"Of course."

"Then I’d still get that night pearl and the beautiful box! You bought them, but in the end, they’d still be mine! The pearl and the box were both so pretty—what a shame it was just a dream!"

Xi Guang began lamenting earnestly.

Soon, another question popped into her mind. "Is a night pearl actually fluorite? Does it have radiation? It seems a bit expensive too... Though for a charity auction, it wouldn’t matter..."

Lin Yusen: "...Never mind, don’t sleep."With a long reach of his arm, he effortlessly lifted her onto himself. Xi Guang let out a brief cry of surprise that was instantly silenced.

Between being held down and fiercely kissed, Xi Guang struggled to create just enough space to protest, "Wait—what's your reason for this? I only said a few words. Tonight's quota is already used up!"

She gasped for breath.

Lin Yusen flipped her over, pinning her beneath him as he solemnly declared, "Disturbing the peace."

Nie Xi Guang: "..."

Who's disturbing whom here!

Exhausted, Nie Xiguang finally fell into a deep sleep once more. In the darkness, Lin Yusen gazed at her, unable to sleep for a long time. He hadn't told her earlier, but in fact, he had heard about such a charity auction from his grandfather years ago.

How could Xiguang have dreamed of it?

Perhaps her mother-in-law had mentioned it to her?

There was something rather peculiar about this dream. Lin Yusen pondered for a while before finally giving up on investigating further.

After all, it wasn't important.

What mattered was that at this very moment, this radiant pearl was by his side, nestled in his arms.

—The End of Light