It Turns Out I Really Love You - Chapter 11

Sang Wuyan sat blankly, hugging her plush toy.

“He must have been drunk just now,” Cheng Yin said. “So he was talking nonsense; don’t let your imagination run wild.”

“Even if I know it might be a joke, hearing that he wants to marry me still makes me very happy,” Sang Wuyan’s smile was a little desolate.

Cheng Yin looked at the date on her phone, “Don’t forget you have to go home tomorrow.”

Sang Wuyan turned her head and saw the date displayed on the clock. The day after tomorrow was her father’s death anniversary.

Later, when burning incense at her father’s grave, she received a call from Wu Yu and realized she had forgotten to contact him.

“Where were you the day before yesterday?” He was very worried.

“I ran into a friend, and he had something going on, so he pulled me along.”

“Oh.”

The call paused for a moment. Wu Yu asked, “Where are you? It sounds very open.”

“I’m at Zhongshan, visiting my father’s grave,” Sang Wuyan replied.

“I’m so sorry to bother you at this time.”

“It’s fine. It’s been three years; no matter how sad I was then, it’s faded now,” Sang Wuyan said, standing in front of the tombstone, watching Sang Mama meticulously place the brought fruits and lilies.

“What three years?” Sang Mama turned around and scolded. “It’s clearly just two years. Look at your memory, child.”

Sang Wuyan moved the phone away and said, “I meant it’s the third year.” Then she put the phone back to her ear.

“Wuyan, shall I drive to pick you and Auntie up?”

“No need to trouble you; we’ve already called a car.”

As she hung up, Sang Wuyan quietly said, “Thank you, Mr. Wu.”

Wu Yu was startled; the three words “Mr. Wu” already indicated Sang Wuyan’s subtle refusal.

Sang Mama asked, “Whose call was that?”

“The Wu Yu you often mention.”

“He’s a good child.”

“Mom—” Sang Wuyan said to her while burning incense for her father.

“Mama’s greatest wish now is for you to quickly find a good home. After your father’s passing, I’ve come to understand everything. As long as he knows how to cherish you and can support the family, everything will be fine.”

“Mom, you’re already a professional woman; why are you talking about supporting the family? It’s not like I can’t earn money,” Sang Wuyan chuckled.

“Of course, he also needs to be healthy.”

It’s not like he’s waiting for him to do manual labor, Sang Wuyan thought. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Sang Mama muttering again, “Otherwise, if one person leaves, the other will be too lonely.”

On the way, Sang Mama said again, “This Xiao Wu is really good. He’s handsome. Although his family background in his hometown isn’t great, children from such families know best how to cherish things. He has a good profession, can earn money, has a good temper, and is kind to people.”

Sang Wuyan chuckled again, “Didn’t you just say nothing matters? Why are you listing conditions again?”

Sang Mama turned to her daughter and said, “Of course, you still can’t marry someone who will make you suffer. And you know you have a quick temper, so you need to find someone with a good temper. Otherwise, if two bad tempers get together, they’ll be breaking pots and throwing pans all day.”

Sang Wuyan immediately had a flash of Su Nianqin losing his temper, and instantly felt like laughing. Old people’s words are always so much more reasonable.

After parting with her mother, Sang Wuyan promised to go home for dinner later, and then, she took the opportunity to go shopping in the commercial district.

Passing by a boutique, she saw a set of couple’s sweaters in the display window. Off-white, chunky knit sweaters, looking very warm. The sweaters were plain, with simple cable knit patterns, and a cute hood on the back of the cardigan style. The buttons were made of raw wood.

Sang Wuyan imagined Su Nianqin wearing it, looking very homely. She was a little dazed, and the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curve upwards.

“Hey, Miss 007,” someone called from behind.

She wondered why someone would be addressed like that on the street.

Turning around, she found it was actually Peng Ruixing calling her. This young master of the Peng family had just parked his BMW and was entering the coffee shop, with a beautiful woman’s slender waist in his arm.

“007 actually let his Bond girl go shopping alone here?” He used that title for her again. Strange glances were already gathering, making Sang Wuyan very awkward.

Peng Ruixing walked over with a smile, said a few words to his companion, and let her go in first. Sang Wuyan saw that his silver casual suit jacket concealed a light pink shirt, with only a small portion of its buttons fastened, revealing his firm chest beneath, exceptionally eye-catching. Sang Wuyan reluctantly admired him, marveling that it was the first time she had seen a man who could carry off pink so well.

He was a man who fully understood his own strengths.

“Mr. Peng, my surname is Sang, Sang Wuyan,” Sang Wuyan almost pleaded for him to remember her name.

“Oh, Wuyan. Where’s your Prince Charming and fiancé?” He chuckled.

“He’s not my fiancé,” Sang Wuyan corrected.

“Are you hinting at something?”

“What?”

“When a woman deliberately denies having a fiancé, she’s hinting at something to the man opposite her.”

Sang Wuyan had nothing to say.

Peng Ruixing said, “I’d like to treat you to an ice cream.”

“I’m not a three-year-old child.”

“It’s not a bad thing to be young at heart, and I know there’s a delicious place in the park across the street.”

“Why do you always…” Sang Wuyan frowned, a little helpless.

“Because I’m very interested in the woman Su Nianqin fell in love with. I want to study why he chose you and didn’t even glance at my angelic sister.”

“Mr. Peng, I think, firstly, Su Nianqin is practically blind, so of course he can’t see your sister’s beauty. Secondly, Su Nianqin is not my fiancé; that day he was just joking with you all.”

“Oh? I’ve known him for a year or two, but I’ve never seen him joke. Let alone joke about himself using you.”

Sang Wuyan said, “How credible do you think it is when he says I’m his fiancée?”

Peng Ruixing looked Sang Wuyan up and down, then concluded, “It’s indeed not very credible.”

Sang Wuyan said dejectedly, “They say onlookers see more clearly, but you speak too honestly.”

Peng Ruixing burst out laughing. “But if your family had a hundred million in assets, this would be credible.”

“That’s a pipe dream.”

“Then there’s one possibility left,” Peng Ruixing said. “That man might be madly in love with you.”

Sang Wuyan truly smiled bitterly, “Impossible. There might have been liking in the past, but certainly not love. And ‘madly in love’ is even more incredible.”

Peng Ruixing raised his thick eyebrows upon hearing Sang Wuyan’s last words, “You’re saying Su Nianqin doesn’t love you? Then I have to study this even more.”

Sang Wuyan shrugged.

“Let’s go, let’s go. Let’s eat something. Anyway, it won’t delay you too long. And in broad daylight, with so many eyes on us, I won’t eat a single piece of your flesh.”

She had thought that since Peng Ruixing said he would treat her to ice cream, he would at least drive his BMW to Haagen-Dazs. But she didn’t expect him to just buy two Cornettos from a roadside freezer.

“You’re really cheap,” Sang Wuyan shook her head, walking along the path in the grass with Peng Ruixing, each holding a strawberry cone.

“This is called romance,” Peng Ruixing corrected.

She would occasionally look around.

“What are you looking for?”

Sang Wuyan said evasively, “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“She’s my… secretary. I’ve already sent her back.”

“Does your family have a dozen beautiful women, all secretaries and assistants?”

“Wuyan, if I hire a beautiful woman as a secretary, it’s wrong, but Su Nianqin’s Assistant Qin, who’s as beautiful as a fairy, that’s fine.”

“Don’t keep saying ‘Su Nianqin’ in front of me,” she said, feeling uncomfortable.

“Are you jealous of men too?”

“…”

After a while, Sang Wuyan looked around warily again.

“What are you looking for?”

“Nothing.” She was afraid Su Nianqin would suddenly appear from somewhere and do something shocking.

Sang Wuyan was about to cross the intersection and find a chair on the opposite side.

Suddenly, a bicycle abruptly rushed over, almost hitting her from behind. “Watch out!” Peng Ruixing, with quick reflexes, shielded Sang Wuyan, pulling her aside to avoid the bike. However, losing his balance, both of them stumbled and hit the trunk of a nearby locust tree.

Sang Wuyan’s forehead was scraped, and blood seeped out.

He breathed a sigh of relief, “Meeting you twice, and it’s always an adventure. Su Nianqin must have been tortured quite a bit by you in the past.”

Sang Wuyan felt a little embarrassed.

Peng Ruixing saw the wound on her forehead, took out a handkerchief, and prepared to wipe it for her. “You need to go to the hospital to get it checked.”

She recoiled warily, dodging his movement, “Thanks, I’ll do it myself.”

Peng Ruixing saw her pained face and suddenly had a good idea.

Su Nianqin was in a meeting at the branch office. He would be returning to headquarters next week, so he had to make some arrangements.

Xiao Qin was taking notes.

Outside, another secretary knocked and entered, saying, “Mr. Su, the sales department from headquarters called looking for you.”

“Tell them I’m in a meeting,” Su Nianqin replied, motioning for the meeting to continue.

Three minutes later.

“Mr. Su, Miss Peng from TORO called.”

“Tell them I’m in a meeting!” Su Nianqin repeated patiently. Xiao Qin, while flipping through documents, thought, The boss’s patience has improved.

Another three minutes passed.

“Mr. Su, Mr. Peng from TORO…”

“Tell them I’m in a meeting!” Su Nianqin was getting impatient.

The secretary saw Su Nianqin’s grim face and, feeling a little intimidated, continued in a low voice, “Mr. Peng said a Miss Sang was in a car accident and asked you to go.”

Su Nianqin abruptly stood up, and the chair behind him crashed to the floor.

“I just got a little scrape; what am I still waiting for here?” Sang Wuyan sat on the bench in the emergency room.

Peng Ruixing mysteriously asked Sang Wuyan to turn off her phone and smiled, “I just saved your life; let me conduct an experiment too.”

“What experiment?”

“To test how quickly Su Nianqin reacts to love,” Peng Ruixing said, explaining the call he had just made.

“How can you joke about something like that?” Sang Wuyan’s head really started to ache.

“Seeing you in such pain, I’m doing you a favor. And I’m helping my elder sister a favor, letting her give up hope early,” Peng Ruixing checked his watch. “Five minutes have passed. You can calmly observe his expression later to see if he truly cares about you.”

Hearing his words, Sang Wuyan felt she was indeed a little expectant.

Five minutes.

Twenty minutes…

Time passed minute by minute.

People coming for medical visits came and went, but Su Nianqin never appeared. Sang Wuyan’s heart slowly began to sink.

“Let’s go,” Sang Wuyan finally stood up, a little despairingly, and said, “But, thank you anyway.” She had never thought Peng Ruixing was such a lovable person.

Peng Ruixing said, “Let’s wait a little longer; traffic is very heavy at this time.”

Sang Wuyan shook her head. Rather than waiting here for judgment, she preferred to leave now and not face that cruel outcome. She had always liked to escape.

At this moment, Peng Ruixing received a call.

“Hello—”

“Mr. Peng,” Su Nianqin said, struggling to suppress his trembling voice, “You should at least tell me which hospital it is.”

Peng Ruixing slapped his forehead; he had forgotten that.

“Wuyan,” he turned to call Sang Wuyan, but found the seat empty.

When Su Nianqin answered the phone just now, the call had already hung up. Peng Ruixing hadn’t explained clearly and had called the company landline. Su Nianqin, while having Xiao Qin search all hospitals in the city for car accident victims, also asked Peng Danqi for Peng Ruixing’s mobile number. This delayed him by half an hour.

A moment later, Su Nianqin arrived like the wind, knocking over multiple medicine carts in the corridor.

Peng Ruixing lowered his head and explained everything to him, wondering if Su Nianqin would punch him. Unexpectedly, Su Nianqin let out a long sigh, rubbed his forehead, and said, “It’s good that you’re okay.” His panicked expression hadn’t completely faded, remaining on his face, making him look particularly haggard.

The car reached the main road outside the hospital. Su Nianqin’s pale face had not yet recovered from the fright. Xiao Qin saw the woman on the sidewalk and said, “It’s Miss Sang.”

Su Nianqin immediately sat upright, “Stop the car!” Before the car had even come to a complete stop, he opened the door and got out.

“Mr. Su, this is the middle of the road, it’s dangerous!” Xiao Qin quickly shouted, unable to stop him.

Su Nianqin acted as if he hadn’t heard, and walked straight for a few steps.

“Wuyan—” he called out.

A pickup truck rushing by in the next lane immediately slammed on its brakes, its tires emitting a piercing screech against the pavement. The driver’s eyes were red, and he poked his head out the window, cursing, “Don’t you look where you’re going!”

Sang Wuyan heard the commotion, turned her face, and saw the pale-faced man in the middle of the traffic.

“Su Nianqin!” she almost shrieked, “Don’t move!”

Su Nianqin heard her voice and was even more certain of his direction. He continued to walk towards her.

“I told you not to move!” Sang Wuyan anxiously shouted, then immediately climbed over the railing, dodged a taxi, grabbed him, held him tightly, and then cautiously led him back to the roadside.

“You!” Sang Wuyan was furious, not knowing what to say to him.

“Do you know people can die?” she said angrily.

Su Nianqin, for the first time, did not retaliate with anger. Instead, he smiled gently, reached out his hand, and touched her cheeks, which were red from anger. “Being able to hear you cursing, lively and bouncing, is also a wonderful thing.”

Sang Wuyan paused.

His face was smiling, but his lips were pale from panic, his palms were covered in cold sweat, and he was uncontrollably trembling slightly. He wasn’t scared for his own life just now, but merely due to Peng Ruixing’s prank call.

They had played a trick on him, and not only was he not angry, but he was even grateful, grateful that Sang Wuyan was safe and sound.

Sang Wuyan, feeling a little guilty, buried her face in his palm.

“I’m sorry,” she couldn’t help but apologize, then intimately rubbed the lines on his palm.

“Your forehead…” Su Nianqin felt the gauze patch on her face.

“I scraped it just now. It’s a very, very, very small wound,” Sang Wuyan guided his fingers to touch it.

Xiao Qin got out of the car at the next intersection and then walked over.

“Thank heavens, I’ll never dare to say ‘Miss Sang’ in the car again,” Xiao Qin said.

Sang Wuyan apologized to Xiao Qin for Su Nianqin, smiling apologetically.

Su Nianqin was still lingering over the bandaged wound on her head, gently rubbing it repeatedly with his thumb, completely disregarding that they were on a busy sidewalk during rush hour.

From that moment on, Xiao Qin, who was beside them, realized that Su Nianqin could also be an exceptionally gentle man.

He said, “Wuyan, do you know you’re very important to me?” Su Nianqin’s words were mixed with the sounds of horns and engines, by the dusty main road circling the city. At this moment, traffic was heavy, but pedestrians were few.

Sang Wuyan was suddenly moved by him.

But she forced herself to calm down amidst his gentle embrace, then asked, “More important than Yu Weilan?”

Su Nianqin’s hand instantly went cold on her forehead, and for a long time, he didn’t know how to speak.

That scene seemed to return to three years ago, when she asked, “If both I and Yu Weilan fell into the river, and you could only save one, who would you save first?”

The two of them went in two big circles, originally thinking that after so many days and nights, they had both matured and could fully accept each other. But in the end, they found themselves back at square one.

Sang Wuyan lowered her face and said blandly, “I’m going back; I have things to do at home.” She had promised Sang Mama to go home for dinner.

Su Nianqin quickly said, “I… we’ll take you.”

“No need, you go about your business,” then she forced a smile and bid them farewell.

Li Lulu advised her, “Actually, it’s pretty good to be the second most important woman in his heart.”

Sang Wuyan went home and told Cheng Yin what happened.

Cheng Yin said angrily, “What second or not second? Nonsense!” Sang Wuyan knew that Cheng Yin wasn’t mad at Li Lulu; what truly angered her was that other person.

So before going to bed, Cheng Yin didn’t forget to curse, “Su Nianqin, what a piece of work!”

The next day, several radio stations jointly hosted a discussion about the city. The director said they had invited a famous host from A City. Sang Wuyan wondered if it was Nie Xi, so she rushed to the radio station before work hours, but it wasn’t.

Sang Wuyan was a little disappointed.

After one incident, her relationship with Nie Xi was no longer just senior and junior.

Much later, at a networking event, she met Nie Xi again.

Nie Xi saw her and immediately asked, “How are you two doing…” She didn’t say the rest. That night, Sang Wuyan received a call from her.

“I was too embarrassed to tell you in person, but I deeply regret what I said to you back then. I feel like I was the culprit who caused you two to be apart for so long, and also caused Nianqin so much pain.”

“No, that’s not your fault.”

Nie Xi chuckled bitterly on the other end of the radio, “Because I told you so directly, I had my selfish reasons. So I feel guilty. Who knew that whether it was without Yu Weilan or without you, he still wouldn’t choose me.”

“Then, Sister Xi, who do you think is luckier between us?” Sang Wuyan asked softly.

Nie Xi thought for a moment and said very seriously, “If it were me, I would choose to be you. After all, you still have a chance, and perhaps it’s just a misunderstanding, maybe he has already forgotten her.”

Sang Wuyan’s smile was a little forlorn, “As long as he loves someone, and dares to admit in front of others that he loves her, then it’s absolutely not a misunderstanding. He is that kind of person. We all know that.”

He never lied to her, nor would he say incredible sweet nothings to please her. It seemed to him that things he couldn’t do shouldn’t be promised. But later, Sang Wuyan realized that being lied to by the one you love is actually a very happy feeling.

But Su Nianqin was not like that.

Because of Yu Weilan, Su Nianqin never mentioned his past to her. This was his favorite way of avoiding things.

At the end of the call, Sang Wuyan asked, “How is she?”

“You mean Nianqin?”

“No,” Sang Wuyan immediately denied. She never dared to inquire about any of his news again.

Nie Xi clearly understood who “she” was now. “She’s doing very well. Her husband survived a brush with death and they’re even more loving now. She’s a capable woman; she’s managed a once broken family quite well.”

When she mentioned Yu Weilan’s name again in front of Su Nianqin yesterday, Su Nianqin didn’t even offer a single word of defense.

The wound on her forehead, actually, was not light. That was the first time she tasted what it felt like to see stars. She went to the hospital again to change the dressing, this time applying a smaller Band-Aid. Passing by that boutique again, Sang Wuyan emptied her wallet and bought the couple’s sweaters, enduring the pain. The sales assistant enthusiastically said, “If your boyfriend doesn’t fit it, you can bring it back to exchange.”

Sang Wuyan smiled bitterly. Perhaps it was destined to just hang in her wardrobe forever. She sat on a park bench, pressing her face against the sweater. It was a blend of wool and rabbit fur, so it felt very soft and comforting, much like Su Nianqin’s rare gentle expressions. Thinking of him, unconsciously, Sang Wuyan shed tears again.

They didn’t understand, but she did. If Su Nianqin said he loved, then it was love, the kind of love that was steadfast and could last forever; if he said he didn’t love, then he truly didn’t. But when it came to Yu Weilan, he always evaded, how could that not make her sad?

That evening, she brought back the boiled fish her mother made, heated it steaming hot in the microwave, and gave it to Cheng Yin.

Cheng Yin said, “Once in freshman year, I had a cold and went out to eat alone. I saw this dish on the menu and imagined it would be something very bland, so I ordered it. But when it was served, it almost spiced me to death.”

Sang Wuyan chuckled, “Outsiders aren’t used to it.”

“But once you’re addicted, you can’t live without chili.”

Sang Wuyan was also used to hometown cooking, so her taste was very heavy; she liked spicy and hot things. Even if her stomach burned after eating, it still felt very satisfying.

Cheng Yin tasted another piece of fish and, after swallowing, took a deep, satisfied breath.

Sang Wuyan said, “I saw Wu Yu again after class. He’s really a very nice person.”

“Too bad you don’t like him.”

“If I had met Wu Yu first, I would definitely have fallen in love with him, and then married him immediately. That’s why fate is such a marvelous thing; meeting some people means missing others.”

Cheng Yin blinked, “Ape shit? What’s so marvelous about it? It’s just a pile of monkey feces.”

Sang Wuyan took three seconds to react, then spat out a mouthful of rice.

Sang Wuyan was doing auxiliary therapy work for some children at the children’s center, simply teaching them to practice some fine motor skills through simple games. During her break, she tapped the piano keys a few times. The song “Chopsticks Dance” finally started to take shape. Su Nianqin was right; some people take three years to learn one song, and she was the least talented of them all.

Xiao Jie actively walked over and poked the piano keys with his index finger.

Sang Wuyan picked him up and said with a smile, “Xiao Jie, older sister will teach Xiao Jie to play the piano, okay?”

Just as she was speaking, Sang Wuyan saw Yu Xiaolu outside the door.

The two hadn’t seen each other for a long time, so they naturally had a lot to say. They agreed to meet at the coffee shop opposite the children’s center.

“When did you arrive?”

“Yesterday.” She thought for a moment and then asked, “Was that child being treated here? How old is he?”

“Three years old.”

“Oh,” Yu Xiaolu chuckled. “I thought he was your and Nianqin’s child, but… the age doesn’t seem right.”

“How could that be?” Sang Wuyan was a little awkward.

“I’ve never had a concept of children. Don’t you think…” Yu Xiaolu stirred her coffee. “I watched from outside for a long time. Don’t you think he looks a lot like Nianqin?”

“Huh?”

“His demeanor, expression, and even his features resemble him a bit.”

Sang Wuyan paused, then thought about it. Hearing Yu Xiaolu say this, she actually felt that Xiao Jie’s stubbornness when he pursed his lips seemed somewhat similar to Su Nianqin’s.

“But Xiao Jie has autism. His behavior is much slower than a normal person’s.”

Yu Xiaolu raised an eyebrow, “Nianqin was similar when he was little. I think he also has some lingering effects now that he’s grown up.”

Sang Wuyan chuckled again, then saw the ring on Yu Xiaolu’s hand.

“You’re married?”

“Mm-hmm,” Yu Xiaolu said happily, “He’s a very scholarly university professor.”

“Congratulations.”

“Don’t talk about me yet. Have you and Nianqin met?” She had specifically rushed to B City for this matter.

“Mm-hmm,” Sang Wuyan didn’t know what expression to use to answer her.

“Do you still love him?”

“What’s the use of me loving him? Perhaps he doesn’t truly love me, and… we don’t get along,” It had been proven three years ago.

Yu Xiaolu paused. “Are they really nothing now?”

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t want to talk about your other matters. You’ve seen him; have you noticed that his eyesight has worsened a lot? Now he only has a faint sense of light left.”

Sang Wuyan suddenly looked up, “Why?”

“After you left, he drank alcohol every night. You know that alcohol severely damages the optic nerve in the brain. He wouldn’t listen to anything we said. So, Wuyan, don’t say he doesn’t love you.”

A pause between them.

“Wuyan, how many blind dates have you been on this year?”

“Three.”

“No, including the time Nianqin appeared, it should be four,” Yu Xiaolu corrected.

Then she took out a thick stack of photos from her handbag and placed them on the table. “Don’t you find it strange how I knew you were here? Why was your father’s memorial service so grand? Why has your father’s office at the school remained unoccupied until now? Why could your mother retire a year early? Why did Nianqin suddenly appear halfway through your meal with that Wu Yu? Don’t you think that these past three years, although difficult, everything went smoothly?”

Then Sang Wuyan looked at those photos. They were all pictures of herself that had appeared in various places over the past year.

“He knows your every move. He has always known, but he didn’t dare to appear in front of you. He was afraid he couldn’t bear the fact that you didn’t love him. He wanted to do everything perfectly for you and your mother first. You know he’s the kind of person who says one thing but hides another in his heart.”

Sang Wuyan’s hands trembled as she flipped through the photos one by one. In spring, she dyed her hair yellow and wore pigtails to work at the radio station. In summer, she dyed her hair back and wore a small floral dress…

Yu Xiaolu sighed, “All this only proves that he loves you. Of course…” She took a sip of coffee. “Nianqin’s crazy actions can also be summarized in three words: mentally ill. He’s a complete lunatic. In this aspect, you’re the expert.”

Sang Wuyan corrected, “No, it’s psychosis.” Then she laughed with Yu Xiaolu. When Sang Wuyan laughed, her eyes were moist, and tears hung at the corners of her eyes.

Her lips curved into a smile, tears streamed from her eyes, and her heart didn’t know what to do. It hurt a little, as if her heart had been gently pinched.

So what about Yu Weilan?

And in what way did Su Nianqin recall his affection for her?

She was someone who couldn’t tolerate a single grain of sand in her relationships.

When it was close to closing time at the center, Sang Wuyan and Li Lulu went to eat hot pot together.

Sang Wuyan scooped a large spoonful of chili from the dipping sauce into her bowl.

Li Lulu said, “Wuyan, you’re not quite right.”

Sang Wuyan smiled without speaking, continuing to eat her chili, then ordered beer.

Li Lulu scornfully glanced at her, “With your tiny alcohol tolerance, you want to compete with me in drinking?”

“Don’t measure me by my university level. Want to try?” Sang Wuyan said, pouring two full glasses of wine.

“To our happiness and health,” Sang Wuyan raised her glass. Without waiting for Li Lulu’s response, she tilted her head back and gulped down the wine.

She casually wiped her mouth with her sleeve and started eating her food again.

It was very, very spicy food. She ate it without even frowning, stuffing a few mouthfuls, then clinked glasses with Li Lulu again.

It was rare to see two women drinking heavily together in a hot pot restaurant, so people occasionally looked their way.

“If you have something sad, it’s better to talk about it,” Li Lulu said. She wasn’t usually very considerate, so saying this much was already an effort.

“Nothing, I just suddenly wanted to see if drinking would be interesting,” Sang Wuyan poured more wine.

“It’s for Su Nianqin, isn’t it? Maybe he’s not a good man.”

“I don’t want to just be ranked second by him, or have someone else always be equal to me in his heart.”

“Then go snatch him. You used to hide whenever something went wrong in college. Remember when you competed with me for the scholarship in freshman year? That look on your face, it still makes me angry when I think about it.”

“Later, Cheng Yin even stood up for me.”

“Cheng Yin, she…” Li Lulu waved her hand, “Sigh—let’s not talk about her, lest we get sad. You should be glad that woman isn’t dead. As long as she’s not dead, she won’t be Su Nianqin’s eternal love,” she took a sip of wine, feeling she had said something a bit malicious.

“But what I hate most isn’t… isn’t that woman, it’s Su Nianqin!” Sang Wuyan angrily slammed her glass on the table. After a few drinks, her tongue started to tie.

“Who says it isn’t? Men are naturally fickle,” Li Lulu saw Sang Wuyan was a little drunk, so she could only agree with her, then took the wine bottle away.

“Eating from the bowl while looking at the pot!” Sang Wuyan snatched the bottle back. “Why can a man have two people in his heart? Unfair, unfair!”

“Then you also pick a man to put in your heart.”

“I can’t do that. I always thought I cared about Wei Hao, but as soon as Su Nianqin appeared, I even forgot what Wei Hao looked like. You tell me, are men and women’s structures… different?” She slurred drunkenly, then took another drink.

“Probably. But if I were you, I’d have gone to scold him long ago,” Li Lulu tried to take the bottle away again, but failed.

“Then…” Sang Wuyan voluntarily put down the wine bottle, took out her phone. “I’m going to scold him right now, otherwise I’ll feel bad!” Saying that, she dialed the number.

Li Lulu grew anxious, “Hey—why are you being serious, woman?” She tried to snatch her phone again.

But the call went through immediately.

“Hello—” Su Nianqin rarely answered the phone so quickly.

Li Lulu snatched the phone, then Sang Wuyan snatched it back.

Su Nianqin heard the commotion on the other end and said “Hello” again.

Sang Wuyan yelled into the phone from a distance, “Su Nianqin, you son of a b***h! Why didn’t you lie to me and say you only liked me? Why did you fall in love with someone else first? Since you love someone else, why did you come looking for me? Su Nianqin is a son of a b***h! You’re not human!”

Li Lulu sadly scratched the back of her head. This woman’s drinking habits were truly terrible.

At this time, Su Nianqin was at an Italian restaurant on the other side of the city, treating a group of people and Peng Danqi to dinner, turning Peng Danqi’s private invitation into a business meeting dinner.

Sang Wuyan’s loud voice came through the receiver, and everyone at the table heard it clearly.

She let out a drunken hiccup, her anger turning into a tearful voice as she continued, “Why are you so fickle? Su Nianqin, you’re a complete philanderer, a big bad guy.” Then she started sobbing into the phone.

Su Nianqin stood up, left his seat, and said with a slight frown, “Why are you drinking so much? Is anyone else there?”

“No. Yes… Li Lulu.” Sang Wuyan was crying so hard she was incoherent.

“Where are you?” Su Nianqin tried his best to maintain his patience.

“I… why… why should I tell you?” Sang Wuyan pouted, wiping her nose.

“Where’s Li Lulu? Let her answer the phone,” Su Nianqin felt he couldn’t reason with her.

“I… why… why should I let her talk to you? You want… her to answer and she’ll answer?” Even completely drunk, she didn’t forget to argue with him in a tearful voice.

“Sang Wuyan!” he snapped.

Sang Wuyan ignored him and continued to cry into the phone.

“Sang Wuyan! I told you to let Li Lulu answer the phone! Immediately! Right now!” Su Nianqin predictably erupted, shouting into the phone. Instantly, everyone in the restaurant stared in surprise at the handsome man with a furious face.

Without Sang Wuyan needing to say it, Li Lulu already heard Su Nianqin’s roar. She quickly snatched the phone from Sang Wuyan, “Hello, Mr. Su, this is Li Lulu.”

Su Nianqin took a deep breath, trying his best to regain a polite tone, and said, “Miss Li, where are you now?”

Li Lulu quickly gave him the hot pot restaurant address.

Su Nianqin, while having Xiao Qin call for a car, said, “Miss Li, I earnestly ask you to please look after Wuyan until we arrive.”

“Okay.” Li Lulu rarely obeyed the instructions of a strange man so obediently. Although his language was extremely polite, it carried an undeniable authority.

He’s very much a man, Li Lulu thought as she hung up, a bit different from his delicate and elegant appearance.

When Su Nianqin arrived, Sang Wuyan was resting her head on Li Lulu’s shoulder, hugging a wine bottle.

“How much did you drink?” Su Nianqin put Sang Wuyan in the car, then turned to ask.

“Three bottles of beer, and I drank half of it,” Li Lulu said rather innocently.

“Where do you live? I’ll send someone to take you back.”

“No, no, I’ll walk myself.”

“It’s too late now, and it’s not convenient for you alone. And thank you for taking care of Wuyan.”

“I’m also responsible for her acting so wild today. How can you thank me?” Li Lulu said apologetically.

“No, not just today. You’ve always taken good care of her, so thank you.”

While talking to Su Nianqin, Xiao Qin had already called a car to send Li Lulu off.

Still an undeniable man, Li Lulu thought again as she got into the car.

All the way, Sang Wuyan became restless again, arguing and struggling, exhausting everyone before they finally reached the hotel downstairs. Su Nianqin went to pick her up. She kicked and bit him, and even scratched a shallow gash on Su Nianqin’s face with her teeth along the way.

Returning to the room, Su Nianqin had just put her on the sofa when he felt the cold beer bottle still clutched in her arms like a treasure, and there was still something inside.

“Give it to me!” the tyrant, his face livid, commanded.

“No,” Sang Wuyan hugged it tightly to her chest.

“Give it to me.” The tyrant generally disliked repeating his instructions multiple times.

Not only did she not listen, but she even recoiled to the other end, keeping a far distance from him, squatting in the corner of the sofa with her shoes still on.

He finally lost patience and sat closer, ready to take drastic measures.

Sang Wuyan continued to kick and bite, struggling against him, letting out ear-splitting shrieks.

Xiao Qin ran over in a panic, saw the scene, and said with a mix of exasperation and amusement, “Mr. Su, Miss Sang is drunk. In this situation, you can only coax her gently.” She glanced at Su Nianqin’s hands, which were tightly gripping Sang Wuyan’s wrists. “And you’ll hurt her like that.”

Su Nianqin paused, heard Xiao Qin’s words, quickly released her, and then coughed awkwardly twice. Coax her gently? He had never known how to coax a woman.

Xiao Qin understood and quietly explained, “Whatever she wants to do, you go along with her. The same with talking, keep your voice down.”

After saying that, she felt a little superfluous remaining there. “I’ll go back first, Mr. Su. If you need help later, call me; I’ll come right away.”

Xiao Qin had been gone for a while, but Sang Wuyan still guarded against him as if he were an enemy.

Su Nianqin slowly moved closer and said, “Wuyan, give me the bottle.”

“No,” she mumbled.

“If the wine spills on you, it will be very uncomfortable. And if it falls and breaks, I can’t see, what if it cuts you?” He tried his best to make his tone sound gentle, beginning to learn how to coax her.

“It won’t get damaged,” she argued with him like a child, but her attitude had calmed down considerably.

“Then… then just hold it,” Su Nianqin, while trying to grasp Xiao Qin’s words, patiently put them into practice.

“Okay,” Sang Wuyan chuckled foolishly.

Su Nianqin heard her laugh, and his expression began to relax. He opened his arms and said, “Come here, I’ll hold you.”

She hesitated a little and asked, “Who are you?”

“Who do you say I am?” Hearing this, Su Nianqin started to get angry again and raised his voice.

Sang Wuyan immediately moved a foot away, recoiling again.

“How would I know who you are?” she said, scrunching her face. “You must be an annoying ghost.”

“I am Su Nianqin,” he lowered his voice again.

He surrendered, he repented.

“Impossible.”

“How is it impossible?” Su Nianqin’s face fell.

“Su Nianqin wouldn’t talk to me like that. He would only roar: Sang Wuyan, shut up! Sang Wuyan, go away! Sang Wuyan, stop being noisy!”

Su Nianqin heard these words and felt a little pang in his heart. “I’ll try my best not to lose my temper with you anymore.”

“What do you mean, ‘try your best’?”

“It means generally, it will be like this.”

“Really?”

“Really. Wuyan, come here, I want to hold you.”

She stopped making noise and obediently stepped over the sofa cushion, sat on his lap, and then obediently let Su Nianqin take off her shoes.

“I can’t imagine what my clothes and this sofa have been through because of you,” he placed the bottle on the coffee table and also put her shoes on the coffee table.

“Why are you putting shoes on the table too?” Sang Wuyan asked him, tilting her head.

“Because no matter where I put them, you’ll kick them into the middle of the road and make me trip. That spot is the safest.”

“Am I that bad?”

“Far worse. Once, you didn’t put the kettle back in its place and just left it by the stove, causing me to get burned.”

“I don’t remember.”

“That’s because you were too drunk, otherwise you definitely wouldn’t forget. At that time, you cried so hard, and I had to pretend not to be in pain at all and still comfort you.” Su Nianqin habitually rested his chin on her shoulder and gently stroked her hair back and forth.

He smelled Sang Wuyan’s alcoholic breath lingering in his nose, and her abnormally heavy breathing due to intoxication. She was quiet for a long time, making Su Nianqin almost think she had fallen asleep.

Suddenly, Sang Wuyan stirred in his arms, raised her finger, and touched his eyelashes.

“They look even longer like this,” she exclaimed. “Why are they so thick? Like little fans. Can I pull them off and stick them on my eyes?”

Su Nianqin chuckled.

“You smiled,” Sang Wuyan responded with a silly grin. “From now on, you’re only allowed to smile at me, otherwise other women will want to commit crimes.” She then reached out to touch his nose.

Su Nianqin, unable to bear the ticklish sensation, caught her hand and gently kissed it to his lips.

“Nianqin, will you only belong to me, okay?”

Su Nianqin was silent for a moment, then replied, “I originally belonged to you alone.”

“Then what about her?”

“There is no ‘her’; everything is in the past. Truly, Wuyan,” Su Nianqin said, closing his eyes.

“Tell me, you are mine.”

“Okay.”

“Say it.”

“You are mine.”

“Mm-hmm,” Sang Wuyan smiled contentedly, then, feeling a little tired, slumped onto his chest.

After a long while, she suddenly sat upright in a daze, and said, “That’s not right.”

“What’s not right?”

“You said it backward.”

Su Nianqin raised an eyebrow, “It seems your brain is still quite clear. Then I won’t be polite.” With that, he placed her on the bed, took off her outerwear, and lowered his head to kiss her.

Sang Wuyan protested, “You haven’t said it yet.”

“I am yours. Su Nianqin is Sang Wuyan’s, forever and ever,” he pressed his burning lips against the snowy skin of her chest.

“Wuyan?”

He stopped, finding no response from her, only the heavy breathing of someone deeply asleep from drinking.

Sang Wuyan had actually fallen asleep.

The next day, she woke up, and Su Nianqin had already gone out.

Breakfast was left on the dining table, along with a hangover soup. Sang Wuyan was starving and had a terrible headache. She finished the food in a few bites, took a shower, and found clothes in her size in the bathroom; they were probably prepared by Xiao Qin.

After cleaning up, she went back to sleep.

She remembered Su Nianqin’s words, “There is no ‘her’; everything is in the past,” and a sweet smile bloomed. And the most important three words, Su Nianqin hadn’t said to her. She pondered them before falling asleep.

She didn’t know when she fell asleep, but she heard a noise outside the bedroom. So she happily ran out and saw Xiao Qin.

“Where’s Su Nianqin?”

“Mr. Su is taking a shower,” Xiao Qin explained with a smile, glancing towards the bathroom. Su Nianqin’s usual habit: he always showered after coming home from being out, to wash off the strange smells he picked up outside.

As she spoke, the bathroom door opened.

Su Nianqin, with wet hair, his upper body bare, was only wrapped in a white towel below.

Xiao Qin said, “Mr. Su, Miss Sang is awake.”

Sang Wuyan stood facing the bathroom door, staring blankly at Su Nianqin, from head to the covered critical parts.

Su Nianqin, standing at the bathroom door, seemed to finally notice Sang Wuyan’s gaze. Previously, he would occasionally appear like this in front of Xiao Qin and felt nothing of it. Now, with Sang Wuyan suddenly there, he felt a bit awkward, so he composed himself and said, “I’m going in to change.”

“It’s fine; I’ve seen you wearing even less,” Sang Wuyan said.

Su Nianqin almost bumped into the bedroom door upon hearing this. This woman actually made him look foolish in front of his subordinate.

Xiao Qin, who was originally accustomed to it, now felt a little embarrassed, so she quietly left.

Sang Wuyan walked over and blocked Su Nianqin’s path, “I have something very important to ask you.”

“Let me get dressed first,” Su Nianqin said in a low voice.

Sang Wuyan looked down at his lower body, “This is fine. You usually act sweeter when you’re naked than when you’re dressed. Once you put on clothes, you don’t like to tell the truth anymore.”

Su Nianqin was speechless.

Then Sang Wuyan closed her eyes, and with a burst of courage, said, “Su Nianqin, I love you.” At this moment, Sang Wuyan felt they were truly interesting. The first time she confessed to Su Nianqin, she was naked from the waist up, and the second time, Su Nianqin was naked from the waist up.

Su Nianqin’s expression gradually softened, and his eyelashes flickered.

She paused, then asked, “Then do you love me? And do you only love me?”

Sang Wuyan had once heard that men with long eyelashes were the most sentimental. She nervously awaited Su Nianqin’s answer. That second felt like a hundred years. Water droplets dripped down Su Nianqin’s hair tips, and the surroundings were so quiet that one could almost hear the ticking sound of the falling water droplets.

Then Su Nianqin stretched out his arms, pulled her into his chest, and said, “Yes, I only love you, even more than my life.”

Sang Wuyan originally thought she was prepared enough, but unfortunately, tears still uncooperatively welled up. She leaned against Su Nianqin’s chest, crying loudly. Su Nianqin remained silent, letting her cry it all out. His arms circled her waist, his chin rested on her head, exceptionally gentle.

After a long time, Sang Wuyan stopped sobbing, wiped her tears, and sniffed, “Su Nianqin.”

“Mm.”

“Your bath towel is slipping.”