It Turns Out I Really Love You - Chapter 7

In the living room, Su Nianqin sat alone on the sofa, feeling gloomy.

That day, he had gone to the hospital for the second time. The last time, Yu Weilan was with him. Yesterday, without telling anyone, in the hospital office, Dr. Xu had told him, “If we can’t find a matching liver, your father won’t live past next year’s winter.”

From the hospital to home, Dr. Xu’s voice kept echoing in his mind, as if it was reminding him that all love and hate would suddenly weaken in the face of death.

Thinking this, Su Nianqin took a deep breath.

This man’s cruelty even made him believe, before he was seven years old, that he was originally an orphan with no parents.

Until his mother found him, tearfully.

His mother only said, “You got separated from us when you were very, very young. Mama has been looking for you for many years.”

Only after understanding the harsh realities of life did he realize that the man had simply abandoned him on purpose.

His mother awkwardly explained, “At that time, it was just that your father had a very hard time supporting the family, and our family conditions were too poor, so we were afraid we couldn’t raise you.”

Su Nianqin sneered.

He knew that a blind person was not fit to be his, Su Huaishan’s, son.

If not for the fact that Su Huaishan eventually only had him as a bloodline, that man probably wouldn’t even look him in the eye.

But now, he was going to die.

He hadn’t even hated this so-called father enough, so how was he going to die?

Su Nianqin didn’t turn on the lights, remaining silently in the darkness alone. For a long time.

Night fell deep, but Wuyan still hadn’t returned. She rarely came home late, except when the radio station had special interviews and overtime.

Two matters intertwined, making his heart a tangled mess.

Although Su Nianqin tried his best to maintain a proper sitting posture, his heart had never been so restless.

Yu Xiaolu said Wuyan seemed to know something.

He had never found the right moment to tell Wuyan, or perhaps it was that he didn’t dare to tell Wuyan.

How to tell her?

“Actually, I’ve been hiding some things from you.” Or, “At that time, my family wasn’t wealthy. Seeing I was blind, they feared I’d be a burden and a disgrace, so they abandoned me.” Or, “After my mother died, my father remarried three times. His current wife is a friend roughly my age.”

His visual impairment had already made him feel inferior enough in front of Wuyan.

That day, Yu Xiaolu went to the airport to pick up a friend and happened to run into Sang Wuyan. She had called out to Wuyan from afar, but Wuyan was distracted and didn’t notice at all. Then, someone came and she hurriedly took a taxi and left.

“It was a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties who looked a lot like her; could it be Wuyan’s mother?” Yu Xiaolu reported to Su Nianqin.

So, he eagerly dialed Wuyan’s number.

The other end, however, said coldly, “I’ll call you back in a bit.”

Then, he waited for two full hours, unable to do anything.

He finally made up his mind to call her again, but no one answered.

Later, Xiaolu said Wuyan wanted to prepare herself to meet someone, and then added, “Could it be that it really was her mother that day, and the old lady asked to see you?”

Hearing this, he seemed a little pleased.

Unexpectedly, Wuyan didn’t mention a word later. He finally couldn’t help but ask her, but she said, “It’s Cheng Yin.” She was evasive.

Perhaps even she didn’t realize that whenever she lied, she would deliberately act spoiled in front of him to cover it up. At that time, his heart felt a little empty.

At this moment, Su Nianqin heard Wuyan fumbling for her keys at the door. He abruptly stood up, but then felt it was inappropriate, so he quickly sat back down.

As soon as she pushed open the door, pulling out her keys, Su Nianqin impatiently blurted out, “Where did you go?”

Sang Wuyan paused, “I was with Cheng Yin.”

“Why did you ask Xiaolu about my affairs?” he spoke his second sentence, his face even more annoyed.

Su Nianqin realized for the first time that an evil person who accuses first looked just like him, only he wondered if those evil people were as guilty as he was.

Sang Wuyan, unusually, did not retort to him, remaining silent.

“I didn’t tell you because I have my reasons. If you want to know, why didn’t you ask me directly?” He was afraid Wuyan would question him, so he pretended to be nonchalant and deliberately got angry.

“I…” She suddenly felt very wronged.

She stood at the doorway, somewhat at a loss for words. Somehow, all her usual quick wit, boldness, and eccentricity completely disappeared. She just took a few steps, lightly put down her bag, and sank into the sofa opposite Su Nianqin.

Su Nianqin sensed something was wrong, stood up, and called her name stiffly. She ignored him.

“Wuyan.” He began to worry, walked to her, and then stopped.

I’m sorry, I’m a selfish man, Su Nianqin apologized in his heart. But what came out was, “From now on, you’re not allowed to come home so late.”

Sang Wuyan still ignored him and remained silent.

Su Nianqin stood half a meter away, at a loss. He didn’t know if she was crying. Su Nianqin didn’t dare to reach out and touch her face, or even think about it. But the more he tried not to think, the more his heart ached.

He paused, “If you’re curious, I’ll take you back to the Su family tomorrow.” This sentence almost exhausted all his courage.

But he didn’t expect Wuyan to suddenly look up, “No!”

Su Nianqin asked, “Why?”

This question didn’t matter much, but it enraged Sang Wuyan, who had been silent just now. She jumped up and asked, “Why? You’re asking me why?”

“Su Nianqin, what am I to you? What right do you have to control where I go? What right do you have to ask me to go to your home?”

“What do you say you are to me?” Su Nianqin asked angrily.

“A bedmate with no right to understand you!” Sang Wuyan retorted, unwilling to back down. “You said you grew up in an orphanage, and I was foolish enough to believe you were an orphan, feeling sorrow and sadness for you. Were you watching a show beside me? Was it very interesting? You think you have money, pretending not to let me know, is that very amusing? What stinking money, what Su family, I don’t care for it!”

Su Nianqin took a breath, stood up, and said coldly, “If you don’t want to go, then don’t.”

“Su Nianqin!” Sang Wuyan got even angrier. “Can’t you stop being so overbearing?”

“You’re the one who inquired about others, and you’re the one who doesn’t want to go. How can you still say I’m overbearing?” Su Nianqin turned his back to her, his tone returning to the sarcastic flavor he often carried when he spoke before.

“You!” Sang Wuyan couldn’t argue with him. Furious, she stomped her foot and stormed out.

Why was Su Nianqin like this?

She was already troubled enough. It was clearly Su Nianqin’s fault, yet he hadn’t offered any explanation or comfort and was still losing his temper at her. She wasn’t truly angry with him; she just felt a little hurt. Why wouldn’t he tell her these things? So she only acted a little spoiled towards him, just hoping he would gently coax her, or even say a soft word. But why was he always like that?

As soon as Sang Wuyan thought of this, she wanted to raise her arms and shout.

“Su Nianqin, you idiot! Idiot!”

He never considered others’ feelings when speaking, acting as if he was superior to everyone.

He also never asked for others’ opinions when doing things, never using phrases like “Is it okay?” “Is it good?” or “What do you think?” He simply gave direct instructions, without room for change.

She fled in such a hurry that she forgot to bring her handbag; her wallet and keys were all inside. After running out, she couldn’t go back so shamelessly, so she had no choice but to walk for over an hour back to Cheng Yin’s place.

She fumbled under the doormat and found the key.

“Did Master Su kick you out?” Cheng Yin asked.

“Cheng Yin, don’t tease me.” Sang Wuyan lay spread-eagle on the sofa, like a defeated kitten.

“Remember what I told you before? If you decide to love, you have to love all the way, otherwise both of you will get hurt.”

“He hurt me first.”

“What did he do to you?”

“I hadn’t even reasoned with him yet, and he was already questioning me, with such a bad attitude.”

“As far as I know, he’s always had that problem; you didn’t seem to mind it before.”

“I…”

“That’s because you used to view things from a position of strength. You felt you had an advantage compared to his disability, so you didn’t mind. But now, Su Nianqin suddenly transformed from an orphan into a rich young master, and you feel inferior. Inferiority makes people sensitive, that’s what you often say.”

“Is that so?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Maybe he’ll call you in a bit.”

“My phone is in my handbag too,” Sang Wuyan sighed.

“Well, that’s good then, you’ll have some peace and quiet,” Cheng Yin blew a strand of hair from her forehead. “It’s a good way to punish Su Nianqin for daring to throw a tantrum at our Miss Sang. Let him worry enough tonight. How about we go worship Buddha together and curse him to choke on his food, drown in his water, and be suffocated in the shower?”

“He’ll really worry,” Sang Wuyan’s heart softened hearing Cheng Yin say that.

“Then you contact him yourself,” Cheng Yin said, preparing to throw the phone to her.

“No! I’m not done being angry yet.” Sang Wuyan quickly hid her head under the pillow.

However, her anger was ultimately no match for Su Nianqin’s.

That night, Su Nianqin was about to chase her out the door, but as he reached the entryway, he stumbled in a hurry, tripped, and loudly shattered the vase on the shoe cabinet.

The glass shattered on the floor, water spilled everywhere, and his arm scraped, cutting his skin.

Yu Xiaolu heard the sound and ran downstairs to help him, but it only provoked Su Nianqin’s anger, “Don’t bother me!”

He turned back from the entryway, opened the piano, and suddenly began to violently play “Radetzky March,” completely disregarding that it was one or two in the morning.

The neighbors were awakened by him and turned on their lights one after another.

If not for Yu Xiaolu and the building security going around to apologize one by one, there probably wouldn’t have been anyone who didn’t call the police.

After the situation calmed down, Yu Xiaolu stared at Su Nianqin’s back in front of the piano and said, “Actually, I envy Miss Sang very much.”

“Nianqin, you, my sister, and I grew up together. You’ve always treated everyone so proudly and indifferently. I always thought that was your true nature. Seeing Miss Sang, I realized it wasn’t. She can make you angry, joyful, frustrated. She only needs a glance or a smile to overturn your emotions. I even…” Yu Xiaolu rubbed her forehead and smiled helplessly, “I even envy her for being able to make you so angry.”

Su Nianqin paused, and said blandly, “I’m tired.”

“Don’t you need to go look for her?”

“No need.”

He returned to his room and closed the door.

Su Nianqin was a typical stubborn type. After closing the door and standing for less than half a moment, he pulled out his phone, connected the call, but heard the ringing echo in the living room. He followed the sound, found Sang Wuyan’s bag, and inside were her phone, keys, and wallet… everything.

Su Nianqin’s face instantly changed.

“Nianqin, what’s wrong?” Yu Xiaolu had heard the phone ring upstairs.

“I have to go find her.”

The Volvo drove out of the residential area.

“Are you sure she can walk all the way to Cheng Yin’s place from such a distance?” Yu Xiaolu steered the wheel, turning, while looking out at the sidewalks on both sides.

Su Nianqin didn’t speak, resting his elbow on the car window and supporting his chin, quickly searching his mind for places Sang Wuyan might go.

Yu Xiaolu glanced at him and said, “Nianqin, don’t worry. The public order in this area isn’t bad.”

“I didn’t take good care of her,” Su Nianqin blurted out after a long while.

“You said that no one in this world needs to be taken care of by anyone else.”

“Wuyan is different.”

“Well, she didn’t take good care of you either. If she knew you would be so anxious, she shouldn’t have been so willful. It’s already past midnight,” Yu Xiaolu glanced at her watch.

“Xiaolu,” Su Nianqin turned and said, “I’m very sorry to trouble you, I can get out of the car and look for her myself.”

“Nianqin, you clearly know that’s not what I mean,” Yu Xiaolu sighed.

The car stopped at the traffic light at the intersection.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?” Su Nianqin put down his arm and turned to ask.

“That figure from behind looks like Miss Sang.”

The girl was crossing the street, looking tired. As she turned her side, it was indeed Sang Wuyan.

“It’s her.” As soon as the red light stopped, Yu Xiaolu engaged the gear.

“Don’t call her,” Su Nianqin suddenly said, “Just follow her from behind.”

So, Sang Wuyan walked ahead, the car behind, maintaining a distance of about a hundred meters between them. The car was in a low gear, slowly creeping along, following Sang Wuyan back to her previous residence for twenty minutes. Then they watched her go upstairs.

“The light’s on,” Yu Xiaolu said.

Su Nianqin realized his arm wound was aching faintly when he took a shower. The vase was originally on the piano stand; he didn’t know who had put it on the shoe cabinet without informing him. He thought for a moment. Apart from Sang Wuyan, who else could it be? It was her nature to put things in the wrong place.

She didn’t want to come back with him, Su Nianqin was dejected; everything was more or less as he had expected.

He wasn’t good enough for her.

He was woken by the ringing phone in the morning. Su Nianqin fumbled for a long time before answering.

“Wuyan, I remember your thesis defense is today…”

Su Nianqin heard the voice from the other end of the line and suddenly sat up from under the covers.

“Wuyan?” Sang Mama asked.

“No… Auntie… it’s…” Su Nianqin stammered for the first time in his life.

Sang Mama also paused suddenly upon hearing a male voice.

“Mr. Su?” Sang Mama collected her thoughts.

“It’s me, Auntie,” he tried his best to answer in a tone that didn’t sound like he had just woken up.

“I apologize for disturbing you. Where’s Wuyan?”

“She left her phone here yesterday. She’s probably at school now.” Su Nianqin emphasized the word “yesterday” to cover for Sang Wuyan.

“Oh,” Sang Mama seemed to let out a big sigh of relief.

“Mr. Su.”

“Auntie, please speak.” Sang Mama’s exceptional politeness made Su Nianqin feel that the future was not looking good.

“You know, because of certain reasons concerning you, Wuyan’s father and I don’t approve of your relationship. As parents, I wonder if you understand our feelings. For this, I personally went to A City, and Wuyan and I had a big fight. Although she’s spoiled by us, she has never spoken to me like that before. She’s my daughter, she stubbornly wants to be with you, even going so far as to fall out with me. At this point, we can’t do anything about her, so we just have to let her be.”

Su Nianqin’s expression gradually turned cold. He knew nothing about these things.

“Wuyan is my only child, a part of my own flesh and blood. Her father and I have worked hard for most of our lives just so she wouldn’t suffer or endure hardships, and could find a healthy and suitable person to live a simple life with.” Sang Mama emphasized the word “healthy.”

“Mr. Su?”

“Please speak, I’m listening.”

“Wuyan has never experienced any setbacks since childhood. She is more willful and childish than her peers, and she knows nothing about interpersonal skills or worldly matters. This is what I understand most. Therefore, I don’t think you are the one we can trust to entrust her life to. Perhaps what I’m saying now hurts you, but please try to experience how I felt that day when my own daughter, whom I raised with such hardship, hurt me.”

“I understand.”

“Now that I’m no longer hindering her, it doesn’t mean I agree with you. It’s just that the time isn’t right, and I hope you understand that too.”

After Sang Mama hung up, Su Nianqin sat there, silent for a long time.

In Sang Wuyan’s world, the biggest troubles were nothing more than summer being too hot, winter being too cold, and her mother being too nagging. If she were to be more idealistic, it would be that the world wasn’t peaceful enough.

But this was only before Su Nianqin entered her vision.

Cheng Yin’s words were convincing, except for one point: she said Su Nianqin would worry, but now three days had passed, and the man still showed no sign of remorse, not appearing in front of her in any form.

Sang Wuyan was fuming.

She went to the office and suddenly saw Wu Wei holding a copy of “Border Town.”

Ye Li taunted, “My God, Wu Wei, you’re so cultured, actually reading a classic.”

Wu Wei shook his head, “Tsk tsk tsk, what kind of society is this? People who read Playboy are admired, and those who read literary classics are despised.”

Ye Li nudged Sang Wuyan, “Look how smug he is. Sang Wuyan, go.” She knew only Sang Wuyan could handle him.

But Sang Wuyan unexpectedly said ingratiatingly to Wu Wei, “Brother Wu, can I borrow that book from you for a few days?”

“What are you doing?” Wu Wei nervously covered his beloved book.

“I’m just looking.”

Actually, she wasn’t just looking. She suddenly remembered that Su Nianqin had tried to order the braille version of this book last time but couldn’t get it. The types of braille books available were pitifully few. She thought she would read it to him and record it.

Recording something was very simple in this place, especially with Wu Wei’s help.

But the book was too long.

Wu Wei asked, “Are you going somewhere to do volunteer work? Reading for the blind?”

This sentence reminded Sang Wuyan that the recording could actually be for many people. This strengthened her resolve, and she even found some children’s books. This matter almost consumed all her free time, even lessening her resentment and longing for Su Nianqin.

She stood in the recording studio, just as Nie Xi walked in.

“For someone aspiring to be a broadcaster, your voice is very important. Don’t overuse it,” Nie Xi said, then left a glass of water.

The fourth day, the fifth day…

Su Nianqin still didn’t appear. Sang Wuyan was almost driven to madness. Neither side wanted to compromise first.

Wu Wei enthusiastically invited Sang Wuyan to watch a movie.

Sang Wuyan decisively refused. She looked up and saw a promotional flyer on the wall, she didn’t know when it had been put up, for a newly opened Western buffet restaurant near the radio station. Sang Wuyan felt the few remaining coins in her pocket, and couldn’t help but drool a little. These coins were still borrowed from Ye Li.

Wu Wei saw that Sang Wuyan’s gaze couldn’t be torn away, so he took the opportunity to say, “I heard this place has pretty good food. Shall I treat you to a taste tonight?”

Sang Wuyan looked at Wu Wei for a long time, then said with a pained expression, “No thanks, I prefer eating at the cafeteria.” Then she left with a forced smile, against her true feelings.

Sang Wuyan mumbled to herself: The colorful world outside is so beautiful. Su Nianqin, if you don’t come soon, I’m going to find someone else.

After work, Ye Li returned to the studio beaming, as if she had found a treasure.

They were recently working with Nie Xi on a series of public service advertisements featuring celebrities, to be inserted into talk shows.

“Guess who’s coming next?” Ye Li chuckled.

“Louis Koo, Daniel Wu, Andy Lau,” Sang Wuyan said listlessly, leaning on the table, to humor Ye Li.

This didn’t dampen Ye Li’s excitement at all. She said with a beaming face, “It’s Yi Jin.”

What?! Sang Wuyan almost choked on her own saliva.

“Really?” Wang Lan looked up.

“Sister Xi said so. Because it’s a public service announcement, his agent already agreed. Previously, it was scheduled for recording elsewhere, and he only needed to say one sentence. But this morning, his agent suddenly called and said that Yi Jin was willing to come to our recording studio in person,” Ye Li explained excitedly.

“We can see him again!” Ye Li’s eyes lit up.

“Don’t forget your camera,” Wang Lan teased.

“He’s as reserved as a nobleman.”

*Reserved my ***! Sang Wuyan retorted in her heart.

When Su Nianqin and Yu Xiaolu appeared at the studio door, almost all the staff members lined up to welcome them. Sang Wuyan hid behind the crowd and saw Su Nianqin: his beard was cleanly shaved, his clothes were neat, and he was in excellent spirits. Sang Wuyan was exasperated. After a beloved character disappears from TV, aren’t men supposed to be disheveled? How could he be living even better than before…

Su Nianqin seemed like a changed man, treating people kindly and cordially, “My surname is Su.” He was so amiable that he even introduced himself.

Yu Xiaolu saw Sang Wuyan in the back and was about to speak, but Su Nianqin gently stopped her.

Now Sang Wuyan understood: he wasn’t here to offer an apology; he was clearly here to show off!

“Sang Wuyan, why are you standing there? Hurry up and get Mr. Su and the others some water!” the director scolded.

“Oh,” Sang Wuyan replied lifelessly, not forgetting to glare fiercely at Su Nianqin behind the director’s back.

She took a paper cup, filled it to the brim with scalding hot water, and carried it over, cursing in her heart: Burn you, burn you, burn you…

She handed it to him and even said politely, “Mr. Su, please have some water.”

He reached out without hesitation to take it.

Sang Wuyan saw his hand and immediately hesitated. The water was full and scalding hot. Even through two layers of paper, she felt it was hot to the touch. His eyes weren’t good; what if he spilled it and got burned?

She said defiantly, “I’ll put it on the table; you can take it yourself if you want to drink.” Finally, she didn’t forget to add, “Be careful, it’s hot.”

The advertisement only required Su Nianqin to say a short sentence, so it was quickly done. Moreover, Su Nianqin was always very efficient. But it still needed to be re-edited, so he waited for a moment in the recording studio.

Su Nianqin sat in his chair. Everyone else had gone about their own business. Unbeknownst to them, only the two of them were left. It was only then that Sang Wuyan noticed that the paper bag Su Nianqin had been holding contained her backpack, with all her belongings inside.

Sang Wuyan suddenly felt her stomach, which had been undernourished for several days, rumbling, and a big meal beckoning.

Su Nianqin, however, looked leisurely, neither looking her way nor showing any intention of talking to her or returning her things. He was patiently waiting.

You’re ignoring me, so why should I take the initiative to talk to you? No way! Sang Wuyan scoffed and left the studio.

As she reached the doorway, she ran into Wu Wei.

“Wuyan—” Wu Wei called out to her.

She happened to run into this unlucky guy at this critical moment.

“Are you really going to eat at the cafeteria tonight?”

Sang Wuyan tried hard to shift her body towards the corridor, hoping Su Nianqin’s hearing was duller.

“It’s really not nutritious. Why don’t we go eat together, and then catch a movie?” Wu Wei relentlessly pursued.

Sang Wuyan secretly groaned, hoping he would leave quickly, otherwise Su Nianqin might just rush out and kill someone.

Kill someone?!

Sang Wuyan then thought, Well, he’s not killing me anyway. If he wants to annoy me, why can’t I annoy him? So she turned and asked, “Is the food at that Western restaurant really good?”

“It should be good, since I haven’t been there myself,” Wu Wei said honestly, chuckling.

“Can you eat steak freely too?”

“Of course, it’s a buffet.”

“It’s inconvenient for me to go home after watching a movie,” Sang Wuyan blinked.

“I’ll take you.”

“Then you’re lucky, you know, the coffee my roommate makes…”

“Sang Wuyan!”

She was interrupted rudely by Su Nianqin before she could finish.

Sang Wuyan turned and saw Su Nianqin’s furious face.

Su Nianqin gripped her wrist, “Come back with me!”

“I won’t!”

Su Nianqin ignored her resistance and pulled Sang Wuyan’s arm, walking slowly, but the powerful grip did not allow Sang Wuyan to resist.

“Mr. Su,” Wu Wei ran ahead and politely tried to persuade him, completely unaware of the situation.

He blocked Su Nianqin’s path, his tone still polite: “Mr. Su, please speak calmly. Did Wuyan do something wrong just now? I apologize on her behalf.” Before Su Nianqin arrived, the director had instructed that this person had a peculiar temper, and all staff members must not be negligent, so Wu Wei had some psychological preparation.

Sang Wuyan suddenly felt that Wu Wei was dependable at a critical moment.

Su Nianqin’s anger flared even more, hearing him call her “Wuyan” so casually. Was “Wuyan” also a name he called her?

“Are you her boyfriend?” he asked displeased.

“No,” Wu Wei denied awkwardly.

“Then it’s none of your business.”

“Why?”

“Because Sang Wuyan is my woman, Su Nianqin’s woman!” Su Nianqin said, his face livid, every word clear.

On the way home, Sang Wuyan kept laughing in the back seat. Su Nianqin’s face was slightly flushed, still taut like ice, his lips tightly pressed. Yu Xiaolu, too, couldn’t help but chuckle as she drove.

“Little Su, you’re so cute!” Sang Wuyan gave him a big hug. Su Nianqin seemed a little uncomfortable. After a while, Sang Wuyan imitated his tone and re-enacted the scene, saying, “She is my woman, Su Nianqin’s woman,” then struck a very cool pose.

“Shut up!” Su Nianqin finally lost his patience.

Sang Wuyan’s eyebrows furrowed, “How dare you tell me to shut up? How dare you tell your woman to shut up? Su Nianqin, are you tired of living? Watch me use my unique skill to make you wish you were dead.” Saying that, she reached out her finger to poke Su Nianqin’s armpit.

At first, he could still pretend to be serious and say, “Stop it!” but eventually, he couldn’t bear the torment and was dragged down by Sang Wuyan, starting to resist, his stiff expression disappearing. Yu Xiaolu drove in front, smiling knowingly. She finally understood why this girl was so different in his world.

She was the ray of sunshine in Su Nianqin’s dim life.

Halfway through their playful bickering, Sang Wuyan suddenly stopped, as if deep in thought about something very important.

“What’s wrong?” Su Nianqin felt Sang Wuyan’s forehead, already sweating from laughter. Why does she sweat so much even with the air conditioning on? What will she do in the scorching summer? he thought.

“The picture on the promotional poster.”

“Hmm?”

“That steak looks really appetizing.”

“…”

Upon arriving home, Su Nianqin handed Sang Wuyan her phone.

“Your mother called.”

Sang Wuyan nervously asked, “What did she say?”

“She inquired about your thesis defense.”

“Is that all?”

“What else would there be?” Su Nianqin countered intentionally.

“Nothing,” Sang Wuyan said, relieved.

Her tone and state of mind, the way they tightened and loosened, did not escape Su Nianqin’s ears.

A few days passed.

“Wuyan,” Su Nianqin couldn’t help but ask, “Do you have anything to tell me?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

Sang Wuyan found it strange, then suddenly remembered something and blurted out, “Your precious piano, I got impatient playing it yesterday, so I gave it a good kick. You can even guess that?”

Su Nianqin didn’t speak upon hearing this, only smiled, but his eyes were dull and lifeless.

“And!” Sang Wuyan suddenly remembered something.

“And?”

“For you,” Sang Wuyan pulled out an MP3 player.

“I bought this thing,” Su Nianqin said.

This is like offering someone’s own flowers to them…

“No,” Sang Wuyan rubbed the tip of her nose. “There’s something recorded in it for you.” Then she chuckled.

In a blink of an eye, it was late June, the day of Sang Wuyan’s graduation.

On the day of the degree ceremony, as the two walked around the campus, Su Nianqin drew frequent glances from passing girls.

She learned from Yu Xiaolu that Su Nianqin actually gets nervous in crowded places. Because there are too many people, the light and shadows are too diffused, and the smells are too intense, he gets confused and disoriented. So she always held his arm, never leaving his side. Even without his white cane, he could do very well.

She took him to see the school where she had spent four years.

In front of the lotus pond, Sang Wuyan said, “This is my and Cheng Yin’s favorite spot.”

“Where’s Cheng Yin? I really want to meet her.”

“I don’t know; she was still here before you came.”

Later, they met a group of classmates, and everyone exchanged pleasantries, asking about each other’s plans.

Li Lulu sighed to Sang Wuyan, “The job your mom found for you is really good, and it’s a national key point. Middle schools are placing great emphasis on psychological education now. Why did you give it up for no reason?”

Sang Wuyan didn’t want to talk about this topic. She smiled and said, “I want to explore a bit before deciding, and I can’t quite give up my current job at the radio station.”

Li Lulu looked at Su Nianqin and said, “You mean you can’t bear to leave the person next to you.”

Sang Wuyan immediately introduced Su Nianqin to them. Su Nianqin smiled kindly and greeted them, which greatly relieved Sang Wuyan. No one acted strangely upon noticing Su Nianqin’s visual impairment. One of them even playfully asked, “How did Sang Wuyan manage to get such a good husband?”

Sang Wuyan glanced at Su Nianqin, chuckled, and said, “First, thicken your skin by three layers, then persistently stick to your goal until it’s achieved.”

Everyone was amused and laughed.

Su Nianqin, instead, felt quite embarrassed by her.

At this moment, Sang Mama called, and the classmates dispersed, each having their own matters.

“Mm-hmm, Mom. Yes, photos were taken.”

“Where’s Dad? I want to talk to him.”

“On another business trip?”

“No, and…” Sang Wuyan paused, “and Su Nianqin.”

That evening, Yu Xiaolu went out on a date, Su Nianqin read, and Sang Wuyan lay on Su Nianqin’s lap watching comics, listening to music.

“Reading like that isn’t good for your eyes,” Su Nianqin said.

“I’m not reading; I’m reading comics,” Sang Wuyan argued.

“What kind of comics?”

“Suspense,” Sang Wuyan suddenly got excited. “I’ll tell you about it.”

The comic was about Kindaichi’s story in Rokkaku Village. A village built like a hexagram, where every family’s cellar hid a mummified corpse related to a shocking secret from years ago.

When she mentioned that each mummified corpse strangely lacked a part, Sang Wuyan curled up and asked, “Does this house have a basement?”

“I don’t know.”

“What about the attic?”

“I rarely go up there; I’m not too sure.”

“Then what do you know?” Sang Wuyan said, slightly annoyed.

“I know that only the two of us are in this house right now, but there’s a sound next door,” Su Nianqin said, fitting the story’s plot. He suddenly realized he seemed to have become bad, influenced by someone.

“But you can’t see a shadow flitting past the window,” Sang Wuyan added, finding the atmosphere exciting.

“That’s because they deliberately want you to see it.”

“You should turn off the music and tell ghost stories to set the mood.”

“And the lights?”

“Of course,” Sang Wuyan was already a little nervous but answered defiantly.

“Alright, Wuyan, let’s not talk about this,” Su Nianqin chuckled. It wouldn’t be fun if he genuinely scared her.

Suddenly, the music and lights abruptly stopped working.

The two were silent for half a moment.

“Su Nianqin, did you do that?” Sang Wuyan asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“I didn’t move an inch, and that light doesn’t have a remote control.”

“Really?” Sang Wuyan clutched his clothes, saying as she sat up and huddled into his arms.

“Really.”

“I want to scream.”

“My eardrums are sensitive. It’s best to wait until I leave before you scream,” Su Nianqin said deliberately.

“Don’t leave me here!” Sang Wuyan’s hands clung to him like an octopus.

“It’s a power outage,” Su Nianqin kissed her forehead fringe.

“How do you know?”

“The refrigerator isn’t humming, and the air conditioner has stopped. Any normal person could deduce that.”

“Are you saying I’m not normal?”

“There are no ghosts in the world.”

“But if enough people believe, then there are ghosts,” she twisted a famous quote.

“Read fewer of those books and watch fewer of those movies.”

“Why can’t I watch them?” She argued with him seriously.

“You’re easily scared. We should talk about something else to distract you. In your psychology, what do you call this, displacement?”

“It seems you won’t make a good psychologist. You should have told me before starting therapy.”

“Why did you give up your major?”

“Only having a bachelor’s degree, the superficial knowledge isn’t enough for psychological research.” Sang Wuyan didn’t want to continue this topic, and happened to see the book Su Nianqin had put aside when he hugged her. “You’re still reading your celebrity biography? What time is it?” Last time, this almost drove her crazy.

Su Nianqin opened his watch cover and felt the dial, “Nine eleven.”

“You really treasure your watch,” Sang Wuyan had always thought so. She also said, “How was the gift I gave you last time?”

“Not bad. It’s truly rare for you to have such patience.”

“You finally discovered my strengths,” Sang Wuyan said proudly, no longer scared at all.

“You have many strengths,” Su Nianqin felt his displacement method was completely effective.

“For example?” Sang Wuyan became interested.

“For example, this feels good to kiss,” he said, taking her lips into his.

“What do you want to do?”

“Do what our species does after the lights go out.”

“But it’s a power outage, not lights out for sleeping.”

Su Nianqin lowered his voice, “Congratulations on regaining normal human logical deduction.”

When the power came back, Su Nianqin felt a little regret.

If this world had remained without light, he could have been a normal person.

“Wuyan, let’s get married,” Su Nianqin suddenly said.

“Huh?” Sang Wuyan was surprised.

“Think about it first; you don’t have to answer me immediately,” Su Nianqin quickly added, as if fearing Sang Wuyan’s answer.

In midsummer, Su Nianqin finally said again that he wanted to take Sang Wuyan home.

“Are you really willing?” Su Nianqin wanted to confirm.

“Yes,” Sang Wuyan said.

This time, Sang Wuyan didn’t dare to defy him again, cautiously agreeing.

“What should I wear tomorrow?”

“Should I go buy new clothes after work? All my T-shirts don’t seem suitable for formal occasions.”

“Does my hair need to be trimmed? Will it be too messy?”

“How should I address them?”

Sang Wuyan chattered nervously for a long time, seemingly under a lot of pressure.

Su Nianqin smiled faintly, “Just be yourself; it’s just a meal. Why be nervous? I’m the one who wants to be with you.”

Sang Wuyan frowned, “They are your family, your important blood relatives. If they really don’t like me, you’ll be very difficult, so I want to please them.”

Su Nianqin paused slightly, touched her head, and his thoughts drifted.

“Ah—I’m going to be late for work!” Sang Wuyan glanced at the clock, not daring to delay any longer. She grabbed her bag, put on her shoes, and dashed out the door.

At noon, she went to eat seafood ramen with Wang Lan. In the small, casual restaurant, she ran into a former colleague of her father’s.

“Uncle Zhao,” Sang Wuyan greeted first.

“Wuyan?” He seemed a little pleased to see Sang Wuyan.

“Did your whole family move here?”

“Yes, I heard you’re working here. How’s your father’s illness?”

“My father’s illness? When?” Sang Wuyan was suspicious.

“Last month, when I went back, I happened to see him. It was a cerebral hemorrhage. I heard the situation was very dangerous at the time.”

Sang Wuyan was horrified.

“Wang Lan, I don’t want to eat anymore,” Sang Wuyan said goodbye and walked out of the restaurant.

Wang Lan chased after her, holding her cold hand and saying, “Perhaps there’s been a mistake somewhere; you should confirm it.”

Sang Wuyan nodded, feeling lost.

Her home landline went unanswered, then she called Sang Mama’s cell phone.

“Hello?”

“Mom.”

“Wuyan, I received your photos; they’re very good,” Sang Mama’s tone was normal.

“Where’s Dad?”

“He’s on a business trip.”

“Mom, why did you hide it from me?” Sang Wuyan asked.

Sang Mama was a little surprised, silent for a moment, then said, “Wuyan, how did you know?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You have your own things to do. Your father said he didn’t want to force you to come home because of his health, and besides, the most dangerous period has already passed. It was also too late to inform you at the time.”

“Mom—” Sang Wuyan burst into tears on the street. “Don’t you need me anymore? Is it because I’m willful, so you’re starting to punish me? You don’t want to manage me anymore, and you don’t want me to know your news either?”

“Wuyan…”

“We just don’t want to hold you back. You’ve grown up; you’ll eventually fly away.”

Sang Wuyan hung up the phone and said to Wang Lan, “Lanlan, please ask for leave for me. I need to go back.”

“Go where?”

“My hometown.”

“But didn’t you say you promised him you’d visit his father tomorrow?”

“My father is more important.”

In the taxi, Sang Wuyan thought: Was she really wrong?

The doorbell was rung by Yu Weilan.

Su Nianqin was a little surprised, “Xiaolu went out.”

“I’m not here for her,” Yu Weilan smiled. “Won’t you invite me in to sit down?”

Su Nianqin stiffly turned sideways to let her in.

“I heard you’re bringing your girlfriend home tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“Today, after your father received your call, he actually ate two bowls of rice. You can see how happy he is.”

Su Nianqin’s lips curved into a cold sneer.

“You’re still so stubborn.”

“No. I’m not stubborn about certain things.”

“Nianqin,” Yu Weilan habitually sat next to Su Nianqin again, placing her hand over his, “If Mrs. Su were alive, she would surely be very pleased.” For many years, she had always referred to Su Nianqin’s mother this way.

“You are the current Mrs. Su,” Su Nianqin pulled his hand back, taunting her.

Yu Weilan was unperturbed by Su Nianqin’s sarcasm and said kindly, “I’m very happy for you too.”

Su Nianqin’s face instantly darkened with anger, then after a moment, he smiled mockingly, “You think too highly of yourself.”

“Did you say that our family loves each other? You know what I hate most, yet you brazenly put them right under my nose. Are you playing tricks on me? Mocking me? Taunting me? Is it just because I’m a blind man who can’t see anything!” What should have been extreme anger, but he spoke with a sarcastic, self-mocking tone, making it even more painful for others to hear.

“My liking for her has nothing to do with you.”

“Tomorrow, let’s have a harmonious family meal, so Miss Sang doesn’t feel awkward. I’m leaving, Nianqin.”

Yu Weilan got into her car and closed the door, only to see a short-haired girl at the door of Su Nianqin’s house, fumbling for keys in her handbag. After a long while, she still couldn’t find them, so she had to ring the doorbell.

That must be Sang Wuyan, the small, delicate southern girl. She rolled up the car window, leaned back tiredly in the seat, and told the driver to drive.

Sang Wuyan was a little anxious. She hadn’t brought her keys, hoping Su Nianqin hadn’t gone out. Thinking this, she pressed the doorbell again.

“That’s enough! Yu Weilan!” Su Nianqin roared.

Sang Wuyan saw Su Nianqin’s furious face, paused, and said, “I forgot my keys.”

Then, ignoring Su Nianqin’s embarrassment, she hurriedly rushed back into the house to pack her luggage.

“What are you doing?” Su Nianqin sensed something amiss.

“Packing my things,” she said. “Tell your father I apologize; I won’t be able to come tomorrow.”

Su Nianqin tightly grasped her wrist, “Where are you going?”

“Home…” She didn’t know how to explain to him. Sang Wuyan felt he was being inexplicable and tried to break free, but his grip tightened, hurting her more.

Su Nianqin’s anger condensed. Why did she always try to escape whenever he said he wanted to take her back to the Su family? This time, she was going home, back to a place he couldn’t find.

Did she regret it? Did she regret falling in love with him, a blind man? Had her mother finally been waiting for this day?

“My father isn’t well; my mother told me to go back…” Sang Wuyan said, enduring the pain.

“I know!” Su Nianqin roughly cut her off. At this moment, he had lost his rationality. Remembering Sang Wuyan’s mother’s words from that day, he roared, “They want you to go back, just when I was going to take you home, they want you to go back?”

“Yes, just like that!” Sang Wuyan also erupted. “Your father is a father, and my father isn’t a father?”

“Your mother told me herself that I’m a blind man who will ruin your happiness! They look down on me, thinking I’m worthless, thinking I’ll be a burden to you. And now they’re using these tactics to trick you into leaving!”

“Su Nianqin!” Sang Wuyan glared at him. “You can’t say that about them.”

“Such disdain, in my, Su Nianqin’s, eyes, is worthless,” Su Nianqin’s anger burned brighter and brighter.

“Su Nianqin, can you stop being unreasonable? Let me go!”

“Unless you don’t leave,” Su Nianqin’s unfocused eyes were filled with gloom.

“I have to go back.”

“I demand you stay!”

“You can’t make me!”

Upon hearing this, Su Nianqin was enraged to the extreme. He yanked hard on the hand that gripped Sang Wuyan, causing Sang Wuyan to violently collide with him. At the same time, the phone he was holding in his other hand was forcefully thrown out.

The phone hit the wall, bounced back, and precisely hit the picture frame placed on the dresser.

Both items fell to the ground one after another.

“Clang—” two urgent sounds echoed.

Their intense words also ceased with these sounds.

Sang Wuyan looked up. The stand behind the photo frame had fallen to the side, and the photo in the frame was a picture of her and Su Nianqin at her graduation.

Her forehead reached exactly his chin. His pulling motion earlier had caused her head to hit his chin. When they used to play around, even with such a light touch, she would automatically lean against his chest, pretending to be in great pain, making him immediately feel sorry and admit his mistake. But this time, it truly hurt, yet she didn’t cling to him and act spoiled. And he didn’t pull her into his arms.

It truly hurt.

Her eyes were a little red, and she said stubbornly, “Let me go,” her tone unusually calm.

He paused, then finally slowly released her hand, “Unless you want to never come back.”

Sang Wuyan felt a little helpless. She slumped onto the bed, moved her right wrist, which was almost twisted by him, and after pondering for a moment, said, “Su Nianqin, if you’re still willing, we can go register our marriage first.”

Upon hearing this, Su Nianqin’s face turned extremely gloomy. After a brief moment, he smiled, full of sarcasm, “You think too highly of yourself.”

Sang Wuyan looked up and stared at him for a long time. Suddenly, she felt as if she didn’t know him, and then again, she felt this was the Su Nianqin she had first met. Finally, she said, “If you’re always like this, I’ll get tired too.”

After saying this, Sang Wuyan stood up, picked up her luggage, and left.

Cheng Yin said, “I always thought you two were very much in love.”

“I thought so too.”

“He’s always had a bad temper, you know.”

“Why is he worst to me?”

“Perhaps because he loves you the most.”

“Really?”

Cheng Yin didn’t answer, but Sang Wuyan silently told herself: It’s true, Sang Wuyan. You can doubt whether the Earth is flat or square, but you cannot deny Su Nianqin’s feelings.

Sang Wuyan thought: Was I really wrong?

She felt a little regret.

After their last argument and reconciliation, during a rare moment alone, Su Nianqin couldn’t wait to lean down and fiercely kiss her, tightening his arms around her until the space became smaller and smaller, as if to make her a part of his body. It was a kiss that lasted an eternity. Sang Wuyan had never seen Su Nianqin so panicked and restless that he almost suffocated her.

After a long time, Su Nianqin reluctantly released Sang Wuyan’s lips, buried his face in her neck, took a deep breath of her scent, and said, “Wuyan, do you know I was scared?”

Sang Wuyan slowly threaded her fingers through his hair, saying with immense tenderness, “Didn’t I come back?” All the words she had originally intended to tease or question him with were unspoken at this moment.

Later, Yu Xiaolu said, “Miss Sang, it’s good that you’re back.”

Yu Xiaolu had always been polite but distant with her, but with that one sentence, Sang Wuyan felt her sincerity.

“Xiaolu, if you’d like, you can call me Wuyan.”

“Wuyan,” Yu Xiaolu tried calling her once, smiling faintly. As she pondered the two words, she suddenly remembered something and said, “Wuyan, you really like the chestnut pastry from the shop around the corner in the neighborhood?”

“Yes.”

“The one with the really long queue?”

Sang Wuyan smiled, “I’m not too picky, but that place’s taste is exceptionally good, which is why they have so many repeat customers.” She then asked, “How did you know?”

Yu Xiaolu revealed an “I see” expression. “At that time, I happened to pass by and bought some. Su Nianqin had just returned from outside. As soon as he smelled the fragrance, he smiled and said, ‘Wuyan, look at what you like…’ He was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly realized you weren’t even there.”

“You know how sensitive his nose is.”

“He’s been sitting on the sofa blankly for entire nights these past few days. That lost expression on his face is really distressing.”

After hearing Yu Xiaolu’s words, Sang Wuyan turned away, her eyes filling with a misty layer of water.

On her way to the airport, she felt she was too impulsive and should have explained to Su Nianqin. But when she dialed the number and the words reached her lips, she hesitated again, and finally sent a text message to Yu Xiaolu: “Xiaolu, my father is critically ill. I’m going home. Please tell him.”

There weren’t many flights to B City; the nearest one was at 9:30 PM. She didn’t have much extra money in her bank account besides her living expenses, and her family certainly wouldn’t have the energy or time to wire money on short notice.

Sang Wuyan stood blankly in front of the ATM: she didn’t have enough money to buy a plane ticket.

After reaching this conclusion, Sang Wuyan felt very helpless. She glanced at the clock hanging nearby and called Wei Hao. Half an hour later, Wei Hao arrived at the airport with money and bought Sang Wuyan a ticket.

There were still five hours until boarding, and Wei Hao accompanied Sang Wuyan, resting at a coffee shop.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Sang’s condition has stabilized. I just called my dad, and he’s also rushing to the hospital. He just got back from a business trip and hadn’t heard anything, so he didn’t tell me either,” Wei Hao said.

Sang Wuyan nodded, her eyes unfocused.

After Wei Hao ordered drinks, the waiter took the drink menu and asked Sang Wuyan, “What would you like to order?”

He asked twice, but Sang Wuyan didn’t answer.

By the third time, the waiter’s expression was a little stiff, so he changed his approach and asked, “Would you like a glass of lemon juice?”

“Just milk tea then. You don’t eat sour things,” Wei Hao said. “Wuyan?”

“Okay,” Sang Wuyan came back to her senses and nodded.

“No ice, no pearls,” Wei Hao added for her. “Right?”

“Yes,” Sang Wuyan forced a smile. “You still remember.”

“How could I not remember? When you were little, you often only drank the liquid from milk tea, and after sucking it out with a straw, you’d leave half a cup of dry pearls for me to eat,” Wei Hao said, both exasperated and amused.

Since childhood, she didn’t like sour things and often bought bingtanghulu (candied haws), chewing off the outer layer of sugar and usually throwing the remaining hawthorns to Wei Hao.

Recalling this, both of them laughed. Halfway through their laughter, they seemed to simultaneously recall the unhappy past and fell silent, feeling a bit awkward.

Sang Wuyan turned her head. In her situation of not having money for a plane ticket, the first person she thought of asking for help was actually Wei Hao. Thinking this, she subconsciously felt a hint of desolation.

Perhaps, apart from the chestnut pastry she had personally told Su Nianqin she liked, Su Nianqin knew nothing about whether she preferred spicy or sweet food, lemon or strawberry, or whether she preferred soup before or after meals.

But another voice in her heart said, “It’s not like that. You just had a fight with him, and now you’re shamelessly asking him for money; you definitely wouldn’t be able to do it, which is why you didn’t think of him.”

“Xu Qian and I are going back in a few days. We’ll visit your dad then.”

“I heard Xu Qian say you both signed contracts with companies in your hometown?”

“That’s right. Both of us are only children; it’s not appropriate not to go back. Anyway, there are opportunities back home, so we decided to go back.”

“I’m also an only child, but I never thought about these things. Compared to you, I’m quite unfilial,” Sang Wuyan said, mocking herself.

“That’s not the same. Xu Qian’s father is over sixty, and her mother is in that condition. Your parents are young, and they both have secure retirement jobs, and the state will support them when they’re old. Their family literally lives hand-to-mouth; they have no security at all.”

Sang Wuyan looked at Wei Hao’s face and said, “I suddenly understand why my mom always says you’re a good son-in-law.”

Hearing her suddenly say that, Wei Hao immediately blushed.

“Actually… you really like Xu Qian, don’t you?”

Wei Hao said, “Yes. I plan to propose to her a year after graduation.”

“Why a year?”

“By then, I’ll have independent financial means. If my family objects, I can still support her.”

“She doesn’t need you to support her,” Sang Wuyan smiled, remembering Xu Qian’s determined look at the job fair at school last year.

Wei Hao chuckled sheepishly.

“Since you’re proposing in a year, why tell me so early?”

“I want your approval,” Wei Hao said suddenly, seriously.

“Haozi, let me tell you a story.” The milk tea arrived. Sang Wuyan took a deep sip. “A little girl had a doll. This doll grew up with her from childhood. But then one day, the doll actually left with someone else. She suddenly realized that what she had taken for granted as hers was actually so precious. And by the time she realized all this, it had already been taken away by someone else, so she was heartbroken. She cried alone for a long time, not knowing what to do. She was clearly very sad, but had to pretend nothing had happened. She was sad like this, and then did many absurd things.”

“I understand,” Wei Hao said.

“You don’t understand yet. I didn’t make a good analogy, but you and Xu Qian are both things I love. She’s my best friend, and you’re my dearest older brother. But then one day, you were suddenly both taken away, so suddenly, it was very hard for me to accept.”

Wei Hao stood up, walked in front of Sang Wuyan, leaned down and hugged her, “Wuyan.” He had finally waited for the day she understood.

“You knew I felt this way, yet you still played along with my nonsense.” He even let her believe she had truly won him back from Xu Qian.

“That wasn’t nonsense. At the time, I felt that if it made you feel better, anything was fine. It was indeed my fault for not telling you about Xu Qian and me first.”

Sang Wuyan broke into a smile through her tears, “If you like her, why did you tell me first? You should have told her first.”

“You will always be as important as she is.”

“Alright, alright,” Sang Wuyan pushed him away. “Even if it’s true, don’t say it so directly.”

After a while, Sang Wuyan looked at the recently landed plane outside the window and said, “Actually, I only understood it after I fell in love with someone else. What is attachment, what is love? The two things are sometimes very similar, and sometimes completely different.”

Until boarding the plane that evening, Su Nianqin hadn’t called again. As the plane took off, Sang Wuyan looked at the screen and quietly pressed the power-off button.