Chapter 108
Outside the building, Su Nan was fuming.
“Boss, you’re way too much. That letter was fake!”
“So what if it was? Do you think that wasn’t what Yan Weimin truly felt?”
Su Nan stared at him angrily. Director Chen had been genuinely moved while reading it… not knowing it was all Jiang Zhou’s fabrication.
It was as if her emotions had been misplaced, true feelings paid to a false letter.
“You wrote a fake letter. How are they supposed to face each other now?”
Jiang Zhou waved his hand. “They haven’t seen each other in over thirty years. What’s there to face?”
Su Nan huffed. “W-What if they do still have feelings? Director Yan has a wife!”
“They’re both over fifty. Each with their own families. You think they’re going to throw everything away like impulsive twenty-somethings?”
“But… but it’s still a fake letter!”
Jiang Zhou lit a cigarette. “Have you ever thought about what Director Chen’s really been conflicted over all these years?”
“What?”
“That Yan Weimin clearly liked her back then, but never dared to admit it. Thirty years and still not a word. Cowardly. Spineless.”
Su Nan thought for a moment. “I still don’t see what that accomplishes…”
Jiang Zhou suddenly stared straight at her. “You can be with someone else. But why can’t you even admit that you liked me? I waited for years… I don’t want anything anymore, I just want to hear you say ‘I liked you’, even if only on a piece of paper.”
Su Nan’s face flushed red. “W-Why are you saying that to me!?”
“Understand now? That’s what Director Chen feels inside.”
Su Nan, Mu Xiaoxiao, and Yang Xin all fell silent.
Suddenly, Jiang Zhou’s words made sense.
They were already over fifty. They had families, kids.
What they longed for wasn’t a dramatic reunion, it was closure.
Why had Director Chen held onto the grudge for so long?
Not because she was angry he chose someone else, but because he loved her and never admitted it.
“I don’t blame you for choosing another. I blame you for loving me… and never having the courage to say it.” The thought tugged hard at Yang Xin’s heart.
Was there anything more heartbreaking than knowing someone liked you… and never said it?
At that moment, soft accordion music drifted out from a window.
The four of them looked up. Somehow, they had walked back beneath the administrative building’s window.
Suddenly, singing floated out along with the music:
I have a red bean
Full of longing, it overflows
I’ll let the evening wind take it
To rest upon someone’s heart
I have a red bean
Small, delicate, and crystal clear
I’ll let the moonlight carry it
To be received by the one I love
I have a red bean
To keep me company through the night
I’ve tried to send it many times
But held it back each time—would they even know how I feel?
The four stood still for a long time, exchanging glances.
Their hearts felt heavy… yet oddly hopeful.
Jiang Zhou sighed softly. “Never miss your chance because sometimes missing it means a lifetime.”
Missing it means a lifetime…
Missing it means a lifetime…
Suddenly, Yang Xin widened her eyes and took off running toward the academic building.
Su Nan and Mu Xiaoxiao were stunned.
“Hey! Senior Yang Xin, where are you going?!”
“I… I’m going to tell Guo Wei the truth. That I like him!”
Su Nan was dumbfounded and turned to Jiang Zhou.
“This… don’t tell me you set this up too?!”
Jiang Zhou stubbed out his cigarette. “You think I’m a god? How would I know she’d be on duty in the admin office?”
“Then what just happened?”
“I improvise. Making girls cry just happens to be my specialty.”
Su Nan and Mu Xiaoxiao shuddered.
No wonder this man hadn’t been destroyed despite being a total scumbag.
He was terrifyingly good at it.
A girl falling into his hands… would be left with nothing but dust.
“All right, we’re done here. Let’s go wake up Chu Yuwei.” Jiang Zhou waved his hand and left the campus with the girls.
—
At the same time, in Room 402 of the hotel…
Chu Yuwei was brushing her teeth when she picked up a call from her mom, Chen Wanying.
“Yuwei! I’ve called three times. Why didn’t you answer?”
“Sorry, Mom. I didn’t get up until noon. I missed your calls.”
Chen Wanying frowned. “Since when do you sleep in just because you’re in college?”
“I wasn’t being lazy! I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“What were you doing up so late?”
“It was Jiang Zhou’s fault! He said he didn’t snore…”
Before she could finish, she clamped her hand over her mouth.
Crap! I slipped.
As expected, the moment that name came out, Chen Wanying’s voice turned sharp.
“What did you just say?!”
“Uh— nothing! I meant my roommate snores! I-I didn’t sleep well because of her!”
“You mentioned Jiang Zhou’s name. Are you two… staying together?!”
“How is that possible, Mom?! I’m not that kind of girl!”
Just then, the door opened.
Jiang Zhou walked in and picked up the wallet he’d left behind the night before.
“Chu Yuwei, wake up already! The sun’s out!”
Chu Yuwei’s eyes widened in horror, completely frozen in place.
On the other end of the line, Chen Wanying turned to stone.