Meeting you was destined to be
In the elevator, Lu Zizheng felt somewhat weary, clearly devoid of the composure and ease she had just exhibited in front of Lian Xuan. She half-closed her eyes, leaning against the wall silently, feeling that the various moments with Lian Xuan were flashing and spinning rapidly in her mind like a carousel. Her heart, for her former self and Lian Xuan, carried a subtle tinge of pain and melancholy.
Eileen Chang once said, “Encountering the right person at the right time is fate; encountering the wrong person at the right time is misfortune; encountering the right person at the wrong time is a predicament; encountering the wrong person at the wrong time is cruelty.”
Lian Xuan, which category do we fall into?
The elevator descended slowly, and finally, with a “ding,” the doors opened slowly. As Lu Zizheng stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the room where Jiang Huaixi was resting, a faint expression of contentment gradually appeared at the corner of her lips.
Lian Xuan, perhaps it was destiny, or maybe it was fate, but we were destined to miss each other. Thank you for initially showing me what love is and ultimately revealing that the human heart and emotions aren’t as ugly and fickle as they may seem. You will eventually find the right person, and as for me, I have already found the one I love the most.
So, let’s move forward together.
Inside the room, Jiang Huaixi heard the sound of the door opening, turned off the television, and turned her head to look at Lu Zizheng, her eyes brimming with a quiet smile.
Lu Zizheng entered the room, sat down beside Jiang Huaixi, and gently placed her chin on Jiang Huaixi’s shoulder, apologizing with a soft voice, “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting for so long.”
Jiang Huaixi restrained the impulse to lower her head and kiss Lu Zizheng’s forehead, opting instead to lightly lower her head and nuzzle Lu Zizheng’s forehead, a faint smile playing on her lips as she added, “If making me wait would truly make you feel sorry, then next time, could you change your clothes a bit faster when picking an outfit before going out?”
Lu Zizheng burst into laughter, released her grip on Jiang Huaixi’s arm, and somewhat indignantly defended herself, “That’s the normal amount of time it takes!”
Jiang Huaixi raised an eyebrow and countered, “Are you sure?”
Lu Zizheng hesitated briefly, her confidence waning, and she let out a soft hum before standing up and changing the topic, “Um, let’s go, we’re probably ready to head home.”
Observing Lu Zizheng’s adorable mixture of guilt and unwillingness to admit it, Jiang Huaixi couldn’t help but curl her lips into a playful smile. She let her off the hook and agreed, “Alright, let’s go. My parents arranged for a driver to take us. They, Grandma, and Huaichuan have already gone back.”
During the journey back to the Jiang residence, Lu Zizheng noticed that Jiang Huaixi remained poised and unfazed, showing no inkling of curiosity about her recent activity. Unable to resist, she inquired, “Huaixi, aren’t you curious about what I just did?”
Jiang Huaixi narrowed her eyes at Lu Zizheng, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, and she stated with confidence, “Because I’m certain you wouldn’t have been able to resist telling me yourself.”
Lu Zizheng’s lips immediately tightened, her face darkened, and she averted her gaze to the window, remaining silent. The feeling of being understood so thoroughly was oddly embarrassing! This time, even if Jiang Huaixi didn’t inquire, she wouldn’t say a word! She couldn’t believe that Jiang Huaixi genuinely had no curiosity.
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However, after a while, Lu Zizheng didn’t receive the anticipated gesture of reconciliation or inquiry from Jiang Huaixi. She discreetly turned her head to steal a glance at Jiang Huaixi, only to see her tilting her head slightly back, eyes closed, an air of weariness apparent on her face.
Suddenly, a twinge of pain shot through Lu Zizheng’s heart, and her playful intention of teasing Jiang Huaixi vanished. She gently reached out, supporting Jiang Huaixi’s head against her shoulder, and yielded in a soft voice, “Alright, you’re right. Even if you don’t ask, I want to tell you. Huaixi, there are no secrets between us.”
Whether it was a mistaken impression or not, Lu Zizheng felt that Jiang Huaixi’s head trembled slightly.
In a warm and gentle tone, Lu Zizheng detailed the whole situation to Jiang Huaixi, recounting the explanation and apology Lian Xuan had given her. She concluded, “Huaixi, I used to hold onto resentment, wondering why I ever fell for someone like Lian Xuan, who appeared insincere and fickle. I even questioned whether I truly understood human nature. Fortunately, Lian Xuan eventually untangled that knot for me. Huaixi, honestly, finding out in the end that my past infatuation wasn’t a misplaced effort. Only now can I genuinely and fully let go and move forward with an unburdened heart.”
Jiang Huaixi lifted her head slightly, looking at Lu Zizheng with a deep and somewhat obscure gaze. After a while, she hesitated in her wording and softly questioned Lu Zizheng, “Zizheng, if… if you hadn’t met me, would you have forgiven Lian Xuan and chosen to be with her?”
Lu Zizheng’s body tensed briefly, then she leaned down and lightly kissed Jiang Huaixi’s hair, her voice gentle as she smiled, “Huaixi, life doesn’t indulge in ‘what ifs,’ does it? I can’t be certain what those ‘ifs’ would entail. I was destined to meet you. All I can be sure of is that my present and future will only be with you, and all I want is to be with you.”
Jiang Huaixi let out a nearly imperceptible sigh, and then softly responded to Lu Zizheng, “I understand.” She adjusted herself into a more comfortable position, resting her head on Lu Zizheng’s shoulder, and closed her eyes, lost in thought.
After returning to the Jiang residence, Jiang Huaixi escorted Lu Zizheng back to her room, her tone carrying a hint of a smile as she advised, “Get some rest early. Goodnight. I’ll go talk to my parents about our plans to visit City X in a couple of days. Tomorrow morning, I’ll be able to provide you with a satisfactory answer.”
Lu Zizheng reached out and held Jiang Huaixi’s hand, hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, “Can we sleep together tonight?” She lowered her head, feeling a bit shy to meet Jiang Huaixi’s eyes.
Jiang Huaixi chuckled, her eyes carrying a touch of fondness, teasing her, “Are you struggling with sleepless nights all alone?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Zizheng responded with mock annoyance, her cheeks slightly reddening, “I’m just concerned that you might be feeling too lonely by yourself.” In her peripheral vision, she suddenly noticed a significant red mark on Jiang Huaixi’s arm. It stood out starkly against her fair skin, and she immediately focused on the swelling, her concern evident as she nervously asked Jiang Huaixi, “Huaixi, what happened to your arm?”
Jiang Huaixi lowered her gaze to the red mark, her eyes momentarily dimming. However, she quickly smiled and offered a composed explanation, “It’s a reaction from a test I underwent yesterday. Take a look at your hand, you probably have something similar.”
Lu Zizheng was doubtful but cautiously examined her own hand. There was a barely perceptible tiny mark that resembled a mosquito bite. “Is this it? But mine is so small…”
Seeing the almost invisible reaction on Lu Zizheng’s hand, Jiang Huaixi raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly, her eyes filled with delight. Zizheng should be fine—what a relief. She smiled and reassured Lu Zizheng, “Don’t worry, it’s nothing. I have the same thing. It’s all within the normal range.”
Observing her speak with such candor and sincerity, Lu Zizheng grew to trust her words and relaxed, refocusing her attention on the topic of convincing Jiang Huaixi to stay a bit longer.
Jiang Huaixi seemed to sense Lu Zizheng’s thoughts and gently shook her head, stating, “Zizheng, not now. I can’t feel at ease yet. Just a little more time, can you wait until I’m better?” As she spoke, Lu Zizheng caught a fleeting hint of sadness and melancholy in Jiang Huaixi’s eyes. Before she could delve further, Jiang Huaixi’s gaze transformed into its customary smile. Lu Zizheng believed she might have been mistaken and, though slightly uneasy, nodded in agreement.
Jiang Huaixi softly closed the door behind Lu Zizheng and stood there for a while, deep in thought. After a while, she turned her head and walked with a heavy step towards Father Jiang and Mother Jiang’s room.
Halting outside their door, she raised her hand and lightly knocked, saying, “Mom, Dad, it’s me. Can I come in?”
Father Jiang and Mother Jiang had already changed into their clothes, preparing for sleep, so they were somewhat surprised by Jiang Huaixi’s visit at this hour. They exchanged a glance, detecting a sense of unease in each other’s eyes. “It’s okay, come in.”
Jiang Huaixi gently closed the door and took a seat on the chair opposite their bed. Furrowing her brows, she looked at her slightly anxious parents. After a prolonged silence, just as she was about to speak, she heard Mother Jiang’s surprised and nervous voice, “Huaixi, what happened to your arm?”
Jiang Huaixi glanced down at the red swelling on her arm, took a deep breath, met her parents’ concerned gazes, and candidly said, “This is the result of a recent examination. A swelling this large indicates a strong positive reaction to the PPD test.”
Father Jiang and Mother Jiang’s hearts skipped a beat, and they anxiously asked, “Huaixi, explain it more clearly. What’s going on?”
Jiang Huaixi calmly explained, “I had been experiencing frequent coughing and pain in the chest and ribs on one side for a while. I wasn’t feeling well the past couple of days, so I went to the hospital for an examination. I thought it might be a lingering issue from before, but after Dr. Wang examined me, he said it’s not. He mentioned it might be pleurisy with accumulated pleural effusion, submerging more than half of the lung. The exact cause of the fluid buildup will be known after a pathological analysis following drainage. Looking at the PPD result now, I have a rough idea, it’s probably related to tuberculosis as Dr. Wang suggested.” She paused for a moment and continued, “Mom, Dad, please don’t worry too much. Dr. Wang said it’s a curable condition. However, I would like to ask you not to tell Zizheng about this for now.”
Upon hearing this, Mother Jiang’s heart was already in turmoil, filled with worry. But when she heard that Jiang Huaixi wanted to keep this information from Lu Zizheng, she immediately calmed down and furrowed her brows in disagreement, “Huaixi, that’s not acceptable. How much longer do you intend to hide this from Zizheng? Secrets can’t be kept forever, and we’re already feeling guilty about keeping it from her until now.”
Father Jiang also furrowed his brows, his voice low and serious as he said, “Huaixi, this isn’t fair to Zizheng. She’s your partner, the person you’re meant to spend your life with. She has the right to know all of this. You should have told her everything a long time ago.”
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Listening to her parents’ questions, Jiang Huaixi bit her lip in pain and explained, “I don’t intend to keep it from Zizheng forever. I just want to wait for the right time, a more suitable moment, to tell her.” She continued, “Mom, Dad, where could I not feel guilty? Being with her without telling her anything is selfish, just like those scumbags who enter into fraudulent marriages.”
Father Jiang sighed and asked, “If you know that, why continue down the wrong path? Huaixi, telling one lie only leads to countless more lies. Why?”
Jiang Huaixi’s voice turned pleading as she lowered it, “It’s just that, Dad, I don’t want Zizheng to be worried and scared for me when everything is still uncertain and unknown. I’m even more afraid that she won’t let go of me, and she might personally take care of me during treatment, putting herself at risk of infection. If Zizheng gets infected, I’ll never be at peace again in my life. Dad, Dr. Wang said that after a month of treatment, even if there’s a risk of infection, it can be controlled, allowing relatively safe contact. At that time, I’ll definitely confess everything to Zizheng and beg for her forgiveness. So please, give me a bit more time. I don’t know if this is truly best for Zizheng, but it’s the best solution I can come up with. Please help me… ” Her voice grew choked and teary as she neared the end.
Mother Jiang’s eyes also shimmered with moisture, watching Jiang Huaixi’s frail yet determined figure. She felt an overwhelming surge of heartache. With a heavy sigh, she eventually relented, extending her hand to tug at Father Jiang’s stubbornness, gently shaking her head at him…
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Jiang Huaixi informed Lu Zizheng that her parents had agreed to their trip to City X. However, due to some matters at the company, her father needed to travel abroad and her brother Huaichuan was busy as well. Her father also had to attend a meeting in Linzhou, and there were tasks that needed her assistance up in Jiangbei.
Jiang Huaixi explained, “My father hopes that I can delay our departure to City X a bit, so I can first help out in Jiangbei before we go.”
Lu Zizheng had no intention of making things difficult for Jiang Huaixi and immediately advised, without hesitation, “It’s okay, we’re not in a hurry. We can postpone the trip for now.”
Jiang Huaixi hesitated, expressing her concern, “But the thing is, I’m heading to Jiangbei on a business trip next. It might take at least ten days to two weeks. During that time, you’ll be home alone, and I’m a bit worried.”
To be honest, Lu Zizheng had some worries too. Her sense of belonging to the Jiang family was mainly because of Jiang Huaixi. Without her, she felt a bit hesitant and uncomfortable. However, she softened her voice and joked, “What are you worried about? Grandma, uncles, and aunts won’t take advantage of your absence to eat me.”
Jiang Huaixi tilted her head playfully and went along with Lu Zizheng’s words, saying, “Oh, that’s hard to say.” After saying that, she smiled and then seriously suggested, “Zizheng, I’ve thought about it. How about you go to City X first? I’ve already arranged and prepared everything there. You’ll have more freedom there and can get familiar with the environment. Once I’ve dealt with matters in Jiangbei, I’ll come join you. This way, I’ll be more at ease, alright?”
Lu Zizheng hesitated and tried to decline, “It’s okay, I’ll just wait for you at home and go together.”
Jiang Huaixi softened her gaze, pulled Lu Zizheng to sit in front of her, and held her in her arms. She spoke in a warm tone, “Zizheng, don’t make me worry, okay?”
Jiang Huaixi’s voice was tender and carried a hint of fatigue, making it difficult for Lu Zizheng to refuse. Although she was a bit puzzled by Jiang Huaixi’s unusual insistence, in the end, Lu Zizheng was persuaded and agreed to go to City X to familiarize herself with the environment first. She even joked that when they were in the unfamiliar city of X, Jiang Huaixi would have to rely on her completely.
On the evening before their departure, in her half-awake state, Lu Zizheng felt someone approaching her. They gently held her and whispered something in her ear. In her drowsiness, Lu Zizheng seemed to hear, “I’m sorry, wait for me…”
But when she struggled to wake up, there was nothing beside her—only the deep darkness of the night greeted her. However, the warmth of the embrace felt all too real.
When she saw Lu Zizheng off, Lu Zizheng felt that both Grandmother Jiang and Mother Jiang seemed to have something they wanted to say but were holding back. Her curiosity grew, sensing something unusual, yet she refrained from probing further.
In the end, Mother Jiang merely held her hand and gently patted it twice, advising in a warm voice, “Zizheng, take good care of yourself. We will make sure that Huaiixi resolves her matters as soon as possible.”
On the way to the airport with Jiang Huaixi sending her off, Lu Zizheng didn’t say much. There was an inexplicable unease in her heart.
When they got out of the car, Jiang Huaixi couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Aren’t you going to say something more to me?”
Lu Zizheng looked at Jiang Huaixi earnestly, her gaze probing. Under Lu Zizheng’s scrutiny, Jiang Huaixi’s smile seemed to slightly fade, and then she subtly averted her gaze.
In the end, Lu Zizheng didn’t ask anything. She just reached out and hugged Jiang Huaixi, whispering firmly in her ear, “Huaiixi, I’ll wait for you. Take care of yourself.”
Jiang Huaixi’s voice turned slightly husky as she softly reassured her.
On the plane, Lu Zizheng, soaring at an altitude of thirty thousand feet, sat by the window, but she dared not look down. The farther she moved away from Jiang Huaixi, the emptier and more uneasy her heart felt, and fear gradually consumed her.
She silently repeated Jiang Huaixi’s name in her heart, attempting to calm herself a bit. Thankfully, her heart truly began to gradually settle down, bit by bit.
In the past few days, Lu Zizheng had noticed the unusual behavior of Jiang Huaixi and her family. She didn’t know exactly what had happened, and if Jiang Huaixi didn’t want to tell her, she didn’t want to force her. She always believed, believing that everything Jiang Huaixi had arranged for her was for her own good.
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After getting off the plane, there were people arranged by Jiang Huaixi waiting to pick her up outside the airport. Just as Jiang Huaixi had said, everything in City X had already been prepared for her.
The driver first took Lu Zizheng to an apartment near X University, introduced her to the housekeeper who was preparing dinner for her in the apartment, and said that this housekeeper would be responsible for her meals from now on. Then, he told her to rest well tonight, and that he would come to pick her up tomorrow to explore X University and get familiar with the environment.
Inside the apartment, a stack of professional books and various other books had already been thoughtfully prepared. After finishing her meal and arranging her luggage, Lu Zizheng sat at the desk in the study, casually flipping through the books while calling Jiang Huaixi.
She said with a smile, “Huaixi, everything is good here. It would be even better if you were here.”
Jiang Huaixi’s voice was light, and she teasingly said, “Rarely do you get a few days of single freedom. If you don’t cherish it, you might regret it when I arrive.”
Lu Zizheng responded with a laugh, “True, I’ll ask the driver tomorrow if there are any interesting and lively bars or something nearby. Let’s see how the nightlife in City X is.”
On Jiang Huaixi’s end, there seemed to be the sound of glass bottles clinking, followed by a gentle female voice calling out, “Miss Jiang, it’s time…” Lu Zizheng didn’t hear clearly, but she heard Jiang Huaixi say to her, “Zizheng, I have something to attend to, I’ll hang up now. Rest early, goodnight.”
Lu Zizheng considerately replied, “You too, get some rest once you’re done with your work.” After hanging up the phone, she supported her chin with her hand and fell into deep contemplation, motionless, for quite some time.
The next day, she went to the university with the driver. The driver took on the role of a diligent guide, introducing her to the campus and its surroundings. He gave her a campus card for her access, along with a class schedule, allowing her to attend classes based on her own time and needs.
So, in the following days, Lu Zizheng was shuttling between the school and her apartment. During the day, she attended classes, read books, and spent time in the library. In the evenings, she would call Jiang Huaixi. The days were truly simple and carefree, much like returning to her student days.
However, there were moments when she would get engrossed in a fascinating lecture or have some thoughts during class, and she would instinctively want to discuss them with Jiang Huaixi. But then she’d remember that Jiang Huaixi wasn’t by her side. Often, when passing by the lawn in front of the library in the evening, seeing couples sitting together, she couldn’t help but think of Jiang Huaixi. And when flipping through the travel maps and guides of City X, she would secretly make a resolve that once Jiang Huaixi arrived, they would definitely go here, and there…
She had been anticipating the day when she would open her apartment door and see Jiang Huaixi sitting on the sofa, looking at her with a composed smile, giving her a surprise.
However, two weeks had passed, and she still hadn’t encountered the surprise she hoped for from Jiang Huaixi. Instead, in the third week, unexpectedly, she received a surprise from Lian Xuan.
One morning, at her usual time, as she was getting ready to go to class at X University, she opened her door, turned back to close it, and then turned around to lift her head—only to find Lian Xuan stepping out of the apartment right across from hers…
At that moment, both Lu Zizheng and Lian Xuan couldn’t help but freeze.
After realizing the situation, Lu Zizheng smiled and greeted Lian Xuan, “Lian Xuan, what a coincidence. How come you’re here?”
Lian Xuan curved her eyebrows and eyes, a faint sweet dimple forming as she slightly lifted the corner of her lips. Her voice was warm and gentle as she laughed, “I came here to relax a bit. I didn’t expect to run into you so coincidentally.”
As she looked at Lu Zizheng’s delicately charming face, her expression remained calm, yet her heart silently made a promise to Lu Zizheng: “Zizheng, I’ve finally managed to fight for myself this time. I won’t let go again.”