STT – Chapter 71

Sometimes sometimes, I believe everything has an end.

That night, Lu Zizheng called Jiang Huaixi, and without any concealment, told Jiang Huaixi about the coincidental encounter with Lian Xuan, her tone full of surprise and exclamation. But on the other end of the phone, Jiang Huaixi inexplicably fell silent for a few seconds, not saying a word. Until Lu Zizheng somewhat puzzledly called her name, asking her what was wrong, Jiang Huaixi finally laughed and sighed, teasingly saying: “Nothing, I just feel a bit envious, if only I could have gone earlier to experience the scenery of X City.”

Lu Zizheng laughed lightly, dissatisfied: “You don’t seem to be honest enough, are you sure you just want to come earlier to see the scenery?” The implication was self-evident.

Jiang Huaixi laughed: “Oh, anyway, it’s not that I want to come earlier to accompany you.”

Lu Zizheng smiled contentedly, not exposing her, but instead asked: “So are you almost done with your business? When can you come to experience the great scenery?”

Jiang Huaixi was silent for a moment, her tone carrying some dejection and apology: “It seems, it’s a bit more troublesome than I imagined. Zizheng, it might not be until next week that I can finish and come to accompany you…”

Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but frown slightly, undeniably, she felt somewhat disappointed in her heart. However, she still took a gentle breath, relaxed her brow, curved the corners of her lips, and cheered up, speaking in her usual gentle tone to actively comfort Jiang Huaixi: “It’s alright, anyway, I’m always here waiting for you, and I’m not in a hurry about these few days, just focus on handling your matters well.” After saying this, she paused for a moment, then smiled and said: “But, if you still haven’t finished by next week and come a few days late, how about sleeping on the couch for a few days after you arrive?”

Jiang Huaixi immediately retorted with a cold laugh: “Very well, I’ll have Xiao Lin bring some people tomorrow to move the couch away…” Xiao Lin was the driver she had arranged for Lu Zizheng.

Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but burst out laughing: “Haha, you’re really something, are you a domineering CEO…”

Since that day of encountering Lian Xuan, Lu Zizheng hadn’t seen Lian Xuan again for several consecutive days. She pondered for a moment, speculating that Lian Xuan must have gone out to play, so she didn’t dwell on it and gradually forgot about the matter. Until Thursday, when Lian Xuan appeared at her doorstep again, reminding Lu Zizheng of her existence.

That evening, Lu Zizheng had just returned home from X University after finishing her classes, and had just finished dinner when she heard the doorbell ring. She was a bit puzzled, figuring that the housekeeper had a key and wouldn’t ring the doorbell, and if driver Xiao Lin was coming, he would call her first, so who could it be? She had a faint sense of anticipation, could it be Jiang Huaixi?

Thinking this way, Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but feel impatient, quickening her pace to a small run to open the door.

However, appearing before her eyes was not the Jiang Huaixi she had been longing for day and night, but rather, Lian Xuan with a somewhat shy and uneasy smile.

Lian Xuan wore a white dress, covered with an apron, her long hair casually tied back with a leather string, exuding elegance mixed with a touch of gentleness. She looked at Lu Zizheng, and asked softly with some embarrassment: “Zizheng, do you have any vinegar here? Can I borrow some? I was in the middle of stir-frying when I realized I forgot to buy it…”

Although Lu Zizheng felt somewhat disappointed that it wasn’t Jiang Huaixi, she quickly adjusted her thoughts and smiled, answering: “I think I do, wait a moment, I’ll go get it…” Saying this, she quickly went to the kitchen, and soon returned with a glass bottle.

She handed the vinegar to Lian Xuan, and looking at Lian Xuan’s rather practiced and graceful appearance, casually smiled and said: “Seeing you at the company before with that commanding female boss look, I couldn’t imagine at all that you would also know how to cook…”

Lian Xuan took the vinegar, blinked her eyes, revealing two charming dimples, and smilingly invited in a gentle voice: “Then would you like to come and try my cooking skills, to see if I’m just all show or if I have real ability?”

Lu Zizheng shook her head, declining: “I probably won’t have that good fortune, I just finished eating, and now I’m so full I don’t even want to move.”

Lian Xuan laughed lightly, with a disappointment that was hard to tell if it was genuine or in jest: “Alright, it seems I can only be a lonely gourmet then.”

Lu Zizheng smiled without saying anything.

After Lian Xuan left, Lu Zizheng sat in the living room for a while, took her phone and sent a message to Jiang Huaixi saying “It’s dinner time, even if you’re busy, remember to eat,” then went to the study to read.

Later, after about two hours, Lu Zizheng heard the doorbell ring again. This time, Lu Zizheng guessed it should be Lian Xuan coming to return the vinegar.

Sure enough, upon opening the door, she saw Lian Xuan without her apron, holding the vinegar in one hand and a plate in the other, smiling brightly at her.

Lian Xuan handed the vinegar to Lu Zizheng, with some nervousness on her face, and asked Lu Zizheng: “I finished my meal and had nothing to do, so I cut some fruit, thinking of bringing it over to eat with you, is that okay?” She paused for a moment, then said: “These past few days I’ve been eating alone in my room, watching TV alone, just now sitting in the living room, I suddenly felt the quietness was a bit scary…” As she spoke, her voice gradually lowered, her expression becoming somewhat forlorn.

Lu Zizheng, seeing her dejected expression, felt a bit sympathetic. She didn’t have any strict plans for the evening that couldn’t be delayed, so after a moment’s hesitation, she opened the door wider, gesturing for her to come in.

After entering, Lu Zizheng and Lian Xuan sat on the sofa, facing each other, and for a moment there was an awkward silence.

During their first encounter, Lu Zizheng was in a hurry to get to class, so she didn’t ask many questions. So after some thought, Lu Zizheng smiled and picked a topic for casual conversation with Lian Xuan, asking her: “How do you have time to come here to relax, and it seems like you’re planning to stay for a while?”

Lian Xuan forked a piece of apple for Lu Zizheng, handed it to her, and answered with a faint smile: “Because of the broken engagement, I had a falling out with my family. My position at the company was suspended, and the atmosphere at home isn’t good, so I don’t have much to do for now, and I don’t want to stay at home, so I came here.” This explanation covered half the reason; the other half, Lian Xuan didn’t voice. Coming here, the main reason, naturally, was because she knew Lu Zizheng was here.

Lu Zizheng felt the topic might be a bit sensitive, involving Lian Xuan’s family affairs and *, so it wasn’t appropriate to ask more. So, she just took a bite of the apple, softly said “Oh,” without continuing the conversation.

It was Lian Xuan herself who smiled, leaned back slightly on the sofa, changing to a more comfortable sitting position, and continued along the topic: “Zizheng, to be frank with you, I feel that after making this decision, my whole person has become much lighter.” She paused, then continued: “Come to think of it, my current situation is a bit like being abandoned by everyone, but I feel as if I’ve broken free from all shackles. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like this, feeling that I’m simply myself, laughing when I want to laugh, crying when I want to cry, not talking for a whole day if I don’t want to, being an independent and free person.”

Seeing Lian Xuan’s serene and relaxed smile, Lu Zizheng knew she was truly happy, and sincerely felt a sense of relief, feeling somewhat happy for her: “I don’t know if what you did is truly correct, but I think if you feel genuinely happy, then it’s worth it.”

The dimples on Lian Xuan’s elegant face deepened, radiant and brilliant: “I feel it’s definitely worth it. After weighing for so many years, what to give up, what to preserve, all the effort spent, in the end, wasn’t for myself. This time, regardless of the outcome, at least I’ve lived for myself once, no matter what, it’s worth it.”

Her face was full of determination and vigor, no longer showing the calm and composed yet occasionally heavy-hearted thick mask from when they first reunited at the company. Lu Zizheng tilted her head slightly, smiled gently, and said: “So what are your plans next, have you prepared to go anywhere?”

Lu Zizheng clasped her hands together, placing them on her knees, just about to listen attentively, when the phone on the tea table suddenly rang. Lu Zizheng’s smile unconsciously deepened, and she answered the phone immediately.

The call was naturally from Jiang Huaixi, who laughingly told Lu Zizheng that she had already eaten dinner before Lu Zizheng sent her the text message, teasing Lu Zizheng for being redundant.

Because Lian Xuan was nearby, Lu Zizheng didn’t feel very comfortable speaking freely, so she just smiled faintly and said: “Mm, it’s good that you remembered to eat.”

Jiang Huaixi keenly noticed Lu Zizheng’s unusual behavior, and after a brief thought, responded: “Is it not convenient for you to talk right now?”

Lu Zizheng hesitated for a moment and said: “Mm, I invited Lian Xuan to sit at home for a while.” Because Lian Xuan was right beside her, Lu Zizheng, considering Lian Xuan’s face, naturally didn’t directly tell Jiang Huaixi that it was Lian Xuan who had actively requested to come in for a chat.

On the other end of the phone, Jiang Huaixi was silent for a moment, then considerately said: “Then I’ll call you again in a while, you go ahead and entertain her well first.”

Lu Zizheng agreed, saying: “I’ll call you back later.” Then, she hung up the phone.

Lian Xuan, however, was also very tactful. Seeing the situation, she stood up, tidied up the nearly finished fruit plate on the tea table, and gracefully excused herself with a smile: “If you have something to do, go ahead and take care of it. I should be heading back too.”

Lu Zizheng politely tried to make her stay, and Lian Xuan politely declined.

Escorting Lian Xuan to the door, Lu Zizheng stood politely at the entrance, intending to wait until Lian Xuan had completely returned to her own home before closing the door. Unexpectedly, just as Lian Xuan was about to open her own door, she suddenly turned back and asked Lu Zizheng: “Zizheng, do you have time on Saturday? Would it be convenient for you to show me around X University?” After a pause, she added an explanation: “X University is considered a tourist hotspot, so there’s a daily limit on visitors. I’ve gone for several consecutive days but wasn’t lucky. So…”

Lu Zizheng, with no distracting thoughts, although estimating that the weekend weather would be hot and not wanting to go out sightseeing, felt that if she refused, it might seem a bit unfriendly. So, after a slight hesitation, she still nodded and agreed.

Lian Xuan, having gotten what she wished for, smiled gently and expressed her thanks, setting a time and saying they would definitely meet then.

Lu Zizheng nodded lightly.

After seeing Lian Xuan off, Lu Zizheng returned to the living room and immediately called Jiang Huaixi back.

Regarding Lian Xuan’s earlier matter, Jiang Huaixi didn’t ask anything extra, just chatting with Lu Zizheng as usual. However, in her voice, Lu Zizheng could hear some fatigue. Lu Zizheng’s whole heart and mind were focused on Jiang Huaixi, and even without seeing her face, Lu Zizheng was constantly attentive to every slight change in Jiang Huaixi’s tone and voice.

She felt that throughout this week, Jiang Huaixi’s mood seemed to be not so good. Occasional sudden silences seemed to be increasing. Although during the call, Jiang Huaixi seemed to be deliberately concealing it, trying her best to appear normal.

Lu Zizheng hesitated slightly, but still couldn’t help worriedly advising Jiang Huaixi: “Huaixi, your voice sounds a bit tired. Things can be done slowly. If you’re too tired, take a break for a while.”

Jiang Huaixi laughed lightly, teasing her: “Are you wanting to enjoy a few more days of free single life? You have ulterior motives.”

Seeing that she was unwilling to respond to her in person, Lu Zizheng sighed and changed the subject, telling Jiang Huaixi about her plans to take Lian Xuan to visit X University on Saturday.

Jiang Huaixi responded faintly, indicating she understood, was silent for a moment, then informed her: “If you’re not very familiar with X University, you can buy a tourist map at the entrance. The weather has been quite hot these days, and the forecast says there might be showers on Saturday, so remember to bring an umbrella. If you’re eating directly in X University’s cafeteria at noon, the ninth cafeteria has more variety of dishes, but they tend to be saltier, you might not be used to it. The food in West Garden and East Gathering restaurants might suit your taste better, but West Garden is open to tourists, so it’s more crowded, noisy, and hard to find a seat. So, East Gathering restaurant might be more suitable.”

Listening to Jiang Huaixi’s thoughtful reminders, the vague worry in Lu Zizheng’s heart instantly vanished, and the smile on her face grew bigger and bigger. For the first time, she learned that Jiang Huaixi was also someone who checked weather forecasts. She smiled and replied: “Mm, I got it. I trust your recommendations and choices. I’ll definitely buy a map first to plan the route, then bring an umbrella, and head straight to East Gathering restaurant for meals.”

In the hospital, Jiang Huaixi leaned sideways on the pillow, the oxygen nasal cannula temporarily removed and hanging around her neck, a thin, long drainage tube inserted in her thin left back, one hand holding the phone, the other placed beside the hospital bed, currently receiving an IV drip. The back of her pale hand was full of bruised needle marks.

Hearing Lu Zizheng’s unhesitating and complete trust in her choices, her eyes darkened, feeling emotional. Lian Xuan’s calculated steps, Lu Zizheng’s disregard for everything; her own current frailty and helplessness; and Lu Zizheng’s failure to directly answer her “if there was an if, would you forgive Lian Xuan and be with her” that day, made her increasingly uncertain.

Suddenly, as if compromising, she let out a long sigh and changed her tone, saying to Lu Zizheng: “Actually, it’s not necessarily true that other restaurants aren’t suitable. Perhaps, you could try letting Lian Xuan choose. Maybe the unknown might bring a different kind of surprise.”

She tilted her head back, slightly narrowing her eyes, watching the IV drip hanging beside the hospital bed dripping down drop by drop, as if watching the time she couldn’t grasp slipping away bit by bit. Her pale, emaciated face had shed its usual cool composure, filled with weariness.

In her heart, she murmured softly: “Zizheng, is going all in like this really the right thing to do? Actually, should I be giving you more freedom and choices? Wouldn’t that be better for you?”

LP: Re-translated on October 11, 2024