STT – Chapter 71

Sometimes, sometimes, I would believe that everything has an end

On that evening, Lu Zizheng called Jiang Huaixi and candidly told her about the coincidental encounter with Lian Xuan, without any concealment. In her tone, there was a mixture of astonishment and sighs. However, on the other end of the phone, Jiang Huaixi remained inexplicably silent for a few seconds, not uttering a word. It wasn’t until Lu Zizheng called her name in confusion and asked what was wrong that Jiang Huaixi smiled, sighed, and teased, “It’s nothing, I’m just a little envious. I wish I could have gone to appreciate the scenery of City X earlier.”

Lu Zizheng chuckled lightly, slightly displeased, “You seem less than forthcoming. Are you sure you just want to come and see the sights sooner?” The implication was clear without being explicitly stated.

Jiang Huaixi laughed, “Oh, well, I’m not just trying to come earlier to accompany you.”

Lu Zizheng smiled contentedly, not exposing her, and smoothly continued, “So, are your matters almost settled? When can you come to enjoy the splendid scenery?”

Jiang Huaixi fell silent for a moment, her tone carrying a hint of melancholy and apology, “It seems that it’s a bit more troublesome than I imagined. Zizheng, it might take until next week for me to finish up and be able to come to be with you…”

Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but furrow her brows. Undeniably, there was a hint of disappointment in her heart. Nevertheless, she took a deep breath, relaxed her brow, curved her lips, rallied her spirits, and in her usual gentle and positive tone, she comforted Jiang Huaixi, “It’s alright. I’ve been waiting here for you all along, and these few days don’t matter that much. Just focus on handling your matters well.” After a pause, she added with a playful tone, “But if you haven’t sorted things out by next week, how about you come a bit late, and once you’re here, you can sleep on the couch for a few days?”

Jiang Huaixi immediately retorted with a cold smile, “Sure, I’ll have Xiaolin take a few people to move the couch away tomorrow…” Xiaolin was the driver she had arranged for Lu Zizheng.

Unable to contain herself, Lu Zizheng burst into laughter, “Haha, you’re something else, acting like a domineering CEO…”

Since the day she met Lian Xuan, Lu Zizheng hadn’t seen her for several consecutive days. After a moment of contemplation, she assumed that Lian Xuan had gone out to play, so she didn’t think much of it and gradually forgot about the incident. Until Thursday arrived, and once again, Lian Xuan appeared at her doorstep, reminding Lu Zizheng of her existence.

On that evening, after finishing her classes and returning home from X University, Lu Zizheng had just finished dinner when the doorbell rang. She was a bit puzzled, speculating that the housekeeper wouldn’t ring the bell since they had a key, and if Xiaolin, the driver, was coming, he would probably call first. So, who could it be? There was a faint sense of anticipation, could it be Jiang Huaixi?

With these thoughts in mind, Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but feel a bit impatient, quickening her steps and jogging to open the door.

However, what appeared before her wasn’t the Jiang Huaixi she had been longing for, but Lian Xuan, wearing a somewhat shy and awkward smile.

Lian Xuan wore a white dress with an apron over it, her long hair casually tied with a leather strap behind her, exuding both elegance and a hint of gentleness. She looked at Lu Zizheng and asked in a slightly embarrassed tone, “Zizheng, do you have vinegar here? Can you lend me some? I’m cooking, and I realized I forgot to buy it when I needed it…”

Although Lu Zizheng felt a bit disappointed that it wasn’t Jiang Huaixi, she quickly adjusted her thoughts and smiled, responding, “I think I do. Just wait a moment, I’ll go get it for you…” With that, she briskly went to the kitchen and returned shortly with a glass bottle.

She handed the vinegar to Lian Xuan, observing Lian Xuan’s rather seasoned and graceful demeanor. She casually remarked with a smile, “Seeing you at the company, looking like a strong and capable woman in charge, I never would’ve imagined you can cook as well…”

Lian Xuan took the vinegar, blinked her eyes, revealing two charming dimples, and warmly invited with a smile, “Would you like to try my cooking, to see whether I’m all talk or if I actually have some real skills?”

Lu Zizheng shook her head, declining, “I probably don’t have the appetite. I just finished dinner, and I’m too full to move now.”

Lian Xuan chuckled lightly, expressing either genuine disappointment or playful teasing, “Alright, it seems I’ll have to be a lonely food enthusiast then.”

Lu Zizheng smiled and didn’t say anything.

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

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

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

Lian Xuan handed the vinegar to Lu Zizheng, her face showing a bit of nervousness. She asked Lu Zizheng, “I’ve finished eating and didn’t have much to do, so I cut up some fruits and thought of bringing them over to share with you. Is that okay?” She paused and continued, “I’ve been eating alone in my room these past few days, watching TV by myself. Just now, while sitting in the living room, I suddenly felt that the silence was a bit unsettling…” As she spoke, her voice gradually grew softer, and her expression became somewhat melancholic.

Seeing her crestfallen expression, Lu Zizheng felt a pang of sympathy. She didn’t have any strict plans for the evening that couldn’t be changed, so after a brief hesitation, she opened the door, indicating for Lian Xuan to come in.

Once inside, Lu Zizheng and Lian Xuan took seats on the couch, facing each other. For a moment, there was a bit of awkward silence between the two.

During their first encounter, Lu Zizheng was in a rush to attend class, so she didn’t inquire much. After a moment of thought, Lu Zizheng smiled, brought up a topic, and chatted casually with Lian Xuan, asking her, “How did you find the 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 and handed it over, giving a faint smile as she replied, “Because of the broken engagement, I had a falling out with my family. I was suspended from my job at the company, and the atmosphere at home isn’t great either. So, for a while, I didn’t have much to do and didn’t want to stay at home, so I came here.” This explanation covered half of the reasons, while the other half remained unspoken. The primary reason for coming here was naturally because she knew Lu Zizheng was here.

Lu Zizheng felt that the topic seemed somewhat sensitive, touching on Lian Xuan’s family matters and personal life, so she merely took a bite of the apple and softly responded with an “Oh,” not continuing the conversation.

On the other hand, Lian Xuan herself chuckled, leaned slightly back on the couch, adjusted to a more comfortable posture, and continued with the topic, “Zizheng, to be honest with you, I feel much more relaxed after making this decision. My situation might seem like I’m estranged from everyone, but I actually feel like I’ve shed all the constraints. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt as I do now, like I’m simply being myself. I can laugh when I want to, cry when I want to, and spend an entire day without speaking or leaving the house. I feel like an independent, free individual.”

Seeing Lian Xuan’s serene and contented smile, Lu Zizheng realized that she was genuinely happy and felt a sense of relief for her. She responded sincerely, “I don’t know if what you’ve done is truly right, but if you genuinely feel happy, then it’s worth it.”

Lian Xuan’s charming dimples deepened on her graceful face as she spoke brightly, “I believe it’s definitely worth it. After weighing everything over these years, what to let go of, what to preserve, all the effort spent, it wasn’t truly for oneself. This time, regardless of the outcome, at least I’ve lived for myself once. In any case, it’s worth it.”

Her face was filled with resolute conviction and a radiant glow, no longer resembling the cool, composed mask she wore when they first reconnected at the company—a mask that occasionally hinted at hidden concerns. Lu Zizheng tilted her head slightly, smiled softly, and asked, “So, what are your plans next? Are you considering going somewhere?”

Lu Zizheng’s hands were clasped and placed on her lap, ready to listen attentively. However, just then, the phone placed on the coffee table suddenly started ringing. A smile unconsciously deepened at the corner of Lu Zizheng’s lips as she promptly answered the call.

Naturally, it was Jiang Huaixi on the other end. With a laugh, she chided Lu Zizheng for texting her, saying that she had already had dinner before receiving the message and teasing her for being overly considerate.

Due to Lian Xuan’s presence, Lu Zizheng wasn’t entirely comfortable speaking on the phone, so she simply offered a light smile and responded, “Well, as long as you remember to eat.”

Jiang Huaixi keenly sensed Lu Zizheng’s unusual tone and after a moment’s consideration, she responded, “Is it not convenient for you to talk right now?”

Lu Zizheng hesitated for a moment and replied, “Yeah, I invited Lian Xuan to my place.” Since Lian Xuan was right there, Lu Zizheng was mindful of her feelings and didn’t explicitly tell Jiang Huaixi that it was Lian Xuan who initiated the idea to come in and have a chat.

On the other end of the phone, Jiang Huaixi remained silent briefly and then considerately said, “Alright, I’ll call you later. Take your time to host her.”

Lu Zizheng agreed, saying, “I’ll get back to you in a while.” She then hung up the phone.

Lian Xuan was also quite tactful; upon seeing the situation, she stood up, tidied up the nearly finished fruit plate on the coffee table, and gracefully took her leave, saying, “If you have things to attend to, feel free to go ahead. I should head back as well.”

Lu Zizheng politely insisted on keeping Lian Xuan a bit longer, while Lian Xuan politely declined the offer.

Seeing Lian Xuan off to the doorway, Lu Zizheng stood courteously by the door, preparing to close it once Lian Xuan had safely returned to her own place. Unexpectedly, 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 you mind taking me to visit X University?” After a pause, she added an explanation, “X University is a popular tourist spot, so there’s a daily limit on the number of visitors. I’ve tried going for several days in a row, but it just hasn’t worked out. So…”

Lu Zizheng had no ulterior motives and though she anticipated that the hot weather during the weekend might not make sightseeing appealing, she also felt that refusing might come across as a bit inhospitable. After a brief hesitation, she nodded and agreed.

Lian Xuan’s wish was granted, and she smiled with gratitude, confirming the time and reminding that they should meet as planned.

Lu Zizheng nodded gently.

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

Regarding the matter with Lian Xuan earlier, Jiang Huaixi didn’t inquire further. They chatted as usual, but in her voice, Lu Zizheng could detect a hint of weariness. Lu Zizheng’s focus was entirely on Jiang Huaixi; even though they weren’t meeting in person, she paid constant attention to the subtle changes in Jiang Huaixi’s tone and voice during their conversations.

She felt that over the past week, Jiang Huaixi’s mood seemed somewhat off. There were occasional moments of sudden silence, which appeared to be increasing. Despite deliberately concealing it during their calls, Jiang Huaixi seemed to be making an effort to appear normal.

After a moment of hesitation, Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but express her concern to Jiang Huaixi, “Huaixi, your voice sounds a bit tired. Take your time with things. If you’re feeling too exhausted, take a break.”

Jiang Huaixi chuckled lightly, teasing her, “Are you trying to have a few more days of carefree single life? You have ulterior motives.”

Seeing that Jiang Huaixi didn’t respond to her proposal of meeting, Lu Zizheng sighed and shifted the topic, informing Jiang Huaixi about her plan to take Lian Xuan to visit X University on Saturday.

Jiang Huaixi responded with a faint acknowledgment, indicating that she understood. After a brief pause, she provided Lu Zizheng with some advice, “If you’re not very familiar with X University, you can buy a tourist map at the entrance. The weather has been hot these days, and the forecast suggests there might be a shower on Saturday, so remember to bring an umbrella. If you plan to eat directly at the X University cafeteria at lunchtime, Dining Hall Nine has a wider variety of dishes, but they tend to be on the salty side, which you might not be accustomed to. The food at West Garden and East Dining Hall might be more to your taste. However, West Garden is open to visitors, so it can be crowded and noisy with limited seating. Therefore, East Dining Hall might be more suitable.”

Listening to Jiang Huaixi’s thoughtful advice, Lu Zizheng’s vague worries were swept away, and her smile grew brighter. For the first time, she learned that Jiang Huaixi also checked the weather forecast. She replied with a smile, “Got it. I trust your recommendations and choices. I’ll definitely get a map, plan the route, bring an umbrella, and head straight to East Dining Hall for lunch.”

In the hospital room, Jiang Huaixi leaned against the pillow with the oxygen nasal tube temporarily removed and hanging around her neck. A slim drainage tube was inserted into her lower back on the left side. One hand held her phone while the other rested by the bedside, connected to an IV drip. The back of her fair hand was marked with swollen needle punctures.

Hearing Lu Zizheng’s unwavering trust in her choices, Jiang Huaixi’s gaze dimmed involuntarily, and she felt something in her heart. Lian Xuan’s calculated moves for Lu Zizheng’s sake, her own current weakness and helplessness, and Lu Zizheng’s response to her question about forgiveness and being with Lian Xuan—all these uncertainties left her feeling more unsettled.

Suddenly, as if giving in, she let out a long sigh and changed her tone, addressing Lu Zizheng, “Actually, it’s not necessarily that other restaurants wouldn’t be suitable. Perhaps, you could let Lian Xuan make a choice. Maybe the unknown could bring a different kind of surprise.”

She tilted her head back, half-closed her eyes, and gazed at the IV drip hanging by the bedside, watching each drop fall one by one, as if observing the passage of time slipping away from her grasp. Her pale and gaunt face shed its usual cold composure, now filled with weariness.

Whispering softly in her heart, she questioned, “Zizheng, is this all-in gamble truly the right path? Should I be giving you more freedom and choices? Would that be better for you?”