ORCBRB – Chapter 39
Chapter 39
As the end of the semester approached, major courses were concluding one after another, and the number of people in the library visibly increased.
When Sang Shi'an came out of the library, it seemed another light snow had fallen. The warm orange streetlights reflected off the ice crystals on the brick road.
Beside Sang Shi'an was a senior two years her elder named Du Wen. He was the son of her parents' friends, and she had only recently learned that he was also one of Professor Xu's undergraduate students.
Du Wen walked beside Sang Shi'an, maintaining a slight distance. “When I was helping Professor Xu organize things, I saw the exam schedule for the sophomores. I remember you have two final exams next week, right? The second year has the most major courses. How’s your studying going?”
Sang Shi'an replied simply, “It’s okay.”
Du Wen took the opportunity to suggest, “I’ve already been accepted into the graduate program, and I just reviewed all the major courses in the last six months. How about we have a meal together this weekend? We can go over the key points for you while we eat.”
Sang Shi'an understood his intention and tactfully refused, “Senior, I have to intern at my company this weekend.”
Du Wen showed a regretful smile. “Then let me walk you back. I also live in the Zuo'an Community, so it’s on the way.”
Under the night sky and streetlights, Sang Shi'an's eyes were particularly beautiful, yet they held a faint sense of detachment. As Du Wen looked away, he thought to himself, no wonder so many people pursued her one after another.
He took another half step to the side, creating a more appropriate social distance. This time, Sang Shi'an indeed did not refuse again.
The square heels of her leather boots clicked rhythmically, her steps steady. Du Wen tried several times to find an opportunity to get closer, but he could only watch.
“Senior, you don’t have to be so careful.” Sang Shi'an seemed to have noticed Du Wen’s thoughts and turned to smile at him. “I did used to fall a lot in the winter, especially after it snowed.”
Du Wen clearly hadn't expected Sang Shi'an to initiate the conversation and his eyes lit up with surprise. “Is that so? That must have been terrible.”
Sang Shi'an agreed wholeheartedly and lowered her head with a small smile. “But I’m quite lucky. Every time I was about to fall, someone would be there to catch me.”
Du Wen tentatively asked, “Like me, watching over you?”
Sang Shi'an shook her head, polite yet distant. “No.”
She looked up at Du Wen. “It was the person I like.”
Du Wen was at a loss for words and let out a couple of awkward laughs. Half a minute later, he sighed, “So it wasn't that we weren't trying hard enough, but that you already have someone you like.”
Sang Shi'an chuckled. “You’re joking, Senior.”
The ten-minute walk didn't allow for much conversation, especially after Sang Shi'an's clear rejection. For the latter half of the journey, their conversation remained formal, focusing entirely on their major courses.
Just as they walked through the community gate, Du Wen was about to ask for Sang Shi'an's building number when he saw her quicken her pace.
Her steps led toward a car that had just parked. A woman in a white coat emerged from it, turning her head slightly to nod in their direction.
Du Wen recalled the rumors at school and caught up to Sang Shi'an, asking in surprise, “Are you really living with Jian Cenyu?”
“Yes, our families thought it would be convenient for us to look after each other.” Sang Shi'an’s smile remained, but the sense of distance had grown.
Du Wen said his goodbyes regretfully. As he rounded the flowerbed, he saw the two of them sharing an umbrella. He gazed at Sang Shi'an's back with a sense of loss, wondering who could be so lucky.
The newly fallen drizzle was cold. When it splashed onto her arm, it stung like an ice needle.
Just as she was about to wipe away the water droplets, Jian Cenyu’s voice sounded beside her ear. “Why didn’t you let me pick you up on my way? The road is so slippery, and you could have avoided some of the wind.”
Sang Shi'an replied casually, “It would have been too much trouble for you to make a special trip to the university. But why were you in the car?”
Her voice softened. “Were you waiting for me specifically?”
Jian Cenyu naturally wouldn't say that she had been waiting since nine o'clock, for nearly an hour, but she had no intention of telling her.
“Just a coincidence.”
Sang Shi'an had a faint feeling that Jian Cenyu might have been waiting for her for a long time, and her mood, which had been numb from a whole evening of studying, began to brighten.
Once inside the building, Jian Cenyu closed the umbrella and asked, “That boy just now, is he the ‘older brother’ you like?”
Sang Shi'an paused for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Him…”
She playfully kept her in suspense. “Senior Du Wen’s family owns Jinxin Electrical Appliances. He lives here too, so we were just on the same way home tonight.”
As for the so-called ‘older brother,’ wasn't she right in front of her?
Sang Shi'an followed Jian Cenyu into the elevator. As the warmth seeped into her, her voice became a little lazy. “I thought you were deliberately waiting at the community gate to catch me, to prevent me from staying out all night.”
Jian Cenyu’s hand, which was pressing the button for their floor, paused for a second. She slowly turned her head. “Would you?”
Sang Shi'an warmed her hands by the air vent and said leisurely, “Not necessarily.”
Jian Cenyu chuckled softly. “You wouldn’t.”
Just as Sang Shi'an was about to ask ‘why not,’ the elevator doors opened. Jian Cenyu unlocked the apartment door and went straight to the bathroom.
Two minutes later, the sound of running water could be heard.
Sang Shi'an stood at the door for a moment, then returned to her room in frustration. She took out the textbook for next week's exam from her bag, habitually switched her WeChat to her Kitty account, and then began memorizing the tedious technical terms.
Until a message from Jian Cenyu arrived.
【Kitty?】
Sang Shi'an still had a few definitions of professional terms left to memorize, and she had intended to finish them, but her eyes were uncontrollably glued to the screen.
She folded a corner of the book page, found a capybara-shaped lollipop from her nightstand, tore open the wrapper, and replied to Jian Cenyu while chewing on it and holding her phone.
【I'm here, Jiejie.】
【The moment Jiejie looked for me, I felt it telepathically.】
Judging by the time, Jian Cenyu should have finished her shower. Her reply came quickly: 【There's something I think I need to tell you first.】
Kitty: 【Kitty scratching head.jpg】
【Why so serious all of a sudden? Did something happen?】
Jian Cenyu: 【Last time you asked if I would face something like an arranged marriage. My family does have this intention now.】
Sang Shi'an was stunned. She hadn't expected Jian Cenyu to confess this to Kitty.
She licked her lollipop, the words turning over in her mind, and continued to type.
【So are you telling me tonight that you want to break up?】
【Kitty crying loudly.jpg】
Jian Cenyu was silent for a moment on the other end before replying: 【No, it's just that our parents have this wish. I didn't tell you at first because they said it was just about making friends, and we could date freely during this period without any psychological burden.】
Sang Shi'an had indeed heard this before. As long as either Jian Cenyu or her brother was unwilling, the arranged marriage wouldn't happen.
But…: 【Has that changed now?】
Jian Cenyu: 【This weekend is my grandfather's birthday. He specifically mentioned inviting the other party. I have to go home before I can tell you the result.】
Sang Shi'an was completely dumbfounded. She then listened as Jian Cenyu explained a few things about the Jian family. Sang Shi'an responded mechanically until Jian Cenyu said she was going to dry her hair. It was as if she finally snapped back to reality.
【Jiejie, wait a minute!】
【You're not lying to me, are you?】
【If it's just your family's wish, you could secretly refuse. You wouldn't have to tell me specifically, right? Is it really an arranged marriage with no room for negotiation?】
Jian Cenyu: 【I'm not lying to you.】
【But I will try my best.】
This time, Sang Shi'an fell completely silent. Without caring if Jian Cenyu would send more messages, she called Sang Shiyue.
Sang Shiyue was at some social gathering, and the background was noisy. “What's up? Do you want me to pick you up to come home tomorrow for the weekend?”
“No, I need to ask you something.” Sang Shi'an controlled her breathing and called out softly, “Brother.”
Sang Shiyue was indeed good-tempered. The noisy sounds on his end grew fainter, as if he had stepped outside, before he asked, “What is it?”
Sang Shi'an chewed on her candy, choosing her words carefully. “Grandpa Jian's birthday is tomorrow. Cenyu Jiejie invited me, and she said you're going too. Can you come pick me up tomorrow?”
“You're going? Are you sure?” Sang Shiyue sounded as if he had found a savior, afraid Sang Shi'an would change her mind. “It's just an ordinary birthday for Old Master Jian. It's not right for both of us to go freeload. You can just go with Jian Cenyu.”
“Ah.” Sang Shi'an had achieved her goal but still pretended to hesitate. “They want to meet the future grandson-in-law. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go.”
A rather helpless laugh rumbled from Sang Shiyue's chest. “Don't spread false rumors about my relationship with Jian Cenyu. I don't care, but it's different for a girl.”
The words ‘that’s not true’ paused on her lips. Sang Shi'an rolled over in bed and, in a composed voice, said, “Fine, I'll go in your place tomorrow then.”
When Jian Cenyu heard this news, she was in the kitchen washing two plates of cherries. Her expression was slightly surprised. “Your brother said he doesn't have time?”
Sang Shi'an snatched one of the plates and said irritably, “Or did I force him not to go?”
Jian Cenyu glanced at the chair beside her, gesturing for her to sit.
Jian Cenyu looked a bit troubled. “But my grandfather seems to have something he wants to discuss with him.”
“Discuss what? My brother beat up his precious grandson last time. Wouldn't it be awkward if it's brought up this time?” Sang Shi'an sat down and pouted. “I don't understand the projects you guys talk about anyway. It's most suitable for me to go.”
“That works too.” Seeing Sang Shi'an pop a cherry into her mouth, Jian Cenyu thoughtfully brought the trash can over. “Actually, you don't need to worry so much about that matter. It's a family disgrace that shouldn't be aired in public. In the end, my grandfather is also in the wrong, so he won't make things difficult for your brother. It's just that the company is short on funds recently, and several bank bonds are maturing. As a result, we can't support the Huaxing listing project.”
So they wanted to bring up the arranged marriage again, using Jian Cenyu's marriage to get some money for Jian Zhenyang's project?
Sang Shi'an: “Oh.”
Jian Cenyu reached out and pinched her cheek. “What ‘oh’? This has nothing to do with you, why are you unhappy?”
Sang Shi'an had just been chewing on a cherry, and when Jian Cenyu pinched her, it fell right out of her mouth. “What, can't I be unhappy?”
She shot up from her seat.
Jian Cenyu watched her movements quietly.
“I… I… I…” Sang Shi'an stammered for a moment before finally coming up with a reason. “You're scheming for my family's money right in front of me, how can I be happy? Jian Cenyu, have I warned you about this before?”
Jian Cenyu calmly watched as Kitty's fur began to stand on end, hiding the curve of her lips as she said impassively, “You have.”
Sang Shi'an had finally found a legitimate reason to express her dissatisfaction with the arranged marriage in front of Jian Cenyu. She grabbed Jian Cenyu's shoulders with both hands and shook her back and forth. “I don't believe what you're saying now, so—”
Jian Cenyu: “So what?”
Sang Shi'an huffed and said arrogantly, “So you and your family had better give up those little thoughts about an arranged marriage. I definitely won't let you succeed.”
Get instant access to all the chapters now.
Comments
Post a Comment