Li Weiyi’s words were like a key, unlocking the switch to Zhang Jingchan’s memories. Many vivid scenes and chaotic emotions felt as if they had happened just yesterday.
After that night in 2014, everything returned to calm. The nineteen-year-old Zhang Jingchan went back to his uneventful university life. But from that moment on, the name “Li Weiyi” was added to his life, like the tightening spell of the Bodhisattva Guanyin, constantly restraining his unruly teenage heart.
At school, Li Yunmo would whisper in his ear: “Aren’t you going to find sister-in-law today?”
“You really don’t remember anything from these past few days? You don’t even remember Xu Yi competing with you for your wife?”
“Damn, you don’t even know—later on, you had absolutely no shame, valuing romance over friendship, with such a strong possessive streak. But considering that supposedly you were a monk for eight years before someone wanted you, I’ve decided to forgive you.”
……
At home, not only Wu Xinhui, but even Zhang Moyun had already started treating Li Weiyi as their future daughter-in-law.
Wu Xinhui: “Achan, this is chocolate that your Uncle Liu brought from abroad, go deliver it to Weiyi.”
Wu Xinhui: “Achan, Weiyi has her college entrance exams next year. I’m telling you, there are certain things you must not do—don’t affect her ability to get into university.”
Wu Xinhui: “Why haven’t you gone to see Weiyi these past few days? Although you can’t disturb her studies, you also can’t just ignore her. What kind of boyfriend are you?”
Zhang Moyun had completely recovered from the surging emotions of father-son affection and defying fate from those previous days. Looking at his son’s face full of youthful rebelliousness, nothing seemed right. He said coldly: “In the past when you dated all sorts of messy girlfriends, this old man couldn’t be bothered to care. But from now on, if you don’t maintain male virtue, this old man will break your legs.”
Wu Xinhui: “What male virtue?”
Zhang Moyun revealed a loving smile: “When this boy was in a vegetative state, I heard Weiyi constantly repeating this new term—it means she wants him to be devoted only to her.”
Zhang Jingchan, who had been silently listening to the lecture, suddenly kicked the coffee table hard, stood up and said: “What girlfriend? I didn’t even pursue her. I’ve barely even met her a few times, and now I’m supposed to maintain male virtue for her?” He slammed the door and walked out.
Zhang Moyun and Wu Xinhui were shocked. After a while, Wu Xinhui said quietly: “Honey, we haven’t… made things worse, have we? What if he’s annoyed with Weiyi now and dumps her? What will happen in 2022? Will we just watch Weiyi cry as she marries someone else? This boy, ai! Such a temper.”
Zhang Moyun’s brow was also tightly furrowed. After thinking for a moment, he said: “This boy hates being controlled most of all. Let’s say less in the future, to avoid being counterproductive.”
Zhang Jingchan rushed out of the villa. That Ferrari had already been sold, leaving only a somewhat used Audi for him. He drove the car to the gates of Li Weiyi’s high school.
He was actually quite annoyed too. Waking up from a sleep, his future wife had all been arranged for him. Although he had previously prepared himself to be a devoted romantic, staying pure and waiting eight years for her, his own willingness was one thing—having someone force his head down to date was another matter entirely. Besides, he was only nineteen now, and she wasn’t even an adult yet. Did he have to take lifelong responsibility for her already? Just thinking about it made him feel suffocated.
Zhang Jingchan hadn’t really figured out why he’d run to the high school. Following Young Master Zhang’s usual style, at least he wouldn’t be the only one feeling miserable.
After waiting a while, school let out at noon. He knew Li Weiyi was a day student who went home for lunch. He rolled down the car window, rested one hand on the door, fingers tapping, staring intently at the main gate.
Such a youth—driving a nice car, dressed head to toe in trendy brands, handsome to an almost inhuman degree—attracted many people’s gazes.
Li Weiyi had no idea that her nominal boyfriend had gone crazy and come to the school gate. Third-year students were so busy. After the case ended, she hadn’t even had time to process her emotions or accept the information before drowning in an ocean of over forty test papers and assignments she owed. So much so that even by today, she hadn’t realized the fact that she was already “someone’s person.”
She walked out of the school gate arm-in-arm with her best friend, looking spirited and radiant. Today they didn’t have to wear school uniforms. She wore a blouse and short skirt, revealing well-proportioned, fair, slender legs. She had always been a funny person. Not knowing what she said, several girls around her burst into laughter, while she wore a sly smile. In the sunlight, you could even see the extremely fine down on her cheeks. Then she leaned her head on her best friend’s shoulder, hanging there like she had no bones, acting spoiled. Her best friend dragged her along like a corpse. She had no regard for her image at all—such a tiny thing, hanging on her tall best friend’s body.
Zhang Jingchan touched his nose.
Damn.
So cute.
Li Weiyi hadn’t seen Zhang Jingchan at all and was about to walk right past the car.
Zhang Jingchan honked the horn once. Their eyes met through the car window, and Zhang Jingchan could clearly see her palm-sized face rapidly turn red. Her body also stiffened. She released her best friend’s arm and tugged at the hem of her blouse.
Zhang Jingchan suddenly felt balanced inside. He wasn’t the only one anxious and uneasy about this matter.
With his spirits restored, Young Master Zhang’s inherent lazy arrogance seeped through. He leaned over, opened the passenger door, and tilted his chin at Li Weiyi: “Get in. I have something to say to you.”
Her best friend’s eyes sparkled brightly as she grabbed Li Weiyi’s arm, whispering: “Who is he? He’s so handsome.”
Li Weiyi mumbled: “A relative. You go ahead back. Let’s go to class together at noon.”
Once the car drove away from the school under everyone’s watchful eyes, Zhang Jingchan said: “I didn’t know we were relatives.”
Li Weiyi: “Then what did you want me to say?”
Zhang Jingchan paused.
Li Weiyi just wanted to hurry home.
Previously, she had decided to wait for him eight years, accompany him eight years. But acting like a hooligan toward a vegetative person who couldn’t move or speak was one thing—facing a living, breathing person over six feet tall, devastatingly handsome and incredibly proud, was quite another matter.
“What do you want with me?” Li Weiyi asked bluntly.
If this were before, with a girl having such a poor attitude, Zhang Jingchan would have turned and walked away. Breaking up with someone after dating for three days—he’d done it before.
Now, Young Master Zhang forcibly swallowed that breath.
“Treating you to a meal.”
A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Although Fu Ming’s assets had been cleared out, Zhang Jingchan still had a monthly allowance much more generous than ordinary college students. He ordered a whole table full of dishes. Li Weiyi looked at it and only frowned, saying: “Why are you so wasteful?”
Young Master Zhang, who was in a bad mood, also remembered his changed circumstances and said irritably: “If we can’t finish, we’ll pack it up. The two of us will split it evenly and take it home to eat slowly.”
Li Weiyi: “…” That seemed to make sense, but also seemed very stupid.
Zhang Jingchan tilted his head back and downed half a bottle of iced cola, setting it down with a “bang.” Li Weiyi’s heart jumped along with it. She lifted her head and met his unwavering gaze.
“About our situation, what are your thoughts?”
Li Weiyi’s face reddened again as she viciously shoveled several mouthfuls of rice.
Seeing her blush, Zhang Jingchan actually smiled, saying unhurriedly: “Why are you blushing? Between men and women, it’s just those matters. Anyway, we’re destined to be together eventually. Let’s discuss it properly now to avoid detours. What’s there to be nervous about?”