What could two men possibly discuss in the middle of the night? They had barely exchanged a few words before running out of things to say.
Gao Yi felt uneasy. He also thought it was unlikely – how could it happen so quickly? Young Master Jiang wasn’t the type to pursue girls. Surely this wasn’t just a delusion. However, he didn’t dare voice these thoughts.
Clearing his throat, Gao Yi said, “Young Master Jiang, Chairman Jiang will certainly come to see you tomorrow.”
Jiang Ren had already anticipated this, but at the moment, even if his father – or his mother rising from the grave – were to appear, they couldn’t clear his head, which was intoxicated with love and joy.
Gao Yi’s implication was for him to be more discreet.
However, Jiang Ren didn’t need to understand his meaning.
“Tomorrow is their final competition. No investors are allowed at the venue,” Jiang Ren stated.
Gao Yi coughed awkwardly. How could he possibly control Wen Rui? When the big shots fight, it’s the little guys who suffer. Nevertheless, he had to give a vague agreement.
Jiang Ren knew this too. He said, “He wouldn’t dare to go.”
They ended the call.
Gao Yi soon fell asleep, embracing his wife, while Jiang Ren was left staring at the sky, lost in thought.
The azure night sky was occasionally punctuated by the sound of car horns in the city. Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, Jiang Ren resisted for a while before finally opening the door and stepping out.
It was around 4:40 in the morning.
Wearing a military green tank top, he went jogging outside the military compound. Why was the night so long? So long that each extra second made him fear this wasn’t real.
Only when he was drenched in sweat did he return to take a shower.
Both his body and soul were exhilarated. Jiang Ren changed into a white shirt and went out.
He walked along the apartment complex towards the street.
Having lived here for many years in his youth, he was familiar with every blade of grass and every tree.
Jiang Ren walked past the streets lined with ginkgo trees, making his way to the snack street on foot.
The sun hadn’t risen yet. At 5:48 AM, the breakfast vendor yawned as he set up, placing the steamer outside. Before dawn had fully broken, he saw a tall, shadowy figure standing under a tree.
The vendor was startled.
Only after the young man bought breakfast and left did the vendor mutter, “So early…”
At the hotel, Meng Ting had just woken up. Last night, Teacher Zhang announced the finalists. Out of their team of six, only two had made it to the finals.
Besides Meng Ting, there was Zhang Xiaofen, who was extremely experienced.
The rules for the finals had changed. Instead of ballet, contestants could perform any type of dance.
This was a reform implemented just this year. Everyone was shocked – after all, with so many types of dance, how could there be a standard for judging? However, the veteran dance master said, “Art knows no national boundaries, nor does it discriminate between forms.” They wanted to see souls rich in creativity.
Meng Ting got up early. She opened her suitcase, revealing a white feathered long dress inside.
With fewer contestants in the finals, they would draw lots and prepare on the spot, leaving no time to change in the dressing room. So Teacher Zhang had told them to come dressed and ready.
This was originally a coming-of-age gift her mother had prepared for her in advance.
However, it wasn’t suitable for ballet.
Or rather, while beautiful and elegant, it wasn’t suitable for any professional dance.
Meng Ting still chose to wear it.
It represented the freest soul. The regret of her fourteen-year-old self would now be completed as she wore it.
It was still dark outside. The final competition wasn’t so rushed; they could gather at 7:30 AM. The competition would officially start at 9 AM.
The teacher hadn’t woken up yet. Meng Ting had finished washing up, her long hair still loose and undone. Just then, the phone screen on her bed lit up.
Her heart inexplicably started racing. Looking at the sender, it was indeed Jiang Ren.
He was waiting for her downstairs.
Even in June, summer mornings could still be a bit chilly.
As Meng Ting quietly went downstairs, the front desk receptionist was yawning repeatedly. She gave Meng Ting a blank look. With a white floral hair tie on her wrist, her soft long hair falling, and the colorful feathers swaying as she moved, Meng Ting looked like a fairy who had just stepped out of the forest.
Meng Ting walked out of the hotel towards the parking lot. She immediately spotted Jiang Ren.
He was leaning against a white poplar tree, holding a bunch of things in his hands.
Thinking about what she had said to him last night, her cheeks grew warm.
Jiang Ren said, “Come here.”
She walked over, lifting her small face to look at him.
His heart filled with joy, and he couldn’t help but free one hand, gently caressing her cheek with his fingertips. She bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with moisture, very shy, but she didn’t dodge.
He… he was her boyfriend, so she probably shouldn’t dodge, right?
“Are you cold?” he asked.
Meng Ting shook her head.
She was dressed beautifully. In the misty dawn, she looked even more like an unapproachable little fairy.
He handed her everything he had bought. “Breakfast.”
Meng Ting lowered her eyes to look.
Steamed buns, sesame seed cakes, sugar fire cakes, crisp flatbreads, fried dough rings, pancakes, nougat, and a bowl of tofu pudding he had managed to buy from somewhere.
Meng Ting couldn’t help but smile. “So much?”
“Mm.” He wanted to give her everything but only realized how foolish it was when he arrived. His heart was warm, and he cared about nothing else. “You can take some back for your classmates.”
Meng Ting felt a bit shy and nodded. However, she was the type of girl who always remembered to repay kindness. At the moment, she had nothing to give him in return and felt a bit helpless.
Taking advantage of the early morning hours.
She ate breakfast with Jiang Ren.
In the thin morning mist, she ate while Jiang Ren watched. Meng Ting took small bites of a steamed bun, gently raising her eyes to look at him.
The young man’s pitch-black eyes were full of smiles.
Meng Ting’s cheeks were pink and plump. “Aren’t you eating?” she asked.
“May I?” he replied.
“Mm.”
Then he lowered his head and took a bite next to her small teeth marks. Meng Ting stared blankly at the bite mark and her pale white fingers.
How did he…
She looked at the half-eaten bun in her hand, not knowing whether to eat it or throw it away.
Seeing her dumbfounded expression, Jiang Ren couldn’t help but laugh. “F*ck, you find me disgusting?”
It wasn’t that, but he had so many in his hands, why did he have to eat hers? And it wasn’t very hygienic.
She blushed and tried to reason with him seriously, “It’s not hygienic this way.”
Jiang Ren almost laughed out of frustration.
But she looked so serious. All his frustration dissipated.
This was his Meng Ting.
She was pure and innocent, not even knowing how to date properly. She was obedient and well-behaved, but she had her principles.
And she was a fastidious top student.
She just hadn’t learned how to love someone, nor had she experienced being loved like this.
He was addicted to her scent, wanting to kiss her. Her tears were sweet, her smell was fragrant, and the touch of her lips made his heart tremble.
It didn’t matter if she didn’t understand; he would teach her. Until she understood.
Jiang Ren took the bun from her hand and ate it himself. In a gentle tone, he told her, “It’s not unhygienic. Ting Ting, give me anything you don’t want.”
He lowered his eyes and finished it in a few bites.
Her fingertips still retained the warm temperature of the chubby, hot bun. Meng Ting looked up; the young man’s black hair was neat, his eyes full of indulgence and tenderness.
Her heart began to race.
Bit by bit, it pounded against her chest. For the first time, Meng Ting vaguely understood. The person in front of her would unconditionally accept everything about her. He would never reproach her.
Meng Ting still had to go back to do her hair and prepare her makeup.
She couldn’t stay with him for long.
She took the pile of breakfast Jiang Ren had given her and walked towards the hotel. After a few steps, she couldn’t help but turn back. The colorful feathers of her dress skirt fluttered, with winding flower branches embroidered under the frog buttons, beautiful and distant.
He smiled at her. “What’s wrong?”
His tone carried a hint of breakfast-induced laziness and indulgence. Meng Ting felt a soft happiness in her heart.
Her voice was sweet as she asked, “Jiang Ren, are you going back to H City?”
“Yes, I am.”
Meng Ting suppressed her shyness and tried to speak calmly, “Then after the competition today, let’s go back together.”
The corners of Jiang Ren’s lips curled up uncontrollably. “Alright.”
The fairy had accidentally fallen into the mortal world, and he had been looking up and waiting for too long. How fortunate that he was the one to catch her.
The day of the competition happened to be a Monday.
It was the day for flag-raising ceremonies at both No. 7 High School and the vocational school. He Junming arrived early. Last night, he had been in a daze, thinking the call from Brother Ren was just a dream. But when he checked the call log on his phone, He Junming was thrilled. Damn, Brother Ren did dream in the middle of the night.
It was too Freaking funny. Brother Ren rarely made such a fool of himself. For the first time, He Junming happily came to school, planning to quietly tell Tan Zi and the others before Brother Ren returned.
He Junming said, “I swear on my life, Brother Ren said last night that Meng Ting was his girlfriend! Hahaha, it’s too Freaking hilarious!”
He Han couldn’t hold back either and burst out laughing.
Even the usually composed Fang Tan exclaimed, “Hahahahaha!”
The three of them laughed for a long time.
He Junming added mischievously, “Imagine Brother Ren’s expression when he wakes up and realizes it was just a dream.”
He Han said, “He’d be cold as ice, wanting to kill you first, then himself.”
Fang Tan said, “Come on, which man hasn’t had a wet dream? It’s understandable, totally understandable.”
He Junming coughed twice. “When Brother Ren comes back, don’t mention that I told you about this. You all better hold it in and don’t laugh, got it? Don’t get me killed.”
Meng Ting took a deep breath.
It wasn’t until she truly reached the finals that she realized many of her obsessions were slowly dissipating. What she once dared not touch was gradually fading away. For a time, she had been afraid to face her past self, always feeling that it was because of her that Zeng Yujie had died.
But when she put on the dress her mother had made by hand, she realized how great a mother’s love was.
Every stitch was Zeng Yujie’s expectation for her.
The white feathered dress was particularly beautiful. It had been uncomfortable and ill-fitting on Shu Lan, but it fit Meng Ting perfectly. Her mother must have hoped for years that Meng Ting would grow into a particularly wonderful person.
This heaven-sent daughter could sing and dance. Beautiful, delicate, and lovely, when Zeng Yujie looked at her, it was as if she saw another kind of life.
Below the stage were only judges and audience members.
There were no sponsors and no Zhu Yixuan.
Before her performance, Meng Ting secretly glanced around; Jiang Ren hadn’t come either.
But her phone lit up. Meng Ting received a text message from him saying, “I’m guarding you.”
In the gentle breeze and summer sun, he was her protector.
Jiang Ren didn’t go inside.
He just leaned against the entrance of Swan Villa, acting as a fierce guardian. Today, whether it was Wen Rui or any investor, no one could get in. He was giving her the fairest competition possible.
Wen Rui initially didn’t believe it, but as soon as he made arrangements to leave, Gao Yi smiled and said, “Young Master Jiang is at the door, Chairman Wen. You see…”
Wen Rui clenched his fists, finally smiling helplessly. “I have other matters to attend to today.”
When Zhu Yixuan came to find him, Wen Rui waved his hand dismissively. “Get lost!”
Zhu Yixuan cried out in surprise, bumping into the table.
She felt extremely wronged. “Chairman Wen…”
Wen Rui couldn’t go, but Chairman Jiang could. Yesterday, he was still in a meeting when he heard that Jiang Ren had returned. Before he could be happy, he was fuming with anger.
Coming back just to cause trouble! Look how capable he thinks he is! Why doesn’t he just fly to the moon?
Chairman Jiang’s given name was Jiang Zhongen. He wasn’t particularly handsome. Unlike Jiang Ren, who, thanks to his mother’s good genes mixed with his father’s ruggedness, had a kind of roguish charm.
When Chairman Jiang had his driver bring him to Swan Villa, his demon king of a son was already waiting for him by the door, looking completely at ease.
Chairman Jiang’s square face was filled with anger. “What was that about last night, treating your uncle like that? Aren’t you the one with all the pride? If you’re so tough, why come back at all?”
Jiang Ren sneered, “Don’t worry, I’m leaving tonight.”
“…” That wasn’t what he meant, but the words were already out. Chairman Jiang didn’t have the face to ask him to stay. He said gruffly, “Leaving at your convenience, do you still see me as your father at all?”
Chairman Jiang regretted his words as soon as he said them.
Jiang Ren had been rebellious since childhood, immune to both soft and hard approaches. What if he decided to leave right now?
The young man was even taller than him.
Chairman Jiang was only 174 cm, while Jiang Ren was 187 cm. This son of his had never been afraid of pain, never cried, with a tough personality and a wild nature. Chairman Jiang was truly proud of him and liked him, but because of family issues and Wen Man, the father and son rarely spoke calmly. Usually, it was Chairman Jiang yelling, and Jiang Ren yelling even louder.
Chairman Jiang was prepared for his son to slam the door and leave.
However, Jiang Ren looked at him, the corners of his lips curling up. “Dad, I’ll come back to see you when I get into university.”
Chairman Jiang froze. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
Jiang Ren had politely called him dad, and… and he had ambitions to go to university? Not that broken vocational school of his…
No, when had Jiang Ren ever backed down?
But at this moment, there was a relaxed smile in the young man’s eyes.
Chairman Jiang stuttered “Oh.” The wrinkles on his face relaxed a bit. “Let’s go inside and talk.”
The June weather wasn’t hot outside. This little rascal’s black hair was all sweaty. Without that eye-catching silver hair, Chairman Jiang almost couldn’t recognize his son.
However, Jiang Ren, always nonchalant, dismissed him, “If you’re hot, go back.” He drawled lazily, “They’re competing, and you wouldn’t understand it anyway. Why bother going inside?”
“…”
Once Chairman Jiang had walked away, Jiang Ren stared at his father’s retreating figure.
It seemed like, little by little, he could start forgiving him.
In the end, they were the same—men who loved someone so deeply it consumed them, turning them into madmen and fools. Unbothered by anyone else’s opinions, they walked their lonely paths, pitiful.
Chairman Jiang, even as he aged, still couldn’t let go.
Jiang Ren recalled how shaken his father had been when Wen Man had eloped all those years ago. He’d teared up, fallen into a long period of despair, and ultimately chose to let her go. Sadly, Wen Man’s fate hadn’t been kind—she didn’t live long after that, leaving behind a burden for his father to bear.
Jiang Ren sneered. To love someone, just how deeply must one feel to be willing to let them go? Was his father’s love not deep enough, or was it too deep?
As for him, he wouldn’t let go.
If that person was Meng Ting, even if he had to crawl or kneel to reach her, he would die in her arms.
Fortunately, his girl was wonderful.
There she stood in the morning light, shy but radiant, her large eyes shimmering with bashful warmth. Sweetly, she said she wanted to go home with him.