Chapter 46: Unexpected Turn of Events |
"Truly outstanding."
Wang Qingzhao gazed at Jiang Ran's retreating figure, her eyes flashing with deep admiration.
"Have some water."
At this moment, Wang Qingzhao sat on the sofa while Jiang Ran poured her a glass of warm water and prepared some milk candies.
When Jiang Ran went to the balcony to collect laundry, Wang Qingzhao's curious glance happened to fall upon a medicine bottle on the coffee table.
"Anovoxidine"
She read the drug name aloud without much thought, casually turning it in her hands until the treatment indications came into view.
When she saw it was used to treat dissociative identity disorder, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, her mouth fell open in shock.
Jiang Ran returned just then, noticing Wang Qingzhao holding his medicine bottle.
After tossing the laundry onto his bedroom bed, Jiang Ran replied, "Yes, it's mine."
Wang Qingzhao felt stunned. She distinctly remembered Jiang Ran never having any mental health issues since she'd known him.
"Could it be because of the breakup with Shen Xing?"
From that moment, her heart ached even more for this young man.
And she regretted that past incident all the more.
Back then, Jiang Ran had been equally close with both her and Shen Xing.
Both girls had liked Jiang Ran, but neither had confessed.
Until one summer vacation during university.
Jiang Ran had called both her and Shen Xing, saying he wanted to meet.
She happened to be traveling that summer, so she had to decline without much thought.
Shen Xing went anyway.
By the time she returned from her trip, those two had become a couple.
Later she learned Jiang Ran hadn't called them randomly - he'd been severely ill with flu and needed someone to care for him.
He'd called her first, but she hadn't seized the opportunity.
Had she not been traveling, she definitely would have gone.
But regrets were useless - what's done was done.
The past couldn't be changed.
"By the way Jiang Ran, remember during university when our school had that..."
Seeking to steer away from this melancholy topic, Wang Qingzhao brought up amusing university memories.
Drawing from the original host's memories, Jiang Ran engaged in the nostalgic conversation.
By the time they finished talking, it was already 6pm, so Jiang Ran invited Wang Qingzhao to stay for dinner.
Wang Qingzhao gladly accepted, curious about Jiang Ran's cooking skills since back in university his specialty had been instant noodles... the less said about other dishes, the better.
After dinner at 7pm, it was time for Wang Qingzhao to leave.
But then she awkwardly said, "Jiang Ran, I don't want to hide this - could I stay overnight at your place?"
Jiang Ran blinked. "Why?"
Wang Qingzhao explained, "The upstairs neighbors are renovating - abnormally, day and night. Complaints do nothing. These days I've been either in hotels or sleeping in my car, so..."
"Fine by me. Saves you hotel expenses anyway."
Jiang Ran didn't mind.
That night, Jiang Ran gave Wang Qingzhao his bedroom while he took the sofa, making her both embarrassed and touched.
Unable to sleep late at night, Wang Qingzhao crept out to check if Jiang Ran was asleep. His soft breathing confirmed he was sound asleep.
In the darkness, she gazed at his vague form on the sofa and sighed inwardly: "There's no renovation upstairs. I just wanted an excuse to spend more time alone with you."
With this melancholy thought, she returned to bed.
Early next morning, both rose early.
After breakfast of buns and soy milk Jiang Ran bought, Wang Qingzhao prepared for work.
Jiang Ran saw her off to the apartment entrance, watching her drive away.
As Wang Qingzhao's car left Alice Apartment, a figure emerged from bushes across the street.
It was the same young man from yesterday who'd followed them from the café.
Now his forehead veins bulged as he ground his teeth audibly.
Through clenched teeth, he spat out each word:
"Wang Qingzhao, didn't you claim to be conservative, refusing premarital sex?"
"Why? Why break your own rule?"
His furious fist struck a nearby tree, which remained unharmed except for shedding some aged bark.
This man was Zhao Jie, Wang Qingzhao's ex-boyfriend.
At yesterday's reunion, Wang Qingzhao had said Zhao Jie initiated their breakup because she was too conservative - a lie.
In truth, she'd dumped him.
The reason? She simply wanted out.
Zhao Jie was furious - he'd genuinely loved Wang Qingzhao.
Throughout their relationship:
No sleeping together, not even kissing, hand-holding, waist-hugging or embracing.
Wang Qingzhao refused!
He endured it!
Every text exchange saw him writing paragraphs while she replied with cold "mhms."
He tolerated that too!
Yet his endless concessions earned no sincerity!
Finally, she dumped him!
So Zhao Jie quit his job to secretly follow Wang Qingzhao, determined to learn why she'd left him.
After days of surveillance, her life seemed as monotonous as ever - no new lover emerged.
Until yesterday.
She attended the reunion, then drove some man home.
Comments 11