"Good, good. With that intention, Brother Gu will surely be comforted in heaven. But the current college entrance examination system..." Xiao Jie hesitated; it wasn't their place to speak too much about the central government’s decisions.

"It’s alright, I can wait." I smiled. I knew there was only one year left until the college entrance exam was reinstated.

"That’s true. If the exam is restored, where do you plan to apply? How about the University of the Capital? It’s the highest institution in the country, and we could take care of you there."

Xiao Jie, after all, didn't want to lose face completely, and she truly wanted to make amends to me.

After all, they had already thoroughly investigated what happened back then, and their son's actions had indeed been too impulsive and excessive.

I poked at the rice in my bowl, smiled, and said nothing.

Arthur wiped his hands and laughed, his fox-like eyes crinkling.

"Auntie Jie, the capital is too far away—over two thousand kilometers round trip. We don't want to make Elena go through such trouble. If the exam really is restored, the South City University is quite good. I can pick up and drop off Elena to live at home every day."

Crack.

The chopsticks in Julian’s hand were snapped in two.

Xie Wanzhi chimed in with a smile: "Old Arthur and I both cherish Elena like our own daughter. Both Arthur and Shuning like her too. When she first arrived home, Shuning chased after her every day, calling her 'Sister, Sister'."

Fu Shuning, who was busy eating, was glared at simultaneously by two inexplicable men.

Xiao Jie’s smile didn't fade as she looked at me and said: "That would be wonderful. Brother Gu and Cheng Julian had actually arranged a 'childhood engagement' for the two of you back then. I think Julian and Elena are quite a match!"

Chapter 20

A deathly silence fell over the dining table.

Xie Wanzhi’s smile froze on her face, secretly annoyed that she had said the wrong thing.

Arthur shook his dazed head, preparing to step in and fix the situation, but was held back by Cheng Julian’s cheerful hand.

The two older men secretly competed, while the two younger ones didn't spare each other either, wishing they could stab each other eighteen times with their glares alone.

Fu Shuning puffed out his cheeks, looking left and right, not daring to move or swallow. His eyes were wide open—clear, yet foolish.

I smiled slightly, polite and composed.

"Auntie Jie, I once read a book that said 'childhood engagements' are an outdated custom of feudal society. They hinder social development and progress and are things that should be criticized, abandoned, and discarded."

Xiao Jie’s face went blank for a moment before she said dryly, "What kind of book is that? It’s a bit too generalizing."

I sipped some water and said unhurriedly, "‘Self-Respect and Self-Love: Correcting Women’s Ideological Issues.’ Oh, by the way, that book was a welcome gift from Comrade Julian himself."

"Pfft!"

Fu Shuning covered his mouth with lightning speed, barely managing to keep from ruining the table full of food.

Arthur slumped back against his chair, his smile uncontrollable.

Arthur laughed "heh heh" and grabbed Cheng Julian’s shoulder, raising his glass again: "Come, come, Old Cheng, let’s drink."

Xie Wanzhi’s smile reappeared, and she elegantly adjusted her shawl.

"My, I think that book makes perfect sense. Young people should have the freedom to choose their own lives. Otherwise, all our hard work and struggles would have been for nothing."

Xiao Jie picked up a piece of green vegetable and put it in her mouth, looking deflated.

Julian kept his head down and poured himself another glass of wine.

Seeing this, Xiao Jie tried to ease the tension and quickly said, "Julian, you haven't seen Arthur in over ten years. Shouldn't you two brothers have a drink?"

Arthur smiled politely but refused: "No, Auntie. Alcohol affects thinking and judgment, and besides, Elena is very sensitive to the smell of smoke and alcohol."

Crash.

The glass in Julian’s hand shattered into pieces, the shards mixing with wine and a faint, imperceptible trace of blood.

The smell of smoke was understandable, but the smell of alcohol... how close would you have to be to smell that?

At the thought that Arthur and Elena might be dating, or that they might be doing intimate things, Julian’s heart felt like it was being twisted by knives; he could barely breathe. He stared intensely at Elena, hoping to see a trace of disapproval on her face.

But there was none.

Xiao Jie had nothing left to say. She turned to look at her good-for-nothing son, her tone becoming unintentionally accusatory.

"If it’s broken, stop drinking. I think young Arthur is right; it really does affect one’s thinking."

The meal slowly drew to a close amidst the conversation.

The next morning.

I opened the balcony door, ready to embrace the beautiful morning, only to see Julian standing downstairs. He didn't know how long he had been standing there. When he met my gaze, he didn't speak; he just watched me quietly.

I furrowed my brows, picked up my small handbag, and walked downstairs with light steps.

The two of us looked at each other, neither speaking. Clutching my bag, I walked into a pavilion behind a rockery. It wasn't too early or too late, and there was no one else in the compound, so it was a rare place to talk.

Standing in silence, it was Julian who finally broke the quiet.

His eyes were bloodshot—whether from the hangover or something else, I couldn't tell—and his voice was hoarse and low.

"Are you doing well?"

The answer was obvious, but he still wanted to hear me say it myself.

I nodded and gave him a sincere smile: "I’m very well. Uncle Arthur and Auntie Xie have both been very kind to me, and my mother has woken up."

I did not mention Arthur.

Julian lowered his eyes to hide the complex emotions within them and took a deep breath. "I have something to tell you."

Chapter 21

"I have something to tell you."

We spoke in unison, which even felt like a sign of some lingering rapport.

"You go first," I said, slowly pulling my hand back from my bag.

Julian took a hair clip from his pocket and laid it open in his palm. The clip was delicately crafted but slightly aged, as if it had been handled and reminisced over many times.

"This was a welcome gift I originally intended for you. I admit, I had prejudices against you before, which led to many unnecessary misunderstandings and hurt you. I sincerely apologize to you."

"It was my hindsight that caused me to miss my own heart, and to miss you. Elena, I like you. Can you give me one more chance?"

It was hard to imagine these words actually coming from Julian’s mouth.

He knit his brows, staring at me intently, not wanting to miss a single expression on my face.

I widened my eyes in shock, my gaze filled with disbelief.

What had I just heard?

Julian said he liked me?

How could he possibly like me?

If he liked me, then what were those arbitrary prejudices, misunderstandings, and cold indifference? What about all those years of struggling and self-reproach in my past life? Was that just my bad luck?

Seeing me stunned for so long, a faint glimmer of hope rose in Julian’s heart. His heart pounded violently in his chest, as if it were about to burst from his throat.

He waited anxiously, hungering for my answer.

I only shook my head; though I was smiling, there were tears shimmering in my eyes.

"Comrade Julian, let the past remain in the past. I accept your apology, but it is better if we do not meet again in the future."

My words were like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, leaving Julian chilled from head to toe.

He gave a bitter smile, pulled his hand back, and subconsciously clenched it tight. Even though the sharp edges of the clip pierced his palm, he was still unwilling to let go. He simply turned around silently, ready to leave.

But I called out to him: "Wait a moment."

His footsteps stalled immediately. Hope reignited in his eyes, though he did not turn around.

I walked around to face him and took out a notebook from my bag. In it, every expense the Cheng family and the Arthur family had incurred for me was recorded in detail. The difference was that the settlement page for the Cheng family had several banknotes clipped to it, while the Arthur family’s did not.

I picked up the banknotes and held them out to Julian.

"During that time in the capital, you spent a total of 1,356 yuan on Mom and me. Here is 834 yuan; I’m returning this to you first. As for the remaining 522, I will send it to you once I’ve saved enough."