Cheng Ran had no doubts about being suddenly sent to the Southwest for demobilization, and he felt that it was a test of the organization's trust in him.
Until his recent return, a friend casually told him that a man named Huanren had mentioned his trip to the southwest to higher authorities at a meeting...
Huan Ren licked his lips, not daring to look Cheng Ran in the eye.
“You’ve misunderstood. When you went to the Southwest, I had just been transferred to the Beijing area. I was a nobody with little influence, so how could I possibly influence the organization’s decision to transfer you? At the meeting, someone thought you were a good candidate, and I just mentioned it briefly. That’s all. If you think I’ve harmed you, then I’m sorry.”
"When did I say you harmed me? I just want to know, did you really do this selflessly and without any personal motives?"
Cheng Ran stared intently at him, trying to glean some clues from his expression.
There was still a difference in their auras, and Huanren quickly lost the composure he had when he first entered, constantly relying on swallowing to relieve his tension.
"I……"
"You don't need to say anything. Your expression has already told me the answer. You still have feelings for Wanqing!"
Cheng Ran barely managed to suppress his anger and refrain from uttering the word "filthy." Back when he was working in Huanren County, he thought the matter had been resolved, but he never expected that after so much time, some people's thoughts were still not clean.
"I didn't interfere in your relationship, I just..."
"You're just waiting," Cheng Ran snorted, exposing his little scheme. "To send some warmth to Wanqing while we're separated, isn't that it?"
He left Huanren speechless, which means he got right into Huanren's mind.
"A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions. I've always considered you a friend, and I admire you. I just couldn't control my feelings for you. Is that wrong? Wanqing is outstanding. I've liked her since college."
Seemingly to bolster his courage, Huanren poured himself a glass of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) and drank it down in one gulp.
“If you and she weren’t already married, I would have pursued her long ago. You don’t know, back when you were working in that mountainous area, you lost your memory. Actually, at that time I was a little glad that if you had forgotten her, if you had developed feelings for someone else, I could have openly embraced her, comforted her, and entered her life. I never expected… ha.”
He chuckled self-deprecatingly and shook his head. He never imagined that his soft heart and the strong bond between Cheng Ran and Jiang Wanqing would make him seem like such a petty person.
If... if they had wavered even a little, he wouldn't be stuck in moral and immoral thoughts, afraid to move forward!
The more Huanren thought about it, the more frustrated he felt, his emotions were complicated and painful. He poured himself another glass of wine, and just as he was about to drink it, Cheng Ran pressed his hand down.
"Don't waste your time. No one can interfere between Wanqing and me. Since you know she is outstanding, you should know her personality and character. Unless I do something to wrong her, otherwise... but I won't, never. I also admit that you are a good person, which is why I spoke frankly with you. I hope you will put aside your thoughts. You have already indirectly caused us harm, not psychologically, but in fact!"
Huan Ren is more open-minded than Zheng Yuan, and is worth befriending. So Cheng Ran is willing to talk to him frankly, hoping that he can realize his mistake and suppress his feelings no matter how much he likes him!
"What do you mean? What do you mean by 'actual harm'? I have never harmed Wanqing!"
"I knew you didn't know yet..." Cheng Ran raised an eyebrow. "Want to hear?"
"certainly!"
"Let's talk while we eat. Don't just focus on drinking. If you get drunk and have an accident after leaving here today, the police might find out that we drank together and think we have a grudge."
Cheng Ran's words were somewhat sarcastic, but Huan Ren tolerated them, moved his wine glass aside, and began to eat.
"Go ahead and tell me."
"Did Wanqing try to set you up with Qin Meng? And then you rejected her?"
"Yes, what does this have to do with it?" Huanren asked, puzzled.
"Of course it's related. The reason you rejected Qin Meng was that you had someone you liked. She found out that person was Wan Qing and felt that you all looked down on her. She said it was intentional, which caused their friendship to break down. She has already left the factory. It all happened in the last two days and it's become quite ugly."
"What?!"
Huan Ren's eyes widened. He truly knew nothing about this and had never heard of it before. He had always believed that his rejection of Qin Meng was for her own good, but who knew it would turn out like this...
"So I hope you will stop having close contact with Wanqing and keep it to work, understand?" Cheng Ran rubbed his cheek. "Of course, this is a discussion, but also a warning. If I find out that something similar happens again, I will not talk to you as calmly as I do today!"
He deliberately omitted the fact that Qin Meng had written a letter to sow discord between him and Jiang Wanqing, fearing it would remind Huan Ren, since human nature cannot withstand the test...
Huan Ren fell silent again, clenching his fists, his face grim. Suddenly, he picked up his briefcase and stood up.
"I'm sorry. Since this matter started because of me, I will handle it. As for Wanqing... if she needs me, I will still help her. No one can change that."
"What if she doesn't need it!" Cheng Ran said, a little annoyed.
"It's not up to you. It's getting late, you should go home quickly and don't let her worry."
After saying that, Huanren left. He had indeed changed a lot since college, but that was also what made him a headache. Cheng Ran thought he was very stubborn!
Fortunately, they didn't order too many dishes. Cheng Ran ate some and went home shortly afterward.
The lights were still on in the courtyard, and Jiang Wanqing sat on a recliner under the eaves, covered with a blanket.
A gentle evening breeze blew, ruffling her hair. Cheng Ran walked over, took off his coat, and covered her with it. She opened her eyes.
"I'm back."
"Why are you sleeping here? What if you catch a cold? Come on, let's go back to the room."
Cheng Ran picked her up and placed her on the bed, rubbed his hands together to warm them, and then covered her hands with them.
"Are you cold?" he asked, looking at her.
She shook her head: "I'm not cold."
"Were you waiting for me?"
"Hmm... I'm also thinking about something."
She took off his coat, smelled the alcohol on it, and sniffed it.
"Have you been drinking?"
"Just a little bit, it's nothing."
"Mom said you went to dinner with friends, but you look upset. Did you have a falling out?"
Jiang Wanqing made this connection because of her relationship with Qin Meng.
Cheng Ran took a deep breath, threw his coat on the chair, hesitated for a moment, and then confessed to her.
"I'm going to see Huanren."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanqing's eyes widened slightly.
"Why did you see him? You didn't do anything out of line, did you?" she asked worriedly.
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