Chapter 11 Clouds in the Sky and Mud on the Ground
"Then why don't you dare admit that you like me?" Yan Songyu stubbornly retorted.
"Like it? Ha~" Jiang Chengli threw the clothes back into the suitcase. "What good is liking it? Will liking it guarantee you enough to eat, wear, and have money to spend?"
Yan Songyu tugged at Jiang Chengli's sleeve, "I have enough to eat and wear, and I have money. I don't need you to support me."
“But I lack!” Jiang Chengli roared helplessly. “I lack food, clothing, and money. After graduation, I won’t even be able to support myself. I also have a terrible family of origin that is living in a poor mountainous area 2,000 kilometers away.”
He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "How can I like you like this? Tell me, what right does mud on the ground have to meddle with the clouds in the sky?"
Yan Songyu boldly hugged Jiang Chengli, "But I'm not a cloud in the sky, and you're not mud on the ground. We're both human. It's fate that our paths crossed. Isn't that destiny? Besides... we're still young, and the future holds infinite possibilities. What you should be doing now is striving hard, instead of pessimistically thinking that you'll be mediocre your whole life."
Jiang Chengli seemed to be comforted. He hugged Yan Songyu tightly, and when Yan Songyu thought they would be together, he pushed her away again, saying, "Don't be naive, we're not suitable."
“The gap between our classes is the chasm between us.” He smiled bitterly. “If I can truly succeed with your good wishes, and you still like me then, then we will truly be destined to be together.”
“The gap you’re talking about isn’t a problem at all. My father isn’t a snob.” Yan Songyu said anxiously. “You’re just unable to let go of your pride and self-esteem. You’re afraid people will say you’re currying favor with the powerful.”
"Yes, I am proud, and dignity is the only precious thing I feel I have, so I am afraid that I will not even be able to protect this one thing."
"But we live our own lives, you don't need to worry about it at all..."
"Don't push me!"
...
The confrontation ended badly. Jiang Chengli left the room and disappeared without a trace, determined to stay away from Yan Songyu. Yan Songyu, in a fit of pique, also stopped looking for him.
Yan Binghua naturally noticed Yan Songyu's unusual behavior. "What's wrong? You're not even eating properly."
"Dad, what are your requirements for my future boyfriend?"
"Whose pig stole my little cabbage?"
Yan Binghua lost his appetite.
Yan Songyu thought for a moment and then told him everything that had happened between her and Jiang Chengli.
“He’s right, Xiaoyu. I don’t expect your boyfriend to be a perfect match in terms of social status, but he can’t be unable to provide you with even the most basic material security.”
“But Dad, we don’t lack money, do we? I can work by myself.”
"But he also said he can't let go of his pride, right? Even if he can let go now, how can you guarantee he won't have resentment later? He's more clear-headed than you."
Yan Songyu retorted, sticking her neck out, "No one can guarantee what will happen in the future. I really like him. Am I going to give up my current happiness because of those unknown speculations?"
Yan Binghua looked at his stubborn daughter, his expression gradually becoming serious. "Have you ever thought that you might have misunderstood your feelings for him? You fell in love at first sight after he saved you, but that's an illusion created by the suspension bridge effect, not true love."
"No, Dad, you can't deny my feelings. I can tell the difference."
Jiang Chengli rejected her, and even her father didn't approve of their relationship. Yan Songyu was confused. Should she really continue to insist?
"Creak~"
The sound of screeching brakes rang out, and at the same time, a strong force pulled her into a broad embrace.
"Are you blind? If you're going to die, don't drag me down with you!" The driver deliberately rolled down the window and cursed before driving away.
She was almost hit by a car! Still shaken, Yan Songyu looked at Jiang Chengli, about to speak, when she was scolded, "What are you doing? Standing there in the middle of the road, are you tired of living?"
Yan Songyu blurted out, "I'm thinking of you."
"You..." Jiang Chengli was speechless.
Taking advantage of the moment, Yan Songyu threw herself into Jiang Chengli's arms, "Your heart is beating so fast! Are you worried about me?"
Jiang Chengli tried to tear her away, but Yan Songyu clung tightly to his waist, her voice trembling with tears, "Why can't we be together? I really like you..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chengli's grip suddenly loosened, and he instead hugged her tightly. "Yes, I'm worried about you. I like you. I love you."
Yan Songyu burst into laughter through her tears, "You admit it."
Jiang Chengli's voice was very low, "Yes, I admit it. When I was so scared that my mind was shattered, I knew I couldn't lie to myself. My self-esteem is nothing compared to yours."
They got together, and everything was better than Yan Songyu had imagined. She seemed to have found her destined other half. Their hearts were perfectly in sync. He could always understand her thoughts, and they could always resonate with each other in the little things in life.
Jiang Chengli stubbornly spent most of his salary to rent a small but clean and tidy house, looking at her apologetically, "I'm sorry to have troubled you."
Yan Songyu replied, "I'd feel wronged without you."
Then she took Jiang Chengli to the wholesale market and picked out a lot of things to decorate their little house.
Although Yan Songyu had been very accommodating to Jiang Chengli, their relationship still increased his burden. As a result, he secretly took on two night jobs, and by the time Yan Songyu found out, he was already in the hospital from exhaustion.
Yan Songyu wiped away tears by his bedside, but he hugged her and said he was happy to be there for her.
Later, to avoid worrying her, he put aside his pride and started taking on low-level commercial artwork, painting one piece after another, and gave her a platinum plain ring on her birthday.
"I'll buy you a better ring," Jiang Chengli promised.
"This one is the best!"
This was the cheapest piece of jewelry she owned, yet he bought it with all his savings; it was priceless to her.
Their feelings came on strong and intense. After deciding to get married, Yan Songyu took Jiang Chengli home.
Yan Binghua sighed as he looked at the two people holding hands in front of him. "I'm not against you, but isn't it too hasty to get married after only being together for half a year?"
He had never approved of Yan Songyu and Jiang Chengli being together. Apart from his family background, Jiang Chengli was almost perfect, but it was precisely because he was too perfect that he seemed so unreal.
The reason he didn't explicitly oppose them was twofold: first, he was afraid of provoking Yan Songyu's rebellious nature; second, he thought they would face reality after the passion subsided, but he didn't expect them to give him such a "surprise" today!
Yan Songyu said firmly, "Dad, we didn't act rashly. This is a decision we made after careful consideration."
“Mr. Yan.” Jiang Chengli took a step forward. “I know I have nothing right now and I shouldn’t be standing in front of you asking for Xiaoyu’s hand in marriage, but I won’t stay like this forever. I have that confidence.”
Yan Binghua's calm eyes unconsciously held a hint of pressure. "I know you shouldn't have come, but you still did."
"Yes, because I overestimated myself and presumptuously tried to get close to Xiaoyu."
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