Anji White Tea
Chapter 14: Anji White Tea
That fierce quarrel was like a sharp knife, cutting through the sweet appearance between Shen Qingci and Gu Yanchen.
For the next few days, the two of them fell into a cold war. Gu Yanchen didn't come to the teahouse again, and Shen Qingci didn't contact him. The faint fragrance of tea still wafted through the teahouse, but the warmth and warmth had disappeared. Shen Qingci mechanically took care of the teahouse every day, and his smile had lost its former brilliance.
She pondered Gu Yanchen's words over and over, examining her own heart. She loved Gu Yanchen, but she couldn't give up the Evening Fragrance Teahouse, nor could she abandon her own understanding and pursuit of life. She realized that their disagreement might not just be a difference in their plans for the future, but a fundamental difference in their values.
Just then, she received an email from a foreign university. It was the one-year advanced study program in ancient book restoration that she had applied for, and she had unexpectedly been accepted.
This news was like a flash of lightning, illuminating her chaotic thoughts. She needed time and space to calm down, improve herself, and find her own direction. Perhaps, leaving for a while would be a good thing for both her and Gu Yanchen.
After making her decision, Shen Qingci didn't tell Gu Yanchen. She quietly took care of the teahouse, entrusting it to the reliable Granny Zhang and Grandpa Chen to help look after it. Then, she deleted all of Gu Yanchen's contact information—phone, WeChat, social media accounts, leaving no trace.
One morning, she quietly boarded a plane to a foreign country with a simple bag on her back. Without saying goodbye or leaving a message, she seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth.
On the fifth day of the cold war, Gu Yanchen finally couldn't help it and drove to the "Evening Fragrance Tea House".
He had actually figured it out and felt that his words that day had been too harsh. He planned to apologize to Shen Qingci, have another good conversation, and find a solution that would satisfy both parties.
However, when he reached the door of the teahouse, he found it was locked. He was stunned for a moment, with a bad feeling in his heart.
He knocked on the door, and Granny Zhang, who was standing next to him, heard the sound and came out. Seeing that it was Gu Yanchen, Granny Zhang's expression became a little complicated.
"Mr. Gu, are you here to see Qingci?"
"Grandma Zhang, where is Qingci? Why is the teahouse closed?" Gu Yanchen asked hurriedly.
Granny Zhang sighed, pulled Gu Yanchen aside, and whispered, "Qingci is gone. She's going abroad for further studies and will be gone for a year. She told us not to tell you, and also... she also told you not to look for her anymore."
Gu Yanchen was struck by lightning, frozen in place, speechless for a long time. He couldn't believe his ears. Shen Qingci had actually left like that, and had specifically asked not to tell him.
"She... when did she leave? Why did she leave?" Gu Yanchen's voice trembled a little.
"She left this morning." Granny Zhang shook her head. "She didn't elaborate on the reason, only saying she wanted to go out and try her luck. Mr. Gu, I know you two had a fight before, but Qingci is a very sensitive child. You...you should be more tolerant."
Gu Yanchen didn't say anything else. He turned around and left silently.
Back in the car, he took out his phone and habitually wanted to send a WeChat message to Shen Qingci, but found that he had been blocked. He tried to call again, but the receiver came with a prompt tone that said "The number you dialed is powered off."
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. A huge sense of loss and anger washed over him. He was angry at Shen Qingci for leaving without saying goodbye, angry at her heartlessness, and he had deleted all contact information. But more than that, he felt a deep-seated panic and... regret.
He realized that his stubbornness and toughness that day might have really hurt Shen Qingci deeply.
He sat in the car, looking at the sign of "Evening Fragrance Tea House" for a long time. Finally, he started the car without looking back.
He didn't go looking for her.
He told himself that this was Shen Qingci's choice, and he respected her. But only he knew that his pride and a hint of lingering anger prevented him from taking that step. He thought Shen Qingci would wait for him to apologize, for him to compromise, as she had done before. He thought their relationship was strong enough to withstand this little test.
He didn't know that this turn would make the distance between them so far.
Shen Qingci's life abroad was busy and fulfilling. She threw herself into her studies, trying to numb herself with the busyness and not think about Gu Yanchen.
Occasionally, on quiet evenings, she would brew a cup of Anji White Tea. Anji White Tea had a clear, bright color, a fresh, sweet flavor, and a hint of orchid fragrance. This was a tea that Gu Yanchen had once loved.
As she watched the tea leaves unfold in the cup, a wave of sadness welled up in her heart. She didn't know if Gu Yanchen had contacted her, nor did she know how he was doing now. But she knew that she had made the decision to leave, and there was no turning back.
After his initial anger and loss, Gu Yanchen gradually returned to his usual rhythm. He worked even harder, focusing all his energy on the cultural tourism complex project. However, in the dead of night, he would always think of Shen Qingci's smile, the aroma of tea in the teahouse, and the cup of tea he hadn't had time to apologize for.
In the drawer of his office, there was a can of fine Anji white tea, which he had intended to brew for Shen Qingci himself when he apologized. However, he would never have the chance to brew this cup of tea for her again.
Their love is like this cup of Anji white tea, which was once so fresh and sweet, but now, it is only a cup of cold bitterness.
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