Chapter 5 "This game of love, you have to play..."
During the meal, Song Wan received a reply from Lian Huaiyang.
After they parted last night, she tried calling him but couldn't get through. Worried that Chen Jianjin might break his promise, she sent him many messages expressing concern for his safety.
"I'm going to the restroom."
Song Wan stood up, holding her phone.
Seeing this, Chen Jianjin also put down his cutlery.
"You don't need to follow me."
Seeing through his intentions, Song Wan spoke first.
Chen Jianjin paused for a moment, then sat up straight. "Then I'll wait for you to come back."
Led by a waiter to the women's restroom, Song Wan opened Lian Huaiyang's chat box at the washbasin.
He sent her a picture of a hospital corridor and said it was okay.
Song Wan's heart skipped a beat. [He hit you?]
Lian Huaiyang: [Don't talk about me, what about you?]
Lian Huaiyang: [How are you...?]
Song Wan was silent for a moment before typing: 【I'm sorry, I caused you to get hurt for no reason】
Lian Huaiyang: [I'm the one who should apologize; I failed to protect you.]
Song Wan's eyes welled up with tears. She wanted to send a thank you message, but another message popped up on the other end—
Lian Huaiyang: [Wanwan, can you tell me about what happened that day?]
To tear open your wounds and expose them to someone requires immense courage and trust. Song Wan hesitated. "I'm sorry."
Lian Huaiyang: [Maybe I have a way to help you, don't refuse me, Wanwan]
Lian Huaiyang: [I'll face this with you]
Lian Huaiyang sent many more words of reassurance, but there was no further response from the other side. He sat in the hospital corridor, extremely agitated.
Song Wan was a kind person, and she was moved. She was grateful to have Lian Huaiyang as a friend, but she was also rational and knew that she shouldn't involve him.
Chen Jianjin is an absolute madman. He is not even afraid of the law, and nothing can restrain him.
Song Wan: [Thank you, but I still can't say it. I'm sorry to have dragged you into this. Take good care of yourself and I'll come see you when I go back to school next week.]
Next week...back to school...
Lian Huaiyang chewed over and over these words on his tongue, his hatred intense.
So... Song Wan is already living with that guy?!
Song Wan had been out for a while; it was time for her to go back.
She put away her phone, patted her face, and forced herself to cheer up.
Just then, two female waitresses came in, making a ruckus outside.
They must be very good friends, going to the toilet together.
"Hey, have you heard? Qu Xiaoling got dumped."
"Huh? What happened? She was showing off her wealth in front of me just a few days ago."
The sound of two people talking could be heard from the cubicle from time to time.
Song Wan had planned to leave, but Lian Huaiyang refused to give up and sent another message.
He said he knew Song Wan didn't want him to get hurt, but he was already involved, and asked her if she knew what he wanted to say last night.
Song Wan recalled that Lian Huaiyang seemed to have something he wanted to tell her back then, so she asked, "What did you want to say?"
Lian Huaiyang replied instantly: 【I like you】
Lian Huaiyang: [This is what I wanted to say at the time]
Song Wan held her phone, her mind blank, the loud, gossipy voice of a girl ringing in her ears: "So she asked for this and that, and even embarrassed her sugar daddy in front of his friend, and got dumped by him?!"
"That's how it is~"
"Tsk tsk tsk, she's really a weirdo. A rich second-generation girl who's used to eating big fish and meat wants to try some simple porridge and side dishes. She's just looking for something new, but she really thinks she's something special. You wouldn't believe it, the other day she was bragging to me about how much the guy's parents liked her. Good heavens, I was thinking, who would rush to call someone 'Mom' on the first date? And her emotional intelligence is really low. I could tell that the guy's mom was implying something, but she still bragged about it."
"These kinds of people are all looking for emotional value. She probably only chose that rich second-generation guy because there aren't many women in her social class who would be interested in her. She was frustrated and that's why she chose someone lower than her standards. And the rich second-generation guy probably never expected that he would pick someone who is all looks and no brains."
I see.
The phone in my palm vibrated continuously; it was a voice call from Lian Huaiyang.
Song Wan hadn't figured out how to face him yet, so she simply refused to answer.
Lian Huaiyang: [I know that what I'm saying now might be a bit of a shock to you, Wanwan. I'm not in a hurry for your reply. I just want you to know that I'm always here for you. No matter what happens, we'll face it together.]
He spoke at length, his words both gentle and forceful.
Song Wan softened slightly. "He's terrifying, I'm worried..."
Lian Huaiyang sent a bitter smile emoji: [If he knew I wanted to confess to you back then, Wanwan, do you think I'd still be alive?]
We're already in this together, Wanwan, don't reject me.
Song Wan softened.
Recalling what happened that evening was not easy for Song Wan. Chen Jianjin's harassment was unbearable, but what hurt her the most was Jiao Qian's false testimony and the words of Chen Jianjin's uncle, the director, that "the young couple had a fight."
The two gossipy girls had already left. Song Wan calmed herself down for a while before getting up and leaving.
Just as she stepped out of the restroom, she bumped into Chen Jianjin, who looked worried: "Is your stomach upset?"
Song Wan looked away. "No."
Why did you stay for so long if you weren't feeling unwell?
Chen Jianjin couldn't help but look at the phone in Song Wan's hand.
After leaving the restaurant, Song Wan was taken to an amusement park.
It was Saturday, and the amusement park rides were operating normally, but apart from them, there was still no one else around.
Song Wan hadn't thought much about it at the restaurant, but now she was certain that Chen Jianjin had booked the entire place.
Chen Jianjin held Song Wan's hand tightly in his palm, fingers interlocked, and asked with great interest, "Anything you want to play?"
Song Wan tried to pull her hand away twice but couldn't, so she simply gave up.
When Song Wan was a child, her family was not as well off as it is now. Her father was a gambler, and when he lost, he would go home and beat her and her mother. Before Song Wan was four years old, her home was filled with insults and beatings. When she was four, her mother decided to divorce her father because he wanted to sell her. It took a lot of effort for her to leave that hellish home with nothing.
At first, the mother and daughter squeezed into a shared room of only ten square meters. Song Wan knew from a very young age that her mother had a hard life, so she was very sensible and never made a request.
Song Wan recalled that when she was five years old, a neighbor's child was having a birthday party and wanted to treat everyone to a meal at the amusement park. It was the first time Song Wan had made friends, and she really wanted to participate, but she had to pay for her own admission ticket, and she didn't have any money.
This was Song Wan's first time at an amusement park, and she wanted to try everything. Unfortunately, Chen Jianjin was with her, so she could only shake her head and answer, "No."
"Then let's try everything."
Chen Jianjin was visibly happy. He took her hand and started from the roller coaster.
After putting on the safety gear, Song Wan didn't feel anything at first. However, as the speed increased, the weightlessness and G-force came unexpectedly, and her heartbeat became erratic. The roller coaster climbed steeper and steeper peaks. When it plummeted from the highest point, Song Wan couldn't take it and cried out in alarm.
Her damp palm was completely enveloped, and this time, Song Wan did not struggle.
Even after the roller coaster came to a complete stop, Song Wan was still in a state of intense excitement, and her reactions were a beat slower.
Chen Jianjin helped her unbuckle her seatbelt and gently rubbed his finger against her pale face. "Were you scared?"
Song Wan was indeed a little frightened, but it was worth it and very satisfying.
This feeling is like eating spicy food. Spicy food is a painful sensation, but the process of eating spicy food is very stress-relieving.
The next attraction wasn't as exciting; it was the carousel.
Song Wan felt very uncomfortable because Chen Jianjin insisted on sitting with her.
The seats are designed for single use, which is fine for adults with children as children don't take up much space, but it feels crowded when two adults sit in the same seat.
Song Wan tried her best to lean forward and distance herself from Chen Jianjin, but the space was only so big, and no matter how much she tried to avoid suspicion, her back was right in front of his chest.
Chen Jianjin wrapped his arm around her lower abdomen, lowered his head and buried his face in the warm crook of her neck. The girl's fragrance filled his breath, and he felt so comfortable that every pore of his body was screaming with pleasure.
This position made Song Wan feel uncomfortable all over. She endured it and finally got to the end. After getting off, she immediately moved eight feet away from Chen Jianjin.
Spending an afternoon at the amusement park, she skipped the tedious process of queuing for tickets and experienced all the rides that would normally take two days to complete.
At dinner time, Chen Jianjin led her into a Chinese restaurant in the amusement park.
When she entered the private room, all the dishes had already been prepared and served.
Chen Jianjin pulled out a chair for her and wiped her hands with a hot towel.
Song Wan wasn't used to such intimacy, but he used a clever trick, and she couldn't break free.
The restaurant chef is very skillful; he can arrange everything in a beautiful way that makes it almost too beautiful to eat.
Chen Jianjin picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and placed it on her plate. "Try this."
Song Wan was still angry about what happened in the afternoon, so she deliberately ignored the bite he had picked up and ate her own food.
Chen Jianjin lowered his eyes, put on disposable gloves, and continued to peel crabs and shrimp for her.
Unsurprisingly, his efforts were once again rejected.
"Baby won't eat, do you want me to feed you?"
Chen Jianjin smiled, but there was little joy in his eyes.
He was crazy enough that Song Wan had no doubt about the truth of his words. So, under his gaze, she took the food and fed it to him bite by bite.
After Song Wan finished eating and put down her chopsticks, Chen Jianjin began to feed himself.
He ate quickly but without looking disheveled, always maintaining the refined manners ingrained in him by his family background.
Song Wan didn't want to stay there like a side dish, so she got up and walked to the French windows.
This private room has a great view, directly facing the large castle in the amusement park. In front of the castle is a fountain plaza where the water flow and lights complement each other beautifully.
As the clock struck eight in the evening, the lights in the private room dimmed instantly, the glaring main lights went out, leaving only the dim, yellowish wall lamps.
With a loud "bang".
Looking out, Song Wan saw beautiful fireworks exploding above the castle in the distance, their dazzling colors illuminating half of the deep blue sky.
"What a nice view."
Song Wan couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.
Chen Jianjin stood beside her, his gentle gaze falling on the girl's face, which was sometimes bright and sometimes dark.
He pulled out a bouquet of sunflowers from behind his back, putting everything back on track, and repeated the question that should have been asked here and now on Wednesday night: "Wanwan, I love you, will you be with me?"
Under the fireworks, his features softened considerably.
Her heart skipped a beat; Song Wan had to admit that Chen Jianjin had an extremely deceptive face.
She didn't move.
Chen Jianjin pulled Song Wan's arm straight over and forcefully shoved the flowers into her arms.
There are gifts inside.
Chen Jianjin reminded him with a smile.
Song Wan still did not respond.
Chen Jianjin found the item himself and held it up in front of her.
It was an old, burgundy velvet box.
He unlocked the latch, revealing what was inside.
A jade bracelet with a smooth and lustrous texture.
The item was given to Chen Jianjin by his grandmother. It was a dowry passed down from his ancestors and was given to daughters, not sons. Unfortunately, in Chen Jianjin's generation, the Chen family had few daughters and only one son for three generations. It was originally supposed to be given to Feng Jing, but his parents divorced, so his grandmother gave it to him, saying that he should give it to the person he liked in the future.
The craftsmanship of items from the Sui and Tang dynasties is far inferior to that of today, but their significance is extraordinary.
Song Wan knew nothing about antiques, but her intuition told her that this thing was very valuable, and she couldn't afford to lose it even if she sold herself.
So, as Chen Jianjin was putting it on her, Song Wan suddenly interrupted, "Chen Jianjin, let's have a proper talk."
What should we talk about?
"Do you really like me?" Song Wan calmly stated, "Or are you just tired of eating rich, meaty meals and want to try something simple like congee and side dishes?"
She lowered her almond-shaped eyes, her gaze fixed on his prominent Adam's apple, and bluntly and cruelly dissected him: "Because I didn't cooperate, because of my refusal, your pride, which you always got whatever you wanted, was hurt, and your possessiveness got the better of you. Then, you packaged this abnormal emotion as liking."
Chen Jianjin's breathing became slightly heavy. He could tolerate Song Wan belittling him, but he couldn't stand her looking down on him.
She was not just a simple dish; she was the love of his life, the one he longed for.
"Chen Jianjin, how long will it take?"
With a deep gloom in his eyes, Chen Jianjin suppressed his displeasure and asked, "What do you mean, how long?"
How long are you going to play this game of love?
Chen Jianjin suddenly laughed, "So in your eyes, I've been playing games with you all along?"
Song Wan paused slightly; this Chen Jianjin was both strange and familiar.
This was a sign that he was about to change his attitude.
Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Song Wan's chin was grabbed and lifted, forcing her to look directly into his deep brown eyes.
Her small pupils reflected her startled expression.
Chen Jianjin lowered his eyes, his gaze lingering on her crimson lips. "Baby, if you were to look back, you would realize that fate brought you to me."
Chen Jianjin is a person who does not believe in gods, Buddhas, or fate, but every time he meets Song Wan, he can't help but wonder if they had a complicated and tangled relationship in their past lives.
"Baby asked me how long I plan to date?" Chen Jianjin smiled, took her hand and slipped the jade bracelet onto her wrist, then held the back of her neck, his warm lips pressed against her earlobe, and said in a teasing voice, "How about we get married next August, on your birthday?"
Song Wanxing's eyes widened in shock, and she abruptly pushed him away.
Chen Jianjin put one hand in his pocket, a smirk playing on his lips, and lazily staggered back a step.
madman!
He's a madman!
Song Wan turned to leave, but Chen Jianjin stopped her by putting his arm around her waist and pressing her against the French windows.
The dazzling fireworks continued to light up the sky. Chen Jianjin's ambiguous gaze traveled down from her wide, doe-like eyes, finally settling on her slender, shapely waist.
Noticing what he was looking at, Song Wan put her arm in front of her and muttered, "Pervert!"
The well-fitting knitted sweater accentuated her curvaceous figure and also made things easier for Chen Jianjin.
The boy's warm fingers slipped inside her clothes, and Song Wan was terrified. She pressed her hands against his wrists, crying out, "Chen Jianjin!"
This time, Chen Jianjin didn't hesitate and went straight up to her.
This was a completely unfamiliar and exciting experience that Song Wan had never felt in the past nineteen years.
She gripped Chen Jianjin's wrist tightly, only to find that her strength was like an ant trying to shake a tree—utterly overestimating her own abilities.
Through the thin breast garment, the girl's delicate warmth fell into my palm.
Chen Jianjin measured it; it was just the right size for him.
The girl's soft sweater was rolled up, revealing a glimpse of her slender pubic hair, which made Chen Jianjin's eyes burn with desire, and a soft sigh escaped his throat.
Tears welled up in Song Wan's eyes as she pleaded pitifully, "Chen Jianjin, please don't do this, okay?"
Chen Jianjin turned the hand that was holding her shoulder to cup her face, gently kissing away her tears, and coaxed softly, "Baby, it'll only be a month at most. We have to do it eventually. You have to learn to adapt."
With tears streaming down her face, Song Wan looked up at the sky in despair.
A note from the author:
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I'm a little overwhelmed. How come this one isn't as good as the teacher-student romance one? That one was written so smoothly; I thought I'd improved! [crying emoji] Thank you to my only reader who added it to their collection; you're an angel! [heart emoji]
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