Chapter Four: Farewell
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White steam rose up, and the enticing aroma of hot pot wafted straight through the small door panel, clearly wafting down the corridor.
The pain of parting upon death is always more painful than we imagine, yet also easier than we imagine—because we have no choice but to accept it.
A month has passed, and now, all the joys and sorrows have finally settled down.
Su Yi wore a black turtleneck sweater, ignoring the possibility of sauce dripping on her, and picked up a piece of beef with her chopsticks.
"Xiao Yi, I've resigned," he suddenly said.
Yi Chu was so shocked by a single sentence that he almost choked to death on the spot.
Suichuan University's law department is among the best in the country, if not the top two. Given Su Yi's qualifications, he wouldn't have achieved the same level of success at any other university. Moreover, law differs from other disciplines; without the support of connections and resources, it would be difficult for him to achieve further academic success.
"I'm not really suited to the school environment. The interpersonal relationships and such are too troublesome, and over time I inevitably lose sight of my original aspirations. Moreover, I don't get along with some of the academic ideas of the school. My... husband, our family runs a business and has enough money to support me to be a free person and do what I like."
"And... he and I are getting married. You know... after all, we're two men." He said these words softly and calmly, as if answering "What did you eat tonight?", which was more like comforting Yi Chu.
Hearing this, Yi Chu felt no particular emotion. If he had the means, he might not be willing to toil day and night for such a paltry sum. Besides, it wasn't that the other person lacked ambition; they were simply pursuing it in a freer way.
"Then I wish you a happy marriage and all the best! You won't forget me, will you?" Yi Chu raised his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.
Su Yi smiled calmly. They had known each other for quite some time, from university until now. Since what happened with Yang Jiazhen, Yi Chu seemed to have changed visibly. She was more open-minded, more understanding, and able to view the world more objectively. This was probably the transformation a person undergoes when facing life and death.
"the same as you!"
Perhaps because of this unexpected "farewell," the atmosphere between the two became warmer and gentler, like a misty fog.
“I’ve returned the card to you, and I’ll pay it back every month. Although you probably don’t really need it, it’s my conscience that’s on my mind. Really… thank you so much. If you need any help, don’t forget to let me know.” Yi Chu looked at Su Yi, but his gaze seemed to be drawn to a wooden photo frame on the bedside table—it was a group photo of him and everyone during his internship at the criminal investigation team. He was being hugged by Gu Bai’an, who had insisted on coming to the criminal investigation team to take a photo back then for some unknown reason, and he was standing in the middle of the frame.
He dared not keep or display Gu Bai'an's photo, leaving only this one of his own.
These seem to be all the traces of his presence.
"My... my intern detective team, everyone was really nice... it's a pity I couldn't stay there," Yi Chu said, seemingly with some regret.
Su Yi didn't seem to have any intention of pressing the matter further and changed the subject.
It wasn't until eight or nine o'clock in the evening that Yi Chu saw Su Yi off. Back in his room, he stood by the bedside, gazing at the photograph. Suddenly, a cool liquid slid down his face. He stared deeply, intently at the photograph, seeing the past and the present through the thin paper, but unable to see the future.
He put the photo frame upside down in the drawer and then placed a few books on top of it.
Instead of returning to her apartment, Su Yi went to a famous luxury hotel in the city center, not far from the school.
"Sir, is there anything I can do for you?" He wasn't wearing any designer clothes; in fact, his bulky down jacket made him seem like he belonged to a completely different world from the impeccably dressed, seemingly oblivious-to-the-cold elites passing by. Yet, the doorman still greeted him warmly. Su Yi glanced at her name tag—"Intern"—and couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. If it weren't for him… perhaps he would be the one standing here today.
"Two dark chocolate cakes, one to go, charge room 2207... Tell Mr. Lu Ming, the CEO of Bar 1. Never mind... don't say anything yet, just swipe the card, no PIN needed." Su Yi handed a supplementary card to the waiter.
After he finished speaking, he was led to sit down at a table.
The waiters were not very attentive, even though the two cakes were worth half a month's wages for them.
Su Yi glanced at the young doorman standing at the gate, smiled faintly, and thought of herself many years ago, of her first encounter with Lu Ming. How to put it… to outsiders, it was unbelievably beautiful. Like a Cinderella meeting her destined prince—
Su Yi originally studied in a small county town near Suichuan. His family was poor, so after thinking for a long time, he took the only 100 yuan he had and bought a 7-yuan bus ticket to Suichuan.
He planned to follow the path of many inspirational stories, working during winter and summer vacations, spending frugally during the year, and with the scholarships he could earn, he could barely make ends meet for a semester. After trying this for a year, he realized he was naive—the cost of living in the city was far more complex than a country bumpkin like him had imagined. The extra classes at the prestigious high school wouldn't leave him time to work. He was barely able to survive, so, filled with resentment, he submitted his withdrawal application and came to this hotel. Even if he was forced to make a living, he didn't want to go back there.
Thus, his once inspiring and winding path to success came to a standstill, turning him from a vulgar role model into a vulgar descent into mediocrity. He vaguely looked down on his colleagues who could practically be called "illiterate," yet sadly discovered that to outsiders, he was no different from them.
He worked here for a year, his hands having handled leftover food from guests' tables, wiped away filth from the floor, and been splashed with the biting cold water of winter.
Finally, the heavens smiled upon him. Su Yi was handsome and quite popular with the young girls at his workplace. One day, a girl gave him a pendant engraved with some cheesy, pretentious love poem, which she then dropped and ran away. He casually tucked it into his pocket, intending to return it later. As fate would have it, that day he was covering for his shift in the VIP room, and the pendant fell right at the feet of Lu Ming, who was nearly unconscious from drunkenness.
Love at first sight is probably nothing more than this.
Later, it was Lu Ming who helped him get into school.
Actually, looking back, Lu Ming was quite fortunate—he wasn't one to meddle in other people's business. Luckily, his inexplicable "good intentions" that day prevented him from missing out on Su Yi. A little earlier, he wouldn't have had the ability; a little later, he might have lost that kindness altogether.
"Lu Ming..." Su Yi smiled and savored the name he had repeated countless times, finding it more precious than the finest tea. Therefore... no matter who you are, you are everything to me.
Lu Ming was surprised to see Su Yi. She hadn't told him about her plans, nor did she intend for him to be near any similar events. Therefore, she didn't pay much attention to who it was, only planning to take a look when she passed by the lobby at the end of the party.
From afar, he recognized Su Yi, which was quite unusual. Lu Ming was a little worried but didn't intend to approach him. Several influential figures with questionable backgrounds were walking beside him, and it wouldn't do Su Yi any good to be targeted by them.
But Su Yi seemed to have anticipated this situation, remaining completely focused and not even taking out her phone. Seeing him from afar, she walked over, cleared her throat, and called his name with a hint of joy.
The people around were all shrewd and quick-witted; they didn't say a word, but they all understood immediately.
"Excuse me, I'll be going now." Lu Ming remained calm, a calmness that seemed completely at odds with his current behavior. He pulled Su Yi and walked outside. They didn't speak or greet each other the whole way, until they reached the parking lot. He had an urge to throw Su Yi into the car.
She opened the car door and let him in first, then walked around to the other side and got in herself.
"Cough cough..." Su Yi coughed a few times timidly, and Lu Ming's brows furrowed even more.
"Wearing so little? What if you catch a cold?" I don't even know who the person in the suit is.
"My coat is still at the hotel."
Lu Ming took off her suit jacket and gave it to him, leaving him only in a shirt. Su Yi didn't refuse; the car was well-heated, so he wouldn't get cold even without the shirt.
"I'll have the waiter deliver it to the private room; I'll bring it back to you when I have time." Then, finally remembering why she was in her car instead of exchanging pleasantries with someone, she asked, "How did you know? Who sent you?"
Su Yi awkwardly touched his nose. "Your private email and mine are shared, so I can see your schedule." Lu Ming knew this.
“Lu Ming… I’ve resigned. I can still help you in the future…”
Su Yi's voice seemed to have a gentle yet firm strength. Lu Ming understood what he meant. It was always like this. Suddenly, she couldn't refute him at all, as if she was the one in the wrong.
Su Yi had mentioned his intention to resign, but he did not advise him to do so—Lu Ming could tell that it was to accommodate him, but he also knew that Su Yi loved this job so much and had worked very hard to get to where he was today. He knew that Su Yi was unwilling to accept this and that he would regret it.
As for the second half of the sentence, how could Lu Ming possibly let him get involved with those unclean things?
"Lu Ming, I have my own reasons, and I don't regret it."
"How about we go abroad next month to get our marriage registration done?" Su Yi asked.
“…Okay.” Lu Ming wasn’t quite sure what had happened, but answered instinctively.
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