Chapter 50 "I can like him..."
In late January, as the Lunar New Year approached, the weather in Beijing changed every day.
The day before, the sky was shrouded in smog and the sun was nowhere to be seen, and the next day it started to snow lightly.
The wind was strong, and the snow couldn't stay. It drifted away and scattered, turning into blowing sand the next day.
Although there was nothing to do in Beijing, Jiang Nuanyu didn't take the high-speed train home for the New Year until the evening before Lunar New Year's Eve.
On her way to the station, she sat in the back of a taxi, gazing at the red lanterns and Chinese knots hanging by the roadside.
As the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year grows stronger, the traffic on the road seems to be thinning out. But this slightly deserted feeling vanishes the moment you step into the high-speed rail station.
It was during the Spring Festival travel rush, and the waiting hall was packed with people. Everywhere you looked, there were only people and luggage.
The journey from Beijing to Linping is short, taking less than an hour. Jiang Nuanyu carried only a small bag and confidently let herself be pushed along by the crowd.
Jiang Wenrui and Lin Zhiwei came to the station to pick up their daughter. After not seeing each other for several months, Jiang Nuanyu gave her parents a big hug as soon as they got off the train.
After getting on the bus, Lin Zhiwei asked, "Pearl, how many days off do you get for the Spring Festival?"
Jiang Nuanyu, sitting in the back seat, was stunned for a moment, then blurted out a number: "Ten...ten days?"
Lin Zhiwei had no doubts whatsoever: "Oh, so it seems the same as last year, doesn't it?"
"Mmm..." Jiang Nuanyu responded vaguely.
She hasn't told her parents about going abroad to work yet. Although she doesn't know when the right time is to be honest, she's certain it's not now.
She leaned against the armrest between the driver and passenger seats and quickly changed the subject: "What are we having for dinner?"
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Mom and Dad are too lazy to cook today, so how about we eat out?" Lin Zhiwei said. "How about your favorite Cantonese restaurant?"
Jiang Nuanyu rested her chin on her hand and nodded: "Okay."
Lin Zhiwei glanced at her and saw that her daughter was still like a child. She couldn't help but smile and said gently, "Sit still. It's not safe for you to be like this. If you brake suddenly, you'll rush to the front."
"No way! I trust my dad's driving skills." Jiang Nuanyu ignored him and turned to Jiang Wenrui, saying, "Dad, what do you think?"
Jiang Wenrui glanced at his daughter while driving, then turned back to look at the traffic ahead, gently patting her head: "Listen to Mom."
Jiang Nuanyu turned her eyes to her mother; Lin Zhiwei raised her eyebrows and gave her a "victorious" smile.
Jiang Nuanyu puffed out her cheeks.
She lost in a two-on-one situation.
"Oh." She reluctantly moved back to her seat and turned her gaze to the window.
The streetlights flickered past her eyes, and as she watched the street scenes on both sides of the car window recede into the distance, she felt a sense of both unfamiliarity and familiarity.
She's not a homebody, but every time she goes home, she feels a deep sense of peace and security.
*
That evening, Jiang Nuanyu took a shower and nestled on the carpet by the bed, drying her hair while looking at her phone.
She scrolled through a long list of text message notifications on the screen one by one.
Among the shopping advertisements from various brands, there was a text message from the visa center informing her that her passport had been returned by the consulate and sent out by express courier.
This means she can leave for Paris at any time.
Jiang Nuanyu bit her lip, stared at the text message on the screen for a while, then turned her head and glanced towards the door.
She went to her parents' bedroom first. The door was half-open. She peeked inside and saw no one. There was only the faint sound of running water coming from the bathroom.
She then went to the study and knocked on the door.
"Please come in."
It was Lin Zhiwei present.
Jiang Nuanyu pushed open the door and entered, a smile on her face: "Mom—"
"Um?"
Lin Zhiwei was revising a student's paper when she turned her face toward her daughter, but her gaze remained on the computer screen.
Jiang Nuanyu moved a chair over and sat down next to her mother, pretending to look at the charts and text on the screen.
After a while, Lin Zhiwei turned to look at her, and she immediately turned her head away, blinking her eyes rapidly.
Seeing that her hair was still wet, Lin Zhiwei said, "Why don't you dry your hair? It'll give you a headache."
Jiang Nuanyu touched her wet hair and smiled absentmindedly: "I'll blow-dry it later."
Lin Zhiwei looked back at the screen: "Whatever you want."
Jiang Nuanyu glanced at the computer, then at her mother, licked her lips, swallowed hard, and finally spoke: "Mom—"
"Um?"
"I might... be going to France soon."
Lin Zhiwei nodded: "Mm."
She wasn't surprised; it wasn't unusual for her daughter to travel abroad for work.
Jiang Nuanyu then said, "...I'm going to work in France."
Lin Zhi smiled and said, "You went there to have fun before?"
Jiang Nuanyu: "..."
Faced with her mother's unpreparedness, she hesitated for a moment, and the thought of postponing the meeting flashed through her mind.
But it only lasts a moment; once the arrow is released, there's no turning back.
She gripped the edge of the table and said, "This time I might stay for a while..." Her voice lowered, "I also quit my job in Beijing."
Lin Zhiwei finally realized something was wrong after hearing the last word. She slowly turned her head, looked at her daughter, and remained silent for a moment.
Jiang Nuanyu's lips were stiff, but she tried to force a smile.
Lin Zhiwei said, "If Mom understands correctly, this trip to France isn't a business trip, but rather you're going to work and live there long-term?"
"……Yes."
Lin Zhiwei turned her gaze away: "Oh..."
She responded, but her eyes and expression clearly showed that she hadn't fully processed the fact.
Jiang Nuanyu explained, "Mom, I know you may find this news a bit sudden, but going to work in Paris was not a decision I made on impulse."
...Although I really liked my previous job, this opportunity is different. Now that it's here, I want to seize it. I want to give it a try.
"Hmm." Lin Zhiwei pondered for a moment, his expression relaxing slightly. He took her hand and placed it on his lap, saying, "But this decision is not just a professional breakthrough for you. In terms of life, there will be many challenges that are completely different from what you experienced in Beijing."
Jiang Nuanyu quickly replied, "I know, Mom. I've lived on my own in Beijing for several years, so I'm sure I can take good care of myself in Paris."
As she said this, she lowered her head little by little.
In an unfamiliar city and country, with an unfamiliar language and environment, she wasn't as confident as she claimed.
Lin Zhiwei looked at her for a long time and said, "Mom believes in you."
Jiang Nuanyu was taken aback.
“Although it was unexpected, Mom completely understands your desire to pursue better opportunities. I’m also very happy that you have the courage to break through.” Lin Zhiwei glanced in the direction of the door and said, “Dad knows, and he will definitely support you.”
"Hmm." Jiang Nuanyu's heart sank a little, but she also felt a little guilty. "It's not that I deliberately wanted to keep it from you, but that I'm only telling you now..."
Lin Zhiwei said, "This is your personal choice. You can make the decision yourself. You don't need to discuss it with your parents."
Jiang Nuanyu lowered her eyes and didn't speak.
“But…” Lin Zhiwei changed the subject, “We are actually very willing to help you and support you if you need it, without disturbing you.”
Jiang Nuanyu felt a warmth in her heart and whispered, "...I don't want you to worry about me."
Lin Zhi smiled and touched her daughter's face, not denying it, only saying, "Worrying about you has never been a burden for your parents."
Even though she knew her parents would support her choice, Jiang Nuanyu's nose still stung with tears. She nodded gently and said, "I understand."
Seeing that her eyes were slightly red, Lin Zhiwei didn't say anything more, but nudged her and said, "Come on! Let's stop working and let Mom dry your hair."
Jiang Nuanyu readily accepted: "Okay."
*
After the Spring Festival, Jiang Nuanyu deliberately avoided the peak tourist season and returned to Beijing before the holiday was over.
After communicating via email, Chaleur arranged for her to start work two weeks after returning to Beijing. However, she needed to arrive in Paris a week earlier to look at apartments, complete the necessary procedures for settling in, and prepare for her official job.
The day after she returned to Beijing, she began packing her luggage. But after leaving her two large suitcases open on the floor for two days, she still hadn't put a single thing inside.
The little things in the house that are usually inconspicuous have become much more precious in her eyes these past few days.
She currently lives in an apartment where the rent is paid annually, and the lease still has several months to go, so she doesn't need to move out yet.
But faced with the frozen dumplings and various frozen foods in the refrigerator, she was worried about what to do with them.
There was too much food to eat, and it would be a waste to throw it away, so she simply packed it all up and put it in Ye Ji's refrigerator.
Wonderful!
The day before she left, Ye Ji treated her to dinner as a farewell dinner.
Jiang Nuanyu arrived at the address sent by Ye Ji. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she was slightly taken aback by the atmosphere in front of her.
The entire space was dimly lit and quiet, with light visible but no artificial lighting. Although the elevator lobby and the adjacent restaurant were semi-connected, there was no smell of food; instead, a faint fragrance filled the air.
She couldn't help but think to herself that the average cost per person at this restaurant must be quite high.
A uniformed waiter led her to her pre-booked table. She noticed that although it was a Western restaurant, it had a festive atmosphere for the Chinese New Year, with bright red "Fu" (good fortune) characters on the table, which were exquisite and cute.
Ye Ji hadn't arrived yet. While waiting, she rested her chin on her hand, aimlessly watching the people who came in walk from the door to their seats, repeating this process over and over.
Among them, a young couple caught her attention.
The boy was dressed in a sharp suit, and the girl was also dressed elegantly and tastefully; the handsome man and beautiful woman were a truly pleasing sight. Even after they sat down, Jiang Nuanyu hadn't looked away.
Because they were far apart, she couldn't hear their conversation. She could only guess their relationship and what they were talking about by looking at each other.
Neither of them seemed to smile much, she thought. But their eyes, when they looked at each other, seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words.
Very similar...
Her gaze lingered in that direction for a long time, her thoughts drifting far away, and her eyes unknowingly lost focus.
As soon as Ye Ji entered the restaurant, he saw Jiang Nuanyu looking listless and dazed from afar.
As he approached, Ye Ji reached out and scratched in front of her eyes: "What are you thinking about?"
Jiang Nuanyu snapped out of her daze: "You're here?"
Ye Ji sat down opposite her, turned his head to look in the direction she had been looking, and asked, "Do you know her?"
"I don't know them," Jiang Nuanyu said. "I'm just looking around."
Ye Ji took the menu from the waiter and casually asked, "What time is the flight tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow night... to be precise, the day after tomorrow at around 2 a.m.," she added. "I'll sleep right after takeoff, and when I wake up, we'll be there."
Ye Ji glanced at the menu and said casually, "You were staying up late the other night, so you were adjusting to the time difference in advance?" She nodded, "It was planned, huh?"
Jiang Nuanyu pursed her lips, speechless in the face of Ye Ji's sarcastic remarks.
Seeing that she couldn't speak, Ye Ji lowered his head and chuckled smugly.
Jiang Nuanyu glanced at the menu in Ye Ji's hand, and sure enough, it was pretty much as she had expected. Half of the prices were in the four-figure range.
After Ye Ji finished ordering and the waiter left, she said, "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Ye."
Ye Ji raised an eyebrow and winked at her: "Of course."
The appetizers arrived quickly, and Ye Ji asked, "Have you found a place to stay in Paris yet?"
“Yes. Eric…” Jiang Nuanyu explained, “He’s a colleague over there who recommended a house to me from his friend.”
Ye Ji frowned: "Colleague? Is he reliable? Putting everything else aside, the area where you live must be safe! Aren't there often street robberies and burglaries abroad?"
“The house is in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, which is relatively safe,” Jiang Nuanyu said. “Besides, Paris is generally quite safe, it’s not as bad as some people say.”
Ye Ji sighed and said, "Besides safety, do you know what I'm most worried about?"
"What?" Jiang Nuanyu took a sip of wine.
Ye Ji glanced at her, shook his head, and didn't answer.
She understood Jiang Nuanyu's personality and knew that she wasn't one to easily open up to others.
Jiang Nuanyu put down her wine glass: "Why are you making noises too? What is it?"
Ye Ji said, "I allow you to make friends in Paris who are better than me; I can accept being second best. For now."
Jiang Nuanyu didn't seem surprised by what she said, and nodded: "Oh, I'll try my best."
Now it was Ye Ji's turn to be stunned. After a few seconds, she gritted her teeth and uttered, "What a heartless woman."
Jiang Nuanyu smiled with her eyes narrowed.
The two ate and chatted, seemingly without any particular incident, but Ye Ji felt that something was off about Jiang Nuanyu. She figured it must be related to Liang Qi.
She brought up the topic of Liang Qi several times, intentionally or unintentionally, but Jiang Nuanyu never responded, either pretending not to understand or directly changing the subject.
The more she tries to avoid it, the more it shows that she can't let go of it at all.
But since she wouldn't say anything, Ye Ji couldn't do anything about it.
Hmph, there will come a time when she can't hold it in anymore.
However, Ye Ji was also worried that she would bottle up her emotions, as they always need to be released.
After dinner, she suggested, "There's a nice bar downstairs. Shall we go for a drink?"
"I'm not going," Jiang Nuanyu replied decisively.
"..." Ye Ji stretched his eyelids and said helplessly, "Alright then."
Before leaving the restaurant, Ye Ji went to the restroom.
Jiang Nuanyu waited for her in her seat, took out her phone to check the time, and was about to put it back when a WeChat message popped up on the screen.
It was sent by Yu Miao.
"Sister Nuanyu, you said before that Liang Qi isn't your boyfriend, right?"
Jiang Nuanyu's heart clenched. Just as she was wondering what Yu Miao meant by those words, Yu Miao sent another message.
"Can I like Liang Qi?"
Upon seeing this sentence, Jiang Nuanyu's head buzzed, and she was completely stunned in her chair.
She read the two WeChat messages over and over again, her chest heaving with unease, and her palms sweating profusely.
Yu Miao had feelings for Liang Qi that weren't entirely innocent; she could tell.
Yu Miao, who is so clear about her likes and dislikes, was so enthusiastic and proactive towards Liang Qi, whom she had only met for almost the first time. In the elevator, when Liang Qi kept her behind and let the others go first, Yu Miao's expression was indescribably subtle and strange. She was younger and was willing to call her "sister," but she called Liang Qi by his name directly. She could see through these subconscious little thoughts.
But didn't Liang Qi not give Yu Miao his contact information that day?
But even after Christmas Eve, she still hadn't seen Yu Miao. Yu Miao loved going to Tangwan so much, and Zhao Nan was Liang Qi's friend.
Could it be that they met again in Tangwan during this time, and then...?
Could it be that they...
Jiang Nuanyu gripped her phone tightly, countless possibilities flashing through her mind, but Yu Miao didn't send any more messages.
Ye Ji returned from the restroom, grabbed her bag, and slung it over her shoulder: "Let's go."
“Ye Ji,” Jiang Nuanyu raised her eyes, her gaze fixed, “have a drink with me.”
Ye Ji was taken aback—hadn't he just said he wasn't going?
*
The bar Ye Ji mentioned was located on the ground floor below the restaurant. It had a small entrance, but the interior was surprisingly spacious.
The bar was quite crowded, and the two found an empty seat at the bar.
The male bartender across from me looked young, tall and thin, with a loose white shirt draped over his broad shoulders. His forearms, exposed through the rolled-up sleeves, were thin as paper and had clearly defined lines.
"What would you two ladies like to drink?" He pointed to the standee on the table. "This is the wine list."
Just like his appearance, his voice is also very refreshing and pleasant.
Ye Ji said, "You have such a sweet tongue, then let's have two cups that are as sweet as you."
She made flirtatious remarks without batting an eye, and Jiang Nuanyu couldn't help but facepalm as she listened.
Ye Ji didn't care at all. He glanced at her and asked, "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
"I think it would be nice to get drunk tonight," Jiang Nuanyu said. "Once I go to Paris, there will be no one to drink with me."
"Really...?" Ye Ji was clearly not convinced.
Jiang Nuanyu watched the bartender prepare the drinks without replying.
After a flurry of activity, the bartender brought over two small glasses of chocolate liqueurs: "Ladies, please try these."
Ye Ji picked up the glass and took a small sip. The chocolate and cream flavors blended perfectly, with a hint of alcohol—not bad.
On the other end, Jiang Nuanyu had no interest in tasting the wine. She tilted her head back and downed it in one gulp, leaving her throat feeling sticky and greasy.
She frowned, swallowed, and cleared her throat, saying, "This is way too sweet."
Ye Ji said, "Who told you to drink it all in one gulp?"
Jiang Nuanyu waved her hand, pointed to the drink menu, and said to the bartender, "I'll order from the first one onwards." She added, "Nothing too sweet. Thank you."
Ye Ji glanced at the wine list and blinked: "Are you kidding me?"
"I'm not kidding," Jiang Nuanyu said. "I just want to try everything, is that wrong?"
"Alright, alright." Ye Ji didn't believe she could drink that much, so he nodded to the bartender and said, "Bring her some wine."
The bartender gave a refreshing smile: "Okay."
Ye Ji initially thought Jiang Nuanyu was just saying it casually, but to her surprise, she downed each cup in one gulp as if in a competitive manner.
After a few drinks, Ye Ji finally reached out to stop him: "What are you doing? How can you drink like that?"
Jiang Nuanyu's cheeks were flushed red from the alcohol, but the effects of the alcohol hadn't fully taken hold, and she was still relatively sober.
She shook her head: "I'm fine."
"You just want to get drunk, right? Don't worry, I'll make sure you get home safely," Ye Ji said gently. "But can we take it slow? Let's not end up taking you to the hospital."
Jiang Nuanyu lowered her eyelids and remained silent.
Ye Ji reluctantly let go of her, his interest greatly diminished, thinking that he wouldn't be able to drink anymore tonight.
Jiang Nuanyu drank a few more cups, and gradually, the effects of the alcohol kicked in.
She had drunk too much too quickly at the beginning and was feeling quite unwell. She propped her head up with her hand, looking slightly pained, and pointed to the drink menu, asking, "What number... are we at?"
Ye Ji told the bartender, "Give her the one with the lower number."
"No!" Jiang Nuanyu immediately stopped her.
She looked up so quickly that she felt her brain slosh around, and it took her a while to recover from the nausea.
The bartender looked at Ye Ji questioningly, and Ye Ji slowly shook his head at him.
She was drinking with Jiang Nuanyu, and she lost all interest in chatting with the handsome young man.
Jiang Nuanyu took the newly mixed drink from the deliveryman, took a sip, and questioned, "Is this water? Why doesn't it taste like alcohol?"
"Why doesn't it smell of alcohol?" Ye Ji tried to fool her, "You've drunk too much and your tongue is numb."
Jiang Nuanyu pushed the cup back and said, "I don't want this one, get another one."
"..." Ye Ji could only nod to the bartender.
The bartender brought a normal recipe this time. Jiang Nuanyu tasted it, frowned, smacked her lips, but didn't say anything.
Ye Ji: "..."
To be this drunk and still be able to taste alcohol is truly astounding.
Jiang Nuanyu drank one cup after another until she couldn't hold on any longer and could only half-lie on the bar.
All she could see was the halo of the lights, but how come she wasn't drunk yet?
She reached out one hand, but it felt out of control; she couldn't grasp the cup in front of her no matter what she did.
Ye Ji looked at her quietly for a few seconds, picked up the wine glass and handed it to her, saying, "Congratulations, you're drunk. Finish this last glass and go home."
"I'm not drunk! Really..." Jiang Nuanyu gripped the glass tightly, straining to open her half-closed eyelids, "I'm not drunk yet..."
Ye Ji: "..."
Jiang Nuanyu tilted her head back, took only one sip, and then slammed the cup down.
Her stomach was already full.
Perhaps she was feeling unwell from drinking too much, because she suddenly frowned and pouted, looking like she was about to cry.
She patted her waist back and forth, and Ye Ji looked at her, puzzled: "What are you looking for?"
Jiang Nuanyu looked down, but her eyes didn't seem to be open. "Where's my phone..."
Ye Ji took her phone out of his bag and placed it in her hand: "Here."
"Oh..." Jiang Nuanyu swiped open the screen, and Ye Ji asked, "What are you going to do?"
Jiang Nuanyu slowly shook her head, then pouted, "...Let me ask."
Ye Ji didn't understand: "What do you mean?"
"Ask..." she said, and then she dialed someone's number and put it to her ear.
The music from the distant dance floor mingled with the chaotic thoughts in my head, yet the dial tone on the receiver remained crystal clear.
"Beep, beep, beep—" The sound stopped halfway through.
She wasn't sure if the call had been hung up or answered, and she still held the phone to her ear, still in a daze.
"Hello?" Liang Qi's voice came through, steady and clear.
Upon hearing his voice, Jiang Nuanyu's lips immediately twitched into a pitiful pout. In an instant, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over.
She didn't say a word, she just kept her mouth shut and cried.
On the other end of the phone, Liang Qi had just finished a dinner party and was on his way home. He waited a few seconds, took his phone to check that the call was still connected, and then put it back to his ear.
As he listened to the static coming from the receiver, wondering if he had dialed the wrong number, the other end spoke: "Hello? Mr. Liang?"
That's not Jiang Nuanyu's voice.
Liang Qi frowned and said in a deep voice, "Hello."
“Well, Jiang Nuanyu drank too much…” Ye Ji said, “She made the call, but I don’t know if she needed to talk to you about something.”
After a long silence, Liang Qi asked, "Where are you?"
Ye Ji gave Liang Qi the address of the bar, and Liang Qi said he was nearby and would arrive in a few minutes.
After hanging up the phone, Ye Ji felt uneasy. She hadn't expected Liang Qi to come directly.
Jiang Nuanyu wanted to avoid Liang Qi before leaving, and she knew that. So when she saw the name of the person on the screen, she almost hung up immediately.
However, on the other hand—
It was indeed Jiang Nuanyu who made the call. And she simply stated the facts, without embellishment, implication, or guidance…
...Right?
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