Chapter 44 A Sleepless Night for Two
Luo Yan had been agonizing over this for several days, like a squirrel with a heavy heart, her cheeks aching from all the worry.
The brooch remained like a fishbone stuck in her throat, impossible to spit out or swallow, and witnessing Wu Yuzhou's infidelity only cast a darker shadow over this unease.
Should she trust Jiang Sui? If she doesn't, what if she's really misunderstood? If she does trust him… she trusted Wu Yuzhou for a full ten years, only to be proven to be a complete idiot. Even the most foolish person can't fall into the same trap twice, right?
It's decided, this weekend, I must have an open and honest talk with Jiang Sui.
It's better to put some things out in the open and be honest. If it's a misunderstanding, clear it up and everyone will be happy. If it's not a misunderstanding, she's not the type to pester you. It's better to end it quickly than to suffer for a long time. Whether she lives or dies, give her a quick and decisive answer.
On Friday after get off work, Luo Yan composed herself and dialed Jiang Sui's number.
"Hello?"
"Are you free to come over tonight? I...I have something to tell you." Luo Yan tried to keep her voice calm.
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Jiang Sui's slightly apologetic voice: "Tonight... I'm afraid it's not possible. I just received a last-minute notice that I have to go on a short business trip. I'll be leaving in a bit. Can we talk about it again tomorrow?"
Luo Yan's heart sank, all the words she had prepared were stuck in her throat, and her throat felt dry.
"Oh... I see. Okay, work is important, you go ahead and get busy." She hung up the phone quickly, afraid that saying another word would reveal her disappointment and embarrassment.
A short business trip? What a coincidence?
Just as she was staring blankly out the window, Liu Su, who had just left, suddenly ran back, grabbed her, and said, "Sister Yan, Zhou Jiaqi said he wants to treat us to dinner. I thought it was a good idea, so I'll treat it as a welcome dinner for the new students."
"Dinner? Tonight?"
"Yes, he said he's already made a reservation and is waiting for us at the entrance. I came back specifically to call you. Let's go!"
"All right."
Luo Yan picked up her bag and followed Liu Su out.
Since I'm home alone anyway, and I'll just keep overthinking and wasting my time, I might as well distract myself and maybe my mind will clear up.
At the dinner table, Liu Su chattered away, Zhou Jiaqi was polite and attentive, but Luo Yan looked at the exquisite dishes in front of her but had no appetite at all. She absentmindedly picked at her chopsticks in her bowl for a long time, but didn't eat much, and didn't even know what she ate.
"Oh, I forgot to let you know. You guys eat first. I need to call my mother to explain, otherwise she'll lock me out if I get home late."
Liu Su took her phone and ran outside to make a call, leaving only Luo Yan and Zhou Jiaqi at the table. Without the atmosphere duo, the air seemed to grow cold.
Seeing Luo Yan's absent-minded appearance, Zhou Jiaqi asked with concern, "Sister Luo, are you alright? You seem to be in a bad mood?"
Luo Yan forced a bitter smile, shook her head, and unconsciously tapped the rim of her bowl with her chopsticks: "It's nothing, I just suddenly felt... it's really meaningless. You wholeheartedly believe in someone for ten years, treating them as the only light in your youth, only to find out in the end that under that light there are disgusting lice. You know, just a couple of days ago... my youth completely ended, and it ended in a very... worthless way."
Zhou Jiaqi was silent for a moment, then said seriously, "Sister Luo, the problem isn't sincerity, it's the person who betrayed sincerity."
Luo Yan paused for a moment, looking into his clear eyes. She felt a little touched, but mostly a lingering bitterness.
"Yes, sincerity is not wrong, people are wrong."
Zhou Jiaqi didn't say anything more, and silently poured her a cup of hot soy milk.
Luo Yan suddenly felt a bit stuffy in the private room, so she got up and said, "I'm going out for some fresh air."
Stepping onto the terrace outside the restaurant, a cool breeze helped clear my head a bit.
This is the heart of Yu'an city. On weekend nights, the streets are bustling with people. Across the street is a landmark building, which is also the city's most luxurious hotel. At this moment, it is a time of dazzling lights and extravagant revelry.
Looking at the flashing neon lights and the well-dressed men and women coming and going at the hotel entrance, Luo Yan sighed and prepared to turn around and go back.
Just then, she glanced down again, and that damned glance froze her eyes and blood.
Jiang Sui stood beside a black car, with a well-dressed young woman holding his arm. The brooch pinned to her chest was the very one Jiang Sui had said he had taken by mistake.
The woman smiled radiantly, turning her head to speak intimately with Jiang Sui. Although Jiang Sui didn't respond much, he didn't push her away either. The two walked hand in hand into the hotel's revolving door.
Luo Yan suddenly felt dizzy and hurriedly grabbed the railing to barely stand. Her whole body was so cold that even her fingertips were trembling uncontrollably. Her heart ached so much that she could hardly breathe. Tears welled up without warning, and her vision blurred rapidly. The hotel's neon lights intertwined in her eyes, turning into distorted colors, like hideous faces, arrogantly mocking her.
This is what Jiang Sui meant by "short business trip." How foolish she was! Foolish enough to want to be "open and honest" with him, foolish enough to think that she was just overthinking things because she cared too much about him.
How ridiculous, how absurd.
She slowly turned around and staggered away.
The party room on the hotel's rooftop.
All night long, Jiang Sui sat alone in the most inconspicuous corner, expressionless, disguising himself as a human iceberg. Miss Hua tried to approach him several times, but he avoided her without leaving a trace.
"Jiang Sui, can't you smile? Today is my best friend's party." Miss Hua held up her wine glass, her tone both coquettish and dissatisfied. "Since you're here, give me some face."
“Ms. Hua, I’m here to apologize for leaving halfway through last time, and out of respect for you.” Jiang Sui’s tone was distant. “As for anything else, I’ve already made myself very clear. Please have some self-respect.”
"So what if she has a girlfriend?" Miss Hua scoffed, leaning closer to him and lowering her voice, "What girlfriend doesn't even dare to show her face in public? Do you also think she's not presentable, or... is it an excuse to reject me? Jiang Sui, stop fooling yourself. You and I both know very well that for us to be together, Huayuan and Mingsheng joining forces is the best solution."
Jiang Sui's eyes turned cold as he turned away from her close body. "My girlfriend is none of anyone else's business to comment on her, and I wouldn't dare trouble Miss Hua with such a thing."
Miss Hua's face darkened, she slammed her wine glass down on the table, and stood up.
"Jiang Sui, don't push your luck. Do you know how many men in Yu'an are waiting for my invitation? You're the only one who won't even give me a second glance. What is it about me that you don't like? Am I not pretty enough, or is Huayuan's resources insufficient?"
“I am honored to have caught Miss Hua’s eye.” Jiang Sui also stood up. “But I regret that, in public I cannot represent Mingsheng, and in private I am not worthy of Miss Hua’s favor. Now that I have come with you as agreed, please also keep your promise and return the necklace to me.”
Seeing that he wouldn't listen to reason, Miss Hua suddenly felt bored. The probing looks from her girlfriends made her feel embarrassed. She quickly took out the velvet box containing the necklace from her handbag, shoved it into Jiang Sui's hand, and said irritably, "It's just a broken necklace, here you go! How boring!"
Jiang Sui took the box, opened it to check, and nodded slightly: "Thank you. There's no need for President Hua and my father to know about this. Excuse me." After saying that, he turned and strode away without hesitation.
As soon as he left the hotel, he took out his phone and quickly walked to the parking lot while dialing Luo Yan's number.
No one answered.
They fought again, and it was the same.
He felt a vague unease, started the car, stepped on the gas, and the car shot off like an arrow, heading straight for Luo Yan's residential area.
A chilly night breeze blew in through the car window, which had never been fully closed.
Throughout the journey, Jiang Sui kept redialing Luo Yan's number, but no one answered each time.
Is she asleep? Or... has something happened?!
Luo Yan didn't know how she got home. As soon as the door closed, she collapsed to the ground, leaning against the door, tears streaming down her face silently. She hugged herself tightly but couldn't feel any warmth.
After an unknown amount of time, there was a sudden, urgent knocking on the door.
"Yanyan, are you there?"
Is that Jiang Sui? Why is he here? Shouldn't he be at the hotel right now...?
Luo Yan raised her head, wiped away her tears, stood up, and opened the door.
Jiang Sui stood outside the door, radiating coldness. Her hair was disheveled, her breathing was rapid, and her face showed obvious worry and urgency. She was still clutching the velvet box in her hand.
"Why are you here?" Luo Yan's voice was hoarse from crying, and her eyes were still red. "You're done with your 'short trip'? So soon?"
Jiang Sui paused, noticing something was wrong with her, and frowned: "What's wrong? Why didn't you answer the phone? Do you know how worried I was?"
"What's wrong with me? Are you really worried about me? Jiang Sui, you acted so well, you're an Oscar-worthy actor!"
Luo Yan sneered, struggling to hold back her tears, "I saw it all... Your 'short trip' was just accompanying other women to hotels?"
Jiang Sui's expression changed drastically, and she subconsciously wanted to explain, "Actually, I went to..."
"Get out of here!" Luo Yan interrupted him shrilly. "I don't want to see you right now!"
Jiang Sui panicked and stepped forward to grab her hand.
"Don't touch me!" Luo Yan abruptly shook her off, her voice trembling with despair. "It's my own fault! I've been played by you ever since I met you, and yet I still fell for you! I brought this on myself, okay? And now you're still lying to me?!"
Seeing her red eyes and tear-streaked face, Jiang Sui rushed forward to hug her, saying, "Listen to me, I..."
"Get out of here!"
Luo Yan completely broke down, tears streaming down her face. She pushed him away violently and slapped him across the face.
"I never want to see you again, you liar!"
Jiang Sui was slapped so hard that she took two steps back, all the words stuck in her throat.
The door slammed shut, shutting out his helpless gaze.
Luo Yan slid down the door panel and sat on the ground, burying her face in her knees. Her long-suppressed sobs finally burst out, sounding particularly desolate in the quiet night.
Outside the door, the night was cold.
Jiang Sui stood there for a long time, and finally left dejectedly, feeling utterly exhausted and powerless.
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