Chapter 47
That day, Lin Ting received a notice that the principal wanted to see her. She was a little surprised. She had only seen him once from afar at the entrance ceremony and hadn't seen him since before graduation. Even when she won the design competition and caused a sensation at the school, it didn't attract his attention. What was the reason for wanting to see her this time? Lin Ting couldn't help but feel flustered. She was deep in thought on her way to the principal's office, feeling that something big was about to happen.
Upon arriving at the principal's office, Lin Ting knocked on the door, bowed respectfully, and only after straightening up could she clearly see the principal's face.
A middle-aged man in his fifties or sixties, of medium build, stood ramrod straight, exuding an indescribable air of authority. His facial features were well-defined, but several deep wrinkles marked the corners of his eyes and forehead—the marks of time. His eyes were deep and bright, as if they could see into the depths of one's heart.
The principal was scrutinizing Lin Ting from head to toe with those eyes, making her feel uneasy. She clenched her fists at her sides, her smooth knuckles becoming sharp and even somewhat glaring.
The principal took a step forward. "You must be Lin Ting. Actually, it wasn't me who was looking for you, but this Butler Chen behind me!"
Lin Ting turned around and saw Uncle Chen standing at the door. His expression was normal, just like he always did, but Lin Ting could guess that it wasn't him looking for her, but someone else.
Uncle Chen didn't say anything, he just told Lin Ting to come with him, and then drove to another place - Xicheng.
In Jinshi, there has always been a saying that the east is rich and the west is noble; the "west" here refers to the western part of the city.
Jinshi is the core of economic development in the central region, and the headquarters of the Central Theater Command is located in Xicheng. Therefore, Xicheng is a place of power and wealth, and the residents are basically from prominent families or government leaders. Ordinary people can hardly set foot here, which is mysterious and authoritative.
The car stopped in front of a traditional Chinese courtyard house. The two large stone lions at the entrance looked solemn and dignified, which made Lin Ting feel uneasy.
After entering, you first pass through a winding corridor and then around the garden fountain before you finally see the main gate of the courtyard.
Before even entering the main gate, someone was already waiting at the entrance. The woman in front of him was dressed in a light blue tea-colored dress, with light makeup and a smile on her face. She crossed her hands in front of her abdomen and said, "Your Majesty, Chen, you're back."
Butler? Lin Ting roughly guessed where this place was.
Uncle Chen asked, "Where is the master?"
"It's in the ancestral hall."
Uncle Chen nodded and led Lin Ting into the main courtyard. The house was in a typical Chinese style, with all the furniture made of mahogany. Landscape paintings and calligraphy hung on the walls, some of which were by famous artists, even those Lin Ting knew. The carved cabinets on both sides were filled with antique porcelain, including celadon, white porcelain, and glass, each of which looked rare.
After passing through the main courtyard, there is a rockery and pond where colorful koi carp frolic. After walking around the pond, you will reach the backyard.
At this moment, Uncle Chen spoke up, "Teacher Lin, this is the Chen family's old residence."
Lin Ting smiled slightly. Sure enough, she felt that Chen Zhiyi was still too optimistic. It seemed that no matter how determined they were, they couldn't overcome the gap between them.
Recalling the words "Tranquility Leads to Far-Reaching Vision" carved on the plaque above the main hall, Lin Ting's heart was far from calm; she had a feeling that a storm was brewing.
Indeed, this day became a dividing line in Lin Ting's life.
Lin Ting didn't ask who wanted to see her; the answer was obvious. She followed Uncle Chen into the backyard, lifted the curtain, and entered the Buddhist hall.
The person who wanted to see him was kneeling before the wall full of memorial tablets, devoutly worshipping. He was a tall and upright middle-aged man.
Uncle Chen stepped forward and spoke respectfully to the departing figure, "Master, Teacher Lin has arrived."
The middle-aged man didn't turn around; he simply nodded and waved.
Uncle Chen understood and immediately withdrew.
Lin Ting stood quietly to the side, knowing that the middle-aged man in front of her was Chen's father.
After the worship ceremony, the middle-aged man stood up and turned around. When their eyes met, Lin Ting immediately recognized him as the number one candidate for mayor of Jinshi City, whom she had seen in the news a few days ago. She finally knew where that sense of familiarity came from.
It turned out that Chen Zhiyi's family background was even more illustrious than she had imagined. Lin Ting was shocked, but more than that, she felt deeply inferior and couldn't lift her head.
The middle-aged man walked up to Lin Ting and said in a gentle tone, "Let's sit down and talk."
The two sat down at the coffee table next to them, with Lin Ting sitting opposite him.
He poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Lin Ting, saying calmly, "I think you should have guessed who I am by now, Teacher Lin."
Lin had heard the name "Teacher Lin" many times, but none of them sounded as harsh and sarcastic as this one. She pursed her lips, trying to use silence to hide her inner turmoil.
"I'm so sorry it's been so long since we met. Let me introduce myself. My name is Chen Tiansheng, and I am Chen Zhiyi's father."
Lin Ting nodded, maintaining proper etiquette despite her flustered state and feelings of inferiority. "Hello! How should I address you?"
Chen Tiansheng smiled and said, "You can call me whatever you want, Teacher Lin. Don't be nervous. I just asked you to come here today for a casual chat and to thank you. Zhiyi's studies have improved a lot recently, and Teacher Lin has made great contributions."
"You're too kind, it's what I should do."
Immediately afterwards, Chen Tiansheng took out an envelope and pushed it in front of Lin Ting, saying, "Please accept this small token of my appreciation."
Lin Ting made no move, only glanced at the envelope in front of her, smiled slightly, a thin curve at the corners of her mouth. She knew what the money was for, but there was no need to beat around the bush.
She took a deep breath, looked directly at Chen Tiansheng, and said calmly, "Tutoring Zhiyi to catch up with his grades is my job. Since it's my duty, I can't accept any extra help."
Chen Tiansheng hadn't expected her to react this way. He saw stubbornness in her eyes, but it wouldn't amount to anything. Since she had guessed his purpose for coming, there was no need to beat around the bush.
"Teacher Lin is a smart person; she will understand what I mean."
“I understand your intentions, but I cannot accept this approach. I also have my own pride.”
Chen Tiansheng sneered, realizing he had underestimated the person before him. Though his appearance was aloof and indifferent, his words were unexpected. "Teacher Lin is indeed extraordinary. No wonder Zhiyi's mother always mentions you to me, praising your excellence and responsibility, saying she likes and trusts you very much." He paused here, "but I never expected you to betray her trust and affection."
One sentence struck Lin Ting's weak spot. She subconsciously clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her flesh. For a moment, she almost held her breath.
“She could have come to this meeting, but she doesn’t know what to say to you. Actually, if you and I were from ordinary families, as parents we wouldn’t want to interfere in our children’s love affairs, you could just let things take their course. But we are not ordinary.”
Chen Tiansheng looked at the memorial tablet and said truthfully, "Our Chen family has been officials for generations, including both civil and military officials. We were also founding heroes during the War of Resistance against Japan. My father, Grandpa Zhiyi, was a famous general who served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Central Theater Command. It is said that the lineage of aristocratic families is counted from the third generation, but the Chen family can be counted as the eighth generation with Zhiyi. Aristocratic families like ours value inheriting the family's glory above all else, especially since Chen Zhiyi is the eldest son and grew up carrying all the expectations of the family. Therefore, many things in his life are not something he can choose for himself, including his career and his marriage."
The meaning is quite clear from this point.
Lin Ting was grateful that Chen Tiansheng had phrased things tactfully, not trampling on her dignity. In the past, she would have stood up without hesitation and said, "You're overthinking it," before resolutely leaving and cutting off all contact.
But now she can't bring herself to do it and is willing to take a gamble, after all, Chen Zhiyi is just too good, so good that Lin Ting can't bear to let go, and she promised him that they would be steadfast in their relationship, so she has to at least try and not just give up on him like this.
So, Lin Ting mustered all her courage, looked up and stared directly at Chen Tiansheng, carefully taking in his entirety.
Chen Zhiyi looks very much like his father in terms of facial features, but Lin Ting cannot see Chen Zhiyi's appearance through Chen Tiansheng's face. She can only see majesty and power. Beneath that half-smiling expression is an intolerance of being challenged and resisted. Lin Ting suddenly understands Chen Zhiyi's past suffering and repression.
But she still wanted to take the challenge, speaking each word clearly without backing down, "I don't understand, but I know that Zhiyi is a person, a living, breathing person. He has his own thoughts, opinions, and pursuits. Are all these less important than the family glory you mentioned? Or is it that he doesn't deserve these things in front of the family?"
Chen Tiansheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked into the distance, as if he was reminiscing or deep in thought. Lin Ting couldn't understand what he was doing.
After a moment, he spoke again, “This problem has also troubled me before, but as I have come to where I am today, as my father lay dying, I remembered the cultivation of my ancestors and the moment I took on the heavy responsibility of the family. I understood that I could only put the family above everything else. I could not let the wealth and power accumulated by my ancestors over the years go to waste in my hands. I had to do better, so as the next heir of the Chen family, he had to do the same.”
Lin Ting frowned, puzzled. "But he doesn't like it, and he's not good at it. He has things he likes. You've forced him into this position. If he doesn't do well, won't he still disappoint you?"
"There's no such thing as not being able to do it well. With so many people supporting him, how could he not do it well? So for him, it's just a matter of doing it or not doing it."
Is this the difference between classes? It's an insurmountable gap, both in reality and in thought. Lin Ting was shocked.
The gamble and challenge that had been stirred within her began to crumble, and she lost her reason to deceive herself and persevere.
Chen Tiansheng: "Sorry, I've investigated your information."
Lin Ting smirked and chuckled, knowing he couldn't escape this situation.
Chen Tiansheng continued, "To be honest, I admire you. Putting everything else aside, I don't judge people by their background. You grew up in a single-parent family, have been independent and self-reliant since childhood, and have excellent academic performance. You were admitted to the Fashion Design Department of Tianjin University with the highest score in the college entrance examination, and you were ranked first in your class every year, winning all the scholarships. Moreover, you earned your own tuition and living expenses for four years of university, which is truly remarkable. In these respects, your excellence far surpasses Chen Zhiyi's, so I'm not surprised that he would like you. But, Teacher Lin, gossip is a powerful force. If you and Zhiyi are together, outsiders will see you as a sparrow who is climbing the social ladder, vain, and trying to become a phoenix. Can you bear these negative comments? Love is never just a matter between two people."
Lin Ting immediately retorted, saying that this was an insult to her personality. "I have never wanted anything from Zhiyi. Where he was born or whose son he is does not matter. It is just because we like each other. You can look down on this relationship, but you cannot disrespect it. This is also a disrespect to my personality."
Personality? Chen Tiansheng smiled slightly, feeling that the girl in front of him was more stubborn than he had imagined. In order to get to the bottom of things quickly, he had no choice but to use his trump card, "Are you sure you didn't want anything from him? If Zhiyi hadn't taken the initiative to contact me for help with the athlete's entrance uniform design competition, how could your work have skipped the preliminary round and gone straight to the semi-finals? And how could you have made it to the finals so smoothly? You won the championship because of your hard work and talent, and of course, there was also some behind-the-scenes manipulation. You can tell which one is more important."
After she finished speaking, Lin Ting immediately felt as if a stone was pressing on her chest, and the intense sense of humiliation made her feel suffocated.
Chen Tiansheng took an envelope out of the drawer. "Open it."
Lin Ting shakily reached out to tear open the envelope, but in her nervousness, she tore it apart, spilling a stack of photos out instantly.
The moment the contents of the photo rushed into her eyes, it felt like a knife was gouging out her own eyeballs—bloody and excruciatingly painful.
The photos covering the table were all of them together on ordinary days, holding hands, hugging, and gazing into each other's eyes while walking down the street—each one was very intimate.
But all of them were shot from a distance.
It was clearly filmed without my knowledge, and the person had been following me for a while.
Fear spread throughout her body, Lin Ting's face turned ashen, and a chill ran through her.
Before she could even catch her breath, Chen Tiansheng flipped open one of the photos, and the words on the back shattered Lin Ting's last bit of persistence.
"Secretary Chen, aren't you going to do anything about your son's blatant early romance? It's said that the girl in the photos is your son's tutor. A student and teacher getting together—this is a rare and sensational news story! You should know that once these photos are released to the public, all the preparations you made for your mayoral candidacy will be wasted, and more importantly, your son's image will be ruined."
At this moment, Lin Ting felt his personal dignity being trampled on like an ant in front of a stranger, and all he could see was darkness.
Chen Tiansheng stared coldly at Lin Wenting: "Families like ours are constantly under scrutiny from all sectors of society. The slightest disturbance can cause a huge uproar. Fortunately, I have already bought these photos at a high price. Just imagine, if they were leaked and found out by your school, classmates, and people who know you, that you are tutoring someone but secretly taking a salary and having an affair with their child, where would your dignity and reputation, which you value most, remain?"
Every word felt like an invisible dagger cutting into every inch of Lin Ting's skin. She wanted to explain, but her throat felt like it was filled with lead. Her face turned red, and the veins on her neck bulged. She tried her best to say something, but no sound came out, and tears fell uncontrollably.
After all that buildup, Chen Tiansheng finally said what he really wanted to say in a heartfelt tone, "Break it off. Before your feelings for each other become too intense, you won't hurt each other too much."
"Then why didn't you go to Chen Zhiyi but came to me instead? He was the one who fell in love first, he was the one who confessed first!"
“I know my son’s personality too well. Right now is the time when he likes you the most. If I force him to give up, it might backfire, and he might even do something more outrageous. So I have no choice but to come to you. I’m sorry, this may be cruel to you, but I believe you can understand the bigger picture and consider the overall situation, because I can see that you are essentially a good and sensible child.”
Lin Ting closed her eyes, seemingly resigned to her fate. "Okay, I promise you, I will break up with Chen Zhiyi completely, but I also ask you to promise me one thing."
Chen Tiansheng became excited, "Tell me, as long as I can do it, I will do it without hesitation, as compensation to you."
Lin Ting remained calm. "You can definitely do it. Give Chen Zhiyi the chance to realize his dream, right? He truly loves art and performing. He dreams of becoming an actor and experiencing all the flavors of life." She saw Chen Tiansheng's furrowed brows and repulsive expression, but didn't give him a chance to refuse or speak. She continued, "This isn't difficult for you at all. You yourself said that it's either do it or not do it. What's wrong with doing some things later? Let him do what he loves first, so he won't have any regrets. I've seen all the effort and energy he's put into this art exam. If you still want to cut off his dream in the end, he'll go crazy. I don't think you can bear to see your beloved son go crazy, can you?"
"Okay, I promise you."
Lin Ting then made another request, "I will break up with Chen Zhiyi completely, but can you wait a while? I promised him that I would accompany him through his art exams and college entrance exams. This is a promise I must keep. It will only take two or three months. After the last college entrance exam is over, I will definitely disappear from his life completely."
"I disagree. We need to cut our losses and back out now. We shouldn't ever appear in front of him again," Chen Tiansheng refused outright.
Lin Ting's brow twitched, sensing wariness. "What do you mean? Where can I go if you ask me to leave? I haven't graduated yet, it's easy to find me in Jinshi. Are you asking me to leave Jinshi? I'm about to defend my thesis, how can I just leave school? I can't give up my studies for a love that hasn't even started. I need to get my two certificates, they're the key to my future job. I'm not love-struck, and I'm not stupid."
“But my son is love-struck, a bit of a fool. You should have fully felt his loyalty to you during this time. If you were still in Jinshi, even if you refused to see him, he would do everything he could to find you and force you to come out. I know him too well; he won't easily let go of what's in his heart or eyes. So you have no choice but to leave for now.” Chen Tiansheng took out an envelope from the drawer. “Open this and take a look. I think you'll like it.”
Looking at the three envelopes on the table, Lin Ting chuckled. To deal with her, a mayoral candidate had prepared very thoroughly!
Qian Cailin knew she definitely wouldn't accept it, so what other way could she compensate her in a way that she could accept? She couldn't even think of one.
However, upon opening the envelope, Lin Ting was stunned. It was a letter of introduction addressed to Professor Huang Guili.
Chen Tiansheng: "I heard from Zhiyi that you really like Professor Huang and are very interested in the intangible cultural heritage preservation work her team is currently doing. This is a letter of introduction. Professor Huang's husband is a local from Jinshi and is also a military officer. He was once my father's student and also his subordinate. Through his introduction, you can contact Professor Huang now to become a member of her team. She is currently doing fieldwork in Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture. There is also a plane ticket in the envelope. If you decide to go, you can fly there to see her in three days. If you perform well and gain Professor Huang's approval, and officially become a member of her team, I think you will definitely have a bright future. Even if it's just a short-term study, it will still be a very important and wonderful experience, and you will definitely gain a lot. As for your studies, don't worry. I've checked your GPA, which already meets the graduation requirements of Jinshi University. Getting your diploma is no problem. The only issue is that you can't defend your thesis on time, which will affect the issuance of your degree certificate. I have already communicated with your school and asked you to postpone your defense until February or March next year. This will not affect your receipt of your degree certificate at all."
"By then, everything will have changed, but it will still be the ending that both of us wanted the most."
After speaking, Lin Ting accepted the envelope without hesitation; indeed, it was the best arrangement. This was the wisdom and tactic of someone in a position of power; he had achieved his goal and won over the other party's heart.
Chen Tiansheng couldn't bear it, so he pushed the envelope containing the money in front of Lin Ting again. "Please accept this. It's hard to come back from a field trip with Professor Huang's team in less than a year or two, and the government's stipend for Professor Huang is also limited. Consider this my sponsorship for your living and studying during this period. You must accept it!"
Lin Ting shook her head and returned the envelope to Chen Tiansheng. "If I accept this money, I'll feel guilty. I'll betray Zhiyi's feelings for me. I agreed to leave Zhiyi because I don't want to become the vulgar person you described, someone who tries to climb the social ladder. I have my own value to pursue, and I don't want to be an appendage of any name or family. I accepted the letter of introduction because I agree with your arrangements; it's indeed the best way. When I say goodbye to Zhiyi, I'll find a new excuse. No one else will know what we talked about today. But Zhiyi is stubborn. I won't confront him before his art exam or even his college entrance exam, so he can smoothly get through this important stage. Once it's over, I'll cut off contact with him. He won't be able to find me, and with a long period of separation, he'll eventually forget. After all, time is the best healer; all the love and hate will fade away in the river of time."
"Okay!" Chen Tiansheng picked up a pen and paper, and wrote down a string of numbers. "This is my personal number. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, remember to call me, and I will help you solve them."
Lin Ting gave a wry smile, "Aladdin's lamp?"
"No, this is an agreement between us, a promise I made to you."
"Okay! I'll take it." With that, Lin Ting turned and left.
Watching Lin Ting's departing figure, Chen Tiansheng thought of himself. There was a time when he had also left the ancestral hall alone, but Lin Ting's departure was resolute, while his was one of compromise.
Truly, even though it was only a brief encounter, Chen Tiansheng admired Lin Ting. He clearly saw her stubbornness, her clear-headedness, and her pursuit of her goals. If his family were any more ordinary, he wouldn't have interfered; such a good girl is rare indeed. But he had to do it this way, just as his father had done for him. Although he would regret it for the rest of his life, he had no regrets.
After leaving, Lin Ting refused Uncle Chen's offer to drive her back and instead took a car home herself.
She thought she would be heartbroken and break down, but she wasn't. She remained calm, only feeling a little tired.
Remembering that he didn't need to go to Chen Zhiyi's tutoring in the evening, he realized that he was busy preparing for the final exam these past two days and didn't need to review his academic subjects.
So, after returning to the dormitory, Lin Ting climbed into bed and fell asleep immediately.
She dreamt again that Qin Qiang cheated on her, her parents divorced, she was kicked out of the house by her grandparents, and she and her mother were homeless on New Year's Eve. After that, the mother and daughter suffered from rumors and humiliation.
Every time I wake up, my forehead is covered in sweat.
It's like a lifelong nightmare that you can't shake off.
She was not chosen again; all the people she loved would leave her.
So she calmly accepted it all.
My phone rang; I received a message.
She glanced at it; it was a message from Chen Zhiyi, inviting her to meet at Chengxi Park the next afternoon. She replied with an "okay."
This is the last time we'll meet; it's time to say goodbye properly, though it's a one-way street.
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