Chapter 67
After returning to Hai City, Chen Zhiyi worked diligently on filming the movie, while Lin Ting devoted herself to the spring e-commerce campaign. This was her first project after being promoted to chief designer and taking full charge of the e-commerce platform, and she had to make it a resounding success.
This time, she continued her original style, frantically accumulating inspiration every day. Even after get off work, she would go to shopping malls, clothing streets, or wholesale markets to keep abreast of fashion trends and popular preferences.
That day, Chen Zhiyi had a night shoot and wouldn't be home for dinner. After browsing the clothing section of the mall, Lin Ting went to her usual fast food restaurant to buy a sandwich for a quick dinner.
This shop's sandwiches are very popular, and there are long queues. Lin Ting wasn't in a hurry, so he just followed the queue.
Soon, a group of people lined up behind her. She didn't turn her head to look, but she could tell from their voices that there were loving young couples and happy families of three.
Young couples prefer to hug each other tightly and stick together rather than talk.
The conversation between the family of three was clearly audible.
The little girl said in a soft voice, "Daddy, I just want a sandwich."
The man's voice was deep and mellow, yet filled with doting affection, "Okay, then let's line up and buy one."
The woman disagreed, her tone harsh, "We're about to eat, and you're still fussing about having sandwiches. You won't eat properly later."
The man smiled and said, "She likes to eat it, so I bought one for her."
"You are a complete doting father to your daughter."
The man was also very proud, saying, "I'm happy to do it for my daughter."
The heartwarming daily life of the family of three made Lin Ting feel sweet inside, but she also felt a deep regret, as she had also had such a childhood, but it was too short.
Suddenly, Lin Ting felt that the woman's voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was for a moment.
She turned to look back, while the woman looked forward. Their eyes met in mid-air, and at that moment, disbelief shone in both of their eyes. They were both stunned, their mouths slightly open, but they couldn't utter a word.
The young couple, seeing Lin Ting's stunned expression, wondered if she had something wrong with her head. Just then, an empty seat opened up in front of them, and without thinking, they walked around Lin Ting and stepped forward.
Now, only a short distance remained between Lin Ting and the woman.
The woman broke the silence first, taking a step forward, her voice clear and bright, "Lin Ting, it's been a long time."
Lin Ting looked at the person in front of her, just like when she first met him in the university dormitory, quiet and gentle. She slowly opened her mouth, her voice trembling with excitement, "Ren, Ren..."
The woman smiled slightly, without embarrassment or anger, "Ren Jingjing, it's been five years, how come you can't even remember my name?"
When she met the person she had wronged first again, she knew their name but couldn't bring herself to say it; guilt made her afraid to face them.
Lin Ting lowered her eyes, her voice hoarse, "No."
The plans changed. The man realized his wife had run into an old friend, so he suggested taking their daughter home first so the two of them could have a good get-together.
The two found a barbecue restaurant nearby, sat in a corner, ordered some skewers, and a few bottles of beer.
Eating barbecue skewers and drinking beer, just like back in the dorm.
It's been five years since we last met. We have so much to talk about, but I don't know how to start.
This time, it was Lin Ting's turn to speak first, "How old is your daughter?"
“He was a little over two years old, born the year before last. We got our marriage certificate two years after he graduated.”
Lin Ting sincerely wished, "That's wonderful!"
Ren Jingjing and her husband's relationship started in high school, from school uniforms to wedding dresses, which is truly enviable.
Lin Ting: "So, have you settled in Haishi?"
"No, we're just here for a visit. We'll continue our development in our hometown."
Ren Jingjing and her husband are both from Ningcheng, a second-tier city with a good economy. Returning to their hometown to develop their careers is a wise choice.
The questions and answers, though about everyday family matters, revealed a deep sense of estrangement.
Time is truly cruel; even the closest friends of the past can become silent towards each other.
Lin Ting hesitated for a moment, but still asked the question she most wanted to ask, "What about the other two?"
Who are they? Ren Jingjing knew perfectly well. "Xiaoman went home to inherit the family business. Last year, she went on a blind date with a family of similar social standing, and they are currently dating steadily. They are probably getting married soon. Yunshu is ambitious. After graduation, she went through several ups and downs in both love and career, but none of them turned out well. Finally, she listened to her family's advice and took the civil service exam. She just passed the exam this year and is now busy with blind dates. I heard that she just met a guy and they are really getting along."
Hearing this, Lin felt somewhat comforted, "It seems everything is alright."
Ren Jingjing nodded in agreement, then picked up her wine glass, and the two clinked glasses and drank half of it.
Setting down her wine glass, Ren Jingjing asked directly, "And how have you been these past few years?"
Lin Ting paused, a smile playing on her lips. "I'm doing fine too."
When she said this, her eyes were sparkling, her eyebrows were curved, her face was fair with a rosy glow, and she looked like a happy and charming little woman. Ren Jingjing believed that she was really doing very well.
"I thought so too. After seeing your video, we felt that you had a talent for fashion design and that you liked doing it. Sure enough, out of the four of us, you were the only one who persevered on this path. Congratulations on becoming a well-known designer."
Lin Ting didn't know how to reply, feeling a pang of sadness, and could only manage an awkward smile.
She didn't want to talk about these things with Ren Jingjing. She wanted to tell her why she left without saying goodbye back then, and she wanted to apologize to her, but all of it was stuck in her throat. She didn't know how to start, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the wine glass tightly.
For a moment, the two fell silent.
Outside the window, cars streamed along the road, and neon lights flashed red and green, creating a time tunnel between the two of them.
"When did you and Chen Zhiyi meet, and what is your current relationship status?" Ren Jingjing asked.
Lin Ting could choose to keep it a secret, but she didn't want to do so in front of Ren Jingjing. The deep friendship she had formed over four years of university was genuine, and Jingjing was also a witness to how she and Chen Zhiyi met and fell in love five years ago.
"We reunited this September. He's now my company's brand ambassador, and we're currently together." A hint of shyness flashed across Lin Ting's face as she said this.
Ren Jingjing muttered, "That little brat Chen Zhiyi is something else. It's been two or three months, and he hasn't mentioned it to me once."
Lin Ting sensed something was amiss and was surprised, "You...you've been in contact all this time?"
Ren Jingjing chuckled, "Do you think they're like you, able to just disappear and unilaterally cut off all contact?"
Lin Ting knew that this reunion would inevitably bring up this issue, and she regretted it deeply. No matter how much she tried to avoid it back then, she shouldn't have cut off all contact with the four girls in her dorm. She had countless opportunities to contact them afterward, but the longer it went on, the less she dared to. Guilt was like a cocoon, binding her inside.
Lin Ting dared not look at Ren Jingjing anymore and could only lower her head, her hands tightly gripping her wine glass. Ren Jingjing could clearly see the helplessness and guilt in her eyes. However, Ren Jingjing didn't understand that they had spent four years together, not just four days. If she really had a problem, she should have spoken up and worked together to find a solution, instead of leaving without saying goodbye and disappearing without a trace. Ren Jingjing knew that Lin Ting was emotionally cold, but not to this extent.
Ren Jingjing felt sorry for not only the four roommates, but also for Chen Zhiyi.
“Over the years, he's kept in touch not only with me, but also with Yunshu and Xiaoman, sending us gifts during holidays. He really extended his love to them to the extreme. We know he does this because he wants us to know where you are so that if you contact us someday, we can let him know. We understand if he persists in doing this for a year or two, but it's been five years and we haven't heard from him at all. There's really no need to do this. In the end, we've only met him a few times. And do you know how he answered?”
“He said that only by staying in touch with you can I feel that she really existed in my life, and not someone I imagined.”
“I remember that day clearly. It was the day he finished his college entrance exam. He ran downstairs to the dormitory building, like a madman. He looked terrifying. He grabbed my clothes and kept asking me if I knew where I had gone, where the field trip organized by the school was. He said he wanted to find me, and that he didn't want to break up with me. He asked us to help persuade me. He also told us that wanting to be with me wasn't just a passing fancy, but a commitment for life. He said he had already planned to go to northern Beijing together, and that you were in every future plan. He kept rambling on and on, like he was possessed.”
“I told him there was no field trip at all, we couldn’t contact you, and you even had to postpone your thesis defense. Nobody knows where you are?”
At that moment, he squatted on the ground, motionless. I thought he was crying, but he wasn't. He just stared blankly ahead with a vacant look in his eyes. I still remember how desperate and hopeless he looked at that time. It was as if he had lost the most important part of his life, and all that was left was an empty shell.
Hearing this, Lin Ting felt as if her heart was being torn apart, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears. He must have been in just as much pain as she was. How could such a sunny and proud young man be so distraught? Was their love a curse or a blessing?
Ren Jingjing looked at Lin Ting's reddened eyes and couldn't bear to reopen her wounds, but she still wanted to know what exactly happened five years ago.
Ke Lin pursed her lips and remained silent, seemingly having something difficult to say.
"Can't I tell you?" Ren Jingjing asked.
Lin Ting only said three words, "I'm sorry."
"Then let me ask you again, is it related to Chen Zhiyi's family?" Ren Jingjing really couldn't understand what could have forced Lin Ting to disregard her most important studies and process the leave of absence so quickly. It would be difficult to do so without prior arrangements. Considering both points, and knowing that Chen Zhiyi's family was well-connected, it wasn't hard to draw a conclusion.
"I'm sorry, I made that promise."
There was no need to spell it out; Ren Jingjing already understood. "So you're not going to tell Chen Zhiyi either?"
Lin Ting nodded, "Yes, now that we've decided to be together again, let bygones be bygones, and cherish the present."
"Now that you've decided to get back together, aren't you afraid anymore? Or have all the problems that were facing you before been resolved?"
"No, it's just that this time I want to be braver. Even if it doesn't end well, at least I'll have a beginning and an end, and I won't regret it or have any regrets."
Ren Jingjing nodded, "That's great! With your words, Chen Zhiyi has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Love is the spoils of the brave, and I think this time you two will definitely have a happy ending."
"Thanks!"
The two drank and chatted for a long time, and before they knew it, it was 9 o'clock.
Lin Ting has been living alone for the past few years and hasn't drunk alcohol for a long time for her own safety. She got drunk after just three bottles.
Ren Jingjing was still very lucid and was worried about how to send Lin Ting back when Chen Zhiyi called. She answered the phone, explained the situation, and sent Chen Zhiyi her location so he could come and pick up Lin Ting.
When Chen Zhiyi's car arrived, Ren Jingjing didn't let him get out. Instead, she helped Lin Ting, stumbling as she helped her into the car, and then took a taxi back to the hotel.
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