(Three hundred and sixty-eight)
Upon hearing this, Ye Wenyu realized that Aunt Cai's knowledge was far beyond what one would expect from a nanny. Indeed, just as her mother had said, a nanny working for a powerful and influential family might possess far more insight and experience than a low-level factory worker.
She smiled slightly and honestly told Aunt Cai, "Look, I might look for a job, but I'd rather take the postgraduate entrance exam and get a doctorate. I want to pursue academic research." This was her original aspiration.
As a top student, she has always believed that looks, power, status, and wealth are not what distinguishes a person's level, but intelligence is. She admires intelligent people who are engaged in academics and aspires to pursue academia herself.
"Really? That's wonderful!" Aunt Cai clapped her hands excitedly and said to Ye Wenyu, "Xiaoyu, you and your brother Wen are so alike! Your brother Wen also loves scholarship. He's an associate professor at Q University now. When he comes back after completing his doctorate, he'll be a professor. Then you can also take the postgraduate and doctoral entrance exams and stay at Q University to teach. You and your brother Wen will—"
Ye Wenyu panicked, blushed, and felt a pang of sadness. Yes, she had once thought they were a match made in heaven, the most compatible soulmates in the world, but now she knew it was all just wishful thinking on her part.
When Cai Wenchuan's mother saw her, she realized that she had spoken too soon. Because her words were too direct and explicit, the young girl was shy. She took Ye Wenyu's hand and happily strolled around Cai Wenchuan's room. She said to her, "Your brother Wen likes you very much. Look, there are still some photos of you and him when you were little here."
The sun shone through the window, creating round patches of light. A gentle breeze blew by, and the light moved lightly across Ye Wenyu. She thought to herself, "In summer, the pale green flowers of the camphor tree will also drift in, and in autumn, the dark, round fruits of the camphor tree will also fall in."
This huge, ancient camphor tree holds the dreams of Cai Wenchuan for so many years.
Ye Wenyu stood inside the house, gazing again and again at the lush green camphor tree outside the window. She felt as if a little elf lived there, secretly watching her, and thus, she felt inexplicably uneasy.
She seemed like an outsider, disrupting the peace here.
Aunt Cai led Ye Wenyu by the hand to Cai Wenchuan's desk, where there was a framed black and white photograph. Aunt Cai smiled and picked it up, placing it in Ye Wenyu's hand. Ye Wenyu had no choice but to politely take it and examine it closely. It was a photo of her as a newborn and Cai Wenchuan as a teenager. He was holding her with a slight smile, like a brother holding his sister.
It was once so warm and sweet.
Ye Wenyu had no recollection of this photo because she was too young at the time. Her memories were mostly of Cai Wenchuan, a teenager, walking and talking with her, celebrating her birthday, and tutoring her. She was forever grateful for his companionship, so because of the past, she never blamed him for his change of heart.
She was just quietly grieving, and she believed that with time, she would recover.
Therefore, we broke up amicably, without a trace of resentment.
Seeing Ye Wenyu staring blankly at the photo, Aunt Cai seized the opportunity and said affectionately, "Xiaoyu, I've watched you grow up and I'm very relieved. You're beautiful and smart, and I like you very much. Your mother also likes my Wenchuan very much. Look, you both have the character 'Wen' in your names, and you even went to the same university. Isn't that a great coincidence?"
The old woman, fearing Ye Wenyu wouldn't understand, repeatedly emphasized her affection for her. Ye Wenyu was a clever child; the moment she first expressed her fondness, she almost grasped the old woman's meaning. She glanced at Aunt Cai but remained silent. Suddenly, the request Lin Tingfeng had made to her in the mountains echoed in her mind: "Don't agree to their demands!"
As expected, he had foresight.
Her lips moved, and for a fleeting moment, she inexplicably wanted to laugh. Because of Lin Tingfeng's foresight, because the two of them knew what Cai Wenchuan's parents wanted to say and do to her even before the story began.
Unaware of Ye Wenyu's inner thoughts, Aunt Cai smiled and said to her, "Auntie very much hopes that you can become my daughter-in-law in the future—"
What?! It was said so bluntly, like a thunderbolt from the blue. Ye Wenyu was stunned, her mind went blank. Sure enough, that was the request! She stood there, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. She wondered what Cai Wenchuan would think if he knew what his parents were thinking.
For a moment, her heart was filled with a jumble of emotions, like a bottle of mixed flavors spilled over. There was tension and anxiety, pain and heartbreak, and at the same time, a strange sense of existence and accomplishment brought her joy and pride, as if her soul was saying to Cai Wenchuan, "Look, you don't like me, but your parents like me very much. They're now inviting me to be your wife!"
Aunt Cai continued lovingly, "Do you have your brother Wen's WeChat or phone number? If not, I'll give it to you. Keep in touch with him by phone now, and when he returns to China, take good care of him, okay? If you two can end up together, I'll have no regrets in this life. Please promise me, okay?" Aunt Cai looked at Ye Wenyu earnestly, almost pleadingly. Ye Wenyu saw a deep worry in her loving eyes. What was she worried about?
She remained silent, the words Lin Tingfeng had suddenly uttered to her in the mountains, "Don't agree to their request," echoing in her mind like a resounding bell.
What should she do? How should she answer?
What I feared most came to pass.
The mountain wind outside seemed to have grown stronger, causing the tree shadows to sway wildly. The shadows cast on the room walls shook violently, like ferocious monsters, as if someone was dissatisfied with their arrangements and was expressing their anger through the mountain wind.
She felt inexplicably terrified, and cold sweat involuntarily began to seep from her back.
Ye Wenyu walked slowly along Cai Wenchuan's desk, pondering how to refuse Aunt Cai. Hehe, even without Lin Tingfeng's prior instructions, the proud Ye Wenyu would not have agreed to Aunt Cai's unreasonable request.
A forced relationship is never sweet; feelings can't be forced. It takes two to tango. If a marriage isn't based on mutual love, how long can it last? Cai Wenchuan doesn't have feelings for her; they've already broken up. Now, she foolishly promises Aunt Cai that she'll keep in touch with Cai Wenchuan more often, and that she'll take good care of him when he returns to China, so that they can get married.
How absurd and laughable!
Looking into the old woman's bright, expectant eyes, Ye Wenyu felt a pang of sadness. She wondered if Aunt Cai knew that her son had a mental demon, and that his heart belonged only to Miss Lin Tingyue.
How could she, a mere mortal, pull him out of the abyss?
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