Chapter 36
For the next few nights, Kuang Ye became Jiang Wanwan's personal "Wujing Town guide".
He would take her to squeeze in front of the stage to watch the evening performance of the drama festival, and when the female lead's flowing sleeves were in motion, he would secretly slip her a warm roasted chestnut; he would pull her into the snack stalls at the end of the alley, and when he saw her wincing from the spiciness, he would hand her a plum juice that he had prepared in advance; even in the costume shop in the ancient town, he would clumsily help her tie the belt of her ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and when he saw her put on the apricot-pink ancient costume, his eyes would light up like stars, "Sister, you look even more beautiful in this than in a painting."
Happy times always fly by, and before she knew it, it was Jiang Wanwan's last night in Wujing Town. Tomorrow morning, she would take her students on the high-speed train back to the capital.
The moonlight, like molten silver, gently spilled onto the bluestone path.
The river water beneath the stone bridge rippled with light, reflecting the full moon in the sky like a jade plate on the water, even the ripples carrying a faint halo.
A sweet aroma of osmanthus wine wafted from a street stall. Without even touching her lips, Jiang Wanwan only sniffed, and a faint blush rose on her cheeks, as if she were intoxicated by the aroma of wine.
Kuang Ye looked down at her slightly tipsy appearance, and the corners of his mouth curved into a beautiful crescent moon.
He had never felt this way before. With Jiang Wanwan by his side, even the wind seemed gentle, and his breathing felt light and rhythmic.
When she smiles, his heart beats a beat slower; when she frowns, he instinctively wants to smooth her brow.
At that moment, he clearly realized that he had completely fallen for this woman, who was gentler than the moonlight.
"Wanwan—" he called softly, his voice soft and gentle with the night.
"Huh?" Jiang Wanwan was staring at the moon in the water, lost in thought, and didn't hear his words. She turned her head blankly, her eyes still filled with lingering confusion.
Kuang Ye was amused by her adorable appearance and couldn't help but reach out and gently tug at the stray hairs by her ear.
Her hair was soft, just like her, making his heart flutter.
Jiang Wanwan felt a slight tug on her scalp; it didn't hurt, but rather carried a hint of affectionate teasing.
She glared at him, feigning anger, her cheeks puffed out. "What are you doing?"
This vibrant appearance, like a ray of light, instantly illuminated Kuang Ye's long-silent world.
Since his grandmother passed away, he has never had such thoughts about anyone again. He would not be affected by someone's emotional fluctuations, nor would he feel that the world is bright because of someone's smile.
He dropped his joking expression, his eyes becoming extremely serious, and said, word by word, "Sister, I think I've fallen in love with you."
"What?" Jiang Wanwan seemed to be struck by lightning, her pupils dilating slightly.
She doubted she had misheard, but the earnestness in Kuangye's eyes was clearer than the moonlight, making it impossible for her to ignore.
My heart suddenly started pounding wildly, like a white dove fluttering in my chest, trying to break free of its cage; even my fingertips started to burn.
She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say. Her mind was a jumbled mess, with rational and emotional thoughts intertwined, impossible to unravel.
For the rest of the journey, neither of them spoke.
Only the sound of footsteps on the bluestone slabs, accompanied by the sound of the flowing river, created an exceptionally quiet atmosphere.
As she walked to the hotel lobby entrance, Jiang Wanwan suddenly stopped, as if she had mustered all her courage, and looked up at Kuang Ye.
The streetlight cast a soft shadow on her face, and her voice trembled slightly: "Would you like to come up and sit for a while?"
Kuang Ye's eyes, which had been somewhat dejected by her silence, suddenly lit up, like fireworks suddenly bursting in the dark night sky.
He nodded vigorously, his head bobbing like a pestle being pounded, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile. "Yes! Of course I want it!"
With a "click," the room door opened, and warm yellow light instantly flooded out.
The air still carried the scent of Jiang Wanwan's favorite shower gel, mixed with a faint mist, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.
"Please sit wherever you like, I'll get you a glass of water."
Jiang Wanwan didn't dare to look him in the eye. Her gaze drifted to the carpet in the corner before she turned and walked towards the bar.
"Okay, okay." Kuang Ye stood there, somewhat at a loss.
He is usually so flamboyant on stage, but in this small room, facing the person he likes, he is like a reserved primary school student, with his hands obediently placed on his lap, and even his posture becomes upright.
Jiang Wanwan walked over with a cup of warm water, the edge of the paper cup still warm from her fingertips.
Just as she was about to hand it over, Kuang Ye suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with a resolute determination, "Wanwan, I like you, I'm serious..."
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Wanwan, as if she had expected it, suddenly leaned in and gently pressed her soft lips against his.
Kuang Ye's pupils suddenly dilated, then burst forth with a light of wild joy, even his eyelashes trembled with excitement.
The glass of warm water was still firmly held in Jiang Wanwan's hand, but at this moment, no one was in the mood to care.
He couldn't wait to reach out and hug her waist tightly, deepening the kiss.
Between their lips and teeth, there was an irrepressible flutter of the heart and an indescribable joy.
Jiang Wanwan felt the paper cup in her hand being squeezed out of shape, and fearing that the water would spill, she gently pushed him.
But Kuangye refused to let go. He took the paper cup and casually threw it on the ground.
Water spilled on the carpet, leaving a small, dark stain, but no one paid any attention.
"Is it alright, sister?" Kuang Ye's voice became hoarse, with a hint of seduction, and his warm breath brushed against her ear.
Jiang Wanwan was dizzy from the kiss, her cheeks as red as ripe apples, but she still clearly heard those words.
She closed her eyes briefly, and between her lingering breaths, gently nodded.
This nod seemed to give Kuang Ye a command. Like a beast released from its restraints, he embraced her tightly with burning heat.
The room temperature suddenly rose, and the bed made a slight creaking sound. Accompanied by the moonlight outside the window, the sound gradually subsided until the sky turned a pale white.
The next morning, Jiang Wanwan was awakened by a slight itch.
She was still in a daze, her eyelids as heavy as lead.
When she tried to sit up, the aches and pains throughout her body instantly woke her up, as if she had been run over by a heavy object, and every movement caused her muscles to ache.
Her heart skipped a beat, and images from last night flooded her mind like a tidal wave: the dim lighting, the warm kisses, Kuang Ye's passionate embrace... She had actually been with Kuang Ye...
Panic gripped her instantly, yet a faint sense of relief lingered in her heart.
That was a rebellion that finally broke free from the constraints of being imprisoned by the label of "good girl" for a long time.
From childhood, she was taught that such behavior was not allowed before marriage.
She had always been seen as a well-behaved and obedient girl, but now she had a relationship with a rapper whom her parents considered "unproductive." She could even imagine how angry her parents would be if they found out.
Kuang Ye, who was beside her, had already woken up. He lay on his side, looking at her intently, as if admiring a rare treasure.
He couldn't help but reach out and gently touch her cheek, then brush her eyelashes with his fingertips, his movements incredibly tender.
Even he himself had to admit that this physical closeness carried an irresistible attraction, but more than that, it was a liking that made him want to meld her into his very bones.
Seeing Jiang Wanwan's ever-changing expression after waking up, he felt inexplicably flustered and cautiously asked, "Baby, did you sleep well last night?"
Jiang Wanwan's mind was in turmoil. She avoided Kuang Ye's gaze and said in a tired voice, "Get up first. I'm going back to the capital today."
She was telling the truth; the study tour was over, and the high-speed train was at nine in the morning—there was no time to lose.
Kuang Ye didn't notice the distance in her tone and thought she was just tired.
Like a well-behaved puppy, he immediately got up to get her a change of clothes, and even handed her a toothbrush with toothpaste already squeezed out after she finished washing up. The smile on his face never disappeared, and he would occasionally chuckle to himself, his eyes full of undisguised joy.
In contrast, Jiang Wanwan appeared remarkably calm.
After she finished washing up, she asked casually, "When are you leaving Wujing Town?"
"We'll be touring here for another week, and then we'll go to other cities. It will probably be about a month before we can return to the capital."
Kuang Ye answered truthfully, saying that he was thinking of taking her to eat the most famous hot pot in the capital when they returned.
After listening, Jiang Wanwan simply nodded and didn't say anything more.
It was time to leave, and Kuang Ye escorted her to the hotel lobby.
The students had already gathered at the entrance. Pu Yuan spotted Kuang Ye at a glance and excitedly wanted to call out "Brother," but before she could utter a sound, Kuang Ye covered her mouth.
"Don't make a sound!" Kuang Ye lowered his voice, his eyes carrying a warning. "Don't let your teacher Jiang know about our relationship."
Pu Yuan, struggling to breathe from being covered, asked indistinctly, "Why?"
"Don't worry about such things, kid!"
Kuang Ye didn't have the patience to explain. He knew Jiang Wanwan's personality too well. She was shy, and if she knew that she was related to her student, she would definitely distance herself from him to avoid suspicion.
He didn't want to lose his newly acquired girlfriend. "If you behave well, I'll buy you the latest game console later."
"Really?" Pu Yuan's eyes lit up, and she nodded immediately, like a chick pecking at rice.
At this moment, Jiang Wanwan walked over and said, "Pu Yuan, stop talking and come to the assembly point."
Kuang Ye quickly let go of her hand, pretending that he was just passing by.
Jiang Wanwan led the students toward the bus, and just before boarding, she glanced back.
Kuang Ye stood under the shade of a tree, secretly making a big heart shape with his hands, his eyes full of reluctance.
She paused for a moment, smiled gently at him, then turned and boarded the bus, disappearing from Kuang Ye's sight.
On the high-speed train back to Beijing, the scenery outside the window rushed past, much like the brief but vibrant time I spent in Wujing Town.
Jiang Wanwan leaned against the window, staring blankly outside, feeling as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out.
She knew that her week in Wujing Town was like a dream, a dream filled with fireflies, osmanthus wine, and Kuang Ye's gentleness, but dreams always have to end.
She and Kuang Ye were from completely different worlds.
Her life was a stable routine, consisting of home, school, and students—that was her whole life.
Kuang Ye's world is free and unrestrained; he wants to go on tours and chase his dreams, leaving his footprints all over the country.
Two people who are so different from each other, even if they get close temporarily, will eventually separate because their paths are different.
Thinking of this, she took out her phone, her fingers trembling, and deleted Kuang Ye's WeChat account and blocked his phone number.
It was as if she wanted to completely rip this person, along with that memory, from her world. After doing all this, she closed her eyes, her eyelashes casting shadows on her eyelids, her lips tightly pressed together, devoid of any smile.
Meanwhile, in Wujing Town, Kuang Ye was still eagerly waiting for Jiang Wanwan to report that she was safe.
He timed it, and when the high-speed train was almost in Beijing, he dialed her number. A cold, mechanical voice came through the receiver: "The number you dialed has been blocked."
His heart sank. He quickly opened WeChat, only to find that he had been deleted as a friend.
Panic gripped him instantly; he gripped his phone, his knuckles turning white, his lips turning pale.
Could something have happened to Jiang Wanwan?
Just when he was about to go crazy, Pu Yuan sent him a video. In the video, Jiang Wanwan was standing at the school gate, smiling and greeting other teachers. The sunlight shone on her, making her look as bright as a little sun.
It turns out there was no accident; she did it on purpose.
Kuang Ye looked at the smile in the video and a cold smile appeared on his lips.
Okay, that's great. What he thought was true love was just a game. What did she take him for? A pastime when she was bored?
He bit his lower lip hard until he tasted blood and realized he had drawn blood.
His eyes blazed with anger and hurt as he gripped his phone tightly, his fingertips turning white from the force.
The next tour show is tomorrow; he can't leave. His bandmates are waiting for him; it's their dream. But he won't just give up like that.
Jiang Wanwan, do you think you can get rid of me completely by blocking me and deleting me? You're too naive.
Just you wait. The day I return to the capital, I'll show you what regret really means.
Meanwhile, in the capital city, Jiang Wanwan was on her way home.
A gust of wind blew by, and she couldn't help but shiver. She rubbed the goosebumps on her arms, thinking it was because the weather had turned cold.
She had no idea what awaited her in the near future.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
