Chapter 0027 Volunteer
Zhao Nanyue smiled, drawing out her words in a lazy and alluring tone: "Chen Yan, look how many girls' hearts you've broken?"
Chen Yan scoffed: "Are you helping Chen Yaqian teach me a lesson, or are you helping yourself?"
Zhao Nanyue, exposed to her face, was neither embarrassed nor angry, but giggled and said, "If you're helping her, you're also helping yourself—Chen Yan, what is it about me that your girlfriend doesn't?"
"It's inferior in every way."
"Really?"
Zhao Nanyue's voice was low and soft, as if hiding a small hook. She suddenly moved closer to Chen Yan, her soft breasts pressing against the man's firm chest without any restraint, creating an erotic shape.
The next second, Chen Yan pushed her away forcefully. She was prepared and spun gracefully, leaning steadily against the deck. She took out a cigarette, put it in her lips, and the light from her fingertips flashed briefly, illuminating her beautiful face filled with resentment.
She slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and said mockingly, "You're acting so sincere, as if you're going to marry her."
"Chen Yan, you and I are the same kind of people. I know better than anyone that you're just playing around. Don't tell me you plan to marry her given her background? Even if you had that thought, would your family agree..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Yan impatiently interrupted, "What's it to you? You're crazy."
"Getting angry out of embarrassment? Did I hit the nail on the head?"
"Please, I'm only 18. It's just a relationship. Why think so far ahead? If I get tired of it, I'll break up. Otherwise, I'll continue. It's that simple."
"Besides, even if I kick her out someday, it still won't be your turn..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Nanyue coldly slapped him and left.
Chen Yan touched his face, muttered a curse, stood there for a while, and then left.
Ruyi sat there, recalling how Chen Yan, during his tutoring sessions, had dreamt of their bright future together at Lancheng University. At the time, she was filled with disdain, but dared not speak out due to his domineering presence. If Chen Yan had uttered words like "If you're tired of me, we'll break up" or "Dump me," she would have been genuinely happy. But now, in less than a year, her feelings had undergone a complete upheaval. Those sharp, grating words felt like dull knives cutting into her flesh, causing a long, drawn-out pain in her heart. She tasted the salty tears, realizing she was crying; she wiped them away, her hands icy cold.
*
Chen Yan and Cheng Jue played until the moon was high in the sky before returning to their rooms. Ruyi had already finished washing up and was lying on the bed, facing inwards.
She wore a white silk slip dress provided for all the female passengers on the cruise ship. Her bare arms were even whiter and finer than silk, radiating a soft, pearly glow in the dimly lit room lit only by the bedside lamp.
After a quick wash, Chen Yan went to bed shirtless, rubbing Ruyi's soft shoulders and then groping around to her chest, his caressing gestures clearly suggestive.
But Ruyi held him down, turned her back to him, and whispered, "I'm so sleepy, shall we go to sleep?"
Chen Yan turned her face and saw that she looked tired. He thought it was normal for her to be uncomfortable on her first day of their activities, and he couldn't help but feel sorry for her. He changed his hand from kneading her chest to wrapping it around her slender waist, and gently rubbed her ear, saying mercifully, "Sleep well, goodnight."
Ruyi lay motionless in Chen Yan's arms, seemingly fast asleep, but actually ruminating on her thoughts and feelings of the day.
Today's memories weren't pleasant, but did she regret coming? No, she was glad she did. The lavish cruise party made her acutely aware of the gap between Chen Yan and her, while the conversation between Chen Yan and Zhao Nanyue brought her back to her senses midway through her descent into despair.
Does she really want to go to the same university as Chen Yan, only to face the tragic fate of being slandered and ruined after they break up? Or does she want to be in the same city, with him dragging her to a hotel every few days, only to kick her to the curb when he gets tired of her?
No, she doesn't want that.
Lan University is great, but Jingzhou University is ranked number one for her desired computer science major. He Caiyu has always supported her studies and said a long time ago that if she wanted to go to university in Jingzhou, she shouldn't worry about her. She's still healthy and can work for another 15 years without any problem. If she settles down in Jingzhou, she can bring her retirement money to live with her when she gets old, and cook for her and take care of her children...
The dumpling shop was forced to relocate, but this misfortune turned into a blessing in disguise, and business became increasingly prosperous. He Caiyu hired two long-term helpers and took care of the purchasing and accounting herself, which made her life much easier. She could even occasionally take some time to go square dancing.
Upon learning that Ruyi planned to apply to Jingzhou University, He Caiyu indeed did not object, and laughed, "That's great! I can brag to those old folks that my Ruyi got into a prestigious university in the capital..."
Ruyi hugged her aunt's plump, soft body, and a simple fragrance wafted into her nostrils, dispelling the sorrow that had lingered in her heart like a fog for many days.
She filled her long summer vacation schedule to the brim: tutoring, helping out at a dumpling shop, accompanying Hao Jing to her driver's license test, attending programming classes, and binge-watching the third season of Friends... In the tightly packed schedule, there were only a few blank periods, and the longest of those was just one day.
Chen Yan stared at the watch in disbelief: "No, what about me?" He had been planning to take her to Switzerland for two weeks...
"I'll come see you when I have time, but it's more convenient for you to come to me."
"You only give me this little bit of time? Do you even consider me your boyfriend?!" Chen Yan was very unhappy. What do you mean by "some time"? She's not an emperor with countless affairs of state, and he's not a concubine waiting to be chosen!
If he reacted so strongly to my opinion, I thought, "If you're reluctant, you can do these things with me." But then I thought again, what she likes and adapts to is probably incredibly boring to him. Forcing her to sacrifice his leisure time for her—even if he doesn't say it, he might not agree in his heart. It's like how he calls her "wife" without any hesitation, demands a formal title, and refers to himself as his nephew-in-law… these are just habitual modifiers, without any real meaning, and don't represent his true feelings. If she took it seriously, she would be the biggest fool in the world.
Chen Yan persisted, insisting that she stay for two weeks to accompany him to Switzerland. She said that they would have plenty of time together after university, with many winter and summer breaks, and no need to take up extra classes, so they could spend their time as they pleased and there was no rush.
Chen Yan thought to himself, what kind of logic is this? University is university, and now is now. In university, she wanted to accompany him to other countries, and now he wants her to accompany him to Switzerland. They don't interfere with each other. He just wants to be with her all the time.
Her eyes were serious and unquestionable. Knowing that she always complained that he didn't respect her wishes, he reluctantly nodded.
On the day she flew to Switzerland, Ruyi went to the airport to see Chen Yan off.
The lobby was bustling with people, and the background announcements were playing information about various flights. Chen Yan bid a reluctant farewell to Ruyi in front of the VIP passage, kissing her forehead and touching her face.
At the last moment, he held her hand and emphasized again and again, "Don't forget to fill in Lancheng for all your applications, Lancheng University is the first choice. We'll fill them out together during the video call..."
Ruyi tilted her head upon hearing this, smiled slightly, and said, "If you're so worried, then don't go play. Sit next to me and supervise me as I fill out the form."
"What, you can't bear to part with me? It's too late, I've already made plans with someone." See, he has his colorful and vast world to conquer, while she has her own mundane affairs to attend to. They are destined to be from two different worlds, and even if they happen to cross paths, they will eventually go their separate ways.
On the day they filled out their college applications, Chen Yan was on a whale-watching boat in Iceland, while Ruyi did not hesitate and chose Jingzhou, the capital city, which was 1,500 kilometers away from Lancheng.
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