Heart to Heart
Meng Songying's question was quickly answered.
After everything calmed down, Wang Shuitao did not come to the office to talk as usual, and whenever Meng Songying came over, she would always quickly find an excuse to turn around and leave.
They ate together, but Wang Shuitao ate in silence. Even Sun Ming and Li Yuanhong, who had been in particularly good spirits these past few days, noticed something was wrong.
Ask Meng Songying what happened.
Li Yuanhong scolded, "I told you last time that some things need to be planned in advance. Now look at how things have turned out. Even Taozi doesn't want to talk to you anymore."
In her mind, men and women who fall in love should get married and have children. People like Meng Songying and Wang Shuitao who have been dating for a long time are considered abnormal. In such cases, girls usually suffer more. She was only urging Meng Songying to win Wang Shuitao back home as soon as possible because she wanted what was best for them.
Sun Ming nodded silently beside him.
Otherwise, dragging it out could turn into enmity.
Meng Songying sighed, "I will handle it."
Li Yuanhong said earnestly, "There will always be bad people. One victory doesn't count as a victory. You need to be aware of this. There's no such thing as being able to guard against thieves for a thousand days if you're a thief for a thousand days."
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Meng Songying hesitated, but still followed the familiar route to Wang Shuitao's door. It was just after dinner, and the dim lights in the dormitory area had already come on.
The lights were installed several years ago, and the bulbs are already blackened, so the light coming through isn't bright enough. Fortunately, everyone wants to stay home and rest, and they're familiar with the surroundings, so a dim light is sufficient.
To save some money, the light bulb has never been replaced.
Meng Songying remembered clearly that Taozi was supposed to attend night school today.
He stood guard at the door.
When Wang Shuitao came out after packing, she saw him and was taken aback. She said, "I left with my classmates. Don't bother picking me up. It's too much trouble. Go back and rest."
Everything seemed to have calmed down, except that she still didn't know how to tell Ah Ying that she didn't plan to go to the provincial capital. She could only politely decline his offer to take her to night school as he used to.
And there was indeed an element of avoiding suspicion involved.
Watching Taozi and her classmates walk away, Meng Songying understood everything. Taozi didn't want to marry him, didn't want to go to the provincial capital with him, and he was no longer allowed to pick her up from school.
He stood there with his head down for five minutes before finally following them.
It's okay if I don't want to get married, it's okay if I don't want to go to the provincial capital, as long as Taozi doesn't abandon me and still wants me.
He will explain things clearly to Taozi; as long as she's happy, any way they get along is fine.
So, after class, Wang Shuitao still met Meng Songying.
The other students tacitly retreated to a distance.
Zhang Qin clicked her tongue and sighed: "It's all because of rumors. You know, things were so good before. Director Wang and Engineer Meng were such a perfect match. Neither of them were married, and they weren't having any illicit affairs."
Wang Huangzhi also felt very sorry: "I hope they really broke up. That would have done the bad guys their thing. If that happened, I would feel really upset."
Zhang Qin peeked out and said, "It doesn't look like it. Maybe it will be fine in a couple of days."
Holding a flashlight, Meng Songying was deeply analyzing her mistakes: "I shouldn't have thought about our future in advance. I'm sorry, I didn't know you didn't want to go to the provincial capital. I won't go either. Let's just be the same as before, okay?"
Danger still lurks in the shadows, but the words have already been spoken. The only person she cares about is right in front of her, and Meng Songying doesn't want to lose her no matter what.
Faced with a pair of pleading eyes, Wang Shuitao's already wavering heart softened even more: "Actually, it's not that. I want to go to the provincial capital, but I don't want to go now."
...
"What's the difference between going now and going later?" Meng Songying pondered for a moment and realized that the only difference was that one was relying on Taozi herself, while the other inevitably relied on some of his connections.
He should have praised Taozi's resilience and independence, which was part of what he admired, but now he just wanted to take advantage of Taozi's soft heart and continue to play the victim: "I thought we weren't outsiders."
A few glistening tears appeared in Meng Songying's eyes.
Wang Shuitao said frankly, "Of course not. It's just that, as you know, I'm different from you. When you came to the sugar factory, it was considered poverty alleviation. But I want to thank Director Sun and Sister Li for recognizing my talent. Not all leaders would entrust an important task to a teenage girl from a rural background. This is their trust in me."
Meng Songying did indeed want to go to the provincial capital. Life's crises don't only happen once, and he couldn't always rely on others for help when things went wrong. Shenxian was a peaceful little place, but when the storm came, it couldn't serve as a safe haven.
When the next wave of rumors hits, how will he protect himself and his loved ones, and continue calling his parents' friends?
He wanted a higher position and greater power.
Meng Songying thought that as long as she had the ability to make others not dare to gossip, it didn't matter if Taozi never wanted to get married or remained unconventional forever.
So he advised, "Let's go to the provincial capital together. There are better opportunities there. It's the New New Research Center. I'll develop new technologies, and you can develop new products."
Wang Shuitao shook her head, revealing her true feelings: "Actually, I was embarrassed to say this before, but I think you should go, but I shouldn't. First, we shouldn't put all our eggs in one basket. We don't know why the provincial capital is targeting you and me, and we need to lie low for now, so splitting up is a good idea. Second, I can make decisions here, you know. If I go there, I'll have to prove myself again and again, starting all over again. Or is there a position for me as deputy director there?"
After much thought, she still felt that the county town was more suitable for her, given her vision for the future.
She took a breath and continued, "I want to stay here. Showing off your talents requires a space. There are fewer restrictions here than in the provincial capital. But you and I are different. If you want to move up, you are more suited to the provincial capital. Here, you have reached your limit."
"You're going to abandon me," Meng Songying said, unsure whether she was stating a statement or asking a question, or what kind of answer she wanted.
Peach didn't want to leave with him, nor did she want him to stay with her. Wasn't that a clear indication that she didn't intend to continue their relationship? Of course, he could act like a rogue, but what was the point?
A forced relationship is never sweet, and he certainly didn't want to end up being disliked by the person he loved.
An airtight embrace instantly enveloped Wang Shuitao tightly, soft strands of hair brushing against her neck, and a hot, damp sensation emanating from her shoulders and neck.
After experiencing this several times in a short period of time, Wang Shuitao's resistance to it did not increase, and her original determination to break up softened: "Then, are you willing to accept a long-distance relationship? Just for the next few years."
She wanted to do her part in preventing the wave of bankruptcies that would come in a few years. She couldn't help all the workers who would be laid off, nor could she stop the inevitable trend. But facing her companions who stood by her as an out-of-place person in this era, she had to try her best.
But that doesn’t mean she’ll stay here forever. She’ll strive to move up to a big city so she can get closer to her life decades from now.
But it seemed impossible for Wang Shuitao to say these words to Meng Songying. She didn't want him to take her away, nor did she want to ask him to stay. She was afraid that after ten or twenty years, when everything had changed beyond recognition, it would all become her responsibility.
This is a man born in the 1950s. Wang Shuitao, who had been single for more than 20 years in the 21st century, had already mustered up her courage to date him.
Courage is only so much, and often it's not enough.
Faced with love, which she had never experienced before, Wang Shuitao was just a coward.
She should have broken up decisively, so that they could each go their own way, but...
Pity gave her renewed courage.
Meng Songying was stunned. Wang Shuitao poked his forehead to bring him back to his senses.
Meng Songying remained blankly at the time: "It's just a long-distance relationship, we won't break up."
Wang Shuitao nodded twice and said "Mmm".
Meng Songying rested her head against Wang Shuitao's neck once again: "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
Because he was a head taller than Wang Shuitao, his legs were also bent, but Meng Songying didn't care about such a difficult posture.
Although he was not satisfied with the result and wanted the two of them to be inseparable at all times, the lesson learned from acting on his own initiative was enough.
As long as Peach is happy, anything is fine.
Just like before, he felt that being too intimate was disrespectful to Taozi and would avoid some physical contact. Now, he just wants to go along with her and please her, which is why he keeps getting close to Taozi here.
Long-distance relationship—what an apt description, what a terrifying term. Meng Songying realized for the first time that words could carry weight.
He felt a heavy weight pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
Wang Shuitao thought his head was too heavy, so she pushed it away and then patted the top of his head to comfort him.
The more Meng Songying showed weakness, the more heroic she became.
She recalled long-distance relationships from TV dramas, movies, and novels, and was very confident that she could solve those problems. So she patted Meng Songying on the shoulder and said, "Don't be afraid, I won't change my mind!"
Meng Songying obediently agreed, but her eyes grew even more profound.
So it turns out that people can change their minds.
Wang Shuitao counted on her fingers: "Look, we can write letters to each other, or call each other. Or, if Director Sun can take someone with him when he goes to the provincial capital on a business trip, I'll go too. If not, I'll come to see you when the sugar factory is on holiday."
Meng Songying shook her head: "I'm coming back."
Let's see if anyone tries to seduce Peach while he's away.
"Mmm, either way is fine."
Wang Shuitao suddenly asked, "By the way, we didn't go shopping last time. Shall we go before you leave?"
After she finished speaking, the novelty of this different way of getting along faded from her heart. The person was still right in front of her, but a sense of reluctance had already descended upon her.
Wang Shuitao almost had an impulse to change her mind and go with them.
By this time, the seven classmates couldn't wait any longer and started waving in their direction; it was getting too late.
In the end, he never said those words.
Wang Shuitao shook her head, banishing her fragile emotions. This was already the best and most advantageous arrangement. It was enough for one of them to be led by the nose by their emotions; she had to be the rational one.
Moreover, it did feel strange to her that she was relying on her boyfriend's parents' connections just to start a relationship.
Meng Songying missed her brief hesitation and simply said, "Okay, we'll go shopping when you have time."
The next day, Li Yuanhong slammed her hand on the table for the first time in a fit of rage at Meng Songying, who had come to deliver her resignation letter: "Is this your decision?!"
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