Chapter 13 (Part 2)
Gan Ling opened the bookstore's glass doors and let Cheng Zhao in. It wasn't even nine yet, and many of the shops in Xiaoxi Lane were still open. To avoid any misunderstanding, Gan Ling left the main lights on, only turning on two wall lamps and the air conditioner. Cheng Zhao sat down at Han Xi's table, while Gan Ling sat at her own. "What do you want to talk about?" "Won't you buy me something to drink?" They stared at each other for a few seconds, each holding a "what?" Gan Ling, feeling defeated, stood up and walked to the tea station. "What do you want to drink?" "Coffee." "I can't sleep at night with coffee." "I can't sleep without it either." Gan Ling checked the drinks container. "Iced tea, please!" It was the easiest thing to do. "Okay!" Cheng Zhao compromised, his mood suddenly brightening as he watched her busying herself for him. "The atmosphere here is nice at night! You should extend your business hours, maybe you can attract some night owls." Cheng Zhao became interested as he spoke, and his suggestions became more specific, "Just use this dim light, add a few wooden tables, and put a desk lamp on each table. When guests come, they can read while having a drink." Gan Ling disagreed, "Don't people read at home? Who doesn't have a desk at home?" "It's boring at home!" "Then what kind of guests are you targeting? Students? They don't have time to do their homework, right? Office workers don't have the energy to read after a busy day?" "What about the elderly?" "Their eyesight is not good at night. Like my dad, he can't read even if he wants to, it strains his eyes." Cheng Zhao was discouraged, "Pretend I didn't say anything. I find you very stubborn. It's hard for others to convince you once you've made up your mind." "I don't have a flexible business mind like you. I can only earn the money I can earn - what on earth do you want to talk to me about?" The door was pushed open with a clang, and Afang, the owner of the fruit shop, walked in. "Oh wow! What's unusual today? Gan Ling, are you open for business tonight?" Cheng Zhao said, "No, she wanted to save money on coffee, so she asked me to come and chat." "What about?" Ah Fang smiled, looking at them both in turn. "Is there something going on?" Gan Ling said, "Nothing. He left two books here, and he just had time to come get them." "Ha! Don't lie to me! Boss Cheng doesn't look like a scholar. He bought all those books just to please you, Gan Ling!" Gan Ling said nothing. Cheng Zhao was embarrassed. "Who said that? I'll read them too... I'll just read them slowly." The tea was ready, two cups. Gan Ling handed one to Cheng Zhao and the other to Ah Fang, who was delighted. "I'm so lucky!" Gan Ling asked, "Is the shop busy right now?"
Gan Ling opened the glass door of the bookstore and let Cheng Zhao in. It was not yet nine o'clock and many shops in Xiaoxi Lane were open. In order to avoid misunderstanding and make people think that the place was still open for business, Gan Ling did not turn on the headlights, but only turned on two wall lamps and turned on the air conditioner.
Cheng Zhao sat down in Han Xi's seat, while Gan Ling sat at her own table.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"You won't buy me a drink?"
The two of them each held a "what" in their hands and stared at each other for a few seconds. Gan Ling felt at a disadvantage and stood up and walked to the tea table.
"What would you like to drink?"
"coffee."
"I can't sleep at night because of coffee."
"I can't sleep without drinking."
Gan Ling checked the beverage barrel and said, "Let's have a glass of iced black tea!" It's the easiest to make.
"Okay!" Cheng Zhao compromised. Seeing her busying herself for him, his mood suddenly improved.
"The atmosphere here is great at night! You should extend your business hours, maybe you can attract some night owls." Cheng Zhao became more interested and made more specific suggestions. "Use this dim lighting, add a few wooden tables, and put a lamp on each table. When customers come, they can have a drink while reading."
Gan Ling disagreed, "Don't you think people can read at home? Who doesn't have a desk at home?"
"It's so boring at home!"
"So what kind of customers are you targeting? Students? They don't have time to do their homework, right? Office workers, after a busy day, don't have the energy to read?"
"What about the elderly?"
"My eyesight is bad at night. Like my dad, he can't see even if he wants to. It strains his eyes."
Cheng Zhao was discouraged. "Just pretend I didn't say anything. I've noticed you're incredibly stubborn. Once you've made up your mind, it's hard for others to convince you."
"I don't have your business acumen, so I can only earn what I can earn—what on earth do you want to talk to me about?"
The door was pushed open with a clang, and Afang, the owner of the fruit shop, walked in.
"Oh! What's strange today? Gan Ling, are you open for business at night?"
Cheng Zhao said first: "The door is not open. She wanted to save money on coffee, so she asked me to come here to talk."
"What are you talking about?" Ah Fang smiled and looked at the two of them in turn. "Is there something going on between you two?"
Gan Ling said, "Nothing. He left two books here and just had time to come get them."
"Ha! Stop lying to me! Boss Cheng doesn't look like a scholar at first glance. He bought so many books just to make you, Gan Ling, happy!"
Gan Ling said nothing.
Cheng Zhao was embarrassed. "Who said that? I'll read it after I buy it... I'll just read it more slowly."
The tea was ready, two cups in total. Gan Ling gave one to Cheng Zhao and the other to Afang, who was delighted.
"I got lucky!"
Gan Ling asked, "Is the store not busy right now?"
"My husband is here! Oh, I get it, you two have something to say, right? Haha, don't worry, I'll be leaving right away!"
As soon as Afang left, Gan Ling chased her away.
"Get up, I'm going to close the door."
Cheng Zhao was stunned. "I haven't said a few words yet."
"Let's go to the small park and talk."
The small park is at one end of Xiaoxi Alley, a patchwork square with a plastic running track around the perimeter and a set of fitness equipment in the center. They were all built in the past two years and are quite new. Even at this late hour, people are still running on the track and exercising on the equipment. The park is densely populated with trees, creating a series of privacy barriers. Benches are plentiful under the trees, and the lighting is dim, making it a perfect place for whispers. The only drawback is the mosquitoes.
Cheng Zhao and Gan Ling sat at opposite ends of a chair, leaving room for one person in the middle. Gan Ling wore a long skirt, while Cheng Zhao wore a long-sleeved shirt and trousers. Although it was hot, it kept away mosquitoes. He sipped his iced black tea while reaching out to help Gan Ling shoo away mosquitoes.
"What did I say? There are a lot of mosquitoes in the park, right?"
Gan Ling said, "If you have something to say, please say it quickly. I won't have to feed the mosquitoes after you finish speaking."
"I just want to know why you dislike me."
"I don't dislike you."
"Then why won't you try with me?"
"These are two completely different things."
"My mom keeps asking me why I haven't gotten married yet and always wants to introduce me to someone. I tell her, I'm not interested in anyone else except you."
"You should have listened to your mother."
"I told you, I'm not interested. Even if I forced myself to get one, it probably wouldn't last."
"You and I will probably not last long."
Cheng Zhao thought about it objectively and did not refute, "But I am willing to give it a try."
"I don't want to."
"So I don't understand, what do you think of me?"
Gan Ling was silent for a moment, then said, "I don't want to get hurt again."
This sentence contained too much meaning, and Cheng Zhao understood it.
"What about you and Mr. Song? Are you sure your relationship will last forever and you won't get hurt again?"
"Not necessarily, but even if I fail, I won't be too sad."
Cheng Zhao slowly put down his drink, "You...actually you don't have any interest in him, right?"
Gan Ling didn't say anything.
Cheng Zhao suddenly slid in front of Gan Ling, almost kneeling, looking up at her slightly.
"Gan Ling, what if I promise you that I won't make you sad or disappointed? Can you accept me?"
His eyes were bright and full of anticipation, and Gan Ling couldn't bear to look at him. Her heart was once again in a turmoil. Did she really have no feelings for Cheng Zhao? No, of course she did. But whether this feeling was love, she couldn't say. Perhaps it was more like friendship and family. She enjoyed his company, but she didn't want to be completely tied to him. She had too many things to worry about, both her own and his. If a relationship is mixed with too many other factors, it can't be pure, stable, or long-lasting.
"I'm sorry, Cheng Zhao, I don't want to change our current relationship. I..." Gan Ling felt very difficult, but had to make it clear, "You and I are really not suitable."
"I said, I won't betray you and I won't let you down."
"This is not up to me, nor you. If it really comes to that, it would be painful to force ourselves to be together."
Cheng Zhao was extremely disappointed. "Are you so sure that being with me will have bad results?"
Gan Ling was silent, feeling extremely sad. There were some things she couldn't say because they would hurt him and herself.
"sorry……"
Cheng Zhao suddenly gasped for breath and stood up abruptly, "Gan Ling, you are such a fool!"
He sat next to a plant wall, a large rose bush jutting out from behind the concrete wall, reaching up to the top of his chair. In his excitement, Cheng Zhao completely ignored it. When he suddenly stood up, his head dove into the rose bush, and he must have been scratched by a thorny branch. His face was in pain and embarrassment, and Gan Ling was frightened by it.
"There's Qiangwei behind..." She reminded him kindly, but Cheng Zhao didn't listen at all and became even angrier.
"Do you know how much I like you? I've never forgotten you over the years. Whenever someone mentions you, I'll find a way to find out. If you're in trouble, I'm always ready to lend a hand and pull you out. I hope you live a good life and are happy. I want you to know that even if you have no one around you, you still have me. I'll always stand by you! But what about you? You don't care about me at all. You're just like those idiots, calculating over petty gains! I'm almost kneeling before you, and you're still torturing me! Why?"
Cheng Zhao angrily rubbed his hair, threw a few leaves on the ground, and said coldly: "Forget it! I see through it. You are no longer the Gan Ling I like. That's it! I'm leaving."
He looked at Gan Ling one last time. His eyes were so out of sync with his oath, filled with shattered self-esteem and remnant tenderness. But his patience finally ran out, and he decided to take it all back. He turned around and left in anger.
Gan Ling was extremely flustered. She felt that Cheng Zhao was right. She shouldn't treat him like that, ignore him, and judge him. Was she really indifferent to him? If the throbbing that was awakened in her when he approached had nothing to do with love, then what should it be considered? From childhood to adulthood, she was disciplined and followed the rules. Later, even if no one told her what to do, she knew how to appreciate beauty and how to make choices. For example, between Cheng Zhao and Song Yiping, she consciously chose Song Yiping. But was that really what she wanted? At this moment, she felt that the balance in her heart had tilted strongly, and had given a completely opposite answer.
Cheng Zhao's back faded into the distance. He had already walked onto the track, only two hundred meters from the exit of the small park, with no intention of turning back or seeking peace. Gan Ling suddenly felt wronged. She wasn't just calculating her own interests; she was also thinking about him! She wanted him to be happy, too!
She hoped he would come back and listen to her explanation, but her mind was filled with fragmented words, unable to string together a convincing statement. And her body felt even worse, as if she were falling into an abyss. It was almost the same horrific feeling she had when she lost her mother.
At that time, she had no strength to stop herself from falling, and it was her father who used a lot of effort to pull her out of the deep hole. Now her father was old and could no longer pull her out. Was she going to rot in the same abyss?
This horrible thought forced her to jump up from her chair without looking back. There was really no time to waste. She knew very well that if Ren Chengzhao left now, it would be really over between them.
Gan Ling rushed towards Cheng Zhao and caught up with him only five meters away from the exit. Without thinking twice, she grabbed Cheng Zhao's arm.
"Cheng Zhao! Wait a minute!"
Cheng Zhao stopped, not shaking her off, but not turning back either. Gan Ling was running breathlessly, not out of tiredness, but out of nervousness. She was so nervous she was almost crying. But holding Cheng Zhao's arm tightly, the firm and powerful touch was so wonderful, it made her feel at ease.
"Cheng Zhao."
There was a hint of pleading in her tone, and Cheng Zhao finally softened his heart and slowly turned around to face her.
The streetlight at the exit five meters away, though dim, was enough for Gan Ling to see the moisture in Cheng Zhao's eyes. Gan Ling felt a sharp jolt to her heart, a pain that finally freed her from all the burdens she'd been carrying. She still couldn't form any logical sentences in her mind, but that didn't matter.
"I was wrong." She looked up at Cheng Zhao and said it sincerely, with tears in her eyes, "I love you, too."
Cheng Zhao stared at her in a daze, as if he had been fixed by some kind of spell. Gan Ling's heart began to waver again. Did he not believe her? How could she explain it to him so that he would believe her?
Some night runners came from behind and blocked the road. The runners could only go around them and whistled in dissatisfaction.
Gan Ling let go of Cheng Zhao, "Should we..."
As soon as she loosened her hand, Cheng Zhao grabbed it and pulled her back to the chair where they had been. Under the large bunch of spherical roses, he hugged Gan Ling, lowered his head, grabbed her lips for the first time, and then sucked hard, eagerly, over and over again.
Gan Ling closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face, but her heart found peace. She wrapped her arms around Cheng Zhao's waist, hugging him tightly. Their posture was as peaceful as the roses beside them, but their hearts surged like the waves of the ocean.
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