Chapter 85 New Year's Eve "Lan Jia, let's run away."...
Lan Jia and Su Yuanyi went back to the old house separately and met up in the room.
Seeing her dejected appearance, Su Yuanyi guessed that the two had not reached an agreement.
She was fuming, as if she were indignant on Lan Jia's behalf. After gulping down a cup of hot tea, she stood there with her hands on her hips and said, "Don't be sad. There are plenty of men in the world. If this one doesn't work out, just find another! On the bright side, at least you're not really pregnant, right? If you had a child, this would be a real mess. I really don't understand. You've looked for someone, you've met him, how come such a grown man couldn't keep you? Is it so hard to just open your mouth and explain yourself?"
"In my opinion, the old lady is right. You two are just not a good match. I think that Qiao is quite nice, isn't he? He comes all the way here every day without getting tired. Why don't you try dating him? That way, the old lady won't be so stressed every day."
"Yuanyuan!" Lan Jia interrupted her, "Just now, I ran away on my own. I wasn't prepared at all, and my mind was a mess..."
Su Yuanyi, who was always straightforward and decisive, was now somewhat bewildered: "Then tell me, how exactly are you making things chaotic?"
Lan Jia sighed: "It's a long story."
"Stop for now," Su Yuanyi interrupted her. "I'll have the kitchen prepare two late-night snacks, and we'll have a long talk by candlelight. Tonight, I, your strategist, will make sure you get things sorted out."
Lan Jia smiled through her tears, glanced at her again, her heart softening like candy, but the filling was bittersweet. After several failures, she thought she would never believe in friendship again, but then Su Yuanyi appeared, like the best compensation from heaven.
On a winter night, in a room filled with the fragrance of incense, Lan Jia let down her guard and poured out all the feelings she had kept bottled up for so long.
Su Yuanyi was still slurping her food in her bowl when she heard what Su Yuanyi had said. She put down her chopsticks, losing her appetite. "Your story is really convoluted. After all this, I'm about to burst."
"But it's simple in a way, it just depends on whether you can get over this mental hurdle."
"If you ask me, what business is it of yours what the grudges of the previous generation were? Think about it from another perspective, isn't Meng Cenjun also a victim? After living for so many years, having such a vicious biological father suddenly appear out of nowhere, he probably finds it disgusting, right? If you don't want him because of this, then he'll really be swallowing a bitter pill, he'll be wronged to death." Su Yuanyi put a hand on her shoulder and said earnestly, "Actually, as long as he cuts off contact with the Meng family, this matter is not a big deal at all."
"Whenever I think of my parents, I always feel sorry for them..."
"You have to be true to yourself first! Your second uncle and aunt wouldn't want to see you like this, right? As long as you're happy, that's more important than anything else!"
Lan Jia softened a little, but still held her cheek in distress: "But I have no idea what he's thinking. Before, when we were together, we always argued and it was really exhausting."
"Then let me ask you," Su Yuanyi looked at her seriously, "Do you still like him now?"
Lan Jia remained silent for a moment, then nodded very slightly.
"Then I'll ask him for you." She said in a hurry, about to get up to make a call, but Lan Jia quickly stopped her.
"No!" A pair of pitiful eyes looked at her. "I'll handle it myself."
Hearing her say that, Su Yuanyi plopped down again: "That's true. If I were to ask, I probably wouldn't get anything out of him either. Your guy is probably similar to my older brother, a complete blockhead. To deal with this kind of person, you have to use some strong stuff. You can't pry his mouth open without pushing him!"
Lan Jia nodded.
Seeing her seemingly confused expression, Su Yuanyi sighed, "I won't give you any advice, I'm afraid I'll go too far and give you bad suggestions. You just need to figure out the right balance yourself. If you have any questions, just call me and I'll help you decide. Anyway, once I find out about this, I'll definitely take full responsibility."
Lan Jia was stunned, unable to hear anything else, and only said, "You're leaving?"
Su Yuanyi gave a heavy "hmm": "My eldest and second eldest brothers call every day, and my grandparents have urged me several times, saying that the two of them in the family are getting a divorce again, and they want me to go back and help persuade them to reconcile. Every day, this big family can't function without me."
"So... is it because I've been delayed here?"
"What nonsense!" Su Yuanyi laughed. "I wish I could play for a few more days."
"Lan Jia, you are so good, really. I've been so happy these past few days with you, I haven't been this happy in a long time."
Hearing this, Lan Jia couldn't hold back any longer and rushed over to hug her without thinking: "Yuan Yuan, thank you, I'm so glad you came..."
Su Yuanyi chuckled: "I know you like me a lot, just don't cry when I leave."
The next morning, people from Suizhou arrived. Su Yuanyi tearfully bid farewell to Lan Jia and embarked on her return journey with bags full of gifts.
The short time they spent together felt like a dream. She left, and Lan Jia was dragged back to reality, becoming even more silent.
Life went on as usual. The old lady remained stubborn and showed no sign of wavering. As time went on, she couldn't do what she wanted to do, and she had to be followed around whenever she wanted to go out. Lan Jia gradually grew annoyed and felt that she was wasting her time.
Qiao Zimu still came every few days, afraid that she would be bored, and tried his best to keep her company. She knew that he stayed for her sake, and that their engagement had not yet been finalized. He must have been under a lot of pressure from all sides, but he never mentioned it to her.
Lan Jia knew she had also delayed him, but she couldn't bring herself to say thank you, and she felt strange about apologizing.
When he asked her out, the old lady was naturally delighted, and she went out with him again and again. The two continued to interact as before, without crossing any lines, but they both knew in their hearts that some things, though not openly discussed, had already quietly changed.
The New Year is almost here. Qiao Zimu's marriage is still undecided, but Qiao Qinghuai is already getting engaged.
This weekend, she met up with Lan Jia and another person to help her choose a banquet dress.
As soon as Lan Jia got out of the car, she saw the wedding dress displayed in the shop window. The long train trailed on the ground, and it was a very elegant lace and satin style. It was a new design by designer Lilian, whose work Lan Jia had always admired.
Seeing her staring intently, Qiao Zimu followed her over and stood with her in front of the shop window, smiling as he said, "If you like it, you can ask her to customize your wedding dress in the future." He didn't say it was for her, because he was afraid she would be offended.
Lan Jia smiled, but her eyes were filled with sadness: "No way. If that day ever comes, I will definitely design it myself."
"I believe you will wear a wedding dress that is one of a kind in the whole world." He looked at her and said silently in his heart, "I believe you will definitely find eternal happiness."
It had just rained, and it was damp and cold outside. Lan Jia wrapped her scarf tighter and said, "Let's go inside. Qinghuai must have been waiting for a long time."
Qiao Zimu agreed.
The two exchanged a glance, and Qiao Zimu, without saying a word, silently tightened the hand that was holding her shoulder.
No one noticed that a black sedan was quietly parked across the street at that moment.
When Meng Cenjun saw the wedding dress and witnessed the couple's intimate actions, she felt as if she had been pricked by a needle and quickly withdrew her gaze.
I tried my best to control my disordered breathing, but I couldn't help but glance at her. Just then, I saw the two of them walking into the store, snuggling close together.
So they're really preparing for the engagement after all?
Did she really choose him after all?
They are of similar age, share similar interests, and know each other well.
Even if a marriage alliance is inevitable, there is no better option.
Giving him up is perfectly reasonable.
Lingeringly, Meng Cenjun looked at the empty doorway again and again before finally turning her gaze away and saying wearily, "Let's go."
The driver agreed and continued driving the car towards the hospital.
The weather is getting colder and colder, and the New Year is just around the corner.
In previous years, Meng Cenjun would take Lan Jia back to the old house on New Year's Eve to have a reunion dinner with the old lady. But this year, there will probably be an empty seat on the table, and Lan Jia feels sad just thinking about it.
The old lady has always enjoyed lively gatherings and opera performances, so she invited a Kunqu opera troupe over early on, planning to enjoy the performance to her heart's content after the New Year's Eve dinner.
When Lan Jia was a child, she was carefree and found these melodious songs boring. But this year, her mood is different. Perhaps there is a layer of melancholy in her heart, and she is willing to sit down and listen to the music quietly.
On the eve of New Year's Eve, the actors rehearsed their scenes in advance. Lan Jia sat alone in the waterside pavilion, across a large expanse of withered lotus leaves, and heard the aria from "The Palace of Eternal Life" coming across the water from the opposite side.
"The flowers are so beautiful and vibrant, they remind me of your lovely face."
"Clouds dream of shimmering garments"
"Whose new makeup makes them stand out?"
"Poor Feiyan, so delicate and lazy."
...
Lan Jia leaned over the windowsill, listening intently, perhaps just lost in thought.
Qiao Zimu gently pushed the door open and came in. He saw that the window was wide open and the cold night wind was blowing in. He frowned slightly, handed her a warm purple copper hand warmer, closed the window halfway, and then sat down and said, "I've been here all the way and I've seen everyone busy as a bee, but you're doing just fine, hiding here and having a good time."
"It's just the two of us celebrating the New Year, I don't know what there is to be busy with." She curled her lip indifferently.
He was taken aback by her tone. Was it really over between her and Meng Cenjun?
Suddenly remembering that a few days ago, Qiao Qinghuai had seen Meng Cenjun in the hospital, and heard that she was quite ill, but judging from Lan Jia's appearance, she seemed completely unaware. He had caused quite a stir because of Lan Jia's injury, offending almost everyone around him, and Qiao Zimu still held a grudge. After thinking it over, he decided not to tell Lan Jia. After all, for him, this was also an opportunity.
Seeing that Qiao Zimu remained silent for a long time, Lan Jia finally turned around and asked, "Isn't your whole family busy? Why are you here again at this time?"
"It's busy and chaotic here. It's much quieter here."
"They must be pressuring you again," she thought, feeling quite guilty.
"And you? Aren't you tired of staying here?"
“But I don’t want to see you unhappy!” he interrupted her sharply.
“Lan Jia,” Qiao Zimu suddenly stood up, clenched his fists, turned his back and said, “Let’s run away.”
Lan Jia was stunned and remained silent for a long time.
He turned to look at her again and repeated very solemnly, "Let's run away together!"
"Let's escape from here together and do what we want to do."
"..."
On New Year's Eve, weather reports indicated a significant drop in temperature, but conditions for snowfall were insufficient. Many expressed regret, lamenting that the snowfall on the Li River was unusually late this year.
After having New Year's Eve dinner with the old lady, Lan Jia secretly packed her bags and, with Qiao Zimu's help, slipped out of the old house with minimal luggage.
The waterside pavilion is bustling with activity right now, with melodious music playing and the watermill grinding softly.
Aunt Xiu hurried over and whispered something to the head of the table.
The old lady remained unmoved after hearing this, though she was a little annoyed: "Let them go then, the children are too grown up to stay."
"Fortunately, he left with the young master of the Qiao family," Aunt Xiu glanced at the old lady's expression and added, "As long as he doesn't go looking for that person, it's fine."
She sneered, "I don't think so."
After a long while, he sighed again, "Forget it, I've been meddling too much, and it's only made me suffer."
"Ah Xiu, it's a big holiday, why don't you sit down and listen to the opera with me?"
"As for these few underlings, let them do as they please."
Aunt Xiu nodded in agreement.
In an instant, the melodious and graceful music on the stage was replaced by a lively and bustling atmosphere.
At that moment, a sudden doorbell ring broke the long silence on Anfeng Road.
Meng Cenjun hadn't finished his work when he heard the doorbell ring. He assumed it was Zhou Qin delivering documents. He frowned, put his glasses back on, and went downstairs to open the door.
"I did give you the password."
He finished speaking in a deep voice, and then paused after seeing who it was.
Lan Jia, dressed in a red coat, stood at the doorway, half her face buried in her scarf, revealing only her bright eyes, which were fixedly staring at him.
Author's Note: Poor guy, spending New Year's Eve alone. [Crying]
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