Chapter 342: Everyone Has a Past

Xiaokang left the study, while Yang Haoran once again turned his gaze to the woman in front of him.

"Feel free to sit," Yang Haoran said with a smile, then stood up, took out the tea set, and brewed a pot of tea.

The woman sat down opposite Yang Haoran, watching him prepare the tea set, and said with a smile, "Do you enjoy playing with such high-end stuff now? But tea art is quite particular. Even though you didn't finish junior high, can you still handle it?"

Her tone lacked any sarcasm, and her expression showed no disdain. She seemed to be simply voicing her curiosity.

Yang Haoran chuckled and asked, "What does education have to do with this?"

"It matters, of course. One's quality, behavior, and breadth of knowledge are all related to education. The higher the education, the more outstanding one is in all aspects. Conversely, the lower the education, the worse one is in various aspects, even to the point of being worthless," the woman said with a smile, as if everything she said was absolute truth in her mind.

"Heh, is that so?"

While smiling, Yang Haoran poured two cups of tea, one in front of the woman and the other in front of himself.

"Don't you believe it? Just look at your actions when pouring tea and the process of brewing. It's obvious you haven't spent much time studying. You know nothing about tea art. It makes people think you're pretending to know, which could lead to embarrassment," the woman said seriously.

Yang Haoran found it somewhat amusing. He asked, "So, what do you think I should do?"

"If you don't understand, then you should take the time to learn tea art properly. Make yourself a truly knowledgeable person about tea. That way, as long as you don't speak, no one will know you haven't studied much, and you won't be mistaken for a bumpkin," the woman suggested.

"Heh, I just wanted to have a cup of tea. Is it really necessary to go through all this trouble?" Yang Haoran asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the woman shook her head with a hint of disappointment and said, "After all these years, you haven't changed at all. You're still not making any progress."

Yang Haoran took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "This tea is good. It was a gift from a friend. Give it a try."

The woman shook her head and said, "Forget it. It's not enjoyable. The process was completely wrong. Even the best tea leaves have been ruined. It's no longer fragrant, and who knows, it might even cause stomach upset."

Since the woman refused to drink, Yang Haoran didn't insist. He smiled and asked, "Do you mind if I smoke?"

The woman frowned immediately and responded disapprovingly, "Of course, I mind. Don't you know smoking is not allowed in public places?"

"This is my home. Since when did it become a public place?" Yang Haoran asked with a smile.

"Even if it's your home, it's still not appropriate. I'm here, aren't I? Have you considered my feelings about you smoking in front of me?" the woman asked.

Yang Haoran chuckled and retorted, "If I don't smoke, I feel uncomfortable all over. Have you ever considered my feelings?"

As he finished speaking, Yang Haoran paid no attention to the woman's displeasure. He took a cigarette from the nearby box and placed it in his mouth.

"Like you, he didn't study much, but in my eyes, he's a capable man. He's good at making money and has many qualities worth learning from. I put in a lot of effort to win him over. I defeated several rivals before succeeding," the woman said proudly, seeming extremely proud of herself for reaching where she was today.

"Heh, didn't you just say education is important?" Yang Haoran chuckled.

"Education is important, but my husband is indeed capable. He just didn't have the opportunity back then. If he did, his education would surely surpass mine now," the woman argued.

Yang Haoran chuckled and said, "You've become quite amusing over the years, or should I say, more humorous. By the way, how did you find your way here? We haven't been in touch for many years. You shouldn't have known I'm here, right?"

"I heard it from a former friend of yours. He knew you were here, said you opened a grocery store. I'm spending Chinese New Year with my husband this year, so I came back early to see my parents, planning to stay for a while and visit you," the woman said.

At this point, the woman paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "When I heard that you opened a grocery store, I was quite moved. You know, when I was in college, I always wanted to open a grocery store, maybe a small one, but with a wide variety of goods. That way, I could eat whatever snacks I wanted, drink whatever beverages I wanted, and use whatever items I needed."

"I remember telling you about it back then. I didn't expect you to remember. But back then, I was still too young, too clueless. It wasn't until I entered society that I realized a small grocery store like Xiao Xiao's is really nothing," the woman said.

There was no hint of sadness or anger on Yang Haoran's face. He still wore his usual gentle smile as he drank tea and smoked, as if what the woman was saying had nothing to do with him.

Seeing Yang Haoran's expression unchanged and no intention of saying anything, the woman was somewhat surprised. She spoke up, "You've become much more composed now. In the past, you would have been extremely emotional. I remember the day I left you, you chased after the bus, crying and shouting all the way. It's still vivid in my memory."

"After we broke up, I heard from our mutual friends that you drowned your sorrows in alcohol every day, torturing yourself. You even talked about coming to find me. Now that I'm here in front of you, why are you so calm?" the woman asked.

With a smile, Yang Haoran extinguished his cigarette and said, "When I was young, I didn't understand. Instead of thinking about solving problems, I thought about how to torture myself. I drank the strongest liquor, sang the saddest songs. Looking back now, it makes me feel both emotional and amused."

Yang Haoran looked at the woman and continued with a smile, "You're no longer who you were, and I'm no longer who I was. The past you and the past me are both dead. What you're saying now just makes me laugh."

"If that's the case, why did you open this grocery store?" the woman asked.

"I opened this grocery store just to fulfill the promise I made to myself. At the same time, it's also a way to mourn the dead you. It has nothing to do with the present you," Yang Haoran explained with a smile.

The woman paused for a moment, then nodded, also smiling.

"It's best if you think that way. I was afraid you still had feelings for me, and if you persist, it might be difficult for me to handle, and it might even affect the relationship between me and my husband. But now I'm relieved," the woman said.

With that said, the woman suddenly took out a bank card from her bag and placed it on the table. Then she said, "I'm grateful to you for supporting me through college. I'm not ungrateful. I've always remembered your kindness. There's some money in this card, almost the same amount as my tuition and living expenses back then. The PIN is written on the back of the card."

Glancing at the bank card placed on the table by the woman, Yang Haoran looked back at her. He didn't lose his temper, break the card, or slap it in the woman's face because he wasn't that childish. He had learned how to control his emotions and not let them control him.

There were certainly still people and things that could make him lose control of his emotions, but the woman in front of him was definitely not one of them.

"Heh, I also have something to give you. Just wait a moment."