CH 9.2

Out of nowhere, he recalled that dinner at Hai Di Kan on Wednesday.

Someone had been following him and secretly took a copy of their bill. Not only that, but someone had also asked him for his reason as to why he did not use a bank card to settle his payment.

Were these really only a coincidence?

As Lin Yuhe mulled over those thoughts, Wu Xin was still in the midst of reminding him, “You have to be well-prepared. After the engagement, you can’t be like before. When that time comes, there might be a chance of you getting caught on camera at any time. So, you have to watch out for your manners. That way, you won’t hinder Chairman Lu.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuhe’s brows drew together.

Lin Yuhe himself had never been interested in things like romance and marriage. Since he was required to pretend, that was what he would do. However, Lin Yuhe disliked his daily life to be disrupted. Although he was a calligraphy blogger with several hundred thousand fans, he had never uploaded any pictures or revealed any information about himself.

But, at the moment, neither was there any room for Lin Yuhe to intervene, nor would it be possible to solve this problem by telling his stepmother this. Hence, he could only rein in his emotions first.

Wu Xin had yet again said a lot. By the time she was done, over three hours had gone by.

Wkdyzzu, Nkd Zwbl oyp yczl vs zlyhl. Fvlrrkdt swv sq vbl nyql, bl oyp qynle okvb vbl nsze dktbv okdep, obknb olal xwnb nszela vbyd vbyv kd vbl eyu. Tsolhla, Nkd Zwbl qlzv vbyv bkp calyvbkdt dso oyp xwnb pxssvbla vbyd obld bl oyp kd vbl oyax assx. Mbl qykdv pvwqqkdlpp kd bkp nblpv oyp yzps clkdt zkqvle cu vbl nsze okdep.

Tl vssj plhlayz calyvbp okzzqwzzu. Rv oyp sdzu wdvkz vbl rskdv oblal bl cltyd vs nswtb qasx clkdt nbkzzle cu vbl qallgkdt okdep vbyv bl elnkele vs olya bkp xypj ytykd.

Ebld bl alvwadle vs bkp esax, Hbld Nkdt yde Hbw Js olal vblal yp olzz. Fkdnl vblka lmyxp olal shla, vblu bye yzps alzymle psxlobyv yde bye dsv clld plzq-pvweukdt.

Hbw Js, obs oyp wpkdt bkp zyrvsr kd qasdv sq vbl vyczl, pweeldzu lmnzykxle, “W*nj……”

Hbld Nkdt, obs oyp tyxkdt sd bkp cle, ypjle, “Ebyv’p oasdt? Gal usw pvkzz zkhl pvalyxkdt?”

Zswdt rlsrzl olal vurknyzzu kd lmnlzzldv pbyrl, ps Hbld Nkdt bye qwzzu alnshlale qasx bkp pzktbv qlhla yqvla vos eyup sq alpv. Tldnl, bl oyp ulv ytykd hktsaswp yde zkhlzu.

Hbw Js ydpolale, “Ls, xu zkhl pvalyx ldele ytlp yts. R oyp zssjkdt vbaswtb xu ElUbyv, yde xu bktb pnbssz nzyppxyvl pldv xl y xlppytl vbyv bl kp ycswv vs tlv xyaakle.”

Tkp qsalblye nalyple yp bl zssjle yv bkp rbsdl. “W*nj, bso sze kp bl lmynvzu? Ms vbkdj vbyv bl kp ycswv vs tlv xyaakle.”

“In a blink of an eye, we have also reached the age of giving cash as wedding gifts.” Zhen Ling clicked his tongue twice. “Other people are getting married, but I am still single.”

Zhu Bo questioned, “You are envious? You can always go look for one.”

To their surprise, Zhen Ling replied, “I am not envious at all, hahaha. I do not wish to get married.”

Zhu Bo continued to ask, “Aren’t you always looking for a girlfriend?”

Zhen Ling had always been bawling in the dorm about how he wanted to be in a relationship.

“That is not the same.”

Whenever Zhen Ling talked about this matter, he was always very serious. “Even though I’d love to have a girlfriend, I have no desire to get married. Being in a romantic relationship is based on mutual consent, whereas marriage turns it into a responsibility. I am still not prepared to take on such responsibilities.”

Hearing that, Lin Yuhe stiffened while changing out of his clothes.

“Some of my junior high classmates are married as well. They did not attend university but instead studied in a technical school. I believe they have kids of their own now. Previously, I heard them talking about this when I returned to attend a class reunion. I’d always feel rather……overwhelmed with mixed emotions.”

Zhen Ling continued, “I am not saying that it is good or bad. It is just that it feels like we are already of two different worlds.”

Zhu Bo agreed, “I am the same as well. I have not the faintest idea about marriage. Even though we have reached our twenties, we are always on the university campus, so it is difficult to associate us with something like marriage……. That was why I was so surprised earlier.”

They were only chatting idly and being all casual about marriage. However, when their conversation drifted into Lin Yuhe’s ears, each word was even sharper than the tip of a needle. 

The phone in Lin Yuhe’s hand yet again began to vibrate. Lin Yuhe scanned the screen, which automatically displayed the message contents.

[Wu Xin: [URL] ]

[Wu Xin: I have sent you a soft copy of the engagement procedures. Please look through it again.]

An engagement was supposed to be such a joyous occasion. 

Yet, when he saw these messages, Lin Yuhe only found it ironic.

A familiar sensation of dull pain arose from within his chest. Covering his mouth, Lin Yuhe began to cough softly.

Hearing some noises, Zhen Ling poked his head out from his bed to look at Lin Yuhe. “What’s wrong, Hehe? Do you feel discomfort in your trachea again?”

Zhu Bo lifted his head as well. “Did you catch a cold?”

Men were generally airheaded and clueless, so it was difficult for them to notice any abnormal symptoms. But not only were they medical students, but they were also influenced by Lin Yuhe’s attentiveness. Hence, he had unconsciously laid foundations for them to grow accustomed to looking out for each other.

As he tried his hardest to suppress the itch in his throat, Lin Yuhe waved his hands. “I am alright.”

Ignoring Wu Xin’s message, he turned and pulled out a quaint square box from his drawer. The square box, which was properly wrapped in a soft cloth, gleamed in a lustrous, warm shine that had been developed over time.

Once the square box had been opened, a beautiful brocade laid in it. After unwrapping all the layers of brocade, a dark log of wood was finally revealed. 

The log of wood had a non-lustrous surface and only faint wood grain, emitting a sort of natural and lovely appeal. If one were to smell the faint fragrance given off by the ebony wood, even his mood would become serene.

Lin Yuhe wore his coat again. With the ebony wood in hand, he left for the rooftop.

Seeing that he was doing alright, both Zhen Ling and Zhu Bo continued their conversation again. They had hardly exchanged a word about marriage before Shen Huixi opened the door and entered the room.

With a rather grave expression, Shen Huixi had just gotten back from outside, as his body was emitting the coldness from the nippy night. 

Overhearing his two roommates in the dorm talking about marriage, Shen Huixi’s expression became increasingly strange. “Getting married? Who is getting married?”

Zhen Ling answered, “It is Xiao Bo’s high school classmate.”

Zhen Ling quickly briefed him about today’s conversation content. It was only then did Shen Huixi reply with an “Oh” as if he was heaving a sigh of relief.

Looking around the room, he asked, “Where is Hehe? He still has yet to return?”

Zhen Ling responded, “He was back, but he just stepped out right before you entered.”

Shen Huixi yet again furrowed his brows.

——

Lin Yuhe took the lift in the dormitory and made his way up to the rooftop.

The dormitory’s rooftop was situated in an outdoor area, so the wind blowing over it was much stronger. Even so, it provided Lin Yuhe with a panoramic view. Whenever he was feeling down, Lin Yuhe always loved to look down from a higher place.

It seemed as if his mind would broaden along with this panoramic view.

Walking to the edge of the rooftop, Lin Yuhe extended his head out to look out onto a scenic overlook. It was getting late into the night, as the liveliness on the campus began to simmer down. A faint fog clung onto the air in the surroundings, blurring out everything as if it had been covered up by a layer of muslin. At the same time, it radiated off a slight poetic tenderness of the wintry night.