Chapter 51

Returning to Ya Garden.

Chu Tong took a shower and changed clothes.

Tomorrow was the first day of school. She checked the timetable, set the alarm, and packed her bag, busy for a while.

Winnie messaged her, inviting her to have lunch together tomorrow, and they chatted briefly about trivial things.

She locked her phone screen.

Lying down on the soft bed in the master bedroom, she was utterly exhausted and didn’t want to think anymore. She cleared her mind and prepared for a good sleep.

The next morning, she woke up refreshed, pulled back the curtains, and washed up.

She changed clothes and headed to class.

Everything felt fresh, reminiscent of the scene and mood when she first left Jiangcheng to enroll at University A.

During a break, she went to check the bulletin board in the department. There were many posters recruiting project partners; she took photos of several that interested her, planning to research them later.

At noon, she ate with Winnie in the cafeteria.

Halfway through the meal, Winnie half-jokingly brought up last night’s matter. "So, what happened afterward with Mr. Shao?"

Chu Tong paused, "Hmm?"

“That Shao fellow… thinking about it carefully, it seems like you were avoiding him. You must have passed by him at the southwest gate. What’s going on? Do you need me to cover for you next time?”

Chu Tong lowered her eyes and chuckled lightly, seemingly indifferent. “...He’s an ex. It’s never going to look good if we bump into each other again. No need for cover. He won’t come looking for me anymore.”

Winnie didn’t press further.

After all, as graduate students, unlike during undergrad, everyone was focused on their own futures and had no time to gossip about others’ love lives.

The first two days of school passed quietly in this way.

Chu Tong joined a street interview project, running around old alleys with several classmates carrying photography equipment.

During this time, she received a call from Liang Jiahao, who wanted to meet and talk.

After finishing the project work, Chu Tong went to the appointment.

They met at an ice-house in Shitangjui.

Chu Tong sat down first and placed an order. Not long after, she saw Liang Jiahao enter, glancing inside.

Tall and slim, with neat short hair, he smiled upon spotting her and walked over.

Since receiving his call, Chu Tong had thought a lot and made up her mind.

Looking into his clear eyes, she opened her mouth and realized these words should have been said long ago.

“…Actually, I also have something I want to talk to you about.”

She smiled.

Liang Jiahao’s lashes fluttered; he clearly tried to sound casual, “You go ahead.”

Chu Tong hesitated, “…I have someone in my heart now. I can’t forget him yet. I don’t know how you feel, but I think I should make this clear.”

Liang Jiahao took a sip of water, rubbed his hands, smiled, and nodded, “I was prepared.”

She didn’t mind being friends with him, nor close, but she clearly didn’t see him as a romantic interest. He could tell.

“Sorry, I should have told you sooner.”

Shao Yihuai always said her generosity was a virtue, but now she felt Liang Jiahao was the most innocent party hurt by it, which was unfair.

“It’s not like that. You needed to spend time with me to make a decision. It would have been worse if you’d just cut me off abruptly.”

Chu Tong knew he was trying to comfort her. “…Did you want to talk about something else?”

“My family elders invited you to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival at my home.”

Chu Tong immediately shook her head, “Thanks for their kindness, but I won’t go. It’s not appropriate.”

“…But you’re alone… It’s Mid-Autumn, better to celebrate with everyone,” Liang Jiahao said. “I invited KK too. You two are both my friends, so it should be fine.”

Chu Tong thought it over and asked, “Will all your relatives be there? Or just your father and them?”

Liang Jiahao smiled, “For traditional festivals, the Yi family always has a big reunion. Not just my dad, the whole Yi clan gathers. Oh, except for a cousin who’s going back to Beijing to celebrate with the Shao family.”

Seeing her hesitation, Liang Jiahao added, “It’s okay. The Yi family is very kind. Having dinner and playing cards together beats being alone, right?”

After some thought, Chu Tong still declined.

She had long since severed ties with Shao Yihuai and was only ordinary friends with Liang Jiahao. There was no reason to visit the Yi family.

Since she insisted, Liang Jiahao didn’t say more. Finally, he said, “Then on Mid-Autumn, KK and I will come see you, keep you company for a while, then we’ll go to my place.”

That was settled.

Shao Yihuai didn’t contact her again.

By the weekend, Chu Tong, Winnie, and several classmates went out for a barbecue party.

Since she cut contact with Shao Yihuai at the beginning of the year, she had steadily passed through the withdrawal phase after the breakup. Although she still thought of him from time to time, she no longer harbored illusions or regrets. But after meeting him a few times on Hong Kong Island, everything reawakened.

Now, cutting contact again, it felt as if she was about to go through the withdrawal phase all over.

Life was busy, but her mood lacked its usual vitality, immersed instead in a stagnant calm.

---

After dinner, they moved indoors to drink beer and play games. When it was her turn to share an embarrassing love story, Chu Tong didn’t hesitate. She recounted last summer, when she messaged Shao Yihuai saying she had made up her mind to meet him, only to be interrupted by Ren Mingyuan’s invitation to an estate in the suburbs.

Naturally, she omitted Shao Yihuai’s name, just telling how she had been full of passion to confess her love but overheard from his friend, “She’s so special, you’re going to marry her!”

Only then did she realize he neither wanted nor could marry her.

She had never felt so humiliated, like a harsh awakening.

Winnie noticed the tears in her eyes and her forced smile, giving a thumbs-up, “Pearl, you’re fierce!”

Chu Tong feigned lightheartedness, grabbing the microphone, “Who hasn’t loved a few scumbags?”

Everyone shouted out the song “Brave.”

They huddled together, singing toward the screen.

When they reached the line:

“I also hope to be cherished,”

Tears streamed down uncontrollably.

To be chosen firmly, how hard it was.

To be placed first, how hard it was.

---

Shao Yihuai no longer lived at the old family home but went to the mountaintop every day after work to chat with Grandmother Yi, drink tea, then return to his place.

During Mid-Autumn week, while chatting with Yi Jiaying in the study, Liang Jiahao hurried over from school and told his grandaunt, “For the Mid-Autumn family dinner, I invited two friends. One won’t come.”

Shao Yihuai, flipping through a book, paused and looked up.

Yi Jiaying smiled, “Which one won’t come? The one you like?”

Liang Jiahao nodded.

Perhaps to save face for the younger generation, Yi Jiaying didn’t ask more. After a few words, Liang Jiahao excused himself to the side room to shower and change clothes.

Shao Yihuai was distracted, didn’t stay long, and left.

On the way back to his place, he called Chu Tong.

The phone rang a long time until the automated voice said no answer and hung up.

He didn’t call again but instructed Uncle Zong to go to Ya Garden.

On the high floor, he stood downstairs, looking up.

Counting the floors, the one she lived on was brightly lit.

She had broken his heart deeply.

She had cried so bitterly in front of him, saying word by word not to come looking for her again.

Afterwards, he came to Ya Garden every night after work for several days.

Like a hunter waiting for a rabbit.

Of course, the rabbit wouldn’t run into the same trap twice. He was a poor hunter.

On Mid-Autumn day, the rain started early.

Near evening, Chu Tong video-called Chu Qinghe.

“Sweetheart, did you have a dinner with classmates today?”

“No, it rained heavily. Not good to go out.”

“You can invite them to our home.”

Chu Tong smiled, “Jiahao invited me to their family dinner, but I feel sorry for him and don’t have the standing to go, so I declined.”

“...That’s good. It’s important to think it through,” Chu Qinghe looked at her expression and tentatively asked, “...Have you not forgotten that Shao fellow yet?”

Chu Tong smiled bitterly, “Mom, don’t mention him. I’ve decided to forget him.”

Chu Qinghe didn’t bring it up again.

They chatted about family matters.

On the other side, their maternal uncle overheard the conversation and raised his glass to Chu Tong on screen, “Men outside have many tricks. Tongtong, be careful.”

Chu Tong nodded and smiled, “I know, uncle.”

He drank his wine and said, “He must have sweet talk, saying he loves you, can’t live without you. Don’t believe a word. Watch his actions. Also, someone who spends money on you isn’t necessarily sincere, but someone who doesn’t is definitely not sincere. You must distinguish. See if he thinks about your future, if he puts your interests first. A person who truly loves you wants the best for your future.”

Chu Tong was silent a moment, joking, “Uncle, what you say isn’t necessarily true.”

Shao Yihuai never said “I love you,” yet spent money on her, cared about her future, wished her well — but she didn’t see that as love.

Love should be exclusive, possessive.

Not like him, always proper and formal.

Her uncle smiled awkwardly, “That’s true, I’m old-fashioned and can’t keep up. Anyway, you need to be sharp and don’t let anyone fool you.”

They chatted on.

When the call ended, dusk had fallen.

She opened the window and saw the torrential rain outside.

---

With this awful weather, ordering delivery was no good, and there was little food at home. She put on a long coat over her dress, took an umbrella, and went downstairs to buy a few cups of instant noodles at the convenience store near the gate.

Taking the elevator down, she stood in the lobby at the front door, ready to open her umbrella, and casually looked up — seeing a man standing in the smoking area.

Perhaps feeling cold, Shao Yihuai wore a long coat over a black shirt.

The heavy rain pounded against the large black umbrella he held.

His eyes were dark and unblinking, fixed on her as if he’d been standing there for a long time.

Chu Tong didn’t intend to acknowledge him.

She opened her umbrella, deliberately turned away, and planned to leave from the other side of the lobby.

Shao Yihuai’s long legs took wide strides across to block her path. He grabbed her arm, “Why aren’t you going to the Yi family for the festival?”

“What business is that of yours?”

She stopped and struggled hard.

“Is it because I might be there?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Chu Tong pushed him fiercely. “Let go of me!”

“Let go of you…” Shao Yihuai sneered coldly, moved his hand away, then used the space between his thumb and forefinger to clamp her jaw, forcing her to tilt her head up.

He lowered his gaze to her face. “A week without contacting you — are you happy? Are you doing well?”

“Very well.”

“Is that so,” his tone remained cold. “Why did you cry at last weekend’s classmates’ gathering?”

Chu Tong was stunned.

How did he know?

Of course, with his status, how could he not know her daily whereabouts?

“I don’t care how you feel, whether sad or angry at me, it doesn’t matter, but you can only be by my side. Understand?”

“I told you, I don’t forgive you. Don’t come looking for me again.”

She glared fiercely.

“You can refuse to forgive, but Chu Tong,” Shao Yihuai called her full name for the first time, slow and deliberate, “I never give anyone a second chance, especially not you. I thought you liked Jiahao, so I let go. I won’t let you go a second time.”

His tone was harsh. Chu Tong’s anger flared, “Who gave you the right to talk to me like that? You’re just an ordinary ex who dumped me. Do you remember, honorable Mr. Shao?”

“I did wrong. You can punish me.”

“I have no reason to punish you. You’re just being yourself.”

At this point, Chu Tong felt something was wrong. The rain was heavy, the damp air hit her face, and with a slight delay, she caught a whiff of alcohol.

Looking up at his face again, she saw his eyes were distinctly red; he seemed on the verge of losing control.

“Fine,” he said softly, “It doesn’t matter.”

Before she could understand, she watched him toss aside his umbrella, then effortlessly lift her by the waist and carry her inside the lobby.

Just a few steps, but the rain quickly drenched him.

Chu Tong struggled fiercely, using hands and feet to strike him, even threw away her own umbrella.

They had to enter the door, which required facial recognition or a password.

Anticipating she wouldn’t cooperate, Shao Yihuai set her down but trapped her between his body and the wall.

She pressed against the wall and didn’t move.

Their eyes met for a long moment. He whispered, “You don’t want me anymore, do you?”

She didn’t answer.

She couldn’t lie, nor did she want to satisfy him.

“I tried to control myself, but I couldn’t,” Shao Yihuai said. “Having you, then losing you, it’s worse than death for me.”

His Adam’s apple moved. “...Tongtong, until now, we haven’t even had one complete, normal conversation.”

“Can you please, can you please not push me away? Give me one chance?”

“I won’t.”

She was resolute.

Shao Yihuai looked down at her and was silent a moment, then softly laughed, “…Then there’s no choice.”

Chu Tong sensed something off in his tone and tensed immediately. “What do you mean?”

“You open the door, let me carry you back to the room,” he said flatly, “Or do you want to go to the car?”

“What do you want to do?”

She was on high alert.

“If you don’t tell the truth, I have to find out if you still want me.”

“Are you crazy?”

“You clearly said you couldn’t refuse me,” Shao Yihuai clamped her jaw again, his bloodshot eyes roaming her face. “Which part of that is true?”