Chapter 2: Meeting Zhou Yancheng Alone
On a bright and sunny Sunday, Song Yushu was woken by a nonstop stream of WeChat notifications.
Still bleary-eyed, she fumbled for her phone on the nightstand and opened the group chat labeled "Steel Sisterhood."
Jiang Wei: @Song Yushu @Li Xinyan The hangover's even worse now that I'm awake. Come keep me company at my place! Right now, immediately!
Li Xinyan: ??? I've flown to England. Get Jiaojiao to keep you company.
Jiang Wei: Jiaojiao~ You're all I have left. You wouldn't ignore me, right...
Song Yushu: ...
She had dreamed all night, a jumbled mess, and woke up even more exhausted.
She lay sprawled on the bed spacing out for a few minutes, then threw off the covers and got up to wash in the bathroom.
After graduating from university, Song Yushu had lived alone in this large flat in the city center—free and convenient.
She dawdled for about an hour before finally heading out to find Jiang Wei.
-
The Jiang family lived in the capital's famous Central Villa District. Song Yushu had been there more than once, and the housekeeper led her straight to Jiang Wei's bedroom.
She pushed open the bedroom door, looked around, and found Jiang Wei on the terrace, slumped over the marble railing, sighing heavily.
"Jiaojiao, do you think I should go swallow my pride with Zhou Yancheng?"
Song Yushu walked over to Jiang Wei's side, sighed as well, and leaned on the marble railing, chin resting on the back of her hand. "If you can't let go, then go find him."
"But what about my dignity? How about you come with me?"
She answered without hesitation. "I'm not going!"
Song Yushu didn't want to get mixed up in their business.
Jiang Wei straightened up and looked at her profile. "Do you think it's because we never slept together that he broke up with me so cleanly?"
The question made Song Yushu pause.
She turned to meet Jiang Wei's eyes. "Then why didn't you two sleep together?"
They had dated for four years. In this day and age, what reason would a normal couple have for not being intimate?
Jiang Wei looked a little embarrassed, avoided her gaze, and stammered.
"Isn't that supposed to be the guy's move? He never brought it up. Was I supposed to throw myself at him?"
"Is he... not capable?"
If that really were the problem, then Song Yushu felt she could finally let it go.
Jiang Wei: "Impossible. I've seen his physical exam report. He's perfectly normal!"
"Oh..."
With a look of complete indifference, she turned back toward the garden.
Jiang Wei slumped back onto the marble railing and said ruefully, "I was thinking once you found someone, we could all go on a couples' trip together. Never thought I'd be the one getting dumped."
She smiled without saying a word.
Bringing her own boyfriend to meet the person she had hidden in her heart for years... that feeling would probably be pretty bitter.
"Li Xinyan's already on her third boyfriend. I've been completely wrapped around Zhou Yancheng's finger. And you? You've never even held a man's hand, have you?" Jiang Wei teased.
Song Yushu wasn't waiting for Zhou Yancheng. She just genuinely hadn't met anyone she liked.
She really did want to fall in love.
Sure enough, people shouldn't meet someone too dazzling when they're young.
She still remembered clearly the first time she met Zhou Yancheng. It was freshman year, during the evening run check-in at the sports field.
The night breeze was cool. Zhou Yancheng passed by with some student council members, dressed in casual athletic wear. She watched that tall figure gradually disappear into the night.
Actually, she had known Zhou Yancheng a full year before Jiang Wei did.
Sophomore year, at the welcome gala, she had fought for a chance to sing solo on stage. She planned to confess after the song, but then she saw Jiang Wei sitting in the audience, arm in arm with Zhou Yancheng.
A handsome man and a beautiful woman, so perfectly matched.
In that moment, she felt a despair and bitterness she had never known before.
Later, she learned from Jiang Wei that Zhou Yancheng was her arranged marriage partner, her future husband.
Jiang Wei pinched her fair, soft cheek. "Hey, I'm talking to you."
"Mm... I really haven't even held a man's hand."
"How about I introduce you to someone?"
Song Yushu tilted her head and smiled. "Sure."
When she tilted her head like that, Jiang Wei laughed too. "If I were a man, I'd definitely chase you. You bring out a man's protective instincts way too easily."
"But I like your face."
She meant it. Not joking at all.
They had two different kinds of looks. She was pure and gentle; Jiang Wei was striking and glamorous.
So whether it was family background or looks and temperament, she thought Zhou Yancheng really had great taste.
"I like your face too. People always want what they don't have."
"Yeah..." Song Yushu agreed, but her mind was elsewhere.
Jiang Wei: "Then it's settled. I'll introduce you to someone, and you go talk to Zhou Yancheng for me."
"Huh? I'm not going!"
"Please? Can you bear to watch your bestie cry her eyes out every day?"
"..."
-
After an entire afternoon of Jiang Wei's nagging, she finally agreed to go talk to Zhou Yancheng. If she hadn't, she felt like her ears would have grown calluses.
Standing in front of No. 7 in the Feifan Villa District, Song Yushu pressed the doorbell for ages, but no one answered.
She called Jiang Wei. "No one's home."
"Wait a bit. He stays here on weekdays and only goes back to the estate on weekends. He must be working late."
Song Yushu was a little annoyed and frowned slightly. "Then I'll wait ten more minutes."
Just as she hung up, a black coupe slowly drove up, its headlights illuminating her whole body.
Song Yushu turned to look. The coupe stopped beside her, the window rolled down slowly, and Zhou Yancheng's face appeared.
His dark eyes fixed on her, his voice lazy and low. "Looking for me?"
She felt a little dazed.
The last time she had seen Zhou Yancheng was last year's New Year's Eve.
Zhou Yancheng was three years ahead of them. During their sophomore year, he had gone abroad for graduate school.
So she had only seen him a handful of times, and never once alone.
This was the first time.
Song Yushu nodded. "Mm."
Zhou Yancheng unlocked the car door. "Get in."
She opened the passenger door, got in, and as soon as the door closed, her heart started pounding.
This close...
The villa gate swung open. Zhou Yancheng drove into the garage and killed the engine.
Zhou Yancheng pushed open his door, and she got out too.
She followed that tall figure into the villa.
"There are only men's slippers in the house."
"Oh, it's fine. I just need to say a few words."
Song Yushu didn't mind. She changed into a random pair of slippers and walked into the living room.
Zhou Yancheng glanced back at her. "Want something to drink?"
"No need."
He nodded, walked over to the sofa, and sat down. "Jiang Wei sent you."
Song Yushu sat across from him, looking straight at Zhou Yancheng's face, and for a moment she actually felt nervous.
She steadied herself. "Then I'll be direct. Jiang Wei wants to get back together."
Zhou Yancheng's attitude was cold, expressionless, as if he were listening to something utterly unimportant.
"Please tell her, impossible."