First Marriage Then Love 《先婚厚爱》Chapter 87 Translation

087. Miss you, hard to sleep!



Behind the desk, Su Yi Cheng was absent-minded. He had a document in his hand, but since earlier on he couldn’t absorb anything.

“Knock knock knock.” Someone was knocking on the door, and Su Yi Cheng’s train of thought was pulled back into the present.

Secretary Zheng was holding a file as he entered. He seemed to be in quite a good mood, he happily hands over the manuscript to be used for this afternoon’s lecture, and excitedly says, “City Assistant, this is the manuscript for today’s lecture. Just now Chief Secretary Zhang’s Xiao Chen gave me a call, said that the chief will let you be properly prepared. I heard that means the proposal from last time was passed, and about the case for the construction of Ke Ji City, and the committee seem to be very interested in you.”

Su Yi Cheng glances at him, his expression not very excited. He just faintly replies, “En. I got it.”

His indifference stunned Secretary Zheng, and that smile on his face slowly fell. He looks at him, and asks in confusion, “City Assistant, did something happen?”

When it came to work, recently it has been going smoothly, and there shouldn’t be any problems. Secretary Zheng was a little perplexed.

Su Yi Cheng reacts, looks at Secretary Zheng, and raises the folder in his hand, “Secretary Zheng, is this all of Bureau Chief Tong’s information?”

“Uh.” Secretary Zheng was caught off-guard. He nods, and says, “That’s all the information on him ever since he started working.” A few days before he suddenly asked him to investigate into Bureau Chief Tong’s background. After working of course there would be a record from HR. Whatever he can or cannot access, he will still find a way to get it.

Su Yi Cheng nods, and doesn’t say much. He reaches to grab the lecture manuscript, quickly scanning over it.

Secretary Zheng was worried, and cautiously asks, “City Assistant, is there a problem?”

Su Yi Cheng shakes his head slightly, eyes still on the lecture manuscript. He corrects some stuff, and faintly replies, “No.” Suddenly remembering something, he raises his head and asks, “Which meeting room is the conference in? Will Bureau Chief Tong also be there?”

Secretary Zheng nods, and says, “The conference is in Hall One. Bureau Chief Tong should also be in attendance.”

Su Yi Cheng nods his head, and doesn’t say much more.

After eating lunch, An Ran took advantage of her break and went to the mall to get Lin Li a wedding gift.

When she got to the mall, she was blinded by all the goodies on the shelves, An Ran started to feel dizzy. She has no experience in this aspect. Before when her classmates got married, when it came to the wedding gift, she had pitched in with everyone to get something. But Lin Li was different, she was her best friend, and on her most important day, she wanted to give her something special.

However, this seems challenging.

Wandering about each display window, An Ran hadn’t the slightest idea. Suddenly she stopped by a jewellery shop, and on the display they were showcasing an especially simple, but beautiful pearl necklace. It wasn’t a famous design, actually one part of the necklace does not even have a design, only a strip of thread, then dressed in very beautiful and plump pearls. There were no other additional adornments, reconstructing the pearl’s original shape.

An Ran was immediately taken by the necklace. She doesn’t know if Lin Li will like it or not, but she likes it very much, so, An Ran decided there and then, that she will gift it to her.

She enters the shop, and looked for the necklace displayed in the showcase. She asks for an attendant and asked her to fetch the necklace, she wanted to carefully look at it.

The attendant there understood which necklace she was referring to, and smiles apologetically at her, shaking her head, “I’m sorry, Miss, that necklace was specially made for the store by a client. We don’t have the rights to sell it.”

“Oh, is that so!” An Ran was a bit disappointed, because she was really quite taken by the necklace.

The attendant smiles at her apologetically, sees that she was disappointed, and adds in, “Although we can’t sell it, would you still like to take a look at it?”

Hearing that, An Ran quickly nods, and says, “Yes. Thank you!”

“Not a problem.” The attendant smiles, and goes over to the display to take the necklace out.

They both handle it carefully as it was brought over to the counter. The pearl necklace was truly, very beautiful. Even though An Ran can’t tell which pearls are good or bad, but she can tell that it is comfortable to wear. The size was great, and the pearls had this gloss. The more she looked at it, the more she liked it.

And at that moment, a man had entered the store. He directly asks the attendant there, “Excuse me, is the pearl that I designed ready yet?”

Hearing that, the attendant looks at An Ran apologetically. The man follows her gaze to the right, landing upon An Ran who was in front of the counter, and An Ran also then raises her head to take a look at the man. Four eyes staring at each other, the both of them were startled.

“It’s you!” An Ran was surprised. She had unexpectedly ran into Zhou Han, and he was the owner of this necklace.

Zhou Han nods at her. He doesn’t have much of an expression on his face, and only quietly says, “What a coincidence.” Then his gaze lands on the necklace around her neck.

An Ran nods back. Seeing that he was eyeing the necklace on her neck, she quickly responds and reaches up to take off the necklace, and smiles in embarrassment, “I’m sorry, I just thought this pearl necklace was very pretty, so I asked the attendant if I could try it on. I’ll return this to you now.”

Because she was anxious, the simple clasp suddenly became difficult to grab hold of. The attendant beside her saw this, and quickly rushes forward to help her loosen the necklace.

Then she puts the necklace back in its box, and pushes it towards Zhou Han, saying, “This is the necklace that you had designed, please take a look at it.”

Zhou Han nods. He doesn’t take it, just looks at it in its box for a while. He raises his head and asks An Ran, “Do you like this necklace.”

Although An Ran wasn’t sure why he was asking her this, she still honestly nods and replies, “The necklace is beautiful.”

Having heard that, Zhou Han turns to look at the necklace again. He doesn’t turn back, then slowly says, “If you like it, you can have it.”

“Uh!” An Ran was startled. She couldn’t react. He said she could have it! “Isn’t this something you had specially made for the store?” Specially made, means that it should have a special meaning, that it was meant for someone special! Why would he say that she could have it?
Zhou Han turns to look at her, and softly smiles, saying, “It’s not important. If you like it, I can let you have it.”

An Ran glances at the necklace. She still looks at him doubtfully, and asks, “Really?”

Zhou Han nods. He looks at the necklace. With some sadness in his eyes he says, “It's all self-delusional anyways, since I can't keep the person with me, what use is keeping the necklace for?*” Saying that, he turns to her and says, “If you like, please have it.” After that, he nods at her, and turns to leave.

In response, An Ran allows the attendant to help wrap it up, and takes her credit card out of her bag to pay for it, when the attendant says, the necklace had already been paid for when Zhou Han had made it.

An Ran quickly takes her bag and rushes out, and sees that Zhou Han was in front of his car and was about to leave. She raises her voice, “Zhou Han, Mr. Zhou, wait!”

Zhou Han turns around, and stops by the door. He sees her running towards him.

An Ran finally was about to get to him before he left. Only, she was out of breath from running. Standing before him, she holds onto her stomach, panting heavily.

Zhou Han looks at her, but doesn’t push her. He waits until she recovers her breath, then finally asks, “Is something the matter?”

An Ran lifts up the bag containing the necklace. She gulps, and says, “You, you already paid for this.”

Zhou Han looks at her, and steadily says, “That necklace costs $5000, you can just give me cash.”

An Ran stared blankly, surprised at his directness, and even more surprised at the price. She looks at him, and asks uncertainly, “You aren't purposely quoting a lower price for me*?” Although she doesn’t know if the pearls are good or bad, but to say this necklace is $5000, that's just too cheap now isn't it?*

Zhou Han looks at her. His expression doesn’t change, and counters, “Why would I lower the price for you?”

An Ran was stumped by his question. That’s right, he doesn’t have any reason to lower the price for her when he had paid such a high price. And with his relation with Su Yi Cheng, it seemed impossible.

Seeing that she isn’t replying, Zhou Han asks again, “So, are you giving me the cash?”

An Ran finally reacts. She nods, and says, “But I don’t have much cash on me right now. Or how about you give me your account number, after I return from work I will wire the money to you right away. Or, since there’s a bank near by, can you wait for me, I can go there and take the money out.”

Zhou Han looks at her for a bit, and finally says, “You can wire the money to me later.” Saying that, he extends his hand, “Give me your phone.”

An Ran blankly hands over her phone to him, only sees that he is entering some numbers, then an elegant and luxurious ringtone starts to ring from his pocket. Hearing it, Zhou Han hangs up her phone, then hands it back to her, “That’s my number. When I get back to my firm I’ll have my secretary give you my account number.”

An Ran nods, not really against it.

Zhou Han takes a seat in his car, and starts it. He looks at An Ran still standing at the side, and offers, “Where are you going. Do you need a ride.”

An Ran glances at her wristwatch. Her time was almost up, so she nods, and gives him the address. “I’ll have to trouble you.”

Zhou Han wasn’t one who has a lot of words to say. Sitting in the car, the atmosphere was quiet and awkward. From watching out the window, An Ran turns, looks at him, and asks, “Oh right. How is the child? Is he better?” Her tone was apologetic. She, in error, gave the child seafood noodles, and the child had a serious allergy to it. That incident, was still on her mind.

Zhou Han turns to look at her and nods, “Much better. It wasn’t too serious.”

Hearing that, An Ran felt a bit better. She nods. “That’s good.”

Zhou Han was concentrated on the road. There wasn’t any more exchange between them. Even when An Ran had reached her company, Zhou Han had just nodded at her, then turned the car to leave.

Half an hour after An Ran returned to her company, An Ran received a text from him. There wasn’t any small talk, just his bank account number.

An Ran wired the full amount to his bank account. After completing everything, An Ran once again takes out the necklace from her bag. She quietly looks at the glistening pearls lying in its box, reaches out to carefully touch it.

As she was looking at it, she looks for Lin Li’s name in her contacts, and calls her.

The call was picked up fairly quickly. Lin Li seemed to be in a pretty good mood, her tone cheery, “Hello, An Zi.”

It’s been a while since she had been called An Zi. An Ran was then convinced that she truly was okay. She laughs and jokingly asks, “So how is it, bride-to-be. You’re getting married tomorrow, are you nervous?”

Lin Li chuckles. She wasn’t showing off, but honestly tells her, “Nervous. So nervous I feel like my heart is about to jump out.”

An Ran, not holding back, laughs heartily, unafraid that she would hear her, surprisingly in times of nervousness. After laughing she finally sincerely asks, “You’ve really thought it over?” She really does not want her to regret it. If she wants to go back she can do it now, no matter how many people would be against it, she would definitely be there behind her to support her.

Lin Li was silent for a while. Then she laughs and scolds her, “An Zi, you thoughtless thing, you think I’m not making the right choice?”

An Ran chuckles. She doesn’t say more, and just says, “I’ll come over to the hotel tonight.”

She had already told Su Yi Cheng earlier on, that she will step up her role as Lin Li’s maid of honour. Because the next day she has to help Lin Li with her make up, so she will accompany Lin Li at her hotel all night.

Su Yi Cheng doesn’t say much, and only tells her to take care of herself.

During the call An Ran had told him that she went to the mall and bumped into Zhou Han, and included the necklace incident. Su Yi Cheng turned silent, then softly answers and said that he understood. Soon after he changed the subject, and asked her to gives his blessings to Lin Li for him. An Ran nods, and the couple didn’t have much else to talk about, and ended the call.

Before she had finished work she went into Huang De Xing’s office and asked for a day off. Huang De Xing doesn’t say anything, and only asks her about her progress with the physical activity park, and reminded her to seize the opportunity.

After work she headed towards Lin Li’s hotel. While she was waiting for the elevator to get there, she bumped into Cheng Xiang who was coming down. Cheng Xiang looks at her, and gives her a small smile.

An Ran was a little uncomfortable. Seeing him now, it was different, especially after that incident at the reception.

Cheng Xiang took the initiative, and says, “An Ran, tomorrow, Lin Li will trouble you lots to take care of her. Her belly is still growing, but she always forgets that.” His words, were all about worrying and pampering over Lin Li, making people falsely believe that he truly loved her.

An Ran glances away, and softly says, “You don’t need to worry about that. I know what I should do.” Her tone wasn’t too nice, it was blunt, and not polite.

Cheng Xiang knows that she was still holding a grudge over him and xiao xiao’s matter. He nods at her, and passes her, taking the chance to leave. He came to deliver Lin Li’s dinner. Recently she’s been pretty picky about her food, whether it was the hotel’s food or other restaurant food she hasn’t the appetite for them. It was only the food that he makes, that she can manage to swallow down.

When Cheng Xiang passed by An Ran’s side, An Ran threatens in a low voice, “Cheng Xiang, Lin Li really did give you her body and soul. If you make her unhappy, I definitely won’t let you off!”

Cheng Xiang turns to her, and looks at her earnestly. Then he solemnly nods. As if promising, he says, “Don’t worry. I won’t let down Lin Li!”

Hearing that, An Ran sneers. She glares at him, and says, “Heh. Merely not letting her down?”

Cheng Xiang pauses, and wasn’t able to utter a word.

“Cheng Xiang, you think that Lin Li has been with you for 10 years, just because you won’t let her down?” An Ran says, and turns around to enter the elevator.

Cheng Xiang stood there alone, clenching his hands. He never thought that xiao xiao would return, and shortly after her return, he never would have thought he would want to leave Lin Li. He had always thought that he would spend the rest of his days with Lin Li.

When An Ran came up, due to morning sickness Lin Li was in the bathroom vomiting. Mother Lin was standing at the side, patting her back, soothing her. And standing outside was father Lin, his face trying to hide the concern and distress for his daughter.

She waited for Lin Li to come out from the washroom. She was really pale due to her morning sickness. Seeing that An Ran had come over, she puts on a small smile. Her voice was weak, as she says, “You’re here.”

An Ran nods, and smiles at mother Lin at the side. She steps forward to take Lin Li, supporting her to sit down on the sofa. As she was holding her, An Ran had realized that the few days that she hadn’t seen Lin Li, she had become a lot thinner. She wasn’t large-statured to begin with, and now she became even more elegant.

Although An Ran was feeling for her, she couldn’t do anything for her.

Mother Lin and father Lin seemed to be out of the loop over the issue with Cheng Xiang. They all sat down and chatted for a bit, talking about how good Cheng Xiang was. An Ran doesn’t say much, and just nods her head and smiles.

Lin Li had inherited mother Lin and father Lin’s disposition, being sincerely cordial.

The elder couple had accompanied An Ran for a little longer, then they returned to their own rooms, allowing Lin Li and An Ran to chat on their own.

An Ran felt sad and sorry for Lin Li’s thinning appearance. She really wants Lin Li go to back to the way she was before, eating anything and everything, as if she could never get full.

Lin Li seemed to detect An Ran’s uneasiness, and smiles at her, “Don’t worry. The doctor said the first three months would be like this, throwing up everything I eat. Wanting to eat, but haven’t the appetite. All of this is normal, after three months everything will be back to normal. Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”

An Ran smiles at her, not saying much more.

Tonight seems to be a sleepless night, as the two girls couldn’t fall asleep. They lied on the bed recalling about their green and innocent years, remembering the painful and happy college life. They talked and talked, until they cried. Not knowing why, but thinking about it made them weep. After weeping the two face each other and laugh, passing through the night like deranged people.

After all, she was pregnant. Even if she was excited, not drowsy, the baby in her belly was tired. It was almost midnight, and Lin Li at last gave in to her baby’s drowsy call.

An Ran carefully covers her with a blanket. She herself was still wide awake, and turns to go into the washroom. She wrings out the water from the face towel she had used to wash her face.
When she came out of the washroom, her cell phone started to ding signalling an incoming text.

An Ran was suspicious at who would text her at this hour. She goes over to pick up her cell phone, and didn’t expect that it was her very own big boss Su.

It was even in his style, four short words, but made hearts melt.

----‘Miss you, hard to sleep!’

An Ran grabs her phone, and her lips couldn’t help but curl up. She delicately strokes the four words on her screen. How come she doesn’t feel it was cheesy as she was looking at it.

Then she turns to glance at Lin li on the bed, and quietly sneaks out to the balcony. This was the hotel’s scenic room, from the balcony one could see the entire night scenery of Jiang City. The lights were flickering neon, the city going into hibernation.

She takes her phone and makes a call to a certain person. The phone rang once before it was picked up. The swiftness of it made her imagine that he was waiting by his phone.

“Not asleep yet?” Su Yi Cheng asks as he answers the call.

An Ran chuckles, “You too. You still have to go to work early tomorrow.”

Su Yi Cheng gently sighs, as if grumbling, “I can’t hold you, so I can’t sleep.”

“Big boss Su, are you a child?” An Ran was clearly not convinced.

Su Yi Cheng doesn’t answer her question, but rather asks, “You think I’m lying?”

Well duh! An Ran doesn’t say it out loud, but thinks it.

“I think I’m used to holding you while I sleep. You suddenly not being here tonight, really is hard to get used to.” Su Yi Cheng says truthfully. He had finished looking over documents, and washed up and got ready for bed, but didn’t expect that two hours later, he was tossing around. Sometimes habits are a scary thing. How long has it been, that he is already unaccustomed to her absence.

An Ran chuckles. It doesn’t matter if it was real or not, those words made her feel indescribable feelings. She teases, “Then what did you do before marrying me, could it be that you didn’t sleep at all?”

The other line turns silent. A while later, Su Yi Cheng’s voice was faint, as he says, “I can’t remember.”

An Ran laughs out loud, and carefully turns to look inside. She was very afraid that she was making a racket and disturbed Lin Li’s peaceful sleep. Seeing that Lin Li was still in the same position, An Ran felt relieved. She whispers back, “Alright. You go to sleep, still have to work tomorrow.” The day is no longer early, so Su Yi Cheng doesn’t pester anymore. He just reminds her, “En. You also go sleep. Tomorrow will be a tiring day.”

An Ran smiles and nods, answering yes. Then she ends the line, and turns back to the room. Lin Li was sleeping comfortably, as she was softly snoring. An Ran goes to her side and lies down. They already reserved a time at the bridal shop early morning tomorrow for Lin Li’s make-up. She shuts her eyes, and falls asleep out of exhaustion.



An Ran didn’t realize, when she had closed her eyes and fallen fast asleep, Lin Li who was sleeping soundly had slowly opened her eyes. She quietly looks at the simple, silver ring on her left finger that Cheng Xiang had bought for her from the shopping center. A while later, she draws her hands together, clasping it tightly, as if she was holding onto her final happiness in her hands!

---END OF CHAPTER---



Next Chapter



***Guys, I messed up on my translation lol. Please re-read >.< Thanks Joe for catching it  

First Marriage Then Love 《先婚厚爱》Chapter 86 Translation

086. The steps of falling in love


Su Yi Cheng seems like he was being serious!

An Ran looks at the large bunch of roses on her desk that the office assistant had brought her. She was out of it for a while. When Su Yi Cheng had dropped her off in the morning, before she got off he gave her a kiss on the forehead, his voice carried a smile as he softly spoke into her ears, saying that he had ordered flowers from the shop, and it will be delivered to her in a bit. When An Ran was still in shock, he had already started the car and left, not giving her an opportunity to ask.

She thought that he was just joking last night, spoke without thinking. After all they are already married, to fall in love, hearing it sounds awkward, a little superfluous. But she never imagined, that he really did find someone to deliver the flowers!

An Ran doesn’t know if she should laugh or cry. Looking at the huge bouquet of flowers made her shake her head helplessly.

Her office assistant looks at her with envy, but also with a gossipy gleam in her eyes she asks, “Gu jie, such pretty flowers, who sent them to you? Boyfriend?”

An Ran looks at her, and faintly shakes her head, “No.” She strokes the delicate petals. This was the first time that she had received a bouquet. Before when she was with Mo Fei, because Mo Fei’s budget was limited, the most romantic, luxurious thing they did was go to the coffee shop by the school. As for movies, during their 4 years together, they only saw one, and it was one that was discounted half-price on Tuesdays.

“Then a client?” The assistant wanted more gossip. She hasn’t been here for long, and she hadn’t interacted with An Ran much, but compared to Xiao xiao who was so extravagantly dressed up and seemed so arrogant, An Ran seemed a lot more amiable and approachable, and she doesn’t have to be so cautious with her words, worry about saying the wrong thing.

An Ran looks at the flowers, and softly says, “It’s from my husband.”

“Uh?” The assistant was shocked. Although she hasn’t been at the firm for long, but from her sources, she never heard that Gu An Ran was already married! Even not too long ago she heard from colleagues that her mom was always anxious to introduce somebody to her, and she was always busy with blind dates. “Gu jie, when did you get married? How come I didn’t hear anyone bring it up?”

An Ran squints her eyes at her, and says, “I’m almost 29, don’t tell me you guys were expecting me to stay unmarried."

“No way, Gu jie you’re pretty and capable, even your work is amazing.” The assistant said.

“Alright. You can go now.” An Ran smiles at her and nods.

The assistant was reluctant to let it go. Right before leaving she turned to look back, once more confirming, “Gu jie, you’re really married!”

An Ran shakes her head and laughs. She looks at her and says, “Does it seem like I’m joking?”

The assistant laughs in embarrassment, and shakes her head. Then she turns around to leave.

An Ran cups her hand around the bouquet of flowers, and the corner of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up. She suddenly sees the little card sticking out between the roses, and opens it. Su Yi Cheng’s writing was very strong and powerful. The message on the card did not have any sweet words, but it’s what An Ran had always wanted --- together forever*.

An Ran faintly smiles. Her eyes start to heat up for some reason. She reaches out to stroke the words on the card, and looks at the signature below, and her heart started to have this warm feeling.

Su Yi Cheng’s call came in at this time. Looking at the name on the screen, An Ran had a feeling she couldn’t describe. The phone rang for a long time until An Ran finally picked up.

“Are you busy?” Su Yi Cheng thought that she was busy with work and that was the reason why it took her so long to pick up.

An Ran unconsciously shakes her head. After shaking her head she realized that he wouldn’t see it, so she quickly says, “No.” After saying that she realized that her voice sounded very hoarse.

Su Yi Cheng seemed to detect that her voice was different, so he asks concerned, “What’s wrong?”

An Ran shakes her head and says, “Nothing. Just, just moved.”

Su Yi Cheng was speechless, until he realized that she was moved by the bouquet of flowers he had sent her. He cries out, “Idiot, if you liked it, from now on I’ll send you them everyday.”

An Ran also laughs, shakes her head and says, “It’s okay, that’s just a waste of money.” This kind of bouquet, at the least it must cost several hundreds, and the flowers only last for a short time, how wasteful.

“Hehe, well then Miss Gu, do you have time tonight? Can I ask you out for dinner?” Su Yi Cheng had made the preparations to properly pursue her, sending her flowers, a dinner date, each of these steps, An Ran found it funny and asks, “Is it a candle-lit dinner?”

“Of course.” Su Yi Cheng says certainly.

An Ran smiles. She couldn’t contain the delight on her face, and nods, “Okay.”

Hearing her reply, the purpose of his phone call was a success. He says, “Alright, until then wait for me at the entrance, I’ll come pick you up.”

An Ra smiles and agrees, then the couple chat for a little bit longer. It seemed like Su Yi Cheng was about to have a meeting soon, so they ended the call.

As soon as the call ended, someone knocked on her door. They pushed the door open, and it was the assistant from before. This time she had specially found a vase, filled it with water and delivered it to An Ran. She says, “Gu jie, put the flowers in here, this way the flowers can live a bit longer, and the buds that aren’t opened up yet can blossom.”

An Ran gets up from behind her desk. She reaches out to carry the vase filled with water, and sincerely thanks her, “Thank you.”

The assistant waves her hand, but couldn’t help but take a step forward, and continues to express her gossipy nature, “Gu jie, what does your husband do? When will you show him off to us?”

An Ran felt defeated, and laughs as she pats her, “Alright, what a gossip, hurry and get back to work, when it’s time I really will invite him for a meal and of course I’ll include you.”

The assistant, satisfied, retreats from the office.

An Ran places the vase by the window sill. After, she couldn’t help but take a glance at the beautiful roses bathed in sunlight, to the extent that she was holding her brush, but hadn’t drawn anything substantial.

During the evening she waited for the elevator, when Xiao Xiao also comes out from the office. She stands beside her, eyes fixated on the stainless steel door of the elevator, the corner of her mouth carried this smiling-yet-unsmiling expression.

An Ran doesn’t look at her. As far as she’s concerned, ever since she had destroyed her draft, she is no longer her colleague.

The elevator dings upon arrival, and An Ran takes the first step and enters.

Xiao Xiao follows, and side-eyes her. Her tone was strange as she says, “Are you purposely showing off how well your marriage is?”

An Ran frowns, not understanding how she had offended her.

“That’s enough, with your background, being able to marry the Mayor’s special assistant, become the madam of an official, is already enough to show off.” Xiao Xiao continues, her tone incredibly sour.

An Ran doesn’t turn around, and only quietly asks, “Being so suspicious and jealous of people everyday, isn’t it tiring?”

Hearing that, Xiao Xiao turns her head and looks her in the eye, and with disdain says, “You think you’re so high and mighty? If you really were then you wouldn’t deliberately show off how fortunate you are.”

An Ran sneers, turns to look at her and says, “Do I have to show off? I’m just happy, isn’t that so?”

Xiao Xiao waits for her, looks away, and coldly turns away.

An Ran also doesn’t want to talk any more, so she turns her head, watching the digits jump down.

“Ding----“

The elevator opens. An Ran doesn’t look at her any longer, and just gets out of the elevator.

Su Yi Cheng had finished work a bit early. When An Ran got out of the door, she saw him standing by the side of the car. Seeing her come out, he smiles and beckons her over.

Xiao Xiao follows An Ran from behind, and sees Su Yi Cheng. Her grumpy face immediately turns into a smile. She pats her hair, and walks over to Su Yi Cheng.

Walking over until he was facing An Ran, Su Yi Cheng very naturally takes the bag from An Ran, then reaches out to stroke her head. Wearing a smile he asks, “Was work busy today?”

An Ran smiles and shakes her head. Because of his bouquet of flowers today, she couldn’t draw anything at all.

Xiao Xiao approaches from behind, like a peach blossom, her eyes carry a charm as she faces them, her tone smiling as she says, “Special assistant Su, did you come to pick An Ran up?”

Su Yi Cheng only then notices her, and only out of courtesy, and a bit of distance, nods his head, “Yes. Miss Xiao is knocking off work?”

An Ran stands at the side, watches Xiao Xiao, and frowns in annoyance.

Xiao Xiao smiles lovingly and nods, then turns to look at An Ran and says, “Gu jie is really fortunate, to be able to meet such a good man like Special Assistant Su. Really is admirable and envious.”

An Ran glances at her, and reaches out to take Su Yi Cheng’s hand. She looks at Xiao Xiao, and says, “I really am fortunate.”

Xiao xiao looks at her. Since the beginning she’s been carrying this smile. She then turns to look at Su Yi Cheng with intentions, “I don’t think I can call a cab in time. It’s rush hour now, there must be a lot of people calling for taxis.”

Su Yi Cheng looks at An Ran, then turns to look at Xiao xiao again. He’s had this distant smile. “Really.”

“Yes. Every time I go home from work, I have to fight for a taxi.” Xiao xiao says. Then she moves her gaze to look at the car behind Su Yi Cheng, and says, “If Special Assistant Su doesn’t mind, would you be able to give me a ride.” Saying that, she turns to look at An Ran, “Gu jie wouldn’t mind right.”

An Ran looks at her. She doesn’t have much expression on her face. Not waiting for her to speak, Su Yi Cheng excuses himself, “Why would An Ran mind. You are her colleague, but still I have to apologize to Miss Xiao, because tonight I have a date with An Ran, thus, I don’t want anyone else to intrude. Miss Xiao should understand, right.”

Xiao Xiao was taken aback. She was expecting the rejection to come from An Ran, and she was going to use that as an opportunity to call An Ran petty, but she didn’t expect that the rejection would come from Su Yi Cheng instead. Not only that, it left her no room to maneuver.

Xiao Xiao was naturally an intelligent person. So naturally she understood that Su Yi Cheng was giving her a way to leave on good terms, giving her no chance to weasel her way into a free ride. Seeing that Su Yi Cheng still has a smile on his face, and that his expression had neither changed because of the rejection nor did he look unhappy or uneasy, she naturally replies, “Oh so it turns out Special Assistant Su and Gu jie are going on a date! Hehe, Special Assistant Su is so good to Gu jie.”

Su Yi Cheng glances at An Ran, and captures her waist. Then he turns to face Xiao xiao and says, “Wives should be loved, if I don’t treat her well then is it proper for me to treat other women better?”

Xiao xiao forces a smile. She wasn’t able to come up with a reply. She heard the meaning behind his words. She is naturally intelligent, how could she not understand it.

Seeing her not speak, Su Yi Cheng naturally doesn’t say much more to her. He just seizes An Ran’s waist, and politely says, “Miss Xiao, then you can keep on waiting, we will take our leave first.” After speaking he turns An Ran around by the waist. He shows his gentlemanly manners and opens the door for An Ran, hand covering the roof of the car, to prevent her from accidentally hitting her head there. After An Ran was seated, he closes the door for her, and then gets on the other side. Not wasting any more time, he starts the car to leave.

Xiao xiao watches their car disappear around the corner. The smile on her face slowly turns stiffer and stiffer. She clenches her hand. She was envious of An Ran, jealous that she has everything – happiness and a blissful family, she has the talent in designing, she only needs to sit in the office and draw and she could get the recognition from everyone outside, take on a case on her own, unlike her. She has to cater to those old lechers, the clients and dealers with evil intentions. Even with those efforts, she was still in her shadows even after 6 years. Clearly she has worked so hard, but she could never get the approval. She didn’t care in the past, she could exploit Huang De Xiang’s efforts to suppress her, because she could get better and easier cases. But now that she managed to snatch Su Yi Cheng, Huang De Xing is now acting to save face from Su Yi Cheng. As for her, her years of hard work has gone to shit, is it just because she doesn’t have the luck? If it’s like that, she won’t settle for it!

After looking on for a while, Xiao xiao then gathers herself and turns to leave, but at the moment she turned around, the office assistant curiously appeared behind her. Because of that, she was scared out of her wits!

She was already in a rotten mood, so seeing her act so recklessly made her even more pissed. She unleashed the humiliation she suffered from Su Yi Cheng and An Ran and put it all on her, “What do you think you’re doing!”

The office assistant was still in gossip mode and her reaction was a bit slow, so she recklessly asked Xiao xiao, “That man just now was so handsome, is he Gu jie’s husband?”

Xiao xiao looks at her, and coldly says, “Heng, he is now, but we’ll see later.”

The assistant appeared to not hear her, so she continued to speak to herself, “No wonder Gu jie was hiding her husband, not even telling people she got married. Such a handsome and outstanding man, I would do the same thing if it were me!”

Xiao xiao glares at her, turns her head. She smirks, and sneers, “Hiding, heng, can she even hide?”

The assistant then seemed to hear her, and looks at her strangely, shaking her head, not quite understanding her.



In the car.

An Ran was in a bad mood thanks to Xiao xiao. She has become somewhat gloomy and unhappy.

Su Yi Cheng glances at her, and faintly smiles, “What’s wrong, seems to be something unpleasant between you and your colleague just now.”

An Ran doesn’t say anything, only turns to look at him, and stare at him.

Seeing her not speak, Su Yi Cheng asks, “Was I wrong?”

An Ran shakes her head, sighs, and says, “She seems to be interested in you.”

Su Yi Cheng raises his brows, “And?”

“Do you think she’s pretty?” An Ran asks. Actually she doesn’t need a confirmation. She’s quite aware of Xiao xiao’s methods. She knows that she goes to great extent to get what she wants, fair or not. It’s like she stands firm in her line of professional construction, she could sell her own body in order to get what she wants. All men seem to want sex, and she has to admit, Xiao xiao has the resources to make men go mad and grovel under her skirt. And she doesn’t know if Su Yi Cheng can resist temptations with such a beauty.

Su Yi Cheng turns to look at her strangely, then turns back to look ahead at the road, but at the same time he moves his hand and places it on top her her’s and strokes it. “Do you look down on yourself or are you underestimating me?”

An Ran turns her head, and mumbles, “She’s beautiful, don’t tell me you don’t think so?”

Su Yi Cheng laughs, and reaches out to hold her hand, and only says, “I don’t even remember what she looks like.”

An Ran turns her head to look at her strangely, a little surprised to hear that response.

Su Yi Cheng laughs and glances at her. He grabs her hand and squeezes it, “Were you jealous?”

Hearing that, An Ran abruptly shifts her body, not looking at him, and declares, “Of course not.”

Her quick response revealed her actual intentions.

Su Yi Cheng just smiles, but doesn’t expose her. He just holds her hand, his large palm rubbing against her small hand. A while later, does he softly say, “You’re my wife, the one who will be by my side for the rest of my life, the person that will watch over me throughout my life. Just looking at you is enough for me, what good is it to look at other women. Anyways, what business is it to me whether another woman is pretty or not?”

An Ran doesn’t say anything, doesn’t admit that his sappy words, actually made her heart melt. A smile unconsciously makes its way to her face.

She also couldn’t help but mumble, “Such a smooth talker, you know how to say the right things.”

Su Yi Cheng laughs, turns to look at her, and asks, “You like it?”

An Ran smiles, and turns her head away. She looks out the window and watches the scenery fly by, her lips carried an attractive smile. He naughtily drew circles around her small palm.

The car slowly stops in front of a restaurant. An Ran was about to get out, but Su Yi Cheng stopped her by raising his hand.

An Ran looks at him in confusion, and asks, “Isn’t it here? We’re not there yet?”

Su Yi Cheng shakes his head, undoes his seat belt, and gets out of the car first. Then he goes around and opens the door for her.

An Ran looks at him funnily, and scolds him, “Why the trouble, I can get off myself.” Even though she said that, she was still incredibly happy because of his action.

Su Yi Cheng just smiles, doesn’t say anything. He takes her hand and leads to her restaurant.

The atmosphere of the restaurant wasn’t too bad. There was a pianist playing live, the beautiful gentle melody drifted faintly throughout the dining hall.

They did not want a private room, and just looked for an empty table. An Ran seemed to love window seats, no matter if they were in a canteen, coffee shop, or a Western restaurant, out of pure habit she chose a seat by the window.

At the same time they were seated, a waiter arrived with tea, and handed the menu to them. The two ordered a meal, and the waiter took back the menu and retreated. An Ran looks at him, looking at him funnily.

Su Yi Cheng asks, “Do I have something on my face?”

An Ran shakes her head, and asks, “Was the stuff you said yesterday serious?” Sending her flowers and having a candle light dinner, he can’t be real about pursuing her!

Su Yi Cheng picks up the tea, takes a sip, and asks, “Does it feel like I’m joking?”

An Ran shakes her head, but couldn’t help but laugh, “You don’t think we’re boring?” They’re already married, to turn around and say let’s court, isn’t it a bit too late?

Su Yi Cheng understands the mistake, and frowns, “Sending flowers, having a candle light dinner, are these things too boring? An ordinary date isn’t like this, right?” He also mutters, “Secretary Zheng clearly said that these were the basic steps!”

An Ran snorts, looks at him curiously, and says, “Steps! Su Yi Cheng, were you planning to take me to next?”

“Watch movie, after the movie we will take a stroll by the river bank, then we can go home.” Su Yi Cheng deadpanned. In reality, with regards to courting females, he actually doesn’t have experience. When he was with Ling Ran, because they had grown up together, naturally when they grew up they were in sync, there was no need for courting. Even with dates, with the initial stages he had used Ye Zi Wen and Zhou Han, because they were all friends, and had all grown up together, there wasn’t any awkward generation gaps or silences. Even if they had dates with just the two of them, the subject of their conversation would usually end up about Ye Zi Wen or Zhou Han. Genuine candle light dinners, movie dates, were very few. So this time when he said he would date An Ran, regarding the basic steps and recipe for romance, he even looked online earnestly, and even was open minded to ask Secretary Zheng for tips. And Secretary Zheng was very enthusiastic about formulating the steps and plan for romance, telling him of tonight’s course and pressing him to write the steps down, that could be considered a success.

An Ran looks at him, really holding back her smile. Finally, after he gave her a look of uneasiness she lets out her smile, and deadpans, “I’m very look forward to the next arrangement.”

The food was set out very quickly. In fact, the restaurant food can be considered pretty ordinary, but its success lied in its location. Sitting by the window, she could see the beautiful mini fountain by the music plaza across the street. The pretty lighting hits the stream of water, and that made the stream of water appear like giant glow stick.

By the time they left the restaurant it was about 7 o’clock. According to Su Yi Cheng’s plan, the next course they were going to was to see a movie. Luckily the movie theatre wasn’t too far from here, and it would only take a few minutes to walk over there. When they arrived there, the movie at 7:10 had already started. Recently there was a hugely popular 3D American blockbuster that was showing at this time, and it was part of a series. The last two series achieved immense success, and this time the third part was about to be released. It was highly anticipated by many people. Most of the people who came to the theatre were here to watch this film, so tickets were being sold very quickly.

The tickets for the American blockbuster was already sold out, and the other movie that was playing at the same time was a domestic animated film “Submarine Story”. Hearing that name, An Ran automatically associated with that huge Hollywood animated film, something about cars, something about the sea. These types of movies look very nice, and in the theatre it looks even prettier, and did surprisingly well in the box office.

Thinking along those lines, An Ran faces the ticket seller and says, “Hi, I want two tickets to ‘Submarine Story’.”

The ticket seller lifts up their head, looks at An Ran and Su Yi Cheng strangely, and asks, “You guys are really going to watch ‘Submarine Story’? That’s a cartoon!”

An Ran unconcernedly says, “I know. We don’t mind cartoons, just give me the tickets.”

The ticket seller gives an odd look to the couple, and was about to say something, but after hesitating, she ultimately doesn’t say anything. She accepts the money, and prints out two pretty tickets.

The couple go into the first hall, and as they entered, An Ran started to feel something fishy. There was less than 10% attendance in the entire screening hall, and most of the seats were vacant. Such attendance, the couple did not take a number, and just looked for an empty seat instead. Carefully examining, An Ran then discovered, within the entire hall, apart from her and Su Yi Cheng, the rest of the people in there had children with them. Looking at it, even if there were children inside she couldn’t help but be vexed.

An Ran stared at the movie screen for a long while, until she couldn’t look at it anymore. Then she gathered herself and says to Su Yi Cheng, “How about we leave.” It really was a cartoon. There was no plot or substance in it, it really was something for children to just watch.

Su Yi Cheng laughs and nods, then pulls An Ran up to leave the hall.

After leaving, An Ran let out a long sigh. The couple looks at each other, and burst out laughing. They finally understood why the ticket seller ‘Abby’ was looking at them so weirdly.

The two leave the cinema holding hands, and walk down the street slowly as they made their way over to the car parked by the restaurant.

In fact there was no need to say anything, the couple particularly enjoyed this idle serenity.

Night time at Jiang City is livelier than the daytime. Both sides of the streets were filled with every kind of stalls, each booth had at least one or two people around it. Some haggling, some buying.

The two walk not too quickly, and cheerfully joke around as they walk hand in hand. The car was just right up ahead, and An Ran couldn’t help but catch sight of the person quickly walking past them – Gu Heng Wen. She turns to face Su Yi Cheng, and evidently he had seen him as well.

“Dad!” An Ran calls out to Gu Heng Wen.

Gu Heng Wen was walking quite swiftly, and did not seem to hear An Ran’s voice. He didn’t look back, and just walks past the crowd.

An Ran wanted to go after him, but sees that he is rushing toward a small alley at the side.

Just as the couple was considering whether or not they should follow, a family voice calls out from behind.

“Special Assistant Su!”

Su Yi Cheng and An Ran both turn around, only to see Tong Wen Hai looking at them surprised.

“Special Assistant Su and An Ran are taking a stroll?”

Su Yi Cheng calmly smiles at him, nods, and replies, “It’s not too busy today, so I came out with An Ran.” He also asks, “Chief Tong, why are you here too? Are you also accompanying your wife?” Saying that, he stretches out to look for Mrs. Tong.

“Uh, no no no, I was just passing by, just passing by.” Tong Wen Hai explains. He had kept his eyes on An Ran as he spoke, his expression seemed to flicker with uneasiness.

Su Yi Cheng smiles softly and nods, not asking more. Seeing that An Ran was silent, he addresses him, “Then, Chief Tong, I still need to stroll around with An Ran, and will not chat with you for much longer. We will take our leave first.”

“Yes, yes, as you wish, please.” Tong Wen Hai nods quickly.

An Ran looks at him, and gives him a small nod, then allows Su Yi Cheng to pull her away and leave.

After a block, An Ran turns to look at Su Yi Cheng and asks, “Um, do you have information on him?”

Su Yi Cheng looks at her, understanding that the ‘him’ she was referring to was Tong Wen Hai. He doesn’t say anything for a while, just smiles softly, and shakes his head.

“Oh.” An Ran faintly replies. She turns back, her eyes a little dim, and as if mumbling to herself, she says, “Why do you think my dad was in such a rush, could it be because he saw Chief Tong?” She doesn’t know what the relation between her mother, dad and Tong Wen Hai was, but she can faintly detect it, and she has a bad feeling about it. She doesn’t know if she was thinking too much about it, but the expression that her mother had after seeing Tong Wen Hai a few times, and what her father had told her that night, and it was hard not to think about it.

Su Yi Cheng doesn’t reply to her mumbling. He lets go of her waist, turns her around, and leans in to kiss her on the lips. Only a while later does he let her go, and softly whispers into her ears, “Don’t forget that you are on a date with me now. We are the only two people in the world now, the only thing in your mind should be about our date, or you can think about what we’ll do at home later, but!” Releasing her, he cups both his hands to her face, and Su Yi Cheng, in earnest, emphasizes each word, “You can not think about anything unrelated to us, because tonight, you are mine, everything is mine, including the thoughts in your brain, should only be thinking about me!”

An Ran looks at him stunned. Only after a while does she break into laughter. She accuses him, “So overbearing.”

Su Yi Cheng laughs, a little proud of himself, and says, “I’m just overbearing to you.”

Being messed by him, An Ran no longer has the thoughts of Tong Wen Hai and her parents in her mind, and just looks at the smile on his face.

Su Yi Cheng pecks her on the lips, then takes her by the hand, and says, “Let’s go, according to the romance plan, we have to take a stroll along the river bank, then we can go home holding hands.”

An Ran looks at him, nods, and chuckles.

Su Yi Cheng sees that she is a bit absent-minded, and lets out a soft sigh, “Well, more than strolling along the bank, right now I actually want to go home and do something else.”

Hearing that, An Ran finally comes up with a reaction. Her face flushes, and she rebukes him, shaking off his hand, turns around to run, still softly scolding him, “Rotten rascal.”

Su Yi Cheng lets out a hearty laugh, takes huge strides forward, and recaptures her hand, holding onto it tightly.

*together forever - this is part of a verse of an ancient Chinese poem/poetry. The full verse is " 死生契阔，与子成说；执子之手，与子偕老" it means "I have once made you a promise, that no matter life or death, I will always hold on tightly to your hand, accompanying you till our hair grew white, together forever and ever." The author is a soldier that is leaving for war and wrote this for his wife, because he does not know if he will be able to return alive. So he wrote a whole poem about his sorrow and wishes, this verse is but a part of the poem.  (full credits to Joe!)


---END OF CHAPTER---


Next Chapter

First Marriage Then Love 《先婚厚爱》Chapter 85 Translation

085. Let’s fall in love



In the kitchen, An Ran had specially made a cup of coffee, and out of habit she puts in a lot of sugar. She brings the coffee into the studio. She pushes the door open, and Su Yi Cheng was sitting behind the mahogany desk concentrating on the documents in his hands.

“Knock knock knock.” An Ran raps on the door.

Su Yi Cheng raises his head. He was wearing gold glasses which made him even more studious than his usual self, however the smile that he wore was still as warm as usual. He softly smiles at her and looks at her, and says, “Come in.”

An Ran smiles and enters, hands over the cup of coffee to him, “You’ve been looking at it for a while now, drink a cup of coffee first.” He seemed to be quite busy tonight. After washing up he ate a simple meal, then went directly into the studio.

Su Yi Cheng reaches out and takes the coffee from her, carries it down and takes a small sip from it. It was what he liked, bitter and sweet. He can’t tell what flavour this coffee was, but it was a praiseworthy drink. He then places it down, and goes back to pick up the document on his desk.

An Ran looks at the files on his desk. All of them were documents of some sort, suggestions, proposals, resolution stuff. Looking at all these densely packed words, she couldn’t help but feel a headache coming in.

“Is the job tough?” She doesn’t know if he had a problem come up with work. Tonight she felt that he was a little bit off.

Hearing that, Su Yi Cheng raises his head to look at her, raises his brows, apparently asking why she thought so.

An Ran seemed to understand the question from his expression. She looks at him, and points to his face, and half-jokingly says, “It’s written on your face, telling people that you’re not happy.”

Su Yi Cheng chuckles, reaches out to her, and says, “Come here.”

An Ran doesn’t know what he wants to do, but still listens and walks around the desk, going over to him. She reaches out to him, connecting with his large palms.

Holding onto her hands, Su Yi Cheng uses his strength to let her turn around and tumble onto his lap. He wraps his arms around her stomach, and places his chin on her shoulders. He indifferently says, “You want to know?”

An Ran nods, turns to look at him, “I might not understand much, but I still want to help share your burden.”

Su Yi Cheng looks at her, stares into her eyes, then moves slightly forward, and gives a light peck on her lips. He looks at her in seriousness and says, “An Ran, can you tell me the truth?”

“En?” An Ran looks at him in confusion, not quite understanding what he was suggesting.

Su Yi Cheng chuckles, and says, “Originally the meeting was supposed to go on until night, but because of some reasons it was pushed back until tomorrow morning. When I was on my way home I met the rainstorm. I was thinking that you might have been trapped in your building because of the rain as well, so I turned the car around and went over to your company.”

An Ran was stunned. She looks at him, a bit embarrassed, because of her lie earlier. She did it because she didn’t want him to think too much of it, even though she knew he wouldn’t, but to bring up her ex to her husband, made her feel a bit weird, so she avoided it by telling a white lie. But she didn’t expect that it would cause him to misunderstand. “You knew.”

Su Yi Cheng looks at her, doesn’t nod nor shake his head, and just says, “I just want to hear the truth from you.”

“I didn’t go to the supermarket. When you called me I was at the coffee shop with Mo Fei. We ran into each other after work. I didn’t want to tell you, because I didn’t want you to think too much about it.” An Ran says frankly.

Su Yi Cheng looks at her, reaches out to comb her long hair that trailed over her shoulders. He liked the way her hair trailed over her shoulders, but because of work she always tied up at the back of her head in a strict manner, always tempting him to pull that rubber band off. He faintly says, “I came right when Mo Fei’s car left and saw you in the seat.”

Hearing that, An Ran was apologetic, and quietly says, “Sorry.” The rain was very big, and she was feeling troubled by Mo Fei. Even though she was looking out the window, she didn’t notice him coming over at all.

Su Yi Cheng shakes his head, embraces her as she sits. He fiddles with her fingers, chin still resting on her shoulders, and gently says, “I do not mean to blame you, but I'm also unhappy that you choose to hide it from me. I know that actually we have progressed too quickly, from knowing each other to marriage to now, we've never had enough time to get to know each other better. We can only rely on tidbits from our daily life to do so and we must be more forthright and honest with each other.*”


(T/N: Copy pasta from Joe, lol.)

As he says that, Su Yi Cheng turns her around. He stares into her eyes, and earnestly says, “An Ran, you should be honest with me. I may mind a lot, because I must admit there isn’t a man who wouldn’t care about their own wife being alone with their first love. You can call me petty, jealous. Those are normal feelings, because all husbands care about their wife. But because you were afraid that I would mind and deliberately chose to hide it, that would make me unhappy, make me overthink, for that reason it would bother me even more, to the point where it didn’t matter who you went out with, but I'd be more bothered that you lied to me, even if that lie was well-intentioned, wanting to avoid offending my meaningless emotions.”

An Ran stares into his eyes, earnestly listened to him pouring out his innermost thoughts.

Seeing that she wasn’t speaking, Su Yi Cheng again earnestly asks, “An Ran, do you understand what I’m saying?”

An Ran looks at him. The corner of her mouth rises slightly, and purposely says, “I do, but I also don’t.”

Su Yi Cheng looks at her, and also smiles, “I’m trying to say that men are fickle, our minds are complicated, but you need to allow them to be capricious and difficult once in a while. After being capricious, he still would be rational. Said that way, is it a bit easier to understand?”

An Ran laughs. She sits in his lap, wraps her arms around his neck, and earnestly nods her head, “En. I understand that more than the one before.” He was trying to say that even though he will mind when she tells him she and Mo Fei had coffee together, but he was bothered even more that she was hiding it from him not wanting him to know. That is the capriciousness and stubbornness of a man he was talking about.

Su Yi Cheng laughs and pinches her nose, then rises to kiss her on the lip.

An Ran doesn’t refuse it, only wears a smile. She opens her mouth to cater to him, responding to him.

Her response excited Su Yi Cheng. He cups the back of her head, deepening the hot kiss between them.

By the time Su Yi Cheng released An Ran the two were gasping for breath. An Ran leaned against his chest. Her breathing was unstable, and the Su Yi Cheng that was holding her also seemed out of place, his stomach heaving up and down.

The two embrace for a while more. Leaning against his chest, An Ran can hear his heartbeat steadily returning to its undisturbed pace. She reaches out and tightens her hold on his slender waist, and slowly opens to say, “You, do you want to know the past of me and Mo Fei?”

The large palm that was lightly stroking An Ran’s back stops mid-air. A while later it slowly drops down. His low magnetic voice passes over An Ran’s head, “Do you want to talk about it?”

An Ran, in his embrace, nods her head lightly, “En. Today we went back to the coffee shop by campus. This whole time I thought that I was still hung over it, still can’t let go.” Saying that, An Ran shakes her head, chuckles, and continues, “Now I know, that all of it is truly in the past. I went to the coffee shop that we used to frequent, sat in the same place that we always used to sit in, ordered the coffee and milk tea that we used to always order, ate that familiar cake. But time has passed, that sweet and happy feeling that used to be there has already gone, become a complete stranger. Sitting opposite him again, I didn’t hate him, didn’t brood over the past. He just seemed like an ordinary stranger, such a stranger that even drinking a cup of tea, eating piece of cake in front of him felt really awkward and unnatural.

Su Yi Cheng doesn’t say anything, and calmly listens.

An Ran pauses for a while, and continues to speak, “We were classmates. There were very few female students majoring in architecture. It was a class of 30, but there were only 6 females students. Mo Fei’s grades were very good, and he was a hardworking student. He was from the mountains of Sichuan. His parents were humble farmers. He had an older brother and two younger sisters. In his village, there wasn’t even a 3-story building, the roads were made of mud, and cars only pass through the village every once in a while. The only way out was to study, to let knowledge change their destiny. Mo Fei was thirsty for success, and he finally came to our school as the first-rank student of his county. In fact, his grades could have got him to Peking or Tsinghua University*, but he ultimately chose our school, and that was because our school did not collect any tuition or miscellaneous fees from him during his 4-years of study.

“The only thing that allowed our lives to intersect each other was through Lin Li’s and Cheng Xiang’s relationship, because Cheng Xiang and Mo Fei were roommates, while Lin Li and I were roommates. Actually he wasn’t a very romantic person, he wouldn’t say sweet words and wasn’t the type to buy flowers. When he confessed to me, it was also done in a direct manner. He dropped me off to my dorm and confessed that he liked me. When I was still caught off-guard he snatched my first kiss, then laughed and rubbed my head, explaining that he would buy me breakfast tomorrow morning.” Saying that, An Ran faintly smiled, as if she really had gone back to those times, that young and inexperienced age. “The next day he really did wait for me downstairs, in his hands was a steamed bun and soy milk from the cafeteria. We had that kind of vague beginning. There wasn’t any romantic flowers, no sweet words of love. Everything about the beginning was just ordinary, nothing novel. I knew that his economic situation wasn’t good, so our dates were always very simple. At first we didn’t go to restaurants, we even didn’t go watch movies. We always did things simply like eat at the school cafeteria, then after eating we would go take a walk around the school field. Sometimes we would go to the small forest, holding hands and walk past each tree, sometimes we would also hold hands and walk past an obscure lake. The most common subject we talked about was about school. Mo Fei was a person with dreams and ambitions. Even back then I knew that he longed for success, an incomparable longing, the only thing he lacked was the opportunity, the luck.

“Our dating life was very smooth, there was no romance, and nothing deep and entrenched, but rather it was a steady flow, warm and gradual. It might have something to do with our disposition. It seemed as if it was dull and without passion, but we were very attentive to each other, really cherished and protected each other.” An Ran spoke very gently, very weakly, as if she were talking about another person’s story, and she was merely a spectator.

“You speak so highly of him, aren’t you afraid that I’ll get jealous?” Su Yi Cheng whispers into her ears, his tone quite earnest, not at all joking.

An Ran smiles softly, not answering his question. She continues, “We went through 3 years of university like that. Finally, one year, because of our respective internship we didn’t get to see each other much. The companies that we worked for was on opposite sides of the city. It would take about an hour to get from my company to his. It was also because of the distance, that the number of times we saw each other got fewer and fewer. We always said that we would definitely see each other, and it wasn’t because he had taken over a new case, but because I had taken over some work and was busy, because it was an internship, because I wanted to stay even after the internship, during that short period we really worked hard, that even on weekends when we should rest, was used to work overtime. But we would call each other every night. He was a boyfriend, no matter how busy or late he was, he would still always call me after he was done. Because we didn’t see each other much, and work was busy, he would still give me a call, no matter if work was difficult that day, he still wanted to hear my voice. Oftentimes when we talked there wouldn’t be any sounds from his side, and that was because he was so tired that he had fallen asleep. He assured me that he would succeed, say that he would give me a grand wedding, let me feel like the most beautiful and happiest bride in the world, and said that he would give me a really big diamond ring, then book Jiang City’s tallest restaurant, and propose to me there. Only all of these were attainable if I waited for him to succeed, he said, after he succeeded he would honour every promise he’d made with me. At that time I had cried, and laughed and cried. Holding the phone, I cried as I nodded. Even though I knew that he couldn’t see me nod my head, but the me at that moment, besides weeping and nodding I couldn’t say anything else. But he knew what my reaction was over the phone, so he only smiled foolishly as he held the phone.”

“We went through our 4th year of university like that. With great effort, we finished our internship smoothly and stayed at the company as new hires. That year, even though we called each other everyday, knew everything little thing about each other, but the number of times that we met could be counted on one hand, and every time it would be pushed back. He had been struggling with his designs, and I also had to be ready to go to the construction site at any moment. I thought, that even though we didn’t see each other much for one year, but our feelings towards each other had grown the quickest in this period. We understood each other better than before, it can even be said that compared to before, our affections were even better. Just when I had come to that realization, I didn’t even know that something else was happening. Sometimes I would hear news about him from others, saying that he was often with a female student at the cafeteria, the two were holding hands, their faces always wearing a smile, their relationship seemed sweet. I naturally never believed them, thought that the person they talked about wasn’t the person who continued to call me every night for half an hour, talk about the interesting things that happened at work that day. He even said that he had taken up a big case, the company’s director appreciated his work, he said that he felt that he was getting closer to succeeding. He said if things went smoothly, he could fulfill every promise he gave to me within two years.. But lies are lies. The prettier it is the more it hurts. I didn’t believe those that told me that he had changed his heart and was a cheater, every single time I would convince myself to believe him, because I had been with him for 3 years, I was the person who understood him best. But all of that I had seen with my own eyes, that day, I…..” An Ran choked up, tears had unknowingly streamed down her face.

Su Yi Cheng releases her, stares at her. He reaches out to wipe the tears streaming down her face, and faintly says, “If it’s hard, if those memories make you unhappy, then you don’t have to force yourself. I know that you have already let go.” He doesn’t want to force her, even though he was very curious if she would tell him herself, but if she was finding it difficult, he doesn’t want to make her unhappy.

An Ran smiles at him, and wipes off her own tears, at the same time she shakes her head and continues, “That day the company invited me to attend an evening party. I didn’t expect to run into him at that party. He had a pretty girl in his arms that night, they were very well-matched, and that night, they were undoubtedly the highlight of everyone’s attention. People had surrounded them, and I was standing no more than 5 meters behind him. He hadn’t even discovered, that I was watching him gazing warmly at the woman by his side, attentively feeding her, pampering her and lovingly pinching her nose. It was laughable that I even let him give me an excuse, assuring me that she was only a dance partner, she was just a colleague. It was only after that I realized how ridiculous that excuse was, because I was standing behind them, I heard from the woman’s mouth, when she was introducing him she would always smile and glance at him first, then happily tell them he was her boyfriend. Hehe, tell me, wasn’t I so ridiculously pathetic?” Recalling all of the memories, An Ran laughed at herself.

“An Ran….” Su Yi Cheng looks at her. He seemed reluctant, and also worried. “Let’s not talk about it anymore, I got it.” Those memories, thinking of them again, would hurt even more. That kind of feeling he understood. It wasn’t that you couldn’t let go, not that you are still holding onto the hope with that man or woman, but rather with those kinds of memories, because you are reviving the course of betrayal and energy for the first time, the most painful scar is still there.

An Ran stubbornly shakes her head, says, “I’m fine. Let me finish. When I’m done, I will truly put it down.”

Su Yi Cheng looks at her, doesn’t say anything.

“That night, I took advantage of the opportunity when he went to the washroom and waited outside the door. When he saw me it was evident that he was surprised, but he quickly came up with a reaction. I still remember his expression, it was guilt. He turned his head and didn’t look at me, and from his expression I already knew the answer. We didn’t say anything. I passed him, and perhaps because he felt sorry for me, he grabbed my hand, held it tightly. I could feel that his grip was very strong, as if he really didn’t want to let me walk away, but then the girl came out, smiled at him and walked over to him. The split second he saw her, he quickly let go of my hand, then smiled at that woman, his tone, expression were not without smile. Then one week after the banquet, he finally called me again, and asked me to meet him at that coffee shop by the school that we loved to visit when we were students. Then he told me that we were breaking up. One week later, the him who sat across from me seemed like a stranger. When he was done I was silent for a long time. I opened my mouth, asking why. Right. At that time I couldn’t comprehend, didn’t understand how one person could change that quickly. Just yesterday he was still the man who sweetly called me every night, can hug strangers right away. Clearly just a few days ago he told me that he would give a majestic wedding, buy me the largest ring, let me feel like the most beautiful, happiest bride in the world. Why, in just a few days, could he break up with me so easily. I asked for a reason. He was silent. We just sat there. The hot coffee was already cold, and from start to end he didn’t even open his mouth. He just pursed his lips. In short, he wasn’t willing to say any more. His silence thoroughly disappointed me. I didn’t force him, got up to leave, only to hear him say, sorry, I’m going to America next week. I didn’t turn back, and just left the coffee shop.” As An Ran was speaking, she smiled at him. She still had traces of tears on her face.

Su Yi Cheng, hurting for her, embraces her. He doesn’t know what he should say, so he could only soothingly pat her back.

An Ran leans against him. She wraps her arm around his waist, her ears pasted on the area closest to his heart. Then she starts to say, to finish the story, “On the day that he left, I sat at the coffee shop for the entire day. From morning til night, until Lin Li had found me just before the coffee shop closed for the night. She saw me, and embraced me. She cried louder than I did, was more upset than I was. She was crying as she was swearing at him and calling him inhumane. And Cheng Xiang was standing outside. Half an hour had passed, Lin Li finally stopped crying, and Cheng Xiang at that moment delivered a letter from Mo Fei that he had set aside for me before he left. Actually the content of the letter was very simple, only had 7 words, but every written word I could see the strength put into it. ‘Wait for me, I will succeed!’” An Ran let out a long sigh, appearing as if something had finally been laid down. She felt incomparably light, and said, “And that was everything between me and Mo Fei.”

Su Yi Cheng nods, stroking her back. Her past was more complicated than he had previously thought. He doesn’t know what he should do for her now, and if simply hugging her tightly like this is the best way.

An Ran withdraws from his embrace, stares at him in the eyes. Then she starts to smile, although her face was still streaked with tears.

Su Yi Cheng felt sorry for her and strokes her face, erasing the tears on her face. He doesn’t say anything, then cups her face, and leaves kisses on each trail of tears, lots and lots, following the stains that had not yet dried up, kissing every trace of them. Then he kisses her eyes, and An Ran gently shuts her eyes, allowing him to leave a kiss on her eye, eyebrow, every nook of her eye. Finally he kisses her on the lip, gently, then slowly advances his tongue, gently prying her mouth open, inviting her to dance with him. The gentle kiss slowly deepens, gradually the fantasy reaches to the pinnacle of lingering.

The passion came so quickly, that they didn’t even have enough time to go to their room. The two embraced each other tightly, kissing, apparently they had been bewildered. It was unclear who was tearing off whose clothes, unsure who was the one who had spilled out that first moan. The temperature in the room had risen up quickly, burning the two. Each of them tightly embracing, as if this was the only way to embrace, so that it could drive away all the hidden loneliness and emptiness in their hearts, apparently only this way, can it erase the deepest, hidden shadows in the corners of their heart.

The cup of excessively sweet coffee that An Ran had specially brewed was thrown from the table by their wide movements. The manufacture of the cup really wasn’t that bad, falling from that height, yet it still hadn’t shattered. It only rolled around a few times until it was stopped by the corner of a wall. Only, the brown-black liquid had covered the wooden floor.

The files on the table had been tossed aside. Su Yi Cheng carries An Ran so she could lie down on the tidied table. He stares into her eyes, the corner of his mouth hooks up into this charming smile, then takes off the clothes on the other’s body. Finally he reaches out to cup her chin, forcing An Ran to look at him in the eye. Then he moves forward, pressing down on her body.

Unknown of how much time had passed, the studio was flooded with the scent of love. Under the foot of the desk, a man’s dress shirt, a woman’s undergarment was thrown aside. To the left of the desk, even the documents were not spared, as it laid on the ground.

On the desk, An Ran, red-faced, has her back toward Su Yi Cheng as they lay down. There wasn’t a trace of clothing on either of the person’s bodies, and only now did An Ran start to repent. She couldn’t help but be frightened by her own brazenness. Heavens! Look at what she did, suddenly with him in the studio, and even doing it on the desk…… This, how can she have the face to do her designs on that desk again, finish the unfinished work from the company!

Su Yi Cheng shifts his body to face behind her, a huge grin on his face, his hand softly stroking up and down her body. He watches as her body instinctively trembles, and the grin on his face becomes wider. His hands become even more mischievous.

An Ran got annoyed by his actions, but was too embarrassed to turn around. She reaches out to slap his hand, the hand that was lighting a fire on her body.

Su Yi Cheng laughs, even the corner of his eyes had a smile. He hugs her from behind, with a bit of strength, brings her closer to his chest. His stomach sticks closely to her back, and he softly whispers into her ears, “An Ran.”

An Ran doesn’t say anything, because his hug right now, made her chest beat even harder. She was a little gloomy, because clearly just now she was telling him about the relationship between her and Mo Fei, but, how did things end up this way! She couldn’t recall who was the one to started it, who first took the initiative!

“An Ran.” Su Yi Cheng gently calls her again. His tone carried a smile, the kind of good feeling after being satisfied.

“En.” An Ran softly responds, faintly, faintly discernable. She never thought that she was this brazen, this sexually open!

Su Yi Cheng hugs her a bit tighter. Both their bodies were inseparably close, and again softly speaks into her ears, “An Ran~” This time, he draws out the last syllable, as if pondering.

“En.” Just then her voice was too soft, so she thought he didn’t hear, thus An Ran answers again.

Su Yi Cheng just smiles, hugs her even tighter, both legs curling, and the two looked like they were a pair of spoons.

“An Ran.” Su Yi Cheng was acting like he was trying out a flavour, once again calling out in a soft voice.

This time An Ran presumed that he did indeed hear her, and he was just calling out her name for fun, and he did not actually have anything to say. Because she was still repenting over her earlier urge, An Ran turns over her head in annoyance, looks at him, and with her eyes wide open she says, “Su Yi Cheng, if you have something to say, say it, don’t just call out my name!”

Looking at her angry appearance, Su Yi Cheng only felt that it was super cute, he laughs instead, looks at her wide eyes, and that slight pout, made his heart skip. He leans over to kiss her on the lips.

“Su Yi Cheng!” An Ran pushes him angrily, her hand on his chest allowed her to put some distance with him, because he clearly did not just want a kiss! His hand was clearly meddling around her body, and that certain part of his lower body started to hatefully change!

Su Yi Cheng doesn’t get angry. He looks at her and laughs even more joyously, with one pull he has her in his embrace again, this time his hands doesn’t meddle, just holds her tightly. He stares into her eyes, and says in earnest, “An Ran, let’s fall in love.”

The somewhat struggling An Ran, suddenly stops her movement, and stares at him astonished. Apparently! A little! Very! She wasn’t sure what she just heard, so she asks puzzled, “You…. What did you just say?”

Su Yi Cheng holds back his smile, and solemnly and seriously looks at her, reaches out to grasp her hand, and with great earnest he says once again, “An Ran, let’s fall in love!”


---END OF CHAPTER---

Chapter 86

Sorry for taking so long! I felt like An Ran looking at Su Yi Cheng's stuff with this chapter lol. Hope this chapter satisfied you guys (as opposed to the last chapter hahah). As usual, big thanks to Joe for helping me out :) 

First Marriage Then Love 《先婚厚爱》Chapter 84 Translation

084. Strange


Putting the phone down, An Ran let out a soft sigh and leans against the swivel chair.

She was just on the phone with Lin Li. She sounded like she was in a good mood, smiling as they were talking. The wedding was 3 days after the lunar date April 28, Gregorian date June 5. The Lin parents had arrived, and for the past two days they were arranging a hotel room for them to stay in. Lin Li used the excuse that she needed to take care of her parents, and said that a couple shouldn’t see each other before marriage and thus moved to the hotel.

In fact An Ran knew that she was avoiding Cheng Xiang. She has never been one who places too much importance into societal norms, even if this meant she had to get to church by herself without the groom fetching her on her wedding day.*

The way that she’s doing things now is only to give herself and Cheng Xiang a buffer period. As they say even the greatest affections wouldn’t stand betrayal. If there were even a crack it would be hard to return to the former state. Even if Lin Li thought lots about it and tried hard to return to it, but as to Cheng Xiang’s betrayal, it would be hard for her to have no grudge.

An Ran knew that she couldn’t do anything herself, because this was Lin Li’s choice, and the only thing that she could do is to wish her happiness.

She sighs, and once again takes a look at the half written blueprint to study over. She has to produce a scheme for the manor, because in one month, including the time it would take to fix up a model for the house, there was little time for dillydallying.

“Knock knock knock….”

At this time the door to her office had someone knocking on it. An Ran doesn’t raise her head, and just raises her voice, “Come in.”

Ling Lin pushes the door open and enters. Her expression was serious, and she directly pulls out the chair facing An Ran, and sits opposite to her.

An Ran raises her eyes to look at her, and asks, “Is something up?” She lowers her head and continues to look over the blueprint in her hands. The work of the few masters from abroad really was not bad. The physical activity park had unique characteristics not only for children, but it attracted adults as well.

“Gu An Ran, the person that brother Yi Cheng had married was you?” Ling Lin’s tone was somewhat powerful, the expression she looked at An Ran with carried resentment and dissatisfaction.

An Ran raises her head baffled, looks at her, a little surprised that she still didn’t know. Didn’t Ling Ran tell her? She looks at her, nods her head and says, “Yes. Is there a problem?”

Ling Ran stares at her, those pair of large eyes were filled with hurt and wrongfulness. She has known Su Yi Cheng since childhood. As a child she was the one who had always tagged along with Su Yi Cheng and her sister. He and her sister used to date. She could only hide her feelings in her heart, because she knew that he would become her older sister’s husband, and she would always be his little sister.

But after her sister had betrayed him, and was caught in the act by him together with Zhou Han, the originally scheduled wedding was cancelled, her father did not hesitate to break off relations with his daughter, and ultimately her sister was brought out of the country by Zhou Han.

During that short period she went to go find him, but he seemed to have turned the resentment from her sister’s betrayal and put it upon all of the Ling family. Every time he would refuse her and would not meet her.

She knew of her awkward position, during that period she even hated her sister, hated that she had caused such heartbreak to her brother Yi Cheng, but even in that hatred she was secretly delighted. Because of her sister’s betrayal it would be impossible for him to ever become her brother-in-law, and that meant that she had a chance to not become his little sister, but his girlfriend.

But because of the matter with her sister he never paid a visit to the Ling family, and even when she went to look for him he always gave an excuse of being busy and couldn’t meet. She knew that her sister had broken his heart, and that he needs time to slowly heal, so she was willing to wait, wait until he was completely over that emotional pain.

However afterwards, because of work, brother Yi Cheng had once again visited the Ling family, but towards her he was always polite. She thought that he still thought her of as Ling Ran’s little sister, maybe she can’t give him anymore time. But also she heard that he had continuously refused his mother’s introduction to those young ladies from prestigious families, so she always felt that she still had time to wait for him to turn his head and notice her.

However one day her father returned home and told her that he got married, no ceremony, no wedding reception, but had registered the marriage. That evening she had cried for a long time. However until last night, until last night when she went with her father to give Xiao Ying Tian congratulations for his birthday, she went to go find him, but it was only when they were leaving that they met. But what she never expected, was the person who he had registered the marriage with turned out to be Gu An Ran!

“I hate you, Gu An Ran!” Looking at her, Ling Lin emphasized each word. That expression, was simply hatred towards her!

An Ran frowns, and only felt confused. She didn’t do anything, right?

Ling Lin suddenly stands up, fixes her gaze at An Ran and says in a serious tone, “From now on, I’m not going to follow you! I’m going to find director to transfer me to Xiao Xiao’s team!”

An Ran looks at her, completely confused as to why she was so worked up. However as to her transfer, she was actually quite willing, “As you wish. If the director agrees, I have no objection.”

If she had guessed right, Ling Lin had came into the company through backdoor channels. Where was the talented student from a famous school, who, during her student years, had already won several major multinational prizes. All of those were just bragging pretence. Would a local person who won several construction prizes not even understand the basic concept of drafting scales? Indeed if one were to build a building based off her designs, it would collapse before it would even be completed!

Ling Lin looks at her with resentment, then swings the door and leaves.

Regarding this matter, An Ran only felt depressed, but doesn’t let it affect her so much. She believed that designing was more important than wasting her time trying to figure out other people’s thoughts.

She used the entire afternoon to look over the more successful cases of foreign park plans. By the time she left the company the sky was already starting to darken. A few minutes before knocking off, Su Yi Cheng had called and said that he had a meeting tonight, so he can’t come to pick her up, and she can take a taxi back.

She carries her briefcase out of the company doors. The sky was dusky, it looked like it was about to rain. A strong breeze blows by, blowing on the dust on the ground. An Ran turns back, but when she turned around she saw that Mo Fei was behind her.

At that moment he looked a bit embarrassed. The neatly combed hair was a little messy from the wind. The tie on his neck was loosely tied. His eyes were only fixed on An Ran’s. He opens his mouth as if to say something, then closes it. Ultimately he can only awkwardly smile.

An Ran watches him for a while. Finally she nods her head at him, then turns around to leave.

When An Ran was about 10 steps away, from behind Mo Fei suddenly calls out to her, “An Ran!”

Her footsteps stop. There was nothing between them to talk about. She doesn’t understand why, every single time that they meet, he would look at her with that expression, as if she owed a lot to him. But if one were to talk about who owed whom, then it would be he who owed her, wouldn’t it?

Mo Fei steps forward, behind her, and softly says, “I visited the school today.”

An Ran was motionless. She doesn’t turn her head and doesn’t open her mouth, she just watches a plastic bag get blown around by the wind, rotating and floating in the sky. The plants along the street take in the tree seedlings, the leaves rustling about.

The sky was increasingly darkening, not because it was night, but it was the omen before a thunderstorm.

“I went down the path that we used to always take.” Mo Fei softly and slowly says. “The school lake and that small forest hasn’t changed at all. The water is still clear you can see the bottom, the spot beneath the trees is still a hotspot for sweethearts, I still remember---"

Not waiting for him to finish, An Ran suddenly turns her head, looks at him and says, “Hasn’t changed? Or is it because you’ve left long ago, so you can’t tell what has changed.”

Mo Fei was stunned. He couldn’t mutter an answer. He indeed did leave long ago, 6 years, almost 7 years. This afternoon was the first time returning to the school. It was even ridiculous that he couldn’t go back and find the path at all, even had to ask for directions.

“The small forest hasn’t changed? About 3 years ago they expanded the area of the forest by 100 square metres, added about 10 more metasequoia trees.” An Ran looks straight at him, then laughs, “You said the lake water hasn’t changed, hehe, don’t tell me you didn’t notice that there were fences surrounding the water, they even built a small pavilion in the middle of the lake. Were those things there when we were in school?”

Mo Fei was speechless. He looks at her, but couldn’t say even a word. He really did leave for too long, these things, he really didn’t even notice. He was there for the entire afternoon, but what he did most was reminisce, reminisce about the time when they were together. That kind of feeling was very pure and beautiful, however, however they cannot go back. He can’t, and neither could she.

An Ran looks at him smile, shakes her head, and says, “Director Mo if there’s nothing else, then I must excuse myself first.”

Seeing that she’s about to leave, Mo Fei was anxious, and suddenly pulls on her hand, tightly holding onto her, deeply afraid that she would turn around and go away.

An Ran turns her head, looks at her hand, then looks at him. She helplessly says, “Mo Fei, please don’t play these childish and senseless games, don’t make it so that we can’t even be schoolmates.” Some words if said too much, gets boring, even she felt it was tedious.

Mo Fei grabs her hand, determined to not let go, fixedly stares at her, and says, “Have coffee with me, just one cup.”

An Ran really did not want to be uselessly tangled with him again. The problem between them was not at all about drinking coffee or not, “Can’t, Yi Cheng’s waiting for me, I need to go home.”

Mo Fei looks at her. He looked hurt, still unwilling to let go of her hand, he forces a smile and says, “Can you not mention that name to me today.”

An Ran turns her head away, doesn’t look at him.

The rumbling thunder sounds through intermittently, the wind was becoming stronger and stronger, the bits of paper on the road and the plastic bags were swept up in the sky from the strong breeze. The leaves on the roadside trees were rustling more and more from the wind. The sky, was thoroughly darkening as if it were night. The black clouds had covered up the light rays.

The two were standing like that for a while. Mo Fei then slightly opens his mouth, his tone carried a slightly self-mocking tone, “An Ran, did you forget, today is my birthday.”

An Ran only then remembers that today really was Mo Fei’s birthday, June 2nd, a day that she had once remembered for a long, long time.

The rain started coming down, the summer’s shower was always so, it came quickly, rained hard, the pea-sized raindrops came smashing down. There was none of the exquisite gentleness of the spring rain, the summer thunderstorm was much more ruthless.

Raising his head to look at the sky, Mo Fei pulls on her, “Get in the car.”

An Ran was about to decline, but the rain seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. Finally she nods, had no other choice but to get in that black Benz parked not too far away.

In the car, Mo Fei hands over the spare towel that he usually has in the car, so she can wipe her slightly wet hair.

An Ran pushes his hand away, declines his towel, and just reaches out to get the paper towel placed in front of the car window, wiping the rain water from her face and the water on her arm.

Mo Fei stares at her blankly. After a while he then forces a smile laughs at himself, the corner of his mouth slightly raised. He looks at the towel in his hand, then lifts his hand and carelessly wipes his hair.

In the car, the two sit there like that. An Ran looks out the window. Mo Fei looks at her. The rain outside was getting bigger and bigger, smashing against the glass window, the rain water following down the glass, blurring the scenery outside.

After a while, Mo Fei then takes back his gaze, and starts the car to leave.

They did not discover, when they stepped on the gas to leave, that a black Volkswagen came as they left.

Mo Fei drove to a coffee shop around the vicinity of Jiang City University and stops in front of it.

The summer’s thunderstorm was like this, it came quickly, and goes away quickly. It hasn’t even been 20 minutes, and the pouring rainstorm had already stopped. The black clouds in the originally dusky sky was retreating and scattering up, and the sky was becoming bright again. The air was carrying the coolness of the after-rain, and the dusty smell of the streets.

An Ran looks at the coffee shop. That coffee shop was built when they were still in school. Actually the surroundings wouldn’t be considered good, and the interior can only be considered ordinary, but its success lied in their economical prices. It suited the student life’s budget, therefore, business was pretty good. It has been in business for so many years, and the business was just as good now as it was back then.

Watching the many lovers hand in hand, carrying their textbooks as they entered the coffee shop, An Ran seemed to return to the past, returning to the time when she was young and inexperienced. That time they also loved to come here for dates, sometimes they came here holding their textbooks to review, sometimes they would just come to sit and chat. Actually, during that period, going to a café was a very western thing to do. Cafés were not popular in Jiang City then, unlike now where it can be found everywhere. Going to a café then was also not an expensive matter, and the romantic atmosphere is especially loved by students. That is why, even though she does not drink coffee, An Ran also liked to come here to order a cup of roya milk tea to enjoy and drink.*

“Come with me and drink a cup.” Mo Fei looks at her, his tone seemed as if begging.

An Ran was silent for a while, finally she still nodded and opens the door of the car.

Going in again, the coffee shop did not look like the coffee shop of the past. Apparently it had already changed owners, and all the servers were new, many, appeared to be students of Jiang City University, taking advantage of their after school period to make money, some doing it for the tuition, some perhaps doing it for pocket money.

The originally painted wall was now completely replaced with wallpaper, a pale colour, looking at it felt somewhat warm. The originally wooden chairs and tables were also replaced, with clothed sofas and glass.

The only thing that did not change was the layout of the store. It was still set up like before.

At that time she always liked to look for the corner-most seat by the window, observing the people in the shop, and also look at the crowd outside. Even if there was nothing to do, it wasn’t boring. Every time Mo Fei would joke with her, and every time he would come early to claim her special seat.

Only things change with time, they’ve parted for 6 years, what affections, what love had already disappeared with time, including their special seat. At present it is now occupied by another couple of bantering sweethearts, their old shadows casting upon them.

An Ran silently watches them. She turns around and was about to look for another seat. The moment she was going to leave, Mo Fei suddenly steps forward, smiles at the couple, and says, “Hi, may I ask if you two would let me have this seat?”

The couple look at him strangely, and whisper, “Crazy.” Then they turn their head to look away from him.

An Ran watches him, and indifferently says, “Let’s sit somewhere else, anyways it’s all the same. Like time, time doesn’t stop to wait for you, this seat also won’t forever be reserved for you, waiting for you to come back. Such a simple principle, you must not understand it.”

Mo Fei looks at her, and insists, “There are some things that won’t change. Even if a lot of time has passed, if we really try, we can definitely go back to the past.”

An Ran looks at him, doesn’t speak. She isn’t normally that eloquent, if he really must argue with her, then she definitely can’t get to him.

Mo Fei turns around, again looks at the couple. Towering above them he looks at them and says, “I want this seat.”

The boy seemed to have gotten angry over being disturbed. Clearly he was having a date with his girlfriend, to suddenly, without cause, get chased out by some person, insisting on having this seat, what is going on!

“What’s wrong with this person. We were here at this seat first, and we’re not leaving yet, why in the world should we let you have this seat?” The boy gets up to confront Mo Fei.

Mo Fei looks at him, then slowly takes out his wallet from his pocket, and takes out several big red bills, placing them on the glass table. He expressionlessly says, “Is this enough?”

The boy and the girl on the other seat look stupefied. The money on the table, at the least it’s about 700-800 or maybe even 1000!

“W-what do you mean?” Looking at him, the boy no longer has the overbearing manner from before.

“Not enough?” Mo Fei frowns, then goes back into his wallet and takes out more red bills, folding them over on the low glass table. “This enough?”

That boy, shocked, looks at Mo Fei, then looks at the money on the table, his jaws dropping. Still the girl by his side reaches out to pull on him, which then made him come back to earth, and quickly accepts the money and stuffs it into the pocket of his trousers. While laughing and tidying up the books and material on the table, he says to Mo Fei, “I’ll let you have the seat, we’ll leave right away, right away.” Then he urges his girlfriend to hurry up.

The two hurriedly tidies up, and promptly gets up to leave, carrying their things.

An Ran looks at him, suddenly feeling that this kind of Mo Fei was too unfamiliar. The him 6 years later, has completely changed into someone she doesn’t recognize at all. Mo Fei also looks at her. A faint smile emerges from the corner of his mouth, he says, “I already said, if you really wish for it, there are some things that can definitely go back to the way it was.” He turns around and points to the seat behind him, and says, “Now, this seat is our’s again.”

An Ran doesn’t say anything, because she doesn’t know what she should say.

Mo Fei asks for the waiter to come and tidy up the table again.

They seated as if they were in the past again, the two sitting on either side, An Ran sitting on the seat by the wall, Mo Fei sitting across from her.

The waiter grabs the menu and hands it over to them. It really has changed. In the past the menu that only had coffee was replaced with a rich and abundant one, not only do they have coffee and other drinks, they also have steak, noodles, cake, even have the seasonal stir-fried Chinese food. Such a rich menu, can meet every customer’s needs.

Mo Fei doesn’t ask An Ran, and directly orders coffee and royal milk tea, and blueberry mousse cake.

All of that stuff was what she had always ordered when she was with him. An Ran doesn’t say anything, puts down the menu and just looks out. The streets were still damp after the rain, puddles had formed on the roadside from the recent thunderstorm, and had amassed a lot of water. A white Benz sports car flies by, the rapid turn of the wheel had happened to hit the puddle, causing a large splash across the roadside, soaking a long-haired girl wearing a white dress. The car doesn’t stop, and breezes past her. And the girl who had gotten splashed can only cry tearlessly and look at the speeding car, leaving only a trail of gas behind it, and there was nothing she could do.

Mo Fei follows her line of sight, and did not comment.

The waiter was very efficient. Not long after, they delivered the coffee and milk tea to them. The blueberry mousse cake was delivered to them by another waiter soon after.

An Ran used the plastic plate to swirl the tea, then uses the straw to take a sip. It was excessively sweet. Actually ever since he left, even if she was addicted to sweets, she never touched milk tea again, and switched to caramel macchiato. Drinking milk tea again 6 years later, she doesn’t have the same fondness as before, and only felt that the taste was too sweet.

Mo Fei softly sips on his coffee, then puts the cup down again. The corner of his mouth faintly hooks up. He looks at An Ran, and says, “This, it seems like we went back to those times. Same place, same two people, even the stuff hasn’t changed.” Saying that, Mo Fei had his eyes fixed on An Ran all this time, the expression in his eyes was hard to explain.

An Ran turns her head, looks at him, and pushes the tea in her hand to the side, and was about to open her mouth to say something, when the cellphone in her bag begins to ring at this time.

She takes out her cellphone from her bag. It was a call from Su Yi Cheng. She takes a glance at Mo Fei in front of her, slightly turns her body, and picks up the call, “Hello.”

“Why’d you take so long to pick up?” On the other side, Su Yi Cheng asks agitated in his clear, soft voice.

“My phone was in my bag, almost didn’t hear it.” An Ran guiltily replies.

On the other side, Su Yi Cheng lets out a soft ‘oh’, and asks, “Are you already returning? The rain was pretty big just now, did you get drenched?”

His concern made An Ran’s heart warm up. She faintly smiles, nods, and says, “No. How about you, where are you? Done work yet?”

“Not yet. It’s break time now, just saw that the rain was so big, so I gave you a call to ask.” Su Yi Cheng softly replies. His voice was neither pressing nor slow, not sharp nor weak, one can’t tell what his mood was from listening.

“Oh.” An Ran replies. The corner of her mouth unconsciously forms a smile because of his concern for her.

“Are you home yet?” Su Yi Cheng, as if confirming, asks.

An Ran nods, and replies, “Yes.” She doesn’t tell him that she was still outside, because she doesn’t want him to think too much.

Su Yi Cheng on the other side suddenly turns silent. There was no sound for a while.

“Yi Cheng?” An Ran was puzzled, and cautiously calls out.

A while later, does Su Yi Cheng’s voice come through the phone. “I still haven’t finished things here, how about this, I’ll come home in a bit.” Saying that, he simply hangs up.

An Ran smiles weakly and accepts the end of the line, then turns her head, only to see Mo Fei staring at her, his expression a bit strange, a bit hurt. An Ran avoids his eyes, looking down at the cellphone in her hand.

“Hehe.” Mo Fei suddenly laughs, looks at An Ran, and clucks his tongue, “Why could you wait for 6 long years, but you can’t wait for this short period of time?”

Hearing that, An Ran looks up at him. She looks directly in his eyes, laughs and asks, “Why should I keep waiting for you, you never gave me a promise, I was hurt and yet you still want me to keep on hurting, not allowing me to find medicine for my wounds, have me continue to keep an open bleeding wound. Mo Fei, don’t you think this is too selfish of you? Who are you to ask that for me?”

“Hehe, is it me who is too selfish or is it you who is too heartless.” Mo Fei rhetorically asks.

An Ran looks at him, shakes her head, “You’re a stranger. I don’t feel like I know you at all.”

“That year, the first month when I went to America, I wrote you a letter, a letter each month. For 6 years, I wrote 84 letters, even though you haven’t returned even one, but I thought you at least kept the regard to yourself.” Mo Fei says as she looks at her.

An Ran makes a frown, and asks, “What letters? What do you mean a letter each month, what 84 letters?” She never received anything, don’t talk about letters, she hasn’t even seen an envelope!

“You never got them?” Mo Fei looks at her, his expression a bit excited. He thought that she had purposely chosen not to reply, it never occurred to him that she hadn’t even received any. But he clearly sent them out, not once in those 6 years were any of them directed back. If she really didn’t get them, then who took them!

“No, none.” An Ran denies.

“That doesn’t make sense, I obviously----“

An Ran interrupts him, and says, “The letters isn't the issue. Just like today, you thought you could buy out this seat, but so what, you thought that if you order royal milk tea for me again, order blueberry mousse cake, that we can really return to 6 years ago? Don’t tell me that you didn’t realize, I don’t even drink milk tea, the taste as far as I’m concerned, is already too sweet for me.”

“That’s just because you haven’t had it in a long time.” Mo Fei retorts.

An Ran looks at him. Only a while later does she open to say, “Why now, you clearly know that this would be outcome, that year you were determined, not reluctant to turn around? Or is it because you look down on me, feel that I will definitely be loyal to you and not marry? Even if you betrayed me, so long as you turn around, I will definitely still be at the same place waiting for you?”

Mo Fei doesn’t speak, just stares at her. Beneath the table, he was clenching his hands.

“Mo Fei, you think too highly of yourself for you to feel that my affections for you is a matter of course. Sure, I did love you back then, so much that I wouldn’t marry anyone else but you in this life. But you’re taking my feelings too lightly, feel that if you heartlessly walk away, so long as you turn back, you would see me at the same place? You obviously don’t cherish my feelings towards you, and wantonly squander about. You don’t understand that feelings are a mutual thing, because you treated me well, so I loved you back with no complaints. But the moment you betrayed me, when you broke my heart in the end, my affections were also taken back, my heart won’t open up to you again.” An Ran says in one breath, not pausing in between.

Mo Fei clenches his fist, looks at her, but still did not believe her words. He says, “Then why did you wait for me for 6 years?”

An Ran closes her eyes in anguish, and helplessly shakes her head and softly smiles, “I apologize for making you misunderstand. Actually even I thought before that the reason why I delayed marriage was because I was waiting for you to come back.” Saying that, she nods her head, “No, I was waiting for you to come back. But because I was waiting for you it allowed me completely give up, allowed me to put down those unyielding feelings, and not wait for you to turn back.”

Mo Fei doesn’t speak. He purses his lips tightly, looking at her.

An Ran sighs, grabs her bag from the sofa chair, and starts to say, “Sorry, my husband called me and wants me to go home. Maybe the person who you should be spending your birthday with shouldn’t be me, but your wife.”

Saying that, she gets up to leave.

When An Ran passed him, he once again reaches out and pulls on her. She can only hear him faintly say, “If, if I gave up everything now, we, could we go back to how it was before?”

An Ran reaches out and pulls his hand out. She expressionlessly says, “No, because you definitely are not the type of person who would give up all your possessions. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have turned from me because of those things.”

Nail on the head, Mo Fei was speechless. He soullessly releases his grip from her. He couldn’t even mutter a word.

“Hehe.” Mo Fei chuckles. He turns his head to look at An Ran, and finally says, “If, if I said that I regret it now, regret that I left when I shouldn’t have, would you believe me?”

An Ran turns her head and returns his look. She smiles weakly and shakes her head, doesn’t say anything, turns around and walks towards the exit.

Mo Fei was abandoned as he sat there alone, gazing out the window, watching her flag a taxi to leave. He truly missed the opportunity, with the most beautiful woman to have ever appeared in his life.

By the time An Ran had arrived home Su Yi Cheng was already there, sitting alone in the living room. He hadn’t changed his shoes, hadn’t changed his suit, was just sitting there, as if he were thinking about something.

An Ran looks at him, and lovingly calls out, “You’re back. Didn’t you say you still had a meeting?”

Su Yi Cheng then turns his head, looks at her, and for a while, was without expression, only looking at her like that.

An Ran was a little frightened from the look. She puts down her bag and goes over to him, and asks worriedly, “What’s wrong?”

Su Yi Cheng then returns back to earth, gives her a faint smile, and shakes his head. He looks at her and asks, “Didn’t you say that you were already at home over the phone, why did you just get back now?”

An Ran sheepishly avoids his gaze, and smiles, “I went to the market after I got home. I was about to buy some stuff, but when I got there I realized that there was nothing to buy.”

He looks at her for a while. Su Yi Cheng then gets up and smiles, nodding his head, “En. I’m a bit tired today, I’ll go take a shower first.” Saying that, he takes his bag and goes into the room.

An Ran watches as his figure disappears behind the door. She felt that Su Yi Cheng today felt a little off, though it was hard to put a finger on it.

---END OF CHAPTER---

Next Chapter

*Once again, big thanks to Joe for helping me out! :) 

Was anyone else strongly reminded of The Notebook during the letters part hahah.