SYLM Chapter 79

Chapter 79 “I don’t like men.”

A high-end restaurant.

Considering Chen Lu’s profession as a semi-public figure, Principal Xu Rongfeng booked the venue for tonight’s dinner early. The private room was elegant and highly private, perfect for this kind of dinner party.

The group took turns ordering. Before the dishes arrived, Lu Jianghong politely poured tea for everyone, while Xu Rongfeng took the initiative to start a conversation with Gu Wan Jun:

“Oh, I happened to be on a business trip to Yunjiang City last time and saw Teacher Gu taking her daughter to school. The little one looks just as pretty as Teacher Gu. Oh, Gu, when did you get married? How come we didn’t hear any news?”

Gu Wan Jun was slightly startled, and her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Chen Lu. She replied with a smile, “I’m not married.”

“…”

The teacup approaching his lips paused. This sentence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. Xu Rongfeng and Lu Jianghong looked at each other, obviously surprised by the answer.

Adhering to the principle of not embarrassing the leader, Lu Jianghong, who was next to him, put on a brave face to smooth things over, saying with a smile, “Drink tea, drink tea.”

Thinking that perhaps young people nowadays didn’t care about certain formalities, Xu Rongfeng, who picked up his teacup again, took a sip of tea. He continued the previous topic, trying to ease the atmosphere:

“We’re getting old, unable to keep up with the rhythm of you young people. By the way, what does your husband do?”

Gu Wan Jun shook her head gently, her tone gentle but firm, “I don’t have a husband, and I’m not married. It’s just me and my daughter at home.”

“…”

As soon as these words came out, the scene fell silent again. The two old leaders, both over fifty, exchanged glances, the air filled with an indescribable awkwardness.

Xu Rongfeng: I didn’t hear wrong, did I? Is my hearing bad? Gu said she doesn’t have a husband?

Lu Jianghong: You didn’t hear wrong, and your hearing is fine. That’s what I heard too…

Xu Rongfeng: Then how does she have a daughter if she doesn’t have a husband?

Lu Jianghong: This… maybe she’s divorced?

Xu Rongfeng: Didn’t she just say she’s not married?

Lu Jianghong: Uh… then it’s possible she’s pregnant out of wedlock…

Xu Rongfeng: …

The two old leaders who couldn’t figure out the truth were making faces at each other across the table, their expressions becoming more serious the more they thought about it.

On the other side, Gu Wan Jun, the person involved, couldn’t care less about what the old leaders thought of her. She looked at Chen Lu’s reaction with anticipation, only to find the young woman lowering her head and fiddling with the burrs on the disposable chopsticks, a habit just like before. It seemed she hadn’t taken her words to heart at all.

Why doesn’t this person have any reaction? Doesn’t she really care at all?

Gu Wan Jun lowered her eyes slightly, feeling somewhat discouraged.

However, what she didn’t know was that the end of the disposable chopsticks had been smoothed quite a bit, but Chen Lu still hadn’t stopped her movements.

Because her attention wasn’t on those damn chopsticks at all.

Not married. No husband. Only you and your daughter.

Heh, easy to say. Weren’t you chatting happily with that young man in the conference room earlier?

Who knows who you’ve been smiling and chatting with like that these past few years.

Only a fool would believe your words.

After a while, as the ordered dishes were served, Chen Lu finally finished smoothing the disposable chopsticks that she had been working on for almost twenty minutes.

During the meal, Xu Rongfeng, who had repeatedly stepped on landmines, didn’t easily bring up any new topics. He gave Lu Jianghong a look, and the latter, after receiving the signal, strategically sipped his tea and then turned to look at Chen Lu:

“Chen Lu, how was your studies abroad these years?”

Chen Lu replied indifferently, “Pretty good.”

“Good as long as it’s pretty good.” Lu Jianghong smiled and continued to ask, “What brings you back to the country this time?”

Chen Lu’s tone was still calm, “I was invited to participate in the art exchange festival held by Yunjiang Media University.”

“Is that the exchange festival jointly organized by Jianhe Entertainment and Wenhai Publishing House?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“I’ve heard of that event. It seems like they invited well-known writers in the industry. Chen Lu, you’re really getting more and more outstanding.”

“Principal Lu is too kind.”

“Hey, good work deserves praise. Don’t be too modest.” Lu Jianghong’s tone gradually relaxed, “By the way, do you have a boyfriend?”

Chen Lu raised her eyes, seeming to think for two seconds before answering, “No.”

As soon as the words fell, Gu Wan Jun’s thumping heart that had been hanging in her throat finally returned to its place because of this “no.” She had painstakingly managed to pick up a pitiful piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks.

“Is it because you haven’t met a suitable one, or is it that you don’t want to find one right now?” Lu Jianghong smacked his lips and said earnestly, “I remember you graduated in 2019. Calculating your age, you’re 24 this year. If you meet a good one, you should find one—”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

Chen Lu interrupted Lu Jianghong, her tone light and breezy, “I don’t like men.”

“!!?”

These words took everyone present by surprise. Gu Wan Jun hadn’t even had time to be happy that “Jiang Pengfei has no hope of pursuing Chen Lu now.” Xu Rongfeng, sitting diagonally across from her, directly spat out a mouthful of tea he had just drunk. The man coughed repeatedly while hurriedly grabbing a napkin to wipe himself, his face flushed with embarrassment!

“Are you okay? Are you alright? Wipe yourself quickly.”

“Cough cough… I’m… I’m fine… cough cough cough…”

Taking the tissue box Gu Wan Jun handed over with a flushed face, Xu Rongfeng didn’t dare to look at the other party at all!

No wonder they’re teacher and student. Good heavens, one has a daughter without being married, and the other directly reveals that she doesn’t like men. How are these two teachers and students competing to be more deadly? What’s going on!

After a few questions that set off landmines one after another, no one brought up any new topics for the rest of the meal. The only sounds in the private room were the soft clinking of cutlery and occasional whispers.

Gu Wan Jun and Chen Lu were each silent, as if pondering something in their own worlds, while the two principals, who were repeatedly embarrassed to the point of awkwardness, seemed a little uneasy. The entire dinner proceeded slowly in a subtle atmosphere.

An hour later, this unbearable meal was finally over.

When the group left the restaurant, the night was already deep, and there were few pedestrians on the street, only the dim streetlights casting dappled shadows.

Gu Wan Jun followed Xu Rongfeng out of the restaurant door. Seeing that Chen Lu, who had come out first, couldn’t wait to stay eight feet away from her, Gu Wan Jun didn’t blindly follow. Her mind was still replaying the useful information in Chen Lu’s words during the meal.

The art exchange festival held by Yunjiang Media University.

If she could find a way to participate, she would have another chance to see Chen Lu openly.

If that didn’t work, she would have to ask Tang Ying for help. That person would definitely have a way.

Thinking this, Gu Wan Jun subconsciously raised her hand and glanced at the time.

I wonder how Duo Duo is doing today. She should be asleep by now.

Thinking of her daughter, Gu Wan Jun took out her phone and called her mother.

The ringtone sounded for nearly ten times before the call was answered.

“Hello, Mom, why did you pick up the phone so late?”

“Ah, is that Wan Jun?” Gu’s mother’s voice came from the receiver.

“Is Duo Duo asleep?”

“You’re asking about Duo Duo? She’s asleep.”

On the other end of the phone, Gu’s mother’s breathing was not very steady, and she seemed to be walking. The background noise was also a bit noisy, which was hard not to attract Gu Wan Jun’s attention. “Mom, are you outside right now?”

“Oh, yes, after coaxing Duo Duo to sleep, I was taking a walk in the community yard—”

“Excuse me, Auntie, do you know how to get to the emergency department?”

“…”

On the other end of the phone, a slightly anxious unfamiliar female voice interjected, causing Gu Wan Jun’s heart to tighten suddenly. She hurriedly asked, “Mom, are you in the hospital now? What happened? Are you feeling unwell?”

“…”

The other end of the phone was silent. When it came to the moment of truth, seeing that she couldn’t hide it anymore, Gu’s mother sighed and had no choice but to tell the truth:

“It’s not me, it’s Duo Duo who has a high fever, a very high fever. She’s getting an injection in the hospital now. The doctor said she needs to be observed overnight. I was thinking that you’re in Ningcheng and can’t come back in a short time, so I didn’t want you to worry for nothing, so I didn’t tell you. Wan Jun, it’s Mom who didn’t take good care of Duo Duo…”

“…”

The sudden news was like a bolt from the blue. Listening to her mother’s anxious and tired voice on the other end of the phone, Gu Wan Jun’s face lost all color, and her heart clenched instantly. She gripped the phone tightly, her knuckles turning white, and her voice trembled:

“Mom, how is Duo Duo now? Has the fever gone down? I’m going back right away!”

After hanging up the phone, Gu Wan Jun’s eyes were flustered, and her whole body seemed to have been drained of energy, even her steps faltering. Thinking of Duo Duo’s little face, which always looked pale when she was sick, her heart ached as if it was being cut by a knife.

Xu Rongfeng and Lu Jianghong, who had heard the content of the phone call, saw this and quickly stepped forward to comfort her:

“Teacher Gu, don’t worry too much. It’s common for children to have fevers. Besides, haven’t you already taken her to the hospital? The doctor will take care of it. You can’t help much by going back now. You might as well wait until tomorrow morning to leave.”

Gu Wan Jun shook her head decisively, her voice trembling badly, “No, Duo Duo has always been weak since she was little. This time, she has such a high fever. If I’m not by her side, she will definitely be scared… I have to go back.”

“We understand that you’re worried about your daughter, but what time is it? Where can you find a car to go back?”

“…”

Although others couldn’t empathize with a mother’s feelings for her child, Lu Jianghong’s words pointed out the helpless reality.

At this time, the long-distance buses in the small county town had already stopped running, and it was even more difficult to get a taxi.

What should she do now? Duo Duo has a fever, how can she, as a mother, not be by her daughter’s side?

Her usual composure and calmness were all gone. Gu Wan Jun stood by the roadside, looking at the empty street, her heart turning cold, and her eyes reddening with anxiety.

What to do? What to do? What should she do?

Just as Gu Wan Jun’s emotions were on the verge of collapse, a steady sound of footsteps came from directly in front of her. Chen Lu, who had originally walked a distance away, suddenly turned back and walked up to her, holding car keys in her hand, her tone calm but undeniable:

“The highway isn’t congested at this time, we can still make it if we leave now.”

“…”

Gu Wan Jun was stunned for a moment and looked up at Chen Lu.

In the night, Chen Lu’s face was still cold, but her deep and bright eyes revealed a hint of complex emotion that was hard to see clearly.

Their eyes met, and Chen Lu’s heart skipped a beat. She turned her head away, avoiding eye contact, her voice cold but still firm:

“Don’t look at me, make a decision. If you decide, I’ll drive you back.”

Gu Wan Jun opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but her throat seemed to be blocked by something, unable to make a sound. Her eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart, a mixture of gratitude and guilt.

She knew that the problems between them hadn’t been resolved, and Chen Lu still hated her, but at this moment, the young woman didn’t hesitate to say that she would drive her back.

Xu Rongfeng and Lu Jianghong exchanged glances, somewhat surprised by Chen Lu’s attitude, but they didn’t say much. Seeing that Gu Wan Jun was determined, they only told her to be careful and send a message to let them know she arrived safely before leaving.

After saying goodbye, Chen Lu turned and walked towards the parking space. Gu Wan Jun followed behind her, her steps somewhat faltering. The night breeze was cool, messing up her hair and her heart. Looking at the young woman’s tall and slender back, Gu Wan Jun’s nose felt sour, and her heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Getting into the car, Chen Lu skillfully started the engine, and the car slowly drove out of the parking space and onto the highway.

The car was silent, with only the continuous navigation prompts.

Gu Wan Jun sat in the passenger seat, tightly clutching the corner of her clothes, her heart still uneasy.

“Duo Duo… how could she get a fever for no reason… it’s all my fault for not taking good care of her… it’s all my fault…” Gu Wan Jun murmured in a low voice, blaming herself.

In the driver’s seat, the hand gripping the steering wheel tightened. After hesitating for a moment, Chen Lu still turned her head to look at her, her tone with a touch of reluctant gentleness:

“Self-blame and anxiety won’t solve any problems. Didn’t your mother already take her to the hospital? There won’t be any big problems.”

“How can there be no problems? Duo Duo has been weak since she was little, and her bronchi also have inflammation. She coughs non-stop whenever she catches a cold, let alone this time she has a fever. It must be because her clothes got wet while washing dishes last night and she caught a chill. It’s all my fault for not taking good care of her…”

Gu Wan Jun took all the responsibility on herself, and anyone could tell that she was now in a completely tense and anxious state. Others might not know the reason, but Chen Lu knew it very well.

Listening to the constant self-blame in her ears, Chen Lu felt as if her heart was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, her fingertips digging deep into her flesh, bringing a dull pain. She made a turn and decisively stopped the car on the side of the road, a move that worried Gu Wan Jun, whose eyes, which were extremely beautiful when she smiled, turned red:

“Why did you stop? Drive quickly, Chen Lu, I beg you, please drive the car, Duo Duo is still waiting for me, I—”

“Gu Wan Jun.”

Chen Lu turned to face Gu Wan Jun’s tearful eyes, saying seriously, word by word:

“It’s perfectly normal for children to get sick.”

“But Duo Duo, she—”

“Duo Duo is a normal child, it’s normal to catch a cold and have a fever. You can’t not allow Duo Duo to have any problems because of your sister, and you can’t force yourself to have no room to breathe because of something that’s not even your fault. Children learn by example. Do you want Duo Duo to be like this in the future if you’re always so cautious and walking on thin ice?”

“…”

Chen Lu hit the nail on the head. As soon as the words fell, Gu Wan Jun’s lips trembled, and her face, which wasn’t very pale to begin with, became even paler, as if it would shatter with a touch.

Yes, Chen Lu was right. For so many years, she had never allowed Duo Duo to have the slightest mistake, because she felt that as long as Duo Duo made a mistake, she would be letting down her sister who was separated from her forever. Duo Duo was the only thing her sister left her, and she regarded Duo Duo as the continuation of her sister’s life.

But such a nearly harsh possessiveness was wrong.

This invisible heavy shackle was clearly put on by Gu Wan Jun herself, and she also knew that she was torturing herself by doing this.

The originally gentle and affectionate eyes were now soaked with tears, as if covered with a layer of mist, the eyelids trembling slightly. Even though she was trying her best to restrain herself, tears fell silently like broken pearls, carrying an unspeakable heaviness and pressure, sliding down her pale face and finally landing on Gu Wan Jun’s trembling hand.

Chen Lu couldn’t stand people crying. Especially Gu Wan Jun crying.

She turned her head to face the front, handed the tissue box to the person in the passenger seat, and her very low voice was a little hoarse, as if she was suppressing some emotion:

“Wipe them, you can’t see Duo Duo with swollen eyes. You don’t want her to comfort you when she’s sick, do you?”

“…”

A minute later, the white Benz restarted its engine.

Outside the car window, the highway in the night seemed to have no end. The places that the streetlights didn’t reach were unknown darkness, extending infinitely forward.

But as long as you move forward, new sources of light will appear.

When the car restarted, Gu Wan Jun turned her head to look at Chen Lu, her eyes red, and her voice carried a hint of undisguised vulnerability and a nasal tone: “Chen Lu, thank you.”

The hand gripping the steering wheel was painfully tight. Chen Lu’s crow-feather-like long eyelashes trembled slightly. She still had that cold and aloof tone: “Don’t think too much, I’m only doing this for Duo Duo.”

“I know, no matter who it’s for, I still have to thank you.”

“…”

Perhaps it wasn’t necessary, or perhaps she couldn’t bear it, this time Chen Lu didn’t respond, but just gripped the steering wheel tightly and silently sped up.

Her beautiful profile was still so cold in the night, but Gu Wan Jun felt a long-lost warmth and reliability from Chen Lu’s silence. This was also the first time her nerves, which had been tense for so many years, had a chance to breathe slightly.

In the past five years, countless emergencies similar to tonight had occurred, such as her parents being hospitalized and Duo Duo getting sick. As the only pillar of the family, Gu Wan Jun often had to face all kinds of stressful emergencies alone. At critical moments, not to mention relying on someone, there wasn’t even anyone around to discuss things with. After things happened, she worried, blamed herself, panicked, felt helpless, suffered, and broke down… And after all of this, she had to pull herself together and force herself to calm down as soon as possible.

Because she didn’t have time to break down. Everything was still waiting for her to make decisions. She only had herself by her side. If she was trapped in her emotions, then all the problems would be stagnant. She was the one who had to carry everything.

But tonight was different.

Tonight, she had Chen Lu by her side.

She told her that it was wrong to live with obsessions, and she told her that she shouldn’t continue to torture herself.

These words were like a shot in the arm, and they also made Chen Lu her only reliable support.