JFWCM Chapter 91

by Volare

Star-Crossed Love

Yi Shang took a deep breath and stepped into her home. The familiar atmosphere rushed towards her, but it couldn’t dispel the heaviness in her heart. Jiang Wan’yuan was nestled on the sofa, holding a book on interstellar botany. When she saw Yi Shang return, her eyes instantly lit up like stars, “You’re back! Was school very busy today?”

Yi Shang walked over and sat next to Jiang Wan’yuan. Looking at her expectant and concerned face, the coldness in her expression softened slightly. She gently took Jiang Wan’yuan’s hand, remained unusually silent for a long time, and then slowly opened her mouth: “Wan’yuan, there’s something I want to tell you.” Jiang Wan’yuan noticed Yi Shang’s unusual behavior, put down her book, and looked at her intently, her eyes full of worry.

Yi Shang paused, her voice low and firm: “I want to go abroad with you to get married. There’s a project there that’s extremely important for my academic development, lasting for a year. I don’t want to be separated from you for so long without any contact.” Jiang Wan’yuan’s eyes widened instantly, and her face flashed with shock, followed by indescribable emotion and surprise. But then, a trace of worry crept onto her brow.

“But, Yi Shang, this is too sudden. What about school here? And, your family…” Jiang Wan’yuan’s voice gradually lowered. Yi Shang squeezed her hand, her gaze deep and gentle, “I’ll take care of things at school. As for my family, I’ll try to persuade them. I just know that I don’t want to lose you. I want you by my side this year.”

Jiang Wan’yuan’s eyes reddened, and she threw herself into Yi Shang’s arms, her voice choked with sobs: “Yi Shang, I’m willing, as long as I can be with you.” Yi Shang held her tightly, as if trying to integrate her into her own life.

However, Yi Shang knew that persuading her strict father would not be easy. Her father was a traditional and stubborn man. In his view, marriage was not just a matter between two people, but also concerned the reputation and future of the family. He had always been opposed to Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan’s relationship, and now that he heard they were going abroad to get married, he was even more firmly opposed.

Yi Shang came to her father’s study. Her father was sitting at his desk, reading an interstellar education report. Seeing Yi Shang enter, he put down the report, took off his glasses, and looked at her seriously. “Dad, I want to talk to you about Wan’yuan and me. We plan to go abroad to get married. I have an important project there, and I want to take her with me.” Yi Shang said courageously.

Her father frowned, his eyes revealing dissatisfaction and anger, “Yi Shang, you disappoint me too much. You are the principal of school, and everything you do represents the image of the school. Marrying a woman and running off abroad, what kind of behavior is this? Don’t you consider the future of the school, the reputation of the family?” Yi Shang straightened her back and looked directly into her father’s eyes, “Dad, I love Wan’yuan, and this has nothing to do with status or reputation. I don’t want to give her up, and I don’t want to give up this opportunity to improve myself.” Her father slammed the table in anger and stood up, “No, I will absolutely not agree. If you insist on doing so, don’t ever enter this house again!” After saying that, he stormed off, leaving Yi Shang standing alone in the study, her heart full of helplessness and pain.

Jiang Wan’yuan watched Yi Shang become increasingly haggard and felt very sorry for her. She knew that she couldn’t let Yi Shang face all this alone, so she decided to talk to Yi Shang’s father. She prepared carefully and went to Yi Shang’s house with a nervous feeling. When Yi Shang’s father saw her, his face immediately turned gloomy, “What are you doing here? I’ve already made my attitude clear, there’s no room for discussion about your matter.”

Jiang Wan’yuan took a deep breath and said courageously: “Uncle, I know that you object to us being together because you’re worried about Yi Shang’s future. But I love Yi Shang, and I will support every decision she makes. I will also take good care of her when we are abroad. Yi Shang has been working very hard for the school and for her studies, and this project is really important to her. I hope you can give us a chance.” Yi Shang’s father snorted coldly, “You say it so lightly, but marriage is not a child’s play. What kind of future can you two women have together?”

Jiang Wan’yuan’s eyes flashed with a firm light, “Uncle, the future is created by ourselves. We will support each other, encourage each other, and we will definitely live well. Yi Shang has been suppressing her feelings for you and for the family. I don’t want to see her in so much pain, and I don’t want my existence to create a gap between you and your daughter. Please believe us.” Yi Shang’s father looked at Jiang Wan’yuan, and his heart wavered a little, but years of stubbornness made it difficult for him to let go for a while, “Go back first, and let me think about it.” Jiang Wan’yuan nodded slightly and left the Yi family with a hint of anticipation.

Back at the shared residence with Yi Shang, Jiang Wan’yuan told Yi Shang in detail about her conversation with her father. Yi Shang gently took Jiang Wan’yuan’s hand, her eyes full of emotion and heartache, “Wan’yuan, I’m sorry for making you suffer.” Jiang Wan’yuan returned a gentle smile, “As long as I can be with you, these things don’t matter.”

However, things did not develop in a good direction from there. At some point, rumors about Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan began to spread in the school. Some people said that as the principal, Yi Shang’s choice to do something so contrary to common sense would affect the school’s atmosphere; others maliciously speculated that Jiang Wan’yuan was trying to climb up to Yi Shang’s status by being with her. These rumors, like poisonous vines, spread rapidly to every corner of the campus, gradually eroding their lives.

In class, Jiang Wan’yuan could feel the strange gazes of the students; walking on campus, whispers could be heard behind her from time to time. But she was cheerful and not knocked down by these rumors, instead, she became more determined to stay by Yi Shang’s side. Although Yi Shang was still cold on the surface and unmoved by the rumors, Jiang Wan’yuan knew that her heart was actually suffering greatly.

At this moment, Lin Jichuan and Zhang Yao stepped forward. Lin Jichuan used his influence in the student union to organize a themed event on “Respect and Tolerance,” aimed at advocating that everyone respect each other’s choices and abandon prejudice. Zhang Yao publicly expressed her support for Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan’s relationship through the school’s broadcasting system, calling on everyone to stop unfounded speculation and slander.

Thanks to their efforts, the public opinion on campus gradually improved, and most students began to understand and support Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan. But this did not solve all the problems, and Yi Shang’s father still did not let go.

As the days passed, the time for Yi Shang to go abroad to participate in the project was getting closer and closer. Yi Shang was caught in a deep dilemma, on one side was her beloved Jiang Wan’yuan and their future, on the other side was her strict father’s firm opposition. She felt as if she was in a dark abyss, unable to find a way out.

Seeing Yi Shang’s pained appearance, Jiang Wan’yuan secretly made a decision. She went to Yi Shang’s father’s company alone, without telling Yi Shang. She waited downstairs at the company for an entire morning and finally waited for Yi Shang’s father to get off work.

Jiang Wan’yuan mustered her courage and walked up to him again, her eyes full of sincerity, “Uncle, I know that you still can’t accept me and Yi Shang. But I want to tell you that Yi Shang has been hesitant and struggling for a long time in order not to go against your wishes. She is really in pain, and I don’t want to see her like this. This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her, and if she gives it up because of me, I will feel guilty for the rest of my life. So, Uncle, I want to ask you, please agree to let us go abroad together. When the project is over, we will come back, and I am willing to accept any test you give me.”

Yi Shang’s father looked at the firm and brave girl in front of him, and the ice in his heart finally began to melt. He sighed and said slowly, “You two children… Forget it, I agree to let you go. But Yi Shang, you have to remember that you bear the responsibility on your shoulders, don’t bring shame to the family.”

Jiang Wan’yuan burst into tears of joy and nodded repeatedly, “Thank you, Uncle, we will definitely work hard!” She couldn’t wait to tell Yi Shang the good news. When Yi Shang learned of this, tears welled up in her eyes, and she hugged Jiang Wan’yuan tightly, “Wan’yuan, thank you, thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

Finally, on a sunny day, Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan embarked on their journey abroad. The plane shuttled between the blue sky and white clouds, just like the new life full of hope that they were about to begin. On the plane, Yi Shang looked at Jiang Wan’yuan beside her, her heart full of emotion. She knew that this journey would be full of twists and turns and challenges, but because of Jiang Wan’yuan’s company, she had nothing to fear.

After arriving abroad, Yi Shang devoted herself wholeheartedly to the project. Jiang Wan’yuan found a part-time job locally and used her spare time to learn about the local culture and knowledge. They supported each other and grew together in a foreign country. The project progressed smoothly, and Yi Shang achieved many remarkable results with her professional skills and unremitting efforts.

A year passed in the blink of an eye, and Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan returned to China with a full harvest. At this time, they had not only made great progress in their professional fields, but their relationship had also deepened. Yi Shang’s father was very gratified to see his daughter and Jiang Wan’yuan’s growth and changes, and he finally truly