Chapter 59: Apologize to Wen Yan
In the courtyard, a servant poured tea.
Mother Cheng walked over from another area, turned off Father Cheng’s radio, and sat down.
She stared at Wen Yan’s face carefully for a moment before concluding, “This child is truly handsome and proper.”
“Who praises a boy for being pretty?” Professor Ming replied with a smile as he introduced him to the others. “This is Wen Yan, my student. Not only does he look good, but he’s good in every aspect.”
Father Cheng said, “Wen Yan, you’re not much younger than Shangshi. Is it okay if you call us Uncle and Auntie? You’re the first student Old Ming has brought over in all these years.”
Wen Yan looked at Professor Ming in shock, but the professor just nodded at him with eyes full of smiles.
Wen Yan greeted them awkwardly, “Uncle, Auntie.”
He was somewhat reserved, quietly listening to their chat.
He had originally thought that Professor Ming bringing students to visit friends was a common occurrence, just a small matter.
Cheng Shangshi was the same; he didn’t participate in their topic, sitting quietly and drinking tea, his gaze occasionally falling on Wen Yan.
Wen Yan sensed it, but the other’s gaze was open and upright, holding no hidden meaning.
He looked back a few times, but unexpectedly, the other met his gaze frankly, without a hint of guilt at being caught.
Helpless, he let the other look.
Father Cheng glanced at Cheng Shangshi. “Can’t control him anymore, so I simply stopped trying. He doesn’t want to act in TV dramas anymore; he wants to study abroad. He’s finally willing to come home, saying he needs to prepare some materials.”
Professor Ming said, “You old fossil, what’s wrong with acting in TV dramas? I even watch the dramas Shangshi acts in. The character he played could fly around in the sky—can you do that?”
Several of them laughed again.
Cheng Shangshi suddenly spoke up. “Uncle Ming, I’d like to chat with Wen Yan for a while.”
Father Cheng and Mother Cheng looked at him strangely.
Professor Ming waved his hand. “Go ahead. You young people have your own topics to discuss; we have ours.”
With the elder’s permission, Wen Yan said a simple goodbye and walked away with Cheng Shangshi.
After the two left, Father Cheng sighed with emotion. “He can actually take the initiative to make friends now.”
Under the corridor
Wen Yan: “Is there something you wanted to call me out for?”
“Nothing,” Cheng Shangshi answered quickly. “Didn’t you want to leave that spot?”
Wen Yan’s eyes widened. Feeling a bit embarrassed and annoyed, his voice was muffled as he said, “I didn’t. I’m just not used to it yet.”
He was an extremely slow-to-warm person. Such a rapid leap in relationship status made him feel somewhat restricted and uncomfortable.
The two walked in silence for a while, then stopped to look at the scenery in the garden.
Seeing that Cheng Shangshi really had no intention of speaking, Wen Yan had no choice but to speak first. “Being like this, why did you let yourself be bullied like that the other day?”
He didn’t know how to express it properly. He couldn’t just directly say: You are so rich and have such a background, why did you let Lin Seran splash wine on you, threaten you to leave the industry, and replace your role?
Cheng Shangshi understood quickly. He said calmly, “I didn’t rely on my family when I went into acting. Everyone is an ordinary person, and anyone could encounter that kind of thing. It was just a splash of wine or losing a role; it meant nothing to me. If I can’t act in TV dramas, I can do other things.”
Wen Yan pursed his lips and didn’t speak.
Not all ordinary people could be like him. He had a family to fall back on and no excessive pressure behind him, so he could live freely and casually. Ordinary people might not be able to survive encountering such things at all.
Everyone had their own way of living; there was no need to compare.
Wen Yan: “No wonder you’re so straightforward and say whatever you want. I just heard Uncle Cheng say you plan to study abroad?”
Cheng Shangshi: “Mn. Haven’t decided on the school yet. I want to study drama or something similar. Maybe I’ll be a screenwriter or director in the future. My dad is quite satisfied with my decision this time. I guess I’ll go out and stay for a while early next year before starting school.”
“That’s pretty good too.” Wen Yan visualized it in his mind. “It’s good to do what you like.”
Cheng Shangshi: “What is your plan?”
Wen Yan frowned, somewhat not understanding. “I’ll continue studying at A University. I really like my major. I’ll continue my graduate studies with Teacher Ming in the future, and work in a related field after finishing my master’s. That is my plan.”
Cheng Shangshi acknowledged this.
It was getting late. The two went back and had a meal with the elders before heading back.
On the car ride back, Wen Yan’s phone rang once. He took it out, preparing to hang up.
Professor Ming: “It’s fine, Xiao Yan, take it.”
Wen Yan hesitated for a moment but still prepared to hang up.
The contact name displayed clearly was Pei Zhouye’s full name.
Professor Ming: “It’s Little President Pei’s call, hurry and answer it.”
Wen Yan blushed awkwardly but still tapped answer.
Hanging up at this point would seem strange instead.
Wen Yan held the phone to his ear. “I’m in the car going back with Professor Ming. I’ll call you back later…”
The breathing on the other end was somewhat heavy, and there seemed to be screams.
Wen Yan was frightened.
“What are you doing?”
“Baby.” Pei Zhouye’s voice was excited and heavy, his breath hitting the receiver. “Don’t hang up. Just for a moment, a few sentences will do.”
Wen Yan frowned tightly.
Afraid that something had happened to Pei Zhouye, he apologetically signaled Professor Ming with his eyes, then fished out his earphones from his bag and put them on.
Wen Yan asked a string of questions nervously, “Are you okay? What’s happening? Where are you?”
He heard the sound of a throat swallowing on the other end.
Pei Zhouye didn’t speak; his footsteps were heavy.
Clang—
It sounded like something being kicked over.
The phone was moved, and suppressed cries of pain got closer and closer.
Wen Yan froze.
He was all too familiar with this voice.
Gu Yulan.
On the other end, Pei Zhouye’s voice was low and hoarse as he issued a forceful command: “Apologize.”
Gu Yulan didn’t speak.
Pei Zhouye’s eyes were full of bloodlust. Losing patience, he kicked him mercilessly.
“I fucking told you to apologize to Wen Yan!”
Bodyguards of various skin tones on both sides began to cock their guns.
The sound of pistols being cocked was clear in both Gu Yulan’s and Wen Yan’s ears.
A gun was pressed against Gu Yulan’s temple. Pei Zhouye didn’t speak, looking down at Gu Yulan from above, his eyes like he was looking at a pile of trash.
Gu Yulan didn’t have his former glamorous and decent appearance; he was covered in dirt and trembling.
Pei Zhouye’s madness really could get someone to shoot him dead right here.
Gu Yulan’s voice trembled as he spoke into the phone, “Wen Yan, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what? Speak clearly,” Pei Zhouye asked him.
Gu Yulan took a deep breath, calmed down, and completed his sentence. “Wen Yan, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lied to you. I shouldn’t have spread rumors about you for my own sake. I shouldn’t have lied to Uncle Wen. I shouldn’t have lied to you that I wrote those love letters. I shouldn’t have lied to you that I sent that bouquet of flowers. I shouldn’t have lied to you that I contacted the hospital… I did everything wrong. I really know I was wrong. I also shouldn’t have failed to remember what you like to eat, shouldn’t have forced you to do things you didn’t want to do…”
He apologized for everything he could think of.
Pei Zhouye took the phone back, straightened up, and coaxed in a low voice, “Wife, don’t forgive this scumbag. Just listen to make yourself feel better.”
If Wen Yan really forgave Gu Yulan, he would truly get angry at Gu Yulan.
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