Mei Cai also noticed Yan Yan’s car and Jian Wei sitting inside at the same time. Her mood immediately turned serious and cold, and she asked calmly, “Who did you just speak to on the phone? How come they are here?”
I hurried to explain, “You know Qin Yan is pursuing Yan Yan, right? That kid actually came all the way from Xuzhou just to see her. So Yan Yan called me and asked me to come pick him up. I didn’t expect Jian Wei to come along too.”
Mei Cai didn’t respond. Yan Yan rolled down the window and signaled for both of us to get into the car. I knew Jian Wei was a woman who had caused Mei Cai a lot of emotional pain, so I was worried and asked, “Do you want to come along?”
“Why wouldn’t I go?” Mei Cai replied, already walking toward Yan Yan’s car before me. From behind, I could sense her hostility. Although she had always been a calm and reserved woman, she was not indifferent when it came to our love. She had suffered from it before, even crying bitterly.
Mei Cai and I got into the car and sat in the back seat. Yan Yan then started the car and drove toward the train station. We all remained silent as the engine roared, but it was predictable that Jian Wei would be the first to speak. After all, she really shouldn’t have appeared again in a place where I was present, so she must have a reason.
Sure enough, Jian Wei turned around after a while and said to Mei Cai, “Today Fang Yuan came to see Yan Yan. He told her that Mi Lan had told you about my being with Zhao Yang last time. I can imagine, even though you stood by Zhao Yang in front of them, you still didn’t believe that Zhao Yang returned to Suzhou just to see Yan Yan, did you?”
Jian Wei’s words contained a lot, including her own guesses, but what surprised me most was this: Fang Yuan had actually come looking for Yan Yan because he was worried about her having post-surgery complications. This proved that he was still caught between the past and the present. However, this was understandable, after all, Yan Yan had lived with him for seven solid years. He couldn’t completely cut off all feelings for her. Regardless of love, those seven years alone were enough to form a bond similar to that of family.
Mei Cai remained silent for a moment before responding to Jian Wei, “Are you trying to explain something to me?”
“Not exactly an explanation, just a decision I want to let you know so you can feel at ease,” Jian Wei replied in a low voice. “After my parents face the country’s judgment, I plan to settle my business affairs here and immigrate to the United States. Such distance, I think, will be enough to prevent any further misunderstandings between us.”
I couldn’t help but exclaim in shock, “What?!”
Mei Cai’s expression also turned complicated. In Jian Wei’s decision, we saw a history repeating itself. Previously, Mei Cai’s mother had also chosen to go to the United States after her parents faced government judgment, even abandoning her husband and daughter. But there was a difference. One set of parents was innocent, while the other had truly taken the wrong path. Moreover, Jian Wei and Mei Cai’s mother were different people. Jian Wei left cleanly, while Mei Cai’s mother left behind a broken family. But this similarity alone was enough to make Mei Cai feel deeply conflicted… Even I couldn’t help but think about the fact that I would have to face Yan Zhuomei tomorrow, who was returning from the United States!
Jian Wei continued, “Originally, I had planned to leave quietly, but when I found out you might misunderstand Zhao Yang, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. After careful consideration, I decided to come and meet you both, to clarify some things… I know you two are getting married soon. Although I feel a bit sad, I still sincerely wish you both happiness…”
Jian Wei paused here, as if she had more to say but finally decided against it. Perhaps she thought it was unnecessary, because for Mei Cai, knowing that she was about to move to the United States was already enough.
After confirming that Jian Wei had nothing more to say, Mei Cai finally replied, “Thank you. I hope everything goes well for you in the United States.”
Jian Wei nodded and remained silent. As for me, I also kept quiet. Caught between Mei Cai and Jian Wei, I knew well that talking too much could only lead to trouble, even though my heart was in turmoil.
After a long silence, Jian Wei, sounding tired, said to Yan Yan, who was driving, “I’ve said what I needed to say. Just drop me off here.”
“Okay,” Yan Yan replied, already in tears. As Jian Wei’s best friend, she felt deeply saddened to see Jian Wei leaving in such a tragic way. After Jian Wei left, she would be alone, without anyone close to rely on.
The car came to a stop. Jian Wei unbuckled her seatbelt. She hesitated for a moment, as if she had glanced at me through the rearview mirror, or maybe it was just my imagination. I felt a bit dazed. Jian Wei opened the car door and stood firmly in the rain, waiting for a taxi to pass by.
Yan Yan didn’t immediately drive away. During this brief stop, she took out a tissue and wiped away her tears. At this moment, I saw the raindrops falling heavily, soaking Jian Wei’s black hair.
My heart was heavy: this might be the last time I saw her, or maybe not. But the next time we met would certainly be far into the future, and our feelings would have completely changed. I believed she would settle down in the United States, and when we met again, she might already have a mixed-race child. That would be better, because we wouldn’t have to remember those confusing and complicated past events anymore.
I looked at her hard for one last time, then completely turned my gaze away. At that moment, Yan Yan started the car. I didn’t look back to see whether Jian Wei was still waiting for a taxi or had already left. But in the air, the feeling of parting was real and intense. This separation was no less painful than a life-and-death farewell.
…
The car continued along the streetlights toward the train station. Finally, I looked at Mei Cai beside me. She was expressionlessly watching the puddles reflecting neon lights outside the window, but I really wanted to know what she was thinking at this moment.
I ultimately couldn’t bring myself to ask, because Yan Yan was still in the same space with us. Some things were not convenient to discuss in front of her, so I held back and remained silent.
Perhaps soon, or maybe after a long time, Yan Yan finally brought us to the train station. She asked me to help look for Qin Yan among the crowd, as she had never seen him in person before.
It was Mei Cai who spotted Qin Yan first. She said to Yan Yan, “Turn the car around ahead. I see him standing under the Maxwell House coffee ad on the other side.”
Yan Yan acknowledged and chose a spot to turn the car around. In a minute, she would finally meet Qin Yan for the first time in her life!
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