It was late at night, and a chill wind blew along the Mo Chou Road. Leaning against a street sign and pulling my coat tighter, I felt no urge to leave, despite my beautiful promise with Mi Cai. The disappointment caused by her departure spread through me like an incurable wound. Closing my eyes, I lit a cigarette under the cold light, letting myself fully merge with Mo Chou Road. At that moment, all I had left was time—fair and impartial!
And what about Mi Cai, who had already left?
Perhaps she was watching the night view outside the train window, pondering how time moved forward. Or maybe she had just fallen asleep, waking up when the train arrived in Shanghai. After another sleep, she would embrace a completely new life—one that had nothing to do with Suzhou, and nothing to do with me!
Extinguishing my cigarette, I stopped guessing how she would continue her life. Finally, I left Mo Chou Road—I was ready to fight for my future. I knew that the only connection we would have in the future would be glimpses of each other in business news.
Hmph… is it easy to appear in business news? Of course not. I was fully aware of what I lacked and what I possessed at this stage. I would scientifically integrate the business and interpersonal resources I currently had. I would rise in the business world and show Yan Zhuo Mei my creativity and ability to withstand risks. I didn’t want Mi Cai to always feel somewhat insecure when talking about me in front of her.
The taxi drove through a tunnel, past the city’s landmarks. I saw the moon quietly shifting its angle, casting moonlight onto the world. I also saw a strong will quietly growing inside me. I would transform, striving to match the woman I loved most, becoming the best version of myself.
…
Back in Suzhou, I returned to the hospital once again. Yan Yan stubbornly refused to leave Jian Wei’s side, and Qin Yan, moved by Yan Yan’s persistence, remained devotedly by her side. Although neither of them could do anything for the unconscious Jian Wei at the moment.
Seeing my arrival, Yan Yan quickly stood up from the bench and anxiously asked, “Zhaoyang, how did your talk with Yan Zhuo Mei go? Has she agreed to let Mi Cai stay with you?”
I recalled everything that had happened tonight and shook my head slightly, answering Yan Yan with a hint of disappointment, “We reached a conclusion. Mi Cai will go to America with her… I believe what Mi Cai said, and I believe she will return to China, but… I don’t know how long this period will last!”
“Oh no… this is torture! Endless torture!”
“I see it more as a test—a great test. There must be a couple in this world who won’t be defeated by time and distance, because she left with faith, and I have my own faith to hold onto… Do you understand the weight of faith?”
“I…” Yan Yan hesitated slightly. She glanced at Jian Wei in the ward and sighed, “Maybe… we’ve underestimated you too much before. If it hadn’t been Wei Wei who broke up with you first, you would definitely wait patiently for her return from abroad with a faith only you understood!”
I remained silent… At that moment, I didn’t want to talk about that painful past. Even now, I still didn’t know the truth behind Jian Wei’s breakup with me. Initially, I cared deeply, but now I had come to terms with it. Compared to the fact that Jian Wei might wake up, the reason for the breakup no longer seemed important. Moreover, my heart was already waiting for another woman. Thinking too much about the past wasn’t a good omen.
Finally, I changed the subject and said to Yan Yan and Qin Yan, “It’s already past twelve. Go home and rest… We all need to be well-rested because once Jian Wei leaves the ICU and is transferred to a regular ward, she will really need a lot of care from us!”
Qin Yan agreed with my words and tried to persuade Yan Yan to leave, offering to take her home, but Yan Yan declined, saying she wanted to talk to me and asked me to walk her back.
…
The residence where Yan Yan and Fang Yuan had once lived wasn’t far from the hospital where Jian Wei was being treated. Yan Yan and I slowly walked toward our destination on foot…
The streets were already nearly empty at that hour, occasionally seeing a few people lingering in the nightlife, either babbling drunkenly or vomiting painfully by the roadside… I even envied these people who still dared to indulge themselves. They seemed to always be able to drown their pain in alcohol, waking up the next day to a bright and sunny world.
After walking for a while, Yan Yan finally said to me, “Zhaoyang, I think each of us has thought a lot during this period of changes… I’m no exception!”
“Tell me what you’ve been thinking. I’d like to know.”
After a brief silence, Yan Yan replied, “I’ve thought a lot about life and love… I’ve reflected on myself: the most admirable thing for a woman isn’t how great a career she has achieved, but having a man who won’t abandon her. Take Wei Wei as an example—lying unconscious on the hospital bed, none of the career achievements she fought for could bring her anything. The only person truly standing by her side was you! Even though you’re no longer doing it out of love, it still deeply moved me. If there was a man who would do all of this for me out of love, then no matter what pain I experienced or what disasters I went through in my life, it wouldn’t matter at all!”
“Qin Yan is a great candidate… Are you planning to accept him?”
Yan Yan’s expression was somewhat hesitant as she replied, “I’m a woman who just got divorced. Starting a new relationship too soon brings many concerns… But I do have feelings for him. He’s a very responsible man. The incident with Wei Wei was the best test—he truly did so much for me and for Wei Wei!”
I nodded, thinking again of Fang Yuan, the man who had hurt her so deeply. Finally, I said, “Your hesitation stems from how deeply Fang Yuan hurt you, but you can’t punish a man who truly cares for you because of Fang Yuan’s mistakes… I think Qin Yan’s timely appearance is actually a compensation and care from heaven for you… If you like him, then boldly start anew… Don’t worry about the damn public opinion! If even Fang Yuan can live peacefully, then why can’t you, the victim?”
After a long pause, Yan Yan replied in a low voice, “He might not be living so peacefully either!”
I looked at her in slight surprise…
Then she smiled again and said to me, “Zhaoyang, thank you for your advice. I think it’s time I fought for my own future! I hope this time life won’t give me another unbearable despair!”
“Don’t worry, cruel things won’t keep happening. You’ve got to keep going! I’m looking forward to seeing your transformation, and even more so, I’m looking forward to seeing you become your cheerful self again!”
“Yeah… We’re almost home. Do you want to come up for a drink?”
“No, you should rest early.”
“You too.”
…
We said goodbye at a street corner near the community where Yan Yan lived. On my way back to the hotel, I took out my phone and sent a message to my former boss, Chen Jingming, in the late night. Previously, on the train from Suzhou to Nanjing, Mi Cai had specially reminded me to help him find a way out.
In fact, even without Mi Cai’s reminder, I would have contacted this old boss myself. I knew his current situation wasn’t good, and I hoped he would give me a chance to make up for the past, using his experience to fight side by side with me in this treacherous business world.
In the message, I invited him to meet me tomorrow morning. If possible, I hoped he could join the “Arts Path” project!
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