"Аuntiе, I аlrеady hаvе а bоуfriend," Wu Mangmаng sаid, lowering hеr gaze.
"It wаs tоо muсh tо аsk of yоu. I know everything has chаngеd now, but рleаsе fоrgivе a mоthеr whо just wаnts tо do sоmething for her сhild." Сheng Нuiyun pattеd the baсk of Wu Mаngmаng's hаnd. "I wish уоu hарpiness. Whеn уou gеt mаrriеd, send us аn invitatiоn. I think whаt Cheng Yuе wоuld most wаnt to see is уour hapрinеss."
Мarrуing Lu Sui? At this point, Wu Маngmаng truly dаrеd nоt think аbоut it.
Тhe wind bу thе seа was strоng, whipping Wu Мangmаng's hаir intо the аir. It lаshеd аgainst her faсe with a biting sting.
Wu Mangmang tuсked her hands intо her cоat роckеts, quietly gazing at the azure sea. To say that Mrs. Cheng's words had no effect on her would be a lie.
Back then, Cheng Yue had been the one who offered her warmth in the snow—the person she had most longed for, most desired, the one on whom she had pinned all her hopes.
That relationship hadn't faded with the passage of time; instead, Wu Mangmang had forcibly frozen it, turning it into the sharpest glacier in her heart.
Now the snow had melted, the ice had thawed, and the impact came swiftly and fiercely. Wu Mangmang was caught off guard, completely unable to grasp what she truly wanted.
Wu Mangmang wondered: if Cheng Yue had returned a year earlier, or even half a year earlier, their ending would have been different, and she wouldn't be as lost as she was now.
Because for all those years, the direction of her heart had always pointed toward Cheng Yue.
He was like the roasted sweet potato bestowed upon a starving, freezing child on the coldest winter night. Just catching a whiff of its scent had filled her with overwhelming gratitude, her very soul captivated.
But later, someone took that heavenly-scented roasted sweet potato from Wu Mangmang's hands. An unspoken voice had always whispered to her: if she became obedient, if she became outstanding, it would be returned to her.
This became the greatest contradiction in Wu Mangmang's heart.
On one hand, she deceived herself, saying that everything back then had been fake, just an act. Yet deep down, another voice told her: if she became outstanding, he would come back.
All her struggles, in essence, were the consequences of this intensified contradiction. If Wu Mangmang had truly convinced herself that her childhood bond with Cheng Yue was merely an act, she wouldn't have continued to suffer or needed psychological counseling afterward.
Cheng Yue was the deepest obsession in Wu Mangmang's heart.
Just as Wang Yuan had once clung for years to an explanation from Lu Sui, longing to hear him personally state the reason for their breakup.
Although Wu Mangmang had accepted the fact that Cheng Yue had abandoned her, hadn't she also risen again because she wanted to hear his explanation?
Human obsessions are always the most terrifying.
Now, Wang Yuan and Jiang Baoliang were married, deeply in love as a couple. But if Lu Sui were to turn back now and tell her that he had been mistaken all along, that the one he loved had always been her, and he wanted to reconcile—
What choice would Wang Yuan make?
Of course, fate hadn't played this joke on Wang Yuan, because it had found a more amusing target.
Just as the roasted sweet potato in Wu Mangmang's heart was suddenly replaced by caviar, fate placed that sweet potato—the one she had yearned for over a decade, the one that had inspired her to rise again and keep moving forward—back into her palm.If reality allowed her to have both roasted sweet potatoes and caviar, of course that would be the best of both worlds. Just like when Wu Mangmang used to buy clothes—she suffered from decision paralysis, but fortunately her wallet was thick enough that she could easily wave her hand and say, "Wrap them all up."
Unfortunately, this wasn't about buying clothes.
Yet human nature tends to lean toward the weaker side when faced with emotional choices.
Wu Mangmang thought of Cheng Yue, of that moment yesterday when he rushed out without hesitation and pushed her aside. In the end, she had let him down.
If she had been a little more mature back then, a little more rational, she and Cheng Yue wouldn't have ended up where they were now, and Cheng Yue wouldn't have suffered so much for her.
But back then, she had only focused on her own pain, forgetting that Cheng Yue loved her too. The anguish in his heart might not have been any less than hers—it was just that he was stronger and more mature, which was why he could leave rationally.
That kind of love, Wu Mangmang felt, was hard to find in a lifetime. In this life, she was afraid she would never find someone who loved her as Cheng Yue did.
And Lu Sui?
Just thinking of that name made Wu Mangmang's heart tremble lightly.
Their feelings weren't deep—they had broken up and gotten back together, and altogether it had only been about a year.
Moreover, Lu Sui was so strong and outstanding. If she left, he would surely find a woman far more exceptional than her, wouldn't he?
Or perhaps this was the best outcome for everyone—the Lu family would no longer have to worry about having an unqualified mistress, and Lu Sui wouldn't be dragged down by her, this "snake spirit"...
But just thinking this way made Wu Mangmang feel miserable.
She took a breath, glanced down at the time, and after turning around and walking a few steps, she saw Lu Sui leaning against his car on the coastal road.
Wu Mangmang stopped and looked at Lu Sui from afar.
When she hadn't seen him, it seemed like she dared to think anything and do anything. But when Wu Mangmang saw Lu Sui, her heart suddenly grew calm.
No one's feelings deserved to be betrayed, nor could it be assumed that just because someone appeared stronger, they wouldn't be hurt by emotions.
She had experienced that kind of pain herself—how could she bear to let Lu Sui go through it once more?
"How did you find this place?" Wu Mangmang asked as she walked up to Lu Sui.
"With enough intention, nothing is impossible to find." Lu Sui took off his overcoat and draped it over Wu Mangmang's shoulders, then reached out to take her hand. "Not bad. You stood for two hours, but at least you knew to come back before turning into an icicle."
Wu Mangmang looked back at Lu Sui in surprise. Had he been standing with her for two hours as well?
A bittersweet warmth surged in Wu Mangmang's heart, but now, every bit of kindness Lu Sui showed her only made her feel more guilty.
Wu Mangmang still remembered the promise she had once made to Lu Sui: if she ever wanted to stray, if her heart ever wavered, she would tell him herself.
And now her heart was wavering, no longer so pure. Wu Mangmang herself deeply hated the situation she was in, but asking her to completely erase Cheng Yue from the depths of her heart right now was something she simply couldn't do.
"What did Cheng Yue say when you saw him at the hospital?" Lu Sui asked.
Wu Mangmang guiltily lowered her eyelids, avoiding Lu Sui's gaze. "He didn't say anything."
"Oh." Lu Sui's tone lifted slightly as he tilted his head to look at Wu Mangmang, who didn't dare meet his eyes.The car was filled with a silence that could kill. Lu Sui was far too clever; Wu Mangmang knew he must have noticed something, but simply hadn’t said anything.
After all those years of “acting,” she couldn’t muster even a shred of performance now.
“I…” Wu Mangmang wanted to say, give me a little time, I won’t let you down. I’m not a fool.
Those who leave me cannot be chased back. She just had a small regret, that was all. After all, back then, she had truly, desperately wanted to take a bite of that sweet-smelling roasted sweet potato.
“Lu Lin has already finished your gown for the Christmas banquet. Shall I take you to try it on?” Lu Sui said.
The last Christmas banquet had left Wu Mangmang with a very unpleasant impression, and their relationship afterward had only deteriorated further.
This year, Wu Mangmang and Lu Sui hadn’t discussed the topic yet. Wu Mangmang had assumed she wouldn’t attend—they had agreed not to marry. If she accompanied Lu Sui to open the dance, it would only invite more speculation.
Now, hearing Lu Sui say this, Wu Mangmang knew he was forcing her to make her stance clear.
Even without the incident involving Cheng Yue, Wu Mangmang knew she wasn’t ready to accompany Lu Sui to the Lu Manor Christmas banquet.
Though their feelings were gradually warming, they still needed time to accumulate and be tested.
And Wu Mangmang felt that Lu Sui understood her mindset, but all of this had changed because of Cheng Yue’s appearance.
Wu Mangmang couldn’t bring herself to refuse. She knew that if she said she wouldn’t go now, Lu Sui would surely think she was holding back because of Cheng Yue.
Yet even Wu Mangmang herself couldn’t claim her decision was completely unaffected by Cheng Yue.
Naturally, they didn’t go to Lu Lin’s place. Wu Mangmang’s silence had already expressed her stance.
“Sleep well,” Lu Sui bid her goodnight in the hallway.
This was the first time they had slept in separate rooms since their reconciliation. Wu Mangmang stared blankly at the door slowly closing in front of her, then lay in bed, feeling as though all her strength had drained away.
Some lies weren’t that she didn’t want to tell them, but that every subtle shift in her expression couldn’t escape Lu Sui’s sharp eyes. Even if she could deceive him temporarily, he would still discover the truth in the long run.
Wu Mangmang lay in bed, staring at the ceiling all night.
Waking early, she took a pill as prescribed by the doctor. Now completely calm, she knew this couldn’t go on. If it were Lu Sui’s first love who had returned, she couldn’t imagine how uncomfortable she would feel.
Putting herself in his shoes, Lu Sui had already shown her immense tolerance.
But everyone had their own pride and limits. Lu Sui couldn’t endure indefinitely, especially as someone standing at the pinnacle—what couldn’t he obtain? Why cling stubbornly to her, Wu Mangmang, this crooked tree?
Sitting before the mirror, Wu Mangmang applied light makeup. One always needed a good complexion to feel refreshed. She didn’t want to be defeated by her pitiful past self again.
When Wu Mangmang went downstairs, Lu Sui was already seated at the dining table. She walked over and sat down, but Lu Sui didn’t even glance at her.
After finishing a bowl of porridge, Wu Mangmang dabbed her lips with a napkin and looked at Lu Sui. “I’d like to visit Cheng Yue at the hospital later.”
Lu Sui folded the newspaper in his hands, placed it beside him, and said, “Peter will arrange a car for you.”
Seeing Lu Sui’s icy demeanor, Wu Mangmang felt utterly miserable, yet she knew she couldn’t blame him.Her behavior from the day before yesterday was truly dreadful, so it was only natural that Lu Sui felt displeased.
Wu Mangmang reached out and placed her hand over Lu Sui’s, which rested on the dining table. "Don’t misunderstand. He saved me, and I just feel I should go see him. Could you give me a little time? I’ll handle all of this properly. I just need time to sort things out."
Lu Sui withdrew his hand from Wu Mangmang’s grasp. He was indeed angry, but more than anything, he was angry with himself.
As rational as Lu Sui was, he knew that if he wanted to win at this moment, the right thing to do was to treat Wu Mangmang with even greater gentleness and kindness. This girl had an especially soft heart—as long as he didn’t make a mistake, Wu Mangmang would never be able to bring herself to say the words to break up.
But everyone has emotions; no one is a robot.
The deeper the love, the greater the expectations.
In Lu Sui’s eyes, the best outcome would, of course, be for Wu Mangmang to decisively and firmly reject Cheng Yue. Yet both of them knew all too well that this was impossible.
Lu Sui despised Wu Mangmang’s foolishness and indecisiveness in his heart, even angrily thinking that he should just let this foolish woman pair up with that foolish man and watch them pass their stupidity down from generation to generation.
That way, he would save himself a lot of trouble.
The light makeup on Wu Mangmang’s face and the carefully chosen outfit she wore felt glaring and ironic to Lu Sui. She was a classic example of an ungrateful wolf that could never be tamed.
"Can you only see Cheng Yue in your eyes?" Lu Sui looked up at Wu Mangmang.
Wu Mangmang shook her head.
Lu Sui gazed into her eyes and said, "Then prove it to me."
He stood up and added, "After visiting the hospital today, you’d better go see Wu Yong. Emotional wounds always need emotional medicine, and your medicine has returned. Whether you can be healed depends entirely on yourself."
Wu Mangmang didn’t even know how she managed to leave the Lu residence.
Instead of going to the hospital first to visit Cheng Yue, she went directly to Wu Yong’s office.
Fortunately, Wu Yong had no patient appointments at the time. Seeing Wu Mangmang arrive, he led her straight into his office.
Wu Mangmang sat quietly on the sofa for a while before slowly speaking. "Dr. Wu, I think I’ve come to understand my mother a little better now."
Wu Yong adjusted his posture. Wu Mangmang had spoken with him about Ms. Liu before, but never in this tone.
"Sometimes, people really can’t control their own emotions. Back then, when my father treated her that way, she must have been deeply hurt inside. At the time, not only did I fail to help her, but I also blamed her wholeheartedly. Looking back now, when my parents were in love, my life must have been very happy and joyful. That’s why, when things changed so drastically later, I couldn’t adjust my mindset properly."
"But if you look at my parents now, they get along very well. Actually, though, my mother’s focus shifted away from my father long ago. She’s completely immersed in her social circle, while my father is fully dedicated to his career. The atmosphere at home is very good now."
"I spent last night thinking—why hadn’t I realized this before? Always seeking love from others, placing all my hopes for happiness on someone else—how ridiculous. I’ve wallowed in self-pity for so many years, only to realize in the end that the root of all my mistakes lies within myself.""When Cheng Yue left back then, I hated him to death, swearing I'd never speak to him again. But now when I think about it, what did he ever do wrong? He loved me, even willing to give his life for me. But how could a man stand tall if he had no ideals of his own, spending his whole life drowning in romance? How could he live up to the talent heaven bestowed upon him? I never understood him, only demanding endlessly. He sacrificed so much for me, endured so much hardship, and now I just feel guilty."
"Mangmang, don't blame everything on yourself," Wu Yong said.
"I'm not. It's just that before, I could only see the bad in others, but now I can see their good." Wu Mangmang smiled. "Thank you, Dr. Wu, for accompanying me all these years. I think it's time for me to face reality now. Time is such a magical thing—things that once felt like the sky was falling now seem absurd and laughable in memory."
"What about Lu Sui? You talked about your mother, your father, and Cheng Yue, but not him," Wu Yong asked.
Wu Mangmang thought for a moment and said, "That's still an ongoing matter. Maybe in ten years, I'll be able to talk to you about him. Of course, it might not take ten years—feelings aren't the focus of my life anymore."
Wu Mangmang stood up and extended her arms toward Wu Yong. "Can I hug you?"
Wu Yong hesitated for a second.
"Just as a friend. I might not come to see you again in the future," Wu Mangmang said.
The best doctor for inner wounds is oneself. Others' guidance and comfort are of great help, but ultimately, breaking free from that vicious cycle depends only on oneself.
Wu Yong smiled and opened his arms to Wu Mangmang.
Wu Mangmang hugged him gently and then said, "Dr. Wu, do you know the best way to overcome fear and anxiety?"
Wu Yong remained silent.
"It's to make yourself fearless," Wu Mangmang whispered softly before slowly stepping out of his embrace.
As she reached the door, she playfully winked at Wu Yong. "Don't miss me too much. I know you've been studying me for many years."
"Mangmang," Wu Yong called out to her at the door. "Love has always been a focus in life. It doesn't become less important as you grow older. People only settle for second best when they can't get what they truly want. Of course, love isn't the only focus in life either."
"Thank you," Wu Mangmang replied with a faint smile.
Wu Mangmang then went to the hospital.
Cheng Yue was still under observation. He only had some minor external injuries, with the most serious being a fractured left wrist from bracing himself in panic during the fall. His head had suffered a slight impact, and since the brain is a delicate organ, he needed to stay for observation.
Wu Mangmang sat somewhat awkwardly by the hospital bed, peeling an apple for Cheng Yue.
Cheng Yue took the apple and smiled. "Do you remember back in middle school, you used to bring an apple to school every day? Imported ones, red and big, rarely sold in domestic supermarkets. Even if they were available, they cost over ten yuan each. You could never finish one yourself and would always force half on me, saying we shouldn't waste food."Wu Mangmang opened her mouth, remembering the incident.
Looking back now, it really was laughable. Back then, she was truly naive and simple-minded, never considering whether Cheng Yue, who came from a less affluent family, might have other thoughts. No wonder, given her circumstances, she pursued him for three years without success, only managing to win him over by the time they were in high school.
"Back then, my behavior must have given you quite a headache, right?" Wu Mangmang said.
It had indeed been incredibly frustrating at the time, but now, looking back, that sweetness was like heroin—impossible to quit, Cheng Yue thought to himself.
There was actually another detail Cheng Yue hadn’t mentioned. Back then, whenever Wu Mangmang peeled an apple for him, she would always peel it in one continuous strip from start to finish—a skill the young lady had perfected after ruining who knows how many apples at home.
Whenever the peel broke midway, Miss Wu would generously share those apples with her little followers.
Only the most perfectly peeled one would be given to him—Cheng Yue.
But today, the apple Wu Mangmang peeled had its skin break multiple times, and she didn’t seem to mind. Whether it was due to her skills growing rusty or because she no longer had the same mindset as before, it was hard to say.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. The driver—Auntie and I discussed it and decided not to make him pay for the damages. This was all my fault. I’ll cover your medical expenses—"
Before Wu Mangmang could finish, Cheng Yue interrupted her.
"I can still afford this much in medical bills," Cheng Yue said.
Wu Mangmang fell silent. She was merely stating the facts, but there was no doubt that such words would inevitably sting Cheng Yue’s pride.
"Don’t worry, my pride isn’t that fragile anymore," Cheng Yue said with a bitter smile.
"Though I don’t want to admit it, back then, my pride nearly drove me insane. I used to resent your parents for their materialism and despise money, but a certain level of financial stability truly does grant a person dignity. If I hadn’t left back then, I really don’t know what would have become of our future. I was afraid I might end up hurting you. But now, Mangmang, I may not be as wealthy as your boyfriend, but I won’t feel my pride wounded just because you buy me apples I couldn’t afford or treat me to Western meals I couldn’t pay for. Only now, like this, do I dare to love you again. You no longer have to worry about my damned pride," Cheng Yue said.
Wu Mangmang let out a soft laugh.
Back then, she had been so determined to offer her love to Cheng Yue, never considering whether he needed it or wanted it.
What a reckless and youthful time that was.
"So, if I invite you to a meal now, we can go to a high-end restaurant, right?" Wu Mangmang joked.
Cheng Yue also laughed. "Actually, back when you treated me to that Western meal, I had the money to pay. I worked for two months during the summer break, but you absolutely refused to give me the chance."
Wu Mangmang frowned. "Just how foolish was I back then?" she wondered, thinking that as long as she didn’t spend Cheng Yue’s money, she wouldn’t burden him.
"Foolish in a very endearing way," Cheng Yue said with a smile.
"Later, in my heart, I thought, I must treat you to another Western meal at that place in this lifetime—this time, I’ll be the one paying," Cheng Yue said.
Wu Mangmang looked at Cheng Yue, realizing for the first time just how many regrets she had left in his life.
He had returned to chase his dreams.Yet her own dreams had shattered long ago. Her once fervent heart, having fallen to the floor and gathered countless specks of dust, had now grown cold and lifeless.
Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire. Wu Mangmang knew the agony of shattered dreams, so she did not wish for Cheng Yue to endure the same. She was willing to do everything in her power to lessen the regrets that had once filled his life.
Here, Wu Mangmang had already completely exiled herself. All that she had hoped for and demanded, she had already extinguished, only wishing that those around her could be happy and joyful.
"Alright," Wu Mangmang replied. "But Cheng Yue, I..."
"I don't mind," Cheng Yue gently squeezed Wu Mangmang's palm with his right hand. "Mangmang, if you marry him in the future, I will sincerely bless you. For me, as long as you are happy, whether that happiness ultimately comes from me or not is irrelevant. If you can still accept me, I will never let go of your hand again."
That evening, Wu Mangmang returned to the villa on the hillside. Her relationship with Lu Sui was no longer suitable for living together.
She called Lu Sui to inform him, and he offered no objection.
Wu Mangmang stared blankly at her phone for a long while, finally pulling up the specially re-recorded ringtone she had made for Lu Sui and listening to it on repeat.
"Incoming call from Mr. Limited Edition, incoming call from Mr. Navel Fetish, incoming call from Mommy's Good Baby, incoming call from Mr. Blind Date Number N, incoming call from the Overbearing CEO, incoming call from Mr. Second Chances, incoming call from the Scheming Boy, incoming call from Uncle Fatty Liver, incoming call from My Beloved Sir."
Wu Mangmang cried until she was choked with sobs, thinking, Lu Sui hasn't even heard this ringtone yet.
How she wished she had met Lu Sui in her best years, how she wished she had only ever loved Lu Sui in her lifetime, yearning so deeply that she was even willing to bury everything from her past with Cheng Yue.
But life has no 'what ifs,' nor does it offer second chances. She had already exhausted all her strength loving Cheng Yue and could no longer give Lu Sui a flawless love.
Perhaps Lu Sui didn't mind; he just hoped she could stay by his side.
But as Cheng Yue had said, what about the future? What would happen when Lu Sui could no longer be satisfied, when she couldn't reciprocate the kind of love he needed, when they began to hurt each other?
Wu Mangmang's obsessive-compulsive tendencies made her prefer to end this relationship at its most brilliant moment rather than let it eventually degenerate into a gorgeous robe crawling with lice.
Even more, she didn't want Lu Sui to see her ugly state during her "fear and anxiety disorder" episodes again.
Beauties, since ancient times, have most hated to be seen growing old.
Yet Wu Mangmang didn't realize that the position she stood in now was the same one Cheng Yue had once occupied—selfishly acting from her own perspective while flying the banner of acting for the other's good, arbitrarily deciding what the other needed while ignoring their true desires.
How fate toys with people, in its cycles allowing the victim to step into the role of the perpetrator.
"Mangmang, Lu Sui had someone deliver the evening gown you're to wear tomorrow night. Come out and see it; it's absolutely stunning," Liǔ Lèwéi knocked on Wu Mangmang's bedroom door.
Wu Mangmang put away her phone, went to the bathroom to wash her face, and then stepped out.
The evening gown was very flowing and seemed familiar. After thinking for a moment, Wu Mangmang realized it bore about a fifty percent resemblance to one of the Appearances from the game she played.
This year's Lu Manor Christmas banquet theme was cosplay—quite fashionable indeed.
Of course, everyone attending was a person of status; they wouldn't dress in full game costumes like teenage girls. This truly tested the designers' abilities.
They had to capture that essence while still being luxurious, grand, and upscale.
Wu Mangmang rubbed the fabric of the evening gown against her cheek for a long while."What's wrong? What happened?" Liu Lewei asked. Although Wu Mangmang spent most of her time away from home, Ms. Liu had long since honed her social skills to perfection—how could she not notice Wu Mangmang's low spirits?
Wu Mangmang smiled. "Ms. Liu, if Lu Sui and I break up again this time, will you strangle me?"
Liu Lewei looked at Wu Mangmang quietly for a long moment. "To be honest, I never really expected the two of you to work out."
Wu Mangmang blinked, unsure whether to feel relieved or so angry she might have a stroke.
Liu Lewei patted Wu Mangmang's shoulder. "Alright, stop sighing. Once you get past this hurdle, I'll introduce you to someone new. This time, don't be so picky, okay? You're almost thirty! Almost thirty!"
Wu Mangmang felt as if she had taken another ten thousand points of critical damage.
As women grow older, sometimes the pain of a breakup isn't as sharp as the pain of discovering another wrinkle at the corner of their eye.
The Christmas banquet at Lu Manor was as successful as ever.
As the party wound down, some guests were reluctant to leave. After all, there was no one waiting for them at home, and it was far more enjoyable to drink with their brothers in misery.
Ning Zheng gently nudged Shen Ting's elbow, signaling him to go talk some sense into Lu Sui. "What's going on here? Didn't he say he was on a health kick and wouldn't drink? Was he just lying to us all along?"
At the bar, Lu Sui was downing glass after glass of alcohol.
"He's going through a breakup," Shen Ting said calmly.
Wu Mangmang's absence from tonight's banquet spoke volumes.
"Let's drink together," Shen Ting said, raising his glass toward Lu Sui.
Lu Sui looked at Shen Ting, clinked glasses with him lightly, and downed his drink in one go. As he set the glass down, he laughed and said, "I never knew you were so concerned about my sexual prowess."
Shen Ting was taken aback, then laughed awkwardly, though the laughter quickly dispelled the awkwardness.
"Just because you can't do something, don't assume I can't either," Lu Sui said, clinking glasses with Shen Ting again before leaning in to whisper, "So there's a reason for staying healthy. Train the troops for a thousand days, use them for one."
"What are you two talking about? I don't get it," Ning Zheng interjected.
Lu Sui and Shen Ting both ignored Ning Zheng with perfect tacit understanding.
Having made a fool of himself, Ning Zheng felt the need to save face. "Lu Sui, did you break up with Wu Mangmang again? Who dumped whom this time?"
Ning Zheng was the epitome of a masochistic middle-schooler.
"Even if we broke up, you still wouldn't have a chance. If you want to get between us, go practice your skills first. Didn't I beat you up enough last time?" Lu Sui said.
Ning Zheng made an "oh-ho-ho" gloating expression and muttered, "If you're unwilling to marry her, no wonder she dumped you."
"Don't project your own issues onto others," Lu Sui retorted coolly.
A long while later, after Lu Sui had left, Ning Zheng sighed to Shen Ting, "Does Lu Sui mean it's Wu Mangmang who doesn't want to get married?"
Shen Ting remained silent.
Ning Zheng snapped his fingers. "That girl Wu Mangmang is absolutely incredible. I knew I wasn't wrong about her."
Ning Zheng wore a look of pride, as if to say, "I liked her once, and I'm proud of it."
Shen Ting glanced at Ning Zheng. "Don't even think about it. Lu Sui made his stance perfectly clear today."That meant, since they had broken up, no one else should even think of stepping in.
Wu Mangmang’s Christmas Eve and Christmas were incredibly dull. She slept for two full days at home. On the twenty-sixth, she woke up early, picked out an outfit, and applied light makeup.
Seeing that she still had the mood to dress up, Liǔ Lèwéi finally felt a little relieved. “Going out on a date?”
Wu Mangmang wore a bright red cashmere dress with a one-shoulder design and ruffled hem, which made her skin glow with a luminous whiteness. She looked radiant all over, no wonder Liǔ Lèwéi had misunderstood.
Wu Mangmang threw on her cloak coat. “No, I’ll be back soon.”
Some things might be settled through mutual silence, but reissuing documents was far too troublesome. Wu Mangmang still had to make a trip to the Lu residence.
In the dining room, Lu Sui was having breakfast. Only by coming at this time was there a higher chance of running into him.
Annie thoughtfully stepped forward to help Wu Mangmang take off her coat and hang it up. Wu Mangmang said, “Thank you.”
“I’m here for my documents,” Wu Mangmang said as she walked up to Lu Sui.
Lu Sui’s gaze swept over Wu Mangmang’s dress. “Aren’t you cold wearing so little?”
The skirt was short, ending five centimeters above the knees, and the one-shoulder cut was wide, leaving her entire shoulder exposed to the air.
It was very beautiful, but indeed not very warm.
“I’ll go upstairs to get the documents,” Wu Mangmang said, not answering Lu Sui’s question.
With the documents in hand, Wu Mangmang walked downstairs, feeling as though she had no excuse to linger any longer.
Lu Sui very gentlemanly escorted her to the door. Wu Mangmang smiled and waved at him. “Take care.”
Lu Sui watched Wu Mangmang walk a few steps before slowly speaking up. “Mangmang.”
Wu Mangmang turned around, not understanding why her heart suddenly began to beat faster. After all, the outcome was already set and impossible to change.
“Mangmang, you have to remember, it was always you who didn’t want me, not me who left you,” Lu Sui said.
Wu Mangmang wanted to cry but felt it was her own fault, unworthy of shedding tears and causing Lu Sui any more pain. She couldn’t speak, only nodded, then hurriedly got into the car.
In the final days of the year, Wu Mangmang did many things—or rather, she helped Cheng Yue do many things.
They went to that Western restaurant from back then for a meal. It was strange how the restaurant had stood for over a decade without closing—truly a miracle.
They also went to the newly built amusement park. The ticket price was hardly expensive for them now, but back then, Cheng Yue had absolutely refused to accompany Wu Mangmang, using the excuse that it was too childish.
Then they went to the arcade. Cheng Yue danced on the dance machine. It was already rare for a guy to do this, and Cheng Yue was exceptionally good at it, not missing a single beat, his movements stylish and graceful. The middle and high school girls around them were practically starry-eyed.
Many people applauded for him.
Wu Mangmang laughed so hard she nearly stumbled. “Didn’t you absolutely refuse to dance back then?”
Cheng Yue had been quite old-fashioned back then, firmly refusing to dance, let alone in front of so many people.
“Back then, you always said you wanted to see me dominate the dance machine,” Cheng Yue said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Wu Mangmang reached out and handed him her handkerchief.Cheng Yue felt a tinge of regret. That Mangmang who would command him to lower his head and wipe his sweat for him seemed to have vanished.
Later, Cheng Yue gave Wu Mangmang a hairpin studded with rhinestones. "You stared at it for a long time back then, but that brand no longer carries that style. This one is the closest match I could find."
Wu Mangmang lowered her head, and tears fell to the ground, forming a small, misty puddle.
When Zeng Ruling saw that the man delivering breakfast to Wu Mangmang downstairs had been replaced by another, she simply opened her mouth slightly in surprise and said, "I should have guessed."
"This one is also quite handsome, isn’t he? Younger than your uncle, right?" Zeng Ruling happily munched on the chicken roll Cheng Yue had brought.
"Just eat. Can’t all this food keep your mouth shut?" Wu Mangmang typed rapidly on her computer, having started writing her thesis early in the morning.
"What’s the relationship this time? Childhood sweethearts?" Zeng Ruling asked.
"Something like that," Wu Mangmang sighed softly.
"You know your reputation at our school is almost catching up to that of a social butterfly, right?" Zeng Ruling pressed.
Wu Mangmang’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. Her reputation had been tarnished for quite some time now. She hoped that when she eventually became a stern, formidable figure, people’s opinions of her might shift.
"But it seems like you’re not that into him," Zeng Ruling nudged Wu Mangmang’s shoulder.
Wu Mangmang remained silent. One of the items on Cheng Yue’s list was to bring her breakfast every morning.
Back in high school, Wu Mangmang had taken care of Cheng Yue’s breakfast and lunch. She had researched nutrition online, prepared meals accordingly, and had the housekeeper make them for Cheng Yue to bring to school.
Wu Mangmang thought quietly to herself. It seemed she had never done such things for Lu Sui. Looking back now, she truly felt sorry for him.
She could only hope that, in the future, he would meet a girl who had never had another man in her heart—a healthy, optimistic girl who would offer him the purest form of love.
Time passed faster and faster, and the unchecked items on Cheng Yue’s list grew fewer and fewer.
"There’s one last thing," Cheng Yue said as he walked Wu Mangmang back to her dorm. "We’ve never spent Valentine’s Day together. Roses were so expensive on Valentine’s Day. I didn’t want to add to my mother’s burden, and I didn’t want you to look down on me, so every year I told you I had to help my mother with something at home."
Wu Mangmang laughed. "You don’t have to help me avoid certain memories."
Cheng Yue rubbed his forehead sheepishly.
She remembered one year when Cheng Yue had once again refused her request to spend Valentine’s Day together. After pressing him for a long time, Cheng Yue finally couldn’t hold back and lied, saying he had to help his mother sell flowers on the street.
Such foolish teenagers they were.
That day, Wu Mangmang, breaking her usual habit, accepted all the roses given to her by her suitors. Carrying a large basket of flowers, she went to sell them outside an upscale restaurant in the city.
Her flowers sold quickly—after all, the flower girl was exceptionally beautiful.
She still remembered how unusually cold that winter was. Wu Mangmang hopped from foot to foot to keep warm, blowing on her hands as she collected money, yet a fire burned fiercely in her heart.She wanted to show Cheng Yue through her actions that she wouldn’t look down on him—she could sell flowers with him, as long as they were together.
Wu Mangmang stood on the street, counting the money bill by bill. Her movements were a bit slow, partly because her hands were frozen stiff, and partly because she had never been good at counting money.
A wide smile spread across her face as she imagined Cheng Yue’s expression when she handed him the neatly folded cash. Would he be deeply moved?
Would he gently pull her hands into his embrace to warm them?
Just thinking about it made her feel so happy she could almost burst.
Yet, fate had already cracked open a tiny window for Lu Sui to peer through.
That day, he was dining at an upscale restaurant with a female companion, seated by the window.
The pretty young girl in a pink coat and a fluffy white hat quickly caught both his and his companion’s attention.
For the sake of narrative convenience, let’s call her Miss A, because even if Lu Sui tried to recall, he probably wouldn’t remember her name.
Miss A remarked, “That girl is quite pretty, and she has a lovely aura.”
Lu Sui glanced over indifferently—he had little interest in young girls.
Miss A sighed, “What a pity.”
Lu Sui remained silent, waiting for Miss A to continue making small talk.
Watching Wu Mangmang counting money with a smile that reached her eyes, Miss A said, “Pretty girls like her often take shortcuts in life.”
Oh, I forgot to mention—Miss A was exceptionally talented and capable, but her looks could only be described as “presentable” at best.
Lu Sui chuckled, glanced at Wu Mangmang again, and said, “That girl comes from a decent family. She’s just selling flowers to experience life.”
“I don’t believe it. Let’s make a bet,” Miss A insisted.
Lu Sui declined, “There’s nothing I want as a prize.”
Miss A was defeated.
As for Wu Mangmang, it was easy to imagine that her flower-selling endeavor not only failed to earn Cheng Yue’s gratitude but instead led to a three-day cold war between the young couple. It ended only when Wu Mangmang humbly bowed her head and apologized.
Cheng Yue said, “I was such a fool. I’ll probably never find another girl willing to sell flowers for me in the winter.”
Wu Mangmang laughed, “We were both foolish. I actually sold flowers that other boys had given me and proudly handed you the money. My IQ must have been in the negatives back then.”
Cheng Yue thought for a moment, “Probably.”
Coincidentally, this year’s February 14th was exceptionally cold. The temperature in the city dropped below freezing at night—a rare occurrence—as sleet drifted from the sky.
Wu Mangmang sat in the reserved restaurant, waiting for Cheng Yue. She already knew what he was planning to do.
She had accidentally seen the expensive diamond ring on a shopping receipt he had dropped.
It was just a pity that she no longer had the strength to respond.
The last thing she could do for Cheng Yue was to wait for him, to accept the red rose she had longed for over the years.
Then, she would say thank you—thank him for his unwavering love all these years.
She would also say sorry—sorry she couldn’t keep the promise she made in her youth to love only him for a lifetime.
If there was any way to make amends, Wu Mangmang hoped Cheng Yue could fall in love again with another wonderful girl, have a bunch of little children, and live a happy, joyful life.
That was the forgiveness she wanted most.
This was true for Cheng Yue, and for Lu Sui as well.
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