Chapter 83

Chapter 77: A Faint Sentiment

Ji Su delivered Si Yajing to an old residential building. Ji Su held her hand, wanting to say something. Si Yajing shook her head, a forced smile appearing on her face, and whispered, "You are all good kids. The teacher is fine. Don't talk, I just need some quiet time alone."

Si Yajing pushed open the car door and walked along the muddy path toward the dilapidated building. The sky had already darkened, and her figure looked so desolate under the gray night sky. Wen Liang, looking through the dark glass, his gaze faded into the unknown distance, gradually turning cold with the day and the season.

The atmosphere in the Bluebird car was somewhat oppressive. Liu Tianlai laughed and said, "How about this, I'll tell a joke to lighten the mood."

Wen Liang said irritably, "Forget it, do you think you can tell a clean joke? And there's a lady present, don't scare her!"

Liu Tianlai protested, "You're absolutely misunderstanding our public security system. We always rank first in Qingzhou for party conduct and administrative evaluations. This one will definitely be fun."

Wen Liang was half-convinced and turned to ask, "Let's let Ji Su decide. If you believe Liu Director can tell a clean joke, then let him go ahead."

Ji Su, still not fully recovered from the earlier incident, knew that Wen Liang was trying to cheer her up. She forced herself to be interested and asked, "What is a clean joke? Are there also dirty jokes?"

Before Wen Liang could answer, Liu Tianlai laughed heartily and said, "Just for that, I'll try my best to tell a joke suitable for all ages."

Wen Liang teased, "Uncle Liu, you haven't seen you in a few days, and your speech has become more refined. 'Suitable for all ages,' you're old, and we're young, it fits perfectly."

Liu Tianlai pretended not to hear the teasing, cleared his throat, and said, "In Tongyuan County, there's a female township chief in Beili Township. She was planning to give a gift to a leader in the city. At home, she considered two options: if the leader wasn't very enthusiastic, she would give some local specialties to avoid embarrassment; if the leader was very enthusiastic, she would give a shopping card to get the matter done. The next day, she went to the leader's house, and the leader was very enthusiastic in offering tea. The female township chief thought, 'Well, I'll give the card.' She was nervous while drinking tea and, just before leaving, took out the card and placed it on the coffee table. Back at the hotel, she couldn't open the door, realizing that what she had given was the hotel room key! That night, neither of them slept well..."

Wen Liang burst out laughing, and Ji Su, after a moment of thought, blushed and said, "Uncle Liu, you're not a good person!"

Liu Tianlai laughed loudly, "That's a real injustice! This is the cleanest joke I've ever heard! Actually, don't look at Wen Shao, he's the one who's not a good person!" He was willing to put aside his dignity to cheer up Ji Su, all for Wen Liang's sake. Teasing Wen Liang a bit at this moment was harmless.

Wen Liang sighed, "You only realized he's not a good person now? How about this, I'll tell you a true story..." He recounted the well-known joke about the competition between China, the United States, and Russia to catch rabbits in a forest. Wen Liang's eloquence was excellent, and he told the joke vividly and emotionally. When he described the Chinese police officer leading out a bear that pleaded, "Don't hit me, don't hit me, I'm a rabbit," Ji Su burst out laughing and fell back in her seat, and Liu Tianlai almost lost control of the steering wheel, swerving in the fast-moving traffic.

"Wen Shao, this isn't a true story, it's a complete slander!"

"It is true, it is true!" Ji Su, with her girlish nature, quickly shifted her attention. Her awe of Liu Tianlai, which had been reinforced by his dirty joke, disappeared, replaced by a sense of familiarity and warmth. No wonder people in the political arena liked to tell jokes; it was the best way to bridge the gap between people.

After driving a few more streets, they dropped Ji Su off at the Qinghua Factory residential area. Wen Liang got out of the car with her and walked a few steps forward, whispering, "Don't worry, your father is safe elsewhere, and the charges against him will be cleared soon. He'll be back in a few days."

"Okay!"

The night grew darker, and Ji Su nodded, standing tall and graceful under the starry sky, her features delicate and her skin as fair as snow. For a moment, it seemed that in the vast universe, nothing else existed except the eyes and smile of this young girl.

Wen Liang suddenly turned away, avoiding her gaze, and said calmly, "Ji Su, I appreciate your kindness, but please don't bring me breakfast every morning anymore."

Ji Su thought he had listened to Meng Ke's words and moved to a place where she could see his eyes, saying gently, "Don't listen to Meng Ke. I bring you breakfast after I eat mine... really, I'm not lying to you!"

Wen Liang turned to look at her silently. Under his warm gaze, Ji Su's voice grew softer and softer until it was inaudible.

"Ji Su, you are very beautiful, the dream of many boys. I won't deny that before that incident, I secretly admired your back. There's nothing wrong with that. At sixteen or seventeen, everyone dreams of a day when, under everyone's gaze, a girl in a white dress, with flowing hair and a graceful figure, smiles only for you, facing the envious or crazy eyes of others, and walks with you through this youthful time."

Wen Liang's voice was low and resonant, as if he was cutting off the lingering nostalgia, past sadness, and that faint sentiment. "But that's just a fantasy, Ji Su. I just happened to enter your life at an inappropriate time, and perhaps gave you a bit of hope and courage by chance. But I think you understand that this isn't a reason to get close to or please someone. If it's just because of this, what you're doing now makes me feel uncomfortable."

"I help you, but it's not as noble as you think! You've seen that I have many things to do, many secret plans. Liu Tianlai is right, I'm not a good person."

"So, whether it's out of gratitude or repayment, you don't need to do this anymore. I help you largely to help myself. You can go back to being the old Ji Su, doing what you like, without forcing yourself. Otherwise, what's the difference between me and Gu Wenyuan?"

Wen Liang didn't say everything. It was 1995, and a girl bringing breakfast to a boy every day meant something. Even Ren Yi, a mischievous kid, could give the exact and only answer: she likes you!

Yes, she likes you!

But the problem was that unlike Xu Yao and Zuo Yuxi, the relationship between Wen Liang and Ji Su was both subtle and complex. He didn't want Ji Su to lose herself in gratitude and walk down the wrong path, especially since their past wasn't always pleasant. Ji Su started by bringing breakfast, and today she wanted to help him with his studies. Wen Liang knew he had to talk to her today. If Ji Su lost herself because of her father's situation, Wen Liang wouldn't want to see that, nor would he be willing to accept it.

Ji Su had been looking down since Wen Liang started speaking. Her slender figure looked very fragile in the night breeze, evoking a sense of pity. She looked up, her clear black eyes showing no emotion, and said coldly, "That time on the playground..."

"About the incident on the playground, I apologize. I shouldn't have forced you to do that in front of everyone. But at the time, it was just to hit Gu Wenyuan, I didn't mean anything else..."

Seeing the awkward expression on his face, Ji Su suddenly smiled, like ice melting in spring, flowers blooming, incredibly charming.

"Okay, silly, I understand!" Ji Su mustered her courage and gently held Wen Liang's hands, "I know what I'm doing and what I need. After that experience, would I be so foolish as to easily give myself to someone else? My father's situation just helped me see a person clearly and recognize another. I'm grateful to him, even a bit admiring. Doing small things for him has no other meaning, just to express my gratitude."

She let go of Wen Liang's hands, took a step back, and playfully bowed, smiling, "Since that's the case, let's get to know each other again. My name is Ji Su, the 'Ji' in 'memorial' and the 'Su' in 'pendant'!" She remembered Wen Liang's self-introduction on the first day of school, but didn't know that the original creator of this introduction was Xu Yao from his past life!

Wen Liang looked at the smiling girl and seemed to understand, smiling slightly, "Hello! My name is Wen Liang."

Ji Su chuckled, "I know, the 'Wen' in 'gentle' and the 'Liang' in 'forgive.' See you tomorrow!"

"See you tomorrow!"

Back in the car, Liu Tianlai asked, "What's wrong?"

Wen Liang shook his head and laughed bitterly, "Why are girls nowadays so smart?"

"I only have a stupid son, I really don't know much about this."

The more they interacted, the more Wen Liang realized that Liu Tianlai was actually quite interesting, not as cold and ruthless as the rumors suggested.

"Right, your son Zhihe is as smart as a girl, so you don't need to be sad, Director Liu..."

The two entered the Imperial Garden one after the other. This time, Liu Tianlai remembered to change his shoes, but his rough voice remained unchanged, "Director Zuo, I've brought the person."

Zuo Yuxi had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Wen Liang, she frowned, "Why do you smell like a woman?"

Wen Liang was startled. He didn't notice any perfume on Si Yajing or Ji Su. Liu Tianlai lowered his head, saying nothing, but thought to himself, "Wen Shao is right, girls are smart these days, let alone women."

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End of Chapter 77