Chapter 19: Rushing Forward

ᰔ”Got you, Shen Suhui.” ᰔ

Lu Yushan’s words and Shen Suhui’s many reactions overlapped, playing like a movie in Yu Ran’s mind, lingering and becoming clearer.

It turned out that Shen Suhui’s inferiority, panic, and timidity were not just from the few months after they met, but from many, many years, including the current and those passed.

Fourteen years. Fourteen years.

What did Shen Suhui’s fourteen years actually mean?

Was it related to her?

Yu Ran’s face turned pale, and Lu Yushan looked terrified. “Why does she react like that when hearing Shen Suhui’s name? Did she really do something to you? Could it be…?”

Lu Yushan covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide as she stared at Yu Ran with an expression that seemed to say “what a fool.”

“Could it be that she’s been secretly in love with you since high school!!!”

“…..”

The familiar loud voice made Yu Ran want to throw her drink in her face.

“That’s terrifying to think about.”

“Stop saying nonsense. You were the one who had a secret crush, and now you’re calling it terrifying when it happens to someone else.”

“….True.”

“Anyway, whatever she thinks of me, I just want to say that I really like her. I’m pursuing her now, and no matter how difficult it is, as long as there’s a glimmer of hope, I won’t give up.”

“!!!”

Lu Yushan’s eyes widened even more.

“Here we go again.”

“Shen Suhui is different from Du Qiuyan.”

Yu Ran took a sip of her drink and stared out the window.

“Very different.”

“Mm,” Lu Yushan quieted down, “You’ve always been a smart person. I know you won’t fall a second time when it comes to relationships.”

“Shen Suhui is indeed different. You can tell. She’s introverted and lacks confidence. If she’s going to secretly like someone, she would probably do so quietly for many years…”

“…..” Yu Ran didn’t respond or argue. She thought back to the day they reunited. Shen Suhui’s various reactions had already given her 90% of the answer.

“What are you planning to do next?” she asked Lu Yushan.

“Plan to speed up the progress of the New Zealand branch and fly there as soon as possible. I hope to catch the tail end of summer, then fall in love during summer and get married in autumn…”

Yu Ran laughed. “You’re dreaming.”

Lu Yushan pointed at her. “Don’t discourage me!”

They talked for a long time, supporting each other’s decisions. Yu Ran returned to her life, deciding to give Shen Suhui sometime before finding her.

—-

After the New Year, the streets were still bustling with cars, but without the festive atmosphere, they felt a bit desolate.

Shen Suhui remained the same timid person, deciding to disappear from Yu Ran’s world.

Today, Yu Ran was driving to the hospital as usual. For some time now, she had been absent-minded, constantly thinking about Shen Suhui.

This distracted state caused her to struggle with tasks in places other than the hospital, and it wasn’t until the sound of a tire popping that she realized her tire had burst.

Yu Ran put on her hazard lights and got out of the car, checking her watch. She still had a surgery scheduled in 40 minutes.

After arranging things, she had no choice but to take the subway to the hospital. The subway station was crowded, and Yu Ran anxiously watched the time on her watch, clearly worried.

“Hello, Director Yin, my tire burst on the road, and I might not make it to the rounds, but I’ll catch the surgery…”

As the subway arrived, passengers surged forward, and just as the doors closed, Yu Ran unexpectedly locked eyes with Shen Suhui.

Shen Suhui noticed her too. Their eyes met, and in the cold of February, sparks flew between them.

Yu Ran froze in place, holding her phone. The subway sped away. She hung up the call and immediately turned, running out of the subway station.

The morning rush hour was chaotic, with heavy traffic and people everywhere. Yu Ran grabbed a shared bike and headed for the next station.

Regardless of the outcome, she decided to take a chance.

She was betting that Shen Suhui would get off at the next station.

As time passed, Yu Ran became increasingly sweaty. Finally, at the stairs of the subway station, she saw a familiar figure.

Shen Suhui was looking around, unsure whether she was expecting something or trying to escape.

Bending over to catch her breath, it was clear that Shen Suhui had also been running.

In that moment, Yu Ran felt as though her entire body was on fire, her energy surging. She charged up the stairs and tightly grasped Shen Suhui’s wrist.

Shen Suhui was startled and cried out, turning to face Yu Ran’s panicked yet determined eyes.

“I’ve got you, Shen Suhui.”

Yu Ran was out of breath, her hair clinging to her face and neck, looking a mess. She was panicked and flustered, a side of her that others had never seen.

Shen Suhui’s eyes watered, and she finally realized that she shouldn’t doubt the authenticity of their encounter. She also shouldn’t doubt Yu Ran’s feelings.

Yu Ran was sincere, passionate, and persistent…

These beautiful qualities had never changed and had only been etched deeper into her bones and soul over time.

She loved Yu Ran, missed her, longed for her… So why was she hesitating? Why was she being so pretentious?

No matter the result, she wanted a beautiful process because the end of any story was just a deadlock.

“Yu Ran…”

“Don’t avoid me anymore.”

Yu Ran checked her watch and pulled Shen Suhui along. Shen Suhui pulled her hand away.

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the hospital. You’re going to stay with me the whole day.”

“You’re going to be late for work, aren’t you?” Shen Suhui said apologetically. “Don’t worry. I won’t run away this time. I won’t leave. I’ll wait for you at the hospital tonight. Can we meet and talk things through?”

“You really won’t leave?”

“No.”

Yu Ran looked into Shen Suhui’s eyes, and for the first time, she saw such determination. Shen Suhui wouldn’t lie.

The subway arrived, and Yu Ran didn’t have time to wait any longer.

“Okay, you’ll come to the hospital tonight, I’ll wait for you.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Yu Ran couldn’t resist and ruffled Shen Suhui’s hair before quickly getting on the subway.

As the doors closed, they looked at each other through the glass, watching each other as the train sped away.

The hospital was relatively quiet that day. Yu Ran worked until 5:30 pm, and she was finally able to leave on time.

“Doctor Yu, someone is looking for you outside.”

“I know.”

As soon as her shift ended, Shen Suhui arrived. Yu Ran couldn’t help but smile and hummed cheerfully as she changed her clothes.

She grabbed the car keys and went outside. She saw a tall woman with long straight hair sitting on a bench outside the office. The woman wore a thick mink coat and black sunglasses, looking like someone in disguise.

Yu Ran’s face instantly darkened. Why was Du Qiuyan here to find her?

“It’s been a while, Yu Ran. Are you free tonight?”

“What are you doing at the hospital?” Yu Ran’s tone was cold, and she seemed very impatient.

“You weren’t like this before.”

“Before?”

Du Qiuyan took off her sunglasses, revealing a serious face. “You wouldn’t talk to me like this before.”

“What tone do you expect from me? I’m not your dog, always smiling at you no matter how you treat me. I have my dignity…”

“Yu Ran…”

“If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”

As Yu Ran took a step forward, Du Qiuyan stepped in her way.

“What’s wrong?”

“Can we talk? Even if we’re not a couple, we’re still friends, right?”

The phone rang, and Yu Ran interrupted Du Qiuyan’s conversation, quickly answering it.

“I’ll be at the exit, wait for me. I’m coming over.”

Her tone changed dramatically, and Du Qiuyan’s face turned cold.

“Who are you talking to?”

“You shouldn’t ask, don’t be too ridiculous.”

“Yu Ran!”

“Du Qiuyan, do you have any self-awareness?”

“I just need a little time, Xiao Ran, please don’t reject me, okay?”

She looked at her with a pitiful gaze, her eyes moist, her expression still as fragile and helpless as before.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Yu Ran smiled. “Indeed, in the past, when you looked at me like that, I would soften and agree to any request you had. But now, it’s impossible. You’ve been deceiving me all along…”

“Xiao Ran.”

“Let go.”

Yu Ran’s voice turned cold once more, a sense of detachment and pressure that Du Qiuyan had never felt before.

Du Qiuyan slowly let go of the arm she was gripping, watching Yu Ran’s resolute back as she walked away.

She no longer saw the Yu Ran who would smile and turn back to look at her after every separation.

Yu Ran got in the car and turned off her phone. Nothing tonight would disturb her. As she drove out of the parking lot, she spotted Shen Suhui’s figure in the distance.

Shen Suhui noticed her too and ran over, smiling.

“You’re quick tonight.”

Yu Ran smiled. “How long have you been waiting?”

Shen Suhui shook her head. “Just got here.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Let’s eat first. How about dinner and then a movie?” Shen Suhui’s smile was bright, and tonight, she seemed different. “Consider this my invitation.”

“Okay.”

Shen Suhui had already reserved a table at an upscale Western restaurant. The atmosphere was quiet and romantic, with a gramophone playing classical Western music.

She poured a glass of red wine for Yu Ran and smiled. “Is it okay if you have just a little?”

Yu Ran teased, “But I have to drive.”

“It’s fine. We can call a driver, or we can book a room nearby. At our age, these things aren’t a problem, right?”

Yu Ran nodded in agreement, lazily leaning back, her gaze on Shen Suhui’s eyes.

“You’re very different tonight.”

“Really? Maybe I’ve figured some things out.”

“Like what?”

Shen Suhui said, “Like what I should cherish and what I should pursue.”

“…”

She leaned forward, holding Yu Ran’s hand, her gaze sincere.

“Give me another chance, Yu Ran. I’ll never run away again.”

Yu Ran shook her head. “I’ve never blamed you, not once.”

She took Shen Suhui’s hand in return, gently saying, “The fact that you’ve become braver is the gift I received tonight.”

Their eyes met, and in their pupils, there was a flicker of broken yet passionate light.

“But even if you kept running away, I wouldn’t give up. Loving someone requires patience.”

“Yu Ran…”

“You said you’d give me an answer tonight, so Shen Suhui… have you decided to accept me?”

She looked at Shen Suhui anxiously, her voice trembling.

Shen Suhui lowered her head and was silent for a moment before nodding firmly.

“…”

Though Yu Ran had already anticipated the answer, she still found it precious.

Her eyes inexplicably moistened. She lifted her glass of red wine. “Thank you, I toast to you.”

Shen Suhui clinked her glass with hers, smiling and saying, “Then let’s toast to our beginning.”