Chapter 11 Leaving

That night, Jian Meng was planning for the future, while Ji Jing’an was reminiscing about the past.

He thought about many things from the past.

Ji Jing’an’s parents were ordinary small business owners. He followed his mother around since he was young, rarely seeing his father. It was only after the high school entrance exam that he found out his parents had actually divorced long ago. His mother told him it was because they had lost their feelings for each other, but he could tell that his father had been unfaithful.

At that time, he thought that in the future, he would find a partner and be faithful in love.

Until later, he met Jian Meng.

At first, they didn’t know each other. It was just his roommate who told him that Jian Meng, the campus beauty, was from the Literature Department. Many boys were infatuated with her, but she was a pure and romantic literary girl who had never accepted any boy’s pursuit, not even the wealthy young master Gu Chuan who followed her everywhere.

He initially looked down on her, thinking she was just a delicate white rose in a greenhouse, while he was just a wild weed that would never intersect with her in his lifetime.

Until that time he inexplicably won a scholarship and appeared in the school newspaper, where he met Jian Meng who was interviewing him.

It was the first time he realized how beautiful a girl could be. When she sat close to him, there was a faint scent of gardenia, always smiling gently at him, so tender that he couldn’t bear to look away.

Later, when the school newspaper was published, many of the unimpressive things Ji Jing’an said were given depth and layers under Jian Meng’s editing.

Ji Jing’an then knew that Jian Meng was not only beautiful but also had unimaginable goodness inside.

He became one of Jian Meng’s many suitors, and to his surprise, Jian Meng chose to be with him.

He cherished every moment with Jian Meng, so he tried his best to treat her well. He was a weed and couldn’t protect the white rose, but the white rose was willing to wander with him in desolation.

Later, they got married.

During that time, Jian Meng had just left everything behind to come to Shanghai with him, and her parents had passed away in their hometown. Jian Meng couldn’t even go back to mourn, she just took one last look and hurried back to Shanghai.

Jian Meng said she wanted a family, she said Ji Jing’an was her last family.

Jian Meng later realized that she was too idealistic.

So the pain she was suffering now was just retribution for abandoning everything to follow Ji Jing’an.

When Jian Meng packed her bags, she realized she didn’t have many things worth taking. The clothes no longer fit, the expensive gifts were meaningless, the savings were meager…

She didn’t even know where she had thrown the wedding ring.

She thought the grand love she once believed in ended too bleakly.

Very late at night, Jian Meng left that home.

In the morning, Ji Jing’an woke up from the study, the chaotic memories from his dreams fading away, only to realize that things were different now.

He suddenly missed Jian Meng, missed the beautiful and kind girl in his memories, missed his gentle and caring wife in real life. It seemed that the life he had pursued back then was just like this.

To have one person’s heart, never to part even in old age.

But as he opened the door, he realized something was wrong.

The cold and empty room, with only him left.

Jian Meng hails a taxi, watching the scenery outside retreat continuously, like a glitchy videotape.

It had been many years since she last returned here, a place that held all the beauty between her and Ji Jing’an.

It seemed that from leaving here, they could never return to how things were before.

Jian Meng returned here, trying to find something.

The landlord was still the same as before, just a bit older. It took her a while to recognize Jian Meng, unable to link the weary woman in front of her with the once innocent and romantic girl.

“This house hasn’t been rented out since you left. I’ve been using it as a warehouse, but there’s nothing much inside now. The furniture you bought back then is still there.”

Saying this, the landlady unlocked the small room at the end of the hallway with a key. As the door opened, a musty smell hit them. Inside, some old wardrobes were piled up in the living room, but you could still see the small coffee table and the worn-out sofa covered with a gray linen sofa cover.

Jian Meng seemed to see them snuggled on the sofa covered with a blanket watching old movies, and she saw Ji Jing’an coming in and out of the kitchen to bring her food. Later, they moved to bigger houses, but they were never as happy as they used to be.

Jian Meng couldn’t help but smile. Those times were too beautiful.

Why do people throw away the beautiful things from the past with their own hands?

Jian Meng spent a lot of money to rent the house again, but she soon ran out of energy while cleaning. Her chest felt tight and painful, so in the end, she only managed to clean the sofa.

She sat down, took out her phone, and saw missed calls and messages flooding in.

She first saw Ji Jing’an’s messages, then Lin Chenyang’s and Gu Chuan’s.

After some consideration, Jian Meng replied to Gu Chuan.

“Jian Meng, where did you go? Your medicine is still at the hospital.”

Jian Meng softly replied, “It’s okay, I don’t want to continue treatment. It won’t help anyway, right?”

Gu Chuan hesitated for a moment, but then thought that she was such a smart and delicate person, there was nothing she couldn’t figure out.

Suddenly, her phone was snatched away, and Jian Meng heard Gu Chuan’s voice on the other end turn into Lin Chenyang’s.

“Jian Meng, come back immediately. Even if it can’t be cured, you still have to try to get treatment.”

“Lin Chenyang, don’t make a fuss.”

“It’s you who’s making a fuss!” Lin Chenyang’s voice trailed off.

Lin Chenyang’s voice trailed off, “You’re giving up yourself for a man like that, what are you thinking? You’re all the same, starting to give up before it’s over, what’s the point? Even if you don’t consider yourselves, don’t you consider me?”

Jian Meng was stunned for a moment. She knew she was letting down Gu Chuan and Lin Chenyang by doing this, but the outcome for someone like her was already beyond redemption. She had brought this upon herself, and she didn’t want to burden anyone or share in the pain.

“Why should I consider you? What’s the relationship between you and me?”

Lin Chenyang froze on the other end of the phone.

Jian Meng’s question left Lin Chenyang at a loss for words because they had no relationship at all.

After a few days of interaction, they weren’t even considered familiar friends.

But he wasn’t just anyone, he was Lin Chenyang.

He knew Jian Meng wanted to drive everyone away, but he wouldn’t let her succeed.

He said, “It’s the relationship of me liking you.”

Jian Meng’s ears buzzed slightly. What was he saying?

Lin Chenyang continued, “Please tell me, what kind of relationship is this?”

“You’re out of your mind.”

Lin Chenyang directly stated, “I’m not crazy. I have liked many women, but you, it took me a whole night to figure it out. I just like you. Whether you think it’s impulsive or insincere, I just like you. If so, would you still just give up like this?”

Jian Meng didn’t answer. This Lin Chenyang always managed to leave her speechless.

“I will find you eventually. I will turn Shanghai upside down to find you. So, will you come back on your own, or do I have to take drastic measures?”

Lin Chenyang always knew what Jian Meng was afraid of and how to make her submit, even more so than Ji Jing’an did.