Chapter 33: Lovers Meet, Tinder and Fire
Returning to the banquet hall, the birthday banquet was nearing its end. The influential elders had already departed, leaving only the young ladies and masters from prominent families.
Lian Li scanned her surroundings but couldn’t find Jin Yan Ting.
She took out her mobile phone, about to send him a message, when she suddenly overheard the young masters chatting around the champagne tower.
“Hasn’t Eldest Young Master Jin and Eldest Young Lady Duan gone upstairs yet?”
“Old lovers meeting, dry wood and fierce fire. They take a long time for romantic affairs, why rush? Are you eager to be their grandchild?”
“Bullshit! You’re the one rushing to be a grandchild.”
The two of them… were getting back together?
Lian Li’s hand, gripping her mobile phone, instantly stiffened. She suddenly didn’t know if she should send a message.
Jin Yan Ting didn’t need to inform her wherever he went, yet a not-so-sharp blade was slowly slicing at her nerve endings, causing dull pain.
Logically, she believed Jin Yan Ting wouldn’t do that with his ex-girlfriend in such a setting.
But emotionally, she knew very well that emotions were uncontrollable.
Her heart fluttered, going up and down, repeatedly entangled, causing a subtle throbbing pain.
Jin Shi Yue, who entered the hall a few steps later, watched Lian Li impassively.
She held her mobile phone with both hands, lost in her own world, her eyes showing a rare look of despair, her fingers tapping the screen trembling.
The driver, under orders, called her a few times before she snapped back to attention: “What?”
“President Jin accidentally got some wine on his clothes and went upstairs to change. He instructed me to take you back first,” the driver said.
His clothes got dirty and needed changing… not rekindling old flames.
Lian Li got into the car home, resting her head against the seatback, looking out the car window. Her phone lit up, but she didn’t open it to check.
Upon arriving home, she lay on her bed and finally clicked into WeChat to check.
There were many unread messages.
But there was not a single message from Jin Yan Ting.
After instructing the driver to pick her up, he had gone silent.
Sometimes she wondered if he trusted her too much, or if he felt that once things were settled and actions were taken, he no longer cared.
When Lian Li confided her troubles to her dear Senior Sister, Xue Shufan, holding a pen, elegantly wrote two words on paper:
“You are currently in a ‘being loved’ mode, craving a ‘loving each other’ mode.”
Stationed in the Starbucks on the first floor of the academy building, the aroma of coffee filled the air. Lian Li’s right hand rested against the wall of her Venti White Mocha cup, feeling the warmth spread to her skin.
“What do you mean?”
“’Being loved’ mode is being protected and cared for. You often assess whether he likes you; this identity is unequal,” Xue Shufan explained slowly. “’Loving each other’ mode is two independent individuals in love.”
Lian Li understood: “You’re saying my emotions are not independent.”
It’s always sad when the white moonlight of the person you like appears, isn’t it?
“It’s not exactly not independent.”
Xue Shufan chose her words carefully and said, “When you were twelve, you lost your father. Jin Yan Ting appeared around that time. Jin Yan Ting’s fatherly care was something you were lacking. His presence fulfilled your needs. Then, Duan Shiqing’s appearance might lead to Jin Yan Ting no longer being able to fulfill your needs.”
Lian Li propped her cheek with one hand, her eyes curved, and she smiled sweetly, “Do I have an Electra complex?”
Although Xue Shufan had no dating experience, she had rich academic experience. She slid her fingers across the touchscreen, opening a research paper:
“Some studies suggest that due to Chinese fatherly love, many people lack paternal care from childhood. Therefore, they tend to develop admiration and dependence towards older, mature men.”
Lian Li was surprised she had evidence: “When did you start researching sociology?”
Xue Shufan laughed heartily: “I suddenly became interested last week.”
It was mainly because her Junior Sister’s romantic life was in trouble, forcing her Senior Sister to delve into sociology, something she’d never have touched in eight lifetimes.
“If I have an Electra complex, then why do I like Jin Yan Ting and not other men?” Lian Li asked.
Xue Shufan lightly tapped her head: “Your question is like asking, if he doesn’t like me, why did he scam me out of money instead of scamming someone else!”
“You can scam my feelings, but you can’t scam my money,” Lian Li said, feigning covering her forehead.
“Money grubber.” Xue Shufan changed the subject, “However, liking Jin Yan Ting is actually quite normal. After all, as the heir of the top tycoon Jin Family, he’s not only rich and powerful but also handsome, gentlemanly, and gentle with you. He’s probably the type of man women of all ages would like.”
“Then why do you still suspect I don’t truly like him?” Lian Li retorted, tapping Xue Shufan’s head.
“I’m not sure.” Xue Shufan sighed, “Perhaps it’s a woman’s sixth sense.”
Sixth sense, indeed.
Lian Li laughed in the corner of the sofa, her shoulders shaking.
“Don’t always waste time agonizing over whether he loves me or not.” Xue Shufan closed her laptop, like a female general about to go into battle, “Let’s go skiing.”
Mentioning exercise, Lian Li’s expression turned listless: “No.”
“Life lies in movement,” Xue Shufan stated righteously.
“Life lies in stillness. Movement is relative; there is no absolute movement in the world,” Lian Li asserted.
“You’ve interacted with too few men, and you know very little about them. Sister will take you to meet handsome guys, maybe after meeting others, you won’t like Eldest Young Master anymore.”
“But I don’t know how to ski.”
“You don’t? Isn’t that perfect? Let a handsome coach teach you hand-in-hand.”
Lian Li said, “I also don’t have ski suits or skis.”
Xue Shufan didn’t give her a chance to refuse: “The ski resort has them.”
Xue Shufan packed up and took Lian Li to the ski resort in the Western Suburbs of the Capital City.
The Western Suburbs ski resort was vast, with the most ski slopes, the best snow quality, and complete facilities. During the prime weekend hours, the enormous ski resort was deserted.
Lian Li remembered this ski resort was very popular, with extremely high foot traffic.
Could it be that the sun was black today?
She looked up, squinting at the sky.
It hadn’t turned black.
“Why is no one here?” Lian Li asked.
Xue Shufan was coordinating with the ski resort staff to get the ski equipment. Hearing Lian Li, she looked at her and said, “It’s been cleared.”
Lian Li: “Did you get elected President of the United States?”
The staff member, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but laugh: “Second Young Master Jin is skiing with friends today. You’ve come at a good time; the snow is fresh, just changed, and it’s very clean.”
Lian Li suddenly understood.
Money power, with heavy influence.
“Look, speaking of Second Young Master, here he comes,” the staff member said excitedly.
Lian Li followed his gaze.
A group of people approached grandly. She recognized the three leading them. She didn’t recognize the people behind them.
Jin Shi Yue was positioned between Zhong Yang and Pei Qingji. On the vast white snowfield, the man’s tall figure was particularly striking.
Seeing Lian Li, Zhong Yang called out loudly, “Li Mei!”
