“Then why don’t you dare admit you like me?” Yan Songyu stubbornly retorted.
“Like? Hah~” Jiang Chengli threw the clothes back into the suitcase. “What’s the use of liking? Can liking fill your stomach, keep you warm, or put money in your pocket?”
Yan Songyu grabbed Jiang Chengli’s sleeve. “I don’t lack food or clothing, and I have money. I don’t need you to support me.”
“But I do!” Jiang Chengli roared helplessly. “I lack food, clothing, and most of all, money. After graduation, I can barely support myself. I also have a rotten, burdensome family from a poor mountain area two thousand kilometers away.”
He irritably ran his hands through his hair. “How can someone like me deserve to like you? Tell me, what right does mud on the ground have to taint the clouds in the sky?”
Yan Songyu boldly embraced Jiang Chengli. “But I’m not a cloud in the sky, and you’re not mud on the ground. We’re both human beings. It’s fate that brought us together, isn’t it? Besides… we’re still young, the future holds infinite possibilities. What you should do now is work hard, not pessimistically assume you’ll be mediocre for the rest of your life.”
Jiang Chengli seemed comforted. He held Yan Songyu tightly in return, so long that she thought they would be together from then on. But then he pushed her away. “Don’t be naive. We’re not suitable.”
“The class gap is an insurmountable chasm between us,” he said bitterly. “If I can really succeed as you say, and if you still like me then, only then can we truly call it fate.”
“The gap you’re talking about isn’t a problem at all. My father isn’t someone who despises the poor and curries favor with the rich,” Yan Songyu said anxiously. “You’re just unwilling to let go of your pride and self-respect. You’re afraid people will say you’re climbing the social ladder.”
“Yes, I am proud. Dignity is the only precious thing I feel I possess. So I’m afraid I can’t even protect this one thing.”
“But we live our own lives. You don’t need to care about…”
“Stop pushing me!”
…
Their confrontation that day ended unhappily. Jiang Chengli vacated the room and disappeared, determined to stay away from Yan Songyu, while she stubbornly didn’t look for him either.
Yan Binghua naturally noticed Yan Songyu’s unusual behavior. “What’s wrong? You seem listless even during meals.”
“Dad, what requirements do you have for my future boyfriend?”
“Which pig has been eyeing my little cabbage?”
Yan Binghua lost his appetite.
After some thought, Yan Songyu told him everything between her and Jiang Chengli.
“He’s right, Xiao Yu. I truly don’t require your boyfriend to be from a similar social background, but he can’t fail to provide even the most basic material security for you.”
“But Dad, our family isn’t short of money, right? I can work too.”
“Didn’t he say he can’t let go of his self-respect? Even if he could set it aside now, how can we guarantee he won’t resent it later? He’s more clear-headed than you are.”
Yan Songyu stiffened her neck in rebuttal. “But no one can guarantee what will happen in the future. I really like him. Should I give up my present happiness because of unknown speculations?”
Looking at his stubborn daughter, Yan Binghua’s expression gradually turned serious. “Have you considered that you might have misunderstood your feelings for him? You fell in love at first sight when he saved you—that’s an illusion created by the suspension bridge effect, not true love.”
“No, Dad, you can’t deny my feelings. I know the difference.”
Yan Songyu felt lost after being rejected by Jiang Chengli and even her father disapproving of their relationship. Should she really not persist?
“Screech~”
A sharp braking sound rang out as a strong force pulled her into a broad embrace.
“Are you blind? If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you!” The driver deliberately rolled down the window to curse before driving off.
She had almost been hit by a car! Still shaken, Yan Songyu looked at Jiang Chengli, but before she could speak, he scolded her, “What were you doing? Daring to space out while walking on the road – are you tired of living?”
Yan Songyu blurted out, “I was thinking of you.”
“You…” Jiang Chengli was left speechless.
Seizing the opportunity, Yan Songyu threw herself into Jiang Chengli’s arms again. “Your heartbeat is so fast! Are you worried about me?”
When Jiang Chengli tried to pry her off, Song Yu tightened her arms around his waist, her voice trembling with tears. “Why can’t we be together? I really like you…”
Hearing this, Jiang Chengli’s struggling hands suddenly went limp, instead pulling her closer. “Yes, I’m worried about you. I like you. I love you.”
Yan Songyu smiled through her tears. “You admitted it.”
Jiang Chengli’s voice was low. “Yes, I admit it. When I was scared out of my mind just now, I knew I couldn’t deceive myself anymore. My pride means nothing compared to you.”
They were together now, and everything was better than Yan Songyu had imagined. She seemed to have found her destined other half – their souls were perfectly aligned. He always understood her thoughts, and they resonated even in life’s small matters.
Jiang Chengli stubbornly spent most of his salary to rent a small but clean and tidy apartment, looking at her apologetically. “I’m sorry for making you endure this.”
Yan Songyu replied, “Without you would be the real hardship.”
Then she took Jiang Chengli to the wholesale market, picking out many items to decorate their little home.
Although Yan Songyu had been making many accommodations for Jiang Chengli, their relationship still increased his burden. To cope, he secretly took on two night jobs, and by the time Yan Songyu found out, he had already worked himself into the hospital.
As Yan Songyu wiped tears by his hospital bed, he held her and said he cherished every bit of their struggle.
Later, to keep her from worrying, he set aside his pride and started accepting lower-tier commercial illustration commissions. Drawing piece by piece, he gifted her a plain platinum ring on her birthday.
“I’ll buy you a better ring someday,” Jiang Chengli promised.
“This one is the best!”
Though it was the cheapest among all her jewelry, it represented everything he had – making it priceless to her.
Their love surged with overwhelming intensity. After deciding to marry, Yan Songyu brought Jiang Chengli home.
Yan Binghua sighed looking at the hand-holding couple before him. “I’m not opposing you, but getting married after only six months together – isn’t that too rash?”
He had never really approved of Yan Songyu being with Jiang Chengli. Apart from family background, Jiang Chengli was nearly perfect, but that very perfection made him seem unreal.
The reason he hadn’t explicitly opposed them was firstly to avoid provoking Yan Songyu’s defiance, and secondly because he thought they would face reality after the passion faded. He never expected they’d give him such a “surprise” today!
Yan Songyu said firmly, “Dad, we’re not being rash. This is our carefully considered decision.”
“Mr. Yan.” Jiang Chengli took a step forward. “I know I have nothing to my name right now, and I shouldn’t be standing before you speaking of marrying Xiaoyu. But I won’t remain like this forever—I have that confidence.”
Yan Binghua’s calm eyes unconsciously took on a pressuring quality. “You know you shouldn’t, yet you came anyway.”
“Yes, because I’m overestimating myself, foolishly hoping to reach for Xiaoyu just this once.”