Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I officially became Zhang Zhiyuan’s girlfriend during the arts show in our sophomore year.

I had learned musical instruments since childhood, and a close classmate begged me to perform “The Blue Danube” with her.

At the evening party, the auditorium lights sparkled. She played piano and I played violin, winning thunderous applause.

After the performance, I went backstage to change clothes. When I came out of the room, I saw Zhang Zhiyuan standing around a corner not far away.

He Kongque was with him.

The aloof and beautiful senior stood on tiptoe, trying to kiss him, but he pushed her away.

I frowned, turned on my heel, and left.

Then I heard Zhang Zhiyuan calling after me.

“Lin Wei, wait.”

His voice was urgent, but I didn’t stop. Instead, I walked faster.

Once I was outside the main hall, he caught up and grabbed my arm.

“Don’t misunderstand. I was waiting there for you; I had no idea she would suddenly appear…”

“Misunderstand what? Why were you waiting for me?” I cut him off.

Since I was little, I’ve always been straightforward and hated beating around the bush.

I could sense that Zhang Zhiyuan had feelings for me.

But his hiding it and never saying anything made me a bit irritated.

Probably because my attitude was cold, he was stunned for a moment, then smiled and looked me seriously in the eyes.

“Are you jealous?”

“Zhang Zhiyuan, do you mean it or not?”

“I do. I like you, and you know it.”

“…You never said it, so how would I know?”

My voice softened, the dim campus lights shining on my slightly flushed face.

“I’m sorry. I’ve always wanted to say it, I just had too many misgivings.”

“What misgivings?”

“You tell me. Our families have business ties, and many of our family’s engineering projects come from Lin Corporation. I was afraid that if I said I liked you, people would question my motives.” He was very frank, his deep eyes glinting. “But Lin Wei, I swear I’m sincere. From the moment I first saw you freshman year, I got used to silently watching you. I wanted to tell you countless times but never dared. Later, I realized opportunities wouldn’t wait for me forever, and I’m not the only one who likes you. I was terrified of missing my chance. So no matter what others think, as long as you know my feelings are true, that’s enough, right?”

Yes, at that moment I was absolutely certain he meant it.

Zhang Zhiyuan liked me, and I liked him. I didn’t believe that things like family engineering projects and business interests could sway a person’s emotions.

We started dating, and we were together for four whole years.

He treated me incredibly, incredibly well.

His eyes, gazing at me, always sparkled with life, and the laughter in them never ceased.

To make He Kongque give up, he later resigned from his position as Deputy Minister of Arts in the Arts and Culture Department.

When he did, he said it wasn’t really that interesting anyway, and he’d rather spend more time with his girlfriend.

The Lin Wei of university years was healed bit by bit.

The girl who had once been gloomy because of family troubles gradually became prone to laughter, lively and bright.

Life should have continued like that forever.

After graduating, I started working at my family’s company.

I worked my way up from the bottom, learning every operation flow inside and out.

Zhang Zhiyuan and I had a very good relationship, which had already won the approval of both families.

Every time his parents saw me, they would beam with joy, with endless words and endless gifts.

Undeniably, his family did gain more benefits because of this, which led to some idle gossip.

But as long as Lin Corporation didn’t care, nobody else did.

…

If I had never become a nun, we would probably be married by now.

It’s not his fault, truly.

I believe that at first, he sincerely wanted to abandon everything and take me far away.

Unfortunately, compared to Lin Corporation, their Zhang family was far too insignificant.

My father could crush them with a single finger.

He was the only son; he had no choice.

I just can’t understand how, in my second year as a nun, he got together with my sister Lin Zhi.

Lin Zhi had always liked my things, I knew that too.

That they ended up together wasn’t really strange.

I heard that on the day I became a nun, Zhang Zhiyuan swallowed a whole bottle of sleeping pills.

Before that, he had already become terribly gaunt.

The sole heir of the Zhang family, wounded by love, nearly lost his life.

It was my gentle sister who stayed by his side, day after day for two years, helping him heal step by step.

They came together, and no one objected.

Because my father, a Buddhist believer, already felt guilt toward their family.

How laughable. He ruined my love and my life too, yet he feels no guilt toward me.

I’m a nun; a nun should be detached from all worldly concerns.

All the resentment and bitterness are supposed to vanish in the day-in, day-out chanting and meditation.

He did it for my own good; he did nothing wrong.

The Buddha delivers all beings, especially Master Jingyin, who observes the precepts and has awakened to everything.

These past two years, I’ve been so obedient and diligent, so enlightened that even I believed I had let everything go.

I was about to take the Buddhist Studies Graduate exam-such high attainment.

No one would suspect Master Jingyin, except Qin Yue.

The Lin Family banquet was filled with honored guests, and Qin Yue’s parents were also invited.

Over the past few years, Lin Corporation has been thriving and has long since expanded into the real estate sector.

It is both a partner and a competitor of Huanya Group.

Qin Yue is a very arrogant person.

I remember in my junior year of college, Zhang Zhiyuan and I went to a high-end music restaurant for dinner, and by sheer coincidence, we ran into him.

At first, I didn’t notice. I was happily dining with Zhang Zhiyuan when I spotted a Steinway piano on the restaurant’s stage. On a whim, I went up and played “The Blue Danube.”

I’ve always considered this piece to be our song-mine and Zhang Zhiyuan’s.

I played it with a lively, upbeat tempo, and one of the musicians resting on stage couldn’t help but get carried away by the mood and started dancing a solo.

The restaurant’s atmosphere hit a peak, and everyone applauded.

Zhang Zhiyuan looked at me with a soft, smiling gaze, and when I finished, he patted my head and praised, “So my girlfriend is this good at piano, too.”

“Of course. I’ve studied instruments since I was little. I can dance ballet, too-bet you didn’t know that.”

I couldn’t help but lift the corner of my mouth in a smug smile, and just as I was feeling pleased with myself, I suddenly noticed someone across the room staring at me.

Our eyes met, and I recognized him: Qin Yue.

Now in college, Qin Yue seemed even more eccentric and unruly than before.

Short black hair, thick sword-like eyebrows, and narrow, sharp eyes that were fierce and defiant.

A high nose bridge, thin lips-his face was almost absurdly handsome.

And almost absurdly defiant.

He had pierced ears; a silver hoop on his left ear glinted brightly. He wore a black baseball jacket.

He was having dinner with a very pretty girl. She was chatting him up with a beaming smile, while he leaned back slightly, his arm draped casually over the chair, then tilted his head up and shot me an ambiguous look.

This guy was even more eye-catching than before, and even more roguish.

I smiled and waved at him, a way of saying hello.

He just curled his lips, his gaze indifferent, and turned his face away.

Zhang Zhiyuan turned to look and asked who that was.

I said, “A kid from my old neighborhood, like a little brother. He used to be so well-behaved when he was young, but the older he gets, the more cocky he becomes.”

After a few teasing remarks, we went back to our meal, chatting and laughing.

Midway through, I got up to go to the restroom. I had only taken a couple of steps when I realized Qin Yue and that girl had already left.

When I came out of the restroom and looked up, I saw him in the corridor ahead, leaning against the wall with his head down, lighting a cigarette.

Qin Yue had a straight, upright posture and a handsome profile. As he bit the cigarette to light it, his facial contours blurred and sharpened in the smoke that swirled and dissipated.

Then he lifted his dark eyes to look at me, one eyebrow slightly raised, his whole demeanor lazy and teasing.

“Boyfriend?”

Just two simple words, but spoken with a hint of an offhand smile, his tone loose and casual.

I snapped back to attention and nodded with a smile. “Yeah. I thought you’d gone home.”

“We haven’t seen each other in so long. If I don’t say hello, won’t you think I’m rude, Sis?”

He lifted his eyelids slightly, his narrow eyes holding a hint of a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

“Of course not. We already greeted each other a moment ago.”

I smiled and glanced around. “Your friend left?”

Qin Yue didn’t answer. He just looked at me with deep, brooding eyes and suddenly said, “You’re very happy?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been smiling the whole time. Smiling when you played the piano, smiling while eating, and now still smiling when you talk.”

“…Is there a problem?”

I felt he was being absurd. “Smiling isn’t against the law. Does it bother you?”

“Yeah, your smiling makes me uncomfortable.”

“…”

Qin Yue’s tone was flat, with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes, and the way his lips curled was roguish and nasty.

I frowned. “You’re nuts.”

He’d been such an obedient child when he was little, but now look at him.

I didn’t want to deal with him anymore and started to leave, but as I passed by, he suddenly grabbed me.

“What are you doing? Let go!”

He was tall and strong, pulling me into his embrace while his other hand, holding the cigarette, moved back a little.

“Nothing. Just be careful.”

A low, lazy chuckle.

Only then did I realize that I’d been blocking the way. There was a middle-aged man behind me, engrossed in his phone call, who’d almost bumped into me.

The man, phone in hand, waved apologetically and walked away.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I said to Qin Yue, “Thanks.”

Qin Yue chuckled. “That’s it?”

“What else?”

“You were pretty fierce with me just now. Is that appropriate?”

“…Sorry.”

“That cut deep. Is sorry any use?”

“…Qin Yue, you’re just making stuff up now. Is this really necessary?” I frowned again, my tone slightly scolding.

“Necessary? Weren’t you f**king loving to smile? Why is it only for others, and with me you act like this?” He lifted his eyes, his tone flippant and indifferent.

“Watch your mouth. Have some manners, will you?”

“You and your manners. Keep pretending. Want a medal? ‘Moral Paragon.'”