Chapter 113: Waiting for News

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Waiting for News

"It’s about your two older brothers learning to drive. I wanted to ask Wanwan who she plans on finding to teach them."

Mother Su got straight to the point.

"Learn to drive? What for?" Su Jue asked, confused.

Mother Su was also surprised. "Didn’t Wanwan tell you? She said she did a good deed, and someone repaid her with a job at the clam factory in the city."

"Don’t tell me Wanwan was lying to me, and there was no good deed? Did she figure out a way to buy this job opportunity instead?"

The more she spoke, the more plausible it seemed. She snapped at Su Jue, "Su Jue, you be honest with me. If you’re helping your sister lie to me, you’re done for."

Su Jue didn’t get angry. "Mom, while I’m not entirely sure, the story about getting the job as a reward for saving someone’s life is definitely true. She mentioned it to me before, but she was waiting for news from the clam factory. I guess the news came yesterday, so she told you right away."

"Then how come you didn’t know?"

"I was busy yesterday, and then I met up with Wanwan... to go to the hospital." Su Jue hesitated, but decided to tell her. After all, he probably wouldn’t be able to hide it later.

’If Mom and Dad suddenly find out Wanwan is having twins, they’ll ask how we discovered it. Then I’d have to keep lying.’

’And the consequence of lying is that the more people who know, the more likely the truth will get out.’

’That’s when Mom and Dad would get *really* angry.’

"Twins!"

Mother Su couldn’t hold back her astonishment, her voice filled with shock. "What’s going on!"

"Twins? You mean she’s having twins? This is wonderful news!" Once the shock wore off, Mother Su was overjoyed.

But her joy was quickly followed by worry. "Carrying twins is so much harder. Wanwan is going to have a tough time."

"No, I can’t let this be. With Wanwan all by herself so far away, I can’t stop worrying."

"Mom, it’s not officially confirmed yet. We just went for a check-up today. We won’t get the results back for three days, so don’t get too worked up."

"For now, just focus on getting my brothers sorted out with driving lessons. Once they know how to drive, it’ll come in handy eventually." Su Jue also agreed that both his brothers should learn. ’If I save up some more money, I might be able to help them find jobs in the future.’

"Alright, I’ll arrange everything for your brothers so Wanwan doesn’t have to worry," Mother Su agreed. "So, who do you think they should learn from?"

"They can go to a good friend of mine back in the county town."

"I’ll give him a call about it, and then they can go for lessons."

Su Jue took it upon himself to arrange this, so Wanwan wouldn’t have to.

Mother Su also thought her son’s connections were more appropriate for this.

’If Wanwan handled it, she’d probably have to rely on her husband, Lu Zhengchuan’s, connections. He’s our son-in-law, and he’s already been so filial, buying us so many things. We can’t be too greedy. Besides, I still have three sons of my own.’

"Alright, let’s do that then."

After hanging up with his mother, Su Jue made another call to the county town and sorted everything out with his friend.

His friend was, of course, happy to help. Su Jue was a university student now, after all. If his two brothers suddenly needed to learn how to drive, it surely meant a good job opportunity was lined up.

With that taken care of, Su Jue prepared to head home.

But just as he turned into an alley, a delighted female voice suddenly called out from behind him, "Comrade Su Jue! Comrade Su Jue!"

Su Jue turned, and when he saw who was speaking, he tensed.

He instinctively turned to walk away.

Carrying a handbag, Xu Yan chased after him and grabbed his arm.

"Why are you running?" Xu Yan was a little breathless from running so fast.

Su Jue stopped and frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"I’m here in the Capital on a performance tour," Xu Yan said, lifting her chin proudly. "I’m the top performer in our arts troupe, which is why I was chosen to come to the Capital. I heard we’ll be performing in the great auditorium for foreign guests."

"Pretty impressive, right?" A radiant smile lit up her face, and she glowed with a self-confidence and energy that seemed uniquely hers.

Su Jue stared at her smile. A ripple disturbed the usual calm of his heart, like a finger lightly tracing the surface of still water, leaving a faint, ticklish stir.

"Yes, impressive," Su Jue replied in a low voice, then turned to walk away.

Before Xu Yan could even savor the compliment, she saw him leaving and immediately hurried after him.

"Hey, Comrade Su Jue, why are you walking so fast? Wait for me! I’m wearing flats and I still can’t keep up!"

Panting, Xu Yan caught up and tugged on his sleeve.

Su Jue had no choice but to stop. He reached out to steady her, but as soon as she found her footing, he discreetly created some distance between them.

"Comrade Xu Yan, I sent you a letter. Did you get it?"

"A letter? Comrade Su Jue, you actually sent me a letter?" Xu Yan couldn’t help but laugh.

Su Jue gave her a speechless look. "Is that the important part?"

"Of course it’s the important part! You didn’t even want to talk to me before, and now you’re sending me a letter. It means we’re closer than we were. That’s great news," Xu Yan said happily, ticking off the points on her fingers as she analyzed the situation.

Su Jue fell silent, a strange look in his eyes. "Your powers of deduction are... never mind. If you didn’t get the letter, I can just tell you directly now."

Su Jue stopped and turned to face her.

The alley was dark at night, lit only by a few, sparse streetlamps that cast a dim, yellow glow.

Seeing his grave expression, the smile on Xu Yan’s face faded. She nodded seriously to show she was listening.

"Go on."

"I received the thank-you gifts you gave me. That settles the score between us. I don’t think there’s any need for us to keep in contact," Su Jue said, trying to be as tactful as he could.

Xu Yan frowned. "Why isn’t there a need to keep in contact? The debt between us is settled, yes, but we can still be friends."

"Comrade Su Jue, I think you’re a very good person, and I really admire you. And didn’t you just say I was impressive? I think we’d be great friends." Xu Yan blinked, her shy gaze fixed on him as her heart began to race.

Su Jue’s brow furrowed, his tone growing serious. He looked at her pretty face, his fist clenching and unclenching at his side. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Then let me be perfectly clear. I don’t want to be friends with you."

Xu Yan’s face instantly flushed red. She was so flustered she couldn’t even look up. "...Then... then what do you want to be?"

Her last few words were spoken so quietly, she was the only one who could hear them.

"What did you say?" Su Jue hadn’t heard her clearly and asked her to repeat herself.

"I said..." Xu Yan felt her heart skip a beat. She looked up at his face, half-hidden in shadow, and gathering her courage, she asked, "I’m asking, what kind of relationship do you want us to have?"

Looking down at her, Su Jue could see the faint, hopeful curve at the corners of her lips. It reminded him of the way the poplars bloomed back home each year.

He heard himself say in an unnervingly rational voice, "I hope for us to have no relationship at all."

The smile on Xu Yan’s face froze, like a jammed piece of old machinery. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out, only a gasp of air. She tried again, and again, but failed to make a sound.

When she finally found her voice, it came out hoarse.

"What... what did you just say?"