Chapter 61: Knelt Down

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Knelt Down

"Wanwan, I’ve rented an apartment. It’s in a residential building right next to Jing University—a two-bedroom place. I’ll come over when I’m free."

"When are you coming to the Capital? I heard Jing University students can apply for early campus access. I also know a few upperclassmen there. When you get here, you can meet them and get the lay of the land."

Su Wan was taken aback for a moment by his question. She replied instinctively, "I should be able to come once I finish my research assignment at the base."

"When will that be? I’ll plan my schedule so I can pick you up from the train station."

"We’re currently in the final testing phase," Su Wan said after a moment of thought. "If it’s successful, I should be free to go."

Hearing this, Su Jue immediately said, "Then you should book your train ticket right away. There’s not much for you to do at the base anyway, and Lu Zhengchuan isn’t around. You might as well just come to the Capital early."

"..." ’If Su Jue hadn’t reminded me, I wouldn’t have realized I have no reason to stay at the base after the experiment is done.’

’Besides, I’ve run into a lot of confusing physics concepts. Going to the Capital early would mean I can get my questions answered sooner.’

’As for Lu Zhengchuan... since we can’t seem to develop any feelings for each other, we might as well just be an ordinary married couple.’

With that thought, Su Wan nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I’ll contact you as soon as I book my ticket."

Su Jue gave Su Wan his address.

Su Wan didn’t notice Zhang Cui had overheard her.

After returning and giving Su Jue’s address to Xu Yan, she was picked up by someone from the research institute who had rushed over to find her.

"Comrade Su Wan, the director says the test is about to start. Please come quickly."

"Okay, I’m on my way."

Su Wan nodded.

Zhang Yun quickly ran after her. "Su Wan, you haven’t had lunch yet!"

"It’s fine, I’ll eat when I’m done." Su Wan was also eager to see the results of the research.

Zhang Yun could only watch as Su Wan got into the car and drove away.

Zhang Yun stomped her foot. ’What am I going to do? If Su Wan gets skinny from hunger, my cousin will be furious with me when he comes back.’

After a moment’s thought, Zhang Yun picked up the lunchbox. ’I’d better take this to Su Wan. That way, she can eat as soon as she’s finished.’

With that, she changed her clothes, packed the lunchbox, and hurried after her.

"Hello, my name is Zhang Yun. I’m Comrade Su Wan’s cousin, and I’m here to bring her lunch. May I go inside?" Zhang Yun asked, standing on her tiptoes outside the research institute and holding the lunchbox with both hands as she spoke to the comrade in the guardhouse.

After confirming her identity, the guard said, "Comrade Zhang Yun, I’m sorry, but non-research personnel are not allowed inside the institute. You’ll have to wait out here."

"Oh, I see. Alright then."

Resigned, Zhang Yun was unable to get in. She found a nearby rock and sat down.

"Zhang Yun? What are you doing here?"

At the sound of a familiar voice, Zhang Yun defensively clutched the lunchbox. Looking up, she saw, just as she’d expected, Zheng Zhizhi approaching.

She looked to be in much worse spirits than before.

The dress she wore was now made of coarse, village-spun cloth, its color far from vibrant.

"Zheng Zhizhi! Why are you back at the base again!" Zhang Yun exclaimed, her guard up.

Zheng Zhizhi was clearly triggered by the question, her eyes flaring with anger. "You’re enjoying my misfortune, aren’t you?"

"Enjoying your misfortune?" Zhang Yun looked completely baffled.

Zheng Zhizhi was enraged by her act, feigning innocence just like Su Wan.

"What misfortune are you talking about?" Zhang Yun asked, curious.

Zheng Zhizhi ground out, "I refuse to believe you don’t know that my marriage application with Liu Lang was rejected."

"What! You mean you can’t marry Liu Lang now?" Zhang Yun almost burst out laughing.

Under Zheng Zhizhi’s ferocious glare, she wiped the smile from her face, but anyone could tell how pleased she was.

"What do you have to be so happy about?" Zheng Zhizhi couldn’t stand that someone as stupid as Zhang Yun had gotten off scot-free in the letter-swapping incident, all because Lu Zhengchuan was her cousin.

Unlike her—her older brother was in jail, and her parents had lost everything paying restitution to Su Wan.

Her parents couldn’t even hold their heads up in the village anymore, forced to do filthy work like raising pigs.

She had been counting on Liu Lang to turn her family’s situation around.

If she married Liu Lang, she would get his monthly stipend of seventy or eighty yuan. She could bring her parents to live on the base. Why would she need to worry about the villagers ostracizing and tormenting her parents then?

Her family would be able to live a good life the other villagers could only dream of.

At this thought, Zheng Zhizhi’s anger subsided.

A new plan began to form in her mind. ’I have to marry Liu Lang!’

"...I’m not happy about it. If you don’t like me, you can leave. Just don’t talk to me." Zhang Yun denied it, even taking a few steps back to pointedly put some distance between them and make her position clear.

Zheng Zhizhi took a deep breath, reining in a surge of anger.

She glanced at Zhang Yun and gave an enigmatic smile.

She didn’t say another word, but she didn’t leave either.

Her stare made Zhang Yun feel completely uneasy.

"What’s with that look?" Zhang Yun had a feeling she was up to no good.

Zheng Zhizhi smirked. "If I can’t marry Liu Lang, who do you think I’d want to marry?"

Having been friends with her for so many years, Zhang Yun’s heart immediately sank. She stared in disbelief. "You’re still after my cousin?"

"No! You can’t be!" Zhang Yun said frantically.

Zheng Zhizhi just smiled enigmatically again.

"You... you’re shameless!" Zhang Yun was genuinely worried now.

After spending this time with Su Wan, she had actually grown to like her more and more.

All she had to do was cook each day; the rest of her time was her own. Even though, at her mother’s urging, she spent every day either reading or knitting, life was still better than it had been back home.

Su Wan gave her money for living expenses and an allowance, she wasn’t nagged by her parents, and she didn’t have to work in the fields.

She could even use the clam oil cream Su Wan gave her, which had made her hands much softer than before.

Most importantly, Su Wan never criticized her.

Even though Zhang Yun had wronged her, Su Wan had never once gotten angry.

Zhang Yun’s guilt toward Su Wan had naturally grown day by day, especially after seeing how outstanding she was.

From talking with the other families in the residential compound, she had gradually come to understand that, when it came down to it, an outstanding person like Su Wan could be with anyone. Her cousin might not even be good enough for her.

’Such an amazing person... of course, I have to help my cousin take good care of her.’

’I absolutely can’t let them get divorced.’

With Zheng Zhizhi suddenly showing up to cause trouble, Zhang Yun was completely flustered.

"You should just hurry up and marry Liu Lang!"

"This is all your fault."

After saying this, Zheng Zhizhi suddenly ran toward the institute’s entrance.

Startled by her action, Zhang Yun quickly gave chase, only to see Su Wan walking out of the building at that very moment.

"Su Wan, run! It’s Zheng Zhizhi!" Zhang Yun shouted instinctively.

Su Wan looked up at the sound of the shout.

In front of everyone, Zheng Zhizhi suddenly fell to her knees before Su Wan with a THUD.

"Su Wan, I’m begging you, please don’t hold this against me anymore! My whole family can’t go on like this! Please, just let me off the hook!"