After a Flash Marriage with a Professor - Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Brutally Finishing Off

“Professor Shen? What’s going on with Miss Yu and her ex-girlfriend?” Ming Shu couldn’t help but ask once Professor Shen had led her out of the restaurant and put some distance between them and the Chinese couples’ restaurant.

Shen Junlan continued walking, holding Ming Shu’s hand, and said, “I’m not entirely sure either. I only know that when Yu Le was studying in the US, she dated Katherine. Yu Le was heartbroken after being dumped and didn’t date again for a long time.”

“Did they keep in touch after they broke up?”

“When they first broke up, Yu Le wasn’t ready to let go and tried to win her back. Later, she came back to China and cut off contact. As for how today’s situation came about, we’ll have to ask Yu Le directly. I think she won’t hide anything.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry, Wife. Yu Le is my friend, and Ling Yu is your friend. I won’t be biased or help conceal anything in this serious matter.”

“Mmm.” Ming Shu nodded. Hearing Professor Shen say that reassured her somewhat.

Once they arrived at Yu Le’s restaurant, Shen Junlan was immediately dragged by Yu Le into her usual office. Ming Shu was pulled in along with her.

The door slammed shut with a “bang,” slightly startling the distant guests.

After pulling Ming Shu down onto the sofa, Shen Junlan said, “Explain it, Yu Le.”

Yu Le irritably ran her fingers through her hair. Several dark green liquor bottles were scattered on the coffee table. She casually picked one up, intending to take a sip, but found it empty, which made her even more frustrated.

“Drink some water.” Shen Junlan poured Yu Le a glass of plain water.

Yu Le didn’t want water, but her throat was too dry, so she drank it. After gulping down a glass of water, Yu Le was willing to speak, “I…” She only said one word, then choked up when she saw Ming Shu.

“Do you need me to step out?” Ming Shu made a move to stand up. Although she didn’t want to leave, she wanted to observe Miss Yu more for Ling Yu’s sake.

“No need. You’re all my people. I just feel a bit embarrassed.”

Ming Shu sat back down and said seriously, “There’s nothing embarrassing about being honest. Miss Yu, dragging things out with both sides is what’s truly embarrassing.”

Shen Junlan heard a slight tremor in Ming Shu’s voice and gripped her hand reassuringly. It took a lot of courage for Ming Shu to speak to Yu Le like that for Ling Yu’s sake.

“I didn’t.” Yu Le said agitatedly, “It was just so sudden, my mind is a mess.”

Shen Junlan poured Yu Le another glass of water with one hand, urging her to speak after she finished it.

“Take your time. Sort things out and explain clearly. We’ll figure it out together.”

“Mmm.” Yu Le finished one glass of water and asked for more. Shen Junlan poured her another.

After finishing three glasses of water, Yu Le’s bladder couldn’t hold out anymore, and she said she needed to use the restroom.

After Yu Le left, Shen Junlan said to Ming Shu, “Wife, I know you are very worried about Ling Yu, and I am too. I believe Yu Le is not the type to mess around. Can you trust her a little more?”

“…Mmm.” Ming Shu’s agreement was slightly reluctant.

Ming Shu felt a little regretful that she had agreed to help initially. Although Ling Yu hadn’t accepted Miss Yu yet, her emotional defenses had lowered significantly, and her true feelings were slowly leaking out. Perhaps Miss Yu and Professor Shen hadn’t noticed, but Ming Shu had. She knew how much courage it took for a person whose heart was closed off to love to slowly open the door.

She was afraid that her previous misjudgment would harm Ling Yu and cause Ling Yu’s heart to close even tighter.

Yu Le lingered in the restroom for 10 minutes before coming out. She cupped water in her hands at the sink and splashed her face several times. Water droplets ran down, wetting several spots on her top, and the chill of the water made her feel cold all over. She felt Ming Shu’s unease and condemnation, but even more unease and condemnation came from herself.

Yu Le made up her mind and returned to Shen Junlan and Ming Shu to confess.

“Do you want to change your clothes first?” Shen Junlan asked.

“No need. It’s better to make things clear first,” Yu Le sat down, hunching her back and clasping her hands.

Ming Shu stopped talking, wanting only to hear Miss Yu’s explanation.

“I did spend some time obsessing over Katherine and tried to win her back. But after returning to China, I cut off everything. I deleted all her contact information, changed a series of my own numbers, canceled the social accounts I used to use, and cleared all information about her from social platforms. I completely eliminated her from my life. I’m not sure if I was completely successful. As you know, I haven’t dated in years because I haven’t met anyone who made my heart flutter. There might have been a hint of lingering attachment to Katherine. However, after meeting Ling Yu, I am very certain that I like Ling Yu. It’s not a temporary whim. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have pursued her for so long, not giving up even though I haven’t succeeded.”

“Ming Shu, do you believe what I’m saying?” Yu Le wanted to gain Ming Shu’s approval at this point.

Ming Shu hesitated for a second, then nodded, “I believe you.” The hesitation was for thought. After a quick consideration, Ming Shu felt Miss Yu’s words were credible.

Shen Junlan said, “Keep going. What’s the deal with Katherine coming to China?”

Yu Le lowered her head, saying somewhat powerlessly, “Junlan, do you remember why Katherine broke up with me?”

“She preferred men to women; she was bisexual.”

“That’s right. Actually, there’s another reason. At the time, Katherine didn’t know how wealthy my family was. I’ve always been wary of discussing that in relationships. She can like money, but I hoped she would like me first, and like me more than my money.”

“But Katherine didn’t manage that. She liked money more than she liked me, so when she found a so-called white elite man, she quickly broke up with me.”

Ming Shu listened, astonished. She could understand a top-tier second-generation wealthy person like Miss Yu concealing her wealth to make friends, but one thing she didn’t understand: no matter how much she hid it, Miss Yu would still give people the impression that she was not financially struggling. Ming Shu tactfully voiced her confusion.

Yu Le suddenly looked up at the ceiling, saying, “That’s true, but it wasn’t enough. Katherine’s pursuit of money was her priority, so when she thought she found a better target, she quickly moved on.”

At this point, Shen Junlan said with great confusion, “You liked Katherine so much then, and she loved money, and you have money. She left you for money, so why didn’t you tell her that money was the best way to win her back?”

Yu Le said firmly, “I don’t want a transactional love. I don’t want to buy a compliant body with money. When she chose that white man for money, I realized the truth, even though it was painful.”

Ming Shu was deeply touched. She had to admit that Miss Yu’s view on love was admirable. She had encountered too many wealthy second-generations who were arrogant because of their money, wanting to use it to tempt people into prostitution. It was rare for Miss Yu to hold firm to her bottom line.

“But you are still in pain now,” Shen Junlan said calmly and incisively.

“Yes.” Yu Le admitted honestly, “But I don’t know why.”

“Have you ever considered getting back together with Katherine?”

Yu Le was silent for a while before saying, “To be honest, before meeting Ling Yu, I had thought about it. Back then, I thought if Katherine came back to me without knowing about my wealth, I would gladly accept her and share everything I own with her.”

“Your fantasy has now become reality,” Shen Junlan said, frowning, still very calm.

“No, it hasn’t.” Yu Le no longer looked at the ceiling. This time, she looked directly into her friend’s eyes, “Junlan, Katherine is already married. Not to that white elite man from before. She found a rich Chinese man and got married after returning to China. She even sent me an invitation, but I didn’t go. Then she opened a restaurant right across from mine. Yesterday, she came to me and said she hadn’t forgotten me, that she actually liked me very much, and wanted to maintain that kind of relationship with me. Her husband doesn’t mind either.”

Yu Le laid bare the surreal events that had happened to her these past few days. Ming Shu was listening nearby, completely dumbfounded.

“How did you reply to her?” Shen Junlan asked.

“I refused.”

“Are you struggling because you’re internally conflicted?” Shen Junlan pressed on. She had to be diligent in her role. As someone who was trying to connect her friend with her former student, who was also her wife’s best friend, she had a great responsibility.

“What a sharp question, Junlan.” Yu Le clutched her chest, clearly overwhelmed.

Shen Junlan said mercilessly, “Tell the truth. Whatever your real inner thoughts are, honesty is always the fastest way to solve a problem.”

“I have been very honest, Junlan,” Yu Le said weakly, “I’ve been sorting things out myself these past two days. I personally think my pain comes from liking the wrong person before. I liked someone whose values were different from mine, and I held beautiful hopes for her, thinking she could change for me, thinking her affection for me could overcome her desire for money. I never expected her to return to me only after she had gained the wealth she wanted most from someone else. Only then did she remember me. I feel disillusioned and very disappointed.”

Shen Junlan continued her pointed questioning, “If one day Katherine divorces her husband and says she wants to be with you, how would you choose?”

“I wouldn’t choose her. Her divorce is her own business and has nothing to do with me. After recognizing who she truly is, I no longer like her.”

“Then what is causing your current pain and distress?” Shen Junlan quickly pursued.

Yu Le also subconsciously answered quickly, “I’m afraid she will disrupt my normal life and hinder my progress with Ling Yu.”

Shen Junlan clapped her hands, saying, “OK!”

Ming Shu also breathed a sigh of relief. The three of them ate lunch together. At the table, Ming Shu repeatedly asked, “Miss Yu, was everything you told Professor Shen and me true?”

“True. I promise. If I’m lying in any way, may I lose all my wealth.”

Shen Junlan laughed, “Wife, just trust her. She swore on the money Katherine loves most. Katherine definitely wouldn’t like her if she had no money.”

“Junlan, are you trying to hurt me?”

Yu Le slumped back onto the chair, making a gesture of pinching the philtrum to revive herself. Shen Junlan smiled even more brightly, and Ming Shu couldn’t help but laugh too.

After lunch, Shen Junlan drove Ming Shu to work. Ming Shu had only taken the morning off.

Inspired by Yu Le today, Shen Junlan couldn’t help but ask after getting into the car, “Wife, if I didn’t have money, would you like me?”

Ming Shu smiled and said, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Mmm. If Professor Shen didn’t have money, we probably wouldn’t have met again through the arranged blind date.”

“What if the penniless me pursued you?” Shen Junlan changed the question.

“I think I would still like Professor Shen. As long as Professor Shen likes me and doesn’t look down on my family background.”

“I don’t look down on it.” Shen Junlan leaned over to kiss Ming Shu.

She never had.

Support After a Flash Marriage with a Professor