Green Tea Top Student Falls in Love with Me - Chapter 61

Early one morning five years later, a light rain had just passed. The fragrance of the Osmanthus trees lining the road filled the air, making a walk down the path feel like being in a world of candy, sweet enough to make one linger.

City A’s airport was as crowded as ever. Shi Wangui was dressed in a short black sweater paired with beige-grey trousers. Her hair was curled in a light yellowish tint, and she wore sunglasses as she pulled her suitcase toward the arrival gate.

Sun Yi spotted her instantly and shouted, “Shi Wangui! Over here!”

Shi Wangui took off her sunglasses and walked straight to her. “After all these years, you still recognized me in one glance.”

Since breaking up with Wen Youren, she had moved abroad under her aunt’s arrangement and had not returned for five years. During the first year, she had spent her time preparing school materials. During that period, she had broken down and felt hopeless, spending most of her days huddled in a corner crying.

Regardless, it was in the past. It had been five years; there was no need to hold on to a three-year relationship.

“My dear lady,” Sun Yi said, “look at you. Who else wears something so thin? You’re showing half your midriff. Aren’t you cold?”

Shi Wangui had taken a connecting flight. It wasn’t cold when she started, and the layover was in the south where the temperature was fine, but coming out just now did make her shiver. “You don’t understand. Let’s go, let’s head back.”

Sun Yi had stayed in City A after graduation and was now working for a foreign company. Now that Shi Wangui was back for good, she didn’t want to go home, so she sought out Sun Yi first. Everything else could wait.

Shi Wangui loaded her suitcase into Sun Yi’s car and leaned back in the passenger seat. “Where to now? Home or to eat?”

“How about food?” Sun Yi suggested. “Where do you want to go? There’s a hotpot place near University A that is amazing. Don’t you love hotpot?”

University A…

“Forget it,” Shi Wangui turned to look out the window. “I’ll starve.”

“My lady,” Sun Yi said helplessly. “Don’t cause trouble with me. We haven’t seen each other in years; can’t I even treat you to a meal?”

Shi Wangui muttered softly, “I don’t want to go to University A. I don’t want to have anything to do with certain people.”

Sun Yi knew exactly who she was talking about. But she couldn’t exactly say that Shi Wangui’s aunt had arranged everything. She asked again, “Really not going?”

“Really not going,” Shi Wangui replied firmly.

“Fine. But your aunt arranged a house for you. I’ll take you there directly.”

Shi Wangui frowned. “Auntie didn’t say anything.”

“Check if your phone is even on.”

“…”

Her phone was indeed off. A classmate had been messaging her incessantly before she boarded, so she had just said she was getting on the plane and turned it off. Later, she had fallen asleep due to the jet lag and hadn’t turned it back on.

Her aunt had indeed sent a message saying that after she landed, she could find the person she had arranged for at University A. Her aunt knew Shi Wangui didn’t want to go home and that her friends were all in City A.

“I’m not a child anymore,” Shi Wangui said. “Why does Auntie have to arrange someone to look after me? She’s making me look like a kid.”

“You aren’t exactly an old soul yet,” Sun Yi teased. “You only graduated this year. You’re still a fresh grad. Taking any exams?”

“I lost my love for studying a long time ago.”

Sun Yi asked, “Do you still not have a driver’s license?”

“No.”

“That’s good,” Sun Yi whispered to herself. “I have work tomorrow, but I’ll come find you on Saturday and take you out.”

“Okay,” Shi Wangui replied while checking her messages.

Her aunt said she had found a reliable person to take care of her, a woman.

Seeing the word “woman,” Shi Wangui’s heart tightened. Could it be Wen Youren?

Heh, how could it be? She must be Shi Qin’s right-hand person by now. Why would she give up the company to come to City A? As far as she knew, Shi Qin’s company hadn’t expanded to City A yet.

Shi Wangui thought back to old memories, and her expression grew somber. Five years—she thought she had forgotten everything, that nothing could affect her anymore. But it wasn’t true. She still thought of Wen Youren sometimes. She thought of that first birthday, and…

Never mind. Don’t think about it. Spend time looking at the scenery, feeling the wind, and enjoying life.

Sun Yi dropped Shi Wangui off at the address provided by her aunt. Since she only had half a day off, she had to rush back to work. “I’m heading back. Call me if you need anything. I just ordered takeout for you; it should arrive soon.”

The moment Shi Wangui stepped out of the car, the weather punished her for her lack of respect. The piercing cold wind seeped into her bones, eating away at her body heat. She couldn’t help but shudder. It was freezing.

“Okay. I’ll call you if something comes up.”

After Sun Yi left, Shi Wangui entered the code and walked into the apartment. It was very warm inside; the air conditioning had been turned on early, as if someone had guessed she would be cold.

It was a small two-story apartment. It wasn’t large, but it was cozy. The decor was entirely cream-white, and the sofa was covered in plush dolls. There was a small yard in the back with flowers and plants. Whoever looked after this place clearly enjoyed life. A window was cracked open slightly, allowing the scent of flowers to drift in on the breeze, instantly lifting her mood.

Her aunt said her room was on the second floor with a sign on the door. Feeling sleepy again, Shi Wangui found her room and collapsed onto the bed. The blanket had a faint scent of grapefruit—not overpowering, but like incense, making her feel comfortable as she drifted into sleep.

Her phone rang. It was her aunt. This was her old SIM card; she had never thrown it away, though few people knew the number.

“Auntie, what is it?”

“Wanwan, did you find the place?”

“Mhm, I’m home. Auntie, I’m an adult now, in my twenties. I don’t need someone to look after me. You didn’t have to arrange this.”

There was a pause on the other end. Then her aunt said:

“Wanwan, do you still hate Wen Youren? Actually, you two should have a good talk.”

The name Wen Youren was a trigger. Her gentle tone turned sarcastic instantly.

“What’s so ‘hard’ for her? Was it hard to choose money? Was it hard to work for Shi Qin’s company?”

“Just don’t fight, and don’t be angry. Wen Youren is also in City A. I asked her to look after you.”

Wen Youren is also in City A… Wen Youren is also in City A…

The news was like a thunderclap, stopping her brain from functioning. Her heart, which had been calm, felt like it was caught in a massive storm at sea, trembling uncontrollably.

Then, there was a sound. The door opened.

Wen Youren was back.

Suddenly, her phone ran out of battery and died. Her aunt’s voice vanished, replaced by the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

As the footsteps drew closer, Shi Wangui’s breathing became shallow. Her chest burned with a mix of heat and hatred. Her clenched fists tightened as the footsteps approached, then slowly loosened.

Click. The door opened. Shi Wangui didn’t look back. She didn’t dare turn around and face the last five years.

The person behind her didn’t speak either. After a minute, Shi Wangui finally turned. She wanted to ask—to ask if money was really that good, to ask why she was with her in the beginning, to ask if she had a heart at all during these five years.

But when she turned, she was disappointed. It wasn’t Wen Youren. It was a stranger, a woman in a suit.

Seeing Shi Wangui turn, the woman handed over a meal box. “Miss Shi, here is the meal prepared for you.”

“Did Sun Yi send this?” Shi Wangui asked.

The woman looked confused. “Miss Sun? No, this isn’t from Miss Sun. That person said you would meet tonight.”

Shi Wangui spoke plainly, “It’s Wen Youren, isn’t it?”

The woman seemed unwilling to answer. “Miss Shi, I have things to do. I’ll be going now.”

Shi Wangui guessed as much. She hadn’t expected to meet Wen Youren so soon. But it made sense; the moment she decided to return to the country, a meeting was inevitable. She just hadn’t expected it today.

Should she run?

No, that would only prove she couldn’t let go and was afraid to see her.

Let them meet. What was the big deal? She had moved on long ago. For all she knew, they were now on the same household registry and would have to call each other sisters.

Shi Wangui didn’t eat. She just stood by the window, staring at the blooming flowers in the yard. Before long, her mind drifted, and her eyes filled with tears. Those five years had been so painful. She had no one to tell, enduring it all on her own.

But even after enduring it, what now? She hadn’t thought about what she would do upon her return. Her original plan was to break away from that family, develop herself in City A, and live her life alone.

“Shi Wangui.”

Someone had entered the room behind her.

Shi Wangui froze. The tears that had been held in her eyes spilled down her cheeks. She didn’t turn around, and she didn’t speak.

Wen Youren didn’t move forward either. She just stood there and asked, “How have you been?”

The tears wouldn’t stop. Even as Shi Wangui tried to halt them, they kept falling. She spoke with a choked, sobbing voice, “None of your business.”

Wen Youren walked to her side, placed a key on the table, and then stepped back to her original position. “This apartment is yours. You can change the code on the lock. This is the key to the room next door.”

Shi Wangui feigned wiping her tears and turned around. “What is this supposed to mean? Using the money you earned from Shi Qin to pay me back? My ‘dear sister’?”

If Wen Youren had told her she had a change of heart, that she liked men, or that she had fallen for someone else, Shi Wangui wouldn’t have hated her this much. Why did she have to join forces with the person she hated most? Why did it have to be like this?

Wen Youren said, “If I told you…”

“Told me what?”

“Told you that I want to take care of you from now on. Give me a chance.”

Shi Wangui laughed. “You’re the one who brought up the breakup, and now you say you want to take care of me? Do you think I’m a joke? No couple can stay together after a breakup like ours. You want to take care of me? Fine. Let me work by your side.”

Shi Wangui regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. She should have slapped Wen Youren, kicked her, and walked away with her head held high. What on earth was she saying?

Wen Youren smiled. “Okay.”

“Why haven’t you left yet?” Shi Wangui snapped.

“Because I love you,” Wen Youren replied.

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