His Sunday Substitute - Chapter 21

“Even if it’s out of pity, you can’t…”

“Nuonuo, I’m sorry! I had no idea that jerk Ji Wenjun would show up today. Don’t be upset. You didn’t have to do that back there. Why bother with them? Let them fight if they want!” Li Jinmiao caught up with Su Yinuo and linked arms with her.

“I’m not upset,” Su Yinuo lifted her flushed face and smiled at Li Jinmiao. She truly didn’t seem distressed.

Li Jinmiao was taken aback, her mind struggling to process this. Su Yinuo pointed at the elevator and said cheerfully, “Sister Miao, let’s go to the rooftop garden! There’s going to be a drone show later!”

“Okay, okay.”

When they reached the rooftop of the club, Su Yinuo was utterly awestruck by the fairy-tale-like splendor of the sky garden. On the side facing Pearl Lake, countless twinkling lights draped over the treetops like stars, while on the other side of the garden, a massive artificial moon cast a soft glow. This dreamy design split the space into two distinct worlds: one bathed in moonlight as bright as day, and the other shrouded in the mysterious darkness of a hidden jungle.

Su Yinuo pulled Li Jinmiao toward the moonlit side and ducked into an exquisitely arranged flowerbed. Gazing up at the wisteria cascading above her, she exclaimed excitedly, “Sister Miao, take some photos of me! After that, I’ll take some of you!”

A girl’s happiness could be so simple. The two of them darted around the garden, their phones soon filled to the brim with photos, including plenty of intimate shots of them hugging and laughing together.

“Wow, we really do look alike. What a rare connection.”

They made their way to the side near Pearl Lake and settled onto a bench. Li Jinmiao couldn’t stop marveling at their photos, while Su Yinuo gazed at the tranquil lake under the night sky, eagerly awaiting the performance.

“Hey, Nuonuo, I still don’t get it, why did you admit to liking Qin Cangye back in the private room?” Li Jinmiao asked, puzzled.

Su Yinuo chuckled lightly. “To avoid causing trouble, for him and for myself.”

Li Jinmiao still didn’t quite understand.

Su Yinuo explained, “He didn’t want to acknowledge any connection between us in front of others. Maybe, like you said before, he’s wary of his grandfather? So, in that situation, I had to step up. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m not part of your circle anyway, and after tonight, no one will be able to find me. Admitting I had a crush on him won’t affect anyone. Besides…” She tilted her head and flashed Li Jinmiao an adorable grin. “Liking him isn’t something to be ashamed of, right?”

“Exactly! There’s nothing shameful about liking someone! You’re so right, Nuonuo. Ah, you’re such an angel!” Li Jinmiao hugged Su Yinuo tightly, showering her with praise. But then she suddenly pulled back, gripping Su Yinuo’s shoulders with a serious expression. “Wait! doesn’t this mean you just confessed to Qin Cangye? Are you really planning to start some kind of secret affair with him?”

“Ah?? I didn’t think of that…” Su Yinuo suddenly panicked, waving her hands repeatedly as she said, “I don’t want any secret affairs, I never intended to date him. Oh no, he might have misunderstood. What should I do?” She grabbed her hair in frustration, sighed, and said, “Forget it, I just won’t see him anymore!”

As soon as Su Yinuo finished speaking, a cold, mournful voice came from the dark woods behind her: “Really? Never see me again?”

…

A dozen minutes earlier, after Su Yinuo rushed out of the private room, Qin Cangye remained seated calmly, the anger on his face dissipating somewhat, all because of Su Yinow’s words: “I have a one-sided affection for Young Master Qin.”

Holding his wine glass, he stared at the transparent liquid inside, no longer paying attention to the frenzied Ji Wenjun or the apologetic Ji Cheng. Instead, he kept replaying Su Yinow’s words in his mind, savoring them like a century-old vintage wine.

A few minutes later, he stood up composedly and said, “It’s about time. I’ll take my leave first. If anyone wants to continue with other activities, put it on my tab.”

With a slight nod, he walked out of the private room at a leisurely pace.

After closing the door, he quickened his steps and found Zhang Yifeng waiting in the lobby. “Where are they?” he asked.

“Top floor,” Zhang Yifeng replied coldly, clearly in a sour mood.

Thus, Qin Cangye made his way to the top floor. In the dimly lit woods, filled with the cloying scent of flowers, he overheard the conversation between Li Jinmiao and Su Yinow.

His emotions rose and fell with every word Su Yinuo spoke. When he heard her say, “I just won’t see him anymore,” his entire body stiffened, as if plunged into an icy abyss.

Unable to hold back, he spoke up: “Really? Never see me again?”

Su Yinuo and Li Jinmiao sprang up from the bench simultaneously, turning to face Qin Cangye, who stood eerily in the shadows.

Upon closer inspection, his expression wasn’t so terrifying after all, his clear eyes, reflecting the light, were filled with hurt and sorrow.

“Sister Miao, let me talk to him alone,” Su Yinuo said to Li Jinmiao.

Li Jinmiao nodded and whispered, “Be careful. If that guy tries anything, just scream. I’ll be waiting for you by the moon over there.”

“Don’t worry, Sister Miao,” Su Yinuo reassured her, patting Li Jinmiao’s hand.

After Li Jinmiao left, Su Yinuo beckoned to Qin Cangye, who looked like a dejected, lost puppy.

Qin Cangye stepped out of the shadows and approached Su Yinuo. Noticing her thin gray sweater, he asked softly, “The wind by the lake is strong. Aren’t you cold?”

He took off his coat and draped it over Su Yinuo’s shoulders.

Warmth immediately enveloped her, shielding her from the damp chill of the autumn night by the lake. The coat carried a faint hint of alcohol and a subtle scent of pinewood.

“Thank you,” Su Yinuo murmured, lowering her head and clutching the coat tightly. As she gathered her thoughts, preparing to speak, sudden gasps erupted from nearby and farther away.

Light pierced through the dark night sky, casting beams from behind. Su Yinuo turned around in surprise, her bright eyes widening as they were instantly filled with countless dazzling, twinkling lights.

The drone show began.

It was as if a river of stars had surged from Pearl Lake, swirling and clustering upward, spinning, merging, and transforming endlessly in the dark expanse of the sky, until finally forming an indescribably magnificent Milky Way.

Su Yinuo had never witnessed such a breathtaking drone performance in person before. Her hands, which had been clutching her coat, fell slack, and her lips parted slightly, freezing her gasp of awe before it could escape. She forgot the words she had meant to say to Qin Cangye, forgot where she was, forgot everything around her. Her mind was left with nothing but the dazzling, ever-changing lights.

Qin Cangye slowly moved closer, tentatively hooking a finger around Su Yinuo’s hand. When she didn’t pull away, he gently enveloped her small palm in his own.

He, too, looked up at the awe-inspiring river of stars against the black sky, a brilliant, starlit smile curving his lips.

The drone show didn’t last long. As the starlight gradually receded and faded, Su Yinuo’s heart sank into a hollow emptiness. Only when the last glimmer of light vanished did she become aware of the warmth encasing her hand.

With a startled gasp, she tried to pull away, but Qin Cangye suddenly tightened his grip, drawing her into his broad embrace.

“Nuonuo, I like you.”

The sudden confession whispered beside her ear didn’t bring surprise or overwhelming emotion. Instead, her nose stung, and hot tears spilled down her cheeks.

When Qin Cangye cupped her face, he found his palm already wet.

“Nuonuo, why are you crying?” he asked anxiously, fearing his confession had frightened her, and loosened his grip on her hand.

“Ah, it’s nothing,” Su Yinuo quickly took a step back, wiping her tears with an embarrassed smile. “I was just so absorbed in watching it that when it ended, I felt a little empty and sad.”

“Then I’ll have them perform it again!” Qin Cangye said urgently.

“No, no, no,” Su Yinuo waved her hands in protest. “Wouldn’t that cost a lot?”

“Not much. Just around five hundred thousand.”

“Th…that’s not much?!” Su Yinuo gave a pained laugh.

“As long as it makes you happy, it’s worth it,” Qin Cangye said earnestly, without a trace of the usual smooth-talking rich heir. He tilted his head slightly, studying the faint tension on Su Yinuo’s face before hesitantly reminding her, “Nuonuo, I just said I li…”

“Ah! I had something to say earlier too!” Su Yinuo interrupted him abruptly, her voice flustered. “I haven’t finished speaking yet. Let me go first.”

Qin Cangye fell silent, a heavy unease settling in his chest.

“Mr. Qin,” Su Yinuo took a deep breath, the tension on her face gradually fading. Unable to bear looking at him while delivering her rejection, she turned toward Pearl Lake, its surface now still and shimmering faintly in the quiet night.

“Mr. Qin, we’re from different worlds. Fifty thousand might be a drop in the ocean for you, but for me, it’s enough to live comfortably for a lifetime. I know the wealth gap isn’t an issue for you, after all, you could fill every gap in my life with just a wave of your hand. But the differences in perspective, understanding, and lifestyle that come with this wealth gap will only drive us further apart due to our incompatible values. My presence by your side was just a coincidence. We’re not suited for each other. At most, I should only be a minor footnote in your life, not someone who deserves any more of your attention. So… let’s just leave it at that.”

Su Yinuo spoke calmly, as these words had played out in her mind countless times before. She had used them to convince herself, and she believed they would surely convince Qin Cangye too.

But what she heard instead was Qin Cangye’s pained retort: “How do you know I can’t accept everything about you? And how do you know I can’t make you accept everything about me?”

Su Yinuo froze, slowly turning to face Qin Cangye, whose expression was bordering on unhinged.

“Nuonuo, you have no idea how much I love you,” Qin Cangye stepped forward, gripping her wrist tightly, his eyes red. “Just give it a try, and you’ll see, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you! So don’t say ‘let’s leave it at that.’ Even if it’s just out of pity for me, you can’t just say that!”

Her wrist ached from his grip as tears rolled down Su Yinuo’s cheeks. Her lips trembled as she whispered, “But, I don’t dare to try.”

Hot tears fell one by one onto the back of Qin Cangye’s hand. Just as he was about to speak, Su Yinuo’s even more heartbroken words cut through: “Aren’t you afraid too? Aren’t you scared of your grandfather finding out about me? I know your family is a pit of fire. I’m terrified of your grandfather, so I avoid even the thought of it. I’m sorry, I’m just a coward. I don’t have the courage to stand by your side and fight against anything. I don’t deserve all the love you’ve poured into me. So, let’s just end it here.”

Shaking off Qin Cangye’s loosening grip, Su Yinuo took a few steps back, holding back another flood of tears. Before turning to run away, she left him with one final sentence:

“Let’s not see each other again, Mr. Qin.”