I Revealed My True Identity After Confessing My Love - Chapter 25

After helping Ye Nanning into the car, Du Xiran walked to the side with her phone and said to the others, “I’ll take this call first, it’ll just be a few minutes.”

Zhang Mishuang and her boyfriend sat in the front. After a moment, she turned around and saw Ye Nanning leaning against the car window, staring outside. She asked, “Are you in a hurry to get back?”

Ye Nanning: “No hurry.”

“Then let’s wait for her. Once she picks up the phone, she’s never ending,” Zhang Mishuang said.

Ye Nanning knew Zhang Mishuang thought she was rushing Du Xiran, but in reality, she just wanted to watch the other woman for a little longer just a little while more. Du Xiran was only a few meters away, communicating with a client and then calling others. She looked busy, yet she handled everything with ease.

“Ranran really is… she said a few minutes, but it’s been this long,” Zhang Mishuang said, turning on the car music. It was pure instrumental music without lyrics, the perfect BGM for a chat.

“I’m going out for a smoke,” Zhang Mishuang’s boyfriend said, opening the door. Feeling bored, Zhang Mishuang turned back to chat with Ye Nanning.

“Should I call you Nanning, or Little Ye?”

“Either is fine.” The alcohol in Ye Nanning’s system hadn’t fully evaporated yet, making her less intimidated by meeting Du Xiran’s friend for the first time.

“Then Little Ye it is. Little Ye, do you have a boyfriend?” Almost everyone has a desire to “ship” couples or play matchmaker, either wanting to see others fall in love or helping them do so. Zhang Mishuang was exactly like this; she frequently introduced good men to Du Xiran. Now, meeting such a beautiful young girl, her matchmaker’s heart began to stir again.

Ye Nanning shook her head: “No.”

Zhang Mishuang got excited: “You’re so pretty, there must be many men chasing you, right? You don’t like any of them?”

Ye Nanning: “Yeah, I don’t like any of them.”

Zhang Mishuang: “Then what kind do you like? Tell your sister?”

Ye Nanning… “Good figure, gentle, good-looking.” Preferably with breasts, big or small didn’t matter, as long as they were there. Of course, she was too embarrassed to say that last part out loud.

“I don’t believe someone like that hasn’t appeared around you,” Zhang Mishuang said.

She has.

Ye Nanning glanced out the window. The tall, slender silhouette under the streetlight made her heart race. She wanted so badly to rush over and embrace her regardless of everything. But it was still too early, she would only scare her away.

“What about Director Du? Does Director Du have someone she likes?” Ye Nanning murmured.

“Her? If only she did,” Zhang Mishuang said. “Her parents call me every time, asking me to keep an eye out for suitable guys. What can I do? I’ve introduced almost every ‘blue-chip’ bachelor in my circle to her, but she just doesn’t like them. It’s too hard.”

Ye Nanning’s heart skipped a beat as she asked expectantly, “Why doesn’t she like them?”

Could it be that Director Du likes women too?!

“Because she’s busy with work. She always says she only feels secure with money in her pocket and that men only slow down her earning speed,” Zhang Mishuang facepalmed. “But it’s true, she’s so busy all day that forget about dating, I don’t think she even has time to eat.”

Ye Nanning looked at Du Xiran with heartache.

“That’s a major reason, of course, but I don’t know if there’s an element of making excuses involved,” Zhang Mishuang added.

Ye Nanning: “Excuses?”

“Yeah, she was hurt by her first love.”

First love?

Ye Nanning’s heart broke: “Scumbag! Go die!”

Zhang Mishuang was amused: “You’re standing up for her that much? You don’t even know what happened, and you’re already firmly on her side?”

“Director Du wouldn’t hurt anyone. If someone hurt her, it must be that person’s fault! They’ll face divine retribution!” Ye Nanning said indignantly.

Zhang Mishuang burst out laughing: “I like people like you. Come on, use the harshest language to curse that rotten man!”

“He is unreasonable, insidious, crafty, evil-doing, and hideous! A man who commits many injustices is doomed to destruction!” Ye Nanning cursed fiercely.

Zhang Mishuang: “…Finished?”

“Yes!”

“Wow.” Zhang Mishuang hadn’t heard a single swear word, but she was forced to learn quite a few idioms. She laughed loudly, “You’re too much fun. We should hang out sometime.”

Ye Nanning: ??

Ye Nanning didn’t understand what was “cute” about her, but she desperately wanted to know about Du Xiran’s past. She asked softly, “Can I know about Director Du’s first love?”

“Why not? It’s not a secret; she often talks about it herself. That’s why I suspect she uses it as an excuse to avoid dating and marriage,” Zhang Mishuang said.

The story wasn’t particularly huge, but it wasn’t small either.

During high school, Du Xiran was the school belle and a top student. Many people paid attention to her and had crushes, but few actually dared to confess. After all, someone so superior created a sense of distance and inferiority.

Before confessing, most had to weigh their own worth, and many could foresee being rejected.

Of course, some were bold enough to try. A few “rich second-gens” who thought highly of themselves had confessed, but all hit a brick wall.

Just when everyone thought this “high mountain flower” was unattainable, news suddenly broke that she was dating a boy, leaving everyone shocked.

The boy wasn’t a rich second-gen, nor was he among the top students. At best, he was clean-looking, always wearing a faded white t-shirt, the type that wouldn’t garner a second glance in a crowd.

Zhang Mishuang had asked Du Xiran why she was dating him.

Du Xiran had said back then: “He’s so poor, yet he brings me food every day. He’s quite pitiful.”

This unequal relationship born out of pity eventually changed people’s skepticism, leading them to believe it was true love.

Even Du Xiran felt the same. People have soft hearts; she gradually began to care for this quiet boy who always silently brought her food and water.

She also learned about his family situation they lived on welfare, and he had a disabled father and a sister about to enter middle school. So, every time he bought her food, she would pay him back or find various excuses to give him food. She even started tutoring him, hoping they could get into the same university in the city.

Ye Nanning listened, entranced, feeling a hint of envy toward that boy for earning Du Xiran’s favor: “And then? Why did they break up?”

Zhang Mishuang sighed: “The breakup happened two months before the college entrance exams.”

During a break, Du Xiran went to find the boy and overheard a conversation.

The gist was that the boy had agreed to conditions set by others to pursue Du Xiran if he succeeded, he would be paid a daily wage.

It turned out those rich second-gens felt their pride was wounded by her rejection, so they came up with this sinister plan. They wanted to see how “mighty” Du Xiran really was and planned to announce publicly the day before the exams that she had been fooled by an ordinary man, just to crush her arrogant self-esteem.

Du Xiran saw the boy taking their money. Furious, she rushed out, knocked the money from his hand, and looked at the masterminds: “You think having money makes this fun? You just wait. One day, you will pay the price for this!”

“Since then, Ranran’s mind has been entirely on making money,” Zhang Mishuang sighed. “Adolescent memories have a deep impact. Her self-esteem was indeed hit, and she’s remained skeptical of romance, always feeling like someone is waiting to watch her fail.”

“Does she hate that boy?” Ye Nanning asked blankly.

Zhang Mishuang was silent for a moment before shaking her head: “Whether she hates him or not doesn’t matter anymore. Whenever she talks about it, she insults the group of boys who conspired. Actually, thinking back, that boy was desperate. His father needed surgery and they had no income, so he did something stupid. And it seemed like he intentionally let Du Xiran find out, rather than dragging it out until the day before the exams. However, he did let her down in the end. Luckily, Ranran is someone who can pick things up and let them go. She only agreed out of pity, there’s no reason she should have to pay for his misery with her own youth.”

Ye Nanning nodded.

Zhang Mishuang joked: “We were joking today that she might just find a woman to live with in the future, and she actually thought that sounded pretty good.”

Ye Nanning: It seems there’s a chance! Step aside, let me at it!!!!

Just then, the car door opened, letting in a gust of cold air. Du Xiran climbed in and rubbed her hands: “Let’s go.”

Zhang Mishuang called her boyfriend’s name; he put out his cigarette and got in to drive.

As the car pulled onto the road, Du Xiran was about to rest when she noticed an intense gaze.

She turned to Ye Nanning: “What is it?”

Ye Nanning wanted to say: I’m very pitiful too, why don’t you look at me? If you could date me, even better! I won’t let you down!

But what came out was: “Director Du, you are so beautiful.”

Du Xiran: “…”

Everyone in the car laughed. Zhang Mishuang looked back excitedly: “That flattery of yours really hit the mark.”

Du Xiran couldn’t stop smiling: “She’s speaking the truth after drinking, it’s not flattery. I am beautiful.”

Ye Nanning: “Mm-hm! You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen!”

Du Xiran smiled and ruffled her hair: “So well-behaved. Why didn’t I see you being this sweet-talked normally?”

Using the alcohol as an excuse, Ye Nanning boldly leaned into her, resting her head on Du Xiran’s lap: “I’m a bit dizzy.”

“Then sleep for a bit. I’ll wake you when we arrive,” Du Xiran said.

“Okay.” Ye Nanning smelled the scent on her and quietly drifted off.

Half an hour later, Du Xiran gently patted her face: “Wake up, we’re home.”

Ye Nanning opened her eyes, sat up with extreme reluctance, and looked at Du Xiran lingeringly.

“What’s wrong? Don’t want to go back yet?” Du Xiran asked.

“No… I’m going. Goodbye.” Ye Nanning held the car door as she stepped out, then called to the two in the front, “Goodbye, everyone.”

“Is she going to be okay alone?” Zhang Mishuang watched her unsteady retreating figure. “Was she in a bad mood tonight, which is why she drank? It feels like she’s hiding a lot; she won’t go back and cry secretly, will she? And such a beauty being drunk… won’t something happen to her on the road?”

Du Xiran opened the door: “I’ll go check on her. You guys go ahead.”

“Hurry up, we’ll wait for you.”

“No need, I’ll take a taxi later. You guys go home first.” Du Xiran wasn’t sure of Ye Nanning’s condition or how long she’d have to stay.

“Alright, call me if you need anything. I’m on call,” Zhang Mishuang waved.

Ye Nanning heard the car drive away and looked at its silhouette, but then out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Du Xiran. Startled, she wobbled back two steps: “Am I hallucinating?”

Du Xiran quickly stepped forward to support her: “Where do you live?”

Ye Nanning pinched her cheek.

Du Xiran: “? What are you doing?”

“It’s not a dream…” Ye Nanning murmured, then looked at her in surprise. “Director Du, why are you here? Did they leave you behind?”

“No, I’m seeing the drunkard home first,” Du Xiran said.

“I’m not a drunkard,” Ye Nanning said.

“Right, you aren’t. You’re just a crybaby.”

“Then you’re a great beauty!”

“Yes, yes, I am.”

The two went back and forth with circular talk until they reached Ye Nanning’s building. After entering the elevator, Ye Nanning looked down at Du Xiran’s hand, which hadn’t let go, and couldn’t help but pat the back of her hand.

Du Xiran gave her a strange look.

“W-what is it?” Ye Nanning stammered. Did I get caught?

“Don’t you think that patting gesture just now was like a grandmother patting her granddaughter?” Du Xiran asked.

“…I don’t. It’s more like a grandfather.”

“Whose advantage are you trying to take?” Du Xiran laughed. “But speaking of grandfathers, a blogger I follow is called ‘Grandpa’.”

“I-is that so?”

“Yeah. Do you like cooking?”

“J-just generally.”

“Then never mind, I won’t share my ‘treasure’ blogger with you.”

Treasure blogger!

Walking out of the elevator, Ye Nanning’s steps were weak. She felt like she was floating as she reached her door and fumbled in her bag for the key card.

“Alright, I’m heading back. Don’t cry anymore tonight. What is there that you can’t get past?” Du Xiran said.

“What if I still cry?” Ye Nanning asked, lifting her eyes.

“Then… call me.”

“Calling is too much trouble, and it’s not good to disturb your rest.” Ye Nanning grabbed her arm, smelling of alcohol, her eyes still showing traces of tears. She said pitifully, “Director Du, stay tonight.”