Let Me Go, My Childhood Sweetheart [Rebirth] - Chapter 46

Early the next morning, Chu Weiran left for the capital.

Jin Yi began a life of dull monotony. It was manageable in the classroom and the cafeteria, but once she returned to the dormitory, she was essentially alone. Qu Yin had been busy moving out lately, relocating to Jing Miao Miao’s place. It took two or three days to clear out all the miscellaneous items from the dorm.

The move was quite thorough.

Initially, Jin Yi just felt things were a bit boring, but seeing Qu Yin leave while playfully bickering with Jing Miao Miao made Jin Yi feel a sudden wave of loneliness. She was someone who had always been accustomed to being alone. Yet, in less than a month of being with Chu Weiran, she felt she had become sentimental and delicate.

She missed Chu Weiran.

That night, alone in the dorm, Jin Yi decided to give Chu Weiran a call. Since Chu Weiran left, their communication had been mostly one-sided: Chu Weiran would call her, and the promised “video chat” hadn’t happened yet. Chu Weiran was simply too busy; she usually fell asleep after a few words in the evening.

But this time, Chu Weiran didn’t even pick up—she declined the call.

Staring at her disconnected phone, Jin Yi sank into thought. When did I become this clingy? She put the phone down and went to take a shower, preparing for bed. Just as she stepped away from her desk, a WeChat message arrived from Chu Weiran.

“Xiao Yi, I’m busy.”

Jin Yi checked the time—it was 9:00 PM. She was still working?

“Then let’s talk when you’re free.”

In the conference room, the staff were waiting for Chu Weiran’s next instruction, yet she was holding her phone, messaging Jin Yi. The subordinates exchanged glances, and a few whispered about this “Crown Princess” of the Chu family. Chu Weiran sent one last reply before turning back to the meeting.

She had come here primarily to establish her authority. Among these veterans, some hoped for the young President Chu to succeed, while others were waiting to watch her fail. But no one knew that in her previous life, Chu Weiran had been the one to grow this company into a giant.

The Chu family primarily dealt in manufacturing; Zhengyang Entertainment was a venture started only in recent years. Investing in films and running an agency had become increasingly profitable, and Chu Zhenglong had the capital to try it out. It was also the perfect playground for Chu Weiran to sharpen her skills.

“Alright, that’s all for today.”

Chu Weiran was dressed in professional attire with her hair up, making her look a bit older than her actual age. However, being in her early twenties, there were always those “old guard” types who didn’t take her seriously.

“Weiran, it’s late. Shall your uncle treat you to a late-night snack?”

The speaker was a middle-aged man in his forties named Wei. Before Chu Weiran arrived, he called the shots at Zhengyang Entertainment. He was a group veteran who had planned Zhengyang from its inception. After serving as President for several years, he had been demoted to Vice President. Naturally, he was displeased.

Chu Weiran looked at him coldly and declined with a polite smile. “I’m very tired and wish to return to rest.”

Her cold tone made the man lose face in front of the others. He let out a forced laugh. “Alright, then make sure to get some rest.”

Chu Weiran had no interest in playing mind games with these old foxes. She nodded, grabbed her bag, and left. In the capital, she stayed at a hotel. Most of the Chu family’s enterprises and properties were in Ling City. There was only one villa in the capital, but it was too far from the city center, so she stayed at a hotel—specifically, a hotel owned by Jin Yi’s family.

At her room door, she let her assistant go and swiped her key card. The first thing she did upon entering was collapse onto the large bed. She was exhausted. She had been in the capital for half a month, working overtime almost every day, and today was particularly brutal. It was nearly 10:00 PM.

She stayed on the bed and dialed Jin Yi’s number.

“Hello… Xiao Yi, I miss your stir-fried pork with chili.”

At that moment, Jin Yi was eating sour and spicy beef instant noodles. She looked at her noodles. She missed that dish too.

“It’s 10:00 PM already. Haven’t you eaten?”

“No… not yet.” Chu Weiran’s voice was coquettish, her lips pouting. She then realized they weren’t on video, so Jin Yi couldn’t see her. She hung up and initiated a video call.

The moment she saw Jin Yi, Chu Weiran involuntarily swallowed her saliva. The instant noodles looked delicious. Jin Yi noticed this and her face darkened. How hungry is she to be craving instant noodles this much?

“Did you not have dinner?”

“No, I didn’t have time.”

“Then order room service?”

“No, I want instant noodles too.”

Chu Weiran’s eyes were pleading. If they weren’t separated by a screen, Jin Yi would have handed her the bowl.

“Are you staying at the Jinyue Hotel?”

Chu Weiran blinked, confused by the question since she’d told her that already. “Yes, I told you that before.”

“Wait a moment. I’ll have someone buy instant noodles for you.”

Jin Yi was doing this for the first time and felt a bit nervous. Is this an abuse of power? But she didn’t care; Chu Weiran looked so hungry. She called her mother.

“Mom, can you give me the number for the Jinyue Hotel in the capital?”

“What’s the matter?” At 10:00 PM, Jiang Qiong was clearly still awake, her voice as commanding as ever.

Jin Yi hesitated before saying, “Ranran is staying there, and she wants instant noodles.”

Silence followed for a few seconds. Then Jiang Qiong’s voice came through: “What flavor?”

“Sour and spicy beef! Mom, you can prepare some other flavors too.” Jin Yi looked at the noodles behind her. “Braised beef… and…”

“Fine, I got it. I’ll have someone buy a bunch.”

After hanging up, Jin Yi called Chu Weiran back. “Someone will deliver the noodles to you shortly.”

Chu Weiran had been a bit dazed when Jin Yi hung up earlier. When she realized what Jin Yi had done, her heart felt warm and moved. On the screen, Jin Yi was looking very obedient in the pajamas Chu Weiran had bought her, the yellow Pikachu set. It was a character Jin Yi loved as a child.

“So, can we eat instant noodles together in a bit?”

“Mine will definitely be soggy by then, won’t they?”

When Jin Yi looked down at her noodles, the Pikachu ears on her hood flopped forward. It looked like a little Pikachu was staring into the bowl.

“Pfft, hahahaha!” Chu Weiran burst into laughter.

“What are you laughing at?”

“At you. You look so cute as Pikachu.”

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang. Jin Yi, blushing from the teasing, said, “Your noodles are here. Go open the door.”

Chu Weiran hadn’t changed out of her work clothes, so when she stood up, her outfit was covered in wrinkles. Now it was Jin Yi’s turn to laugh. Such a mature and beautiful woman, yet her clothes were a mess.

When Chu Weiran returned, Jin Yi was still giggling. She glared at her, but Jin Yi didn’t stop. Watching the “Pikachu” shaking with laughter, Chu Weiran eventually joined in. They laughed at each other through the screen for several minutes until Jin Yi’s noodles were completely soggy.

They both made their noodles and ate together facing the screen. After an hour of chatting and laughing, it was nearly midnight.

“You should shower and go to bed,” Jin Yi said, hugging her duvet.

“Will you wait for me?”

“Uh…” Jin Yi hesitated, fearing she’d find another excuse to stay awake.

“Then I’ll take the phone into the bathroom.”

“Don’t! I’ll wait for you.” Jin Yi blushed at the thought and urged her to hurry.

As Chu Weiran took off her coat, she teased, “It’s not like you haven’t seen me before. What’s there to be shy about? Weren’t you quite bold when you were on top of me?”

“Just go wash up! Stop talking!”

Chu Weiran stopped teasing her. When she returned, the video was still on, but Jin Yi had fallen asleep. Chu Weiran had put on sexy lingerie, intending to fulfill her “video chat” promise, but it seemed it wouldn’t be needed. She didn’t turn off the video; she just climbed into bed. After tossing and turning for a bit, she sat up, sent a WeChat message, and then went to sleep.

Jin Yi slept soundly. When she woke up and saw the message, she realized what she had missed.

Chu Weiran: “I was going to video chat with you properly, but you fell asleep. Let’s change it to tomorrow.”

Tomorrow—that’s today.

Jin Yi’s eyes brightened, but the light quickly faded. She lowered her head, unable to accept how… expectant she felt. She forced herself not to think about it, but her mind wandered during class. Compared to Chu Weiran, her past life’s relationship felt like a void. It had been all about domestic routine—or rather, her handling the routine.

Now, she worried about Chu Weiran. Was she eating well? Sleeping well? And… she was looking forward to the night’s call.

With Qu Yin gone, she was alone. Class ended, and Jin Yi didn’t linger. She wasn’t hungry, but she walked very fast toward her dorm. Halfway there, her phone rang. It was the video call.

Jin Yi answered immediately. She breathed a sigh of relief that it was cold out; even though she walked fast, she wasn’t sweating. Otherwise, Chu Weiran would have teased her for being so eager.

But a second later, her breath caught.

On the screen, Chu Weiran was kneeling on her bed. She was wearing a red lace nightgown. Her skin was as white as snow. It was less of a nightgown and more like provocative lingerie, with a slit running up to her thigh. She was biting her lip with an innocent expression, even though she was the most seductive person in the world.

Jin Yi involuntarily swallowed. The visual impact was intense and sudden—even more alluring than the black set from before. That one only had a deep V-neck; this one…

Chu Weiran shifted her posture, turning her back to the camera and looking over her shoulder with sultry eyes. Her red lips parted as she whispered in a languid, flirtatious voice: “Do you… like this?”

Her beautiful back and curves were on full display. She tilted her head back, letting out an ambiguous, soft “Mm…”

Jin Yi fumbled, unsure whether to cover her ears or the phone screen. Her frantic movements made Chu Weiran laugh.

“Hehe… is Xiao Yi nervous?” Her voice was filled with a charming laziness.

If they were in bed together right now, Jin Yi felt she wouldn’t be able to hold back. But she couldn’t do this here.

“I’m outside! I don’t have my earphones! Wait until I get back, okay?”

She turned the volume down and bolted toward her dormitory with the phone clutched to her chest.