Let Me Go, My Childhood Sweetheart [Rebirth] - Chapter 52

Chu Weiran had never been optimistic about the tangled history between Lin Yuan and Jing Miao Miao. In her previous life, the relationship between those two was even messier than it was now.

It was a similar case of unrequited longing. To Chu Weiran, Jin Yi had once been a distant dream, but what was Lin Yuan to Jing Miao Miao? When Lin Yuan needed something, she remembered Jing Miao Miao existed; when she didn’t, she acted like she didn’t even know who Jing Miao Miao was.

If Jin Yi had treated her like that back then, Chu Weiran would have given up long ago. But Jin Yi had always been good to her, which was why her love never diminished—it only grew stronger.

Jing Miao Miao’s feelings for Lin Yuan weren’t even love anymore; it was pure obsession and a refusal to let go. Every time they seemed just a step away from something real, Lin Yuan would drift away again. Jing Miao Miao was like a kite, and the string was permanently held by Lin Yuan.

Chu Weiran hesitated but eventually told Jin Yi the whole story.

In middle school, Jing Miao Miao fell in love with Lin Yuan at first sight. Lin Yuan was beautiful—a flamboyant, captivating kind of beauty. Even at thirteen or fourteen, she stood out from her peers. However, Lin Yuan liked boys. She only saw Jing Miao Miao as a friend and never considered anything more until Jing Miao Miao confessed. After that, Lin Yuan started avoiding her.

Of course, that only lasted as long as Lin Yuan had a boyfriend. Whenever she was heartbroken or lonely, she would seek out Jing Miao Miao, who always accepted her with open arms. Chu Weiran had watched from the sidelines, disgusted by Lin Yuan’s behavior, and had tried to advise Jing Miao Miao many times, but it was useless.

In high school, Lin Yuan finally went to a different school, and Chu Weiran thought Jing Miao Miao would finally move on. But Lin Yuan hurt her again. She got pregnant and asked Jing Miao Miao to accompany her to get an abortion. That was the first time Jing Miao Miao had come to Chu Weiran in tears. Chu Weiran hadn’t known what to say; they had never even been together. It was all Jing Miao Miao’s one-sided devotion.

Later, Lin Yuan moved abroad, and Jing Miao Miao rarely mentioned her. But Chu Weiran knew she hadn’t let go.

“Actually, Qu Yin looks a bit like Lin Yuan.”

“Like her? In what way?” Jin Yi’s tone was sharp with anger. Was this some “stand-in” trope? Was her best friend being used as a replacement?

Chu Weiran shook her head. “Well, not exactly. At a glance, there’s a resemblance, but they’re actually nothing alike. I really thought Miao Miao had moved on.”

In her previous life, the last time Jing Miao Miao mentioned Lin Yuan was to say that Lin Yuan had gotten married. After that, her name never came up again. Chu Weiran wasn’t sure what was happening now; she had been too busy with the company in the past to track Jing Miao Miao’s love life. If it weren’t for Jin Yi and Qu Yin, she wouldn’t even have known Jing Miao Miao was up to her old tricks.

After hearing the story, Jin Yi didn’t know what to think. Was Jing Miao Miao tragically devoted or just a “scumbag”?

“I guess Qu Yin is probably moving back to the dorm. I’ll ask her about it when I get back to school.”

“Yeah, okay.”

They arrived home shortly after finishing the topic. All four parents were waiting at the gate to welcome them. Jin Yi expected her mother, Jiang Qiong, to greet Chu Weiran first as usual, but instead, Jiang Qiong pulled her away the moment she stepped out of the car.

“Xiao Yi, Mom prepared something delicious for you!”

“Mom?” Jin Yi was dazed. What was going on?

Jiang Qiong whispered, “Now that you’ve successfully ‘kidnapped’ Ranran, Mom has to treat you a little better.”

Jin Yi was speechless. What kind of logic was her mother using?

Joint birthdays were usually celebrated at the Chu house because they had a live-in helper, whereas the Jin house did not. Looking at the table full of food, Jin Yi’s mouth began to water. The “Guo Bao Rou” (Double-Cooked Pork Slices) made by the Chu family’s cook was legendary, and she had been craving it for ages.

“Xiao Yi, do you want to eat?” Zheng Yuan looked at Jin Yi with a doting smile. During the National Day holiday, the cook had been away, so Jin Yi missed out. This time, Zheng Yuan had made sure the dish was on the menu specifically for her. Most of the dishes were Jin Yi’s favorites, since it was her birthday first.

Then Jiang Qiong walked over to Chu Weiran. “Ranran, tomorrow is your birthday. Auntie bought all the ingredients you like.”

Chu Weiran, still holding Jin Yi’s hand, gave Jiang Qiong a sweet smile. Dinner was a warm, joyful affair. Both fathers gave the “younger generation” large red envelopes. Jin Hai even went so far as to gift Jin Yi a supercar.

“Dad, did you learn this from Uncle?”

Chu Zhenglong used to give his sports cars to Chu Weiran, claiming he was too old for them and needed her to drive them. But Jin Hai’s reason was different.

“Ranran has so many supercars; our Xiao Yi should have one too so she can take her girlfriend out for a drive.”

It was a reason so simple that Jin Yi couldn’t argue. “Thanks, Dad.”

Jin Hai chuckled and put some food on her plate. “Now that you have a girlfriend, you have to treat Ranran well, understand?”

“I know.”

Then, Zheng Yuan brought up a new topic. “Ranran is graduating next year. Xiao Yi is still in university; are you planning to go to graduate school?”

“Yes, I am.” Jin Hai and Jiang Qiong had spent a long time moving from disapproval to acceptance regarding Jin Yi’s academic goals. The Jin family business wasn’t as large as the Chu family’s, but it still needed a manager.

Jiang Qiong said, “Xiao Yi, Mom won’t stop you from pursuing the career you love, but you have to promise me one thing. You can go to grad school or do whatever work you want, but you have to marry Ranran as soon as you graduate. And then have a child.”

Jin Yi was only nineteen; she hadn’t expected the responsibility of marriage and children to hit her so soon. “Mom, isn’t that a bit early?”

Jiang Qiong waved her off. “It’s not early. Your father and I are nearly fifty. Hurry up and have a child so Ranran can manage the company with the kid when we retire. Actually, you should have two—one for each family.”

Chu Weiran put down her chopsticks. Even she thought it was early. She thought for a moment before speaking. “Auntie, we really can’t rush these things. Let’s wait until Xiao Yi starts working.”

“But what about when we’re old?”

“If Xiao Yi doesn’t like managing the company, I can take over for her. I can manage it.”

With that, Jiang Qiong had nothing more to say. “We’ll talk about it later then.”

The conversation shifted to the “first snow.” Usually, it fell in late October or early November, but it was already late November and not a flake had fallen.

“I remember it was snowing the day I had Ranran,” Zheng Yuan said. Jiang Qiong added, “It was snowing when I had Xiao Yi, too.”

Both were winter babies, and back then, the snow was much heavier. Jin Yi listened to their stories and remembered her own childhood birthday when she and Chu Weiran made a snowman together in the heavy snow. She gave Chu Weiran’s finger a little tug.

“What’s up?” Chu Weiran whispered.

“I want to build a snowman with you.”

They both looked out the window. No snow.

The parents kept chatting about the old days while the two girls flirted secretly. Around 10:00 PM, the Jin parents prepared to leave. Jin Yi looked reluctant until Zheng Yuan spoke up.

“It’s Xiao Yi’s birthday today; let Ranran go and stay with her. Tomorrow, on Ranran’s birthday, Xiao Yi can come and stay here.”

Before Chu Weiran could say a word, Jin Yi chirped, “Okay, Auntie!” She immediately took Chu Weiran’s hand. If Chu Weiran didn’t come with her, how could she give her the gift? Chu Weiran was thinking the same thing; she still had the necklace she hadn’t been able to give Jin Yi yet.

Jin Yi took Chu Weiran to her room and sent her to shower while she went to the rooftop garden. She had ordered flowers before they left the apartment, and her parents had helped her set them up. She checked the arrangement and made some final adjustments.

Chu Weiran called her. She had finished her shower and found the second floor empty. “Where are you?”

“The rooftop. Come up, and dress warmly.”

Chu Weiran took her gift and went up. She was greeted by red roses—she didn’t know where Jin Yi had managed to find them in this season—and fairy lights. Jin Yi had arranged them to spell out their initials with a heart in the middle.

“Ranran, your birthday is about to start. Let’s wait for it together.” Jin Yi hugged her tightly and kissed her ear. She had no idea she still had a gift to receive herself.

Chu Weiran pulled back. “It’s still your birthday. Close your eyes.”

Jin Yi obeyed. Chu Weiran took her hand and slipped something cool onto her finger. A ring. “Open them.”

It was a simple platinum band. “This is just a birthday gift. When we get married, I’ll get you a huge diamond. See if you notice anything special about it.”

Jin Yi looked at the ring. They were truly in sync; the engravings on the ring matched the initials and heart she had just set up with lights. Even the rabbit and carrot motifs were there.

“Ranran, now you close your eyes.”

Jin Yi brought out a photo album. “Open them. Look, these are photos of us from when we were little, and the drawings you taught me.”

The first page featured the very first drawing Chu Weiran had taught her: a little rabbit and a carrot. Chu Weiran’s eyes grew misty. After everything they had been through, they were finally together.