Chapter 15: A Dangerous Leap into the River

Chapter 15: The Perilous Leap

Since their video call on the thirty-third night of their romance, the affection between Xiao Yao and Guocheng had soared, the two in perfect harmony, their hearts beating as one. Their messages and chats grew ever more intimate and loving.

Three days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Rong Jinfeng called Xiao Yao. “In two days, it’ll be the Mid-Autumn Festival and your twenty-second birthday. You must come home early. Your grandfather wants the whole family to celebrate your birthday this year!”

Only upon hearing this did Xiao Yao remember that she was truly turning twenty-two.

“Mom, I’ll come home early, but let’s skip the birthday celebration. I’m not a child anymore…”

But Rong Jinfeng would brook no refusal. “This is your grandfather’s wish. Just come home early. Oh, and remember to bring your cousin Kai and Ye along. Your eldest cousin’s family will come separately.”

After hanging up, a sense of unease crept over Xiao Yao as she pondered her age.

Just then, Guocheng’s call came in, the familiar ringtone echoing. Xiao Yao froze for a second before answering.

“Guocheng, what is it?” she spoke first, a rarity.

Guocheng teased her, “Wife, did you miss me just now? You took a whole second to answer.”

She rolled her eyes, feigning a pout. “I didn’t! You just dialed too fast, that’s all!”

Then Guocheng’s tone turned serious. “Xiao Yao, my mother’s making me go on another blind date today. I’m so fed up with it.”

Xiao Yao listened in silence, clutching her phone.

“I told her I’ve fallen in love with you here in Kang City, but she refused to accept it. She insisted I go meet the girl she picked…” his voice trailed off.

A pang of pain twisted Xiao Yao’s heart. She realized she was only hurting herself—knowing full well their romance was doomed, yet still letting it begin.

Xiao Yao didn’t know what Guocheng was trying to say. Was this his way of breaking up? Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she steadied her trembling voice. “So? What are you trying to tell me?”

Guocheng spoke softly, “I’m sorry. I went on a blind date with another woman today. But…I really love you. My mother said if I refused the girl she found, she’d cut all ties with me!”

The line went dead. When the dial tone sounded, Guocheng realized Xiao Yao had hung up.

Despairing, he stared at his phone, angered at himself for making her upset. He threw his phone to the ground.

After ending the call, Xiao Yao leaned against the office window, staring blankly outside as tears dried and fell again.

Feng Youru happened by to collect some documents and caught sight of Xiao Yao weeping alone. Irritated, she dragged her aside.

“Xiao Yao, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? Did your online romance fall apart? Ye and I said it—online relationships aren’t reliable. All those so-called ‘five-star men’ are frauds toying with your feelings.”

Xiao Yao shook her head desperately as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Please, Youru, just let me be!”

With that, she grabbed her small backpack and fled the office.

Her phone rang again with the familiar ringtone. Xiao Yao glanced at it—Ye’s number. Disappointment flooded her.

After hesitating, she picked up. Her voice was still hoarse from crying. “Ye, what is it?”

Ye’s voice thundered through the phone, sharp and relentless. “So you’ve got the guts to have an online romance but not to answer the phone? Come out! Don’t hide and stay silent. I know you’re skulking away like a coward!”

For the first time, Xiao Yao shouted back, “Enough! Enough! Stay out of my business!”

She hung up and switched off her phone. Aimlessly, she walked along the banks of the Fu River in Kang City, crying as she went, drawing curious glances from passersby.

With Xiao Yao’s phone off, Youru and Ye grew frantic, not daring to ask for help for fear of causing greater alarm.

Youru turned to Ye, worry etched on her face. “With her phone off, where could Xiao Yao have gone? You don’t think she’d do something foolish, do you?”

Ye replied with calm certainty, “She’s too timid for that. Most likely she’s licking her wounds in secret, just like when Tim left all those years ago.”

The two of them searched along the riverbank. Though the Fu River wasn’t long, it cut straight across the heart of Kang City.

Ye asked a passerby, “Have you seen a tall, slender girl with long hair and black-rimmed glasses?”

The passerby nodded and pointed ahead. “I saw a girl matching that description sitting on the embankment, crying.”

Before the man finished, Ye seized Youru’s hand and sprinted ahead. “This is bad—she really might do something drastic!”

Youru, alarmed, hurried alongside her. “We have to find her quickly!”

“Miss, come down! It’s dangerous there!” called some people below the embankment, trying to persuade Xiao Yao.

When Youru and Ye reached the spot, they were stunned by the scene before them.

Seeing the anxious faces of those below, Xiao Yao gave a self-mocking smile. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to jump. I just wanted some fresh air.”

One of the onlookers said, “I’ve been watching you for a while. You were crying just now, and now you’re up on the embankment. If you’re not going to jump, why are you there?”

No matter where she went, Xiao Yao always seemed to attract unwarranted attention. She took another step toward the edge, flashing a wry smile behind her. “If I took just one more step forward, that would be jumping.”

“No… don’t! Xiao Yao, are you mad? Come down!” Ye cried out as Xiao Yao edged closer to the river.