Chapter 16: Your Greatest Strength Is Your Thick Skin!

Su Wanqing glanced at Liang Jiyong but said nothing, unbuckling her seatbelt.

“Come in with me. My mom asked about you on the phone last time. She said she might not even recognize you now!”

The last time Liang Jiyong had seen Su Wanqing’s mother, Lin Xiaoyu, was three years ago, back when they were still in ninth grade.

...

“My mom works at the Construction Bank in Pingzhou and hasn’t left work yet,” Su Wanqing said, pulling out her keys to unlock the door.

But the moment they stepped inside, both Liang Jiyong and Su Wanqing froze.

Clothes were scattered across the floor—discarded garments and lace lingerie.

Suppressed breaths and a woman’s passionate singing mingled together.

Even Su Wanqing, inexperienced and naive, immediately understood what had transpired.

Her mother, of all people...

Though Su Wanqing’s parents had been separated for years due to her father’s failings, they had never divorced. Yet now, from her mother’s bedroom, such sounds were emanating.

The noise of the door opening clearly startled the two inside. Given the disarray of clothes, the door couldn’t possibly have been closed.

Su Wanqing stood there stunned, and Liang Jiyong was equally dumbfounded—this was almost too melodramatic.

“Wanqing, um, let’s go,” Liang Jiyong whispered urgently.

Staying here now would be a grave mistake.

Covering her mouth, Su Wanqing turned and fled.

Liang Jiyong naturally couldn’t stay either. Though curiosity gnawed at him about the man Lin Xiaoyu had found, seeing either of them now would be unbearably awkward.

He closed the door behind him and hurried after Su Wanqing.

Before reaching the stairwell, Liang Jiyong caught up with her.

“Wanqing...” he started, but she shook her head vehemently. “Don’t say anything—I don’t want to hear a word!”

With that, she flung the keys she held with all her might.

Though those keys still belonged to her family’s Hongqi factory, at this moment, Su Wanqing had forgotten everything.

Liang Jiyong said nothing and held her tightly.

At this point, it was no longer about romance.

Su Wanqing sobbed for several minutes. Liang Jiyong heard hurried footsteps above—Lin Xiaoyu was surely coming after them.

She must have known it was her daughter, as only Su Wanqing had a key to her room.

“Do you want to see her now?” Liang Jiyong asked.

Su Wanqing remained silent and briskly walked toward the neighborhood’s exit.

Liang Jiyong was ready to leave with her. Meeting Lin Xiaoyu now would be incredibly awkward.

In his mind, Lin Xiaoyu was a flawless woman, but whatever the cause of today’s scene, that impression was shattered.

“Wait, you—you’re Xiaoyong...” Lin Xiaoyu’s voice sounded unchanged. Though in her forties, she looked like she was barely past thirty.

In her haste, she wore only a white T-shirt, her cheeks unusually flushed, hair disheveled.

Compared to Su Wanqing, she was more mature, less ethereal.

“Aunt Lin!” Liang Jiyong forced a composed expression.

Lin Xiaoyu looked equally awkward, unsure what to say.

“Aunt Lin, Wanqing and I are heading back to Yunzhou now.”

Lin Xiaoyu opened her mouth but couldn’t find words to persuade them to stay.

“Thank you for your trouble.” Without more, she nodded and Liang Jiyong hurried after Su Wanqing.

After Liang Jiyong left, a man in his early forties with slightly tanned skin but a resolute face stepped out.

“Xiaoyu, I’m sorry, I...” the man apologized with remorse in his eyes.

“Enough, don’t say more. You go first. I’m going back to Yunzhou in a few days, and this time, I won’t let him delay any longer!”

“Alright. I’m ready whenever you are. We can explain everything later.”

The tanned man got into a private car, a Volkswagen Santana.

...

Liang Jiyong never expected such a melodramatic scene.

He didn’t know how to comfort Su Wanqing.

Lin Xiaoyu seemed blameless in this matter.

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Su Kui had cheated more than once, and they had been separated for years. Lin Xiaoyu wanting a companion was hardly surprising.

But why couldn’t they just divorce and live separate peaceful lives?

If it was for Su Wanqing’s sake, that was nonsense—Lin Xiaoyu hadn’t returned to Yunzhou even once in these three years.

Liang Jiyong drove to People’s Park, a quiet place, recalling it from memory. Su Wanqing probably needed some calm now.

It was just past six, and the sky was still bright.

He took Su Wanqing, still somewhat dazed, for a walk in the park for a good ten minutes before they sat on a bench watching the distant sunset.

“Can I ask you a few questions?” Su Wanqing said quietly.

“Sure,” Liang Jiyong nodded.

“I want the truth.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you what I know.”

“Are the rumors about my father true?”

“You mean about his personal conduct? Rumors are just rumors. Where’s the proof?”

“What about Heimudan? Yutong told me about it. Do you believe it?”

Liang Jiyong opened his mouth but swallowed his words, recalling what Su Wanqing had said earlier.

“Heimudan was originally a frontline worker, but she couldn’t handle the hard work despite her looks. Then she was transferred to the broadcasting station, a lighter job with better pay. Naturally, gossip started.

“Besides Uncle Kui, several factory leaders had different stories. So, it’s hard to say what’s true or false.”

“My father did wrong by my mother. They’ve settled it now. But if that’s the case, why don’t they divorce and live peacefully apart?” Su Wanqing’s eyes filled with pain.

Liang Jiyong sighed. He couldn’t answer that.

“In my mind, my father was refined, talented, and brave. I kept waiting for a man like him to enter my life.

“But I slowly realized he wore too many masks. I knew he wasn’t perfect, but I deceived myself, unwilling to tear off his facade.”

Liang Jiyong thought for a moment.

“Everyone has good and bad sides.

“For example, my dad is brave, straightforward, and selfless. Those are good qualities.

“But he’s also stubborn and authoritarian, forcing his will on us, especially my second sister. They argued a lot over that.

“Uncle Kui’s personality is good, talented too, but he has flaws—he’s a bit greedy and unfaithful.”

“What about you? What are your strengths and weaknesses?” Su Wanqing changed the subject.

“Let me think... my biggest flaw is having too many strengths. It would take forever to list them all—what a waste of time!”

Su Wanqing couldn’t help smiling, though sadness lingered behind it.

“Your biggest strength is being thick-skinned!”

Liang Jiyong nodded. “Yeah, being thick-skinned is a huge advantage. Think about it—those people usually don’t get taken advantage of.

“And they don’t care what others think; they steadfastly follow their own path.”

“So, you mean if I were thicker-skinned, I wouldn’t feel so miserable now?”

“In a way, yes. Really, it’s not a big deal.

“Uncle Kui and Aunt Lin’s marriage is broken. Who’s right or wrong doesn’t matter anymore.

“They’re only missing a divorce certificate.

“If there’s love, the marriage certificate is important—it’s proof of love. But without love, it’s just a piece of paper.”

“Then what’s the point of marriage?” Su Wanqing asked, her expression bleak.

“That’s a deep question I haven’t figured out yet. And no one person can answer it. Maybe we can explore it together?”

Su Wanqing looked at Liang Jiyong seriously.

“Until I figure this out, I won’t get married.”

Liang Jiyong felt a chill in his heart.

“This is such a complicated issue. How many people can really explain it? You’re overthinking. If you won’t marry, then what about me?”

“Tough luck!”

“Feel my chest—see how cold it is!” Liang Jiyong grabbed Su Wanqing’s hand and placed it over his heart.

She quickly pulled away. “Gross, you’re sweaty!”

He leaned in, sniffed, and laughed. “No, it’s sweet sweat!”

“Stop trying to cheer me up like that. I’m fine, just couldn’t accept it all at once.”

“So, do you still want to see Aunt Lin?”

Su Wanqing shook her head. Just thinking of her mother brought back the image of the scattered clothes and the humiliating sounds from earlier.

“Then what? Go home?”

Su Wanqing shook her head again. “I want to drink.”

“You’ve never had alcohol before?”

“No, everything has a first time.”

Liang Jiyong thought for a moment and nodded.

“Alright, let’s find a place to stay first. I’ll park the car, then we’ll find a bar.”

“I’ve never been to a bar!” Su Wanqing said.

She had been to many dance halls in Yunzhou but hardly any bars—there weren’t many in the city anyway.

Liang Jiyong scratched his head.

“What’s wrong? Don’t want to go? I can go alone if you want.”

“No, it’s not that. I’d go through fire and water with you...” he said naturally.

Hearing this, Su Wanqing couldn’t help but cry. “Why are you so good to me?”

“Because I like you.”

“Will you like me forever?” she looked at him.

Liang Jiyong froze briefly—this was a rare chance to confess.

But with her emotions so fragile, was it right to talk about this now? Then again, if he liked her, it wasn’t taking advantage—it was seizing the moment.

“What are you thinking? I want the truth!” Su Wanqing said, fixing him with a serious gaze.

Liang Jiyong smiled and answered honestly.

“I was just thinking, if I confessed now and you accepted, would that be taking advantage or seizing the moment?”

“What do you think?”

“I think it’s seizing the moment. Otherwise, I’d regret missing the chance.”

He seemed ready to seriously confess.

“You won’t regret it because even if you confess now, I still wouldn’t agree to date you!”

“Well, I still want to try. What if you say yes?”

“No ‘what ifs’!” Su Wanqing said firmly.

“Doesn’t matter. At worst, you reject me again. I’m thick-skinned—I won’t mind!” Liang Jiyong said seriously, looking at her.

“Wanqing, I don’t know if today is the right time or if I should say this, but I want to tell you anyway.

“A few days ago, when I got that blow, I felt like I had a very long dream. I was in the army and came home to visit after three years.

“But when I returned, I couldn’t find you. I searched for many years but never found a trace of you.”

Tears slipped from Liang Jiyong’s eyes as he spoke—this was a memory he truly lived through. For at least ten years, he had been searching for Su Wanqing.

Seeing his tears made Su Wanqing’s heart tremble inexplicably. Her gaze was unsettled.

“Did you find me?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“No. In the dream, just before I was about to leave this world, a shadow appeared—a woman in a white long dress, just like you now.

“But I couldn’t see her face, so I don’t know if it was you.

“Then I woke up. So, I won’t join the army again. I won’t let you disappear from my world.

“Life is too long. I can’t promise anything. I don’t know what the future holds.

“Maybe you’ll meet your perfect man.

“Maybe I’ll meet a woman who captures my heart.

“But no matter how long this life is, I will love you and protect you forever.”

Without waiting for her reply, Liang Jiyong held Su Wanqing tightly.

Tears flowed freely from Su Wanqing now as she buried her head in his chest, letting him embrace her.

Liang Jiyong held on as if afraid that if he let go, she would disappear.

A faint, orchid-like fragrance filled the air. Five minutes, ten minutes passed, yet he did not loosen his grip.

“Fool, how long are you going to hold me?” Su Wanqing moved her slightly numb body.

“For a lifetime!”

“Dream on! I haven’t agreed to be your girlfriend yet. You’re really bold!”

“That’s okay. Take your time to decide. I won’t let go until you say yes!”

“You rogue!” Su Wanqing said, nestling back into his embrace, silent once more.

Liang Jiyong finally loosened his arms and looked down at her.

Su Wanqing looked up at him.

Their lips were mere inches apart.

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