Chapter 26: Student Liang Jiyong, You Have Made Great Progress

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“But it still isn’t enough. I want to hold you in my arms every minute of every day!”

Su Wanqing said nothing. She turned her head toward Liang Jiyong and murmured in a voice soft as a mosquito’s hum, “So do I.”

Liang Jiyong kissed her. Su Wanqing closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and sought his kiss…

No one knew how much time had passed before Su Wanqing, lost in intoxication, suddenly came to her senses.

By then, her blouse had already vanished, and her long skirt had been drawn up to her waist. Liang Jiyong’s hand was reaching for the last barrier of her defenses. He buried his head against her chest and kissed her, sucking hard enough to make her cry out despite herself.

Reason told her that she ought to stop him, but her heart was so unwilling.

“Jiyong… don’t. Not now…”

Su Wanqing gripped Liang Jiyong’s hair, yet it seemed less as though she were pushing him away than trying to pull him into her very body.

Liang Jiyong said nothing. Leaning forward, he pressed the half-naked Su Wanqing beneath him. He looked into her eyes, at her flushed cheeks filled with shy embarrassment.

“I’m afraid!”

Su Wanqing’s voice trembled.

“I’m sorry. You’re too tempting!”

Breathing heavily, Liang Jiyong buried his face in Su Wanqing’s pillow. Their cheeks rested against each other.

Su Wanqing did not move. One hand gently stroked his hair.

“I want you too. I’m willing to let you become my man, but I really can’t control myself. I’m so afraid!

“I’m afraid the love and marriage between my father and mother will repeat themselves in my life.

“They used to love each other so deeply!

“I love you so much, and I know you’ll love me too. But I’m afraid of promises. I don’t know how long you’ll love me. I’m afraid that one day, you’ll fall in love with another woman again!”

Liang Jiyong stroked Su Wanqing’s hair. The wound in her heart was not something any words could erase.

Su Kui and Lin Xiaoyu had created a beautiful fairy-tale world for him, but the fairy tale had shattered, and its princess had been hurt.

No matter what happened, there would always be a wound in her heart.

“Wanqing, we don’t need to speak of vows of eternal love, nor promise to be together forever. Let’s love one another today and cherish each day we have.

“No matter how long you want to date, I’ll stay by your side. If you’ve lost the courage to marry, then we’ll simply keep dating…”

Tears clouded Su Wanqing’s eyes. She kissed Liang Jiyong’s face and whispered into his ear, “Love me. Now…”

Liang Jiyong had lost all reason, but seeing that Su Wanqing was emotionally unstable, he ultimately gave up. He wanted to give her a beautiful memory. A woman’s first time was far too important.

“Today isn’t the right time. When you’re ready, I’ll love you slowly. Is something wrong?”

Su Wanqing drew a deep breath and nodded. “Sit up. I’ll use my hand to help you.”

“Forget it. I’ll go downstairs and take a cold shower. Otherwise, there’ll be a smell, and it wouldn’t be good if Xiaotong noticed.”

Su Wanqing thought of that as well and nodded.

…

Ten minutes later, Su Wanqing and Liang Jiyong were fully dressed. Sitting opposite him, Su Wanqing spoke with a troubled expression.

“Mom called last night and asked me to go to her house for dinner. I don’t want to go.”

Liang Jiyong covered his face with one hand. “It is a little awkward, but you can’t avoid seeing Aunt Lin forever.”

“I don’t know what to do, but I really don’t want to go to her home—the home she shares with that man!”

“Then meet her somewhere outside. You’ll have to take that step sooner or later. I believe Aunt Lin will love you no matter what. She must have been busy with work when your results came out, so don’t think too much about it.”

Su Wanqing’s eyes dimmed slightly. “I know that Mom will always love me, but in her heart, that man matters more than I do.

“You don’t have to comfort me. I’m not that fragile. I’m already an adult, and I’ll have a life of my own.”

“When are you planning to see Aunt Lin? The sooner, the better. You can’t keep this bottled up forever and let it affect your studies.”

“I don’t know. We have to wait for her husband’s schedule.”

“You don’t have to meet Zhou Jianguo yet, do you?” Liang Jiyong asked.

“I’ll have to meet him sooner or later. I just want to know what kind of person Mom married. Will you come with me?”

Seeing the hopeful look in Su Wanqing’s eyes, Liang Jiyong could only nod. Still, it truly was awkward.

“Let’s study.” Su Wanqing’s gaze regained its calm.

Liang Jiyong exhaled and nodded.

…

“Liang Jiyong: Chinese, eighty-five; mathematics, twenty-seven; foreign language, fifty-one; history, sixty-four; politics, seventy-five; geography, forty-eight. Total score, three hundred and fifty. Ranking: ninety-eighth!”

After looking at his results, Liang Jiyong sighed helplessly. His score had only just crossed the remedial class’s basic threshold. The previous score of two hundred and seventy-five had gotten him in through connections.

The top student was still Zhang Jixiang, with five hundred and ninety-five points. He was also first in the liberal arts grade.

Su Wanqing scored five hundred and sixty-seven, consistent with her usual standard. She placed second in the class and seventh in the grade.

Zhu Qianyun scored five hundred and forty-six, placing third in the class and fifteenth in the grade. With results like these, as long as she performed normally, she would certainly pass the cutoff.

Yet whenever the national college entrance examination arrived, she somehow fell apart. It was truly baffling.

Miao Xiaotong and Zou Wenlong both achieved average scores, ranking around fiftieth in the class and landing right in the middle.

Liang Jiyong felt somewhat depressed.

After the results were announced, the last desk in the back row was removed again. Liang Jiyong still failed to preserve his dignity.

The remedial class held an examination every month, and he would have to stand through lessons for an entire month. It was ridiculous—not only humiliating, but also harmful to his studies.

There were ninety-six seats in the class, and he had missed them by only two places!

Once the results came out, the seats were assigned according to rank.

It was the clearest possible demonstration that grades meant dignity.

First place chose a seat first, second place chose second, and so on.

Zhang Jixiang chose the seat in the third row, third column—the best position in the room.

Under his expectant gaze, Su Wanqing walked to the fifth row and sat down in the sixth column.

Su Wanqing would never sit with Zhang Jixiang. That fellow was even worse than Lu Bin.

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Zhu Qianyun glanced at the corner where she habitually sat. But when Su Wanqing beckoned to her, she still went over and sat beside her.

Choosing seats had nothing to do with Liang Jiyong. Beside him, a tall, broad-shouldered student with dark skin spoke helplessly.

“Old Liang, you’ve improved at lightning speed. Next time, you might even have some dignity!”

The speaker was Zhao Bin. He had not been in the same class as Liang Jiyong before, but he loved basketball, and they often played together.

He was excellent at sports but terrible at academics.

He had scored three hundred and fifteen on the national entrance examination. This time, he scored three hundred and three—he had actually gone backward—and ranked last in the entire class.

He had come to the remedial class because his family had forced him to. His goal was to claim one of the junior-college places that would begin appearing that year.

The admission cutoff for junior college was estimated to be around four hundred and fifty. If he worked hard, he still had hope.

But Zhao Bin had no confidence at all. Just the week before, his figure had still been leaping across the basketball court.

“I worked my tail off during the summer. You’ve already ended up here, and you’re still playing basketball?”

“I can’t sit still…” Zhao Bin said helplessly. He felt completely out of place in the classroom.

Liang Jiyong shot him a disdainful look. “You say that as if you actually have a seat!”

Zhao Bin burst out laughing. Right—both of them were seatless men without dignity.

“What are you laughing at? Look at those grades of yours. You still have the nerve to laugh?”

A cold voice came from behind them.

Zhao Bin immediately lowered his head. The speaker was Old Devil Huang.

When it came to students like Zhao Bin, he could not even be bothered to waste words. Every year, there were several students who were forced to attend by their parents and then spent their time fooling around. He did not have the energy to manage them.

He could only try to focus on those who were willing to study. Even if their foundations were poor, there was always a second year or a third year if the first did not work out…

Liang Jiyong, for instance, was not bad.

“Liang Jiyong has done well. You’ve improved a great deal. Keep it up!” Huang Defa patted him on the shoulder.

Liang Jiyong hurriedly put on a flattering smile. “Teacher, is there an award for improvement? Standing through class is really affecting my studies!”

After hearing this, Huang Defa thought for a moment and nodded. “There should indeed be an award for improvement. Go and move a desk to the front. The two students with the greatest improvement each time will sit there.”

There really was one!

“Thank you, Teacher. You’re truly wise!”

Liang Jiyong said this, then, after obtaining Huang Defa’s permission, pulled Zhao Bin along to move a desk.

“Why are you dragging me along? I’m not getting a seat!” Zhao Bin said, utterly speechless.

“You idiot. You’re currently ranked last, so you have the greatest room for improvement. At least study a little. Next month, you might have a seat. A seat means dignity.

“Otherwise, when someone asks which row you sit in, are you going to say, ‘I stand during class’? Is that something to be proud of?”

Zhao Bin was stunned for a moment, then nodded. “That makes sense. I really do need to study, or my old man will beat me again when I get home!”

After Huang Defa announced the establishment of the improvement award, everyone’s eyes fell on Liang Jiyong.

At that moment, Liang Jiyong truly felt what it meant to have dignity.

“Student Liang Jiyong scored seventy-five points higher than he did on the national entrance examination. That’s a major improvement. This seat should go to the two students who improved the most. Who improved the most…”

Liang Jiyong immediately called out, “Teacher, Su Wanqing improved the most. She scored seventy-nine points higher than on the entrance examination. I strongly recommend that Su Wanqing come sit here!”

Su Wanqing’s face instantly reddened as so many people turned to look at her. What a man he was!

Zhang Jixiang glared furiously at Liang Jiyong. With a score of only three hundred and fifty, what right did he have to sit with Su Wanqing?

“Su Wanqing was ill during the examination and performed below her normal level. Her current seat is quite good, so there’s no need for her to move. Let me see… among those without seats in the back, who improved the most?”

In the end, Liang Jiyong still failed to get his way. Another student, whose score had risen by twenty-five points compared with the entrance examination, took the seat beside him.

Once he had a seat, Liang Jiyong’s attitude toward studying soared to unprecedented heights.

Every day, apart from eating and sleeping, he spent nearly all his time studying.

Through this diagnostic examination, Liang Jiyong also learned where he was lacking.

A week later, Huang Defa showed mercy, and several more desks were moved into the last row.

Through Zhao Bin, Liang Jiyong learned more precise information.

It turned out that one of the seatless students in Class One had a father who was deputy director of the Education Bureau. After going home and complaining to his father, the students had been given seats.

But there was no reason to celebrate too soon.

Those seats could only be used for three weeks. After the next examination, the bottom ten students would once again have no seats and would have to stand for a week.

That weekend, Liang Jiyong did not go home. He stayed in the dormitory to review his lessons. Di Yutong also spent the weekend there.

His elder brother, Liang Shaoan, came back as well, but after staying only one day, he left with Chen Wei for the provincial capital, Changzhou. They were supposedly going to discuss the renovation of the Red Flag Factory’s production line.

“This fronting of the object…”

Liang Jiyong stopped mid-sentence when he noticed that Miss Yutong, who was tutoring him in grammar, had become distracted. Resting her chin on one hand, she wore a smile on her face.

No—not a smile. A foolish grin.

She was staring at him and grinning foolishly. Had she fallen for him? When had he become so handsome?

“Do I look good?” Liang Jiyong waved his hand in front of Di Yutong’s eyes.

“What?” Di Yutong came back to herself.

“What’s wrong with you? Have you come down with lovesickness? Have you fallen for some senior?”

Di Yutong looked at Liang Jiyong with complete sincerity. “I have come down with lovesickness. I’ve been suffering from it for eighteen years. I know that rascal already has someone else in his heart, but I still can’t forget him. What do you think I should do?”

Liang Jiyong felt the hairs on his scalp prickle.

“Forget it. Why am I telling you all this? Study hard. I’ll be waiting for you at Yunnan University. You’re not allowed to attend another school, or I’ll never forgive you!”

“Heh. Yunnan University is difficult to get into. I may not make it,” Liang Jiyong said with a bitter smile.

“That’s all right. Study with Sister Qianyun. If one year isn’t enough, take two…”

“No, I’ll try to get in after one year. Now, about this fronting of the object…” Liang Jiyong hurriedly changed the subject.

Di Yutong would not return to Yunnan University until Monday morning. The journey took only half an hour, so she would have no trouble making it to class.

Liang Jiyong threw himself back into his intense studies.

On Tuesday evening, after classes ended in the afternoon, Su Wanqing asked Liang Jiyong to accompany her outside.

Liang Jiyong knew that they were going to have dinner with Zhou Jianguo and Lin Xiaoyu.

He felt a little uneasy.

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It was not because Zhou Jianguo was a high-ranking city official, but because…

Whenever he thought of the scene he had witnessed after opening the door that day, along with the sounds he had heard, he felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.

Sichuan Fragrance Fish House was a private restaurant serving authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Though Su Wanqing had a mild and reserved temperament, she could eat extremely spicy food.

As Su Wanqing’s sworn protector, how could Liang Jiyong refuse to eat spicy food?

More accurately, Liang Jiyong and Su Wanqing could be considered fellow townspeople. Their fathers had come from the same village, although neither family had many close relatives left in their hometown.

Liang Jiyong also knew that Su Wanqing particularly liked fish.

There was no need to ask. They had chosen this restaurant to suit her taste.

The restaurant was not located in a particularly prosperous area. Its décor was understated and elegant, and only four or five tables in the main hall were occupied.

As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a hall manager in his early thirties.

When they said they were looking for Madam Lin’s private room, he led them upstairs.

After he knocked, a pleasant voice came from inside.

The moment he heard it, the melodious singing he had heard after opening the door that day surfaced in Liang Jiyong’s mind once more.

It was inappropriate to think about it, but the impression had been far too deep. Forgetting it was nearly impossible.

Su Wanqing was somewhat nervous. Liang Jiyong squeezed her hand, and only after she exhaled slowly did she step through the door.

However, Zhou Jianguo was not inside.

Lin Xiaoyu wore a plain-colored long dress, as did Su Wanqing, though the styles were slightly different.

Su Wanqing’s dress gave her a more youthful, ethereal air, while Lin Xiaoyu’s attire carried greater maturity and elegance.

The scene was awkward for several seconds. Lin Xiaoyu hurriedly smiled and said, “Wanqing, Xiaoyong, come in and sit down!”

“Aunt Lin!” Liang Jiyong greeted her.

Su Wanqing pressed her lips together, then called softly, “Mom.”

“Your Uncle Zhou has a meeting. He won’t be able to get here for another twenty minutes.”

Su Wanqing said nothing. She instinctively recoiled from Zhou Jianguo, because it was this man who had stolen her mother’s love from her.

“Aunt Lin, are you still working in the banking system?” Liang Jiyong asked.

“I’m with the central bank now. There wasn’t a suitable position for me at the Construction Bank.”

Given Lin Xiaoyu’s rank, if she had worked at the Construction Bank, she would probably have had to become president of its Yunzhou branch.

Although Zhou Jianguo’s influence meant that her career could receive preferential treatment, it was impossible to simply transfer a branch president at will.

At the central bank, arranging a vice president’s position was much easier.

Lin Xiaoyu had come to Yunzhou only after making a compromise in her career. Perhaps that was the power of love.

Afterward, Lin Xiaoyu asked about their studies and chatted with them about everyday matters.

Still, Liang Jiyong felt that both mother and daughter were being extremely cautious. The distance between them was obvious, as though each feared touching the other’s forbidden places.

Perhaps it was because of his presence. Mother and daughter still could not speak openly, so Liang Jiyong found an excuse to leave.

After he stepped out, Su Wanqing and Lin Xiaoyu fell silent instead. Both seemed to be thinking about how to begin.

“Wanqing, Mom is truly sorry!”

Su Wanqing shook her head. “I understand. In the past, I didn’t know what love was. Now I do.

“So I can understand your choice. I just still can’t face it calmly. I’m planning to attend university in another province.”

Lin Xiaoyu pressed her lips together. She knew that her daughter wanted to leave Yunzhou in order to avoid them and stay away from Zhou Jianguo’s network of personal connections. Otherwise, her position would be unbearably awkward.

If this had merely been an ordinary second marriage, perhaps it would have been acceptable. But what had happened that day, though her daughter claimed to understand it, was still, in terms of law and morality, an extramarital affair.

Both her father and mother had done something like this. The harm it had caused their daughter was obvious.

Yet Lin Xiaoyu had no idea how to make amends.

“Wanqing, did you mean just now that you’ve accepted Xiaoyong’s pursuit?”

Lin Xiaoyu looked at her daughter.

Su Wanqing lowered her head slightly and gave a quiet hum.

“Xiaoyong grew up with you, and he’s a reliable young man. But I remember you once said that he wasn’t your type.”

“People change. In the past, I thought he was only a good friend in my heart. But now I realize that he occupies an important place there.

“Besides, Jiyong has become much steadier and more mature than he used to be. He’s changing into the kind of person I’ve always wanted.”

“Will Jiyong go with you to study in another province?”

If Liang Jiyong accompanied Su Wanqing, Lin Xiaoyu would feel much more at ease.

Su Wanqing shook her head. “I won’t let him go with me. I need to learn how to be independent, and this is also a test for us.

“If we still love each other just as deeply after graduating from university, I’ll marry him.”

Lin Xiaoyu wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.

Her daughter had truly grown up, and was moving farther and farther away from her.

But this was something she herself had caused. No—that was not quite right. She and Su Kui had joined forces to tear their family apart, leaving their daughter to suffer and fend for herself.

“Wanqing, your birthday is in a few days. Mom has to go to Yanjing for a meeting and won’t be able to celebrate with you. I hope you’ll like this gift.”

Lin Xiaoyu took out an exquisitely wrapped box.

“Thank you.”

Su Wanqing thanked her but did not open it.

Lin Xiaoyu’s heart dimmed slightly. In the past, whenever her daughter received a birthday present, she would always open the box impatiently.

What she cared about was not necessarily the gift inside, but the surprise her parents had prepared for her.

But now?

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

Liang Jiyong opened it, and a slightly dark-skinned, middle-aged man walked in.

He was of average height, yet possessed an imposing air that made people wary even when he was not angry.

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