NOVEL NEXT Chapter 659-666
Chapter 659: Do You Know Who I Have A Crush On? (9)
With that thought, Ji Yi said, “When I was in a coma, Yuguang Ge came to visit me once a month. Not many people knew about my condition, so I think the only person who could’ve told you would most probably be Yuguang Ge. That’s why I asked…”
When He Jichen heard this, he finally understood what was going on.
Ji Yi knew someone came to visit her once a month while she was in a coma, but she got the wrong person…
It’s just… when exactly did she assume He Yuguang was the person who visited her?
He Jichen was silent for a while then asked, “How did you know He Yuguang visited you while you were in a coma?”
“Because of a piece of jade…” Ji Yi came clean with everything.
Every single word Ji Yi slowly said fell into He Jichen’s ears. He couldn’t help but reach his hand out and plunge it into his pocket to touch the broken corner of his jade.
That piece of jade was the one he accidentally dropped and broke in front of her hospital bed back when he visited her.
A corner was missing, a very little one. He always figured that no one would notice, but he never imagined that Ji Yi’s nurse would coincidentally find it and give it to her.
It was no wonder that when she twisted her ankle, she took a photo of the jade he accidentally left at her hotel room when he rushed to Yunnan overnight as He Yuguang and asked him if it was his. After he replied with yes, she asked a few questions about the jade…
At the time, he wondered why she was so concerned about the jade. Now that he thought about it, Ji Yi knew long ago that the owner of the jade came to visit her every month. She just made guesses to confirm if what she knew about the broken jade was true… So by accident, he let her believe her visitor was a different person…
It was almost like from that moment, her and his impressions of “He Yuguang” became a lot closer…
Ji Yi continued by saying, “… If I didn’t happen to see that piece of jade, I wouldn’t have known Yuguang Ge came to visit me every month for three years while I was in my coma. In those three years, I think that aside from my parents, the only person in the world who never forgot about me was Yuguang Ge…”
The only person in the world who never forgot about me…
So the owner of the jade is this important to her.
He Jichen’s fingers instinctively clutched the jade in his pocket.
If she knew that she got everything wrong and that the person who visited her every month wasn’t He Yuguang, but him, He Jichen… Then would he really become that important in her heart?
But the video in Qian Ge’s possession…
He Jichen couldn’t help but grip onto the jade more tightly. The edges of the jade cut into his palms, but there wasn’t the slightest hint of him loosening his grip.
Her future was bright and gleaming with infinite possibilities. She was the woman he truly loved, so he didn’t allow her to have any stains on her life. Even though her current stain was him, he hated that it existed…
So he should just accept her misunderstanding and leave it be.
He Jichen looked at Ji Yi. After waiting for her to finish speaking, he then said, “So because of the jade, you found out that…”
He Jichen paused for a moment. Without saying those three words “He Yuguang,” he actually replaced it with the word “he”: “… he came to visit you.”
Chapter 660: Do You Know Who I Have A Crush On? (10)
This allowed him to believe his own lies one last time.
The “he” that he said for her to hear was He Yuguang.
The “he” that he said for himself to hear was He Jichen.
Ji Yi heard He Jichen say this and knew she guessed right. It really was He Yuguang who told him about her poor physical condition.
Ji Yi frowned as He Jichen let out an “Mhm” then lowered her head. She put the food in her chopsticks into her mouth and chewed. She didn’t know what was going on, but deep down, something didn’t feel right.
Ji Yi’s brows couldn’t help but slowly furrow as she slowly stopped chewing.
She bit her chopsticks and seriously thought about it for a while. She felt something was off with He Jichen, who was sitting in front of her. She instinctively raised her eyes and looked over at He Jichen.
His handsome complexion seemed dull. She stared deeply and peacefully into his eyes across the table.
He Jichen seemed no different from any other day, but Ji Yi realized that the sense of unease she felt inside was growing more intense.
Ji Yi pursed her lips slightly, put her chopsticks down and softly said, “He Jichen?”
As she said this, He Jichen fluttered his eyelashes and noticed the anxiety in her eyes.
Ji Yi knew it was a sign he was snapping out of his daze, so she added, “What’s wrong? Are you in a bad mood?”
“No.” He Jichen shook his head sluggishly as his gaze was still locked onto Ji Yi. He stared at her for a while. Then, just as Ji Yi was about to speak, He Jichen spoke slowly and softly in an elegant voice from across the table: “Xiao Yi, though you really like hot and spicy soup, you should try to cut down if you can.”
Ji Yi looked back at He Jichen in astonishment and said, “Why did you suddenly bring that up?”
“No reason. We were just talking about how your health isn’t great and I suddenly remembered you liked that soup.” He Jichen said it so nonchalantly but he felt his heart was bleeding.
He was saying “goodbye” to her… He didn’t plan on telling her all this, but he just couldn’t help himself since they happened to bump into each other and talk about her health.
So He Jichen stared at me, deep in thought, just to say that?
Is he caring and worrying about me?
She felt an inconceivable sense of sweetness inside and let out a tender “Oh” as her lips couldn’t help but smile.
“Also, don’t always stay up late. It’s not good for you.”
Her mother often nagged her like that too. She thought it was annoying, but it was different now coming from He Jichen’s mouth. Ji Yi happily allowed her grip to soften around her chopsticks.
“Eat less things like ice cream. A woman should learn how to cherish and take care of herself.”
“Remember to eat more fruit, and eat it even if you don’t like it. Those VC vitamins don’t have as much nutrients as fruit.”
“You have a gym card, so remember to go more often. It can’t be bad for you.”
“Three meals a day. You have to eat your meals on time and don’t wait till you’re hungry before you go find something to eat…”
Ji Yi listened to every piece of He Jichen’s instructions with joy filling up her chest. She gradually felt indescribably moved.
She stared at He Jichen under the soft restaurant candlelights; his complexion looked radiant. Without realizing it, she suddenly interrupted him: “He Jichen, do you know who I have a crush on?”
Chapter 661: You’re the Joy of my Adolescence, the Adolescent Who I Liked
He Jichen was stunned by Ji Yi’s sudden question. Two seconds later, he silently stared at her, unable to look away. Then he let out an “Mhm?”
Ji Yi said what she did without thinking straight.
After she blurted out those words, she realized what she actually said.
Thankfully she didn’t completely lose it by actually telling him who she had a crush on.
Ji Yi was secretly glad inside as she thought about how to reply to He Jichen.
After she heard his “Mhm?”, Ji Yi instinctively wanted to say that the person she had a crush on was the Li Xiaobai from her game.
But as the words reached her lips, she suddenly glanced over at the restaurant’s clock not too far from where she was. The date displayed was April first. Then she instinctively swallowed her words back down.
Today was April fool’s day. In senior high school, no matter if it was a prank or the truth, many people chose April fool’s day to confess.
He was married now and she was once married to He Yuguang. They had no hope of being together.
But he was the first person she completely loved deeply… Could she use the old way to tell him the truth like it was a prank?
The thought just crossed Ji Yi’s mind as she looked into He Jichen’s eyes then said, “If you don’t know, please go back and think about the first three words I said earlier.”
The first three words she said earlier were: He Jichen.
He Jichen’s fingers around the teacup softly trembled for a moment then he quickly put the cup to his mouth and used the tea to hide the panic and shock in his heart.
Their table was silent.
About half a minute passed when Ji Yi smirked and explained, “Today is April first…”
When he heard the date, He Jichen instantly came to a sudden realization.
Today was April fool’s day and she was pranking him…
Disappointment and regret quickly overcame his racing heart.
He Jichen took big gulps before he elegantly and slowly put the teacup down on the table gently. Then he stared at Ji Yi and asked, “Do you know what’s a coincidence?”
He Jichen didn’t wait for Ji Yi to reply but stared transfixed at her and continued to say, “It’s how I never thought I would fall in love with you, but I did.”
His voice sounded so good. There was a serious tone in his voice that made Ji Yi’s heart suddenly stop.
She looked back at him as though she was frozen, sluggish to react in any way.
After he finished, he also stared silently back at her.
She wasn’t sure if it was just an illusion, but Ji Yi felt like He Jichen’s gaze was really piercing. It seemed like he could read her mind at that very moment.
She suddenly felt a little flustered and was about to avert her gaze from him when a smile spread across the serious look on his face. “Ji Yi, happy April fool’s day.”
So, he’s copying me and took the same out… Ah right, he’s married – why would he confess his love to me?
Ji Yi was clearly disappointed, but she tried her hardest to smile. To make herself look flawless, she picked up the teacup and reached over to He Jichen. Using tea as wine for a toast, she replied, “He Jichen, happy April fool’s day!”
Chapter 662: You’re the Joy of my Adolescence, the Adolescent Who I Liked (2)
He Jichen didn’t say anything but raised his cup and clinked Ji Yi’s. Then the two of them simultaneously brought the cups to their mouths.
While drinking the tea, Ji Yi shut her eyes to cover the emotions in them.
He Jichen, Happy April fool’s day, but the words I just said weren’t meant to fool anyone.
“He Jichen, do you know who I have a crush on? If you don’t know, please go back and think about the first three words I said earlier.”
He Jichen, the person I have a crush on is you.
While the cup touched his lips, He Jichen instinctively lowered his eyes as sadness crept into his heart.
Ji Yi, Happy April fool’s day, but what I just said wasn’t a lie.
“Do you know what’s a coincidence? It’s how I never thought I would fall in love with you, but I did.”
Ji Yi, the person I love deeply is you.
–
After Cheng Weiwan left the bar, she hailed a taxi from the sidewalk and headed to the courtyard of Nancheng.
Last year, after she almost got raped, the courtyards of Nancheng became a no-go zone.
It’d been a long time since the incident. Coming back here, Cheng Weiwan realized that her fear hadn’t decreased in the slightest.
In the past, after she thought about the near-rape and how she got frightened, Cheng Weiwan would think about Han Zhifan, then the fear would turn into happiness.
But now, all she had was fear and all that was left was a heart-wrenching pain.
Cheng Weiwan stared deep into the alleys of the courtyard for a long time before she could summon the courage to step in.
As she drew closer and closer to where it almost happened, Cheng Weiwan walked slower and slower. Her chest also grew stifled.
When there was about ten meters left, Cheng Weiwan came to a stop.
She stared straight ahead, transfixed at the empty alley for a long while. Then she held her breath and walked forward.
That day, the man pushed her against the wall, tore off her clothes, and touched her skin…
As the image flashed across Cheng Weiwan’s eyes, she started to shiver softly.
Just as she thought she was done for, the man stopped and let go of her. Deep in fear once again, she wasn’t completely awake, but she heard clamoring from around her. It wasn’t until Xiao Yi cried her name that she raised her head and stared into that direction in astonishment…
Cheng Weiwan walked towards the direction she was staring at. After just a few steps, she crouched down and touched the dirty ground with her fingertips.
Han Zhifan laid here with blood beneath his head. She stared at him with quivering lips.
If Ji Yi hadn’t called her name, she wouldn’t have known to check his pulse and wrap his wound.
It was that night when she threw her heart to him on that very part of the ground.
Cheng Weiwan crouched on the ground for a long time and didn’t get up until it turned dark.
She waited until the numbness in her leg disappeared before she left the courtyard, hailed a taxi and headed to the hospital.
As she reached the hospital, Cheng Weiwan counted the floors and hospital room numbers. Then she stopped outside the room Han Zhifan stayed in back then.
Right now, there was a different patient inside as the lights were on and a silhouette brushed against the window.
The first time she ever stayed alone in a room with a man was in that very hospital room.
Chapter 663: You’re the Joy of my Adolescence, the Adolescent Who I Liked (3)
Cheng Weiwan stared at the window of the patient room in a daze, just as she did in the courtyard. After standing there for over an hour, she then went to the next location – the Four Seasons Hotel.
She didn’t book a room but took the elevator up to the top floor and walked to room 1002. She stared at the tightly shut door and fell deep in thought like an unflinching wooden mannequin.
He made plans to meet her there on her birthday.
At first, she didn’t know he prepared to celebrate her birthday.
He definitely didn’t know it would be her first birthday celebration and first birthday cake despite the fact she didn’t like to eat sweet things. The next day, she insisted on happily eating the whole birthday cake even though after she left the hotel, she hid alone in the restroom and vomited. However, she was truly really happy – so happy that it felt like she had the world.
That night, she truly fell in love with him.
So when he asked her “Can I?” she nodded lightly.
That was her first time. It really hurt. It hurt so bad that tears fell but her heart was unbelievably warm.
Later, they got together.
He didn’t know just how excited she was when he gave her the keys to his apartment.
He clearly hired a nanny but she still did many things herself.
It was because she liked him. She truly liked him, so she willingly washed his clothes, cooked for him, cleaned for him, and changed his sheets…
And it was in this apartment where she got pregnant with his baby.
Obviously she had a home to go to, but it felt like she didn’t. After she found out she was pregnant and decided to have the baby, she walked all the way from the hospital to his office fantasizing about all types of beautiful possibilities for the future. In that moment, she looked at her familiar city of Beijing and felt like she finally had a family in this city.
With that thought, Cheng Weiwan turned around and left the Four Seasons Hotel.
She walked down the street by the moat.
En route, she thought about the many, many things he said to her.
“Heading back to the hotel? Let’s go. I’ll take you.”
“It’s nothing. I’m more than willing to serve the woman I fell in love with at first sight.”
“You can’t get a taxi here. If you trust me, get on. If you don’t, I’ll get off and piggyback you to your hotel…”
“Or who’s to say – maybe you really want me to piggyback you back home?”
“Although I’m a little disappointed that I can’t piggyback you back to the hotel, to be able to cycle you back also makes me happy.”
“Please get on the bike, girl I like.”
“Why did you choose to write?”
“Are all you girls who write books so classy?”
“How did you come up with so many stories?”
“Will you consider writing about me in your story?”
“Do you like me? If not, I’ll teach you.”
“Let me give you a suggestion. Be with me.”
“…”
As she thought and thought, Cheng Weiwan covered her mouth and started to cry on the main road.
You clearly said I’m the girl you liked. How did I become the only one in love in the end?
You clearly said that if I didn’t know how to like you, you’d teach me. But why did you not want me after you taught me to like you?
You clearly suggested that I be with you. I did as you said, but why did you leave me all alone?
Chapter 664: You’re the Joy of my Adolescence, the Adolescent Who I Liked (4)
Do you know what it means to give you my first love, first kiss, and first time – all my firsts?
Did you know I was willing to tell you everything because you made me feel safe for the first time in my life?
Did you know that I truly, truly, truly loved you? I loved you until now, when I learned that everything, everything, everything about us was fake, yet I still can’t help but love you still…
Han Zhifan, did you know?!
Did you know?!
Cheng Weiwan sobbed out loud.
It was still early, so there were a bunch of people passing by. The passerby would often look back at her, but not a single person stopped to check on her.
Cheng Weiwan didn’t know just how long she cried for, but she only stopped when she felt her mouth dry up.
She didn’t stand up but buried her head between her knees and cried silently.
Nearby, someone played a song.
“Never blame nor regret, walk until physically and mentally exhausted, love was a whole misunderstanding, pain is a type of practice.”
Cheng Weiwan raised her head from her knees slightly and listened attention to the lyrics.
“From comforting one another to being speechless, to endure or to retreat, they’re sad all the same.”
Cheng Weiwan was transfixed by a leaf in front of her feet until the song finished. Then she slowly pulled out her phone from her pocket.
She stared at the phone screen for a long time then unlocked it. She opened the text sent to her in the afternoon from Han Zhifan’s secretary but didn’t dare continue to read it. Instead, she swiftly tapped the keyboard and replied, “Okay, come to my house tomorrow. I’ll go with you to the doctor’s for a check up.”
Having sent the text message, Cheng Weiwan was about to put her phone away but she hesitated the second she locked the screen. Cheng Weiwan typed a few words then sent them off to Han Zhifan’s secretary: “Help me send him a message. I agree to abort the baby.”
–
Tonight, Han Zhifan was a little busy.
After work, it was already ten in the evening.
He waved his hand to signal the secretary to leave his office. The secretary’s phone got two notifications.
As the secretary walked out, she pulled her phone out. Not knowing who sent the text, when the secretary finished reading, she stopped walking. She stood with her back towards him for a while before turning around. “Mr. Han.”
Han Zhifan got up, grabbed his jacket and was just putting it on when he said, “What’s wrong?”
The secretary was silent for a while then said, “Miss Cheng sent a text message to say that I can pick her up tomorrow to go to the hospital for a check up.”
Han Zhifan suddenly stopped midway through putting his jacket on.
The room was silent for a good moment when the secretary added, “Miss Cheng told me to tell you that she’s agreeing to abort the baby.”
When Han Zhifan heard the secretary speak again, he snapped out of his daze. He let out an “oh” and continued to put on his jacket.
The secretary said goodbye and left.
Han Zhifan waited for the doors to shut then froze still like his pressure points were hit.
–
April first, April fool’s day. After Ji Yi and He Jichen had dinner, one continued to work at YC, while the other continued to film at the studio.
Just like the period leading up to the dinner, neither of them tried to keep in contact.
Ji Yi figured that the next time they met would be a chance encounter like that day, April first.
But things happened beyond her expectations. On April fifteenth, she got a call from Chen Bai, asking her to drop by the office the next day at eight in the morning.
Chapter 665: You’re the Joy of my Adolescence, the Adolescent Who I Liked (5)
Ever since Ji Yi signed with YC, there were many times when if He Jichen didn’t contact her directly, Zhuang Yi would be the one contacting her.
It wasn’t like Chen Bai never called her before, but it was so rare that she could count the times on one hand. After hanging up the call with Chen Bai, Ji Yi secretly felt a bad feeling creeping into her heart. She stood still on the spot with her phone in hand then stared at the busy studio nearby. She couldn’t help but gently furrow her brows.
Soon enough, a makeup artist ran over to her. “Yi Jie, let me retouch your makeup.”
Ji Yi hurriedly came back to her senses and politely replied to the makeup artist with a smile.
Ji Yi wasn’t sure if she was overthinking things, but after she received Chen Bai’s call, she felt a little distracted. However, because she was still filming, Ji Yi had to maintain a high level of concentration to avoid making mistakes.
Today, Ji Yi didn’t have many scenes but she was even more exhausted than if she had to film martial arts scenes all day.
Completely drained, she went back to the hotel room close to the studio. She laid on the bed but it was hard for her to fall asleep.
The next day, Ji Yi climbed out of bed before six in the morning. She first gave a call to Zhuang Yi for her to get the car ready then walked into the bathroom to freshen up.
On the way to YC, the traffic was considerably smooth as there weren’t too many traffic jams.
Mid-April, the willow trees on either side of Beijing’s streets were all green, perfectly welcoming the spring flowers to bloom.
Pedestrians put away their thick, heavy winter clothes. There were some women who liked to dress up and had already changed into beautiful dresses.
Today’s weather was unusually good; the skies were clear without a single gray cloud. The sun lit up the ground and brightened up the entire city.
Ji Yi looked at the view outside the window. Since she received Chen Bai’s call yesterday, every now and then, she got distracted or daydreamed.
The car drove into the underground parking lot. Once the car was parked, Ji Yi and Zhuang Yi got out together and when they took the elevator up to the top floor, the CEO’s office, it happened to be eight o’clock.
Chen Bai must’ve been at the office for some time as the coffee on the desk was already half finished.
He watched Ji Yi and Zhuang Yi come over then immediately put down everything he was doing and got up. “Morning Miss Ji,” he cried.
Ji Yi replied with a smile and said, “Morning.”
“Miss Ji, let’s go to the small conference room to talk.” As he said this, Chen Bai turned around and grabbed a file from the desk. Then he gestured over to the small conference room as if to welcome Ji Yi.
Zhuang Yi didn’t come in. There was just Ji Yi and Chen Bai in the small conference room.
After Chen Bai signaled for Ji Yi to sit down, he walked out of the small conference room and cried “Two coffees” towards the manager’s office nearby.
Soon enough, a new assistant from the manager’s office carried a tray in and placed a cup of coffee in front of Ji Yi and the seat in front of her.
Ji Yi stirred the coffee twice then picked it up. Just as she was about to put it to her mouth, the door to the small conference room opened again.
Ji Yi thought it was He Jichen, so her fingers around her coffee involuntarily tightened. Then she looked over to find that it was Chen Bai who just walked in.
“Miss Ji, can we start now?”
Could it be that the person who wanted to talk today wasn’t He Jichen, but Chen Bai?
Ji Yi furrowed her brows slightly as she watched Chen Bai pull the chair out in front of him and sit down.
Probably because she hadn’t responded, Chen Bai added, “Miss Ji?”
Chapter 666: You’re the Joy of my Adolescence, the Adolescent Who I Liked (6)
Ji Yi snapped back to reality and nodded at Chen Bai gently.
Seeing Ji Yi’s reaction, Chen Bai continued to speak. “Miss Ji, it’s like this… Today, I asked you to come because there’s something I wanted to tell you.”
Tell… For some reason, Ji Yi’s heart sank with that single word. She stared at Chen Bai for a short while before softly nodding again. This time, she said just two words: “Go on.”
Chen Bai had worked with He Jichen for so long that his whole style of doing things had been more or less influenced by him – he was now more direct and straight-forward. However, for some reason, Chen Bai didn’t go straight to the point right away. Instead, he beat around the bush: “Then, I’ll go ahead and start.”
Deep down, Ji Yi felt more uneasy with Chen Bai acting like this. She instinctively clenched her fingers and stared into Chen Bai’s eyes. “Mhm,” she encouraged him.
Chen Bai didn’t say anything but turned his head to avoid Ji Yi’s gaze.
After all these years, he’d experienced many difficult negotiations, but this was the first time he didn’t know how to start.
It was no wonder Mr. He didn’t come and gave him this mess to handle. He probably just didn’t know how to face it.
Chen Bai stared outside the window for a while then clenched his teeth and pushed the document in front of Ji Yi “Miss Ji, take a look.”
Ji Yi already felt on edge after taking Chen Bai’s call the night before. However, after seeing how strange Chen Bai was acting and seeing as He Jichen wasn’t here, she suddenly felt a little scared of the document pushed in front of her.
After waiting for a while, Chen Bai watched motionlessly as Ji Yi stared at the document. He finally prompted her: “Miss Ji.”
Having heard Chen Bai’s words, Ji Yi didn’t look up at him. As usual, her gaze was locked on the document. After some time, Chen Bai tried again with just the single word “Ji,” before Ji Yi finally raised her hand and turned the page.
Black words on white paper. They were unbelievably clear.
Yet, Ji Yi remained still and was transfixed for a long time as if she couldn’t recognize a single word.
Chen Bai knew that by Ji Yi’s expression, she had already read what was written in the document. He secretly clenched his teeth then professionally recited the script he wrote over half a month ago. “Miss Ji, the company has discussed this for a long time before coming to this decision.”
“Huan Ying Entertainment is a lot better than YC and is beneficial to your future prospects. What’s more, the price they’re offering is twice as much as your current value. No matter what area it is, it’s a pretty good trade.”
“Also, the company thinks the period of time required to cultivate an artist is too long. It would be better to just produce dramas and collaborate with artists’ management companies. Business would operate more effectively that way.”
The more Chen Bai spoke, the more he felt like he couldn’t quite go on. He paused for a moment then continued to say, “So, Miss Ji, I called you in today to ask you to sign on the back.”
Sign it…
After those two words were drilled into Ji Yi’s ears, she came back to reality. Ji Yi raised her head and glanced at Chen Bai. Then she gently turned the page.
The blocks of text were contract details. She didn’t read it carefully but chose to continue turning to the final page.
On the final page, she noticed that in the three signature areas, her’s was the only one unsigned. The two other signature spots were already signed by Huan Ying Entertainment’s representative, Li Shen, and YC’s representative: He Jichen.