Chapter 106: Chapter 105: The Confession Was Over Before It Even Began
"Let’s skip it."
Lin Yanwan shook her head, slowly pulling her gaze away from the KTV across the street.
She actually enjoyed singing, but KTVs nowadays were a bit chaotic. The crowds were a shady mix, so it was better to be cautious.
Since the boss’s wife had spoken, the opinions of the other two didn’t matter much anymore.
"Alright, then let’s just take a walk."
Jiang Xia let out a long, alcohol-tinged breath and led his girlfriend by the hand. The four of them followed a small path until they reached the banks of the Yangtze River, the smell of hot pot clinging to them gradually dissipating in the cool night breeze.
"Dummy, slow down," Shen Ying suddenly called out to Wang Ming in a low voice.
He turned back, stunned. "What’s wrong?"
’Why am I a little happy about being called a dummy by my crush? After all, this is a more affectionate nickname than she’s ever used before!’
"You’re such a blockhead. When the boss said ’let’s just take a walk,’ what he really meant was that he wanted a romantic, moonlit stroll with the boss’s wife after dinner. Are you trying to be a third wheel by tagging along like a fool? Be careful, or the boss’s wife will give you a hard time!"
Wang Ming instantly came to his senses.
’Damn it. That son of a bitch. This is a test of my EQ, isn’t it? He wanted some private time for just the two of them, but he had to be so subtle about it. If Shen Ying hadn’t pointed it out, I probably would have kept following them like an idiot all night.’
So, the two of them deliberately slowed their pace, gradually putting some distance between themselves and the couple ahead.
The streetlights cast a dim, yellow glow. The night wind, carrying the unique dampness of the riverside, blew gently. Occasionally, a stray strand of hair from the beauty beside him would drift lightly onto Wang Ming’s face.
A subtle fragrance wafted over, and his heart inexplicably began to race.
’Shen Ying did have a point. But it wasn’t like he hadn’t been their third wheel plenty of times before. That damn couple never cared if anyone was watching when they were being all lovey-dovey.’
’So, did Shen Ying have another reason for stopping me just now?’
"Wang Ming, how did you do on your exams?" Shen Ying suddenly stopped walking. She leaned against the railing, gazing at the brightly lit Yangtze River Bridge in the distance.
"I..."
Recalling what Jiang Xia had told him earlier, Wang Ming suddenly hesitated to speak, worried he would upset her again.
"I was brave enough to admit my terrible score, but here you are, a grown man, being all wishy-washy. If you don’t want to say it, then forget it." Shen Ying couldn’t help but pout.
"610. I scored a 610," he said in a low voice.
"A 610... That’s amazing. I really envy you guys with your sharp minds. You’re so quick on the uptake, you learn everything fast. You can read something a few times and remember it almost perfectly. I can’t do that."
’Just as I thought. All my friends did great on their exams, except for me.’
Shen Ying’s gaze dimmed slightly. A score that high was something she couldn’t even dream of achieving.
Even though she had acted so cheerful at the dinner table, who wouldn’t want to have done a little better? At least then, when classmates talked about scores, she wouldn’t have to hem and haw, too embarrassed to say her own.
"I should have listened to you about the essay topic. But at the time, I thought, ’What are the chances of it being that coincidental?’ Otherwise, my total score might have been a bit higher," she sighed.
Wang Ming scratched his head. Seeing Shen Ying’s crestfallen expression, he didn’t know how to comfort her. So he just stood there blankly, being a good listener.
"What universities can you apply to with a 610?" Shen Ying asked again.
"I’m an art student. Based on last year’s cutoff scores, I should have no problem getting into the Central Academy of Fine Arts, but it really depends on this year’s results." Wang Ming didn’t dare hide anything and told her the truth.
"What about Jiang Xia and Yanwan?"
"Those two are one more monstrously smart than the other. One got a 648, ranked 29th in the city, and the other got a 657, ranked 13th. They’re really becoming a match made in heaven."
Wang Ming looked at the couple, now far ahead of them, his voice filled with envy. They had the looks, they had the talent, and their relationship was incredibly loving.
The key thing was, he had watched that guy Jiang Xia climb his way up from being just an average student. And even after spending so much time and effort on *Cat and Mouse* every day, he still managed to score so well. Wang Ming had to hand it to him.
"Is the power of love really that strong? Can it change a person so much in such a short time?" Shen Ying was puzzled. If she remembered correctly, Jiang Xia’s grades used to be in the same range as hers.
But ever since the news of their relationship got out, his progress had been astonishingly rapid.
"Maybe..."
Wang Ming sighed with emotion. "For people who have a clear goal and can encourage each other to take action, it’s a mutual journey towards happiness. And as it happens, that’s exactly what the two of them are."
"What about you?"
Wang Ming’s breath hitched. He opened his mouth, but found he didn’t know how to answer.
Before, he would have definitely identified as a slacker with no ambition, someone whose only desire was to graduate, find a decent enough company, and then just coast through life waiting to die.
But now, after working with Jiang Xia on *Cat and Mouse*, he suddenly felt that striving with all his might for once in his limited time felt pretty good too.
But career and love couldn’t always be equated.
"I’m the type of person who doesn’t have much ambition."
Before Wang Ming could answer, Shen Ying said self-deprecatingly, "If Yanwan hadn’t dragged me along, I probably wouldn’t have even gotten the score I did. My future will probably just be me muddling through, finding a job to just get by, like the countless corporate drones out there. As long as I have food to eat and can stay alive, that’s enough."
Wang Ming opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but Shen Ying suddenly turned to face him, a gentle smile in her eyes.
"Alright, thank you for listening to me ramble on for so long. I feel much better now."
"If you want to keep talking, I could listen all night," Wang Ming said, licking his dry lips.
"I’ve said all I needed to." Shen Ying smiled faintly and clapped her hands together. "It’s getting late, so I’m going to head back. Remember to let Yanwan and the others know in a bit."
With that, she turned and left without any hesitation. Wang Ming clenched his fists, wanting to call her back. His mind was screaming, ’I have to confess to her, right here, right now!’
’It’s okay even if she rejects me. At least she has to know.’
"Oh, right. I almost forgot something."
Shen Ying suddenly stopped and turned back to him, a sweet smile on her face. "Wang Ming, you’re a good guy. You have lofty ambitions. Don’t act on impulse. Fill out your college applications carefully. There are lots of outstanding girls in college. I’m not the one for you."
With that, she turned and walked away. Her bright voice drifted back on the wind. "Thank you for liking me, but... forget about me."
Watching her retreating figure, Wang Ming opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word. In an instant, it was as if all the strength had been drained from his body. He slumped against the railing and slowly slid to the ground.
He sobbed quietly, his heart aching so much he wanted to cry.
’So she knew. She knew all along.’
’But why does my heart hurt so much? Is this what heartbreak feels like?’
...
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