Chapter 22: Who Wants to Fall in Love with You

After showering, Wang Chuan found Jiang Jinrou still in the Living Room, staring blankly at the love letter she had written herself. This book is first published on Tiantian Read Novel, the top choice for reading, ttkks. tw, offering error-free chapters and non-misordered reading experiences.

While bathing just now, he considered how to reject Jiang Jinrou; blunt words might cause huge devastation.

He should not have said yesterday that he had no relationship with Pei Nanli, which reignited hope in Jiang Jinrou's heart.

If he went out now and handed her a "good person" card or a "little sister" card, could twenty-year-old Jiang Jinrou bear it?

But he did not hope that Jiang Jinrou would commit suicide this time.

Wang Chuan sat down beside Jiang Jinrou, formulated a hook, and said: "Jiang Jinrou, you were so eager to take this letter back. Are you going to fall in love? Afraid your boyfriend will find out?"

His eyes burned with intensity, making Jiang Jinrou's cheeks flush slightly.

Today her hair was tied up in an updo. Jiang Jinrou rolled her eyes. "Who said anything about falling in love? Can't I just take back something I wrote?"

Wang Chuan smiled. "You said yourself you didn't want to fall in love. Just now, I thought you were going to ask me to fall in love with you."

"I thought, we sat at that table together, eating and doing homework, for five years. If you made such a request, I wouldn't even know how to refuse."

"What if I agreed? Many people, including your father, would surely say: 'Wang Chuan is just an ordinary Doctor, with no official background and no money; on what grounds should he date my daughter?'"

"What if I don't agree? Jiang Jinrou, will you remain unmarried for my sake and wither away in sorrow?"

Wang Chuan's strategy was to jokingly lay out all the circumstances.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Jiang Jinrou rolled the love letter into a ball, threw it at Wang Chuan, and said, "Dream on! Who wants to fall in love with you?" Then she slammed the door and stormed out.

Creak, creak—the door swung back and forth.

Wang Chuan himself was not sure whether Jiang Jinrou had taken his words to heart.

In Wang Chuan's heart, whether in his past life or after Rebirth, Jiang Jinrou was a childhood friend, a little sister needing protection, and a very close classmate; it was hard for him to change this perception.

In his past life, Wang Chuan had seen some childhood friends, after marrying and then having fierce arguments, both regretting why they hadn't sought true love in a bigger World back then.

Wang Chuan hoped Jiang Jinrou would not be trapped by habits formed during her middle and high school years; perhaps her true love was waiting for her somewhere else.

Time quickly arrived at May 30, 2004.

Orthopedics Department ward, Inpatient Department, Xinzhou People's Hospital.

After dinner, Wang Chuan's grandmother told him to go home early to rest; early tomorrow morning, May 31, he still had to take a train.

When Aunt Luo Xiaomei arrived at the Hospital, Wang Chuan finished handing over duties to her and then left the Hospital.

"Wang Chuan!"

Jiang Jinrou rode her bicycle and stopped steadily in front of Wang Chuan.

"What are you doing?"

"Get on; I'll give you a ride to a place."

Wang Chuan instinctively said, "Can you carry me?"

"Then you carry me, Brother Wang Chuan." Jiang Jinrou pushed the handlebars toward Wang Chuan and sat sideways on the bicycle's rear seat.

Wang Chuan chuckled inwardly; he had been tricked by Jiang Jinrou, who cleverly dodged his first question—"What are you up to?"—and since she hadn't answered, he couldn't refuse.

Summer evening, dim streetlights, few pedestrians.

Wang Chuan pedaled the bicycle through the streets of Xinzhou, speeding along, while occasionally Jiang Jinrou let out screams.

He didn't catch what Jiang Jinrou was saying; he only knew she was hugging his waist tightly with both hands.

He thought, I'm done for. What exactly happened? My forty-year-old experience seems unable to handle a twenty-year-old girl.

Finally, the two arrived at Xinzhou Cinema; two years later, the square where it stood would be demolished, and this cinema, over a decade old, would also be torn down.

"The American Hollywood disaster film 'The Day After Tomorrow,' released the day before yesterday." Jiang Jinrou showed a charming smile and said, "Wang Chuan, you won't refuse to pay for such a pretty little sister to watch a movie, will you?"

Wang Chuan thought, this time I can only be blunt. "I refuse! If there's nothing else, I'm going home. I have to catch a train tomorrow."

Jiang Jinrou seemed to have guessed Wang Chuan's refusal beforehand.

She took a yellowed little booklet from her bag and began to read: "I, Wang Chuan, scored lower than Jiang Jinrou on this exam, and promise to treat Jiang Jinrou to a movie. Promisor: Wang Chuan, 1998..."

"Wang Chuan, look for yourself; it still records that you owe almost eight movies. If you don't repay today, I'll sue you in Court."

Jiang Jinrou shook Wang Chuan's hand; her eyes held not a plea, but grievance.

"The statute of limitations has passed; it no longer counts."

Wang Chuan said.

"Statute of limitations?" Jiang Jinrou looked puzzled; she had never heard that term before.

Wang Chuan spoke solemnly: "Yes, the Civil Code stipulates that the limitation period for filing a lawsuit with the People's Court to protect civil rights is three years."

"It's been over three years; I refuse. Even if you sue me in Court, you won't win."

This barrage of legal terminology completely overwhelmed Jiang Jinrou; tears welled in her eyes. "Wang Chuan, I don't care."

At the entrance of the Cinema, many people stopped, preparing to watch a couple quarrel.

Wang Chuan felt awkward at that moment and also realized that in 2004, the Civil Code had not yet appeared; it would take effect starting January 1, 2021.

He grabbed Jiang Jinrou's hand, rushed into the Cinema, bought movie tickets, but only the last row remained, along with two bottles of Water and a large bucket of popcorn.

After more than two hours, they finished watching and left the Cinema; Wang Chuan checked the time: 10:10 in the Evening.

"Brother Wang Chuan, it's all settled."

Wang Chuan saw Jiang Jinrou take the little booklet from her bag and throw it into the trash can; it was a farewell to the past days. Well, fine then.

"Little sister Jiang Jinrou, just call me Wang Chuan; I find that more comfortable."

"Okay, Brother Wang Chuan, give me a ride home."

The bicycle wheels rolled again; the street was now empty of pedestrians.

They quickly returned to the corridor of the Grain Bureau Community.

Jiang Jinrou suddenly asked, "There was a line today that was quite good."

"What?"

"No matter what happens, I'll come for you."

When Wang Chuan heard this, he laughed: "English? I don't understand it." The Chinese phrase meant: No matter what happens, I'll come find you—has Jiang Jinrou still not let go?

Suddenly, Jiang Jinrou tilted her head up, stood on her toes, and closed her eyes to kiss Wang Chuan.

She whispered: "The Chinese meaning is: No matter what happens, I'll come find you."

"We have plenty of time ahead!"

Wang Chuan was stunned—below the stairs, a familiar voice called out: "Wang Chuan, come with us to the police station."

Jiang Jinrou had been about to flee home at lightning speed after kissing him, but she froze, no longer caring whether anyone had seen the kiss.

"Uncle Li, why are you here? Has Wang Chuan broken the law?"

Officer Li from the Sanjialing Police Station walked to the door of Room 301. "Oh, nothing serious—just need Wang Chuan to come in for some clarification."

Officer Lu said: "Wang Chuan, you're suspected of Fraud Crime and must come in for interrogation. You're his girlfriend, right? Come along too."

Officer Li's face turned pale: "Little Lu, this is Director Jiang's daughter—how could she possibly be an accomplice?"

Officer Lu, realizing his blunder upon hearing "Director Jiang," said: "Miss Jiang, I'm sorry—I'm clumsy with words. Please don't take offense."

"I'm Wang Chuan's girlfriend. I'll go with you."