Chapter 75: Confession Letter (Requesting First Subscription)

Over several days, Ceng Li’s body had nearly fully recovered.

That morning, Ceng Li opened the window; the sky was clear, a gentle breeze brushed her face, and the spring sunlight felt wonderfully warm on her skin. Green buds had just begun to sprout on the tree branches outside, and birds chirped merrily, as if celebrating some joyous occasion, lifting her spirits greatly.

As if foretold, not long after, the phone in her guesthouse rang.

“Is this Ceng Li?”

“This is Ceng Li. Are you Teacher Cui?”

“Yes. Ceng Li, I have good news for you—congratulations! You passed the interview! Would you like to join Jingying?”

Ceng Li’s heart leapt with joy at the news, and she immediately replied:

“Thank you, Teacher Cui! I accept!”

“Good. I’ve recorded your name. Go back and review your lessons carefully. Here’s my phone number—call me anytime if you need help.”

Ceng Li promised repeatedly, and after hanging up, she nearly jumped for joy.

This meant not only that her resignation and months of effort hadn’t been in vain, but also that after joining Jingying, she could be closer to Wu Yuchen, living side by side with him every day!

Thinking of this, she picked up the phone again, eager to tell him the news right away.

Then Ceng Li had a sudden thought, put the phone down, and decided to go to Jingying herself to deliver the surprise in person!

Jingying’s campus wasn’t large; Ceng Li had already walked around it several times during her interviews. But now, walking through it, everything felt different—the young grass just sprouting beneath her feet, the peach blossoms just blooming above, the students streaming past after class—all of it seemed wonderfully endearing.

This would be the place where she would study for the next four years of university!

And here was the person she loved!

Ceng Li walked with light steps, humming a tune, heading toward the male dormitory, her heart racing with anticipation, wondering how Wu Yuchen would react when he heard the news.

She turned the corner, her gaze passing over a few students ahead, and saw a tall figure standing below the dormitory—it looked just like him.

Ceng Li’s face lit up with joy; she was about to run over when she froze in place.

From behind the figure, a girl emerged—a delicate, beautiful girl, like a narcissus—who affectionately linked arms with him, smiling sweetly.

Ceng Li felt as if struck by lightning. Her heart churned with chaos, yet a sliver of hope rose within her—maybe it was just his back? Maybe they just dressed alike? Maybe they had similar builds? Maybe they both wore the same hairstyle? Maybe…

But when the girl rose on her toes and kissed the boy’s cheek, the small portion of his profile now visible shattered every last hope in Ceng Li’s heart, turning her face deathly pale.

…

Ceng Li didn’t remember how she got back.

The scene she had witnessed made her want to flee instantly; all the beauty she had felt on the way there was obliterated in an instant.

So he had a girlfriend?

Then what was I?

What was the point of everything he’d done for me these past days?

Was I just a friend to him all along?

Had this whole time been nothing but my own delusion?

Ceng Li had always been a passive, non-confrontational person; she could never bring herself to go confront him face to face.

But thinking of these past days, the unbearable pain and sorrow in her heart was worse than when she’d been sick—large tears continued to fall from her red-rimmed eyes.

After a long while, she picked up the phone.

“Teacher Cui, I’m sorry—I can’t go to Jingying.”

“Ceng Li, what’s wrong? Why are you crying? Are you having trouble? Tell me—I’ll help if I can!”

“I’m sorry…”

With that, Ceng Li hung up, collapsed onto the bed, curled into a tight ball, and unconsciously hugged her stomach.

From now on, should she cut all ties with him?

But… he’s touched my little tummy before…

The memory of Wu Yuchen carrying her to the hospital and massaging her abdomen refused to leave her mind.

Tears soaked through the pillowcase…

A moment later, the room’s phone rang again.

…

The next day, Wu Yuchen’s pager beeped again. He called back, and the operator said:

“Mr. Wu Yuchen, a woman named Ceng Li left a letter for you at the guesthouse reception desk.”

Wu Yuchen’s heart sank at once—he had a bad feeling.

A letter?

What’s this about?

Did she just leave without saying goodbye?

Why so suddenly?

Wu Yuchen rushed to Ceng Li’s guesthouse. The front desk told him she had checked out and handed him a letter.

The envelope wasn’t sealed; Wu Yuchen pulled out a red sheet of letter paper directly.

“

Wu Yuchen:

I thought of you all night—in this cold season, thinking of you like this feels desolate.

I hadn’t cried in a long time since my father left; I thought no matter what happiness or disaster any other man brought me, I wouldn’t shed a tear so easily. But I still couldn’t help crying for you.

It turns out I’m just as ordinary as the rest. When did you make me so insecure?

I have good news—I got a call yesterday from Teacher Chang Li. I’m going to Central Drama Academy. Will you be happy for me?

At Central Drama, I watched your short film—it was excellent!

And I saw her.

Is she your Xiuqin?

The evening wind was cool. I held your book, Bright Sword, wondering: will I be Tian Yu?

But both Xiuqin and Tian Yu are here—so who will Li Yunlong choose?

I couldn’t help imagining: if Tian Yu had met Li Yunlong sooner, how much better it would have been!

I mocked myself for being childish—how many ‘what ifs’ are there in this world?

Well, I’m going home to focus on studying for the college entrance exam. Don’t worry about me.

Ceng Li.

”

Wu Yuchen stared at the letter for a long time, then quietly folded it and slipped it back into the envelope.

“Do you have cigarettes and a lighter?”

“Twenty-five yuan.”

Wu Yuchen took the lighter from the attendant, clicked it several times, lit a cigarette, drew a long drag—and immediately began coughing violently, bending over.

The front desk attendant stifled a laugh—this was clearly the first time he’d smoked, and his body couldn’t handle it.

Wu Yuchen spat the cigarette onto the ground and crushed it out.

This smoke was damn uncomfortable!

Meanwhile, on a long-distance bus, Ceng Li gazed out the window with a complex expression—the bus was about to leave Beijing’s territory.

“Girl, what’s in that thermos you’re holding?” asked the woman beside her curiously.

Ceng Li shook her head: “Nothing.”

“Then why are you holding an empty one?”

Ceng Li only shook her head again, saying nothing, tightening her grip on the thermos.

Empty?

Inside was a beautiful memory she could never forget.

Ceng Li’s story ends here for now.

Writing multiple female leads is really hard—it’s clearly harder than single female leads or just pushing forward. I spent all day writing this much.