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墨書 Inktalez
Early Summer, the sun is shining brightly.
On the day of the graduation photos, Fu Weiheng happened to be on a business trip in the United States.
At the lush Yan University Playground, graduates in caps and gowns were everywhere—
They took pictures to commemorate the day;
They tearfully said their goodbyes;
They felt reluctant to part.
After four years together, they were about to go their separate ways.
When Fu Weiheng called from the United States, Su Wan had just finished taking the group graduation photo. She lifted her hand to remove her square cap and found a shady spot to take the call—
“Neil…”
“Yeah.” His clear voice was as pleasant as ever, “Did you finish taking the pictures?”
“Just finished.” Su Wan glanced at her watch and asked, “Why are you still awake?”
It should be early morning over there in the United States.
He laughed, “I miss you.”
Su Wan felt a bit shy: “Have you finished your work?”
Fu Weiheng: “There’s still a project that hasn’t been finalized. I probably won’t be able to come back until the day after tomorrow.”
Su Wan wiped the sweat from her forehead caused by the cap and gown: “Then remember to eat and sleep on time.”
"Um." He asked, "What are you planning to do this afternoon?"
Su Wan fiddled with the ends of her hair, feeling a bit lost. "I don't know. Xu Chengyang said there's a graduation party tonight."
Fu Weiheng frowned slightly and reminded her, "Don't drink."
Su Wan understood naturally. "I won't drink."
After a moment, he said, "On the day I go back, do you want to come pick me up?"
His calm voice traveled through the slight static of the phone, and the gentle tone made Su Wan's heart soften unexpectedly. Without hesitation, she replied, "Sure."
At that moment, the neon lights of the buildings in New York City illuminated the dark blue night sky brilliantly.
Fu Weiheng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the seemingly endless night while hearing that soft and delicate voice on the phone: "Neil... I miss you too."
...
That evening's graduation party was quite lively.
Even though they were all about to step into society as adults, everyone seemed like wild horses that had broken free from their reins, making it impossible for anyone to rein them back in as they let loose.
Only Su Wan sat quietly in a corner of the KTV room, sipping juice.
She glanced at Yao Ye, who was happily rolling dice with others, and then at Xu Chengyang, who was flirting playfully with Yang Erjin. Suddenly, she felt a bit nostalgic for Mr. Fu. So she put down her drink, grabbed her bag, and stood up to step outside to make a call.
However, just as she took a couple of steps out, someone appeared in front of her, blocking her path.
Su Wan instinctively looked up and saw a relatively unfamiliar face. He was a bit taller than her, with well-defined features and fair skin—he looked like an ordinary boy.
Su Wan had no impression of him but figured he must be a classmate since they were all from the same grade. She politely nodded and said, "Excuse me, could you please let me pass? I need to go out."
She glanced at him again after speaking. He must have had quite a bit to drink, as his face was slightly flushed. He stood there, staring directly at Su Wan, seemingly unaffected by her words.
Su Wan furrowed her brows, feeling that it was likely too noisy for him to hear what she had said. She decided to sidestep him, but he shifted over again, blocking her path once more.
The people around them noticed the standoff and began to glance over. Yao Ye also turned curiously when the people beside him suddenly stopped shaking the dice, following their gaze.
Su Wan felt somewhat bewildered.
Just then, Pagna Nana, sitting nearby, tugged at the boy's shirt and asked loudly, "Lin Xiu, what are you doing?"
The boy named Lin Xiu gave Pagna Nana a casual glance, raised his hand to swat away her grip on his shirt, and suddenly took a small step toward Su Wan. "Su Wan."
The music in the private room was unexpectedly paused by someone, and the previously noisy atmosphere fell silent as Lin Xiu's cool voice broke through: "I want to confess."
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell into silence again, only interrupted by the heart-wrenching song that drifted in from the next room.
Su Wan remained still, her expression showing no emotion.
Beside her, Xu Chengyang suddenly stood up, his tone slightly stern: "Lin Xiu, what are you making a fuss about?"
Lin Xiu didn't even look up; his eyes, tinged red from alcohol, were unusually serious: "I like you, Su Wan."
"Lin Xiu, are you crazy?" Xu Chengyang was somewhat angry. "Don't you know Guan Guan has a boyfriend?"
The suddenly tense atmosphere made everyone hold their breath. No one expected this usually quiet and gentle boy to show such a strong side.
Yao Ye silently took out his phone and started recording.
"I know," Lin Xiu admitted he was indeed a bit drunk; otherwise, he would never have said such things under normal circumstances. "But I still want to say it; I've been holding it in for three years."
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
Su Wan's face was pale, and her eyelids did not lift.
"Su Wan, I've liked you since sophomore year..."
This was the first sentence Jiang Zhi Yan heard when he pushed open the door to the private room. There was a blind spot from the door to the inside, and perhaps the people inside were too focused on Lin Xiu's words to notice Jiang Zhi Yan's arrival. He quietly closed the door, walked to the corner, glanced in, raised an eyebrow, and leaned against the white wall to listen to what was said next.
"I wanted to clarify things with you several times, but back then, seeing Gu Ming pursue you so fiercely and you being indifferent made me lose all confidence." He pressed his dry lips together, feeling somewhat nervous. "Later, after what happened on the Forum, when I wanted to confess to you and protect you, I heard that you already had a boyfriend... Maybe it's a bit late to say this now, but I know if I don't say it now, I might never have the chance again. Su Wan, I like you. I really do."
"Damn!" Xu Chengyang couldn't sit still anymore and slammed his thigh while cursing. "Save it, Lin Xiu. Are you trying to dig Fu Wei Hang's corner?"
Lin Xiu then turned her face to look at her and sneered coldly, "Are you so sure Fu Weiheng will treat Su Wan well for a lifetime?"
Su Wan remained silent.
Yao Ye couldn't stand it anymore and retorted, "What business is it of yours?"
Pagna Nana was about to speak up to try to ease the increasingly tense situation when she heard Lin Xiu say—
"I saw it with my own eyes." Lin Xiu turned back to look at Su Wan. "I saw him with that Cello girl, He Youyou, in a café earlier this year."
As soon as these words were spoken, Xu Chengyang and Yao Ye suddenly felt less confident. However, they firmly believed that Fu Wei Hang would never do anything to hurt Su Wan. Thinking this way made Xu Chengyang dislike Lin Xiu even more for stirring up trouble and couldn't help but curse again: "Did you see them checking into a hotel or having an abortion? They're all in the same music circle; can't they chat for a bit?"
Lin Xiu paused but then continued, "If he really likes Su Wan, he should keep his distance from other women."
Xu Chengyang scoffed, "You're hopelessly straight male."
Su Wan stood there as their arguing filled her ears. Suddenly, she felt a sharp cramp in her abdomen that began to ache subtly.
Lin Xiu didn't want to argue anymore and straightforwardly asked Su Wan, "Su Wan, what do you say?"
The latter furrowed her brow slightly without showing any emotion and replied softly, "So what?"
Everyone present was taken aback, and she continued, "I love him."
Everyone was surprised by Su Wan's response.
Suddenly, two light laughs echoed in the private room, not too loud but enough for everyone to hear.
The group exchanged puzzled glances due to the unknown laughter.
Lin Xiu suddenly felt extremely embarrassed and turned to find the source of the laughter.
It was then that he noticed Jiang Zhi Yan, who seemed to have witnessed the entire process, leaning against the corner.
Yao Ye and Xu Chengyang were stunned. "Jiang Lawyer?"
The other classmates were equally confused by this handsome stranger.
What was going on? Another confession?
Yang Erjin had heard Xu Chengyang mention Jiang Zhi Yan before and knew he was a friend of Fu Weiheng, so he didn't think much of it.
Jiang Zhi Yan straightened up and slowly walked over, towering over Lin Xiu by a whole head.
Su Wan was also a bit surprised; she glanced up at him and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, another sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
Jiang Zhi Yan looked down at Lin Xiu with a casual demeanor, his peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed. He pulled out a pack of Su Yan cigarettes and raised an eyebrow. "You want to pursue my sister?"
Lin Xiu was taken aback; he hadn't expected Su Wan to have an older brother. He honestly replied, "Yes."
Jiang Zhi Yan flicked a cigarette out of the pack and held it between his lips with an air of nonchalance that seemed quite arrogant. He chuckled lightly, "Just think about it."
Lin Xiu: "……"
Xu Chengyang couldn't help but let out a laugh, which was captured by the microphone and echoed through the speakers in the private room.
Lin Xiu stood there, his face turning bright red, feeling completely embarrassed.
The class monitor immediately went over to pull Lin Xiu away to break the awkwardness. "Um... you all continue playing, I'll take Lin Xiu to sober up!"
Without giving anyone a chance to respond, he dragged Lin Xiu out the door.
Xu Chengyang was laughing uncontrollably as he walked past Yang Erjin and approached Jiang Zhi Yan, wanting to have a drink with him.
Jiang Zhi Yan politely waved his hand, took out the unlit cigarette from his mouth, and said with a smile, "You all enjoy yourselves; I’ll take Guan Guan home."
Xu Chengyang asked, "So early?"
Jiang Zhi Yan glanced at Su Wan and replied, "It's a favor."
Su Wan suddenly understood; no wonder Fu Weiheng wanted the room number for the gathering.
Xu Chengyang nodded in understanding. "Then be careful on your way!"
——
Inside the Maiba He S-Class car.
Su Wan looked out at the street scenery, curled up slightly as pain in her abdomen made it hard for her to hold on.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Zhi Yan noticed her slightly pale face and asked with concern.
Su Wan frowned deeper. "I think I ate too much; it's indigestion." Her period had just ended two days ago, so it couldn't be menstrual cramps again.
Jiang Zhi Yan slowed down the car. "Do you want to go to the hospital?"
Su Wan waved her hand in refusal, saying, "No need, I'll just take some medicine when I get back."
Jiang Zhi Yan pondered for a moment and replied, "Then let's find a pharmacy to buy some medicine."
After buying the medicine and returning to Fu Weiheng's apartment, Jiang Zhi Yan felt uneasy. He helped Su Wan to the sofa to rest and then went to the kitchen to boil water, planning to wait for her to take the medicine before leaving.
Just as he turned on the kettle, he heard a loud crash from outside.
A sense of foreboding gripped him.
When he exited the kitchen, he saw that the fruit bowl that had been on the coffee table was now scattered across the floor along with several boxes of medicine he had just bought. He hurried over and found Su Wan lying on the ground, her long black hair disheveled and covering her pale face, completely motionless.
Almost instinctively, Jiang Zhi Yan quickly bent down and effortlessly picked her up. Ignoring the mess in the room, he strode out of the apartment and rushed her to the hospital.
In the Emergency Room.
After a thorough examination, the doctor concluded, "Appendicitis. She needs to be hospitalized for some anti-inflammatory treatment."
Jiang Zhi Yan felt a weight lift off his shoulders; thankfully, it wasn't anything serious.
After arranging a VIP room for Su Wan, Jiang Zhi Yan hurriedly went to complete her admission paperwork. When he finally had a moment to call Fu Weiheng, he realized his phone had died at some point and had shut off automatically.
With no other option, he grabbed a magazine from the hospital room and sat on the sofa, waiting for her IV treatment to finish.
The next morning, Su Wan was awakened by a rhythmic ringing of a phone. The strong smell of disinfectant in the hospital brought her fully awake. She slowly opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar white room. Memories from last night flooded back; she had been leaning against the sofa, intending to get up and check the medication instructions when a sharp pain in her abdomen overwhelmed her. Unable to hold on, she collapsed from the sofa and lost consciousness.
She looked around the spacious hospital room; aside from herself, it was empty. The window was half-open, allowing a warm summer breeze to flow in and flutter the pure white curtains.
Suddenly, her phone on the bedside cabinet rang again. Su Wan realized it must have been ringing for quite some time.
Su Wan raised her hand to check the incoming call notification.
Fu Weiheng.
Unconsciously, the words Lin Xiu had said last night popped into her mind—
"I saw him with that Cello family’s He Youyou together at the beginning of this year."
Her brows furrowed, and she suddenly felt a bit uneasy.
The phone continued to ring incessantly. Su Wan was lost in thought for a moment before answering, "Hello..."
When Fu Weiheng received Yao Ye's WeChat message, it was noon in the United States. After finalizing the project, he didn’t linger at the dinner and returned home in New York to pack his things. Noticing that the notification was a video, he paid a little attention and clicked on it.
After watching a video of about five minutes, he almost immediately instructed Zhang Lin to buy a ticket for a flight to Yan Chuan at two o'clock in the afternoon.
While boarding at the airport in America, it was still early morning in Yan Chuan. He didn’t call Su Wan to avoid waking her up.
Thinking about what the boy in the video mentioned regarding He Youyou, he couldn’t wait to call Su Wan as soon as he got off the plane.
Fearing that she might be upset about He Youyou, he called her six or seven times without her answering, which made him anxious.
Finally, when she answered the phone, her weak voice startled him. After a long pause, he asked, "Where are you?"
There was silence on the other end for a moment before she replied, "The hospital."
Fu Weiheng's brow twitched as various uneasy emotions surged within him. His tone turned worried, "What happened?"
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