Classmate's EngagementCh9 - So, do you have any further thoughts or ideas with me?

Jiang Muping said to Cheng Yan, “Going to the art exhibition with an old classmate, I wouldn’t consider it as forcing myself.”

“But I might misunderstand.” kyHOJB

The relationship of being old classmates has always been inconsequential in Cheng Yan’s eyes. If it weren’t for their previous blind date encounter, their lives would never have intersected again in this lifetime.

He didn’t have any memorable memories from his past, and he had long lost contact with his former classmates. Having an outstanding “old classmate” like Jiang Muping was fortunate for him, but Cheng Yan didn’t need an “old classmate,” so everything Jiang Muping did as an old classmate was meaningless.

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Cheng Yan’s life trajectory was always in opposition to Jiang Muping’s from the beginning. Their encounter was like an unexpected accident.

“What do you misunderstand?” hqm5Op

“Misunderstanding that you have further intentions with me.”

“So, do you have any further intentions with me?” Jiang Muping asked.

The statement sounded like a confession, but Cheng Yan knew it was merely a question.

Cheng Yan didn’t immediately deny it and replied ambiguously, “I don’t know.”

Jiang Muping is very outstanding and handsome, and coupled with the nostalgic filter of their high school days, it’s not surprising that Cheng Yan has a fondness for him. Cheng Yan has never been in a romantic relationship, and Jiang Muping appears to be a perfect candidate for love from every aspect. However, Cheng Yan is too rational, and their thoughts are overly self-centered and absolute.

He unilaterally denied any possibility of developing a relationship with Jiang Muping, so he also didn’t want Jiang Muping to foster any hopes.

The invitation to go to the art exhibition slightly shook Cheng Yan’s rationality, but the conversation between Jiang Muping and Li Sizhi just now pulled him back to reality.

Cheng Yan knew he wasn’t young anymore. He was accustomed to loneliness, but he didn’t truly enjoy it, especially after encountering Jiang Muping. It was only then that he realized how many years he had lived alone, chasing after the rest of his life by himself. KnrQwa

Perhaps that’s how people are. When we’re accustomed to something, we can tolerate everything. But once our established state is disrupted, we can become completely lost.

“I don’t know,” Cheng Yan repeated.

There was a moment of silence between them until Jiang Muping spoke up, “Let me know when you figure it out.”

Cheng Yan looked up at him. AZo KC

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

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“Sure.” Ob0i39

This is Jiang Muping’s third visit to Cheng Yan’s studio. The studio door is semi-transparent, and the assistant girl inside, upon seeing the familiar car, immediately leans her head out to look outside.

Cheng Yan closes the door and gets out of the car. He hears someone calling him from behind, with a deep and somewhat elderly voice, “Xiao Yan.”

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Cheng Yan turns his head towards the sound and sees the person calling out, saying, “Uncle Lin.”

Jiang Muping glanced at the rearview mirror, which reflected half of a man’s body. Vfe1J3

“Have you been doing well recently?” Lin Jianmin’s face still wore that polite smile.

Cheng Yan replied, “I’m doing well. How about your health?”

“I’m doing well. I came over to take care of some business and thought of dropping by to see you,” Lin Jianmin said, glancing at the person sitting in the car. “And who is this?”

“He’s my friend,” Chengyan replied. “He is Professor Jiang, Ah Jing’s teacher.” lYeF7q

Lin Jianmin appeared somewhat surprised. “Really?” He hurriedly approached the window and nodded repeatedly at Jiang Muping in the car. “Hello, Professor Jiang. I am Lin Weijing’s father.”

Jiang Muping nodded in response. “Hello.”

Cheng Yan asked Lin Jianmin, “Uncle Lin… Is there something specific you came here for?”

“Huh?” Lin Jianmin quickly turned his head. “No, I just happened to drop by to see you.” L Xbfz

Lin Jianmin turned his head again. “Professor Jiang, is Ah Jing doing well in school?”

In university, unlike high school, Jiang Muping was unsure how to answer this question. He responded truthfully, saying, “I am his course instructor, and we don’t have many classes together. So, I’m not very familiar with Lin Weijing’s situation.” He paused for a moment and added, “However, he submitted a paper to me earlier that showed some interesting ideas.”

“Oh, really?” Lin Jianmin showed a proud smile. “This child has never caused us any worries about his academic performance since childhood. He initially said he wanted to study law and attend a prestigious university, and he actually achieved it. His mother and I truly didn’t have to worry about a thing…”

Lin Jianmin kept talking incessantly, and the topic always revolved around Lin Weijing. In fact, he wasn’t this talkative when facing Cheng Yan. It was Jiang Muping who opened up his conversational box. DuyS5Y

However, Jiang Muping was not talkative and simply listened silently. As a result, Lin Jianmin gradually became more reserved and stopped rambling endlessly.

“I must have delayed you from your work, right?” Lin Jianmin asked.

Jiang Muping shook his head.

“No need to disturb you any longer. You must be busy,” Lin Jianmin turned to Cheng Yan and said, “Xiao Yan, I’ll take my leave now.” sb0p82

“Alright, take care of yourself,” Cheng Yan replied.

Cheng Yan entered the studio to retrieve something and then returned to Jiang Muping’s car. Jiang Muping started the car and headed towards the direction of North City University.

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Along the way, Jiang Muping asked, “Lin Weijing’s father?”

“Yes,” Chengyan replied. RcdXuI

“Adoptive father?” Jiang Muping glanced at Cheng Yan.

“Lin Weijing told me,” Jiang Muping said, “but I apologize, I was the one who asked him about it.”

“Why did you ask about this?” Chengyan inquired.

“Curiosity. I was curious why you suddenly disappeared during your senior year,” Jiang Muping replied. zEPxIL

Cheng Yan experienced a mix of emotions at that moment, feeling indescribable and unclear. He realized that Jiang Muping still remembered his departure from school during his senior year. Jiang Muping’s memory of Cheng Yan seemed to be more substantial than Cheng Yan had imagined.

“I dropped out of school,” Cheng Yan’s tone was calm, and his voice remained low and hoarse.

Jiang Muping softly uttered, “Can you tell me what happened?”

“Bān zhǎng,” Cheng Yan suddenly called out, pushing both of them back to that summer twenty years ago. 2XRL50

It was the end of summer, just as their second year of high school began when Chengyan transferred to Jiang Muping’s school. He spent only a brief winter and spring there before leaving again when the next summer arrived.

“What are you up to?” Jiang Muping chuckled.

“I remember calling you that before,” Cheng Yan replied.

“Mm, I thought you didn’t know my name,” Jiang Muping complained with a tone of resentment. “You’ve never called my name before.” cYdKj7

Cheng Yan didn’t want to tell Jiang Muping that he was actually afraid to call his name. He didn’t even dare to have a longer conversation with him.

He was really insecure at that time, and under the guise of his own insecurities, he unintentionally hurt many people.

Cheng Yan’s biological father was a chronic gambler and an alcoholic. Until his father’s death, Cheng Yan spent his childhood constantly moving from one place to another. He had no fixed abode, following his submissive mother as they drifted from city to city, time and time again.

Unfortunately, his poor mother was never able to escape from his father’s grasp, even until her death. Sn2Eo4

Cheng Yan’s biological father drank himself to death, leaving behind a pile of debts that overwhelmed his mother. Cheng Yan suspects that his mother may have favored his younger brother more, as otherwise she wouldn’t have left Cheng Yan alone and silently jumped into the river while holding four-year-old Lin Weijing.

Cheng Yan calmly revealed his past, saying, “They managed to save my younger brother, but my mother couldn’t be saved.”

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“My mother was gone, and there was no source of income at home. I couldn’t afford to continue my education, so I dropped out.”

Cheng Yan had good grades in high school, and he was diligent in his studies. Despite having some character flaws, he worked hard. He constantly wanted to break free from his circumstances and change his fate, to put an end to his mother’s tragedy. However, his mother never gave him that chance. R15DYv

After reuniting with Jiang Muping, Cheng Yan often pondered if he had completed high school properly and, if fortunate enough, gained admission to a good university, would his life have been closer to that of someone as outstanding as Jiang Muping? Would his most youthful years have been more memorable?

“Afterwards, I took care of my younger brother for two years, but I couldn’t afford to continue. So, I entrusted him to his current parents for foster care,” Cheng Yan’s throat tightened slightly as he turned his gaze to the window. “He doesn’t blame me, though.”

Cheng Yan’s tone was light and casual, but every word carried a heavy weight. Jiang Muping knew that Cheng Yan’s
account must have omitted many details.

“He has no reason to blame you,” Jiang Muping spoke up. “Under those circumstances, entrusting him to a capable family for care was the best choice.” koR3Ar

Jiang Muping noticed Cheng Yan’s breathing becoming slightly heavier. Cheng Yan remained silent for a long time, still looking out the window. “If I could have afforded to send him to school back then, I definitely wouldn’t have let him bear the surname ‘Lin’.”