Epilogue: Audio Drama 3

ad are in love, they'd only feel happy.The hotel they were staying at now was the same one she had stayed in during her second business trip to Qishining years ago. He had come along then too, and the..."Hello." Zhuo Y uan nodded, indicating that he understood, but he didn't seem interested in walking together. After greeting her, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and strode away.

Is that it

Shu Tinglan knew him too well. This was his usual attitude towards people he wasn't interested in: cold, arrogant, and keeping his distance.

Isn't it said that he fell in love with her at first sight at the welcome party With this attitude, how can she believe that he truly fell in love with her at first sight

Behind her was Wen Jian, looking at her with a hint of disbelief. After all, in everyone's eyes, she was the model student, someone who was even a bit aloof and proud, not someone who enjoyed socializing. Today, she was so enthusiastic, which was very out of character.

Wen Jian asked, "Ting Lan, shall we go home together"

Shu Tinglan glanced at her, returning to his usual cold demeanor. He didn't even answer her question and left directly, leaving just like Zhuo Yu'an had moments ago.

She ran all the way to chase Zhuo Yu'an, knowing which bus route he took home.

He was tall, and after only a short while he had already walked quite far. She panted as she caught up to him, trailing two steps behind. Maybe she had rose-tinted glasses on because even in such a simple school uniform, he looked particularly tall and well-built, youthful and full of energy.

He had already walked to the bus stop and stood at the platform waiting for the bus, she silently stood beside him.

Remembering back to high school, she and Zhuo Yuyan seemed to have sat on this line countless times. Back then, she was focused on her studies and didn't notice the boy's feelings at all, so she kept missing them. But thinking about it, even if she had known back then, what could she have done She was a good girl and couldn't possibly develop any kind of relationship with him.

...lost in her thoughts, Zhu Yu'an suddenly asked her: "What were we like before..."

"Do you know each other"

Shu Tinglan giggled and deliberately teased him, "Your pick-up line is so outdated."

Zhuo Yu'an said expressionlessly, "Didn't you come to me first"

Shutinglan smiled: "Well, yes, we've known each other for a very long time, Zhuo Y uan."

As soon as he finished speaking, the bus arrived. A large number of students rushed to board it. However, Zhuo Yu'an had been standing at the front all along, so he boarded first. There was only one empty seat left on the bus. After he got on, he stood next to the empty seat and turned his head towards the entrance. Unexpectedly, Shu Tinglan, who had been standing beside him just a moment ago, was squeezed to the very back and managed to get on board with difficulty.

All the students who rushed behind Zhu Yu'an wanted to grab that empty seat, but Zhu Yu'an just stood there. Perhaps it was because of his aura, no one dared to sit down.

Only when Shu Tinglan finally managed to squeeze beside him did he slightly lean over, though without speaking, his action was enough to make room for her.

She didn't hesitate and went straight in.

The car swayed, he gripped the handrail to steady himself, and also shielded her from the crowded people outside.

Shu Tinglan smiled, remembering when they used to take the subway. He was like this then too, silently protecting her from behind, shielding her from the crowd.

It seems that, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he has always been the one silently protecting her.

"I'll help you carry your backpack," she said.

"No."

As the car arrived at his house, he said, "I'll get off here. Be careful."

After finishing his sentence, he turned and walked towards the car door.

Shu Tinglan also hurriedly got up and got out of the car with him.

He looked at her inexplicably, and she smiled: "I want to stay with you a little longer." She didn't want to go home for now, just wanted to be with him every moment.

Hearing her words, the tip of his ears flushed slightly red again as he asked, "Where do you live"

"Where I'll take you there."

It's only two stops away from her house, and it's not far to walk either. She said okay.

The two walked slowly in the direction of her house. The young Zhuo Y uan was very innocent, and whenever Shu Tinglan moved closer to him, he would move away a bit, always keeping a distance of two punches apart.

"We're here," he suddenly stopped, and Shu Tinglan realized they had arrived at her neighborhood.

"Come in," he said, and then turned and walked away.

Shu Tinglan hadn't told Zhu Yuyan where she lived, and throughout the journey, he seemed as familiar with the area as she was. She felt something was off but couldn't quite place it.

Before she could dwell on it, her thoughts were diverted by something else. As soon as she entered her apartment complex, she saw her mother and Wen Lan chatting together.

"Lanlan, school's out" Wenlan greeted her enthusiastically.

This made Shu Tinglan physically uncomfortable. She treated him as an invisible, unresponsive presence, merely walking past, arm in arm with her mother, without a word.

"Your Aunt Wen is asking you something, why aren't you answering It's rude. Where's Xiao Jian Didn't he come back with you"

Looking at her mother's kind face, Shu Tinglan felt another pang of sadness. She tugged on her mother's arm and said, "Mom, let's go home. I'm hungry."

I can't stand to be with Wen Lan for another moment.

"Hungry" Mom said as she walked forward, turning back to Wenlan. "Tomorrow morning, you have Xiao Jian wait at the entrance of the building. I'll ask Shu Minghai to bring Xiao Jian to school too."

Shu Tinglan, who was about to leave, heard her mother's words, stopped in her tracks, and turned to look at Wenlan.

"What's wrong" mom asked.

Shutinglan let go of her mother's hand and walked toward Wenlan.

Walking along, although she was only a first-year high school girl, she was already slightly taller than Wenlan. As she walked towards Wenlan, there was a sense of grandeur about her.

Wenlan instinctively took a step back.

After Shu Tinglan arrived in front of her, he spoke in a calm tone: "It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the apartment complex to the bus stop; it's 5 stops from the bus stop to the school. Walking and taking the bus, including the occasional traffic jam, it takes a total of 30 minutes. At such a close distance, Wen Jian could totally go to school by herself, there's no need to hitch rides in my car every day, right"

"Lanlan, what are you saying" Mom hurriedly grabbed her. She had always been kind to others, so for her to speak such embarrassing words in public, Mom found it grating. She didn't know what was wrong with her daughter since this morning.

Wen Lan's face changed slightly, but she tried to maintain a graceful smile: "Lan Lan is right. I will tell Ming Hai that from now on, Xiao Jian will take the bus to school himself and won't bother him."

When Shu's mother heard this, she felt even more embarrassed. "Don't listen to Lanlan's nonsense. Just have her father send Xiaojian in the future, it's just a matter of convenience."

Before, Shu Tinglan would only get sulky when encountering such situations, but now that she knows Wen Lan's true colors, she has no intention of letting things ease up.

"That's strange. It was my mother who pitied both of you, that's why she asked my father to send Wen Jian. If you don't want to use my car anymore, just tell my mother. What are you saying to my dad for Do you think he will take your side and favor you"

Wen Lan didn't expect Shu Tinglan, who had always been well-behaved, to speak so sharply. She was caught off guard, perhaps even a little ashamed, and her face flushed red and white, making it impossible for her to speak for a moment.

Listening intently today just wasn't going to let Wen Lan go, so he continued:

"You said that Wen Jian's father is abroad, and looking at your family's lifestyle, your economic conditions should be quite good. Why can't he buy a car for himself As a housewife, wouldn't it be more convenient to drive to pick up and drop off Wen Jian every day"an Ruan's property issues, relying on lawyers to find him is useless and can't be solved. So I invited them both over for dinner, maybe there's a way out"Lu Kuo: "Is Gu Ruandong someone who can solve...