DF Chapter 48
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“This is the gift list from the family,” he said softly, pulling out a red-brown tri-folded gift card from his pocket. The card was ancient in style, beautifully carved with classical paintings and ancient poetry.
Zhen Yi vaguely saw the small seal script on it, extremely delicate. One side read, “Experience the world and understand its ways, observe people as if reading a river,” and the other side read, “Do not say the late years are wasted, for the setting sun still fills the sky.”
The tri-fold card opened to reveal an extremely thin sandalwood sheet inside, with neatly written small regular script listing the gifts.
Just as everyone grew more curious, several people respectfully, but not obsequiously, carried the gifts in.
The first gift was a natural amber-black paperweight. Rare and transparent white amber with faint yellowish streaks, deepening in color. But the most amazing part was that these streaks formed an image of a cloud sea with a rising sun. Not a line more, not a line less—just perfect. The white amber was inlaid on the black stone, combining hardness and softness, making it incredibly elegant.
The second gift was a set of jade teacups, naturally uncarved. The color was so green it seemed as though it might spill out, deep and mysterious. Just one glance made one feel a cool sensation at the heart. Such high-quality items were incredibly valuable, let alone a set of twelve.
The people in the hall barely dared to breathe.
The third gift was a jade Buddha statue with three heads and six arms. The Buddha’s face was peaceful and gentle, while the golden base had turned green with age, showing traces of wear. It was an ancient Buddha.
Everyone present had seen much of the world, yet they were all utterly astonished. In the small hall, you could hear a pin drop. The atmosphere was tense, and everyone seemed nervous, as if sitting on pins and needles. Who gives gifts like this?
Zhen Yi was stunned. She suddenly realized she might have never truly known Yan Ge.
Zhen Yi stood by the sink, washing her hands, feeling inexplicably gloomy. She was angry but didn’t know who she was angry with.
Back in middle school, she had no idea about Yan Ge’s family or background and had never even asked. Back then, just being around him made her happy. Now, though, she felt like she hadn’t even received the most basic honesty.
“Weirdo! Deserves to live a lonely life!” she muttered under her breath.
Looking up, she saw An Yao walking in through the mirror. Zhen Yi’s heart paused for a second. An Yao was too beautiful today, wearing a white silk dress with blue flower patterns in a simple Han-style design—clearly something not available on the market.
An Yao gave a faint smile as a greeting. There was always little connection between good students and bad ones.
The ancient-style dress was so stunning that Zhen Yi couldn’t help but glance at it a few more times. An Yao noticed and smiled, “His family has too many rules. I can’t even pick out my own clothes. But luckily, I like it too.” Zhen Yi remained silent. The Yan family was probably more than just a typical wealthy family.
She didn’t know how to continue the conversation, so she focused on the sound of the water gushing from the sink. An Yao’s pale, slender hands kept rubbing under the water. Zhen Yi commented, “An Yao, you’ve washed your hands several times already.”
“Occupational habit. They never feel clean.”
“Oh, a lot of surgeons have OCD.”
“Not just surgeons. Yan Ge has it pretty bad, too.”
Zhen Yi’s heart felt a sharp pang of sourness.
An Yao turned off the faucet and let her hands air dry. Suddenly, she said, “Zhen Yi, will you be my bridesmaid?”
Zhen Yi replied honestly, “Maybe ask someone else. I’d feel awkward.”
An Yao didn’t press further. The two of them said no more and went their separate ways.
Marriage. Zhen Yi’s heart was numb.
She remembered the flag-raising ceremony from middle school. Every time, a student would go up on stage to give a speech about their dreams. One day, it was Zhen Yi’s turn. She wore her school uniform, a red scarf (she joined the Communist Youth League too late), and stood on the podium in front of thousands of teachers and students from both the middle and high school sections. Raising her fist, she spoke into the microphone:
“My dream is simple. When I grow up, I’ll marry Yan Ge from Class 2, Grade 1, of the junior section!”
The entire school erupted in laughter.
“Zhen Yi, good luck!” She seriously encouraged herself and walked off the stage with her head held high.
From then on, the school canceled the dream speech, and as a bonus, she was punished by sweeping the playground for a month.
Eight years after they parted, she never loved anyone else—not even a little. She thought he wouldn’t either.
Zhen Yi took deep breaths again and again, but the thick, stagnant feeling in her chest just wouldn’t go away. It was like being slapped without being able to retaliate—stifling her to death.
That urge to vent—hah, it had been many years since she felt that. Not everyone could push her to this point.
Turning around the corner, she saw the man who had clouded her mood standing in the hallway, dressed sharply in a suit, his handsome face fair.
Zhen Yi walked straight ahead, without looking to the side, inching closer and closer to him until they brushed past each other. Her heart inexplicably dropped, like she had finally let out a breath—a strange mix of relief and loss.
Behind her, Yan Ge stopped, turning slightly to look at her. “Zhen Yi?”
“Is there something you need?” she asked, calm and steady, not like her usual playful self.
Yan Ge was silent, caught off guard by her question. It seemed he didn’t know why he called out to her either. “Zhen Yi, are you mad?”
“Yes!” She wasn’t going to pretend otherwise. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“…You never asked.”
“You…” Zhen Yi could barely say a word before her nose started to sting.
Yan Ge quietly watched her. Under the hallway light, her face appeared especially fair, a typical southern girl with delicate skin. Just like years ago when she would bring her face close to his, asking him to kiss her—fragile, tender. Her eyes were now red with anger, as if she were holding back tears.
This surprised him. He didn’t expect that his background could anger her so much.
He took a step closer, his long legs closing the distance. “I didn’t intentionally hide it from you,” he heard himself explain.
Zhen Yi laughed bitterly. “Your personal matters are private, not hidden. And I didn’t ask you either. You’re still the same as before. If I don’t ask, you won’t tell me anything. Back then…” She couldn’t finish the sentence.
Her heart felt cold, as if swept by a chilling wind.
Back then, she should’ve felt wronged, but she didn’t. Now, she had no right to feel wronged, yet she wanted to cry.
Yan Ge had nothing to say. Zhen Yi had never mentioned any of this before, but at this moment, he suddenly realized that maybe she had been hurt in the past—hurt by his indifference and odd behavior. She had probably suffered emotionally, and that’s why she…
But back then, he didn’t want to put too much pressure on her. He didn’t want her to become just another person molded by his world.
Meanwhile, Zhen Yi’s disappointment had reached the point of pain. Before, she only thought he didn’t like her. But now, he was getting married and hadn’t even told her?
