See You Again (Time Already Knows) - Chapter 77

Chapter 77 - “Isn’t Diandian Our Child?”


The night descended upon them, but there were still many tourists, especially in seafood barbeque restaurants which quickly filled up. The barbeque shops on both sides of the Qinglin Gulf were arranged irregularly, yet had a picturesque effect. Each shop had colorful flickering lights, and sign boards that lit up in all colors to attract tourists.


The taxi she’d booked was late. Shi Jian lowered her head and looked at the watch on her wrist. She smiled in distress, but her mood was unexpectedly calm. The sky behind her had already darkened. The water in front of her swelled up. The waves crashed one after another. 


People were walking to and fro. The fishy ocean breeze blew towards them. Shi Jian leaned on the metal railing over the shore, and listened to the busker playing guitar on the other side. 


Joy was infectious. The upbeat song left behind many footprints. Shi Jian listened to the song and hummed along quietly. When they were on their honeymoon abroad, she told Mr.Ye an amusing idea: “When we’re old, we can go sing in the streets like this. Maybe we can even earn enough for a few ship tickets.”


“You’re singing?”


She giggled, “Of course you’re singing and I’m collecting the money. That is called marital harmony.”


“Okay,” Mr.Ye agreed, “But why do we have to wait until we’re old?”


“Heavens, Jiacheng, don’t be impulsive…… Because I won’t stop you!”


……


Shi Jian’s mouth was curled in a slight smile. There were a lot of ways a person could cheer themselves up. One would never know if they didn’t try. She had lost Ye Jiacheng, but she could turn Mr.Ye into her heart’s treasure, keeping him there forever.


Her Mr.Ye. The Mr.Ye that she couldn’t even bear to say goodbye to. The Mr.Ye that belonged only to her. She was the only one in the world who knew Mr.Ye…… Actually, she didn’t want to separate Ye Jiacheng and Mr.Ye, so much so that she believed for the longest time that as long as Ye Jiacheng loved her, Mr.Ye would be able to return. She couldn’t tell them apart, and she couldn’t tell apart the love in her heart, until Ye Jiacheng left her.


Actually, her lover had long already passed away on the day of her accident. She just didn’t want to understand it. Mr.Ye had always used to say she was dumb, and luckily she had found a clever husband to guide her down the right path. She was especially unconvinced. How was she dumb?


Actually, when he wasn’t here anymore, she really was muddled and lost……


After the song ended, Shi Jian subconsciously clapped along with the crowd. The applause was loud and bright, and her emotions gradually became less muddled.


Shi Jian was absorbed into the music. Ye Jiacheng, who was watching from behind, was also absorbed. The little fox was standing in his line of sight. Her face was beautiful, and he couldn’t look away.


He didn’t dare walk up. It was as if he got more scared the closer he was. It was strange, gentle, touching, unprecedented…… He was quickly going mad, and wished he could go up and fiercely hug her.


He was also afraid he would hurt her.


Shi Jian used a payphone to call the Yang household in a souvenir shop. She asked Tim what he liked as she looked through the items. Tim seemed to be uninterested in getting a gift. He mumbled: “Jane…… Jiacheng Gege came looking for you.”


The quality of the sound wasn’t great. It was interrupted by some static.


Tim said, “……Then I gave him your letter, the one you put on your desk.”


Shi Jian was speechless. Her ear started hurting, as if she was struck by a bolt of electricity. Her brain forgot to react. Then Tim said in annoyance: “Jane, sorry, have I made a mistake?”


“No,” Shi Jian replied, “That letter was for him. Tim, thank you.”


Ye Jiacheng had received the letter? Shi Jian didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. How would Ye Jiacheng react when he sees it? It seemed like there wasn’t much of a response at all. Oh, her phone was lost. If he read the letter, he would’ve probably called her.


“Boss, how much?” Shi Jian hung up and asked the nearby proprietor.


The female proprietor was currently recommending souvenirs to tourists. Shi Jian waited at the side. When the proprietor wasn’t busy anymore, she used the Qinglin dialect to ask her again. The proprietor came over with a smile. She was so busy that she couldn’t get a break. Just after she checked the price, she greeted the person behind Shi Jian: “Sir, come in. Buy a windchime for your girlfriend.”


As the proprietor finished speaking, the footsteps behind her also stopped. Without reason, Shi Jian’s heart clenched.


The person behind her spoke, replying to the proprietor with the Qinglin dialect as well. His tone was distinct and familiar, as if it cut through all the clamorous noise coming from the outside.


Shi Jian turned and stared blankly, Ye Jiacheng was standing there, his lips curled in an apologetic smile.


Her hand that was on the phone violently shrank back, as if she was shocked by electricity. The proprietor’s voice snapped her out of it, and Shi Jian promptly handed her the change. She didn’t know where to look for a minute. Then, her head was lowered for a while, as if she had lost something. She had lost many things, her stamina, her self confidence, her bravery…… only when she faced Ye Jiacheng. Looking up, Shi Jian tried to keep her expression as normal as possible.


“Shi Jian, I was looking for you,’ Ye Jiacheng said, eyes shining, “I want to talk to you.”


Shi Jian stood in front of Ye Jiacheng. She nodded: “Okay.”


Thanks, Tim, for warning her on the phone ahead of time and not letting her be caught too unprepared.


——


The unused villa that belonged to one of Ye Jiacheng’s friends was a rare place of quiet. The floor-to-ceiling windows faced the boundless sea.  

 

In the night, the color of the sky and the sea were the same, with lights shining faintly in the dark. From far away, it looked as if the stars had fallen into the ocean.


Shi Jian sat on the sofa. She was not unfamiliar with this villa. When she and Mr.Ye got married, Mr.Ye had bought this property from his friend, who had half sold and half gifted it, along with the wine stored inside.


This was a secret that even Mayor Ye didn’t know about. The property was just an exchange between Mr.Ye and his friend, but being the son of a mayor was indeed annoying. He had to take this into consideration even if the exchange was just and honorable. When Mayor Ye had learned of the business with the property, sure enough, he had a fit.


Shi Jian was on the sofa in the living room. Ye Jiacheng was standing by a cabinet. There was a vase behind him with lifelike faux flowers inside. In some things, regardless of whether real or fake, the eyes would always deceive people. 


Tim said he gave you that letter……” Shi Jian brought up the matter. Shi Jian didn’t know what happened between Ye Jiacheng and Yi Biya. Since Ye Jiacheng had already read the letter, they were better off clearing things up. “I originally…… I really didn’t expect it. But you’ve probably read it, right?” Her words were a bit messy. Shi Jian’s thoughts were even more chaotic. She still didn’t dare to ask whether he believed her or not, even though this question seemed to no longer be important. 


“Shi Jian, I know of everything already…… I’m pleasantly surprised,” Ye Jiacheng said. Once he started speaking, his words seemed to flow out uncontrollably. He looked apologetic and happy at the same time.


What was Ye Jiacheng surprised about? He not only believed her, he was also surprised? Shi Jian inwardly shook her head. She didn’t really believe it.


“Then what about you and Yi Biya?” Shi Jian brought this up in an indifferent tone, “You’re both about to get married. Why would you be pleasantly surprised? You should be distressed, since you believe I am your……”


Shi Jian didn’t continue and looked down. Before, she couldn’t let go and had hidden the secret that she was Ye Jiacheng’s wife. Then, she watched helplessly as Ye Jiacheng was about to break up with her. She’d watched him and Yi Biya together, and heard rumors about the perfect couple. Now, Ye Jiacheng was telling her that he was pleasantly surprised.


She really didn’t believe it.


 [Please read on jeytranslations.blogspot.com | Do not repost to other sites. ]


“Yi Biya and I aren’t getting married. I’ve broken up with her long ago……” Ye Jiacheng started explaining.


Ye Jiacheng spoke about his situation with Yi Biya, and chuckled self-mockingly. He couldn’t even find a single excuse. During the time where his leg was hurt, he really leisurely thought that if the little fox and Yi Pei were together, he would be together with Yi Biya and make the little fox call him Xiao Gufu1 every day. Didn’t the little fox say she loved him? Could she do it?


When he thought back on this now, it was laughable. At the time he didn’t hurt his leg, he had hurt his brain. He had wielded his capital and hurt some girls. That was wrong, but he thought he didn’t do anything wrong at all. Then, he also did the same thing and hurt the little fox, using the same car and the familiar path.


Ye Jiacheng said a lot of words, all about the things he thought that night. He didn’t want to explain too much for his behavior, like finding excuses for himself. Only, he needed to honestly tell the little fox what he was thinking, including his past childishness, his selfishness, as well as his current love, intentions, and determination.


He was truly happy knowing that the architect in Shi Jian’s heart was him. It was a kind of pure joy that was felt when one lost something and then found it again. Only after reading the little fox’s letter did he understand how his behavior had hurt Shi Jian. He really wished he could kill himself, because the one he hurt was the little fox who had come here with the full expectation of loving him……


As Shi Jian listened to Ye Jiacheng speak, she felt her heart slowly being swayed. Ye Jiacheng even mentioned that he ran into Lai Qiao. Then he mentioned what he discussed with Yi Pei. It was impossible for her to not be shocked at all. Only, she quickly seemed to instinctively deny everything. 


She thought it was too much, and she really didn’t have any confidence to believe what he was saying. He was definitely lying to her……


Ye Jiacheng turned and deeply inhaled.


“Shi Jian, I really am…… ecstatic.” Ye Jiacheng wanted to use words to express that he knew of everything now. He had a distinct feeling of the fog clearing up, but also had no words to express it. He was such a fortunate but defeated man.


“Little fox, I feel like this is destiny’s plan for you to return to my side. For a long time I was afraid you wouldn’t care about me. I even told myself that it wasn’t important for you to be with me.” Under the light of the lamp, Ye Jiacheng pointed to his heart, “In fact, I was wrong. You are very important, more important than I thought.”


Ye Jiacheng’s eyes faintly glimmered. Shi Jian looked at him and did not say anything.


Ye Jiacheng also looked at her silently with his beautiful eyes. Ye Jiacheng’s eyes were mesmerizing. She used to be infatuated with them. She liked to bat her eyelashes at them, and also liked to kiss them to express her love and passion.


“Truly, little fox. I am speaking the truth……” Ye Jiacheng said, unable to completely repress his surging emotions. He had repressed them for a long while, afraid of scaring Shi Jian.


Was it really true?


Shi Jian had finally heard the words she used to dream of. Why was she not moved at all? She was supposed to be jumping up and down in joy! Only, at this time, she didn’t feel any love; she only felt somewhat lost. She felt that she had woken up with difficulty, only for Ye Jiacheng to haul her back in.


She was still a little afraid.


Shi Jian had thought many times in the past about what she would do if one day Ye Jiacheng learned everything and came to her. Many times, she only had to think about it to fume with anger. She would definitely scold him well, regardless of how apologetic he was. She didn’t want to forgive him until her anger dissipated.


Only, right now…… She wasn’t angry. She was a bit embarrassed. She didn’t even know what she was embarrassed about. Then she noticed that Ye Jiacheng also seemed a bit embarrassed. Regardless, she was still happy that Ye Jiacheng knew. Ye Jiacheng didn’t doubt her, and this was already much better than the worst case scenario that she’d imagined. So she really didn’t need to be melancholic anymore. She had already been melancholic for so long. Wasn’t that enough?


Ye Jiacheng was indeed a bit embarrassed. Clearly his performance was terrible. He had delusionally wanted Shi Jian to know his feelings. His heart was chaotic and numb. Maybe it was better to say it when he was more relaxed. Ye Jiacheng pursed his lips and retrieved a bottle of wine along with two glasses from the wine cabinet behind him. He warmly asked: “Can we drink a little bit together?”


 Shi Jian nodded and accepted the suggestion. She also wanted to have a few glasses to celebrate the fact that Ye Jiacheng knew everything and believed her. Maybe after she was drunk, she would be overjoyed.


After all, her wish had been fulfilled.


Only, this belated celebration was being welcomed when she had decided to let go, and it felt like a farewell party. 


The floor below the floor-to-ceiling window was covered in a soft wool rug. They were sitting face to face, like they were at Ye Jiacheng’s birthday celebration. The sea was sometimes calm and sometimes turbulent.


 There really was nothing fixed in the universe. And sometimes the universe liked to play jokes on people. 


“Shi Jian, can you tell me about how we got together? ……I really want to know,” Ye Jiacheng gazed at her with anticipation and nervousness.


Was she drunk before she even had anything to drink? “Did you forget?” Shi Jian said, “I stopped you at Junhe Hotel and asked for your number, and Gao Yanfei at the time……”


“Not that,” Ye Jiacheng shook his head and pointed to his brain, “In your memory here.”


But that was Mr.Ye…… Shi Jian met Ye Jiacheng’s gaze. Ye Jiacheng’s delicate and long eyelashes seemed to strike her heart, once, twice. She thought for a long time as if she was both hesitating as well as recalling the memories.


“Originally, you were the one chasing after me……” Shi Jian said.


Some things, when the words were said aloud, all the memories rushed back in an instant. Shi Jian took a few sips of her wine. Her brain relaxed a lot. She couldn’t help but wish she could get drunk and not wake up.


Ye Jiacheng asked some more questions, with the identity of a person involved in the situation.


Shi Jian spoke intermittently, and tried her best to not be too emotional. But she’d had alcohol and couldn’t manage too much. She also didn’t know whether she should be saying these things or not. She didn’t know whether telling Ye Jiacheng about Mr.Ye’s memories was the right thing to do.


“Little fox, it’s really bizarre,” Ye Jiacheng leaned against the side of the window and sighed with sorrow. His face was elegant and had a threatening heroic aura.


Ye Jiacheng poured some more wine. Shi Jian tapped her glass against his and asked: “Ye Jiacheng, do you really believe it?”


“Yes, little fox, I believe it……” Ye Jiacheng’s eyes shone with warmth, “Even if it isn’t real, I would also wish for it to be real.”


“Really……?” Shi Jian leaned against the window. Her skin was like porcelain, her cheeks were slightly flushed, her dark yet bright eyes blinked softly. Then, she frowned in distress. It seemed like she wasn’t convinced even if she was drunk.


Ye Jiacheng watched her steadily. He felt like he wanted to laugh bitterly, but also felt that this was very beautiful.


“Little fox……”


“Yes?” Shi Jian looked up, her eyes shone into Ye Jiacheng’s suddenly uncomfortable expression. What was he about to ask?


Ye Jiacheng had already spoken: “Can you tell me about…… Diandian?”


“Diandian……” Shi Jian suddenly went blank, her right hand that was holding her wine glass slackened. The red wine inside churned and rippled. Then, she looked up and said: “There is no Diandian.”


Ye Jiacheng’s face was already red. He asked: “Isn’t Diandian our child?”


“Ye Jiacheng, you’re thinking too much.” Shi Jian tilted her head and reminded Ye Jiacheng as well as herself, “We don’t have children.”


Ye Jiacheng wasn’t stunned speechless. On the contrary, he asked even more earnestly: “Little fox, can you tell me about all of it?”


Shi Jian replied even more earnestly: “Ye Jiacheng, there really is no Diandian.”


Ye Jiacheng looked down and was silent for a long time.


“I can’t give birth, so we never had a child.” Shi Jian said calmly. Her brain had sobered up quite a bit. Actually, she had told Ye Jiacheng this before, but maybe he didn’t remember too well that night. She had also been honest with this when Mr.Ye had proposed to her. At the time, she didn’t think it was anything embarrassing to talk about. She had magnanimously told Mr.Ye that she had difficulty getting pregnant. Mr.Ye continued with his marriage proposal. He kissed her hand and said: “Shi Jian, I think this is not a problem. Actually, I’ve never really liked little children. I used to wonder about how to discuss with my future wife that we could live a dual income no kids life. Don’t you think we’re meant to be?”


Later, she wanted kids, which led to the regret of Diandian becoming her goal after she came back in time. Only after she let go of this goal did she discover that she just believed she was infallible from beginning to end. Even though she could have kids after being on medication for a long time, Ye Jiacheng wasn’t Mr.Ye, and she wasn’t the Shi Jian from before anymore……


Thinking about this with a muddled brain, Ye Jiacheng suddenly said, “No problem.”


How could it be no problem?


“Then we can be a trendy dual income no kids couple…… little fox,” Ye Jiacheng smiled and said this to her.


Shi Jian went blank. If Ye Jiacheng hadn’t added the “little fox” at the end, she would’ve thought that Mr.Ye had returned. 

 



              Xiao Gufu 小姑夫: Husband of paternal aunt.

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