The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Chapter 101 An Untimely Confession

Wang Jie's pager suddenly went off, but he was riding his bike and couldn't check it directly. He guessed that apart from Jian Zheng, no one else would be sending him messages.

By this time, they had already ridden onto Yangxi Road. Zhou Yanruo sat up straight, glanced at the surrounding scenery, and suggested, "We're already on Yangxi Road, shouldn't we grab something to eat? It's already noon."

Although "Cuihu Villa" is located in the suburbs of Xichuan City, the round trip is not short, especially since they were riding bicycles and it was already noon when they returned to the city.

Wang Jie suggested, "Then let's go to your favorite wonton shop."

Zhou Yanruo suggested, "Let's go to 'Kangxingji' instead."

"It's lunchtime now, so there will probably be a lot of people." Wang Jie considered that Zhou Yanruo had just cried and her eyes were red and swollen, so she might not want to see anyone.

Zhou Yanruo said, "Then how about I wait for you at the Octagonal Pavilion, and you go and pack some xiaolongbao for me. I don't like the noise in restaurants."

“That’s fine, the octagonal pavilion is quieter.” Wang Jie agreed, “I’ll take you there first, then we’ll go to ‘Kangxingji’ to get some takeout.”

Wang Jie rode his bicycle to take Zhou Yanruo to the Octagonal Pavilion, and then went to 'Kangxingji'. After buying the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), while waiting for them to be packed, he checked the messages on his pager.

As expected, it was Jian Zheng who sent the message: "Where are you? I'd like to meet you."

Jian Zheng hasn't shown up for several days since they met in the tenement building that day. Wang Jie doesn't know what he's been busy with. Is he really avoiding him because of his mother's words, "Don't get involved"?

Although Wang Jie was puzzled, he didn't believe Jian Zheng would do such a thing. Based on his understanding of Jian Zheng, he was a man of strong emotions and it was impossible for him to do such a thing.

Wang Jie thought that Jian Zheng must have his reasons for doing this.

So Wang Jie used the phone at the restaurant's cashier to send a message to Jian Zheng: "Zhou Yanruo and I are at the Octagonal Pavilion. Come over if it's convenient for you."

Jian Zheng quickly replied, "I'll be there after lunch. Wait for me."

Wang Jie did not reply again, and left with the packed xiaolongbao.

In the tranquility of the octagonal pavilion, Zhou Yanruo sat alone on a bench, her body slightly tilted, leaning gently against a pillar. Her eyes were half-closed, as if lost in deep thought, or perhaps trying to calm the turmoil within. The midday sun filtered through the sparse leaves, casting dappled shadows on her face, veiling her in a golden mist that made her look like a pure porcelain doll. However, despite the warmth of the sunlight, her cheeks were unusually pale, clearly from recent tears, and the tip of her nose was slightly red.

At that very moment, Wang Jie strode into the octagonal pavilion. The moment his gaze fell upon Zhou Yanruo's frail figure, a surge of emotion welled up within him.

Immediately afterwards, another wave of indescribable heartache and sadness washed over him. What right did he have to be moved, whether by Wang Jie or Shang Yibo?

Seeing Zhou Yanruo's vulnerability and sadness, he could no longer bring his own pain and struggle to her.

Instantly, Wang Jie's heart grew heavy. He walked to her side and gently sat down. All he could do now was take care of her and help her through her pain; that was all.

Wang Jie arranged the fast food containers, gently nudged Zhou Yanruo's arm, and said, "Yanruo, come and eat some xiaolongbao."

Zhou Yanruo was not asleep. She knew everything when Wang Jie walked into the pavilion and sat down next to her.

She slowly opened her eyes, turned to face Wang Jie, and murmured, "Wang Jie, I like you." With so many things happening lately, Zhou Yanruo had been holding back her feelings for a long time, but hadn't had a chance to express them to Wang Jie in person. Perhaps in a few days, she would be returning to Beijing with her mother, and she didn't want to delay any longer, nor did she want to miss this opportunity.

Upon hearing this, Wang Jie stood up abruptly, staring at Zhou Yanruo in shock.

Zhou Yanruo also stood up, looked directly into Wang Jie's eyes, and said solemnly again, "Wang Jie, I like you."

Wang Jie was taken aback by Zhou Yanruo's sudden confession and was at a loss for words to express his surprise.

Zhou Yanruo had always been a carefree girl. If there was anything she was unhappy about, it was that her mother had planned everything for her, and as long as she obeyed her mother's wishes, she could live a comfortable life without any worries about food or clothing. However, she was not content with this; she longed to pursue her own dreams.

Wang Jie often thought that Zhou Yanruo's state was a typical example of "a young man who does not know the taste of sorrow, but pretends to be sad in order to write new poems."

Now that she has encountered setbacks and is in a vulnerable moment, it is only natural for her to seek emotional support.

Wang Jie looked away from Zhou Yanruo's gaze and said calmly, "A lot of unpleasant things have happened recently. Let's face them together. I'll be by your side and help you get through this."

Zhou Yanruo gently shook her head and said firmly, "I like you. This feeling is almost suffocating me. I have to confess to you, even if the timing isn't right."

Wang Jie was in a daze for a moment, then said, "Let's... talk about it later."

Seeing Wang Jie's lukewarm attitude, Zhou Yanruo's temper flared up, and she pressed, "Then do you dare to admit that you like me at least a little bit? Even if it's just a tiny bit?"

Wang Jie was silent for a moment, then said with difficulty, "I...I'm not...how should I put it, it's just that I can't..."

Hearing Wang Jie's incoherent reply, Zhou Yanruo felt quite uncomfortable. "You don't have to force yourself. You can just say you don't like me."

Wang Jie hurriedly retorted, "No, I already said no, it's, it's impossible."

"Oh, even Wang Jie has a time when he has to apologize."

Jian Zheng walked into the octagonal pavilion, his face dark with a joking expression, unlike his usual playful and teasing manner.

Zhou Yanruo glanced at Jian Zheng and said, "You've finally shown yourself. Have you been hiding all these days?"

Wang Jie handed Zhou Yanruo a lunchbox and said, "Eat something first. You came out early this morning and probably haven't had breakfast yet."

Jian Zheng's arrival interrupted Zhou Yanruo and Wang Jie's conversation, and seemed to be a reminder that today's confession was indeed inappropriate.

Zhou Yanruo silently took the lunchbox and placed it on the stool next to her. "I don't have an appetite. I'll eat later. You eat first if you're hungry, don't wait for me."

Jian Zheng avoided Zhou Yanruo's aggressive questioning and said directly to Wang Jie, "I went to the hospital this morning to raise some money to pay for Xue Jiang's medical expenses."

Wang Jie said, "You went to the hospital without telling me. We could have gone together. You said you were going to pay the medical bills?"

When Zhou Yanruo heard that Jian Zheng had paid Xue Jiang's medical bills, she immediately realized that she had misunderstood Jian Zheng. She apologized and said, "I'm sorry, I was in a bad mood just now."