Tao Yunjia, this supporting female character, always manages to cause trouble when the two are at their best! I really hate her!!!
Also, I won't be updating on Monday because I have classes tomorrow, so we'll update on Tuesday. Hey everyone!
Chapter 31 Me!
What Tao Yunjia sent was a photo album as thick as a book. On the dark brown leather cover, there was a sentence printed in gold.
Chariots and horses before slowly, letters long, a lifetime lover only.
In the past, travel was slow, letters took a long time to arrive, and a lifetime was only enough to love one person.
Chu Mu accepted Tao Yunjia's confession at the age of 22 and broke up with her at the age of 28. The six years with Tao Yunjia were the most important stage in Chu Mu's growth from a proud and young boy who had just graduated to the mature and reserved diplomat he is today.
It's like the most regrettable and unforgettable moment in your life that you can never erase.
Like many girls, Tao Yunjia wanted to strive for a better life for herself through her own efforts and abilities. She appeared positive and ambitious, a thought that had been instilled in her from elementary school all the way to university. Whenever she saw those elegant diplomats on the news on TV when she was young, she would tell her parents with longing that she wanted to be like them in the future, wearing formal attire and becoming one of them on TV.
Therefore, despite her hard work and dedication, Tao Yunjia decided to give up many excellent majors and enroll in the Foreign Affairs University at the age of eighteen.
In September, when students first enroll, gossip spreads quickly and in a legendary way on campus. Tao Yunjia, wearing a camouflage military training uniform, heard the name Chu Mu within just one month of entering the school.
This man, with his extraordinary family background, was practically worshipped as a god by the freshmen. He was the professor of diplomacy's most prized student, studying several of the most important and popular languages with him. He came from a good family, was handsome, and capable; upon graduation, he would directly enter the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the dream job of all students. He was extremely self-disciplined; there had never been any rumors about him or any women… He…
So many of them blossomed in Tao Yunjia's world, a world brimming with self-reliance and ambition. Because the management of freshmen was extremely strict, and Chu Mu was someone who was rarely seen on campus, the apple of the professors' eye, Tao Yunjia had never actually met him. She would only gaze at the photos of that handsome man with star-like eyes in the campus honors exhibition, lost in thought. But in her heart, she always unconsciously regarded Chu Mu as a goal, or rather, an expectation, in her life.
This idea subtly deepened with each lesson, each training session, and each night when Tao Yunjia looked at the lights on in the schoolyard. Within a year, Tao Yunjia had quickly become a highly regarded talent in the eyes and words of her teachers.
At the beginning of the second year, the school held a degree conferment ceremony for graduating seniors, and Chu Mu was among them. In the auditorium with nearly a thousand people, this tall and slender young man received his diploma from the dean with a gentle and warm smile. Several girls nearby whispered among themselves.
"I heard that the genius is still pursuing a master's degree at the university after graduation, but we definitely won't get to see it... I'm so sad..."
"He probably went straight to the job; I heard his family arranged it for him. If he's so great, how come I've never heard of him having a girlfriend?"
"Who knows? He's probably pregnant but not saying anything... Oh well, someone like him must have no shortage of girls around him, so just give up on that idea."
The girl, speechless, lowered her head and pouted, "Tch, it won't be me, and it won't be you!"
Hearing these words, Tao Yunjia, who was sitting to the side, suddenly had an extremely bold idea. Her beautiful young face was full of tension and anticipation for what was about to happen.
After the ceremony, the audience walked out in a large crowd. Tao Yunjia squeezed out with the flow of people and stood outside the hall door, staring at the exit for a long time without moving.
Chu Mu came out last, accompanied by several childhood friends and his younger sister. It seemed that he was always like this, with a large group of people following him. He had changed out of his graduation gown and was wearing a crisp white shirt. The sunlight slanted across his face, making Tao Yunjia feel inexplicably moved.
Watching him descend the steps one by one, Tao Yunjia took a deep breath and walked straight up to Chu Mu, uttering the boldest sentence of her life.
"I want to be your girlfriend."
The nineteen-year-old girl was neither humble nor arrogant; her almond-shaped eyes were full of expectation and fearlessness, even a little proud.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Beichen, Ji Hengdong, Zhan Cheng, and their group of childhood friends behind Chu Mu immediately joined in the commotion, causing an uproar. "Wow, Chu Mu, how many is this now?"
A classmate from the same school who knew Tao Yunjia stood next to Chu Mu and jokingly reminded him, "Master, this is Tao Yunjia, the most beautiful girl in our Foreign Languages Department. The teachers treat her like a treasure. You're very lucky!"
In such a situation, even Tao Yunjia, with her strong mental fortitude, was starting to feel the strain. Her face flushed slightly, but her almond-shaped eyes stubbornly remained fixed on Chu Mu, who was much taller than her.
Chu Mu didn't seem particularly surprised by Tao Yunjia's confession. A half-smile played on his handsome face as he asked the girl with great interest, "So determined? What if I already have a girlfriend?"
This was the first time Tao Yunjia had heard Chu Mu's voice, and she was a little excited. She confidently said what she had prepared in her heart, "Even if you have a boyfriend, as long as you are not married, I have the opportunity to make you my boyfriend as long as I do not violate any laws or moral bottom lines. Besides, you are not married yet."
Surprised by Tao Yunjia's boldness, Chu Mu raised an eyebrow. It wasn't that he hadn't seen girls confessing their feelings proactively, but rather that he had seen far too many, yet none as confident and daring as her. Chu Mu took a step forward, lowered his head, and began to look at Tao Yunjia seriously, his clean face showing no trace of fear. "So confident?"
Tao Yunjia was afraid of being doubted by others. Even the slightest uncertainty made her feel looked down upon. So, disregarding the stares of those around her, she pulled down Chu Mu's neck and kissed him. It was a very light and brief kiss. Tao Yunjia clenched her hands and looked at the somewhat stunned Chu Mu. "That's how confident I am. Among all your confessions, I'm the first one who dared to kiss you. Isn't that enough?"
Amidst the murmurs and jeers of onlookers, Tao Yunjia showed no embarrassment or helplessness.
When everyone thought Chu Mu would respond cleverly with a refusal, Chu Mu surprised everyone by softly uttering four words.
"I promise you."
Zhan Cheng looked utterly bewildered, while Ji Hengdong stood frozen in place. These were all spirited young men who simply couldn't believe that someone as proud as Chu Mu would agree to date this little brat after rejecting so many outstanding girls. Seventeen-year-old Chu Weiyuan, who was following behind Chu Mu, suddenly burst into tears after hearing his words.
What followed was news that spread throughout the entire school, news that would still be a story for new students today. It was about how the most beautiful girl in the Foreign Languages Department managed to win over Chu Mu, a top student at the Foreign Affairs University, with a single, forceful kiss.
That night, at the dinner celebrating Chu Mu's graduation, Jiang Beichen, seeing Tao Yunjia sitting alone in the private room, pulled Chu Mu aside and asked, "Why? What's so special about that girl? Why did you agree to it?"
Chu Weiyuan hurriedly followed behind Chu Mu, making a scene, her attitude relentless. "Yeah, tell me!!! Why did you agree to let her be your girlfriend?! Don't you love me anymore?! Didn't we say we'd be each other's angels?!"
Chu Mu stuffed a piece of watermelon into Chu Weiyuan's mouth, indicating that she should go somewhere cool and stay there. Looking at Jiang Beichen, who was frowning and bristling, Chu Mu asked him in a very carefree and nonchalant manner.
Don't you think she looks a lot like me?
Jiang Beichen craned his neck to glance at Tao Yunjia, who sat somewhat bewildered but still with her back ramrod straight, and said thoughtfully, "Just like you, quite proud..."
Heh, Chu Mu chuckled. He was quite proud. Out of so many people, she was the first to dare say she wanted to be his girlfriend—not asking, but affirming. That composure, that calm and arrogant way of tilting her head back to kiss him even when everyone else was laughing and gossiping.
Chu Mu had to admit that he was suddenly moved when she looked up. So, the usually aloof and proud man surprisingly agreed.
Chu Mu was a very serious person; he never joked about things he had decided on, nor did he easily give up. That evening, on the way home with Tao Yunjia, he clearly expressed his thoughts: "Since I promised you, I'm serious. If you want to back out now, it's not too late."
Tao Yunjia still stood up straight with a calm gaze, "Why would I go back on my word? I like you, and that's it. I didn't take your promise to me as a joke. From this moment on, I am your girlfriend. I hope you will behave well outside."
Chu Mu smiled calmly, "You really have guts."
What Chu Mu didn't know was that Tao Yunjia was trembling all over when she returned to her dormitory, unable to tell whether it was excitement or fear. She was excited because the man whom countless people worshipped was now her boyfriend, Tao Yunjia; she was fearful because after witnessing Chu Mu's methods and abilities, and after seeing his friends and background, she suddenly wasn't sure if she was worthy to stand with him. That sense of inferiority that she had ignored since childhood suddenly and intensely attacked her proud life.
In their early twenties, the prime of their relationship, Chu Mu truly kept his promise and took Tao Yunjia's feelings very seriously. Every weekend or weekday evening, he would pick Tao Yunjia up, take her out to dinner with his friends, and to participate in various activities. Tao Yunjia, in turn, pushed herself even harder, striving to understand their social circle and Chu Mu's preferences.
Tao Yunjia was very clever. Sometimes, she could accurately read what Chu Mu wanted from just a gesture or a glance. At that time, Chu Mu was young and impetuous, and he and Tao Yunjia were like two beasts that depended on each other, both with strong personalities and a desire to conquer each other. In less than two years, their relationship had gone from awkwardness at the beginning to intimacy in the throes of passionate love, becoming familiar and deeply affectionate.