In the second semester of Tao Yunjia's sophomore year, Chu Mu personally accompanied her in her studies and helped her pass the German major exam. In her junior year, facing a school-organized practical training simulation, Chu Mu, acting as a mock examiner, trained her overnight, imparting numerous techniques he had learned, enabling her to pass with top honors. Tao Yunjia, Tao Yunjia—mentioning this name almost instantly evokes associations between her and Chu Mu at the Foreign Affairs University. She is overshadowed by Chu Mu's influence, and even her teachers show her great affection.
Those around them had grown accustomed to their romantic relationship and no longer treated Tao Yunjia with the polite formality of strangers. Instead, they joked around like friends, naturally regarding the two as one. Chu Mu's upbringing and high-quality lifestyle made Tao Yunjia increasingly enamored. Even a casual gesture or unintentional remark from him could profoundly benefit her.
Chu Mu also particularly admired the indomitable spirit in this girl's eyes. She was willing to endure hardship and learn humbly. The way she faced him was neither humble nor disrespectful, which perfectly matched all of Chu Mu's imagination and standards for a girlfriend in his youth.
In their senior year, Tao Yunjia and Chu Mu had moved into his apartment. Like any ordinary couple who had been in love for a long time, she would sit in the study preparing her thesis after Chu Mu came home from work, flipping through dictionaries and waiting for him to answer her questions. Chu Mu also planned to take Tao Yunjia home to meet his parents after graduation, and get married after his father agreed.
Everything seemed to be going so smoothly. Everyone thought that Chu Mu and Tao Yunjia were about to get married and become a perfect couple, but then Tao Yunjia graduated.
Author's Note: I felt so frustrated halfway through writing this! I've fixed a bug from before; Tao Yunjia only met Chu Mucai and Shu Yi'an when Tao Yunjia graduated with her master's degree, not during her undergraduate graduation. It's a minor detail and won't affect the reading experience.
This chapter cleared up some questions for you ladies, explaining the past of the two characters and covering some events that happened between Chu Mu and Tao Yunjia, giving you a better understanding of that period. It's only half-written; one more chapter will complete the story. I believe you'll understand after reading it. More updates on Thursday!
And please don't be upset that I won't be updating tomorrow~ because starting Wednesday, I'll be updating daily for the next seven days!! I'll give you a real treat!!!
And then I want to thank the girls who threw me grenades and rockets!! Heart Flying in the Clouds and Kitmat~ I was a bit rushed last time and forgot!! So, I'm making up for it this time. Thank you, universe~
Girls, save your coins for reading, don't spend them! I'll receive your kind wishes from the universe~ I'd be happy with just a comment or a kiss.
Chapter 32 It's Getting Cold
Some things, once you give up, you'll never have a second chance. That includes love.
On the day Tao Yunjia graduated, the college leaders had a special talk with her. The quota for government-sponsored overseas study had been allocated, and there was only one quota for the Language Institute. The implication was that if she wanted to go, the quota was hers.
Holding her graduation certificate, Tao Yunjia was in a daze, speechless with shock at the news. A three-year overseas assignment—such a good opportunity was too hard for her to give up. So, the young woman in her early twenties agreed to her advisor's offer without hesitation. Only after leaving the campus gate did Tao Yunjia remember that Chu Mu had mentioned marriage after graduation.
That evening, the two had a huge argument about it. Chu Mu couldn't understand Tao Yunjia's thinking at all, and frowned as he pointed at the study abroad application form, asking, "Why do you insist on studying abroad? You don't agree to just join the translation team?"
Tao Yunjia knew she was in the wrong, but she refused to back down. She immediately stood up from the table and argued vehemently. "Is it wrong for me to want to pursue better studies? What does it matter if I come back and join the translation team a few years later? As for the wedding, it doesn't matter if it's a few years earlier or later. I, a girl, can wait, so why can't you?"
Chu Mu sneered, "I can wait, but you'd better not regret it when you come back."
Tao Yunjia was most afraid of Chu Mu's lack of emotion, so she softened her tone immediately. "Chu Mu, the gap between us is too big... I'm not like you. You were born with everything, but I have to work hard to achieve it. Only by becoming better can I feel worthy of you, worthy of everything around you..."
Some women are like this, constantly pushing themselves to become stronger and go further because of their inferiority complex. Even if they are already dazzling enough, they still feel it is not enough and always want to be higher and higher.
Having been together for two years, how could Chu Mu not know Tao Yunjia well? He also knew he couldn't stop her at all. With his back to Tao Yunjia, Chu Mu suddenly felt very tired, and his voice was slower than usual. "Then you should go."
Tao Yunjia reached out and grabbed Chu Mu's drooping hand. "Don't be angry, okay? I have a holiday. I can come back to be with you during my holiday."
At that time, Tao Yunjia was so confident that no matter what she did, Chu Mu would stay by her side. She was also so insecure that she felt she was unworthy of Chu Mu no matter what she did. But she didn't know that the reason Chu Mu agreed to be with her at the age of twenty-two was because he was attracted by the subtle, stubborn, and proud light in her eyes, not because of her pointless self-deprecation.
The Chu family was extremely displeased with Tao Yunjia's behavior. Even with her excellent manners, Sui Qing couldn't help but grumble as she looked at the carefully prepared meal. "What kind of nonsense is this? She agreed to come to our house, so why did she go abroad? That's a three-year commitment..."
Although Mr. Chu didn't say anything while looking at the newspaper, he was already very displeased. Chu Weiyuan, fearing the situation wasn't serious enough, chimed in, "Really? What do you take my brother for? You think you can just wait like that? Where do you get all that time?!"
Chu Mu kicked Chu Weiyuan in the butt, "Get inside, what are you interrupting for?" He glanced at the two elders sitting on the sofa, and had to bite the bullet and smooth things over, "Dad, Mom. Don't be angry now that everyone's gone. I'm not in a hurry. Waiting a few more years won't be a big deal."
Sui Qing slammed her teacup down on the low table. "Why should we wait for her, son? How can she leave the country without even meeting her in-laws? At least settle things and make things clear. Your father and I aren't unreasonable. Do you think we can stop a girl from pursuing her studies?"
Mr. Chu shook the newspaper, his tone drawn out. "It's a good thing for a girl to be strong-willed, but if she's too strong-willed... I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it... Never mind, she's already gone, let's eat."
Therefore, Tao Yunjia and Chu Mu's two-year relationship left such a bad impression on the old folks that they didn't even pass the first test in the Chu family, and no one ever mentioned marriage again.
Sometimes, when a few childhood friends got drunk at a gathering, they would surround Chu Mudong and try to persuade him with all sorts of things.
Jiang Beichen said, "Forget it, why are you hanging out with that girl? To be honest, you two just don't click, really."
Ji Hengdong said, "You're already so assertive, if you marry someone even more assertive than you, tsk tsk tsk, the fun will be endless."
Zhan Cheng said, "A new batch of electronic warfare soldiers joined the team. Shall I introduce them to you?"
Chu Mu leaned back in the soft sleeper, his head tilted back, and smiled lazily. "Forget it, she's already with me, I can't just use her being with me as an excuse to dump her again."
Ji Hengdong smacked his lips, looking like a seasoned veteran. "Boss... one day, he'll be the one dumped."
There's a saying that a single word can become a prophecy, and Ji Hengdong's words became a curse in Chu Mu's heart.
Three years later, in the summer, Tao Yunjia returned home after completing her studies, and the matter of meeting her parents was finally on the agenda. The engagement date was set, and everything was being prepared in an orderly manner. Tao Yunjia was happily dreaming of being a bride-to-be.
It was a cloudy afternoon. Tao Yunjia was tidying up her things in her and Chu Mu's apartment when she suddenly heard a knock at the door. It was Chu's father's secretary, who had been with him for many years. He greeted Tao Yunjia, who looked puzzled, with politeness. "Miss Tao, Mr. Chu and Ms. Sui wish to see you."
The car drove directly to the compound. Looking at the detached villa, Tao Yunjia felt a sudden, inexplicable unease. She had met the two elderly relatives before; while not cold, they hadn't exactly warmed her. Therefore, being perceptive and intelligent, she sensed the unusual nature of this meeting almost instantly when the secretary spoke.
Sui Qing wore a violet cheongsam with Chinese knot buttons, her hair elaborately tied back with a jade hairpin; she looked absolutely stunning. Tao Yunjia stood awkwardly at the door, bowing to greet Sui Qing. "Aunt Sui, you wanted to see me?"
Although Sui Qing was known for her good temper in the compound, unlike Qiao Wan, the daughter-in-law of the Jiang family, who was stern, she was more approachable and down-to-earth. But this time, she adopted the demeanor of a matriarch, pointing to the sofa in front of her. "Come, sit down."
"You're getting engaged soon, how are the preparations going?"
Tao Yunjia gripped her bag tightly and nodded cautiously. "Everything went smoothly."
Sui Qing paused in pouring tea, then chuckled softly. She glanced at Tao Yunjia, her young face filled with an unusual aggressiveness. "Was it smooth? My son hasn't had it so easy waiting for you these past three years. I heard he handled all your paperwork here in China?"
"You know, in this city, the only person Chu Mu would treat like this is his sister."
Sui Qing's seemingly casual words sent Tao Yunjia's tense mood plummeting. It seemed today's conversation wasn't going to be simple. However, as a junior, she still needed to maintain a proper demeanor after hearing her elder's criticism.
“Auntie, I know that my three years of studying abroad have caused Chu Mu a lot of trouble... but I also wanted to improve myself so that I could be more worthy of him…”
“Since you think you’re good enough for him, I have a better opportunity.” Sui Qing interrupted Tao Yunjia. “Chu Mu’s position is rising higher and higher. If you want to be on par with him, you might as well postpone this marriage.”
Sui Qing took the prepared file folder and slowly pushed it along the edge of the table. "This is from your Uncle Chu. The condition is very simple. As you know, Chu Mu's career is on the rise. It wouldn't be good for the two of them to work in the same unit. Of course, if they were strangers instead of husband and wife, that would be a different story."
Tao Yunjia's dream of becoming a diplomat had taken root in her heart since childhood, and now Sui Qing's words were even more of a threat. "If you want this dream, you'll lose happiness; if you want happiness, you must lose your dream."
As Tao Yunjia carried the file folder out, a sudden thunderstorm broke out. She clutched the folder tightly, her body ice-cold. Sui Qing's words, spoken before she left, kept echoing in her mind.