Chapter 362: Chapter 175: A Failed Breakup
What is the tradition of Kelly Women’s College? Su Ziceng’s mind kept flashing back to that drunkard’s words.
Since it’s a tradition, it should at least be something with a long history, like the Rose Handbook. What else with a long history could there be at Kelly?
Perhaps it’s worth making a trip to Kelly Women’s College. Su Ziceng drove towards the school, deep in thought. As the car turned a corner and stopped at the old school gates, Su Ziceng stared in shock.
The gates and security were all in place, but starting from West Lake, the clusters of roses that had once surrounded Kelly Women’s College had all been replaced by rows of newly planted holly with budding leaves.
The octagonal campus had disappeared, and next to the original two teaching buildings, a row of modern seven-story buildings was under construction.
At the entrance, there was a construction sign that read "Daoquan University Faculty of Humanities and Arts".
It might no longer be possible to search for the traditions of Kelly Women’s College. In the march of progress, no matter how beautiful a tradition is, it can be replaced.
"What a pity," Su Ziceng sighed silently, parking the car in the school parking lot and taking a walk around the perimeter of Kelly Women’s College.
The teachers and female students she had known were nowhere to be found; Su Ziceng did not even have anyone to ask for information. Information, news? Su Ziceng did remember someone.
"Qiu Zhi?" She quickly dialed Qiu Zhi’s number.
"Ziceng?" Qiu Zhi sounded excited upon answering the call, "You’ve been gone for several months."
"I’m at Kelly, no, I should say West Lake now. Where are you? I need to see you," Su Ziceng hoped to use Qiu Zhi’s computer expertise to perhaps help her find some clues through the internet.
"I’m in my apartment, a bit busy right now," Qiu Zhi’s desk held a new, smaller laptop, his fingers tapping ceaselessly on the keyboard, with the stock market’s red and green lines jumping around on his screen. It was clear from just the phone call that he was very busy.
"It’s half-past ten now, and the stock market will close in an hour and a half. I’ll come to you," Su Ziceng checked the time; it was exactly the opening hours of the stock exchange. It would be tough to ask Qiu Zhi to step out since every second was precious. It might be better for her to look around the campus again, maybe she would run into someone familiar.
She had only walked a few steps when she didn’t spot a familiar face, but she did recognize a car. Su Ziceng hesitated, and watched as the yellow Ferrari was about to rush towards her. The car abruptly stopped, and Hang Yishao poked his head out from inside.
Compared to Su Ziceng’s hesitation, his reaction was more direct. Hang Yishao cursed to himself, regretting agreeing to the department head to act as a supervisor for the student thesis defense session in the Faculty of Humanities. Look where it got him.
Hang Yishao’s feelings were complicated. The phone call a few nights ago had made him very angry, but after the anger, he didn’t know what to do. The meaning behind Su Ziceng’s actions was already very clear.
"You’re back," Hang Yishao thought for a moment and then got out of the car, not caring that it was still blocking the main road of West Lake. Fortunately, at this time, there weren’t many people passing by.
"Yishao," Su Ziceng gritted her teeth, knowing it had to be said sooner or later, and decided it was better to clear things up now, "There are some things I want to talk to you about."
"No need to say more," Hang Yishao waved his hand dismissively.
"I must speak, it’s in both of our best interest," once Su Ziceng had started, she wanted to make everything clear.
"What is it? Tell me how you enjoyed a flirtatious and happy life abroad with that teacher, tell me, you fu*king want to dump me, tell me you want to call off our engagement?" Hang Yishao kicked the car violently.
Next to the quiet West Lake, a sharp alarm sounded obnoxiously. Hang Yishao had never felt as humiliated as he had in these past few months. Fei Qing and his group laughed at him for not having a woman by his side, mocking him for being celibate for Su Ziceng.
Celibacy, a term more fitting for a woman, was now associated with Hang Yishao, a humiliation beyond belief. The night he talked to Su Ziceng on the phone, Mr. Hang, in a fit of rage, told his debauched friends he was coming back to the scene. He summoned all his past and present girlfriends, but there lied the problem—no desire, no fire in him. He was like a monk who had been vegetarian for years, facing a table full of meat, feeling no temptation whatsoever.
At a time like this, seeing Su Ziceng and hearing her speak these words was undoubtedly a deadly assault on Hang Yishao. He even began to wonder if not marrying Su Ziceng in his lifetime meant he was going to become a monk.
"Yishao, I once wanted to give you happiness, but in the end, I failed to hold onto it, I’m sorry," Su Ziceng also felt Hang Yishao’s emotions were spiraling out of control. On the West Lake shore, their reflections appeared, a mere meter’s distance felt as distant as miles apart.
"Ziceng, we’ve known each other for over twenty years, can’t it outweigh the few years with that teacher? I think you’re just confused," Hang Yishao approached her, forcing her to face him directly.
"We’ve known each other long enough," the weary tone in Su Ziceng’s voice made Hang Yishao feel uneasy.
Indeed, they had known each other long enough, so much that there was a time when Su Ziceng would reject Pello for him. She and Hang Yishao went through everything—marriage, estrangement, aversion, friction; none of the memories were pleasant. If in her early days of starting over, she fought for Hang Yishao for the Su Ziceng of the past, now she had learned to give up on Hang Yishao for herself.
"You don’t have to decide so quickly, I’ll give you half a year to rediscover," Hang Yishao held her hand firmly, looking into her eyes, "I will pursue you properly."
Hang Yishao’s previous panic had subsided, and with half a year left until the time agreed with Su Qingzhang. After half a year, when he officially takes over the Hang Family, no matter the outcome, Su Ziceng must marry him.
Their agreement was nothing more than a lie. Yet sometimes, a lie is what you need to fool a woman.
Su Ziceng tried to break free from his grip, but her arm and gaze seemed fixed in place by Hang Yishao.
Having said all of this, Hang Yishao finally let go of her hand and, pretending as if nothing had happened, escorted her to Quan University. He didn’t leave until Qiu Zhi came out of the apartment.
"Ziceng," seeing the departing Hang Yishao, Qiu Zhi was a bit surprised, but quickly approached Su Ziceng.
Compared to Qiu Zhi, Su Ziceng’s shock was more evident—he had changed. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian () to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)