Chapter Fifty-Eight: Concession

The next morning, Su Ruoran woke up early. After a simple wash, she thought about going out to buy breakfast for Zhang Wenhao. He was still somewhat weak after his ordeal, and with the system currently strengthening his body, he was sleeping soundly. Su Ruoran tiptoed to the door, and as she reached the elevator, the doors opened—out stepped Zhang Wenhao’s mother.

“Good morning, Auntie,” Su Ruoran greeted politely as soon as she saw Song Huafang.

Song Huafang was carrying a thermos and a bag of breakfast. When she saw it was Su Ruoran, she asked with concern, “You stayed here all night. You must be exhausted, right? Come, Auntie bought breakfast for you two. Eat something while it’s still hot.”

Su Ruoran felt a little embarrassed and didn’t know how to reply. In truth, she hadn’t suffered at all last night; she’d simply slept soundly in Zhang Wenhao’s arms.

She followed Song Huafang back to the ward. Zhang Wenhao was still fast asleep in bed. Song Huafang said to Su Ruoran, “Don’t wait for him. Let him sleep a bit longer. You eat first, and when he wakes, he can eat on his own.”

Su Ruoran glanced at Zhang Wenhao and nodded quietly.

She didn’t have much appetite, so she drank a little soy milk and ate a few soup dumplings. Then she went to the bathroom to wash the lid and bowls from the thermos, making sure the container for the soy milk was tightly sealed.

Song Huafang watched in a bit of a daze, thinking to herself, What a considerate and diligent girl. She’s so attentive—she sealed the thermos so carefully, obviously worried the soy milk might get cold before Wenhao wakes up. Is this really the wealthy heiress Lei Zhanjun described, the one born to a prominent family and showered in love?

Su Ruoran then tied up the bag of soup dumplings. At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Song Huafang quickly went to open it. Standing outside was a middle-aged man who didn’t enter; he asked very politely, “Excuse me, is Miss Su Ruoran here?”

“Uncle Luo,” Su Ruoran responded, recognizing the voice as her family’s driver. She walked over.

The driver respectfully said, “Miss, Madam asked me to bring you home for breakfast. She’s waiting for you.”

“I’ve already eaten,” replied Su Ruoran, then asked, “Uncle Luo, could you come pick me up at noon instead?”

The driver looked troubled. “Madam said she has something to discuss with you, so...”

Su Ruoran nodded, a hint of disappointment in her voice. “Alright then.”

She turned to look at the still-sleeping Zhang Wenhao, then said to Song Huafang, “Auntie, the nurse’s station should have a microwave. When Wenhao wakes up, could you ask the nurse to warm up the soup dumplings? I have to go home now, so I won’t wait for him.”

Song Huafang nodded. “Of course, I’ll let Wenhao know. You go home and get some rest. It was a real trouble for you last night.”

“It’s nothing, really,” Su Ruoran replied politely. “Auntie, I’ll be going now.”

Watching Su Ruoran leave with the driver, Song Huafang felt a surge of emotion. What a wonderful girl. She wondered if her foolish son Wenhao was truly lucky enough to deserve her.

Nie Minhui had barely slept that night. The fact that her daughter had stayed at the hospital with Zhang Wenhao left her uneasy. She’d been busy lately, and since the New Year, hadn’t even seen her daughter. Last night, she’d rushed over, only to exchange a few hurried words at the hospital.

Recalling the call her daughter had made, Nie Minhui felt increasingly irritable. On the plane, she had resolved: no matter what, she would take her daughter back to Beijing this time. It wasn’t that she feared her daughter’s early romance; rather, last night’s events had left her deeply anxious. She couldn’t bear to be separated from her daughter any longer—only with her by her side in Beijing would she feel at ease.

But would her daughter agree? Nie Minhui was not optimistic.

The driver brought Su Ruoran home. Mother and daughter sat across the breakfast table. Nie Minhui’s first words were full of concern: “You must be exhausted after staying up all night, right?”

“I’m not,” Su Ruoran replied softly, avoiding her mother’s gaze.

“Come, have something to eat.”

“I already ate at the hospital. Wenhao’s mother bought breakfast,” Su Ruoran answered.

“Alright,” Nie Minhui nodded, but for some reason, her irritation only grew.

“Ruoran,” after a pause, Nie Minhui tried to persuade her gently, “Come back to Beijing with me. I just can’t feel at ease with you out here alone.”

Su Ruoran immediately protested, “Mom, I’m not going back to Beijing!”

“You—” Nie Minhui knew her daughter had endured much the day before and didn’t dare use a harsh tone. She tried to coax her, “I haven’t told your father or grandfather about yesterday. If they find out, they’ll insist on bringing you home, no matter what.”

“I’m not leaving!” Su Ruoran’s voice was quiet but unyielding.

Nie Minhui was helpless. She knew her daughter’s temperament—if she had made up her mind, it would be hard to change it. She sighed and said, “I understand how you feel about Zhang Wenhao. But you’re still young. Your feelings are still vague, like when you were obsessed with Barbie dolls in elementary school. Whenever anyone in the family traveled abroad, they’d bring you back a doll. You filled an entire thirty-square-meter room with them. But after you started middle school, you never touched them again. In three years, your feelings now might change too.”

Su Ruoran shook her head gently. “Barbie dolls were part of a little girl’s transition to womanhood—they don’t mean much. Of course, I couldn’t like Barbies forever, but you’ll love Dad for the rest of your life. So, we discard what should be discarded, and we hold on to what we should hold on to.”

“You’ll still face changes as you grow from a young woman to a mature one. When that time comes, what you choose to keep or let go of may change too,” Nie Minhui replied instinctively.

“No, it won’t,” Su Ruoran said with extraordinary firmness. “I’m an adult now. I know what I want.”

Nie Minhui was at a loss. She continued her gentle persuasion: “You’re only eighteen. You have all the time in the world to deal with your feelings. In a few months, you’ll be going to university in Beijing. It’s not far from Jiangcheng. Besides, Zhang Wenhao has excellent grades—he’ll probably get into a university in Beijing, too. When that time comes, you can reconsider your relationship; I won’t object.”

“University is university,” Su Ruoran replied unmoved. “Right now, I only want to stay in Jiangcheng. I don’t want to go anywhere else.”

Nie Minhui countered, “That’s just your one-sided wish. What about Zhang Wenhao? Feelings are mutual; it can’t be just your wishful thinking.”

Su Ruoran responded calmly, “I just want to do my best at what I want. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I trust him.”

“Trust?” Nie Minhui shook her head. “A man’s heart changes on a whim and is very good at pretending. Men talk about love so easily, but that doesn’t mean they truly want to be with you. Sometimes it’s about sex, money, status, vanity, or just the thrill of conquest. Do you really think you can tell the difference?”

Her tone grew agitated. “If he truly cared about you and your well-being, he wouldn’t have taken you to a hotel apartment, that kind of disreputable place. Do you really know what his intentions are?”

“I do!” Su Ruoran’s voice turned cold. “Mom, I don’t know why you’re secretly tracking me, but you weren’t there last night—I was!”

With that, her eyes filled with tears. She lowered her head and recounted everything that had happened between her and Zhang Wenhao, from beginning to end, in vivid detail. From their years of acquaintance without closeness, to her approaching him to help with his studies, to the times he was twice framed and nearly landed in prison because of her, to the promise between them about her English grades.

When she spoke of Zhang Wenhao renting an apartment just to prepare a special dinner for her, Su Ruoran’s face glowed with satisfaction as she described how much effort he put in, how unforgettable that meal was. Across from her, Nie Minhui listened in stunned silence.

Nie Minhui had only heard the rough outline of the kidnapping from the police, not the details. She didn’t know how many times Zhang Wenhao had risked his life for Su Ruoran, how he urged her to run and ask for help, how he was shot not because the attacker was indiscriminately violent, but because he stepped in to prevent Su Ruoran from being taken away. Even the police were unaware of these details, let alone Nie Minhui.

Shocked by the truth, Nie Minhui sat in silence for a long time before finally sighing, “Since you want to stay, then stay.”

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Three chapters today, each about three thousand words—genuine triple updates. I hope, as you enjoy reading, you’ll add this book to your shelf and maybe cast a recommendation vote!