Chapter 103: Farewell to Jiang City's Last Youth

  The night lights are increasingly dazzling, the entire city is shrouded in a fantastic and dreamlike glow, and there is a feeling of walking through a time tunnel. The vast intersection is bustling with cars and people rushing to and fro. Some people are hurrying home, while others are rushing out, their faces filled with urgency.

  An Yiran got off the car, lowered his head and walked on the pedestrian path, hurrying back to the bar. Having been delayed for no reason for so long, Jiang Fengchen should be anxious by now.

  "Ah!" Suddenly feeling someone patted his shoulder, An Yiran, who was focusing on rushing along the road, was startled and turned back to see that familiar face with an unchanged expression for a hundred years.

  That man was still wearing a black suit and pants, with large sunglasses, his expressionless face made people tremble. He pulled out a piece of paper from the pocket near his chest and handed it to An Yiran, saying coldly: "Yan asked me to give this to you."

  "Huh?" An Yiran took the note with a puzzled expression, her mind foggy. She had just come out from Xiao Yan's place not long ago, what was it that couldn't be said face to face?

  He turned around coldly and left.

  An Yi Ran gazed at his receding back, helplessly sighing as she opened the note under the bright light. When she saw the words on it, her puzzled expression instantly turned into immense shock, her hands tightly clutching the paper as a hint of hesitation and complexity flashed in her eyes. After a while, she finally recovered from the shock, calmly tearing the note to shreds and casually tossing them into the nearby trash can, continuing to act as if nothing had happened as she hurried into the bar.

  Perhaps, Xiao Yan's words also made sense. When there is a strong enemy in front of you, the fastest and most effective way to win a thorough victory is to first tie him up tightly, and then slowly capture his heart. But... can this really be done? If things are exposed, it will only make Jiang Fengchen hate himself even more.

  Unconsciously, the bar was already in sight. An Yiran adjusted her emotions and stepped into the bar with a faint smile. The loud music came suddenly, under the flashing colored lights. An Yiran walked towards the cocktail counter, seeing Jiang Fengchen and Min Nan busy, she smiled and turned to walk towards the rest area.

  It was as if they had a spiritual connection, in the instant when An Yiran turned around and left. Jiang Fengchen raised his head, and his line of sight happened to meet An Yiran's back. He watched as An Yiran walked into the rest area, hesitated for a moment, then hastily adjusted the cocktail in his hand, handed over the not-so-many tasks to Min Nan, and followed him into the rest area.

  Min Nan raised his head and glanced in the direction of the rest area, a thread of confusion rising in his heart. What's with these two? They seem to be in a cold war or something? But didn't they always get along just fine? Sigh, two inexplicable people, others' worlds are indeed hard to understand!

  "Min Nan, hurry up!" The person beside him was urging him constantly. Min Nan hastily responded with a "yes" and ignored the strange behavior of those two weird people again, lowering his head to continue working.

  Jiang Fengchen knocked lightly on the door of the rest room with a complex expression, and only pushed open the door after An Yiran responded with a "come in".

  An Yiran leaned back on the sofa, opened his eyes to see Jiang Fengchen. He quickly sat up, forced a smile and said: "I just got back and saw you were busy, so I didn't greet you. Are you looking for me for something?"

  Jiang Fengchen hesitated for a moment before speaking: "I know the bar is busy now, but... something's come up at home and I'd like to head back for a bit."

  "Is something wrong at home? Did something happen to Mr. Fa?" As soon as Jiang Fengchen spoke, An Yiran stood up involuntarily and asked anxiously.

  "This..."

  Looking at Jiang Feng's hesitant expression, An Yiran also understood that she had asked too abruptly. After all, everyone has some unspoken secrets, just like every family has a difficult-to-recite scripture. So she didn't ask any further questions either, and only lightly sighed, "Then you should go back quickly, family matters are urgent. The bar still has me, it's fine."

  "Thank you, as always."

  "What's there to say? Do we still need to thank each other?"

  Upon hearing this, Jiang Fengchen was taken aback for a moment, and after a while, he awkwardly smiled and said: "It's my fault. Then, I'll buy the ticket tomorrow and leave the day after tomorrow. I'll leave early, don't come to see me off, it's too early, you sleep in."

  An nodded and lowered her eyelids, "Mm."

  "Well, I'll go first."

  "Uh-huh."

  Jiang Fengchen glanced at her awkwardly and turned around to walk out the door, gently closing it behind him.

  At the sound of "click", An Yiran finally lifted her head, looking at the tightly closed door with a complicated expression. Jiang Fengchen, between us, shouldn't our feelings be getting better and better? But why are we becoming more and more polite to each other instead? She couldn't help but think of Xiao Yan's plan on the note again, and her heart suddenly felt a dull ache. Fengchen, I don't want to trap you like this. But do I have any other choice?

  August 2nd. This is a brand new day. The morning of Yincheng was just dawning, and diligent people had already gotten up early to start their busy days. As the city with the most prosperous population in the province, Yincheng has never lacked such hustle and bustle.

  The early bird catches the worm. People who live at the bottom and rely on their sweat and tears to struggle have always believed in this truth.

  Jiang Fengchen set off lightly, taking the crowded subway to the provincial station. At this time of year when it was neither New Year's nor a festival, it was again such a misty morning, and the station was finally quiet. Standing at the entrance of the station, he looked back at this bustling metropolis, and finally let out a sigh, turning around to walk towards the ticket gate.

  He also knew that An Yiran was half-believing and half-doubting about his return home. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but in the end, it seemed like he was hurting everyone all the time, including himself.

  Yin City seems to have too many secrets, day after day, page after page, he wakes up from his dreams, always feeling a deep sense of suffocation. He doesn't know where this feeling comes from, all he knows is that the road ahead will definitely have more unexpected surprises waiting for him to face. Maybe it's bitter before sweet, or maybe it's eternal damnation.

  If only I could leave now and never look back. What is it about the hustle and bustle that attracts people? He would rather have never set foot in this place at all. But reality was staring him in the face, and for his entire life, he was destined to be tightly bound to this apathetic yet passionate city.

  The train was moving steadily forward, Jiang Fengchen sat in the window seat, looking at the scenery outside the window all the way, from start to finish without saying a word, thinking only of hurrying back to Jiang City as soon as possible.

  No matter how many roads you've traveled, no matter how many people you've met, the best ones are always in that first place. Just like everyone in Jiangcheng.

  August 6th is Qixi Festival. He wants to spend this festival with Su Yisou. He owes her too much and has stood her up too many times, he doesn't want to owe her anymore. At least, while he can still return to find her with his head held high, do something more, leave some beautiful memories. Many years later, looking back suddenly, it won't be all memories of parting and reunion.

  Back in Jiang City, it was already afternoon. Jiang Fengchen got off the car with a tired body. The gentle breeze of the early evening blew lightly, and the fresh air made him slightly more awake.

  It's been a long time, Jiang City, I'm back! Jiang Fengchen straightened up and strode out of the station.

  What a familiar scenery it is! The faces that pass by in front of me are so unfamiliar, yet why do they always give him an inexplicable sense of closeness?

  The phone in his pocket rang at this time, Jiang Fengchen hurriedly withdrew his thoughts, took out the phone, and saw that it was his mother who had called. The corner of his mouth involuntarily rose slightly, "Mom, you're really punctual, I just got off the car and you called."

  "Zhen Er," said Jiang Mu with a joyful tone, "I'll go cook now. You're back just in time for dinner. Do you have a lot of luggage? Should I call your dad to pick you up?"

  "Mom, don't bother, there aren't many things, I can handle it myself. You go slow and don't get tired."

  "Ah." Jiang Mu responded cheerfully.

  Due to the incident of dropping out, Jiang Fengchen was once very awkward with his family, so much so that during his days in Yin City, he would tell his mother everything, and then she would tell him in detail. Gradually, he came to realize that his father had always wanted to know about his situation, and which parents in this world would truly resent their own children.

  After staying at home for a few days with peace and comfort, the Double Seventh Festival is approaching.

  Jiang Fengchen didn't tell Su Yisou that he had returned to Jiang City, wanting to surprise her. Although this little trick had been used countless times before.

  This morning, Su Yisuo had just gotten up. The sunlight lazily hung on the windowsill and shone in through the thick curtains. She gently pulled open the curtains, and the sunlight that was blocked out poured in, shining on her face, dazzling yet warm.

  The mobile phone on the table started vibrating at this moment. After many painful experiences, she finally remembered to turn off the ringtone before going to sleep.

  "Hello? Chen? Good morning." Receiving Jiang Fengchen's call early in the morning, Su Yisu felt a little thrilled.

  "Guess where I am?"

  "What? Chen, don't tell me you're back in Jiang City?"

  "Oh, my family is so good and clever! May I ask, on this auspicious day, do you have a date? Is it fortunate for me to invite the young lady to take a walk in Jiangcheng?"

  "Hmph..." Hearing Jiang Fengchen's words, which sounded like a bookish tone, Su Yisu couldn't help but think of the past when they were in school. At that time, he had also used this tone to invite her to the back garden and Flowing Scenery Park for a walk. It seemed as though nothing had changed. They were still the same, carefree and sunny.

  Thinking of this, she couldn't help but reply: "It's rare for a gentleman like you to have such intentions, so I'll just have to blush and accept your invitation."

  "Hmph..." Hearing Jiang Fengchen's words, which sounded like a bookish tone, Su Yisuo couldn't help but think of the past when they were in school. At that time, he had also used this tone to invite her to the back garden and Flowing Scenery Park for a walk. It seemed as though nothing had changed. They were still the same, carefree and sunny.

  Thinking of this, she couldn't help but reply: "It's rare for a gentleman like you to have such intentions, so I'll just have to blush and accept your invitation."