Honored Guest - Chapter 7
The Past
Lan Yan finally agreed to attend Chen Lin’s birthday party. It was her last birthday before getting married, and she said she wanted to celebrate it properly. She’d invited a lot of people. Just from their conversations, Lan Yan had heard of forty or fifty guests, not including Chen Lin’s relatives. Chen Lin had explained, “We’ll split it up. The second floor will be for us, and the first floor for my parents and their guests.”
So even birthdays could be this elaborate.
She wondered how Jiang Jin Yue had celebrated her birthdays these past few years. Did Yu He celebrate with her?
A pang of jealousy pierced her heart. Lan Yan couldn’t eat or sleep well. After resting for over a week, she finally returned to the company. They’d hired two new graduates, both young, with dimples when they smiled. Lan Qi introduced them. “Lan Yan, the star of our company!”
She pointed to the two newcomers. “They’re design majors too. Xiao Chen will be learning from you.”
Lan Yan nodded, listening to them call her “Sister Lan.” The younger one, surnamed Chen, was called Xiao Chen by everyone. She was lively, quick-witted, and a fast learner. Lan Yan assigned her a small apartment design, and she did a surprisingly good job. She asked Xiao Chen, “Have you designed before?”
“No,” Xiao Chen said. “I just had an internship for a while, assisting a senior designer.”
She’d been an assistant back then, but she’d learned a lot.
Lan Yan said, “You’re quite talented.”
Xiao Chen’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “Sister Lan’s designs are the best. I saw the bridal suite you designed recently. It’s like a princess’s room, so grand and beautiful.”
She had a sweet tongue.
Lan Yan smiled.
During lunch breaks, Xiao Chen would ask her questions about handling corners, broadening perspectives, and effectively utilizing space. Lan Yan patiently explained everything.
Xiao Chen clutched her notebook. “Sister Lan, you’re so nice. Aren’t you afraid I’ll steal your techniques?”
Lan Yan chuckled. “Learn as much as you want.”
Xiao Chen said, “Then I won’t be polite!” She handed Lan Yan a drink. Lan Yan looked at it. “When did you buy this?”
“This morning, when I passed by the convenience store on my way from university.” Xiao Chen said, “I used to love this kind of drink when I was in school. Do you like it, Sister Lan?”
Lan Yan took the small, narrow-mouthed bottle. This type of drink was only available in China. She said, “I’ve never had it before. They don’t have this abroad.”
Xiao Chen took a sip, smiling. “Sister Lan, which country did you go to?”
Lan Yan said, “Canada.”
“Canada! Some of my classmates go to Canada as exchange students every year.” Xiao Chen said, “I’ve never been, but I’d love to go. Is the pace of life different there?”
Lan Yan nodded. “It’s more relaxed there.”
Not so busy. Perhaps it was just the city she’d lived in that wasn’t so busy. But her four years there had been quite hectic. Aside from her studies, her parents had arranged additional tasks for her every summer and winter break.
They’d been trying to make up for their lack of attention in the past, forgetting that she wasn't a child anymore, that she was long past the age of craving parental affection.
Xiao Chen said, “Sounds nice. I’ll go visit someday. Whenever I see my classmates’ photos online, it feels like they’re living in a different world. It’s so beautiful there.”
Lan Yan tried to recall the scenery, but nothing came to mind. Her strongest memories were of the university and the company where she’d interned. She didn’t seem to have noticed when the flowers bloomed or the leaves fell.
She didn’t even have a single photo from those years.
Xiao Chen continued chattering, lost in her dreams of future travels. Lan Yan smiled faintly and continued sketching. Midway, she looked up at Xiao Chen and asked, “Which university did you attend?”
“Me?” Xiao Chen said. “Nanjing University.”
Lan Yan’s smile faded. “Nanjing University?”
Her voice was soft. Xiao Chen, oblivious, looked at Lan Yan expectantly. Lan Yan asked, “Does Nanjing University have exchange students every year?”
“Yes,” Xiao Chen said. “It’s kind of our university’s ‘specialty.’ We send exchange students to Canada every year.”
Lan Yan suddenly remembered what Chen Lin had said.
“She wanted to go to Nanjing University, but her mother forced her to change her application.”
Jiang Jin Yue had wanted to go to Nanjing University.
Was it to become an exchange student?
Lan Yan’s heart pounded. Her fingertips turned cold. She desperately wanted to call Jiang Jin Yue and ask, but even if it were true, so what?
Back then, she had indeed wanted to go to Nanjing University, to Canada, to find Lan Yan.
Now that she didn’t, was it no longer allowed?
A sharp pain stabbed at Lan Yan’s chest. Her grip loosened, and her pen clattered onto the desk, rolling away. She looked down at her half-finished sketch, unable to describe how she felt.
She still wanted to see Jiang Jin Yue.
Pathetic as it was, after being so clearly rejected, even the slightest bit of news about Jiang Jin Yue made her want to seek confirmation. Lan Yan stared at their chat window, typing and deleting messages over and over.
Finally, she sent: [Are you getting married to repay a debt?]
Call her pathetic, call her spineless, but she really wanted to know if Jiang Jin Yue had ever thought about finding her, if she was getting married out of obligation.
Jiang Jin Yue sat in her chair, bathed in the warm sunlight filtering through the window, casting dappled patterns on the floor. Her phone vibrated. She looked down, momentarily stunned by the contact name, then opened the message. On the screen, Lan Yan had written: [Are you getting married to repay a debt?]
She held her phone, sitting quietly for a moment before replying: [No, why?]
Lan Yan knew she shouldn’t push it, but she couldn't help herself. [You wanted to go to Nanjing University. Was it because you wanted to find me?]
She was prepared for ridicule, for Jiang Jin Yue to mock her for being presumptuous.
But instead, Jiang Jin Yue replied: [How did you know?]
It was true then?
Tears welled up in Lan Yan’s eyes. [Why didn’t you tell me?]
Jiang Jin Yue asked: [Tell you what?]
Lan Yan: [Tell me that you wanted to find me, that you tried, that you didn’t abandon me. Why didn’t you say anything?]
Jiang Jin Yue was very calm. [Was there a need?]
Lan Yan: [Yes.]
At least then, she wouldn’t feel so resentful.
Jiang Jin Yue typed: [Lan Yan, no matter what, it was years ago. I don’t think there’s a need…]
[Is it because Yu He helped you that you’re marrying him?] Lan Yan remembered Jiang Jin Yue’s mother’s passing. [Do you owe him money? Or a favor? Is marriage the only way to repay him?]
Jiang Jin Yue stared at her phone. [Repay?]
She chuckled. [Lan Yan, I’m really not marrying him to repay anything. If you think about it calmly, we haven’t been together for years. We’re not that close anymore. Do you know how I found my first job? Do you know how much I earned in my first month? You don’t. Just like I don’t know how you’ve spent these past few years. You’re attached to the feelings and the person from the past. You've just returned; it’s normal that you haven’t adjusted yet. After a while, you’ll get used to it.]
She sent a long message. Lan Yan read it over and over, focusing on the last few words. She asked Jiang Jin Yue: [Have you gotten used to it?]
Jiang Jin Yue replied: [Yes.]
Lan Yan asked again: [So, it’s not that you don't like me anymore, but because I wasn't there these past few years, so you got used to it?]
It took all her courage to send that message.
Jiang Jin Yue stared at the message, her lips pressed together. It was hard to believe this message was from Lan Yan. The Lan Yan she knew was so proud. But this was also the kind of logic Lan Yan would use. After all, she was very intelligent.
She recalled her first impression of Lan Yan, how she’d seemed a bit haughty. Perhaps it was because of her family background, perhaps because of her excellent grades. She had always been the center of attention, so she unconsciously exuded an air of arrogance.
But that arrogance also came with a bit of clumsiness. For example, she didn’t even know how to put on a duvet cover. Jiang Jin Yue thought it was funny. She'd been changing her own duvet covers since junior high. How could someone in high school not know how to do it? It was amusing.
So, smiling, she’d reached out and helped Lan Yan with the duvet cover.
Later, she’d asked Lan Yan, “Why do you like me?”
Lan Yan had replied, “Because you helped me with the duvet cover.”
She’d been annoyed. “Be serious!”
Lan Yan had just smiled. “I am.” Her expression turned serious. “I want you to help me with the duvet cover for the rest of my life.”
For the rest of her life?
Jiang Jin Yue stared at the message, then, without replying, closed her phone.
Lan Yan kept checking her phone, but Jiang Jin Yue never replied. She didn't know what she was expecting, what kind of response she wanted.
Did she want Jiang Jin Yue to say, yes, I’m marrying him because I’m used to not having you, or to say, I don't like you anymore?
She didn’t want to hear either.
But Jiang Jin Yue didn’t reply at all.
Her question was left unanswered. Lan Yan didn’t know which was more hurtful, a reply or silence. She kept checking her phone until it was time to leave work, but there was still no reply.
Lan Qi returned to the company after closing a deal and saw Lan Yan staring at her phone. She asked, “Waiting for a message?”
Lan Yan looked up. “Did you close the deal?”
“Yes,” Lan Qi said. “Both of them. I visited four complexes this afternoon. My legs are killing me.”
She loved wearing high heels, so every time she went out, she came back exhausted. But she seemed to be in a good mood today. Lan Qi smiled. “My friend also referred a new client to us.”
Lan Yan looked at her, but she couldn't bring herself to feel happy. Lan Qi said, “Want to grab a drink again tonight?”
Lan Yan declined. “I’m going to Chen Lin’s place later.”
Lan Qi yawned. “I’m going home early tonight. I’m exhausted. I’ve been so busy while you were away. You didn’t turn off your computer. Can you enter these three orders into the system for me?”
She handed Lan Yan a folder.
Lan Yan took it. She knew the first two orders. They were for small apartments in the school district, for families with children. The focus was on comfort. She quickly entered them into the system and asked Lan Qi, “Where’s the third one?”
“The complex next to ours,” Lan Qi said. “Also a bridal suite.”
Her tone was slightly puzzled. “Why are there so many people getting married recently?”
Lan Yan’s heart sank. She opened the third file and saw the client’s name: Yu He.
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