Chapter Nineteen: Perhaps He Never Intended to Leave You Behind

Xu Wanjun was stunned by her words. After a moment of thought, she smiled faintly. “Qingqing, you really have courage. The person you’re talking about is indeed far above us all.”

Years ago, when Xu Wanjun confessed to Shang Jiuxu, she was outright rejected. The man's refusal was cold and blunt, disregarding all past considerations, leaving no hope for the girl's tender heart. She hid in her bedroom, quietly shedding tears, only to be discovered by Su Mian, who had just returned from school.

Su Mian was in the second year of middle school, her twin ponytails sweetly and naturally resting on the front of her summer school uniform. Seeing her upset and thinking she hadn’t been noticed, she tried to slip away quietly, full of understanding. Little did she know, the favoritism Shang Jiuxu had always shown her was the very obsession Xu Wanjun had striven for but never could attain.

It was only today that Xu Wanjun realized she wasn’t the only one who found Shang Jiuxu unreachable—even Su Mian, whom he had raised, felt the same way. She raised her wine glass. “There’s a galaxy between any person and him, but you are different to him. Our engagement will be called off sooner or later. He’s not someone who will yield to family arrangements. I’ve known that for a long time; I’ve only been running away abroad all these years.”

Su Mian said nothing, chewing on her steak. The delicate aroma of black truffle filled her mouth, conquering her palate.

The tangled love and hatred among the three of them—Su Mian, Shang Jiuxu, and Xu Wanjun—had been growing together for seventeen years. Over the years, it had become an inseparable, complicated part of their lives.

“Normally, even the deepest obsession would fade over time. But from the moment he rejected my confession until now, seven years have passed... I’m no longer the naive girl I once was, nor do I have that reckless spirit anymore. I’ve seen all kinds of handsome men and beautiful women abroad—some like him, some not. Some have wealth beyond measure, others are handsome and outstanding, or cold and responsible.”

Xu Wanjun took a big sip of red wine and gave Su Mian a bitter smile. “But the more people I meet, the better they are, the larger the world I walk through, the more I realize how much I love him.”

Su Mian understood perfectly. Though she had anticipated this, experiencing such a scene—part rival, part sister—felt absurd. She rubbed her temple with her index finger.

“This time I’ve returned to the country with a firm decision. I will go back to Jiangnan and explain everything clearly to my grandparents, taking the initiative to cancel the engagement. That way, the pressure on the Shang family will lessen. Although Jiuxu may not have thought about it, he won’t have to consider my face.”

Su Mian knew Xu Wanjun wanted to give them a chance. Wanjun was a woman who saw things clearly, but the core issues among the three of them—between any two—could not be resolved by a third party’s interference.

The bond between Su Mian and Xu Wanjun was unrelated to Shang Jiuxu; the entanglement between Xu Wanjun and Shang Jiuxu was beyond Su Mian’s reach; and the feelings between Shang Jiuxu and Su Mian could not be settled by Xu Wanjun’s involvement.

“Wanjun, before I saw you, I went to a concert,” Su Mian suddenly changed the subject. Xu Wanjun listened quietly. “The director who invited me—I’ve never worked with him, nor have we met in person. It was just that my agent added him on my behalf to expand connections; we only liked each other’s posts on social media.”

“It was Jiuxu who got you the invitation. He wanted to help you broaden your network,” Xu Wanjun said, resting her chin on her hand with interest. “Perhaps he guessed you wanted a new film role, or even knew you’d be interested in the new script by a certain director at that concert.”

Su Mian admired Wanjun’s insight and nodded. “He could have sealed the role for me with just a word. If he spoke up, the director I want to work with would have agreed immediately, maybe even treated me with extra courtesy because of the connection to Shang Jiuxu.”

The truth was even more exaggerated. Smart people didn’t speak too plainly. Su Mian knew Wanjun understood. “He circled around all this just to preserve my pride. He knew I wanted to prove myself, so even his help was so silent. Even if we guessed it was him, even if anyone suspected it was Shang Jiuxu’s doing, no one had proof. I could only take it as my own achievement.”

The vast chasm between them was not just about family backgrounds.

“It’s all so unequal. He won’t even tell me why he suddenly left without a word two years ago, why he disappeared. Wanjun,” Su Mian tapped her wineglass base faster and faster, then looked up at Xu Wanjun, “but you know, don’t you?”

The photos of Shang Jiuxu and Xu Wanjun in Mexico—snorkeling, helicopter rides, lavish dinners—haunted Su Mian like a nightmare.

Why? If Shang Jiuxu truly cared for her, if there was truly nothing between him and Wanjun, why did they appear so intimate just a month after they broke up?

“It’s not what you think,” Xu Wanjun said with a heavy heart. Su Mian waited quietly as she gathered her words. “There are some details I can’t tell you yet because the situation is still sensitive. But Jiuxu had other reasons back then.”

Xu Wanjun looked urgently into Su Mian’s eyes. Su Mian’s almond-shaped eyes were clear and dark, waiting for her answer. She pressed her lips and said sincerely, “Maybe he never intended to leave you.”

“He...” Xu Wanjun was about to explain, but Su Mian gently stopped her with a hand.

There was a hint of sadness in Su Mian’s eyes, but more than that, a quiet strength. She was clear in her mind: “This is Shang Jiuxu’s responsibility. No one else should bear it for him. I’m waiting for him to tell me himself.”

Xu Wanjun nodded. That was exactly the truth.

They finished their meal in fits and starts. When they parted, both were slightly tipsy. Su Mian had only drunk half a glass of white wine, but her tolerance was low.

They said goodbye at the entrance of the building. Su Mian took a taxi back to Shouchen Hill. It was already completely dark; the hazy night sky obscured the moon.

Qin Lingling was fast asleep. Su Mian gently closed the security door and was about to take off her high heels when her phone vibrated. A message from an unknown sender appeared.

The phone recognized the face and automatically displayed the message. Su Mian swiped casually but instantly sobered.

“Xiao Qing, Arctic Ocean Bar, SOS.”

SOS—help.

Judging by the name, this was Zhao Yulan’s distress message! The last time they added each other on WeChat, Su Mian had given her phone number, but Zhao Yulan had never called, so Su Mian hadn’t saved her contact.

Su Mian could hardly imagine how desperate Zhao Yulan must be to turn to her. What about her new boyfriend? Could it be that man who hurt her?

Without hesitation, Su Mian immediately checked the navigation. It wasn’t too far from Shouchen Hill, the shortest drive about fifty minutes. But the underwater tunnel was severely congested; she would have to take a detour, increasing the journey to over an hour—far too late.

She pondered briefly, her eyes falling on the silver, flying saucer-shaped key resting on the kitchen island.

Two minutes later, the McLaren Speedtail roared out of the underground garage, its sweet engine growl catching the attention of every nearby driver.

“Wow, that car is so cool, Dad!”

All the cars instinctively gave way, avoiding any chance of collision that could cost them dearly.

A little boy fiddled with a camera, leaning out the window to take a photo, but the owner seemed in a rush. The car sped past like a gust of wind, leaving only exhaust in the shot.

Nearly seventy minutes’ drive was cut down to just thirty-six by Su Mian.

When the McLaren stopped in front of the Arctic Ocean Bar, it drew everyone’s attention. Even those inside the bar came out to watch.