“There was a college entrance exam in June of this year. I did okay. I couldn’t get into universities outside my hometown, but I just barely made it into Haicheng University.”
Meng Ting’s household registration was moved back to Haicheng, which gave him some advantages over out-of-town candidates. His Chinese and English were still not very good, but his comprehensive science was very outstanding, and he was successfully admitted to the best university in Haicheng.
“At that time, I was very happy. I thought I would be different in the future.” He could support himself, and his hard work was enough to change his fate, but reality was unexpectedly cruel. Meng Ting didn’t go into much detail, but just a few words were enough to make Yan Sui feel distressed.
However, Meng Ting still didn’t dare to look into Yan Sui’s eyes. His gaze fell on his own hands, and there was a hint of daze in his eyes.
“The teacher said I have a lot of talent, and he wanted to take me abroad. The plane tickets were already booked. I don’t know how the Meng family found out, and then my grandmother came.”
His dreams and future, which were once within reach, shattered like an illusion in an instant. Various rumors and discussions filled his ears, and he once again felt the terror of gossip. Studying abroad for further studies was no longer an option, and he couldn’t even stay at school. After a month of aimlessness, before he could even receive his diploma, he was sent to the Meng family’s perfume testing base.
Then came the day-and-night experiments, continuing until his death.
“I thought I was dead, but I didn’t expect to wake up again. However, it was in my high school dormitory. My roommate said I fell off the bed and hit my head. After waking up, I kept having nightmares and couldn’t sleep well. Plus, I really did hit my head, so I didn’t take the exam seriously. I didn’t want to do well.”
“Then, I was taken back to the Meng family, and then I married you.”
Meng Ting said this and slowly let out a sigh of relief. He had finally finished speaking, and he had finally being truly honest with Yan Sui.
Yan Sui did not remain silent for too long. Regarding Su Siyu’s words, he had already had various speculations in his mind, but this one was not among them. However, what Meng Ting said was much more convincing than all his speculations.
If Su Siyu’s actions alone were not enough to change the original course, it was also because Meng Ting took the initiative to give up the path of his previous life. The combination of these two factors has led to their present marriage.
He slowly withdrew his hand, and Meng Ting immediately raised his eyes to look over. In his eyes, there was apprehension, but also determination—determination not to cling to him any further. He was waiting for his judgment, but the more Meng Ting did this, the more distressed and anxious he felt.
Yan Sui’s hand brushed against Meng Ting’s forehead, his hair, his eyelashes, and finally his lips.
His tone was also somewhat stern, “What are you thinking? How could I possibly not want you?”
But in the end, he couldn’t bear to be harsh with Meng Ting, and his voice trailed off towards the end. He embraced Meng Ting and wanted to hold him tightly, but was afraid of hurting him. Not only did Meng Ting feel helpless, but he did too.
Meng Ting, upon hearing this, reached out and slowly wrapped his arms around Yan Sui’s neck.
“I know, but I just can’t help worrying. It must be… it must be that I love you too much.”
Yan Sui felt like laughing upon hearing those words, but he couldn’t quite manage it. Their meeting was too coincidental, so coincidental that any small mistake would have led to a complete miss.
“Yan Sui, I’m sorry. Even if I say it out loud, it won’t help you. I don’t know anything about your situation.”
Those things that Su Siyu knows, he knows nothing about. He lives in his own world, and his life is a complete mess. Even now, he still feels anxious, afraid of repeating past mistakes, afraid of losing.
“Meng Ting, thank you,” Yan Sui gently kissed the side of Meng Ting’s face, then whispered against his cheek, “Thank you for your choice.”
Even, he also wanted to be thankful for Su Siyu’s choice. Meng Ting was uneasy; he was actually also uneasy. This unease reached its peak when the cause and effect were understood, and then gradually settled down.
Whether it was a chance given by fate or a serendipitous coincidence, in any case, Meng Ting is now in his arms, a partner meant to accompany him through life. He absolutely cannot let him go.
“What happened at the university? Tell me in detail, and also about the research base.”
Yan Sui quickly organized his thoughts. Meng Ting had finally opened up to him, he couldn’t miss this opportunity. Everything that needs to be made clear must be made clear. Even if it was a scar, hiding it would only make it worse; it was better to cut it open and heal anew.
“My grandmother asked me for money, and when I didn’t give it to her, she made a scene in public, saying I was ungrateful, saying I was ruthless, that I had murderous tendencies at such a young age…” Meng Ting released Yan Sui slightly, then sat up. His tone was calm, not showing much concern, but back then, he was different from who he is now; back then, he did care.
“Someone asked her about it, so she explained it to them in detail…” Yan Sui knew that he was almost molested when he was fourteen, so Meng Ting didn’t want to say much more. He sighed softly, looking somewhat regretful. “I… I really did want to kill him, but I had never killed anyone before, my strength wasn’t enough, and the angle of the stab was wrong. She wasn’t actually wrong.”
If Meng Ting were to go back to an earlier time, that man might not have had a chance to survive, and he might really have been sent to prison.
Meng Ting’s worldview[mfn]三觀 (sān guān): (neologism, slang) the three fundamental views or values of a person, i.e. one’s world view (世界觀), values of worth (價值觀) and philosophy on life (人生觀), more reference: Link 1, Link 2.[/mfn] is somewhat skewed, but it’s actually quite good and rare. The Meng family is deliberately trying to ruin Meng Ting, but Meng Ting’s nature is clear and resilient, rising in adversity, which must have made some people panic, which is why they are resorting to such unscrupulous means.
The Meng family dared not let Meng Ting go abroad, nor let him break free from their control, even going so far as to imprison him in the research base. It wasn’t just because they wanted to control Meng Ting and use him for their own purposes, but also out of fear—fear that Meng Ting might suddenly become successful and be noticed by someone from the outside world.
Otherwise, even if Meng Ting was a perfume researcher, he shouldn’t be hidden so well. Even now, after he married into the Yan family, some people there were still panicking.
Although Su Siyu didn’t have any special skills, his social skills were quite good, and he was well-informed about various insider news. It was impossible for him not to know about Meng Ting, the illegitimate son of the Meng family.
Moreover, he and Meng Qi had a past together, so the Meng family was not an insignificant family that he wouldn’t pay attention to.
“The days at the research institute are actually okay, just very tiring. Once one formula is completed, another project starts up again. We are in the lab every day, and we are very busy every day…”
That kind of exploitation almost drained Meng Ting’s love for perfume making. However, he was someone who was used to focusing; once he started a project, he didn’t need anyone to urge him, he would follow through the entire process. But at the same time, his physical strength and energy were being drained.
“I originally didn’t want to touch them again, but in the Rose Manor, I realized I was just taking my anger out on them. I still like them,” Meng Ting said, looking at Yan Sui, a slight smile unconsciously forming at the corners of his mouth as he recalled their days in the Rose Manor.
“I’m telling you because I want to ask for your opinion. Should I follow the plan and slowly prepare for the college entrance exam, or should I start making perfumes now?” Meng Ting added, “If I focus on studying, I won’t be able to make perfume. I can’t do two things at once…”
Meng Ting’s topic jumped too quickly. He was still feeling distressed, but Meng Ting became lively and vivid again.
Unable to manage two things at the same time, others might feel regretful, but for Meng Ting, it’s a good thing.
When the two were at odds, he chose what he valued, so he let go of his hatred and the shadows in his heart, which is why he now appears before him in this manner.
Yan Sui leaned in without giving his opinion and kissed Meng Ting’s lips first. He kissed with great seriousness and deep emotion.
Meng Ting was also somewhat puzzled by Yan Sui’s intentions, but he still responded to his kiss. His eyelids slowly lowered, and his cheeks flushed with warmth. Yan Sui’s kiss was just too gentle, gentle enough to make his heart flutter.
Yan Sui’s gaze also lowered, and at the same time, his grip tightened, pulling the person into his embrace, as if he could kiss him like this endlessly through the night.
It was unknown how much time had passed before Yan Sui let go of the person. For a moment, the two of them were immersed in the afterglow of passion, with nothing to say. But in fact, there was no need to say anything; Yan Sui’s feelings were fully expressed by that kiss.
Meng Ting leaned against him, and after a long time, he finally opened his eyes. His gaze met Yan Sui’s, and he couldn’t help but smile.
“Yan Sui, what should I do? I can’t leave you anymore.”
When love runs deep, leaving the other person feels no different from severing a part of your body. That pain of letting go accompanies you for a lifetime. Having the courage to die is one thing; living on is truly worse than death.
Meng Ting’s words unconsciously carried more sorrow, but Yan Sui smiled with satisfaction. He stroked Meng Ting’s cheek, revealing his true feelings without hiding anything, “Don’t be afraid, I’m just like you.”
He also can’t be without Meng Ting, so no matter what means he uses, he won’t let this happen.
He said this while kissing Meng Ting’s forehead again, then adjusted his position slightly to make Meng Ting more comfortable. “I also said that you can do anything you want. If you like making perfume, I will support you.”
“If you don’t want to go to school, then we won’t go. You can take exams at both midterm and final exams, check the grades, and adjust as needed. As long as your scores are good enough to be admitted to Haicheng University next year, that’s all that matters. As for the lab…”
“I understand this,” Meng Ting grabbed Yan Sui’s hand near his lips and kissed it, then immediately turned around and said very seriously, “I’ve already thought of all the equipment needed in the lab.”
Meng Ting said this and then leaned over again, took his tablet, opened a document, and inside was a fairly complete equipment list.
But where is this enough? Yan Sui looked at Meng Ting’s serious expression, thinking he could help, and then pulled him back for a kiss.
“You come up with the idea, I’ll take care of it.”
The laboratory isn’t just about having equipment; Meng Ting also needs an assistant. The lab needs to choose a location, various raw materials need to be imported, and even the perfume brand and company need to be established. Without a professional manager, it won’t work.
Of course, Yan Sui doesn’t have that much time to follow through from start to finish, but finding a reliable assistant for Meng Ting is still doable.
Meng Ting narrowed his eyes and smiled when he heard this. He suddenly wrapped his arms around Yan Sui’s legs, and threw him onto the bed, then kissed him all over the face with ‘chu chu chu’ sounds, saying, “Yan Sui, you’re too good.”
The ‘good’ that Meng Ting said was not just about Yan Sui helping him run the laboratory; it was also about Yan Sui’s willingness to believe in him, to accept his terrible past and previous life. He looked at Yan Sui as if he were glowing all over, and no matter how much he kissed him, it was never enough.
Yan Sui felt the warm and soft sensation on his face, the slight bitterness in his heart for Meng Ting fluctuating between strong and faint. He gently embraced the person, slowly closing his eyes. With Meng Ting, it seemed he couldn’t feel any sorrow, but as long as there was sweetness, it was his greatest blessing.
Meng Ting watched as Yan Sui closed his eyes. He pressed his lips against Yan Sui’s lips again, then leaned against Yan Sui’s chest. The smile on his face faded slightly, but in fact, he was even happier.
“Yan Sui, I’m very happy,” Meng Ting said, the corners of his mouth curling up again. He felt relieved and happy to be completely honest with Yan Sui. He climbed up again, leaned close to Yan Sui’s ear, and emphasized, “Even if Su Siyu doesn’t say anything, I will tell you in the future.”
It’s just that it won’t be this early; he will choose a better and more suitable time.
“You don’t need to feel sad for me. I don’t want you to feel sad.”
“Mm,” Yan Sui replied softly. He could be like Meng Ting and not care too much about those things, but he wouldn’t let the Meng family get away with what they did to them. He would not let them off the hook.
Meng Ting saw Yan Sui agree, so he believed him too. He climbed down from Yan Sui and said, “I’ll go and write out the formula that I once researched myself and sell it to you first.”
It’s good that he has confess everything, he can already make money for Yan Sui.
[dropdown title=”List of Idiom in Chapter 054.1″]
自食其力 (zì shí qí lì): lit. to eat off one’s own strength (idiom); fig. to stand on one’s own feet; to earn one’s own living; pay your way; stand on; own two feet; support oneself by one’s own labour; self-supporting; independent; to live by one’s own ability.觸手可及 (chù shǒu kě jí): within reach; at one’s fingertips; easily accessible; attainable; something is within reach and can be touched by just stretching out one’s hand. It is used to describe something that is extremely close.
渾渾噩噩 (hún hún è è): (ideophonic, literary) solemn and dignified; unaffected and decent; (ideophonic) ignorant and muddleheaded; muddling along; living in a state of naïveté and ignorance; ignorant; simple-minded; the original meaning is vigorous and solemn, now it describes some people who live in confusion, live a simple and plain life, and are ignorant; From Fa Yan (Exemplary Sayings) [9 CE]: 虞夏之書渾渾爾，商書灝灝爾，周書噩噩爾。下周者，其書譙乎。, The chapters on Shun and Xia are deep and potent, while those on Shang are vast in scope. Those pertaining to Zhou do not flatter, while those on the latter part of Zhou are cutting.
重蹈覆轍 (chóng dǎo fù zhé): lit. to go on the tracks of an overturned cart again; to follow the track of an overturned cart; to repeat the same mistake; to recommit the same error; to repeat a disastrous policy; follow the same old disastrous ; follow the same old road to ruin; follow the tracks of an overthrown chariot; recommit the same error; an idiom that comes from a historical story. The original meaning is to repeat the same mistakes that have caused an accident, which is a metaphor for not learning from failure and repeating past mistakes. Based on the Book of the Later Han: 今不慮前事之失，復循覆車之軌。, Now [we] are not considering past mistakes and following the tracks of an overturned cart again.
前因後果 (qián yīn hòu guǒ): cause and effects (idiom); entire process of development; the entire sequence of events (including its cause and outcome); cause and result; generally refers to the entire process of things.
忘恩負義 (wàng ēn fù yì): to forget favors and violate justice (idiom); ingratitude to a friend; to kick a benefactor in the teeth; leave one’s benefactor in the lurch; forget sb’s kindness and turn one’s back on him in return; bite the hand that feeds one.
心狠手辣 (xīn hěn shǒu là): vicious and ruthless; evil and cruel; vicious and merciless (idiom); wicked and merciless; callous and cruel; From Stories to Awaken the World: 「那小娘子聽了，欲待不信，又見十五貫錢堆在面前；欲待信來，他平白與我沒半句言語，大娘子又過得好，怎麼便下得這等狠心辣手。」, “The young lady wanted to refuse to believe what she heard, but then she saw fifteen strings of cash piled in front of her. She wanted to believe him, but he didn’t say a word to her. The lady was living well, so how could he be so cruel?”
無話可說 (wú huà kě shuō): to have nothing to say (idiom); to be wordless; can’t say anything more; to have no other opinion; to agree; to have great resentment for unacceptable actions.
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