Chapter 22: Is There a Place for Me in Your Future? (Please Continue Following)

Upon waking, Xia An’s first reaction was that his throat was parched and dry. Only then did he realize he was in an unfamiliar room. The bed was large and smelled of something sweet. It wasn’t Le Ning’s home, nor did it carry her scent. It wasn’t his own home, either.

He was startled, then heard the sound effects of a "Fight the Landlord" card game. He turned his head to see someone sitting with a laptop hunched on her knees… Tang Wan?

They were under the same duvet, though Tang Wan had only covered one leg, and a pillow had been placed between them as a barrier. Seeing him wake up, Tang Wan shot him a sidelong glance before immediately turning back to continue her game. A winning hand.

Xia An was dazed. Why was she here? Where was this? And what was this look she was sporting? She wore a loose, washed-cotton long-sleeved pajama top with a little bee printed on the chest. Her wig was off, but her makeup remained. Tears had tracked through her dark, smoky eyeshadow, leaving two winding trails down her cheeks. Her eyes were red. She looked deeply aggrieved. Had she been crying?

Xia An suddenly recalled the intimate dreams he’d had about Le Ning. *Holy crap.* Had he crossed the line?

Ignoring his headache, Xia An checked under the duvet. He was shirtless, wearing only his underwear, and his "little brother" was standing at attention, looking rather proud of itself. Tang Wan caught him lifting the blanket and glared at him again.

Xia An took a deep breath, turned on his side, propped his head up with one hand, and poked Tang Wan’s arm with the other. Tang Wan squirmed, pouted, and sniffed, pulling up her sleeve to reveal her wrist. Xia An saw a faint bruise there. *Damn! Was I that brutal?*

To the outside world, Le Ning was cold both inside and out, but she treated Xia An differently. Perhaps because that love from his previous life had lasted so long, Le Ning had gradually developed a slight penchant for masochism. When they were together as a couple, things could indeed be quite intense. If he had treated Tang Wan that way, she really wouldn't have been able to handle it. Xia An’s guilt doubled.

Since things had come to this... Xia An sat up and leaned toward Tang Wan. Tang Wan subconsciously glanced at his crotch, bit her lip, and turned away. When she saw Xia An reaching out to hug her, she instantly bristled. "What are you doing?"

Xia An grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace. He nuzzled her head and apologized in a soft, gentle voice. Tang Wan was stunned. She didn't know how to handle his sudden tenderness; although she wasn't entirely happy, half of her anger had already dissipated. In this day and age, there weren't many men who would take the initiative to apologize, especially at his rebellious age.

"Hmph, see if you dare do that again." She muttered in a milky voice, letting him hold her. Xia An promised it wouldn't happen again. "After all, it’s not good for your body."

*Body?* He meant her mind. How could he say such lewd things to a girl?! Xia An’s hand reached out to rub her stomach. Tang Wan wanted to dodge, but in the end, she didn't. Why was he suddenly being so... so *that* way?

"Let’s count the days. Is it the third or fourth?" Xia An asked.

Tang Wan said embarrassedly, "Why ask that? The fourth."

Xia An: "Did I finish inside or outside?"

Tang Wan: "?" She didn't react at first. But when Xia An’s hand suddenly darted downward, covering the focal point... Tang Wan shuddered violently, then jumped up as if needled, backing away until she hit the wardrobe. Her legs went weak, and certain places—like her face—were burning hot.

"You’re crazy, Xia An! I haven't even finished—ugh! Even if I had, I wouldn't pay any attention to a little pervert like you." She was fuming, thinking, *Stinking pervert, big freak, barbarian! Everything you said before doesn't count!*

Xia An was puzzled: "Gibberish."

Tang Wan was furious: "Gibberish."

Ten minutes later, they finally managed to clarify the situation. Xia An waved his hand: "Oh, so nothing happened? I thought it did."

Tang Wan pointed a finger: "So what if nothing happened? You still said those things to me."

Xia An: "What did I say?"

Tang Wan went silent. She felt embarrassed even thinking about those words. But Xia An’s quick wit suddenly hit him with a realization. *No way, right? Did I really blurt out all those private little phrases I used with Le Ning?* Thinking of this, regardless of the nature of his relationship with Tang Wan, he couldn't help but blush.

But the next second, looking at Tang Wan, who was shivering with anger yet possessed a unique charm—her long legs bare, her feet tucked into little white socks—Xia An inexplicably felt a flicker of perverted thought.

"******, this phrase?" he asked.

Tang Wan: (ΩДΩ)! She shivered, her toes curling even tighter.

Xia An: "No? ****, this one?"

Tang Wan: (ó﹏ò｡)

Xia An: "****, it couldn't be this one, could it?"

Tang Wan: (๑ŏ﹏ŏ๑)

That was the one. "Xia An, I misjudged you. I didn't think you were that kind of person. You don't respect me at all..." and so on.

Tang Wan huddled on the floor with her knees to her chest, tears falling as she muttered to herself. Xia An laughed until he rolled on the bed. *Hang, hang, hang.* He was certain Tang Wan had never watched adult films, at least not ones with Chinese subtitles.

After his perverted urge passed, the alcohol wore off. Chi Ao was right; the Fenjiu his family provided was good stuff. Jumping off the bed, Xia An helped the soft Tang Wan up and sat her on the edge of the bed. He earnestly advised her, saying that all boys were like this, and girls were actually the same, too. That when couples were together, it was even more so. He went on about how the pleasures of the boudoir were paramount. "You’re still young, you don’t understand yet. In a while, I’ll let you experience it. It adds points to the relationship."

*Bullshit.* Tang Wan didn't believe him. Xia An picked up her Asus laptop, skillfully downloaded eMule, and casually pulled up a movie...

(Page 1 of 3)

...

Tang Wan glanced at it, deeply shocked, and immediately snatched the laptop away, closing it. "You’ll give my computer a virus; I’m not watching that." She grumbled, then turned her head to ask who else he had said those messy things to.

Xia An said that for now, at present, he had only said them to her. Tang Wan seemed to only hear the last five words. She wanted to ask, "Then what about your little wife?" but didn't. She understood that in this relationship, she was the one who "shouldn't be here," the one who was shameless yet unable to stop.

Sighing deeply, Tang Wan got up, took Xia An’s phone from the coffee table, and handed it to him. "Your parents called you several times this afternoon."

Xia An patted his forehead in shock. He checked the time: 8:30. "They must have landed."

Tang Wan nodded without a word. Parents... that felt a bit distant. His parents... even further away. The age gap was right there. If she faced it head-on, the future clearly spelled "impossible." If she deliberately ignored it, where would the future suddenly stop?

Xia An keenly sensed her sudden melancholy. He had intended to call his parents back, but after a moment’s thought, he decided against it. Holding Tang Wan’s hand, he sat while she stood.

"Do you have friends in Hong Kong?" he asked. Tang Wan shook her head.

"Do you have friends overseas?" Tang Wan nodded and asked what he wanted to do.

"I want to make some money. I’m too poor right now." Xia An had been mulling this over for days; the domain name wouldn't sell for a few months, and he couldn't just sit idle. He recalled that when his parents went abroad, they hadn't dared to spend much money, and they had to skimp and save for six months afterward just to make up for it... they were so frugal. Most of the family savings were reserved for his high tuition fees at the art school and his art supplies. The root of the problem was being "poor."

Handing out flyers on the street was meaningless, and working part-time over the summer was even more so. After much thought, Xia An came up with the idea of sports betting. But after checking, he found the Men’s Basketball Championship wasn't until late next month, and the diving events on the 19th weren't sold domestically. Thus, he had the idea of opening an overseas account.

Tang Wan looked at him, pulled her hand back, and walked to the sofa to retrieve her small bag. Sitting beside Xia An, she said, "You’re just a freshman, why do you need to earn money?" She took out an envelope and a bank card. "Here," she slapped the envelope onto Xia An’s bare thigh. "I’m keeping you." She giggled as she said it. "Take it, don’t... don’t overthink it, okay? It’s not much, five thousand, I think that’s enough for you to spend."

Xia An didn't speak, nor did he show the anger she had imagined in her head. He just smiled and looked deeply at Tang Wan. Tang Wan felt a bit nervous; she was afraid Xia An would misunderstand and hurriedly explained, "I have savings, and I got a lot of money out of Tang Tianxing, oh, right, I’m about to go back to work anyway. Or you can just think of it as a loan. I believe in you; you’re so different from other boys, I know you’ll be able to earn money to support me in the future..."

*Support.* She had said that word twice now, and it felt strange. She didn't like it.

Xia An put the envelope aside, didn't address her comment, and pointed at the bank card: "For Lin Jiajia?"

"Yes," Tang Wan nodded. "There’s one hundred thousand in there. The password is written on the back."

Tang Wan—naive, childish, pure, and a little bit cute. Xia An pulled her in and let her lean on his shoulder. In the jungle, an orchid lives as a guest, growing toward the sun.

Tang Wan said softly, "Xia An, I’m leaving this Sunday." Today was the 16th; Sunday was the 23rd. Xia An rubbed his chin against her hair and let out a hum.

"University is a little dyeing vat, all sorts of colors," Tang Wan said. "Will you still remember me then?"

"Of course."

"Xia An," Tang Wan tilted her head to look at him, "have you thought about the future?"

"How far ahead?"

"Like, after graduation?"

Seeing Xia An nod, Tang Wan asked, "Is there a place for me in the future you imagine?"

Xia An replied with a question: "Do you think I’m a pervert?"

Tang Wan pouted and nodded vigorously, saying she had never seen or met a student as sophisticated and perverted as him. Xia An said, "Then I swear, I will be a pervert to you until the end."

Tang Wan punched him, covered her mouth, and laughed like crazy.

An hour later, after explaining that a VISA credit card wouldn't work, Tang Wan promised Xia An she would settle the UK account the next day. Furthermore, Tang Wan took out an additional one hundred thousand as principal for Xia An to manage, with 35% of the profit going to him. Tang Wan understood that Xia An’s persistence was right; it was for the sake of their future. It was best if there was no financial entanglement at the beginning of a relationship. She didn't say it out loud, but she was very comforted in her heart.

The two of them—one wearing only underwear, the other with a "non-mainstream" painted face—looked like they had just been through a fierce battle. While getting dressed, Xia An frowned as he picked the sequins off Tang Wan’s face. "The 'funeral love' style doesn't suit you. You should stick to the intellectual route."

...

At ten at night, Tang Wan, repeating "boyfriend... boyfriend" in her heart, walked downstairs with Xia An, her face flushed red. This apartment was in the city center, the price wasn't high, and it was move-in ready. She told Xia An he could come stay whenever she was away.

Xia An also learned her current net worth after the share exchange: 800,000 in cash—the original amount, minus "surgery fees" and "self-cleanup fees." An extra 200,000 was the additional cost from swapping her sports car for the villa.

"Is this why you asked me what kind of car I liked the other day?" Downstairs, Xia An stood in front of the Bentley, genuinely surprised. Not to mention, the older Continental... it was about the same as the new one.

Tang Wan tilted her head, "Yeah, yeah," and lifted her chin with a bit of pride, as if waiting for Xia An’s praise. Xia An smiled bitterly; the top-trim 12-cylinder version was indeed expensive and impressive. But... "Property appreciates, cars depreciate. Why didn't you just take the money?"

Tang Wan was righteous: "You like it, don't you? There’s already enough money to spend."

It was impossible not to be moved. Xia An didn't say anything more. Tang Wan gave him the keys and said, "You said you could drive, want to try?" She then sat in the passenger seat with complete trust. When she saw Xia An skillfully start the car, pull out, and drive smoothly down the road, Tang Wan was shocked. "You really can drive?"

Xia An shrugged and pressed the gas. The feeling of countless "Boiling Sheep" pushing from behind was so refreshing. "How about I leave the car with you? It feels like it suits you better."

"Sure, I’ll go out on the streets every night and harvest black silk stockings."

...

Upon arriving at the destination, Tang Wan kicked Xia An out of the car. She said, "I have to see Uncle Zhang tomorrow morning; I'll contact you later," and zoomed away.

(Page 2 of 3)

The sound of the engine carried far into the dark night. The courtyard was silent and had no streetlights, but the moonlight covered the ground. As long as Xia An wasn't blind, he would definitely be able to see the lonely figure sitting on the stone bench outside the entrance of the building next door.

Xia An saw her. Even as he walked into the hallway, he was still pondering how to explain, or whether he should explain at all... At Tang Wan’s house, even though she had been clever enough not to mention Le Ning even once, he had fully recalled everything that happened after he got drunk, every "Wife, oh wife" he had uttered.

Was he going to give up on Little Pomelo? Impossible. That was his obsession. If he abandoned his obsession after being reborn, what was the point of coming back? Tang Wan was a sudden, unexpected accident—it had already happened. Le Ning was a mountain of debt that turned his world upside down... But her temper was what it was! In his past life, she had chosen to divorce him because he couldn't let go of Zuo You, which was enough to prove that even if she were someone who prioritized results over processes, she could never swallow her pride and be submissive like Tang Wan.

Le Ning was not an orchid that couldn't live without something to cling to, nor was she an optimistic sunflower snacking on seeds. She was a narcissist, a lily of the valley, a proud fairy of the water. She would rather admire herself in isolation than stoop to the cheap behavior of competing with others. If the ending was destined to be a disaster, should he even start?

...

...

Le Ning saw Xia An enter the building and got up to leave without hesitation. Her bicycle was parked across the road outside the courtyard. It was late, and there were no cars on the road. She walked alone. Unlocking the bike, she sat on it and stared blankly at the plastic bag of strawberries in the basket. She let out a faint "Hmph."

She pushed off! But it didn't move. The back seat was held by a large hand. Xia An’s laughter reached her ears. "Hey girl, where to? Let me give you a ride."

Le Ning gripped the handlebars with both hands and turned to look at that hateful, grinning face. She looked at Xia An deeply, deeply. In an instant, feelings of grievance, bitterness, and sadness all rushed up at once. If it were any other girl, she might have burst into tears the next second.

But the next second, Le Ning swallowed all those emotions back down. She indifferently let go. She got off the bike and walked to the back. Xia An got on, and she sat sideways on the back, holding onto the iron frame with both hands.

Xia An rode for ten meters. During this distance, he deliberately wobbled, and Le Ning gripped the edge of the saddle tightly, struggling not to fall off. Xia An braked suddenly, and Le Ning’s face bumped into his back. She gritted her teeth and didn't make a sound. Xia An laughed out loud and rode forward, stopping the wobbling.

The night breeze blew gently, and the shadows of the trees swayed. Apart from the occasional car with its lights on appearing from afar and driving away, there were only the two of them on the side of the road.

Once they left the residential area, the smell of grilled lamb skewers filled the air. Turning a corner, white smoke rose in the dim light of the street lamps. There were groups of people every few paces along the street. Playing, clinking glasses—the smoke and fire of the human world. Le Ning crossed her legs, and her mood improved slightly.

Xia An was hungry; after throwing up his lunch, Tang Wan had only cooked him a bowl of millet porridge. Now, smelling the food, he was famished. His stomach growled. If he were alone, he would definitely have had a feast. But he knew Le Ning never ate at street stalls. After they were married, he had asked why.

‘It’s dirty, bad for the body. I’ve been taking care of my health since I was very young. Xia An, I’m not being pretentious; I’m afraid of growing old, and I’m afraid that when I grow old, you still won’t have fallen in love with me. Even if I only marry you for one day, I want to be beautiful on that day.’

That was what Le Ning had said back then.

Xia An slammed the brakes again, and Le Ning’s face bumped into him once more. Le Ning hopped off the bike, and Xia An panicked. He stopped and scratched his head, begging for mercy: "I won't mess around anymore. I'll ride properly, come on."

Le Ning ignored him and stood quietly in front of the long grill. The middle-aged owner asked, "What would you like to eat, young lady?"

Le Ning turned to look at Xia An: "I want to eat."

A handful of skewers, two sausages, four kidneys. And a bottle of beer. Le Ning sat on a small stool eating strawberries, not touching the skewers at all. Xia An ate with gusto, asking, "Not angry anymore?"

Le Ning: "I’m not angry."

Xia An spread his hands, signaling that it was impossible to talk to her like this. Le Ning realized it: "I was just angry. Being angry is very uncomfortable, I don't want to be anymore."

Xia An gave her a kidney, and Le Ning rolled her eyes at him.

"Why are you drinking?"

"A soul-recovering drink," Xia An said. "Once I drink it, I won't feel so bad."

*A soul-recovering drink?* Le Ning had never heard of it. "Are you feeling better then?"

Looking at her, Xia An paused, finished the rest of the bottle in one gulp, and let out a burp. "It’s back. My soul is back, I feel much better."

Le Ning looked at the sky above and asked him, "Is it true that you’ll like anyone who looks a lot like Zuo You?"

He was stunned for a moment, but Xia An immediately realized she was talking about Tang Wan’s eyes. He asked: "You recognized it?"

Le Ning handed him a strawberry and said faintly, "I thought of it this afternoon. Zuo You’s eyes are very beautiful, very rare." She looked at Xia An, wanting to say, "Tang Wan’s age...", but she didn't. *Just playing around? Is it just playing around?* It must be, otherwise, how could this be possible?

"In the future, can I still like you?" Asking this, she was still suppressing her emotions, her tone cold. In fact, while waiting for Xia An this afternoon, she had asked herself various questions over and over again. Every kind of answer had crossed her mind. At this moment, she overturned them all. She thought, perhaps Niu Fangfang was right. *You really have no pride, you can’t even let go of someone who doesn't like you.*

"Aren't you afraid of loneliness? Maybe the future will be very hard," Xia An said.

*Have some pride! Le Ning, have some pride!* That wasn't the answer she wanted to hear. *Xia An, you can't treat me like this!*

Le Ning’s tongue was red, like strawberry juice, and also like the blood from biting her lip to endure the pain. She whispered, "People who have hope, like the stars in the sky, are never lonely."

"Sigh." Xia An let out a heavy sigh. He reached across and brushed her hair. "I have to say, wife, you really are stubborn when you get into a rut."