Chapter 161: The Delayed Card

Entertainment Close-up - Uncensored Edition
Story Timeline: April to May 2007
Recommended Song: LMNT - Juliet
Disclaimer: This work is entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons or events is purely coincidental!

Today, the crew of It Started with a Kiss was scheduled to shoot the first episode's grand scene. The filming for the first two episodes was nearly complete, leaving only this troublesome sequence—the scene where the female lead Yuan Xiangqin's new home is destroyed by fire. Because of its complexity, the production team had been meticulously planning and delaying the shoot until today.

While the postponement was partly due to logistical reasons, there was another factor unknown to many: Jiang Yihan needed to take a day off. Li Ran had informed Xu Le well in advance, so Jiang Yihan was not on set today.

Today marked the death anniversary of Jiang Yihan's grandmother.

Sitting on the balcony of his home, watching the clouds slowly drift across the sky, Jiang Yihan drifted into a daze.

In truth, Jiang Yihan could now accept this reality with relative calmness, but today's date held a special weight. As he sat on the balcony gazing at the sky, he felt as though he could still see his grandmother's smiling face and hear her voice up in the heavens, still watching over him, lingering just out of sight.

"Mao, this is the card Lee Hyori noona sent for you. Have a look," Li Ran called out, snapping Jiang Yihan back to reality. He turned his head, looked at Li Ran, and then accepted a large box.

"Why are there so many? Isn't there supposed to be just one card?" Jiang Yihan asked, somewhat startled by the sheer size of the box.

"I have no idea. Her manager handed it to me, so I'm not entirely sure either." Li Ran shrugged and headed back inside the room. Today, what Jiang Yihan needed most was peace and quiet.

"The cards for Jiang Yihan sent by Danmu Mingyi—did you give them to him?" Lee Hyori boarded her van, wanting to confirm this important matter first.

Her manager, Danmu Mingyi, gave a firm and certain affirmation, though Danmu Mingyi harbored a lingering question that remained unasked. Inside Lee Hyori's bag, aside from the most prominent card on top, the side compartments held another twenty to thirty cards. Danmu Mingyi had taken them all out together and delivered them to Jiang Yihan. What puzzled Danmu Mingyi was why, if they were all meant to be sent, they weren't packed together, why she had to dig them out separately, and why she was sending twenty or thirty cards at once—it was truly a strange behavior.

Danmu Mingyi did not voice this peculiar situation, so Lee Hyori remained unaware, naturally having no inkling of what might transpire after today. Looking out the car window, Lee Hyori offered a silent prayer for Jiang Yihan's grandmother in heaven.

Back at the apartment, Jiang Yihan had opened the box to find twenty or thirty cards inside. He was utterly baffled as to why so many were sent at once. He picked up the very first card on top and opened it.

"Yihan, today is your grandmother's death anniversary. Please accept my condolences.

On a day like today, I don't know what to say or what to do, because I know how much your grandmother means to you. No matter what I say or do, it could never compare to joining you in praying for her and sending her our blessings.

Yihan, I know that around this time last year, your grandmother's passing dealt you a heavy blow, and a great deal happened afterward. You stood back up with remarkable strength. Yet, deep down, you lost your self-confidence and began to doubt yourself. But this is not what your grandmother would have wanted to see. Do you remember? You once told me that your grandmother loved most to see you standing brightly on stage, smiling. You did it for yourself and for your grandmother, stepping back onto the stage. But deep inside your heart, you remain unconfident. When facing challenges, you are always afraid that past events might repeat themselves. This is neither what your grandmother wishes to see, nor what those of us by your side want to see. The brightest smile from the depths of your heart is the most moving of all.

For your grandmother, for those of us eagerly looking forward to seeing you shine, and for yourself—can you start believing in yourself again?

Your grandmother is looking down from heaven right now, and she must be smiling with immense pride at her most cherished grandson. Yihan, people say that when a person passes away, they transform into a guardian angel, watching over the ones they love most and accompanying them through life. Right now, your grandmother must be the guardian angel for you and Xiao Yi, guarding your health and watching over your smiles.

Yihan, lift your head up—do you see your grandmother's gentle smile? Smile—a genuine smile from your heart—so that your grandmother can forever remember the smile of the grandson she loved most, okay?

On such a special day, I know you wish to be alone, but you must realize that even if you are by yourself right now, we are always by your side. You are never alone."

Closing Lee Hyori's card, Jiang Yihan raised his head to look at the sky. The sunlight filtering through the clouds was somewhat glaring, yet he forced himself not to close his eyes. In a fleeting moment of trance, he truly seemed to see his grandmother's smile, and a smile blossomed naturally on his lips—a smile straight from the heart.

Indeed, after enduring the trials of the past year, though he had successfully returned to the spotlight and achieved unprecedented success, he had continuously doubted himself, living in fear that such a catastrophe might strike again. Even while forcing himself to smile and pretending not to care, true self-confidence cannot simply be summoned at will. Thinking of his grandmother watching from above, his mother waiting for him in the distance, and everyone supporting him by his side, he genuinely had nothing to fear, nor should he be afraid. Believe that you are the best; believe in yourself, believe in yourself. The radiant confidence exuding from Jiang Yihan's smile at that moment made the very sunlight lose its luster.

His grandmother in heaven had finally waited, for a full year, to see Jiang Yihan's original, true smile once again.

Emerging step by step from the shadows of his father and the trauma of the previous year, Jiang Yihan had walked out into the light. Tempered by the storms of life, he had reclaimed his smile and his confidence—no, perhaps a confidence even greater than before, because the current Jiang Yihan was unmistakably the finest, the absolute number one!

"Lee Hyori..." Jiang Yihan thought silently to himself, and a smile unconsciously bloomed across his face at the mere mention of her name.

Curiosity began to tug at him regarding what might be written in the other cards. Today was his grandmother's death anniversary; a single card would have sufficed. Why write so many?

Picking up another card at random from the stack, Jiang Yihan opened it.

"Yihan, today is Valentine's Day! Happy Valentine's Day. I truly wish I could spend Valentine's Day with you. Would that be alright?"

Lee Hyori had actually written Valentine's Day cards—cards written long ago that had never been sent. There were numerous cards, most bearing signs of erasure and revision. Perhaps she had hesitated and wavered for so long that she unknowingly wrote so many without ever finding one that satisfied her. In the end, no matter how many she wrote, she never mustered the courage to place them into Jiang Yihan's hands. Instead, they remained by her side, turning into a unique, personal memory. Never could she have imagined that an unexpected turn of events today would deliver these cards directly into Jiang Yihan's hands.

Jiang Yihan picked up the cards one by one and read them, the emotions woven between the lines stirring his heart.

"Yihan, although I desperately want to spend Valentine's Day with you, I know you still need time. I just don't know how long that time will take... But I still want to say, Happy Valentine's Day!"

"Aha, Happy Valentine's Day! How about we go out for a meal together today? Or maybe the amusement park? Valentine's Day is better spent as a pair. Let's go out together."

"Valentine's Day—a day that is both joyful and sorrowful. Yihan, do you know how long one has to wait for happiness? Can you tell me? Perhaps even you don't know when my share of happiness will arrive..."

"Yihan, your smile is what possesses the most charm. Today is Valentine's Day—can you smile happily? Frowning doesn't suit you at all."

"I like you! Although I've been certain of these feelings for a long time, I've never been able to tell you in person, nor do I know when I'll ever find the courage to say it." This particular card had been entirely scribbled out; it was clear that Lee Hyori had struggled immensely with it. In the end, she had written it down, yet still lacked the courage to keep it legible, erasing it in defeat.

After reading through every single card, a surge of suffocating warmth rose from Jiang Yihan's chest, leaving him momentarily short of breath.

So this was it—Lee Hyori had grown to care for him this deeply. Jiang Yihan understood the agonizing sensation of harboring affection for someone yet finding oneself utterly unable to voice it; he knew the internal struggle, the quiet sorrow, and the hidden pain all too well. Just imagining Lee Hyori sitting at her desk, meticulously writing out card after card—perhaps discarding each one she deemed inadequate, pausing to think, and writing again, endlessly striving to find the most fitting tone—only to ultimately fail in expressing her thoughts satisfactorily, or writing them yet lacking the courage to mail them—made his heart ache.

These delayed cards made Jiang Yihan's nose sting, and his eye sockets reddened unbidden.

Waiting for happiness is an exhausting endeavor. For you never truly know whether that elusive happiness is your genuine destiny, nor can you predict precisely when it will finally arrive. Even when the person of your choice stands right before you, they can feel agonizingly out of reach. Just thinking of how painfully long Lee Hyori had waited for him caused a series of sharp, twisting pangs in Jiang Yihan's chest.

Aside from his profound tenderness toward Lee Hyori, Jiang Yihan suddenly realized that he, too, had been waiting for this very happiness all along.

He could not pinpoint when Lee Hyori had ceased to be merely a senior colleague or an ordinary friend in his life. Perhaps it was during their bicycle outing last time; perhaps it was through the deep understanding revealed within these very cards; perhaps it was that quietly sharpening shadow in the depths of his heart; perhaps it was the lingering ambiguity of their excursion; perhaps it was the steadfast companionship throughout the trials of the past year; perhaps it was that sweet confession, "Can I love you?"; or perhaps it was that accidental kiss from earlier... Lee Hyori's presence had gradually carved out an irreplaceable space within Jiang Yihan's heart. Even while he was involved with Li Yimei, Lee Hyori had remained a presence impossible to ignore.

There was no longer any need to dwell on timelines; Jiang Yihan now knew with absolute certainty the vital position Lee Hyori held in his heart. That sensation of mingling sweetness, hesitation, and a racing pulse—that must be the true taste of love.

Liu Yan's romance was an opportunity that vanished in endless waiting; Li Yimei's romance was a regret left unspoken before it could be expressed. Jiang Yihan refused to let Lee Hyori's romance become yet another missed connection.

At that thought, emotions that had accumulated over a prolonged period erupted within Jiang Yihan's heart. This was the very happiness he had been waiting for, yet he had remained blind to it, or lacked the courage to pursue it even when he sensed it. But today, these belated, hidden cards finally shattered his restraint, unleashing his swirling emotions. For the very first time in his life, Jiang Yihan wanted to take the initiative and chase after his own happiness.

"I'm going to find her," Jiang Yihan thought resolutely, and nothing in the world could stop him now!

He looked up at the sky. "Grandmother, is the love I've found today arranged by you?" Jiang Yihan closed his eyes with a smile. "I'll seize this chance! I definitely will!"

Walking back into the living room, he found Li Ran sitting on the sofa watching television. Catching Jiang Yihan's eye, Li Ran instantly detected a subtle shift. The brilliant gleam in Jiang Yihan's gaze carried a completely different intensity than before—it was the unmistakable mark of newfound self-confidence. Li Ran raised an eyebrow, and Jiang Yihan knew instantly that his closest friend understood him better than anyone else. Smiling, Jiang Yihan said, "Today, I want to take the initiative for once," as he gave a light wave to the box overflowing with cards in his hand.

Lee Hyori, huh... Li Ran smiled and nodded. "Go get her, lazy cat." Li Ran's simplest words encapsulated a thousand unspoken sentiments. Jiang Yihan stepped forward to give Li Ran a brief embrace to gather his courage before finally heading out the door.

Watching Jiang Yihan's retreating figure, Li Ran's mind raced with countless thoughts. Would this finally be Jiang Yihan's true happiness?

"Hyori, do you have time today? Let's go out for a walk," Jiang Yihan said, dialing Lee Hyori's number.

"Ah, today? My schedule is packed for the entire day. Can we do tomorrow instead?" Hearing Jiang Yihan's voice made Lee Hyori desperately want to clear her schedule, but work commitments left her with no choice.

"It doesn't matter. Whenever you have a free moment today will do, even if it's late," Jiang Yihan replied with rare, unyielding persistence.

"Ah..." Lee Hyori's heart skipped a beat, a premonition whispering that something significant was about to happen, yet she found herself agreeing regardless.

When they finally met up, it was already close to midnight. After greeting one another, Jiang Yihan didn't speak immediately; instead, he simply walked alongside Lee Hyori. The two of them headed toward Namsan Mountain, where the footpaths were quieter and less crowded.

"Yihan, today..." Lee Hyori attempted to strike up a conversation, but knowing the significance of the date left her at a loss for words.

"Today? I'm completely fine now," Jiang Yihan interrupted with a soft smile. "I know my grandmother has always been watching over me, and her spirit in heaven wants to see my hard work and my confidence. Don't worry, I've figured everything out now. Everything is going to be alright."

Lee Hyori looked at the smile gracing Jiang Yihan's face—a smile tinged with newfound serenity and self-assurance. The bright spark flashing in his eyes brought an immense wave of relief to her heart.

"Hyori, do you know?" Jiang Yihan said as they walked. "When it comes to love, I've always been a coward. It was like that with Liu Yan, and it was the same with Li Yimei. I never fought hard to claim my own happiness, which is why I let them all slip away. I've always been too insecure about love, standing frozen at the threshold, terrified that taking a single step forward would only bring pain. But now, I refuse to miss out anymore. I want to take the initiative just once—to proactively grasp my own happiness."

Hearing those words, Lee Hyori's heart violently plummeted. What did Jiang Yihan mean by that? What was he trying to say? Before she could process her swirling thoughts, Jiang Yihan continued.

"I'm not an assertive person; from the past until now, I've always passively waited for happiness. I'm not a romantic person, often turning out quite clumsy. Nor am I an experienced person, frequently clueless about everything." Jiang Yihan listed his flaws one by one, and with every single point he uttered, Lee Hyori felt her heart sink lower. Could it be that Jiang Yihan was about to give her his answer—the answer she had waited for so long, yet one that sounded dreadfully like a rejection? What should she do? What should she do? Panic completely overwhelmed her.

As they walked and talked, they arrived at the foot of the famous grand stairway on Namsan Mountain. Jiang Yihan abruptly halted his steps and ceased his self-deprecation. Lee Hyori stopped alongside him, gazing at him with mounting unease.

At that moment, the look in Jiang Yihan's eyes radiated an unshakeable determination mixed with profound tenderness, capable of melting anyone who met his gaze. He looked straight into Lee Hyori's eyes. "Yet, even with so many shortcomings, I desperately hope to hold onto my happiness." Jiang Yihan paused for a fraction of a second, then reached out to take Lee Hyori's hand, pressing it gently against his own chest before finishing. "Hyori, can I love you?"

Upon hearing those words, Lee Hyori froze completely in her tracks.