A Hunan restaurant near the college was where Zhang Nan treated Wen Ying to dinner.
Compared to their first meeting, when she had been full of suspicion, this time Zhang Nan was completely open-hearted.
She now knew Wen Ying had applied to Aurora University in Shanghai, while Xie Qian was supposedly aiming for Huaqing in Beijing. If the two really had a secret romance, how could they bear to be separated for four whole years?
Wen Ying truly had nothing going on with Xie Qian!
Not rivals in love, then they could be sisters. Zhang Nan spoke with genuine affection. “Your score was so high. Why didn’t you apply to Huaqing or Jingda? Such a waste of those marks!”
Wen Ying could hear the insincerity behind Silly Swan’s words and felt a tiny pang of guilt. Zhang Nan really meant Xie Qian no harm; she simply liked him. That wasn’t a crime!
Unfortunately, she happened to be Zhang Zhijun’s niece.
Unwilling to hurt her feelings, Wen Ying changed the subject. “Which university did you choose?”
Zhang Nan’s face lit up. “My score wasn’t as good as yours. I picked Capital Forestry University.”
Capital Forestry University was a 211.
A perfectly respectable school.
More importantly, apart from Jingda, it was extremely close to Huaqing. Zhang Nan had chosen it purely to be near the water and get the moon first!
Sigh. This silly swan was laying her heart completely bare to Wen Ying~
Wen Ying grew serious. “Zhang Nan, filling in university choices isn’t child’s play. Your family is well-off; you’ll never have to worry about supporting yourself. Your major doesn’t have to determine your entire future. But that doesn’t mean you should treat it lightly. Did you choose Capital Forestry because you genuinely like the school or the subject? Have you really thought it through?”
Wen Ying wasn’t being hypocritical.
When Professor Shen asked why she wanted to study finance, she had answered that she wanted to try something new. Having lived two lives, she had the confidence to take responsibility for her choices. If finance didn’t work out, she wouldn’t blame anyone; she’d just treat it as seeing new scenery.
Zhang Nan was different. She was still just a young girl, emotionally immature!
If Xie Qian really did go to Huaqing, Wen Ying wouldn’t have said a word about Zhang Nan choosing Capital Forestry to stay close to him. Liking someone wasn’t wrong, and Zhang Nan had never harmed Xie Qian.
But now Xie Qian had lied. Zhang Nan was completely in the dark. In a moment of impulse, she had chosen Capital Forestry… When she discovered Xie Qian wasn’t at Huaqing after all, what then?
Zhang Nan hadn’t expected this tone from Wen Ying. Her first reaction was anger.
Who are you to lecture me?
We’re the same age. Is it appropriate to talk to me like I’m a child?!
The spark of anger flared, but looking at Wen Ying’s earnest face, it inexplicably died down.
If Wen Ying didn’t consider her a friend, why would she bother saying all this?
Truth is harsh and easily offends. Very few people are willing to speak it.
Only real friends tell you the truth!
“Hey, don’t be so serious! Did you think I chose Capital Forestry purely because of Xie Qian? Okay, okay, stop staring. I admit that was part of it. But the real reasons are: my score was middle-of-the-road, so other universities didn’t have suitable majors for me; and my grandfather worked in the Ministry of Forestry before retirement. Studying forestry is carrying on Grandpa’s legacy. You have no idea how happy he was!”
The old Ministry of Forestry had long been renamed the Forestry Bureau.
Old Master Zhang really had retired from there.
The Zhang family now worked in all sorts of fields; none wanted anything to do with forestry. Old Master Zhang never said it aloud, but he was secretly disappointed.
When Zhang Nan announced she was applying to Capital Forestry, he was over the moon.
Even when her parents suggested sending her abroad, Grandpa immediately vetoed it and fully supported her choice.
“Grandpa even said none of my cousins are any good. From now on, I’m his only obedient granddaughter!”
Zhang Nan truly wasn’t doing it just for Xie Qian. As the only granddaughter in the family, she had been raised by her grandparents and spent more time with them than with her own parents. She was most influenced by Grandpa Zhang.
While other kids read picture books, she had flipped through the professional texts Grandpa kept in his study.
Even now, Zhang Nan still didn’t know what she really liked or what career she wanted.
Since that was the case, why not choose something familiar that would also make Grandpa happy?
Wen Ying was genuinely surprised. She hadn’t expected this silly swan to be so filial.
People said Zhang Nan was the most spoiled in the family, but now it was clear she fully deserved that love. Far from being ruined by doting, she knew how to repay her elders’ affection. Honestly, if she weren’t a girl, Wen Ying felt she might actually start liking Zhang Nan.
Not knowing the hardships of life wasn’t a flaw in Zhang Nan; it was her virtue.
Precisely because she had suffered little, she remained pure and kind… and beautiful, and completely devoted to Xie Qian. Yet Xie Qian could remain unmoved. Wen Ying truly admired his iron will.
Realising she had misunderstood, Wen Ying immediately apologised sincerely. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know the full situation.”
Zhang Nan pretended to be angry for less than three seconds before breaking into a grin. “I’m not blaming you. I’m not stupid. I know you said it for my own good!”
After dinner, Zhang Nan insisted on paying, saying her uncle had just given her a big allowance.
The moment she finished speaking, her phone rang.
“Where am I? Meeting a friend near Bali Zhuang. You want to come pick me up?”
Zhang Nan rolled her eyes. “I can take a taxi home myself. I’m not a little kid anymore!”
“In my eyes, no matter how old you get, you’re still a child.”
Zhang Nan hung up, embarrassed. “My uncle is so annoying. He always treats me like a baby. He says he’s nearby and wants to come get me.”
Wen Ying smiled. “That’s just how adults are. But your uncle really dotes on you.”
Zhang Nan huffed. “He’s generous with money, sure. He’s been doing business abroad for years and tries to make up for lost time every time he’s back by hovering.”
Zhang Nan had only one uncle doing business abroad: Zhang Zhijun!
Wen Ying’s heart raced.
She didn’t need to do anything. Just wait with Zhang Nan at the restaurant entrance, and she would see Zhang Zhijun in person.
If Zhang Zhijun really was the deeply scheming, treacherous man she feared, was him coming to pick up Zhang Nan coincidence or design?
No way.
Had Zhang Zhijun already grown so wary of Xie Qian that he investigated everyone close to him?
Wen Ying hesitated. While Zhang Nan went to pay, she secretly called Xie Qian and quickly explained the situation.
Xie Qian’s first instinct was to tell her to leave immediately and avoid meeting Zhang Zhijun.
Then he changed his mind.
Whether intentional or not, if Wen Ying suddenly left now, it would look suspicious and only provoke further scrutiny.
Better to act naturally, pretend ignorance, and greet Zhang Zhijun openly.
“He’s coming to pick up Zhang Nan. You’re having dinner with her. Running into her uncle and saying hello is perfectly normal.”
After Xie Qian finished, Wen Ying took a deep breath. “Got it. I know what to do!”
Zhang Zhijun arrived quickly.
Wen Ying waited with Zhang Nan for less than five minutes before a black Honda pulled up.
Zhang Zhijun got out. Zhang Nan introduced her proudly, like a child showing off a new toy. “This is my friend Wen Ying, the famous author, super amazing!”
Wen Ying smiled at Zhang Zhijun. “Hello, Uncle Zhang. Zhang Nan often mentions how much you spoil her.”
Zhang Zhijun laughed heartily. “What a coincidence! I’ve heard of you too. You’re ‘Fish Swimming Against the Current,’ right? I heard you met Zhang Nan through Xie Qian. You two must be close!”
Wen Ying nodded with a bright smile. “Of course we’re close. Xie Qian and I were classmates for three years. Later Peng Guoqing transferred in, and I’m close with him too.”
No hiding, full admission.
If Zhang Zhijun had already investigated, denying her closeness with Xie Qian would be pointless.
But she was also close with Peng Guoqing!
That was the truth too.
Zhang Zhijun exchanged a few pleasantries, then ushered Zhang Nan into the car.
“Come visit our home anytime. You’re Xiao Nan’s friend; you’re always welcome.”
“I definitely will when I have time, Uncle Zhang.”
Wen Ying waved until the black Honda disappeared before dropping her smile.
…
At the same moment, inside the car, Zhang Zhijun’s smile vanished too. He looked at Zhang Nan and sighed. “You really are too trusting. Couldn’t you find anyone else to be friends with?”
Zhang Nan was baffled. “Of course I can be friends with others, but Wen Ying is Wen Ying and others are others. No conflict!”
Zhang Zhijun shook his head helplessly. “You silly girl. Even I’ve heard that little Wen is Xie Qian’s girlfriend. You had no idea?”
Zhang Nan burst out laughing. “Who told you that? Xie Qian’s dad? I don’t believe a word that man says. He just can’t stand to see Xie Qian happy!”
She recounted how she had heard the rumour and gone to the book signing to confront Wen Ying. “Wen Ying really is Xie Qian’s good friend. She even knows how tough things are for him at home. Am I worse than her? Would I drag Xie Qian down like an idiot?”
Zhang Zhijun fell into thought. “…She seems to know quite a lot about the Xie family.”
Zhang Nan shrugged. “There’s nothing to hide about the Xie family. The shameless one isn’t Xie Qian. His dad is the one with the face to do it, so of course Xie Qian has the face to tell his friends~”
Zhang Zhijun reminded his niece, “Your Uncle Xie is still an elder. Whatever the Xie family says about him is their business. You shouldn’t speak that way. I heard he’s already broken things off with that woman outside. Maybe in a while he and Xie Qian will reconcile. Xie Qian is willing to acknowledge his father. Why are you so against it?”
Zhang Nan pretended to retch dramatically.
“Stop, stop! I refuse to believe Xie Qian would forgive his dad. You adults are so strange. You do countless hurtful things, then think one ‘sorry’ wipes the slate clean? If Xie Qian forgave his dad, he wouldn’t be the Xie Qian I know!”
