Someone at school had dug up that Xie Tang was Jiang Wei’s girlfriend.
Wen Ying felt awkward about asking Xie Tang directly and did not mention it in front of Peng Guoqing. She truly did not want to rub more salt into his wounds.
Unexpectedly, even though Wen Ying stayed silent, Peng Guoqing found out anyway. When Xie Qian was away, Peng Guoqing had monitored potential rivals on his behalf every day. To get information as quickly as possible, he had long ago infiltrated the Fudan campus forum.
Thus, he had already seen the gossip thread about Jiang Wei’s girlfriend.
In that moment, Peng Guoqing felt a bitter ache.
He had not even had time to confess his feelings, yet Xie Tang had a new boyfriend again.
If he had known earlier, perhaps… Alas, even if he had known, Peng Guoqing still would not have confessed. His secret crush on Xie Tang was not a recent thing. He treasured her immensely and would never confess without certainty.
That certainty meant wanting Sister Tang to see his growth, for example, his ability to achieve things on his own.
He had already tried very hard, yet his rate of growth still could not keep pace with the steps of Xie Tang’s romantic life.
Peng Guoqing did not blame Xie Tang.
A girl’s youth was brief. Xie Tang was at the age to fall in love freely and without restraint. Why should she stay in place for years waiting for him to mature?
Peng Guoqing was no longer the wastrel who idly wasted his days. He understood many truths now.
Precisely because he understood, the pain was worse.
Peng Guoqing quietly closed the webpage.
A young man’s troubles had nowhere to be vented. Scrolling through his friends list, even an idiot like Wang Shuang had a girlfriend. Who could understand his heartache?
Peng Guoqing thought of Tai Wu.
Tai Wu had once secretly loved Xie Tang and now liked Zhang Nan. He was exactly Peng Guoqing’s kindred spirit.
Peng Guoqing rang Tai Wu and called him out. Tai Wu had intended to mock Peng Guoqing sarcastically, but the moment Peng Guoqing opened his mouth and said Xie Tang had a new boyfriend, Tai Wu’s words caught in his throat.
“Well, fancy a drink?”
“Yes. You pick the place.”
Half an hour later, the two met in a small bar.
Tai Wu probed about Xie Tang’s new boyfriend. “What is his background? Can we take him down?”
Peng Guoqing shook his head. “We cannot. Good family, good looks, common topics with Sister Tang… Forget it. Did you not call me out to drink? Let us drink until we drop.”
Peng Guoqing was dejected, and Tai Wu had little to be proud of either.
Tai Wu and Peng Guoqing had been in the same year originally. After Peng Guoqing transferred to Rongcheng and repeated a year, the new university term had just begun for his freshman spring semester, while Tai Wu was already in the second half of his sophomore year.
Tai Wu had originally planned to study abroad. When Xie Tang broke up with Yan Yuchuan and stayed in Shanghai for graduate studies, Tai Wu felt he had a chance. He kicked up a fuss at home to attend university in Shanghai too.
The Tai family could not win against Tai Wu. They found a college in Shanghai that partnered with foreign institutions. The college had low entrance requirements but high fees and followed a “2+2” model: two years in Shanghai, then two abroad.
Tai Wu had only one semester left in Shanghai, yet he had no desire whatsoever to go abroad.
This time, however, it was not for Xie Tang, but for… Zhang Nan.
Zhang Nan had not yet emerged from the grief of Old Master Zhang’s passing. How could Tai Wu leave for overseas studies with peace of mind?
Peng Guoqing dared not confess to Xie Tang. Tai Wu likewise dared not confess to Zhang Nan.
The two disheartened souls drank a great deal.
Tai Wu heard Peng Guoqing sobbing and thought he had misheard. With a thick tongue, he comforted him. “Why, why cry? Sister Tang and that Jiang fellow may not last. You like her so much. Are you giving up now?”
Peng Guoqing was not worried about that.
His sorrow stemmed from the fact that before there had been Yan Yuchuan, now there was Jiang Wei. Though their personalities differed, both were academic stars.
Peng Guoqing was a thorough academic underachiever. Getting into a 211 university had required Xie Qian, Teacher Liang, and others pulling him through forcibly with cramming.
Peng Guoqing could be neither Yan Yuchuan nor Jiang Wei. He knew he could never settle down steadfastly to pursue scholarship.
Thus, Peng Guoqing did not fear Xie Tang dating others. He feared that no matter how many relationships Xie Tang had in her life, none would involve him. He feared he was not the type she liked and could never become the type she liked.
Unwilling to admit his cowardice, Peng Guoqing wiped the tears from his face and countered with a question to Tai Wu. “What about you? You have only half a year left before going abroad. You want to stay, but will your family agree?”
The Tai family was not strict with Tai Wu, which was why he had become a wastrel.
But that leniency had limits, much like how Grandpa Peng had always been “indulgent” towards his grandson Peng Guoqing. As long as Peng Guoqing did not become a criminal, Grandpa Peng felt his eldest grandson had not gone astray. Studies were secondary. He would understand effort when he grew up.
The Tai family treated Tai Wu similarly. He could make small mistakes endlessly, but major directions were controlled by the family.
He could dislike studying, but he must obtain a certain qualification.
Four years of university: the first two could be spent messing around domestically, but the last two must be abroad to earn the degree.
This was the path the Tai family had set for Tai Wu. Even if the Tai family fell on hard times in future, a qualified Tai Wu would not starve.
The Peng family had once thought similarly about Peng Guoqing. Peng Guoqing understood Tai Wu’s situation all too well.
If Tai Wu wanted to stay, it meant rebelling against the family.
Did Tai Wu stand a chance against his family?
Peng Guoqing thought not.
To say nothing else, if the Tai family simply cut off Tai Wu’s spending money, he would eventually have to bow his head.
Unless,
“You have the capital to resist your family.”
Much of Peng Guoqing’s drunken haze cleared.
Tai Wu let out a heavy hiccup. “Your pocket money has always been plentiful. If my family cuts off my funds, good brother, could you help me through the difficult time?”
Peng Guoqing jolted in shock. The alcohol fully dissipated. “I would like to help you, but helping you would mean opposing your family. I fear your family would turn against me.”
Tai Wu’s face darkened.
“You will not help a brother in need? What kind of friend are you?”
Peng Guoqing spoke earnestly. “If your family sanctions you, then you persuade my family to sanction me. Would the two of us not end up ruined together? I say you should first show your stance. Demonstrate some ability so your family trusts you. Then they will respect your choice.”
Peng Guoqing advised Tai Wu based on his own experience.
But he did not know how to help Tai Wu change.
Peng Guoqing did not understand, but Xie Qian certainly would.
They stopped drinking at once. He dragged Tai Wu to see Xie Qian.
Xie Qian was strolling with Wen Ying and had no desire to deal with these two. Still, Wen Ying persuaded him. “You should show a little concern for Green Hair lately. He has had it rough.”
Xie Qian escorted Wen Ying back to her dormitory, then met the two drunken fools outside campus.
It was not even dark yet, and they were already like this?
Xie Qian’s expression was grim. Peng Guoqing cautiously explained their purpose. “Little Tai Wu’s predicament. God Xie, could you offer some guidance?”
In Peng Guoqing’s mind, Xie Qian had a Midas touch. If Xie Qian was willing to mentor Tai Wu, Tai Wu would surely transform completely.
Xie Qian looked at Tai Wu. Tai Wu suppressed the urge to hiccup and forced an obedient smile. “I do not even know what I can do…”
Xie Qian was speechless. “You have been in Shanghai so long and never came to me. Only now, with half a year left before going abroad, do you say you want to stay and let your family see your change. Is this trust in me, or blind faith in your own talent?”
