Different students will have different reflections after reading the same story.
Xie Tang wanted to put an end to her first love, inviting Wen Ying and Xie Qian to witness it, indeed hoping to impart some lessons to the two young people. Her relationship with Yan Yuchuan had many sweet memories, but Xie Tang had also taken many detours in this first love. She hoped Xie Qian would not repeat her mistakes.
This wasn’t Xie Tang trying to discourage them.
It was Xie Tang’s encouragement.
To protect a pure romance, Xie Qian needed to become stronger.
After all, Xie Qian’s family situation was even more complicated than Xie Tang’s.
As for Wen Ying… such an outstanding and confident young woman. Unlike Yan Yuchuan, Xie Tang admired such independent and strong girls, believing Wen Ying had the capability to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Xie Qian.
Xie Tang wasn’t worried that Wen Ying would feel inferior. Although her cousin Xie Qian was handsome and highly intelligent, Xie Tang was more concerned about whether Xie Qian’s emotional intelligence was sufficient. After all, a girl as exceptional as Wen Ying would never lack suitors. If Xie Qian’s emotional intelligence was lacking, failing to deepen his bond with Wen Ying in their future interactions, he might push her further away—without enough emotional connection, what girl would have the courage to face the mess caused by Third Uncle Xie Jinghu!
What if Wen Ying, upon learning about Xie Qian’s complicated family situation, decided to give up on him?
The way Xie Qian looked at Wen Ying showed he truly liked her.
Apart from family, when had Xie Qian ever cared so much about anyone else?
Xie Tang wasn’t sure if Wen Ying knew about the Xie family’s issues. If she didn’t, Xie Qian should come clean early and let her understand the situation.
If Wen Ying wasn’t willing to get involved in the mess, Xie Qian shouldn’t fall too deeply, lest the joy of being together turn into equal pain when parting.
Xie Qian’s personality was actually quite similar to Third Aunt Zou Weijun.
Thinking of how Zou Weijun had been after her marriage fell apart, Xie Tang was genuinely worried for Xie Qian.
A whale drifting alone in the vast sea might be lonely, but having never experienced companionship, it wouldn’t find its solitary days too bitter. A lone whale could go wherever it pleased, even feeling quite free and at ease!
But one day, if that whale met another of its kind, hunting and playing together, the lonely whale would feel love through its companion. If that companion then left, the whale that once endured solitude… would it despair?
Xie Tang hoped every couple could find happiness.
If lovers were to part one day, let it be because their feelings faded, not for any other reason.
At the end of the meal, Yan Yuchuan’s emotions had stabilised somewhat. Xie Tang raised a glass to him, “Yuchuan, let’s toast to tomorrow.”
No longer lovers, Xie Tang and Yan Yuchuan were still university classmates.
Their breakup was due to incompatibility, not some dramatic betrayal, so Xie Tang wouldn’t treat Yan Yuchuan like a stranger.
Yan Yuchuan’s hand trembled as he raised his glass, but he wanted to leave a good impression on Xie Tang, not appear pathetic.
Forcing a smile, Yan Yuchuan said, “To tomorrow, to the future!”
Yan Yuchuan might not be in Xie Tang’s future, but her future must be bright. The girl he loved deeply, and would always love, deserved the best future.
He tilted his head back, downing the wine and the bitterness with it.
Yan Yuchuan stood up.
“We never ate anything fancy together, and now I think about it, you must have felt wronged. Let me pay for this meal, okay?”
Even at an expensive restaurant, as long as they didn’t order exorbitantly priced dishes or waste food, a meal for two wasn’t too costly.
For ordinary students, it was a splurge they couldn’t afford often, but once in a while was manageable.
Though from an average family, Yan Yuchuan was earning an internship salary at a major Shanghai company and had some scholarship savings, so the meal wasn’t a burden.
Xie Tang thought it over and agreed to his request.
After paying, Yan Yuchuan said goodbye to Xie Tang, maintaining his dignity. To the other diners, they were just a handsome couple, unaware they had just broken up.
Xie Tang didn’t see that after leaving the restaurant, Yan Yuchuan let tears blur his vision, his young face full of sorrow.
Fearing Xie Tang might see him if she left the restaurant, he hid in the stairwell to vent his emotions.
After a good cry, Yan Yuchuan wiped his face. The pain lingered, but his gaze grew resolute.
He was a failure at letting go of this relationship, but he didn’t want to be a failure forever.
The girl he loved believed he’d have a bright future, so he had to fight for it!
…
“Sigh…”
Xie Tang wasn’t as carefree as she appeared.
After Yan Yuchuan paid and left, she sat at the table in a daze for a while, then went to the bathroom to compose herself, ignoring Wen Ying and Xie Qian.
The sigh came from Wen Ying.
Her face showed “regret,” and Xie Qian looked up, asking, “Feeling bad from hearing their drama?”
Wen Ying nodded slightly.
Xie Qian knew Wen Ying must be affected, and while he didn’t want her to be weighed down by negative emotions, he was oddly curious about her thoughts—
Wen Ying could never hold back in front of Xie Qian. Before he could ask, she blurted out, “I just feel moved. It’ll be easy for Sister Xie Tang to fall in love again, but it’ll be tough for Yan Yuchuan. I bet he won’t get over this for a long time.”
True, Yan Yuchuan initiated the breakup, but it was clear he really liked Xie Tang.
Young people often struggle to balance love and pride, which is why Yan Yuchuan suggested splitting up.
He didn’t expect Xie Tang to agree so readily.
Xie Tang surely liked Yan Yuchuan too, but a breakup is a breakup. Xie Tang wouldn’t let a failed first love stop her from moving on, and with her qualities, her next boyfriend would likely be even better than Yan Yuchuan, certainly not worse—
Yan Yuchuan’s situation was less certain.
Finding another girl like Xie Tang?
Unlikely!
Love blind to conditions usually only happens on campus. In the real world, people are more practical when choosing partners.
Yan Yuchuan was quite impressive, with good looks and education, but unless he achieved something significant in his career, he’d struggle to meet another girl of Xie Tang’s calibre.
Imagine having loved someone so wonderful—how could you not compare every future partner to your first love?
Having experienced the best, how could you settle for less?
And Yan Yuchuan gave up this beautiful relationship due to his own cowardice and lack of confidence, which would surely become a lingering demon in his heart!
If he couldn’t break free from that demon, Yan Yuchuan would never move on from his first love.
Huh, why could she empathise so perfectly with Yan Yuchuan’s state of mind?
Xie Qian’s gaze was probing, clearly curious about why Wen Ying felt so deeply.
Feeling both guilty and stirred, Wen Ying stammered, “It’s, it’s just… ‘once you’ve seen the vast sea, no other water compares; beyond the clouds of Wushan, all else is mundane!’”
