After placing the order, Ji Shileng stretched. His loose hoodie rode up with the movement, revealing a slim, toned stretch of waist.
He opened his conversation with Shang Jianli again and asked when he would be home.
This time, the reply came quickly. Shang Jianli said he would be about half an hour late.
Ji Shileng felt as though even heaven was helping him. The timing was perfect.
Dinner would arrive a little late, and Shang Jianli would leave work a little late. He would get home just in time to eat it hot.
The film was nearing its end. The heroine’s friend asked her, “Which would you find easier to accept: your lover suddenly falling out of love with you, or suddenly dying?”
The heroine waved a hand adorned with red nail polish and smiled.
“Do I have to choose one?”
Her friend took a sip of juice, thinking of the boyfriend she had dated before.
“Well, you don’t have to”
“Then I’ll take both”
The heroine’s eyes curved.
“He stops loving me, then immediately drops dead”
After a moment’s thought, she shrugged and added, “Even better if he leaves me a huge inheritance”
Her friend glanced at her. They clinked glasses and dissolved into laughter.
The film’s message was this: Learn to love. Loving the wrong person is nothing to be ashamed of. Walk away from everyone who denies your worth, and make yourself your first priority.
The ending theme began, soft and lilting. Yet in the post-credits scene, after leaving the person she loved most, the heroine lived freely but grew old alone and lonely.
That scene contradicted the film’s message, resulting in mixed reviews.
Ji Shileng watched, spellbound. Only when “END” appeared on the screen did he suddenly come back to himself.
He rewound to where he had been midway through the film and resumed watching.
If he did not finish today, he could always watch the rest tomorrow.
After all, he had no “job.” He had plenty of time.
Two-thirds of the way through, the doorbell rang.
Ji Shileng checked the time and opened the door. Dinner from Laienster Restaurant had arrived.
The server helped him arrange the food, gathered up the restaurant’s packaging, and thoughtfully offered a card.
“Mr. Ji, the restaurant wrote this for you. Wishing you happiness every day”
Ji Shileng accepted the card, saw the server to the door, and waved goodbye.
Leaning against the door, he lowered his head and opened it.
Two lines had been written in fountain pen:
Every act of malice life throws your way is paving the next path you wish to take.
May everything turn out better than you hope, and may all your wishes come true.
Ji Shileng assumed it was a standard greeting the restaurant used, so he thought little of its contents.
He messaged Shang Jianli and continued watching the film while waiting for a reply.
As the film approached its end, his communicator showed an incoming call from Imperial University.
He answered. The apology that greeted him caught him completely off guard.
“You’re sorry? Is there something you need my help with?”
“Our apologies, Mr. Ji. In light of today’s reports and public discussion, the university has decided, after several rounds of deliberation, to revoke your Outstanding Graduate Certificate”
Ji Shileng struggled to produce a smile.
“Is this a joke?”
“It is not. Please return the presentation box to the university by post. Sorry to disturb you”
Without another word of explanation, the caller hung up.
Ji Shileng stood frozen, still holding his communicator.
Of course.
If it were a joke, it could hardly have come from Imperial University’s official number.
Slowly, he opened a webpage. Several bold red trending topics all carried his name.
#New Bitcoin Scam: The General’s Spouse Implicated#
#Bitcoin Fraud Exposed: Was He After Money—or Lives?#
#Ji Shileng Bitcoin#
Ji Shileng frowned. His fingertip remained motionless over the screen for a long time, until a message arrived from Shang Jianli.
He would not be coming home for dinner.
Even when the screen went dark automatically, Ji Shileng had neither replied nor opened any of the trending topics.
An inexplicable chill rose through him, making him shiver several times.
Draping a blanket over himself, he sat cross-legged on the floor and slowly opened his parcel.
Inside, wrapped in protective foam, lay a presentation box bearing the words Imperial University.
He took it out and lifted the lid.
A brick-red National Outstanding Graduate Certificate lay within.
The large gilt lettering gleamed, brilliant and dazzling.
Beneath it were several university souvenirs and a badge bearing Ji Shileng’s name. His student number was engraved on the back.
With that badge, he could enter Imperial University in the future without booking a visit.
He stared at the certificate for a long moment. Without opening it, he closed the box again.
He had majored in finance. He understood the risks of virtual currencies like Bitcoin and had never touched them, nor had he ever wanted to.
The paltry profits of gambling held no appeal for Ji Shileng. He already had more than enough money.
Yet something he held in contempt had taken away something he wanted.
No wonder the card had carried those words.
He had chatted with the manager for years. The man knew his personality, which was why he had written that message.
Every act of malice life throws your way is paving the next path you wish to take.
Ji Shileng let out a quiet sigh.
But he was already walking the path he wanted.
The lavish dinner remained untouched on the table. Wrapped in his blanket, Ji Shileng sat beneath the moonlight all night.
Listening to Ji Shileng recount everything in such an even voice, Su Ke felt his heart fucking break.
Endless humiliation and fury overwhelmed him.
He could not imagine what kind of life Ji Shileng had been living all those years away, while insisting that he was doing well.
There were so many things Ji Shileng had never told him.
“Shileng, I fucking…”
At last, Su Ke understood Ji Shiyun’s hesitant words. He understood why she had urged Ji Shileng to treat himself well.
What kind of miserable days had he endured?
Ji Shileng gave him a reassuring smile.
“Watch your language. Besides, compared with what happened at the thirtieth-anniversary celebration, this was nothing”
Su Ke clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
“Tan Shengbie got off too lightly. If I’d known, I would have taken him around those mountain roads a few more times”
“What does Tan Shengbie have to do with what happened between Shang Jianli and me?”
“Am I not allowed to hate him by association?”
“Tan Shengbie never made things difficult for me. Don’t give him trouble the next time you see him”
Ji Shileng propped himself on one hand and looked out the window.
“Besides, I’m a Federation University graduate now, aren’t I?”
Being an outstanding graduate of Imperial University meant nothing to him anymore.
“I…”
“That’s enough”
Ji Shileng took a tissue from his pocket and handed it over.
“I’ll collect everything they owe the general’s spouse”
All those baseless accusations, all the framing and slander—he now had the power to fight back.
For a gentleman, even ten years was not too late for revenge.
He could not be a gentleman, but he agreed with the latter part.
After listening to their conversation, Ji Shiyun glanced at Ji Shileng in the rearview mirror.
“Xiaoshi, our family has signed a contract with Shang Jianli. It concerns the general’s spouse”
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