Chà Chà Novel

“Telling me sooner wouldn’t have changed anything. We would still have drifted apart eventually. It makes no difference”

Ji Shileng fell silent for a moment before answering quietly.

The old gentleman sighed. He did not really understand how the two of them had reached such a point.

Yet when he thought of the relentless slander and condemnation reporters had heaped upon the general’s spouse, he felt he understood.

Perhaps time, responsibility, and self-righteous certainty had brought them here.

Having gained power and status at such a young age that others could never attain in a lifetime, Shang Jianli had believed he could keep Ji Shileng firmly within his grasp.

Unfortunately, he had forgotten that people had minds of their own. They could feel hurt, grieve, and suffer until life itself became unbearable.

Shang Jianli had been far too sure of himself.

He had overestimated his hold.

“That’s true. Sometimes, having shared a single moment is enough. There’s no need to ask for forever”

The old gentleman rested both hands on his cane.

“Perhaps things that arrive late have their own meaning”

Ji Shileng’s grip tightened until his knuckles turned white. An uneasy pounding rose in his chest.

He realized his eyes were wet, tears trembling in them.

“But I hate everything that comes too late. Belated concern, belated explanations, belated love”

He wiped his tears and removed his cap. His eyes were red, yet still astonishingly beautiful and bright.

“All those things do now is make me sick”

“I don’t need them anymore”

He sounded as though he were talking to himself. He forced a smile, but tears spilled again, running down his mask and falling to the ground.

He needed an embrace when it mattered. A reply when he was waiting. Small, seemingly useless gestures filled with love.

But everything that came late was too late.

So late that he no longer needed it.

The car arrived to collect the old gentleman. Before getting in, he turned to meet Ji Shileng’s eyes, his words drifting on the wind.

“Don’t cry. If you no longer need those things, they aren’t worth your tears”

“I still remember what you wrote about yourself in your outstanding graduate certificate: Speak gently, treat others kindly, and maintain a measured ambition”

“Shileng, become the person you want to be. I will always support you”

Returning to an old place was like marking the side of a boat to find a sword lost beneath the water.

But could that one year truly outweigh every year that followed?

Ji Shileng did not know.

“Xiaoshi, who was he?” Ji Shiyun asked with a frown, watching the car drive away.

“The professor who looked after me most during university”

Ji Shileng wiped away his tears, his voice hoarse.

“He reviewed my application for the outstanding graduate award”

Ji Shiyun opened her mouth, then swallowed what she had meant to say.

It was enough to know that someone had treated her brother kindly during those years.

“No wonder he recognized you straight away,” Su Ke murmured.

“He’s an eccentric old man. He gets angry easily”

Ji Shileng swept his hair back, put on his cap, and motioned for them to head toward the side entrance.

“After graduation, he invited me to stay and pursue further studies”

Taking a deep breath, he said, “I turned him down”

Su Ke made a startled sound. From Ji Shileng’s perspective, he could not think of a single reason to refuse.

“Why?”

“Because the media were a nuisance”

Ji Shileng began walking and answered without hesitation.

At the time, Shang Jianli had just taken up his military post. Although he had inherited the position through his family, he was still newly appointed.

The media watched him relentlessly. As his publicly acknowledged partner, Ji Shileng had also become the subject of intense attention.

Advanced study required peace and concentration. In finance, he would be dealing with mathematics every day.

Unable to settle his mind, and unwilling to let the intrusion affect his professor’s life too, he had refused outright.

Something lodged in Su Ke’s chest, unable to rise or settle. Frustration coursed through him.

By comparison, Ji Shiyun seemed much “calmer.”

“Does Shang know about this?”

“I didn’t trouble him with it”

Ji Shileng raised his eyes, then added, “It’s all right. It’s in the past”

It was all in the past. Time would soothe every wound.

Wanting to comfort them, he continued, “It’s never too late to study. Once I’m home, if I feel like it, I could take philosophy as a second subject at Federation University”

Ji Shiyun: “…”

Philosophy? He was philosophical enough already.

What if he stumbled upon some great philosophical revelation and decided to renounce the world on the spot?

“Come on, life is wonderful now. Nice and easy”

Su Ke also thought that sounded like a bad idea and quickly changed the subject.

“Are there any must-see spots at Imperial University?”

Why go back to studying? Since graduating, he had avoided Federation University unless there was a special reason to go.

Studying there had been even harder than preparing for its entrance exams in high school.

His professors knew his parents and paid him “special attention.” His student days had been sheer misery.

If Ji Shileng really returned to study there, how was Su Ke supposed to survive?

The question stumped Ji Shileng. He stopped, took out his communicator, and opened the university’s forum.

“Let me check. I’ve never explored the campus on my own”

Shang Jianli had always shown him around.

Su Ke: “…”

Understanding what Ji Shileng had left unsaid, Su Ke felt as though a hole had opened in his heart, letting the cold wind through.

He thought he finally understood why Ji Shileng had been so infatuated with Shang Jianli.

Memories could not simply be erased. Those beautiful moments were like a token granting immunity.

No, Su Ke thought coldly. Not just one token. Probably dozens.

Ji Shiyun made a call, then held up her communicator and told them, “Something’s come up. You two look around first. We’ll find somewhere to meet later”

Su Ke nodded and patted his chest.

“Of course. Take care of your business. I’ll look after Shileng”

Ji Shileng looked away from his screen.

“Call us if you finish early”

“All right”

Ji Shiyun took the umbrella and walked away without looking back.

Her direction left Su Ke bewildered.

“Shileng, why is she heading farther into the university?”

“Taking a shortcut through campus to the main gate?” Ji Shileng guessed.

“Then she might as well drive around from the side entrance”

Su Ke’s instincts told him something was wrong.

“Besides, what could she need to deal with now? She handed over all her work before bringing me here”

The Ji family had an entire team of secretaries holding the fort. There was nothing to worry about.

“We can ask when she comes back”

“True”

For a short stretch, their route followed Ji Shiyun’s.

Walking behind her, they saw her being respectfully ushered into a building.

Su Ke stared in disbelief.

“Didn’t she cancel every one of our partnerships with the Empire in a fit of anger?”

Why were imperial representatives now receiving her with such deference?

“Stop guessing. We can just ask her later”

Ji Shileng enlarged the university’s digital map.

“We haven’t got much time. Let’s enjoy ourselves”

The Empire was somewhere he probably would not visit many more times. Since he was here, he might as well see a little more of it.