Chapter 112: A New Romance

Seeing Zhao Yan send over that hesitant "…", Huang Guolun sensed that something was unusual.

Actually, back at the club, after rehearsal, when they were chatting together, Huang Guolun had already felt that Zhao Yan’s demeanor was somewhat off.

When she was with Zhao Jing, who was quite the chatterbox, Zhao Yan rarely spoke. Tonight, she was even more silent, listening mostly to Zhao Jing ramble on, saying almost nothing herself.

Huang Guolun glanced at Zhao Yan from time to time and noticed that she was secretly watching him, her eyes filled with a complex, indescribable expression.

Indeed, just as Huang Guolun had suspected, Zhao Yan was in a very “unusual” state tonight.

Every time Huang Guolun sang a song, Zhao Yan seemed deeply touched, as if she could understand his soul, as if she were hearing his innermost thoughts.

Huang Guolun sang several mournful love songs in a row—not with heart-wrenching wails, but with a quiet sorrow that shattered Zhao Yan to pieces.

She empathized deeply with Huang Guolun’s heartache; after all, she too had suffered the same kind of pain.

Being so close to Huang Guolun’s wounded heart was like awakening from a dream for Zhao Yan. She finally understood how others saw her.

In Huang Guolun, she saw a true reflection of her own fallen self.

Just as she had prayed for Huang Guolun to quickly move on from that lost love, she believed her family, loved ones, and close friends were also hoping the same for her.

She finally realized how deeply worried others were about her.

At that moment, when she secretly looked at Huang Guolun, it was as if she were quietly examining a kindred soul, another wanderer cast adrift by fate.

She longed to talk to Huang Guolun, to tell him she understood every song he sang.

It might sound poetic or sentimental, but that was truly how she felt—she believed she had read Huang Guolun’s heart. She could sense his yearning for someone, and she understood the unforgettable love he held inside.

Just as Huang Guolun had once tried to comfort her with music, she wanted to comfort him too: some loves fade, and it’s best to let them rest in the heart. But they must look forward; they cannot live forever in the past.

Perhaps it’s true that those involved are often blinded by their own emotions. When Huang Guolun advised others, his reasoning was clear, but when it came to himself, he couldn’t seem to take that step forward.

His songs revealed that he was stuck in a painful crossroads.

Zhao Yan deeply understood this feeling of reluctant suffering because she herself could not move past it.

But without taking that step, not only would they torment themselves, but their family and friends would suffer alongside them.

After seeing her own reflection in Huang Guolun, Zhao Yan suddenly had an epiphany—she could no longer live this way.

Back at the club, she had wanted to talk to Huang Guolun alone, to encourage each other to climb out of the emotional abyss together.

Unfortunately, the opportunity never arose.

Not long after, Huang Guolun left with Bai Yao.

Nan Fang and Shen Yumeng, the couple, also didn’t stay long and left.

Zhao Jing took a call from a friend and went off to the nightclub to party.

In the end, only Zhao Yan was left, and as the club emptied, she let Liu Xiaowei and Su Ling off early, closed the place, and went home to gather her thoughts.

Huanzi had gone to study theology at the house of a Christian relative, and with Zhao Jing out, Zhao Yan was alone that night with one very adorable Scottish Fold cat.

The cat’s name was Ollie.

But Zhao Jing always called her “Panties.”

Because the little cat often appeared wearing Zhao Jing’s scanty triangular underwear on her head, as if teasing Zhao Jing for her habit of leaving clothes around carelessly.

When Zhao Jing got upset, she gave Ollie the more down-to-earth nickname “Panties.”

Called that every day by Zhao Jing, Zhao Yan had almost gotten used to calling Ollie “Panties” herself.

That night, returning home, Panties sniffed Zhao Yan and then curled up in her little bed to sleep.

Zhao Yan went to her room, sat on the bed, and gazed out at the shimmering city lights, suddenly feeling loneliness burn like fire.

She wasn’t sure if it was the two glasses of red wine from the club stirring up her emotions or if Huang Guolun’s music had ripped open those painful memories.

Suddenly, she became sentimental and reflective about her life.

Along the way, she had witnessed splendor, gained much, and lost much—but her heart wandered aimlessly, always yearning for that unattainable man. The emptiness and loneliness within her remained unquiet.

Until tonight, when she saw her true self mirrored in Huang Guolun.

She no longer wanted to torment herself in solitude. She had to live differently.

If she remained stuck, she would forever have nothing.

Only by opening her heart could she possibly have everything.

These were the words she wanted to say to Huang Guolun—and also to herself.

Since both she and Huang Guolun were trapped by their past loves, why couldn’t they walk forward hand in hand, leaving the shadows behind and embracing the light of the future?

Knowing that Huang Guolun’s family had been arranging blind dates for him, she believed they, like her own family, were anxious for them.

Rather than letting their families fret, maybe they should try dating each other.

Though Zhao Jing had told her before that Huang Guolun thought they weren’t compatible, Zhao Yan still wanted to try.

What if… what if they were perfectly suited?

Before, Zhao Yan had never considered blind dates with Huang Guolun.

She had even looked down on such formal setups, preferring a romantic, fairy-tale encounter to find her other half.

But after meeting Huang Guolun, she realized that a blind date could be just as romantic.

When the heart is willing, everything is fate.

And she felt the bond between her and Huang Guolun was no ordinary coincidence.

They were too alike.

After pulling a bottle of red wine from the cabinet, Zhao Yan drank a toast to herself, then mustered her courage and, with trembling fingers, sent Huang Guolun a message.

If she had spoken these words in person or over the phone, she probably would have blushed and stopped halfway.

But through text, she felt freer.

When Huang Guolun replied with a smiley face and asked what was on her mind, Zhao Yan typed in a burst:

“Listening to your songs tonight touched me deeply. I can feel your profound love for your ex-wife. I am glad and envious that you met her young, that love and sadness came so intensely. Like you, I have also experienced a love I cannot reach. Thinking it over, I suddenly feel we are alike. Do you feel the same?”

Huang Guolun’s warm reply came: “Yes, I feel sometimes we are very in sync and understand each other quite well.”

His response warmed Zhao Yan’s heart and gave her more courage to say:

“Teacher Huang, looking at you tonight, I finally faced myself. I think neither of us should live trapped in past emotions. The twilight tides always recede. We should look forward and embrace tomorrow’s dawn. That is the responsible thing to do for ourselves and our families, don’t you agree?”

Huang Guolun smiled and replied: “I’m glad you understand. That’s how I feel too.”

Riding the warmth of the wine, Zhao Yan responded: “But you’re not doing that. After listening to your songs, I feel you find it even harder than me to take that step forward.”

“…” Huang Guolun didn’t expect her words to be so piercing and replied with a wry smile and an ellipsis.

“There’s a simple truth—you’ve told me before, and surely you understand it too—the best way to move on from the past is to start a new relationship.”

After writing this message, Zhao Yan’s heart pounded so fiercely she thought it might burst. This was almost a confession. Surely Huang Guolun would understand?

With a deep breath, she sent it.

But Huang Guolun, upon reading it, thought Zhao Yan was urging him to start a new romance. He smiled and replied, “Of course I understand, but in my current situation, starting a new relationship isn’t easy. The road ahead is long and arduous.”

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Sometimes when faced with difficulty, we must burn our bridges and bravely step forward before worrying about the rest. Only then can we succeed. The path through the pass is iron-hard; now we must march forward anew!”

Huang Guolun was stunned, tossing over in bed and joking, “Are you really Zhao Yan? Sounds like Zhao Jing with that rousing speech.”

Zhao Yan smiled shyly and sent a voice message to prove it was her: “It’s me, Zhao Yan. Maybe I’m influenced by that girl too much; I get fired up and like to shout slogans sometimes. Hope I didn’t disturb your rest.”

Huang Guolun replied with a voice message: “No, I’m still awake. Thank you for encouraging me.”

Then Zhao Yan switched back to text and sent a difficult message:

“I’m not trying to lecture you. I just think, since we’re matched by fate through blind dating, our families must have some acceptance of each other. Given our current situations, both needing to start new relationships to leave the past behind, why don’t we reconsider our blind date, with marriage as the premise, and give it a try? Maybe we’re very compatible.”

She ended the message with a bashful red-faced emoji, fearing Huang Guolun might get upset.

Huang Guolun read the message and was honestly a bit confused, pondering how to reply.

Unable to bear the suspense, Zhao Yan sent another message, heart aflame:

“Zhao Jing has told me several times about your son. I really want to meet Taozi. I love children. You’ve said you hope to find a new mother for him soon. I don’t know if I can be a good mother, but if we truly were together, I would try my best. I would love him as if he were my own child.”