Deliberately Approaching
Chapter 184: Can She Also Skip Stones?

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Can She Also Skip Stones?

Department of English, Business English.

Tang Xiaowan took three steps at a time as she hurried up to the second floor, anxiety consuming her.

"Xiao Wan, you finally came. I thought, I thought you were going to take a long leave!" Chen Yu said with a smile, quickly following her.

She was exchanging diaries with Chen Nan.

Seeing Tang Xiaowan come in, she suddenly pulled away, her cheeks flushing red.

"Xiao Wan, that, I was just with..."

"That’s great, you guys continue."

"No, that’s not what I meant."

Tang Xiaowan walked straight into the classroom and sure enough, saw something in the drawer hole, it was a letter.

Tang Xiaowan personally opened it.

These characters, so familiar!

Without giving it another thought, she stuffed the letter into her shoulder bag and walked out, but was stopped by Chen Yu, who had closely followed.

"Class is about to start, where are you going?"

"I... I’m going to the restroom."

"Oh, okay, did you bring paper?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Once she reached the women’s restroom, Tang Xiaowan couldn’t wait to tear open the envelope, eager to find out what was inside.

But inside the A4 paper was a photograph.

"Yi Xiaodan?"

She almost exclaimed aloud, hastily covering her mouth.

What does this mean, for Li Zihan?

No, it could also be for Li Zishen, or maybe... Madam Lai?

Does the electronic voice have a grudge against the Leng Family?

At this moment, the reason Tang Xiaowan had such thoughts was due to the events of the past few days, all seemingly closely tied to the Leng Family.

The surveilled photos on the trending search, Su Luoyi’s burglary, the group photo in the honor roll.

And now, in her hands, she held an old solo photo of Li Zhenshan’s first love—taken more than twenty years ago.

The background was at Bie Yuan restaurant, beside the Peony Root Carving, the girl sitting primly, smiling sweetly.

The memory of this carving was deeply etched! The first time Tang Xiaowan had visited Madam Lai, she had been captivated by its exquisite craftsmanship and was later astonished to learn it was carved by Yi Xiaodan.

Yi Xiaodan, Yi Xiaodan...

Tang Xiaowan repeated in her mind, utterly puzzled why the electronic voice would give her Yi Xiaodan’s photo.

What was his relationship with Yi Xiaodan, and how did he have such an old photo?

Suddenly, the class bell rang.

Tang Xiaowan quickly put the photo away and hurried out of the restroom.

...

Jinda University, Lotus Pond.

Yang Rui kept checking his watch, with less than two hours left before the plane’s departure.

The drive from here to the airport was not short.

But at the moment, Ye Wanhua seemed to have no intention of leaving, still picking up stones, skimming them across the water.

In the sunlight, her long dress fluttered with the breeze, her figure reminiscent of a young girl, stirring up fanciful thoughts.

"Madam, it’s almost time."

"Just one more."

Ye Wanhua casually threw out a pebble, causing a splash, ripples spreading outward.

One, two, three... nine, nine skips!

"Xiao Dan, Yi Xiaodan?"

A deep male voice called out.

Yang Rui: "?"

Ye Wanhua turned around and adjusted her large sunglasses, only to see a middle-aged man with a bicycle staring intently at her.

He was dressed simply, in a white shirt and black trousers, but the golden school badge on his chest stood out prominently, the size of a one-yuan coin.

"Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."

However, what the man thought to himself was that the silhouette was too similar, even the stone-skipping gesture was the same, and both were done with the left hand.

Ye Wanhua nodded and then left.

"Madam, the person just now was..." Yang Rui followed closely behind, asking in a low voice.

"Jinda University’s chancellor, Shen Zhiyuan."

"Did he just... mistake you for someone?"

"It seems so."

Ye Wanhua’s pace quickened, the click-clacking of her high heels growing louder. Before she knew it, she was already far from the Lotus Pond.

Ahead was the Jinda Library.

"Madam, the sir mentioned the east gate."

"I’d like to visit a restroom first."

However, just a few steps away, Ye Wanhua suddenly stopped, furrowed her brows as she glanced at her watch, "Never mind, I’ll wait until I get to the airport."

Though Yang Rui was somewhat puzzled, he didn’t ask any further.

A few minutes later, they passed by the comprehensive building.

Since it was class time, there weren’t many students lingering around the bulletin board anymore, just a few passing by would stop to take a quick glance.

"Madam, did you also study at Jinda?"

"Yes, I did."

Yang Rui had been holding onto this question for a long time.

Every time they came to Jin City, he wanted to ask, but he clearly remembered Wang Junchen had once specifically emphasized not to bring up Jin City University, no matter when.

He had never understood why.

Thank goodness, it seemed like there was no issue!

"Madam, which major did you study back then at Jinda? Was it design?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth did Yang Rui realize it might be inappropriate to ask, so he quickly added, "I heard that the design program here is the most famous in the country, and many students are recruited by big international companies before they even graduate. I guess you must have been one of them, right?"

"I wasn’t. My studies were very poor back then, and what I studied wasn’t..."

Before Ye Wanhua could finish, her phone rang.

"Ah Hua, how’s the browsing going?" As soon as she answered, Wang Junchen eagerly asked.

"I’m on my way out now."

"No rush, we have plenty of time."

"Where are you now, at the east gate?"

"You’ll see me as soon as you come out, right next to the milk tea shop."

"Okay, got it."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Wanhua had already walked past the bulletin board, and coincidentally, she encountered Shen Zhiyuan, the chancellor of Jinda, riding his bicycle again.

They exchanged a glance and nodded.

A woman with fiery red lips always draws the attention of passersby anywhere she goes, and if she possesses long, slightly curled hair, it’s even more captivating.

At this moment, Ye Wanhua was undoubtedly the most eye-catching figure in front of the comprehensive building.

Shen Zhiyuan put a foot down and stopped.

He watched the graceful silhouette of the woman, shook his head slightly, and then took another glance at Yi Xiaodan and Li Zhenshan in the bulletin board.

So similar, yet unfortunately not her.

Xiao Dan, if you hadn’t passed away so early, maybe Zhenshan would have...

Ah, such a talented and beautiful couple, such a pity!

The reason why Li Zhenshan and Yi Xiaodan’s photos were included in Jinda’s centennial celebration was partly because they truly were excellent enough to be at the top of the honor wall, and partly because Li Zhenshan had made annual donations to Jinda until his death.

Of course, there was also a personal reason, Shen Zhiyuan had been university roommates with Li Zhenshan, and they were also close friends who confided everything in each other.

"Uncle Shen."

A familiar voice interrupted Shen Zhiyuan’s reminiscence.

"Zishen? Have you thought it through?"

Li Zishen said with a smile, "You’re right, Uncle Shen. It’s right for me to attend, both publicly and privately. What I said on the phone yesterday... I was wrong, I made things difficult for you."

Shen Zhiyuan nodded appreciatively, his eyes full of gratification.

Yesterday, he had indeed faced criticism.

After the news spread that Li Zishen had declined, some said he was slapping his face against a cold butt, trying to curry favor with Jin City’s foremost wealthy family for his career.

But those who gossiped didn’t understand the relationship between him and the Leng Family, which went beyond the need for sycophancy.

"It’s nothing, let’s go up and talk."

Such a nonchalant reply only made Li Zishen feel more remorseful.

He was already aware of those criticisms.