I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping
Chapter 920: At that time, I thought it was just the usual_2

Chapter 920: At that time, I thought it was just the usual_2

Wei Chuyin’s eyes revealed a struggle as she looked at that face, which even light makeup could not hide its lack of vitality, and finally, she slowly let go of her hand.

"Only one can."

Ai Qian smiled, pulled the tab, and clinked it with Brother Ren in midair.

The drink was ice-cold.

Ai Qian gently exhaled, her ears beginning to redden.

"You two young ladies are so pretty, why travel alone? Look at others, in pairs, so happy."

Brother Ren joked with a smile.

"Brother Ren, aren’t you alone too?"

Ai Qian retorted.

He shook his head with a smile, "I’m much older, how can I compare with you?"

"In his youth, Brother Ren must have had many girls who liked him."

This was not merely a courtesy; though no longer young, this elder brother’s demeanor was quite comfortable, and from his features, one could tell he must have been quite attractive to the opposite sex in his younger days.

"Ha ha, you’ve noticed that too, young lady, good eye."

Even the anxious Wei Chuyin couldn’t help but be amused by his humor.

"Brother Ren, you’re the first to say I have a good eye."

Ai Qian chuckled softly, sipping her beer.

Wei Chuyin’s smile faded.

"Oh? Is that so? Then we need to drink another."

Brother Ren raised his bottle.

To make Ai Qian drink less, Wei Chuyin interjected, "Brother Ren, if you were so charming when you were young, why are you still single now?"

While this joke might be acceptable among friends, it could be a bit inappropriate for people who just met.

But this elder brother undoubtedly had a good temper or perhaps, as someone passionate about traveling, had a more open mindset.

He didn’t take it to heart and laughed, "Being charming doesn’t necessarily relate to being with someone, right?"

Wei Chuyin was at a loss for words.

The elder brother continued, "Just like that song lyric: many people once adored your youthful face, but who is willing to endure the relentless changes of time? Especially you girls should be cautious. Being as beautiful as you are, many boys will hover around you, but take care to discern who truly cares."

It was sincere advice from someone who had experienced much.

"Has Brother Ren never met someone who truly loved him?"

Ai Qian asked, "Or someone you truly loved?"

"You’re making me sound so bad. Of course, I have."

The elder brother smiled broadly, almost boastful, "Back then, I was even younger than you are now, and it was mutual love."

Mutual love.

It sounded like a very ordinary phrase.

But in this era of material desire and glittering distractions, these four words seemed incredibly precious.

"Mutual love, then why now..." Wei Chuyin spoke.

The elder brother took a sip of his drink.

"Mutual love doesn’t mean growing old together; otherwise, ’lovers eventually becoming spouses’ wouldn’t be such a beautiful ideal."

Speaking of which, he added, "If you want to hear it, I could share more with you."

Ai Qian showed an eager expression, nodding immediately.

The elder brother’s eyes revealed a nostalgic gleam as he smiled, "It should have been twenty years ago. I was still in university then. During the winter break, I was in my hometown, and she said she hadn’t seen me for many days and missed me a lot. So, I sent her my address, telling her to come find me if she missed me."

"I was just joking, but who would have thought she actually got up before dawn, went to the station, and took a two-hour bus to my small county town. We both studied in the provincial capital, and she was from there. My dad was originally planning to go out for lunch with friends, but when he heard, he picked us up and invited his friends to switch to eating hotpot, saying young people would surely love it. At lunch, my dad and his friends were plotting, now that I had a girlfriend, to buy a house in the capital soon, asking her which area of the capital she liked."

The elder brother’s smile was warm, "She was shy at the moment and didn’t dare to speak, but everyone was laughing heartily. After eating, we took the bus home. She is terrible with directions and never remembers them, so she would get lost even in our county. I decided to tease her by asking if she remembered the way to my house. She shook her head, and I immediately pretended to sprint off, leaving her behind. Frightened, she quickly clung tightly to my arm, dragged along as I ran. I could not stop laughing."

Wei Chuyin was gradually engrossed.

It was hard to imagine.

That a person could remember an event from twenty years ago so vividly, as if it were a vivid picture.

As a listener, naturally, Ai Qian did not interrupt.

"...Three years later, I lost her. We broke up. Six years later, I lost my dad."

This middle-aged man spoke of these experiences without any sorrow, merely recounting what seemed to be an inevitable part of life.

"In the ten years that followed, I drifted in another hemisphere, drifted in Capital City, drifted in the East Sea, until last year, when I finally bought my own house in the provincial city where I’m from, like returning to the starting point. It’s kind of unbelievable, isn’t it? That after so long, I still remember it so clearly—perhaps because I often return to that scene in my dreams."

"Does big brother Ren still keep in touch with her?"

Ai Qian asked softly.

The other party shook his head, "We’ve broken up, there’s no reason to keep in touch. But sometimes I still can’t help but think, what if one day when I wake up and open my eyes, it is that morning again, I’m getting ready to pick her up from the station..."

He stopped.

For this elder brother, he had traveled through mountains and rivers, seen all kinds of landscapes, wealth and material things were not his pursuits.

If possible, the most beautiful scene he yearned for would be to return to that afternoon filled with laughter, warmth, and greenness, or to say, return to that ordinary yet sunny day, to that small county town serviced only by buses, to those alleys where he would run wildly, only to be firmly held back by a drag.

"Alright, shouldn’t we talk about your story now?"

Old big brother halted.

"Big brother Ren, do you think the two of us look like people who have stories?"

Ai Qian asked with a smile.

"Of course, beautiful girls usually have many stories."

The other party joked, didn’t press on, drank a bottle of wine, chatted for a while, and this big brother got up to leave, heading towards others.

Watching his retreating figure, Wei Chuyin suddenly thought of a verse.

Who mourns in the west wind by themselves, the chilling autumn leaves shut the sparse window.

Contemplating the past under the setting sun. Let wine not startle the deep spring sleep.

The spilled tea scent vanishes like gambled books.

At the time, I thought it was commonplace.

Many poems and verses, because of youth, are recited as if only a task set by teachers, but perhaps years later, we suddenly understand their meanings.

Of course.

If one could never understand, it might be more fortunate.

"Let’s leave tomorrow."

A voice sounded.

Wei Chuyin came back to her senses, her heart leaping in joy, thinking the other finally came around, "Alright!"

"But I still need to go to one place."

"Where?"

Wei Chuyin asked instinctively.

"Sha City."

"Sha City?"

Wei Chuyin puzzled.

She had certainly heard of this city, a famous city in Chu State, historically a strategic military location, but in modern times, the city had slowly declined, and also, did not seem to be much of a tourist spot.

"Jiang Chen once invited me, but I didn’t agree."

Ai Qian said softly.

Wei Chuyin instantly understood, fell silent.

It was the year of their short-lived romance, perhaps during some holiday break, he, somewhat jokingly, invited her to visit his backward hometown.

Jiang Chen extended the invitation as if joking, and she declined as if joking, saying it was only a five-day break, too rushed.

Thus, Jiang Chen didn’t go either and spent the holiday working a part-time job.

"I’ll accompany you."

Wei Chuyin didn’t try to dissuade her, her expression complex.

"No need, I’ll go by myself."

Ai Qian smiled, preempting Wei Chuyin’s response: "After Sha City, I’ll head to the hospital."

Wei Chuyin instantly fell silent, her hand raising child-like, "Pinky swear, seal it with a promise!"

Ai Qian cooperated, hooking her finger with Wei Chuyin’s, then turned to look at the crowd.

That old big brother was chatting and laughing with someone else, open and optimistic, as if he had never experienced any regrets in his life.

Compared to this big brother.

She seemed fortunate.

At least she didn’t have such a long lifetime to reminisce.