Chapter 34 Chapter 34: At Cross Purposes
In childhood, Lin Jun was bound by two very different ways of life. His mother came from a scholarly family and demanded virtue and goodness. His early lessons were the Three Character Classic, Thousand Character Text, and Standards for Being a Good Student and Child. Later came The Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Analects, and Mencius. Classical texts and filial teachings shaped his inner refinement.
On the other side, his father was a soldier. He believed not in good or evil but in strict discipline. In his view, a son of the Lin family must be hardened from youth. Bathing in cold water in winter was nothing. His mother nearly quarreled with his father over this, but in the end Lin Jun grew up under his father’s stern hand, forging a powerful body.
These two opposing educations gave him a mix of roughness and subtlety. This time, meeting Su Yuan, it was his inner side at work. Otherwise, with his rugged exterior, he would not have tried to resolve matters with words.
…
“Why impossible.”
“There are reasons… not convenient to explain.”
Not convenient to explain. What could that mean. In the dim light, Lin Jun studied Su Yuan again, then stepped back. His expression shifted as if he had realized something. His brows showed disgust yet also sympathy.
The contradiction left Su Yuan baffled.
Lin Jun’s attitude suddenly turned. He laughed awkwardly. “Sorry about earlier, Brother Su. Do not take it to heart.”
Su Yuan wondered if this big man had been moved by her sincerity.
A breeze swept through the trees, rustling leaves. The fragrance of osmanthus drifted, drawing Su Yuan’s gaze to golden blossoms hidden among the foliage.
The forest was quiet. Insects fell silent. Only the trickle of water in a nearby stream remained. Neither spoke.
After a while Lin Jun tossed away the vine, coughed lightly, and said, “That was all I wanted today. Brother Su, let us talk another time.” He patted Su Yuan’s shoulder like an older brother.
Su Yuan stood stunned. “What is wrong with him. Why such a sudden change.” She shrugged. She had thought she would need to persuade him further, but he had been easy to fool. She did not realize her timid act had been partly genuine, partly deliberate. In high school she had been bold.
She concluded Lin Jun was not to be feared.
But she was wrong.
Humming, she picked up the discarded vine and walked back to the dorm.
Descending Jingyu Mountain, she stepped onto the rubber court. A shadow appeared ahead. Startled, she swung the vine instinctively.
“Snap.” Wang Ping caught it with one hand.
“You.” Su Yuan was surprised.
Wang Ping nodded calmly. “I saw someone dragged into the back hill. It looked like you, so I came. Are you alright.”
Seeing her unharmed, holding a vine with strength to strike, he knew nothing serious had happened. Wang Ping was burly but loyal, the kind to risk himself for friends.
Looking at Su Yuan’s slender frame, he worried. She looked easy to bully.
“Thank you. I am fine. Lin Jun and I had a misunderstanding. It is resolved.”
“Lin Jun.”
Wang Ping recalled the forum gossip about Su Yuan and Xiao Yiyan. Lin Jun was one of her fiercest pursuers. No wonder he had sought Su Yuan.
“Do not fear him. Tomorrow I will speak to him. He should not trouble you again.”
Su Yuan realized Lin Jun and Wang Ping knew each other. Both were in the sports department. She asked, “Does Lin Jun often change moods quickly.”
Wang Ping shook his head. “No. He is usually steady, only fiery when something important is touched.”
Su Yuan was puzzled.
…
South district, girls’ dormitory.
The typhoon had passed. Stars returned to the sky.
In a suite, Xiao Yiyan sat on the balcony, long hair flowing. The air carried osmanthus fragrance from Jingyu Mountain.
She wore only a thin gauze nightdress.
A shorter girl emerged from the bathroom, drying her hair. She said, “Sister Yiyan, you have made Su Yuan suffer.”
Xiao Yiyan turned, smiling. “Why do you say that.”
“There are many posts online about you two. Even if you do not care about reputation, Su Yuan did nothing wrong. Now he is treated as an enemy. Life will be hard.”
“When did I not care about reputation.” Xiao Yiyan frowned.
The girl muttered, “If you cared, you would not have kissed him in public…” She stopped when Yiyan’s face darkened.
Xiao Yiyan laughed. “Little Bing, how can you defend Su Yuan against me.”
“He is our External Relations deputy minister, and kind. Using him as a shield was reckless. Lin Jun will trouble him. He is too weak to fight back.”
Xiao Yiyan rolled her eyes. “If Su Yuan heard that, he would be furious.”
“Then do not tell him.”
Xiao Yiyan sighed. “You are wrong. I did not only use him as a shield. If he proves worthy, I might make it real.”
Little Bing was speechless. She gathered her clothes and returned to the bathroom.
Xiao Yiyan whispered, “To shake off those tails I risked my face. I owe Su Yuan, but I will repay him. At that moment, when he tried to flee, I was provoked. Too hateful.”
She thought of her pursuers. Though blocked, she felt trapped.
Her gaze grew deep. Handsome boys she had seen before, but none as natural as Su Yuan.
That naturalness seemed innate. Many boys who were too delicate felt awkward. But Su Yuan did not.
Especially his eyes. Though his hair was messy, his lively gaze betrayed him.
Such a person… and he was a boy.
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