Chapter 4: Memories of Eighteen

Tan Yen’s family hadn’t always been wealthy. Back in the day, his parents were broke, low-level civil servants. Thanks to government-subsidized housing, they ended up living directly downstairs from my family.

My father was a thoroughly pragmatic man—a classic kiss-up, kick-down type. Naturally, he looked down his nose at Tan Yen’s family, treating them with a constant air of smug condescension. Because of that, I wasn’t the only one terrified of my dad; Tan Yen had his own fair share of childhood trauma dealing with him, too.

As for me, I was well-accustomed to the coldness at home. My mother had passed away early, my father openly favored my half-brother, and my stepmother spent her days dropping passive-aggressive jabs that made me feel like an unwelcome ghost. I hated that house with a passion, so whenever I had free time, I’d sneak over to Tan Yen’s place to crash for dinner.

Naturally, I’d stick to his side like glue, sweetly chirping “Yen-ge this” and “Yen-ge that” just to seize every opportunity to touch him. My fragile little life had basically been sustained up until now on those pathetic crumbs of stolen lifespan.

You could say Tan Yen and I were childhood sweethearts — pure as distilled water. That was until I turned eighteen, when two major bombshells blew everything to pieces:

First, Tan Yen’s parents took a huge gamble, quit their jobs to go into business, struck it rich overnight, and moved to a high-end neighborhood.

Second, right before he transferred schools, Tan Yen abruptly announced he was dating the school belle, Tran Chi Chi.

Even though our families didn’t completely cut ties — I’d still occasionally see his mom posting lavish vacation photos on WeChat — a gaping rift had formed between us.

I only heard snippets through his mother: Uncle Tan’s business was booming, soaring higher by the day. Tan Yen later got into the police academy, enduring four years of rigorous, isolated training. After graduation, thanks to his exceptional talent paired with a bit of family influence, his career took off like a rocket. Just a year and a half into the job, he’d already been promoted to Captain with a glowing future ahead of him.

Because he never posted a single thing on his feed, I was completely in the dark about where things stood between him and Tran Chi Chi. But Tan Yen was a straight-laced, serious guy — the type who only dated with marriage in mind — so I naturally assumed they were still happily together.

And yet… his co-workers were now claiming he’d been single his entire life? What in the world was going on here?

“Tan Yen, back at the hotel… why did you kiss me?”

I’d always been a direct person; if I felt wronged, I had to hash it out right then and there.

Tan Yen was focused on driving, completely ignoring my question as if he were stone-deaf, his stoic expression infuriatingly calm. Yet, thanks to this crazy mind-reading ability, I caught every single word of the wild storm roaring inside his head:

【 *Because I’m head-over-heels, madly in love with you, that’s why!* 】

【 *I waited so damn patiently for you to graduate, and the second you get out of college, you go hire male escorts?!* 】

【 *And then you have the nerve to say things that make me want to lose my mind!* 】

My heart practically leaped into my throat, thrashing violently against my ribs. My fingers clamped tightly around my phone, my breath catching in sheer shock.

*Am I hearing things?! Tan Yen… is in love with me? This stubborn, infuriating blockhead has been secretly harboring feelings for me all along?!*

When I was fifteen, he suddenly started keeping his distance for no apparent reason. He’d wear an icy scowl, constantly telling me to back off and forbidding me from touching him. There were times when I clung too hard, and he’d snap, *”Du Yen, do you have no sense of shame?”* before storming off.

When I turned sixteen, I gathered every ounce of courage to confess, shamelessly pursuing him for two whole years. The only response I ever got was a helpless shake of his head and the same tired line: “Go home and really think about whether you actually like me or not.”

And the result? While I was genuinely doing some soul-searching, the jerk went ahead and started dating someone else! You call that giving me time to think? He was clearly just sick of me and looking for an excuse to toss me aside!

Not to mention, after his family moved, we ended up at different universities. I knew the police academy had strict discipline, but surely they had days off? Surely they were allowed to use their phones? Yet he didn’t text me even ONCE!

What kind of love is that — cold and indifferent like an ice cream cone left melting in the summer heat?!

“You have veered off the route. Recalculating…”

The GPS voice shattered the heavy tension inside the car. Irritated, Tan Yen slapped the navigation off, tossing his phone to the side and grumbling defensively, “Du Yen, you talk way too much.”

If his hands gripping the steering wheel hadn’t tightened so hard his knuckles turned stark white, I might have actually bought his stoic act. Saying I talk too much? You’re clearly just panicking because you don’t know how to cover your tracks!

For the rest of the drive, Tan Yen kept his mouth shut tight, not uttering another word. The second we pulled into the apartment parking garage, he threw the door open, stepped out, and strode off like the wind without casting a single glance back at me.

Look at him running away with a guilty conscience!

Still, my mind was a total, convoluted mess. What on earth had happened over the past four years? If Tan Yen clearly liked me, why did he play the ice-cold, distant heartbreaker back then? If I hadn’t suddenly gained this mind-reading superpower today, and if he hadn’t unexpectedly brought a SWAT team to crash my party, I probably would’ve gone to my grave without ever knowing he felt this way about me.

Staring at his tall, receding back, I bit my lip, resolving to confront him face-to-face and demand an explanation. I wanted to hear what “valid” excuse he had for torturing my youth for all those years. If his explanation was reasonable, I’d forgive him; if not… before the system wiped me out, I’d make sure to drag him down with me!

Before I could even open my mouth, however, his scheming internal thoughts echoed in my ears once again:

【 Heh, now that I’ve tricked her into staying under my roof, home-field advantage is completely mine. I’ll use a little eye candy and seduction to reel my wife in. 】

【 There’s no way she won’t fall for it! 】

Wait, what? Seduction?! Could you give me a detailed step-by-step breakdown of this seduction plan, please?

Suddenly, I decided clearing the air could wait a little longer. After all, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to intercept Tan Yen’s innermost thoughts didn’t come around every day. I’d spent years meekly chasing after him, swallowing endless grievances throughout college; now it was time to let Tan Yen taste what it felt like to pull his hair out and lose sleep over me!

“Here. For you.”

Before stepping into his bedroom, Tan Yen handed me a pretty paper bag tied with a ribbon. Skeptical, I took it and opened it up, finding the latest, top-of-the-line GoPro inside — a pretty penny, for sure.

As Tan Yen was about to close his bedroom door, his deep, warm voice drifted out softly: “Happy birthday, Du Yen.”

I stood there frozen in place, a sudden wave of warmth surging through my chest.

That infuriating jerk… he actually remembered my birthday.