Chapter 78: Comforting Li Mengya, A Second Moment of Intimacy

A yellow Beetle sped along the coastal highway.

“I am free as the wind,
Just like your tenderness,
Impossible to hold onto.
You pushed away the hands I reached out,
Go on,
It’s best not to look back.”

Jiang Yun drove the yellow Beetle, the window rolled down. His right hand gripped the steering wheel, while his left elbow rested on the window frame. The breeze swept through his hair.

“What song are you humming? Is it a new one?”
“‘Free Like the Wind.’ You could call it new,” Jiang Yun replied.
“This rock tune is lively, and the lyrics are poetic!”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Li Mengya blushed, her heart fluttering at Jiang Yun’s words.

“Jiang Yun!” Li Mengya called his name.
“Hmm?” Jiang Yun kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, oblivious to her expression.
“What is it?”
“Jiang Yun, could you write a song just for me?”
Jiang Yun was taken aback, then nodded, “What kind of song do you want?”
Li Mengya rolled her eyes inwardly at his slow reaction. “You don’t get it! Any kind is fine. I don’t want a song for work, I want one you write specially for me.”
“But I still need to know the style you prefer, don’t I?”
Such a blockhead, Li Mengya thought, turning her head away in exasperation. “Whatever, just treat it as any style at all.”
“All right.” Jiang Yun nodded and focused on driving.

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Yun parked by the sea. For ten of those minutes, Li Mengya had ignored him.
Jiang Yun was unbothered by her silence, humming to himself as he drove.
The pale sand on the beach looked refreshingly clean. The shore buzzed with activity: vendors selling swimsuits, ice cream, and barbecue.

“Jiang Yun, will you write me a song or not?”
Jiang Yun was speechless. They were enjoying their outing, and she brought up the old subject again.
“You always—”
“If you ask what kind again, I swear I’ll throw myself into the sea!” Li Mengya’s pretty face flashed with anger.
“I…” Throw herself into the sea? Jiang Yun was even more at a loss. He lamented inwardly, Good God, what is this? Can’t even ask about the type of song.

Jiang Yun put on an enlightened look. “I know what kind of song I should write now!”
Li Mengya was intrigued. He knows?
“What song?” she asked.
“That kind.”
“What kind?”
“Just that kind. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

Li Mengya was bewildered by Jiang Yun’s evasiveness. Did he really understand? She pondered but found no answer, and continued strolling with him along the beach.

The sea breeze fluttered Li Mengya’s deep blue dress, and a few strands of her bangs danced with the wind.

“Jiang Yun…”
“Yes? What’s wrong?”
“Actually, when I called you today, I was thinking about ending my life.”
“Li Mengya, what trouble can’t be overcome? Even if you don’t become a star, does it matter? Besides, it’s too early to decide anything. I’ll help you!”
Li Mengya was puzzled. “You don’t seem surprised!”
Jiang Yun couldn’t explain that his clear logic skill, combined with her tone during their phone call, had allowed him to deduce several possibilities.

“Phew—saying it really does make me feel better! I didn’t want you to know I had such thoughts, you’d think I was weak!”
Jiang Yun smiled. “Don’t be silly. Everyone faces issues now and then; you just got stuck in a rut for a moment.”
“Jiang Yun, why do you seem so world-weary to me?”
Jiang Yun paused. “Do I?”
“Don’t you?”
“Do I?”
“No, you’re imagining things!”
Li Mengya was speechless. Was Jiang Yun emotionally numb?

They dropped the heavy topic.

Evening came, and the sun dipped westward.
The sea horizon was awash in crimson.
The two chased and played.

“Jiang Yun, you’re cheating! You said no martial arts, but you used them!”
“No way, I’m just naturally fit!”
“One, two, three—statue!”
Jiang Yun balanced on one foot, wobbling.

Li Mengya turned her head. “One, two, three…”
Jiang Yun took a big stride forward.

Li Mengya spun back. “Statue…”

Bang!

“Ouch!”

Jiang Yun and Li Mengya collided. They tumbled to the ground, wrapped in each other’s arms.

At that moment, Li Mengya lay on the ground, held by Jiang Yun. Their eyes locked, wide and close.

With the distance so intimate, Jiang Yun could smell the fragrance of her hair.

Jiang Yun coughed twice to disguise his embarrassment, then stood up. He pulled Li Mengya to her feet, holding her hand.

Li Mengya brushed sand from her dress. “Don’t do that again. All that clumsy crashing ruins my mood.”

Jiang Yun rubbed his nose, secretly delighted. Wasn’t this the second time such a suggestive scene had happened? The sensation of their contact lingered sweetly in his mind.

He stood there grinning foolishly, his thoughts wild.

Li Mengya saw his sly smile and knew he was up to no good. “Stop grinning!”

Jiang Yun wiped the smirk from his face, putting on an air of dignity.

Li Mengya glared at his fake seriousness, her glance full of charm and allure.

Jiang Yun sobered up. “It’s getting late. Let’s head back.”

Li Mengya extended her slender, pale hand to him.

“What is it?”
“Hold my hand!”
Jiang Yun hesitated for a moment, but this was no time to shrink back.

He took her hand, leading her toward the yellow Beetle.

Li Mengya skipped along beside him.

They reached the roadside, Jiang Yun opened the car door, and both got in.

Jiang Yun delayed starting the engine. The atmosphere inside the car grew increasingly intimate.

“Mengya!” Jiang Yun called her name.

“Yes? What is it?”

“We…”
Jiang Yun gathered his courage. “Is this considered a date?”

Li Mengya lowered her head, her cheeks red, like an ostrich hiding. “I suppose so.”

“So what are we now?”

“I don’t know either…”

Silence fell, the air thick with ambiguity.

Knock, knock, knock!

Jiang Yun jumped, and Li Mengya was startled as well.

Damn! Jiang Yun cursed inwardly. Who was it, ruining the mood?

He pressed the button, and the window slid down.

Jiang Yun was about to lash out, but saw a traffic officer in a yellow reflective vest standing by the car.

His temper vanished instantly.

“Officer, is something wrong?”

“It’s getting late. You can’t park by the roadside—it’s dangerous. Please leave promptly.”

“Yes, yes, we’ll go right away!” Jiang Yun replied warmly, almost bowing.

“Hmm.” The officer stood by, not leaving. “I’ll watch you drive off.”

Jiang Yun was speechless. Where’s the trust between people? But he said nothing.

Jiang Yun started the engine, taking Li Mengya away, the yellow Beetle wobbling down the road…