sbdcsierra Chapter 126 I love you more than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.
Chapter 126 I love you more than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, like a symphony of nature accompanying the lovers. Wang Jie and Zhou Yanruo walked side by side along the tree-lined path, enjoying this rare tranquility and warmth. The afternoon sun shone through the sparse clouds, casting dappled patterns on them, adding a touch of languid romance to the afternoon.
“I’ve walked this road countless times, but only this time do I feel particularly at ease,” Zhou Yanruo said softly, her gaze gently falling on the school entrance ahead, the place where she grew up. “In the past, my parents’ expectations put a lot of pressure on me, and every journey home left me exhausted.”
Wang Jie smiled slightly, turned to look at Zhou Yanruo, and said, "Now, you can finally follow your own ideas and walk your own path."
Zhou Yanruo took Wang Jie's hand and said gently, "And now you're here with me, it's so wonderful!"
Wang Jie gripped Zhou Yanruo's hand tightly, conveying not only strength but also deep affection.
The two continued on their way, occasionally exchanging a smile. No words were needed; their feelings were conveyed in this silent exchange. Their dreams now included their beloved, and they had companions on their journey. They were filled with anticipation and longing for the future.
And so, hand in hand, they continued walking toward the campus of Tsinghua and Peking Universities.
Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the gate of Peking University and Tsinghua University. Zhou Yanruo was about to point to the magnificent plaque on the gate tower and introduce it to Wang Jie when she suddenly noticed that Wang Jie looked unusual. His face was as pale as paper, and fine beads of sweat kept seeping from his forehead.
She quickly took Wang Jie's arm and asked with concern, "Wang Jie, what's wrong? You're sweating so much and your complexion isn't good. Are you feeling unwell?"
Wang Jie felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart, making it suddenly extremely heavy. His mind went blank, and he felt weak all over, as if he had been drained of all his energy.
"I'm fine, let's go first." Although Wang Jie said this, her legs felt like lead, unable to move an inch. Her heart felt as heavy as if it were being weighed down, and a voice in her head was screaming, "Are you sure you want to do this? Are you ready?"
Without a second thought, Wang Jie turned around abruptly, his pace quickening as he practically fled from the entrance of Tsinghua and Peking Universities. Only after crossing the road did the feeling of exhaustion begin to ease.
Only then did he remember Zhou Yanruo. He turned around and saw her still standing there, pointing at him, laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight.
Wang Jie waved to her, and Zhou Yanruo, seeing this, hurriedly ran over.
"Watch out, watch out for cars!" Wang Jie warned.
Zhou Yanruo took Wang Jie's arm and laughed, "You coward, are you really that afraid of seeing my mother? Look how scared you are, is it really that big of a deal!"
Wang Jie said awkwardly in a low voice, "Maybe I didn't sleep last night."
Seeing this, Zhou Yanruo felt a pang of sympathy. Wang Jie's weakness was clearly not feigned; perhaps she had indeed put him in a difficult position.
“Wang Jie, I know there’s a park not far from here. It’s a nice place, and there aren’t too many people around at this time. Why don’t we go sit there for a while? You can rest there too.”
Wang Jie finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, let's go."
There is indeed a small park not far from here, but Wang Jie didn't notice it when he passed by earlier.
Stepping into the park, a breath of fresh air greets you, carrying the faint fragrance of flowers and the scent of grass, instantly making you feel relaxed and refreshed. In the center of the park stands an exquisitely designed fountain, its water droplets refracting dazzling light under the sun, like stars fallen to earth.
They found a bench with its back against a big tree and sat down.
Zhou Yanruo took out a tissue from her bag and gently wiped the sweat from Wang Jie's forehead. She then lifted Wang Jie's head and gently turned it toward her.
Wang Jie lay down, resting his head on Zhou Yanruo's lap, and closed his eyes, letting the moment of tranquility wash away his anxiety and unease.
"Are you feeling any better?" Zhou Yanruo asked softly.
Wang Jie closed his eyes slightly and nodded.
The two remained silent for a while, enjoying the rare tranquility. Then, Wang Jie broke the silence, his tone serious, "I'm not afraid to meet your mother. I just had a sudden, inexplicable panic. I guess I'll be fine after a rest. I'm sorry to have disappointed you."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanruo gently grasped Wang Jie's hand. "No need to explain. I won't blame you. You weren't prepared. I was too impatient."
She paused for two seconds, then said, "Wang Jie, do you lack confidence in me, or perhaps in us? I can sense that you like me, but I don't understand why you always seem so distant. Is there some reason I can't know?"
Wang Jie opened his eyes and met Zhou Yanruo's gaze. He saw a trace of sadness flash in her eyes. "Ruoruo, it's my fault. It's all resolved now, and it won't happen again."
Wang Jie felt a pang of pity. The usually cheerful and lively Zhou Yanruo was becoming increasingly insecure. Her recent experiences had already been distressing enough; he couldn't let her be hurt by anything else. Hadn't he already decided to follow his heart? Since he had decided to accept her feelings, he should treat her well and give her the security and commitment she deserved. So, Wang Jie took a deep breath, his tone becoming even more firm and gentle: "Ruoruo, listen to me. I have unwavering faith in you and in us. My previous hesitation and aloofness were indeed due to some unresolved emotions and lingering shadows from the past. When the time is right, I will definitely tell you. Trust me, all of that is in the past; there are no more obstacles between us."
"I admit, I was afraid, afraid that I couldn't make any promises to you, afraid that one day I would disappear and never come back. I always thought of running away and hiding my feelings for you. I thought I could do it, but I couldn't. I just couldn't do it because you are too good, so good that I can't help myself every time I see you."
Wang Jie gently pulled Zhou Yanruo closer, letting her lean against his chest, feeling each other's heartbeats. "From now on, I will cherish every moment we spend together even more, and I will no longer make you feel uneasy or confused. Okay?"
Zhou Yanruo looked up, her eyes welling up with tears, and softly replied, "I believe you."
"Wang Jie, I love you!"
Wang Jie could finally tell Zhou Yanruo, "Ruoruo, I love you more than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow."
Zhou Yanruo hooked her arms around Wang Jie's neck, met his burning gaze, and kissed his lips—soft, moist, and slightly warm…
Wang Jie instinctively tensed up and pulled Zhou Yanruo into his arms. The two young bodies embraced tightly, both trembling involuntarily...