017 I Have Something to Say
The motorcycle emerged from the skyscrapers and merged into the traffic.
Zeng Keqin closed her eyes, feeling the wind roar past her ears. The turmoil in her heart was temporarily left behind.
After about forty minutes, the clamor of the city faded, and the thick air was filled with a salty, damp smell.
"We're here."
Jiang Shiyu stopped the bike and took off his helmet.
Zeng Keqin looked around. This was a fishing village dock, with a pier stretching out into the sea. At the end stood a dim yellow streetlamp. The sea sparkled, and waves crashed against the rocks in a steady rhythm.
"Where is this?"
"My secret base. Let me show you around."
Zeng Keqin got off the bike and followed him.
They stopped in the middle of the pier. The sea wind tousled her hair wildly, just like her mood.
Jiang Shiyu leaned against the railing, turning his head to look at her. "Something on your mind?"
Zeng Keqin smoothed her hair and asked an unrelated question: "Have you been free lately? You keep sending me messages all the time."
Jiang Shiyu was taken aback, then looked away, gazing at the sea. "It's because I wronged you before. I want to make it up to you, otherwise I'd feel guilty."
His voice was somewhat muffled by the sea breeze.
It wasn't entirely guilt, but when he was alone, he always wanted to know what she was doing.
The moon emerged from behind the clouds, casting a silvery glow across the sea.
The two stood there, quietly enjoying the beautiful sight.
After a long while, Zeng Keqin spoke. "I failed."
Jiang Shiyu: "I know."
Zeng Keqin turned to him. "Lawyer Zhuang told you?"
Jiang Shiyu snorted. "If he could leak the evaluation results, the sun would rise in the west."
"When you're in a good mood, you forward some incomprehensible papers. When you're in a bad mood, you don't post anything and don't reply to messages. Plus, today was the final day of the assessment. It's not hard to guess."
Zeng Keqin pressed her lips together. "You do know me quite well."
"Don't flatter yourself. I'm just observant."
Jiang Shiyu turned around, leaning his back against the railing, looking up at the stars. "I come here when I'm in a bad mood. As compensation, I'm sharing it with you."
Zeng Keqin rested her arms on the railing and said gloomily, "I'm not unhappy, just a bit unwilling. I've been working like crazy, putting in more effort than anyone else, and in the end, the ones who stay are a rich second-generation and a district mayor's daughter. I thought if I worked hard enough, I could stand firm in this circle, but it turns out all that is worthless against background and connections."
Jiang Shiyu was silent for a moment. "Actually, it's not just the lawyer circle. Every circle is the same. It's useless to be unwilling. It's like that everywhere."
Zeng Keqin gripped the railing tightly. All the overtime, the grievances of being targeted... all came flooding back.
"Of course you think it's nothing. You have a father who can casually donate a building."
As soon as she said it, the sea wind picked up.
Jiang Shiyu's face turned pale, and the smile faded from his lips.
"My family does have resources. But since I turned eighteen, I've never taken a penny from them. Everything I use and wear now, I earned bit by bit after starting work."
He turned his head, his dark eyes dimming. "Do you think everything I have now came easily? In my freshman year, the first advertisement I designed was torn up in front of me. The client pointed at my nose and cursed. The grievances you've suffered, I've suffered them too, and even more."
The sea wind howled, and the waves grew louder.
Zeng Keqin looked at his strikingly handsome face, but saw a hint of grievance in his eyes.
Her heart clenched.
"Forget it."
His voice returned to its casual tone. "I'm not saying this to compare who's worse off."
She lowered her head. "Sorry, I take back what I just said."
Jiang Shiyu gave a light snort, turned away, and looked at the sea. "If you want my forgiveness, promise me one thing."
"What thing?"
"Meet me at the school's east gate tomorrow at eight in the morning."
Zeng Keqin frowned. "I haven't agreed yet."
"Don't worry, I won't sell you. Besides, you're not worth much."
With that, he turned and walked toward the motorcycle. "Let's go. I'll take you back."
"You haven't told me what it is."
"You'll know tomorrow."
*
At the entrance of J University.