Shion’s Notes 101

Chapter 101: Ye Zhiyun’s Disappointment

Ye Zhiyun had everything she could want since childhood. Good food, good clothes, no worries about basic necessities, and she could travel the world. With an older brother at home, she was the center of attention and affection. Her father might have been busy, but her mother always doted on her, never letting her lift a finger.

Ever since her father decided to “toughen her up” and cut off her allowance, pushing her into the world of stock trading, she had actively stepped out of her comfort zone.

The better she performed at work, the stronger her abilities became, and gradually, the pride ingrained in her bones grew stronger. For so many years, she had always been demanding in her work, never allowing failure.

“Zhiyun, calm down first. Have some tea…”

Seeing her like this, Dai Wenqian couldn’t help feeling a bit worried and poured her a cup of hot tea. In this cold weather, hopefully, the hot tea could warm her up a little.

Ye Zhiyun, competitive and unwilling to admit defeat, sat down angrily, arms crossed. These days, she had been incredibly busy, her body long past its limit, just pushing through. But when all her efforts turned to nothing, all the problems surfaced, especially the frustration suppressed in her heart, erupting at this moment.

Dai Wenqian understood her friend’s personality very well and didn’t dare provoke her easily, only offering comfort. After all, this was one of the few setbacks Ye Zhiyun had experienced in so many years. Previously, she had always been successful, everything she did yielding good results. A situation like this, with all efforts wasted and no progress made, was rare. It was only natural to have difficulty accepting it for a while.

Just like her father said, she had to learn to accept failure.

Although those words were simple, getting her to understand them was no easy task. Ye Zhiyun’s personality was competitive and strong-willed. Accepting her loss would take time.

This meal was quite awkward. The two barely spoke. Dai Wenqian deeply understood her friend’s personality. At this time, she could only stay by her side, hoping she wouldn’t go astray. Ye Zhiyun was good at everything except being too proud. Her inability to accept failure was also inevitable.

She needed time to accept this now.

After finishing the meal, Ye Zhiyun didn’t rush home, but wandered around outside. Dressed in her suit, she looked every bit the professional, which deterred a few would-be harassers. Even if they did approach, it wouldn’t have mattered; Ye Zhiyun could easily take them down.

Her mood clearly low, Ye Zhiyun sighed. She took out her phone and made a call. At this moment, there seemed to be no one she could rely on. Dai Wenqian stood obediently to the side, tactfully quiet.

“Hello, Muqing. I know you’re there.”

“What’s up? It’s so late.”

“My project didn’t go well, fell apart. I lost some money. Can you come out?”

“Zhiyun, don’t worry. It’s just one failure, not a big deal. You need to adjust your mindset, analyze your mistakes, so next time this kind of thing happens…”

“Could you just shut up?! I just wanted you to come out. Why so much nonsense!”

Ye Zhiyun didn’t understand why this low-EQ man had to enter her life. If only he were a little more perceptive, how great would that be?

But she also knew clearly that she and Li Muqing were probably impossible.

However, three years of feelings couldn’t be let go so easily. Now, she was tired, exhausted, wanting to find someone to lean on. No matter how strong and capable she was, she was still an 18-year-old girl, and she also got tired.

She also had to protect Yu Linna, who lived at her house. She couldn’t let her see her like this.

She could only look for Li Muqing.

Li Muqing drove over about ten minutes later. As soon as he got out of the car, he saw Ye Zhiyun and Dai Wenqian waiting outside the restaurant. He scratched his head and walked over.

“Zhiyun, Wenqian, hello. It’s so cold late at night, aren’t you going back?”

Sigh, low EQ, Dai Wenqian silently added in her heart.
For her good friend Ye Zhiyun, she tactfully stepped aside, giving them enough space.

“Muqing, come have coffee with me. I’m a little sleepy.”

“If you’re sleepy, I’ll take you home. Looking at you, you seem like you haven’t slept for several days. Let’s go, get in the car.”

“Do you care whether I slept or not? I want to drink coffee, come with me.”

“But drinking coffee late at night isn’t good…”

“I like it, mind your own business.”

Dai Wenqian silently threw up her hands from the side. There really was such a thing as low-EQ men in this world. These kinds of men all suffer from one disease called “deserves to be single” disease.

“I have something to do, going home now. Enjoy your coffee, hehe.”

Dai Wenqian proactively left them space and went home. Anyway, this was none of her business. Staying here wouldn’t be appropriate. Better not be tactless.

After Dai Wenqian left, Ye Zhiyun followed Li Muqing to the coffee shop and ordered coffee. Li Muqing was utterly bewildered. Why did she suddenly want coffee? Just seeing Ye Zhiyun in a suit, drinking coffee in a coffee shop at night, felt strange.

Shouldn’t one drink alcohol after a failed business deal?

“Do you think I’m really useless?”

At this moment, Ye Zhiyun seemed to have lost her usual assertiveness and pride, instead looking very fragile, her beauty enhanced.

“I thought I was all-powerful, capable of everything. I was still too confident. Without enough bargaining chips, people don’t even glance at me. Guess what they say? They say it’s because I’m that person’s daughter that they give me face.”

“Zhiyun…”

“Damn it, I’m so unwilling. I don’t want to lose. I want to succeed. I don’t want to fail. I won’t fall so easily.”

Ye Zhiyun was inherently competitive, a characteristic she displayed from her very first encounter with Yu Linna. At that time, she truly refused to admit defeat. Facing Yu Linna’s appearance, which threatened her relationship with Li Muqing, she showed strong aversion, even arguing upon meeting.
This was precisely because, at her core, she was extremely proud, not allowing anyone to steal Li Muqing. But since realizing she and Li Muqing were probably impossible, she had gradually let go of that persistence.

But it was undeniable, she had liked Li Muqing, liked him for three years.

This feeling had existed.

“Zhiyun, let me take you home.”

“Take me home? Haha, how funny. Even if you take me home, so what? Still an honest person. Haven’t you gained any enlightenment at all these three years? Why are you so dense? Why don’t you understand what I mean?”

If only Li Muqing were just a little bit more perceptive, how great would that be? Just a little bit, and he could have her. But he never understood.

Three years, she had liked him for three years, pursued him for three years. Yet he had never grasped her intentions.

She just didn’t understand why she fell for this low-EQ man.

“Zhiyun, what do you mean?”

“Sigh, when will you ever understand? You really are a fool.”

If it weren’t for the fact that she was drinking coffee, Li Muqing would have thought she was drunk.

“Muqing, haven’t you ever liked me? I liked you. But you never seem to notice me.”

Sure enough, Li Muqing’s face was blank; this was within her expectations.

Some things, if you’re not direct, they will never be understood. This is such a sad thing. She once thought he would understand, yet in reality, he didn’t.

Li Muqing, having the character of a male protagonist, but not a male protagonist’s destiny.

“Sorry, I’ve always regarded you as my younger sister.”

Li Muqing was silent for a while before finally responding to her confession.

This answer was also expected. Just, it still felt sad.

Her mother, Li Xiaoyue, was right. Li Muqing never had a place for her in his heart. To him, she was always just family, not a lover. She had always known this. Always.

“I know. I know…”

As she spoke these words, the dejection on her face deepened. If not for her incredibly strong rational mind, she would have probably burst into tears at this moment.

Nothing is sadder than being rejected.

A three-year-long affection, three years later, ending in failure. She was never the person in his dreams; she was just someone who happened to appear in his life.

“Zhiyun…”

“You don’t have to pity me, or think too much of me. I came here just wanting to tell you that I once liked you. But that’s in the past. After tonight, we are still friends.”

“…Yes. You can come to me with any difficulties. As long as you are willing, I can support you for a lifetime.”

“Okay…”

She spoke this word with a wry smile, her heart bleeding.

Inexplicably, the figure of a blonde girl flashed across her mind, slowly soothing the wound in her heart. Somehow, she just wanted to see that girl now, wanted to hug her, wanted to meet her again. And this feeling intensified with the passing of time.

She looked up at the night sky outside the window, feeling melancholic, a trace of longing in her eyes.

Wanting to see Yu Linna, this feeling became increasingly strong. She so wished there were someone by her side, someone to comfort her.

Where was that blonde girl?
Missing her, wanting to see her. Where was she…?

“Are you okay? Let me take you home.”

“…Okay.”

She was no longer stubborn, no longer proud, just nodded. At this moment, she was just a child needing comfort.

Life is long. Experiencing a failure or two was normal. But whether she could get over it, that was up to her. Ye Zhiyun, such a proud person, had accepted two failures within a day: one in career, one in love. Could she overcome it?

It truly depended on herself now.

But in a certain sense, this was also a good thing. At least it severed her wishful thinking, allowed her to shift her focus to where it should be, and also let her clearly recognize her own feelings.

Some things, since you can’t force them, just let them go. No one will feel sorry for you because of your pity. In this world, the only one you can truly rely on is yourself.

Ye Zhiyun seemed to understand, yet seemed not to understand.

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