WHI – Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Wen Lan took several seconds to process the information. What did “girlfriend” mean? Was she gay?

But then, what did “it doesn’t affect the arranged marriage” mean? A sham marriage?

Seeing the Zhuang family of three on the opposite side all looking accepting, it seemed this young lady had already come out to her family.

It made sense. If she could unconditionally accept the family’s arranged marriage, even with a “girlfriend,” her family would likely see her as just a close “best friend.” Besides, men were generally more accepting of their arranged marriage partner being “gay” than women.

In any case, such marriages were usually about each person living their own lives, having a few children to appease the elders, and then it was done. From Wen Lan’s perspective, there was no disadvantage.

The Zhuang family probably thought the same way. Rather than letting their daughter fall in love freely with a woman, it was better to arrange a marriage partner early on, and then she could date as many girlfriends as she pleased.

The only one at a disadvantage in this situation was Zhuang Yian, but judging by her current demeanor, she accepted it calmly, even to the point of being unperturbed.

However, Wen Lan was unwilling. It wasn’t out of some noble pity for the girl in front of him—she didn’t seem to need his pity.

Most importantly, before meeting Lin Ting, he had detested the idea of arranged marriages. And after meeting Lin Ting, he couldn’t accept anyone else.

“I’m sorry, I don’t accept,” Wen Lan said, standing up and bowing to the three members of the Zhuang family.

Zhuang Zhuo’s expression turned extremely displeased. His precious daughter was so openly disliked, the flesh on his cheeks trembled slightly.

Wen Tan was so angry he couldn’t speak. He pointed at Wen Lan several times, but not wanting to make a scene in front of outsiders, he could only say, “We’ll settle this when we get home!”

The awkward atmosphere was gradually diffused by the violinist playing Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major. Wen Tan apologized to Zhuang Zhuo, promising to discipline his son at home. Zhuang Zhuo magnanimously waved his hand, saying that children these days didn’t understand the hardships of adults.

Under the tense atmosphere, everyone managed to maintain a semblance of calm until the cruise ship finally docked.

The Zhuang family of three stood up, nodded slightly, and then disembarked and left.

Just as Wen Lan was about to gather his belongings and leave, Wen Tan called out to him, “Come with me.”

Wen Lan followed Wen Tan up the stairs to the second-floor deck.

The ship had docked, but the scenery on the other side was still captivating. Perhaps it was the alcohol or the wind, but Wen Lan’s thoughts became more tangled.

Wen Tan took out his cigarette case, lit one for himself, and then offered one to Wen Lan.

Wen Lan was a little surprised. He had never smoked in front of his father before and wasn’t sure whether to accept or refuse.

“I know you smoke,” Wen Tan said, then directly placed the cigarette and lighter into Wen Lan’s hand.

“Dad, I can’t accept… an arranged marriage.” Seeing that his father knew, Wen Lan no longer concealed it. He casually placed the cigarette in his mouth, lit it, and returned the lighter to Wen Tan.

“I know, your temperament is just like your mother’s. But there’s no other way. If we can’t get the financing from the Zhuang family… Do you think I want to ask you to marry someone you don’t like, and who also wouldn’t like you?” Wen Tan sighed, “Just do it for Dad, for the company, okay?”

Wen Lan couldn’t say anything. He couldn’t refuse his father, nor could he accept the arranged marriage.

Soon, the cigarette was finished. Wen Lan extinguished the butt in the ashtray in the corner of the deck and tentatively asked, “What about other methods? Bank loans… things like that.”

Wen Tan shook his head and let out a long sigh. “The amount is too large, and if we default…”

As he spoke, Wen Tan turned around, holding the short cigarette butt, and pointed to the sky and then to the ground. “We’ll fall from here to there.”

The company’s financial situation hadn’t been good only since today. Wen Lan was well aware of it. He knew that for the past six months, his father had been losing his temper on the phone in his study, likely having exhausted every other option.

“Dad, it’s okay even if we have to start all over again, I’ll be with you…” Wen Lan reached out to comfort his father.

Unexpectedly, Wen Tan flung Wen Lan’s hand away, his breathing becoming unsteady. “Wen Lan, be sensible! What have I ever asked of you all these years? You fought and formed gangs at school, don’t think I don’t know. Every time Ye Wengong came over and spoke sarcastically, wasn’t it me who had to go and apologize and smooth things over for you? Now there’s only the two of us left in the family…”

“Dad, I’m sorry,” Wen Lan’s voice was dispersed in the air, somewhat indistinct. “But we can’t just rely on the Zhuang family. If we rely on them this time, what about next time? If the company has problems again, will I just marry someone else? We have to get through this on our own. If we can’t, then it’s fate.”

His words were unpleasant but reasonable. The matter of equity financing was neither big nor small, which was also why those old men on the board were unwilling. Who would want to give away another slice of their cake?

But the string that Wen Tan had been holding taut for half a year suddenly snapped. Emotionally agitated, he grabbed Wen Lan’s arm and yelled, “What do you mean ‘if there are problems again’? What do you mean ‘marry someone else’? What do you mean ‘fate’?! If you can’t speak properly, then don’t speak! You truly are not even half as good as your brother!”

The anger and annoyance Wen Lan had been suppressing surged up. He broke free from Wen Tan’s grasp, stepped back a few paces, and said, “Yes, that’s right, I’m not as good as my brother. But my brother is gone. It’s my fault. I know you hate me, you can scold me or hit me, but why do you have to compare me to him again and again? I know I’m not half as good as him, but why do you have to remind me every day!”

Wen Tan’s eyes turned extremely cold. “So you admit it. The fact that you’re useless? If it were your brother, let alone helping the company through this crisis, even if it developed into this situation, if I asked him to marry, he would have agreed immediately.”

After speaking, Wen Tan stepped backward, his body leaning against the railing behind him. “If only it were you who died 8 years ago.”

Before Wen Lan could react, Wen Tan laughed and tumbled backward off the deck.

For a moment, Wen Lan didn’t understand how his father had disappeared before his eyes. He stared blankly at the air for about 2 seconds before lunging towards the railing, seeing his father struggling in the water.

Wen Tan didn’t cry out. The night was too dark, and the staff took several seconds to realize someone had fallen into the water.

“Help! Someone fell into the water! Does anyone know how to swim!”

“Where’s Xiao Wang? Doesn’t he know how to swim?”

“Xiao Wang is on vacation today! What do we do? I don’t know how to swim either, quickly call 110. No, 120!”

Fearful shouts erupted, filling Wen Lan’s ears. Before his eyes, his father’s figure gradually merged with Wen Yan’s figure from 8 years ago.

Wen Lan could feel his heart pounding violently, his entire body tensing. Cold sweat poured from his forehead to his palms.

He had to save his father. He couldn’t let anyone drown in front of him again.

He knew the onlookers were unreliable, just like with Wen Yan. They were always too late, always a few seconds or minutes short, and by then, it would be too late for everything.

Before he could mentally prepare himself, the night wind pushed him, urging him, to leap into the submerged illusion.

The summer sea was not as bone-chilling as in winter. Wen Lan almost effortlessly grabbed his father’s arm and pushed him towards the shore. The crowd of onlookers on the shore had been waiting for a long time. They extended their arms and forcefully pulled Wen Tan ashore, then gathered around him to perform emergency resuscitation.

Wen Lan reached out to grab a rock on the shore. As his fingertips touched the hard surface, a tingling sensation spread from the soles of his feet.

This numbness quickly spread from his feet to his limbs. His palms involuntarily curled. Wen Yan’s pale face and lifeless body from 8 years ago filled his mind.

Everything before his eyes became blurry, with only the anxious shouts reaching his ears.

“Grab me!”

“What’s wrong with him? Did he get a cramp?”

“Bad! Quickly find a stick, he can’t reach!”

Fragmented characters in his mind failed to form logic. Wen Lan didn’t know what they were saying, but from their tone, it seemed they were quite worried.

Worried about what? What was there to be worried about for someone who had caused his brother’s death and almost caused his father’s death?

Wen Lan even wondered if his brother would suddenly return if he also drowned.

If only he could return. At least the photo on the altar at home was undeniably of ‘Wen Lan,’ which was much luckier than Wen Yan.

Wen Lan closed his eyes, letting his body sink naturally with the current.

The seawater seeped through his pores, from every corner, into his bones, drilling into his temples. Wen Lan was quickly drawn to this sense of peace. His limbs, his breathing, everything became calm and relaxed. He hadn’t had such a peaceful moment in a long time, like when he was little, listening to his mother holding him and his brother, telling gentle bedtime stories, just before falling asleep.

“Wen Lan! Wake up!”

The voice was somewhat familiar, but Wen Lan couldn’t recall who it was.

A hand lifted him from behind, tightly gripping his waist, and dragging him towards the surface.

Who was it, insistently disturbing him from here?

As a sudden loss of gravity occurred, his back pressed against the hard ground. Wen Lan guessed he must have been rescued by someone.

Meddling.

Wen Lan struggled to open his eyes, wanting to see who this meddler was.

The man in front of him was wearing a waiter’s uniform, completely soaked. Water dripped from the ends of his hair, splashing onto his face and chest.

His pupils trembled with anxiety, his breaths rapid with unease. His cold fingertips brushed against his face, as if confirming if he had regained consciousness.

It must be a hallucination. How could he possibly be here?

Wen Lan even saw that the man’s sleeves were rolled up, revealing a red string on each arm.

How could Lin Ting have two red strings?

The man looked at him, and long, trembling eyelashes shed slightly salty water droplets that fell onto his lips.

So salty. He wasn’t sure if it was the seawater.

Even if it were a hallucination, Wen Lan couldn’t help but blurt out, “I miss you so much, Lin Ting.”