Chapter 157: Honestly
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
There were two themes for this competition, “Tomorrow” and “Goodbye”. Xu Jiaojiao had drawn “Goodbye”. The contest duration was four hours.
After Xu Jiaojiao sat down, she mused for a short time before starting to draw.
Bai Mengyao was there as the invigilator, and she immediately caught sight of Xu Jiaojiao sitting in the corner.
Why was she here?
Bai Mengyao felt a flash of hostility.
She then saw a familiar figure standing outside the window. Bai Mengyao hurriedly walked towards that figure.
“Lu Zhuo,” Bai Mengyao called his name softly.
“Mengyao?” Lu Zhuo did not expect to meet Bai Mengyao here, asking calmly, “Why are you here?”
“Have you forgotten? I major in art. I was invited to be an invigilator here, and my suggestions will be taken into account during the grading later.”
Bai Mengyao explained as she looked into Lu Zhuo’s eyes. However, he was looking into the distance. Bai Mengyao followed his gaze and found Xu Jiaojiao.
Bai Mengyao’s heart ached.
“I heard that this competition is sponsored by your company. Are you here as the representative?” Bai Mengyao asked.
“You could say that,” Lu Zhuo said to Bai Mengyao, but his eyes were fixed in Xu Jiaojiao’s direction.
Seeing Lu Zhuo like this, Bai Mengyao could not help but feel lonely.
Four hours into the competition, Xu Jiaojiao was so focused that she did not notice that there was no one around her. She only came back to her senses when the invigilator called out to her.
After handing in her work, Xu Jiaojiao walked out of the room. When she passed by Bai Mengyao, it was as if she was looking at a stranger.
However, Lu Zhuo was not as calm when she reached him.
“Jiaojiao,” Lu Zhuo called out softly with a hint of tenderness in his eyes.
“Hi,��� Xu Jiaojiao replied and walked past him without any hesitation.
Xu Jiaojiao thought that Lu Zhuo was here for Bai Mengyao, so she was not going to strike up a conversation with him.
Lu Zhuo wanted to say something more, but Bai Mengyao stopped him before he could stop Xu Jiaojiao.
“Lu Zhuo…” Bai Mengyao called out to him.
“What’s the matter?” Lu Zhuo looked at her resentfully.
“I only came because I heard that the Ma Liang Cup was sponsored by your company,” Bai Mengyao said faintly. “Also, I’ve heard about you and Xu Jiaojiao. I’m not planning to go back overseas this time. All these years, I’ve…”
Lu Zhuo understood what Bai Mengyao meant. “Mengyao, aren’t you thinking too much? It’s already over between us.”
“What do you mean it’s over? You ran away from your wedding for me. How could you do that and then say it’s over between us?” Bai Mengyao did not understand. Lu Zhuo had clearly abandoned Xu Jiao jiao for her back then, but why was he acting like this now?
“Mengyao, 1 didn’t run away from the wedding. You were in danger, so 1 went to you. That’s all. It’s my fault that we broke up. I couldn’t just ignore you,” Lu Zhuo explained.
If Lu Zhuo had known that his going overseas to look for Bai Mengyao would cost him his marriage to Xu Jiaojiao, he would never have left.
However, it was too late now. Xu Jiaojiao had already married someone else, but he still felt that he should not give up. After all, Xu Jiao jiao used to like him so much.
“Was it really just your sense of guilt?” Bai Mengyao asked disbelievingly.
Lu Zhuo did not answer. Instead, he said, “Mengyao, everything has changed.
You and I have changed. We can’t go back to how we were.”
Bai Mengyao shook her head, tears streaming down her face. Her heart felt like it was being stabbed by a knife. “Are you in love with her?”
Lu Zhuo did not reply, but his eyes said it all.
Bai Mengyao’s heart felt like it was being torn apart. How could he love that girl? How could he?
If it were not for Xu Jiaojiao, they might even have had children by now. Shouldn’t he hate her? Why did he love her?
“Lu Zhuo, she’s already married to someone else. Stop daydreaming.” Bai Mengyao pulled Lu Zhuo back fiercely.
Lu Zhuo sighed guiltily. “I’m sorry, I have to go.” He was in a hurry to find Xu Jiaojiao.
Just as Xu Jiaojiao walked out of the hall, she heard someone call out to her, “Xu Jiaojiao, wait a minute.”
She turned around and saw that it was Lu Zhuo.
“What do you want with me?”
Shouldn’t he be with Bai Mengyao?
“You left too quickly. Why didn’t you wait for me?” Lu Zhuo looked a little upset.
“Why should I wait for you?” Xu Jiaojiao was puzzled.
“I mean, even if we can’t get married, can’t we still be friends?” Lu Zhuo was panting. It was obvious that he had run over.
“Sure, but… I don’t want to be friends with you,” Xu Jiaojiao said honestly..