Chapter 2 - Chapter 3: Heartfelt Thoughts Revealed, No Response to Temptation

Days passed by, and the "tacit understanding" between Song Huaiyue and the anonymous liker became deeper and deeper. She updated her blog every day, sharing her daily life and thoughts, and the other party would always like it immediately, occasionally leaving a gentle comment, never absent.Huaiyue gradually got used to this anonymous company, got used to thinking of sharing on the blog first when she was happy, looking forward to his like; got used to pouring out on the blog when she was wronged, waiting for his gentle encouragement. Sometimes, she even felt that this anonymous person understood her better than anyone around her.That weekend, her parents rarely did not go to the company and stayed at home to have dinner with Huaiyue. At the dinner table, her mother brought up the college entrance examination and major again, her tone still firm: "Huaiyue, your father and I have already inquired. Several key universities in Beijing have very good Finance Departments. You study hard now, strive to get in, and after graduation, we will arrange a good job for you. Isn't it good to live a stable life all your life?"Huaiyue's hand holding the chopsticks tightened slightly. After hesitating for a long time, she still plucked up the courage to say softly: "Mom, I don't want to go to the Finance Department. I want to go to the Design Department. I like interior design, and I want to be a designer."As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became tense. Her father put down his chopsticks, his face sank, and he said seriously: "What's good about the Design Department? It's unstable and doesn't make much money. You're a girl, what kind of designer do you want to be? Listen to us, don't be willful, just choose the Finance Department.""But I really don't like finance, I like design..." Huaiyue's voice became smaller and smaller, her eyes slightly red, full of grievance and unwillingness in her heart."Can liking be eaten as food?" Her mother's tone also became severe. "We are all doing this for your own good. Why are you so ignorant? Don't mention the Design Department again. Study your science hard and get into the Finance Department in Beijing in the future. This is what your father and I have decided."Huaiyue did not refute again, just silently lowered her head, eating the rice in the bowl bite by bite. Tears couldn't help falling, hitting the bowl, rippling small ripples. She knew that her parents were doing it for her own good, but they never asked what she wanted.After dinner, Huaiyue returned to her room, closed the door, lay on the bed, and cried loudly. All the grievance, unwillingness and confusion broke out completely at this moment. She didn't understand why her dream couldn't be recognized? Why couldn't her parents understand her?After crying for a long time, she gradually calmed down, her eyes red and swollen. She turned on the computer and updated a blog post, full of grievance and confusion between the lines: [I quarreled with my parents today because I want to go to the Design Department, but they don't agree. They say design is unstable and I'm ignorant. I really like design, and I don't want to give up, but I don't want to disappoint my parents. I don't know what to do. I'm so confused. Should I follow my parents' arrangements or stick to my own dream? Is there anyone who can tell me what I should do?]After publishing, she sat in front of the computer, staring at the screen, full of expectation in her heart, looking forward to the anonymous person's comment, looking forward to getting a little guidance and encouragement.Shortly after, the screen lit up. The familiar anonymous like came as scheduled, followed by a new comment: [Follow your heart, don't force yourself, and don't feel too guilty. Your parents' original intention is for your own good, but your life is ultimately up to you to decide. Your love is worth persisting in. When you are strong enough, you can do what you like.]Seeing that comment, Huaiyue's tears fell again, this time, tears of gratitude. This anonymous person could always accurately understand her thoughts, and always give her the most gentle encouragement and the most firm support when she was most confused and wronged.She plucked up the courage to tentatively ask again: [Thank you, really thank you. I don't know who you are or where you are. Can you tell me who you are? Have you ever been as confused as me? Are you from Beijing? I heard from my classmates that there are many excellent design colleges in Beijing, and I really want to go to Beijing to have a look.]She typed these words carefully, full of expectation and nervousness in her heart. She looked forward to the other party's response, looking forward to knowing more about this person who silently encouraged her; but she was also a little nervous, afraid that the other party would not be willing to respond, afraid that this anonymous company would end because of her temptation.She stared at the screen, waiting for a long time, one minute, two minutes, ten minutes, half an hour... The computer screen never lit up again, no new likes, no new comments. The anonymous person seemed to have disappeared, not responding to any of her temptations.A faint sense of loss welled up in Huaiyue's heart. She knew that she might be too anxious, or maybe the other party just didn't want to expose his identity and didn't want to be disturbed. She gently turned off the computer, secretly telling herself that it was okay. No matter who he was or where he was, as long as she had this anonymous company, it was enough.In Beijing, He Zhiyun looked at Huaiyue's temptation on the screen, his fingers pausing on the keyboard for a long time. He saw her expectation and understood her curiosity. He really wanted to respond to her, wanted to tell her who he was, wanted to tell her that Beijing was beautiful, and when she came, he would accompany her.But he couldn't. He was an illegitimate child of the He family, and his world was full of darkness and struggles. He couldn't let this bright and clean girl get involved in his disputes, and couldn't let her get any harm. He could only choose to be silent, choose to continue hiding his identity, continue to be a silent onlooker, guarding her brightness and her dream.He gently clicked the like icon and liked Huaiyue's blog post again—that was the only response he could give her, the most cautious warmth hidden in his heart.The night was getting deeper. The gentle wind in Guangzhou blew into the window, brushing Huaiyue's desk and the confusion in her heart. She picked up a paintbrush and sketched the small house with a balcony again on the draft paper, with the sun just right and flowers blooming all the way. She secretly made up her mind that no matter how difficult it was, she would stick to her love. When she was strong enough, she would do what she liked, go to Beijing to have a look, and find that person who silently encouraged her.And thousands of miles away in Beijing, He Zhiyun looked at Huaiyue's blog post on the screen, his eyes full of warmth and forbearance. He knew that their story had just begun, and all he could do was guard silently and wait quietly, waiting for a time when he could appear beside her openly and protect her well.