A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1384 Scumbag? No, this is universal love! (Please subscribe!)
On the other end of the phone, Lin Jiamo's voice was filled with unprecedented vulnerability and unease. She asked abruptly:
"Twelve, will you leave me?"

Hua Shier keenly sensed something was off about the person on the other end of the phone. Instead of immediately pressing for details, he first reassured them with a smile and unwavering confidence:
"Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about? No, never."

The firmness in his tone was like a warm tide, gently soothing Lin Jiamo's fear.

Then, he softened his voice and asked in a guiding manner:
"What's wrong? What happened? Who upset Jiamo?"

Lin Jiamo remained silent for a long time on the other end of the phone, so long that Hua Shier could hear her soft gasps, as if she was trying to calm herself down.

Finally, as if she had used all her strength, she whispered with a sob in her voice:

"Fang Hui is back. She got into Peking University, and... she became my roommate."

She paused, then her pent-up fear and resentment finally broke free: "Twelve, I'm afraid you'll leave me and get back together with her."

By the end, his voice had become barely audible, filled with uncertainty.

Listening to the girl's sobs and worries on the other end of the phone, Hua Shier said in a gentle yet firm tone:
"Jiamo, listen to me!"

His voice, transmitted through the airwaves, clearly conveyed the promise:

"I will not leave you, never. Unless one day you want to leave yourself."

He cleverly avoided the specific promise of "not getting back together with Fang Hui," and instead gave a more macro-level, more core-level guarantee—he would not give up voluntarily.

Lin Jiamo, immersed in emotion and unease, indeed failed to notice this subtle difference in words.

She was overwhelmed by the immense sense of security that Hua Shier had given her by saying "I will never leave," and immediately responded with a nasal tone:
"I won't! I will never leave you!"

"Twelve, you also have to promise that even if I do something stupid and say I want to leave, you can't let me go! You can't agree to that!"

This somewhat spoiled request from a little girl made Hua Shier chuckle silently on the other end of the phone, a hint of slyness and doting in his eyes.

He blinked, and in a deep, magnetic voice unlike anything he'd ever used before, he uttered words that would make any girl's heart flutter:
"You are a ray of light in my life. When I felt that the world was just like that, you suddenly shone in and illuminated my life and soul."

"Without you, my life would be shrouded in darkness, devoid of color."

"So please rest assured, no matter what happens, no matter what, I will not let you leave!"

"If one day you get lost, no matter where you are, no matter how far you cross mountains and rivers, I will definitely find you and bring you back to my side."

These words, so affectionate, so domineering, yet imbued with a poetic romance, shattered all of Lin Jiamo's psychological defenses.

On the other end of the phone, Lin Jiamo's sobs instantly grew louder, a cathartic release of joy and emotion. She responded loudly and forcefully:

"Me too! Hua Shier, you are also the light in my life! The brightest and warmest light!"

After coaxing her gently for a while, until Lin Jiamo on the other end of the phone stopped crying and started laughing, her emotions completely calmed down, and she even had a sweet weariness, Hua Shier gently said goodnight and hung up the phone.

After putting down his phone, Hua Shier let out a long sigh of relief and rubbed his temples. This act of comforting others was quite a skill.

Turning around, he was surprised to see Ruan Wan standing not far away, quietly watching him.

The moonlight outside the window and the lights in the hotel corridor intertwined around her, making her seem as if she were enveloped in a layer of soft light.

Her beautiful eyes, which always carried a gentle yet slightly aloof quality, blinked, reflecting the light and seeming to still hold the emotion and a hint of envy from the sweet words she had overheard earlier.

Upon seeing that Hua Shier had discovered her, a flicker of panic crossed Ruan Wan's face. She quickly stepped forward and whispered an explanation:
“They were still drinking inside. They saw you hadn’t gone back for a while and got a little worried, so they sent me out to check on you.”

After explaining why she was there, her tone returned to its usual gentleness.

Then, she looked at Hua Shier, a sincere and gentle smile playing on her lips, and added:

"Hua Shier, are you calling your girlfriend? You said it so well, so touching."

"I wish my boyfriend would say something like that to me."

"Unfortunately, he has never been good at expressing himself."

Hua Shier asked with amusement, "Ruan Wan, you wouldn't say I'm a smooth-talking scumbag, would you?"

Ruan Wan quickly waved her hand, her eyes sincerely denying it:

"No, no! Please don't misunderstand! I mean it sincerely. I think what you said is very true. A guy who can say something like that must care about the other person a lot. I'm envious, really!"

Seeing that she was serious, Hua Shier laughed and changed the subject in a lighthearted tone:

"I was just kidding. You go back first, I'll go make a call to a friend and then go in."

Seeing his cheerful smile, Ruan Wan assumed he was joking and nodded, "Okay!" After saying that, she turned around and gracefully returned to the private room.

Hua Shier watched her figure disappear, the smile on his face faded a little, he shook his head, then took out his phone again and dialed Zhao Ye's number.

Back in Beijing, Zhao Ye was still sitting in a restaurant with Lin Jiamo, whose emotions had gone through a rollercoaster. He had just breathed a sigh of relief after witnessing Lin Jiamo's emotional rollercoaster from hell to heaven when he saw Hua Shier's call, and his heart jumped again.

He was afraid that Hua Shier was trying to avoid Lin Jiamo and ask Fang Hui about her situation alone, which would put him in a difficult position. So he immediately got up to go out and answer the phone.

But the moment he made a move, Lin Jiamo, who had been watching him closely, caught sight of the 'brother' caller ID on her phone screen. Her suspicions, which had just subsided, instantly resurfaced, and she immediately said to Zhao Ye:

"Huohua, answer right here, put it on speakerphone!"

Her eyes were intense, filled with unwavering determination:
"Once the call connects, don't say anything else, and don't mention that I'm here. Just let your brother speak first!"

Zhao Ye was inwardly groaning, but under Lin Jiamo's intense gaze, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and answer the phone, pressing the speakerphone button.

He prayed inwardly, "Brother, you better be careful and don't mention Fang Hui! Otherwise, things will get really messy!"

Fortunately, what Hua Shier said was not what they were worried about at all.

"Yezi, are you asleep?" Hua Shier's voice came from the speaker, sounding somewhat casual.

"No, bro, what's wrong?" Zhao Ye tried his best to make his voice sound natural.

"I have something to tell you, it's quite amazing."

Hua Shier recounted, with a hint of amusement in his voice, how Xu Kaiyang and Zhao Ye looked like twins.

"Huh?" Zhao Ye was stunned, and Lin Jiamo also raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Hua Shier then recounted how Xu Kaiyang's uncle had been given away as a child, and then said:
"His father heard about your situation and is quite concerned. He wants to come to Beijing to meet your father and see if our uncle is the younger brother his family sent away back then. What do you think?"

This sudden family reunion caught Zhao Ye off guard. He scratched his head:

"I don't know. My dad has never mentioned it. I'll have to ask the old man about it."

"Okay, then ask around and let me know if you hear anything."

Hua Twelve readily agreed, then changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, and specifically instructed:

"By the way, Yezi, I feel like your sister-in-law is a bit off today. Could you keep an eye on her for me? If anything happens, please contact me immediately."

Hearing this, Zhao Ye finally felt a huge weight lifted from his heart and quickly patted his chest to assure him:

"Don't worry, brother! I'll take care of your wife. She'll be fine. I'll report to you immediately if anything happens!"

After the call ended, Hua Shier didn't mention Fang Hui once, nor did he show any intention of returning to Beijing immediately. This completely relaxed Lin Jiamo's tense nerves, and a relieved, sweet smile finally appeared on her face.

She realized she might be overthinking things; in Twelve's heart, she was still the most important person.

However, she didn't know that Hua Shier on the other end of the phone had amazing hearing. As soon as the call connected, he could hear Lin Jiamo breathing not far from Zhao Ye.

Hua Shier certainly wouldn't give up on Fang Hui, so he used the strategy of feigning indifference to lure her in.

If he reacts with eagerness and impatience to return to the capital upon hearing the news of Fang Hui's return, it will not only deeply hurt Lin Jiamo, but also put him at a disadvantage in front of Fang Hui.

That would only give Fang Hui the wrong expectation, making her think that Hua Shier could break up with Lin Jiamo for her sake, which would make the subsequent handling of the relationship more complicated and difficult.

Hua Shier knew Fang Hui all too well. She was a girl who appeared aloof but was extremely sensitive and stubborn inside, the kind of person who was prone to extremes.

If he were to confront her directly and ask her and Lin Jiamo to stay by his side peacefully, Fang Hui would absolutely not accept it given her personality. In fact, she might even do something extreme that would harm herself under such provocation.

At the same time, Hua Shier also clearly knew how much Fang Hui depended on him deep down. That innocent yet profound first love had left an indelible mark on her heart.

Therefore, Hua Shier was waiting, waiting for Fang Hui to come to him on her own initiative.

Only in this way can he take the initiative, and use Fang Hui's guilt over her 'disappearance' back then, as well as her inability to let go of her dependence on him, to guide her step by step until she finally has to accept the fact that Lin Jiamo also exists, thereby achieving his goal of not wanting to give up either of them and getting the two women to live together peacefully.

That's right, Hua Twelve doesn't want to give up either of them.

Lin Jiamo and Fang Hui both have genuine feelings for him, so why must he hurt one of them?

From the perspective of modern people's common view of one-on-one dating, he has to make a choice.

But he is not just a modern man. In his experiences traveling through the world, he was once an emperor with three palaces and six courtyards. It was common for him to have three wives and four concubines. Now he only wants to be with the two girls he loves. In his opinion, this does not seem to be an unforgivable thing.

Back in the private room, the atmosphere remained lively.

For some reason, Zheng Wei and Xu Kaiyang started drinking together, and both of them drank quite a bit, their faces flushed.

When Hua Shier returned, everyone laughed and joked for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, they decided to call it a night. Back at school, Zheng Wei was so drunk she was staggering, being supported by Ruan Wan and Zhu Xiaobei, still muttering:
"Let's get together again after military training! Next time, next time I'll definitely drink until Xu Kaiyang calls me 'Mom'!"

Seeing her utterly drunken state, everyone burst into laughter again. Xu Kaiyang, also drunk, retorted defiantly, "I'd rather you call me 'Dad' than drink you to death!"

Meanwhile, at Yenching University in Beijing, by the Weiming Lake.

Fang Hui stood quietly by the lake, the cool night breeze blowing through her long hair and skirt, but it couldn't dispel the turmoil and pain in her heart.

Chen Xun caught up and stood beside her. Looking at her pale, fragile profile in the moonlight, a strong urge to protect her and a rush to confess his feelings to his beloved surged within him. He took a deep breath and mustered his courage to say:
"Fang Hui, actually, I've always liked you, ever since high school."

"Now that Hua Shier is with Lin Jiamo, I think you should let go of the past and start over. So Fang Hui, be with me and let me take care of you, okay?"

Fang Hui slowly turned her head to look at Chen Xun. Although there were still tears in her eyes, they carried an unusual firmness.

She shook her head, her voice soft but crystal clear:

"Chen Xun, thank you for your affection, but the person I love is Hua Shier. From the day he stood up for me, no one can replace him."

"Besides, I won't give up so easily. He will definitely be with me. Just you wait and see!"

Her tone was full of determination and certainty!
Zhao Ye was very efficient; he called Hua Shier the next day and said that his father was also surprised after hearing this and expressed his willingness to meet with Xu Kaiyang's father.

Hua Shier told Xu Kaiyang the news, and Xu Kaiyang immediately contacted his father. Xu's father was also an impatient person, so he bought the nearest plane ticket to Beijing.

The clamor of youth temporarily masked the undercurrents of emotional entanglements.

The days that followed were filled with tedious yet challenging military training.

The sun was blazing on the playground of Beijing South University of Technology.

With his superhuman physique, Hua Shier made the military training that others found arduous a piece of cake for him.

When standing at attention, he is as upright as a pine tree; when marching, his movements are precise and standard; during combat training, he can even subtly give pointers to the instructors, leaving the instructors looking at him with amazement.

He would also occasionally help classmates who suffered from heatstroke by pinching their philtrum and handing them water, quickly building up a good reputation among the freshmen.

Of course, there were also occasional scenes where Zheng Wei was pulled out by the instructors for extra practice because she was moving her arms and legs in unison, making her grimace in anger. This was a bit of fun during the military training.

During the military training, definite news also came from Beijing. After a detailed meeting between Xu's father and Zhao's father, and after some details that only their family knew to confirm, it was finally confirmed that Zhao Ye's father was indeed the youngest son that the Xu family had to give away for adoption due to financial difficulties!

Zhao Ye and Xu Kaiyang are actually cousins ​​who are connected by blood!
Although they were born in the same year, Zhao Ye should call Xu Kaiyang his cousin based on their birth month.

This dramatic reunion left the two identical-looking individuals deeply moved, instantly bringing them closer together.

Xu Kaiyang's father even made a special phone call to Hua Shier to express his gratitude, saying that if it weren't for him, their Xu family might never have been able to find this bloodline again in their lifetime.

At Yenching University, Lin Jiamo noticed that Hua Shier showed no intention of returning to Beijing during military training. Apart from her emotional breakdown that night, Fang Hui remained somewhat silent in the dormitory afterward, but she didn't bring up Hua Shier again or show any signs of going to see him. Lin Jiamo gradually felt relieved.

Lin Jiamo assumed that Fang Hui had chosen to give up after learning the truth, or that she needed time to process it, which was the outcome Lin Jiamo hoped for.

However, just after the military training ended, Fang Hui suddenly asked her counselor for a few days off, citing family matters.

Upon hearing this news, Lin Jiamo's heart skipped a beat. The relief she had just felt was replaced by anxiety, and an ominous premonition enveloped her.

Her feeling was not wrong.

Fang Hui did indeed go to Jinling.

She contacted Qiao Ran, who was studying abroad, through the internet. From Qiao Ran, she found out the exact school and major of Huashi No. 12—Jingnan University of Science and Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture.

So, this seemingly delicate but stubborn girl, determined to win back her love, resolutely boarded a train heading south and went directly to his door.

At Beijing University of Science and Technology, military training has ended, and everyone wants to relax.

The girls in Zheng Wei's dormitory, Ruan Wan, Zhu Xiaobei, and Li Weijuan, all felt bad about eating such an expensive meal at Jinling Restaurant last time.

Since everyone was tired from military training and wanted to treat themselves to a good meal, they decided to pool their money and treat the boys in Hua Shier's dorm to the soup dumpling shop in Gulou that Hua Shier had mentioned before.

The girls were also tempted by the delicious taste that Hua Shier had described.

So the two groups agreed to set off together, led by Hua Shier.

Just as I stepped onto the school path, before even leaving the school gate, a travel-worn figure walked towards me, yet he was like a beautiful sight to behold.

She was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, with a backpack on her back, her face showing the weariness of a long journey and a determined resolve. It was Fang Hui.

She spotted the figure standing out from the crowd at a glance—Hua Twelve.

He stopped in his tracks, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Hua Shier had actually expected Fang Hui to come, so he wasn't surprised at all. He showed just the right amount of surprise on his face.

Fang Hui rushed to Hua Shier without hesitation, tears streaming down her face like broken beads. She looked up at the face she had longed for day and night, and choked back sobs as she apologized:

"Twelve, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! It was my fault back then, please don't leave me, okay?"

This scene drew the attention of many students passing by.

Zhang Kai, Xu Kaiyang, Chen Xiaozheng, Zheng Wei, Ruan Wan, Zhu Xiaobei, and Li Weijuan all stopped in their tracks, looking on with expressions of astonishment at this sudden turn of events.

Hua Shier looked at Fang Hui, who was crying with tears streaming down her face, and sighed inwardly, but her face showed a gentle expression with a hint of heartache.

Then, in full view of everyone, this guy stepped forward, hugged Fang Hui, and said softly:
"Fang Hui, you are a ray of light in my life, illuminating my life and my soul. Without you, my life would be shrouded in darkness. So please rest assured, no matter what, I will never let you leave. If one day you get lost, no matter where you are in the world, I will find you..."

These words, coupled with his handsome appearance and affectionate tone, were incredibly powerful, but Ruan Wan blinked and felt that these words sounded so familiar!

Those around him were deeply moved by the heartfelt confession, thinking that Hua Shier was a truly loyal and devoted man who still couldn't forget his ex-girlfriend.

Fang Hui burst into tears of joy, as if all the grievances, fears, and despair of the past few days had been redeemed by these words.

She could no longer hold back, threw herself into Hua Shier's arms, hugged him tightly, and burst into tears, attracting more onlookers and gossip.

Hua Shier gently patted Fang Hui's back, soothing her in a low voice.

Ultimately, this planned trip to eat soup dumplings was complicated by the sudden appearance of Fang Hui.

Hua Shier frankly introduced Fang Hui to everyone as "my former high school classmate and good friend."

Zhang Kai laughed heartily and said, "That must be my sister-in-law!"

This guy is actually older than Hua Shier, but ever since Hua Shier gave him money to clean up the dorm, he's been calling him "brother" all the time, acting completely shameless.

The atmosphere at the dinner was inevitably somewhat awkward.

Zheng Wei looked at Fang Hui with curiosity, Ruan Wan had a complicated expression, and Xu Kaiyang and Zhang Kai exchanged glances.

But Hua Shier remained calm and composed, quickly taking control of the situation and preventing the atmosphere from becoming too awkward.

That evening, Hua Shier found Fang Hui a clean hotel near the school to stay in.

After escorting her to her room, Fang Hui's eyes were filled with anticipation and trepidation, but Hua Shier stood at the door and did not go in.

He looked at Fang Hui, his eyes filled with struggle and guilt, and whispered:

"Fang Hui, I miss you so much, I really miss you. But I can't let Jia Mo down either. She's my girlfriend now."

Fang Hui's face lost some color, and she fell silent.

She thought of Lin Jiamo, her current roommate and her best friend from her first year of high school. Her heart was filled with complicated emotions: guilt, resentment, and a sense of powerlessness.

Ultimately, she couldn't bring herself to tell Hua Shier to leave Lin Jiamo immediately.

Nothing happened between the two that night.

The next day, Fang Hui boarded the train back to Beijing with a feeling of both satisfaction and disappointment.

Although this trip didn't bring Hua Shier back to her side immediately, making him her only one, at least she knew that Hua Shier still had feelings for her and still loved her, which was a great comfort to her.

At the same time, her guilt towards Lin Jiamo deepened. The determination she had when she came to Jinling to win back her love became somewhat blurred and powerless in the face of the complexities of reality and the moral dilemmas within her heart.

After seeing Fang Hui off, Hua Shier returned to school for classes.

During the break, Ruan Wan, who was sitting next to him, hesitated for a moment before asking softly:

"Hua Twelve, is that very pretty girl from yesterday the one you called outside the restaurant last time?"

Hua Shier turned her head, looked at Ruan Wan's gentle yet inquisitive gaze, suddenly smiled, and directly denied it:

"No, this is another one!"

Ruan Wan was stunned, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief. She processed the information for a moment, then, as if finally confirming something, she softly uttered a few words:
"You're such a jerk."

This time, her tone lacked the previous joking element and carried a complex emotion of confirmation.

Hua Shier smiled and said, "No, this is universal love!"

Thanks to 08a, Little Tiger of the Demon Realm, and Brother Li Meng of the God of Death for their donations, and thanks to the brothers who voted for monthly tickets and recommendations. Thank you so much!