Contractual Marriage: We’re Meant to Be Together

176. Is Your Girlfriend Here?

Translator: 怀旧

As he was thinking about it, Yan Chuyang suddenly heard the principal on the stage said, “Now, let’s invite Yan Chuyang, who won the top prize in the international comic competition, to speak on stage and accept the award.”

Yan Chuyang straightened his back and quickly stood up from his chair. He straightened his clothes and went on stage.

When he walked by Lu Haolin, Yan Chuyang clearly heard the disdainful snort from his nostril.

Alas, Yan Chuyang shook his head helplessly in his heart. He had not become so outstanding yet when someone started to make sarcastic comments about him angrily. If one day, he became as rich and capable as Wei Qing, would there be more people trying to laugh at him?

Thinking about this, Yan Chuyang realised Wei Qing was not easy.

In his wildest thoughts, Yan Chuyang had already walked onto the stage.

The headmaster handed Yan Chuyang a certificate of honor and held his hand, saying, “Wish you can work harder and our school will be proud of you.”

Yan Chuyang exclaimed excitedly, “Thank you. I will!”

The principal nodded with delighted. After shaking Yan Chuyang’s hand again, the principal walked down with satisfaction and left the stage to Yan Chuyang.

Yan Chuyang strained his heart and turned to look at the audience.

He naturally turned his gaze to the position where Wei Qing was sitting. Wei Qing was his comfort, so he wouldn’t be nervous when he saw Wei Qing.

However, to Yan Chuyang’s disappointment, Wei Qing didn’t look at him. He just looked down carelessly, as if he was bored.

Yan Chuyang sighed, adjusted his mood, and looked down at the speech draft.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Yan Chuyang, a student of the art academy in the class of 2015. I’m very excited to stand on this stage and receive this award. To be honest, this is the first time in my life that I’ve been recognized…”

Raising his head, Yan Chuyang looked at the people in the audience, his mood fluctuating.

If only this was the competition he attended when he was young…

If he won the junior comic competition and won the award when he was seven years old, he would go on stage and take the trophy. He could proudly take the trophy to his mother and said, “Look, I won! And there’s a bonus! I can make money now! So, Mommy, can you not leave me?”

If time could go back and he really won the competition, would his mother still leave him?

“… I really want to thank someone here.” after his long gratitude to the school and teachers, Yan Chuyang finally read the words written to Wei Qing.

He held his breath nervously, paused and lowered his voice, saying,

“He helped me a lot. He always thought I didn’t understand him, but I did. He was nice to me, cared about me, and even doted me, and I saw them in the eyes. I knpw that it is very hard for him to cook for me in the morning. I also know when he said he wanted to go out for fun, he actually wanted to take me out to let me take a rest. He always praised me, although the words are exaggerated, but I know he’s to give me confidence. In the evening, when I was tired of painting, he would make me a midnight snack. Every time he said he cooked it for himself, but he never ate it…”

Yan Chuyang’s voice trembled and he continued, “When I told him that I won the competition, he said that I was his pride. But in my heart, he is my pride.”

A pride that Yan Chuyang could not tell anyone.

Yan Chuyang raised his eyes and stared at the middle of the auditorium. Wei Qing seemed to realise that these words were related to him, so he looked up at Yan Chuyang. Looking at each other, both of them felt warm in the heart.

“I want to tell him now,” Yan Chuyang paused and lowered his head to get closer to the microphone, saying, “I will work hard to make money and live hard. When I get rich, I’ll protect you.”

The audience burst into applause.

The principal was also moved by Yan Chuyang’s words. He took off his glasses, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. He turned to look at the teacher beside him and said, “How filial the boy is! He knows how to return the favor, and can understand the love from his parents.”

“That’s true.” The teacher also leaned over and sighed in a low voice, “In this society, a child would be regarded as filial if he or she does not fight with his or her parents. There are no children like Chuyang, who understands his parents’ love at an early age and knowsd that he should earn money to repay his family. It’s really not common…”

“…”

Wei Qing didn’t know about their discussions at all. He looked at Yan Chuyang on stage with a sullen face.

But he knew what Yan Chuyang’s words were meant for him.

No one but Wei Qing could make breakfast and mid-night snacks for him.

“… He really helped me a lot. I really want to tell him that  I owe half of what I have achieved to him.

“I wonder who is the person that Chuyang is thanking?” Suddenly a high-pitched inquiry interrupted Yan Chuyang’s speech.

There was a brief silence in the venue.

Yan Chuyang looked in the direction of the voice. It was Lu Haolin, who was sitting in the front of the audience. He stood up and asked with a sneer,” Yan Chuyang, the people you want to thank is your family, friend, classmate, or…. lover?”

There was a small commotion in the originally quiet audience. Everyone looked at each other and whispered.

Yan Chuyang froze for a moment and said calmly, “This should have nothing to do with you, right?”

“Of course,” Lu Haolin shrugged and joked, “I’m just curious. It must be someone very important for you to thank, right?” After that, Lu Haolin turned to look at the audience and shouted, “You all must be curious too, right?”

All of a sudden, the atmosphere became heated. They were all students at the age of 18 or 19, so they were very curious about something like this. Hearing Lu Haolin’s words, they all echoed the question.

“Who is the person you want to thank? Is it your family?”

“If it is not your family member. Is she your girlfriend?”

“Is your girlfriend here? Can she come up and say a few words?”