Beyond Reach - Chapter 11 - Suisui, You Should Run.

Shi Sui slowly digested these words.

Dating, without letting anyone know.

Isn’t that a secret relationship?

She didn’t dare to think deeply about why Yan Tingli would rather be this shadowy boyfriend but still insist on defining their relationship.

Can’t think.

Don’t think! If she thinks about it, she’ll go dig wild vegetables tomorrow!

So she used her usual turtle method-retreating into her shell.

“Why… insist on dating?”

Yan Tingli wasn’t surprised, and even leaned in slightly, considerately giving her an out: “How long?”

“Huh?”

“Time to consider.”

Shi Sui swallowed, holding up one finger.

Yan Tingli: “Then one day.”

“?” Shi Sui: “That’s a week!”

Yan Tingli quietly looked at her, making Shi Sui feel guilty, almost kneeling to change her words.

He slowly smiled: “Agreeing after a week is fine too.”

“Okay.” Shi Sui responded.

A second later, she realized something was wrong.

“I only said I’d consider it, not that I’d agree!”

Yan Tingli opened the car door, chin raised, with an expression of “you can leave now”: “Is there a difference?”

Shi Sui felt an inexplicable anger: “What if I refuse?”

She turned to see Yan Tingli closing the car door and locking it with a click.

His pupils lazily looked at her, dark and deep: “You can try.”

“…”

A few seconds later, Shi Sui sensibly said, “I was joking.”

After two seconds of silence, she couldn’t help but say, “…If it’s not public, then whether we date or not isn’t much different from before.”

“What were we originally?”

Shi Sui paused, suppressing her shame, barely managing to say, “Friends with benefits.”

Yan Tingli: “And after dating?”

“…Boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“Which sounds better?”

Shi Sui was dumbfounded, unable to tell if she was disappointed or speechless: “…Just because of that?”

“Partly.” Yan Tingli’s emotions seemed to stabilize, even showing a willingness to converse.

“What else?”

“If you’re my girlfriend,” he placed a hand on the car window, his eyelashes drooping, his voice calm and indistinct, “will you love me more?”

Shi Sui was stunned for quite a while.

It took a moment to find her voice: “I…”

Before she could finish, Yan Tingli suddenly pulled her hand to a certain spot on his leg: “Will you?”

“…” All of Shi Sui’s agitation and conscience vanished instantly, withdrawing her hand: “Get lost!”

She knew it!!!

Annoyed, she got out of the car without looking back.

When she drove away, she looked around to make sure no one was there before quickly jogging out.

This thrilling trip left her back sweaty, and she went straight to shower after returning to her dorm.

Only in the solitude of the enclosed space could Shi Sui clear her mind and sort out her tangled thoughts.

In the swirling mist, Shi Sui’s memory drifted back to a long time ago.

It was the first time she saw Yan Tingli playing the piano.

That morning, a light drizzle fell, and Yan Tingli didn’t go to school with her. Strangely, Yan Zecheng and Song Jie, who usually appeared only once a month, were also at Yan Mansion, dressed in plain black.

At that time, Shi Sui didn’t know what they were going to do.

She only remembered that when she returned in the evening, Yan Mansion was very quiet, even the usually smiling aunts had solemn expressions, full of unspoken words.

When Shi Sui went upstairs, she saw Song Jie coming out of the always-sealed room on the second floor, without makeup, looking more haggard than usual, and then she left.

She rarely returned, and when she left, it was always silently.

When Shi Sui reached the third floor, she heard the sound of a piano coming from the usually quiet music room.

Driven by something unknown,

She quietly stepped closer to the music room.

Through the slightly ajar door, she saw Yan Tingli’s back.

His long fingers danced over the keys, moving so fast they were a blur.

Moonlight illuminated half of his profile, his naturally gifted appearance was a gift from the heavens.

The melody, which should have been gentle, was played by him into something cold and sharp.

It suddenly made her feel.

He seemed to be like her, wandering alone in this maze-like house.

And in this vast, empty house, it was indeed only him and her.

At this moment, the strings of the young girl’s heart seemed to become piano keys being struck, jumping with the notes, suddenly soaring and then plummeting.

But in that instant,

Along with the heart’s flutter, came panic.

Song Jie’s casual remark “not knowing one’s place” was like a curse imprinted on her heart.

The indulgence after the Gaokao was already an excessive indulgence.

And now, should she soberly make a decision she knows she shouldn’t?

“Of course not!” On the other end of the phone, Zhou Xuyan’s voice almost pierced her eardrums.

Shi Sui silently moved the phone away a bit.

“Do you think I don’t know what that kid is up to?” Zhou Xuyan rambled on, “You agree once, there’ll be a second time. If you agree to date secretly now, he’ll force you to marry later, and you’ll never escape!”

Just the thought made Zhou Xuyan shiver.

Knowing Yan Tingli, he really could do it.

There are plenty of good men out there, and she has many handsome and wealthy young men around her. She could easily find someone for Shi Sui, so why be stuck on Yan Tingli?

Shi Sui rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought for a moment.

Whether Yan Tingli would force her to marry was too far off to consider now.

She stood on the balcony, watching the students coming and going below, softly murmuring, “Then what should I do?”

“Reject him, firmly and swiftly.”

Shi Sui said nothing, and Zhou Xuyan read something from her silence, “Did he force you to agree?”

Shi Sui wanted to say no.

But Yan Tingli had forced her in many things.

“…Yes.”

“Don’t worry, let me think, let me think.” Zhou Xuyan stood up, pacing around several times, then suddenly said, “Why don’t you run away now?”

Shi Sui was startled: “Run?”

“Yes, you should run, Suisui!” Zhou Xuyan became more convinced of the idea, jumping up, “Why didn’t I think of it before? Run, as far as you can, go abroad.”

Shi Sui’s fingers picked at the railing, feeling it was unrealistic: “I still have to finish college.”

“Exchange.” Zhou Xuyan said, “Apply for an exchange program quietly.”

Shi Sui was stunned, slowly digesting the information.

Zhou Xuyan indeed opened a path she had never considered.

A University indeed had many overseas exchange programs for sophomores and juniors, but they required a strong resume and good grades.

Shi Sui was among the top in these, but exchanges required good interpersonal skills, which she wasn’t good at. Most importantly, she was inherently introverted and attached to home.

If she went abroad, she’d be even further from her parents.

The furthest she had planned was to return to Hang City after graduation and stay close to her parents.

“But he wants an answer in a week.” Shi Sui said seriously.

“Silly,” Zhou Xuyan said nonchalantly, “Just agree for now, stabilize the situation, and then find the right time to slip away.”

Shi Sui lowered her eyes, deep in thought for a long time.

Agreeing and then running away… Would Yan Tingli really not remember it for a lifetime?

Zhou Xuyan: “Are you afraid?”

Shi Sui was a coward content with the status quo, rarely having the courage to truly run away unless absolutely necessary.

“…Mm.” She whispered.

“It’s okay if you’re afraid now,” Zhou Xuyan comforted, “Just keep it in mind as a backup plan.”

After talking with Zhou Xuyan, Shi Sui felt much more relaxed.

When she thought about her relationship with Yan Tingli again, she finally managed to sort it out-

If one day it really came to that.

At worst.

She would run.

Run far away.

So far that Yan Tingli would never find her again.

As soon as Zhou Xuyan’s call ended, the screen lit up.

Seeing the WeChat message from Song Jie, Shi Sui’s heart skipped a beat.

There had been so much going on, she almost forgot that Yan Tingli had just used her phone to say such outrageous things to Song Jie.

Song Jie didn’t say much, just that she appreciated Shi Sui making the trip and that Yan Tingli was being inconsiderate, making her laugh.

Shi Sui quickly replied formally, not daring to ask a single extra question.

Apparently satisfied with her response, Song Jie finally said she had seen a very beautiful jade bracelet, which had been blessed at a temple, and she would give it to her next time she came home.

Song Jie was always generous, regularly giving her expensive gifts, which Shi Sui would accept but only wear when Song Jie was around to show her gratitude.

Most of the time, these gifts were piled up in a cabinet in her room at the Yan Mansion.

Once, when Yan Tingli occupied her bed and saw her carefully storing things away as if afraid of damaging them, he smirked and mocked, “Are you going to worship these?”

Shi Sui: “They won’t look good if they get worn out.”

“If they get old, just throw them away.”

Shi Sui sighed, “Who would throw away something given with good intentions?”

Yan Tingli said indifferently, “They were all bought by a secretary; she won’t remember.”

Shi Sui was speechless, “But these are Aunt Song’s sentiments.”

“Fake sentiments are just an eyesore to keep.”

Even though Shi Sui knew Song Jie didn’t particularly like her, hearing Yan Tingli describe it so bluntly still left her feeling uncomfortable.

“You’re the one with fake sentiments,” she retorted.

At that time, Yan Tingli just slightly tugged at his lips.

Of course, she didn’t throw the things away, but she also never wore them again.

Later, in the apartment.

Her cabinet always inexplicably had many similar luxury items appear.

When she asked Yan Tingli, he told her to take them and play.

“Keep them,” he added lazily, “Nothing is more genuine than this.”

Yan Tingli certainly wouldn’t buy fake goods.

But to this day, Shi Sui still didn’t dare to think deeply about what this “genuine” really meant.

Coming back to her senses from her memories, looking at the message she hadn’t replied to, Shi Sui tapped the screen lightly and thanked Song Jie once again.

Song Jie replied: [You’re welcome]

Friday elective course.

Before class in the afternoon, Shi Sui received a message from Yan Tingli: [Busy this afternoon, not coming]

A few seconds later, another message came.

[Busy tonight too, no need to come over]

Seeing the message, Shi Sui first felt a sense of relief, almost refreshed.

Then a sense of incongruity hit her.

Since when did Yan Tingli have to inform her whether he was attending class or not-he never wasted words online, thinking it a waste of time.

The words “reporting in” suddenly popped into her mind, making her shiver.

She stared at it for a while.

Shi Sui silently turned off her phone.

“It’s almost time for the bell, why isn’t Yan Tingli here yet?” Lin Anran looked around, whispering.

Zhu Wei in the back row yawned idly, “Yeah, if we can’t get him, at least seeing him is some consolation.”

Xue Jing opened her book, “You guys don’t know?”

Shi Sui’s ears perked up cautiously.

“Tomorrow is the Robot Cup, a robot competition, the finals are being held at our school, he’s preparing for it.”

“How do you know?” Lin Anran asked.

“I’m in the student union, we have to help with the event,” Xue Jing said smugly, raising her eyebrows, “I get all the inside information firsthand.”

Shi Sui blinked.

She remembered last weekend when she was drawing in the study, Yan Tingli should have been outside designing algorithms, adjusting Little Snail.

Maybe he was busy with this competition then.

“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten. I have some internal tickets,” Xue Jing took out tickets from her book and waved them, “Do you guys want to go watch?”

Lin Anran was suspicious of Xue Jing’s sudden kindness, “You’re not trying to get us to fill seats, are you?”

Xue Jing laughed angrily, “Listen to you, what are you saying? Tickets for such cutting-edge technology competitions are hard to come by! Our committee teacher even wanted to get one for his kid today.”

“Alright, I misunderstood you.” Lin Anran stuck out her tongue and casually grabbed a ticket.

Zhu Wei in the front row also took one without hesitation, smiling, “There should be plenty of handsome guys in science and engineering, I’ll go take a look too.”

Someone from the next dorm came to grab one, and Xue Jing dodged, “Hey, hey, leave one for Suisui.”

Shi Sui, who rarely had free time, cleared her throat, “It’s okay, I’m not going.”

“Didn’t you say at lunch you weren’t going home tomorrow?” Xue Jing asked her.

Shi Sui thought for a moment, finding an excuse, “I’m not really into robots.”

As they spoke, the class bell rang.

Xue Jing’s next words were stuck in her throat.

Coincidentally.

The professor finished the lecture early, and seeing there were still five minutes left, he took out the attendance sheet from the thick textbook, smiling, “Since there’s nothing else, let’s take attendance.”

The words “take attendance” instantly woke up the drowsy classroom.

Thinking of Yan Tingli’s absence, Shi Sui blinked.

Not only was she not in a hurry, but she was also a bit eager to watch the show.

Serves you right for not coming, serves you right for skipping class.

Points deducted, points deducted, points deducted.

Hopefully, he fails and is never allowed to choose their course again.

The professor called Yan Tingli’s name twice, but no one answered.

Shi Sui was gloating over her imagination.

Suddenly-

The seat to her right sank down.

Accompanied by a clear, low voice: “Here.”

“…” The smile on Shi Sui’s lips froze, turning her to stone.

A familiar, annoyingly pleasant mint scent wafted over from beside her.

The professor put down the attendance sheet, adjusted his glasses, and looked over, “Mr. Yan, did you just arrive?”

Yan Tingli evaded the question, calmly saying, “I just stepped out to take an urgent call.”

The professor had an impression of this genius from the School of Interdisciplinary Information Science, and after thinking for a moment, he was still a bit skeptical.

He turned his gaze to Shi Sui beside him, “Then the student next to you, can you tell us if Mr. Yan has been attending class all along?”

Shi Sui’s smile disappeared.

She felt Yan Tingli’s seemingly amused gaze fall on her, “Classmate, I’ve been attending class right next to you, haven’t I?”

Shi Sui: “…”