“Purple.”
Xie Dingyuan: “Any colors you don’t like?”
Jiang Fuyue: “That’s your second question.”
The man was taken aback.
“Aren’t we taking turns? You asked one, now it’s my turn. Only after I finish can you continue.”
“Alright,” he nodded. “What do you want to ask?”
“Why didn’t you accept the 30,000 yuan I transferred to you on WeChat?”
Xie Dingyuan: “It was just a plane ticket; not a big deal.”
“But I promised ten times the reward…”
Xie Dingyuan: “Since it’s a reward, I can choose to decline it, right?”
Uh…
Jiang Fuyue: “In theory, that’s fine, but…”
“Then I don’t want it.”
“…”
Jiang Fuyue: “Did you pay the bill at the hot pot restaurant that day too?”
She remembered it was 562 yuan.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Xie Dingyuan: “Just while I was at it.”
The ticket was “no big deal”; covering the bill was “just while he was at it”?
He’s certainly convenient…
But Jiang Fuyue still said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” After all, you owe me quite a few meals now; you can pay me back slowly.
In China, at 9 PM.
Their plane landed at the Capital Airport.
Jiang Fuyue’s team officially said their goodbyes. Gao Zhaoming and Huang Hui boarded connecting flights home directly, and Fan Ye took an overnight bus to T City to catch a morning ferry from Jin Harbor to Duofu.
“Sister Yue, will we see each other again?” The young girl looked at her with teary eyes.
“We will.”
Duofu has unique circumstances. Due to the lack of a formal educational system, there’s no school on the island, let alone entrance exams or universities. The only chance at higher education would be for kids to leave the island at a young age, which the conservative Duofu islanders rarely allow.
Fan Ye’s fate would have been the same as the other young people of Duofu, but winning the gold at the IOI has opened doors for her.
“Unless something unexpected happens, you should be receiving special admissions notices from Q University and B University soon. Keep an eye out for them.”
“Will you be going to Q University or B University, Sister Yue?”
That question…
“We’ll see.”
“If you decide, will you let me know?” The young girl asked hopefully, “I’d like to attend the same university as you…”
“Sure.”
Gao Zhaoming: “Us too!”
Huang Hui nodded along.
Jiang Fuyue checked her watch. “It’s time. Take care on your journeys home, everyone, and see you again soon.”
“See you soon!”
The farewells here were a prelude to better reunions in the future.
They all knew this. So even with a touch of sadness, they kept smiling.
Since Jiang Fuyue had a morning flight to Linhuai, she planned to stay overnight at a nearby hotel.
Xie Dingyuan, who still had experiments waiting at Q University, had an assistant waiting outside for twenty minutes without seeing him come out.
“Didn’t he say he’d already landed…”
At this moment, Xie Dingyuan was standing before Jiang Fuyue, with his suitcase beside him: “You still haven’t told me which colors you don’t like.”
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
Uh…
“Is this really that important?” Important enough to ask all the way from the plane?
Xie Dingyuan: “There’s no distinction between important and unimportant questions, only those that can be solved and those that cannot. Actually, questions that cannot be solved logically do not exist.”
“…You should study philosophy.”
Xie Dingyuan nodded, “I did for a while.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…Oh.”
Alright, you’re the pro.
“So, what colors do you dislike?”
“None.”
“Hmm?”
Jiang Fuyue raised her head, “I don’t dislike any colors.”
The man nodded, thoughtful, and walked away.
“?”
Just before leaving, he suddenly turned back.
Jiang Fuyue’s alarm bells rang. She was dreading another “what color do you like/dislike” soul-searching question.
Luckily, Xie Dingyuan only reminded her, “Take care. Call me if you need anything.”
“Sure.”
Call? Not happening.
Jiang Fuyue slept soundly that night and boarded a flight from the capital to Linhuai the next morning.
Meanwhile, Xie Dingyuan added to his “Jiang Fuyue Behavior Observation Notes” that evening:
Likes purple. Doesn’t dislike any color.
But if “not disliking” implies “liking,” then “doesn’t dislike any color” could translate to “likes all colors.”
But why specifically mention “purple”?
….
Han Yunru and Jiang Da had learned only last night that their daughter was coming home. They found out the flight information and arrival time and arrived at the airport half an hour early.
“Wife, does my collar look wrinkled again?” Jiang Da tugged at his collar, feeling slightly self-conscious.
Han Yunru checked him over, “Let me see… You’re sweating again? No wonder it’s wrinkled. And who told you to button it all the way up? Serves you right.”
Facing his wife’s reproachful gaze, he chuckled sheepishly, a little embarrassed. “It’s been years since I wore this dress shirt. The last time was probably when we got married, and I buttoned it all the way up then. Besides, don’t all the young folks on TV wear shirts and ties like this?”
“You said it yourself, that was for our wedding. Is today a wedding?”
“Hehe…” He didn’t argue, just chuckled awkwardly.
Han Yunru sighed softly and patiently explained, “Decades have passed, times have changed, and so have clothing habits.” While speaking, she reached out to unbutton the top two buttons of his shirt. “These days, people prioritize comfort…”
“Comfort?” Jiang Da asked.
“Just wear whatever feels comfortable.”
“Hehe… In that case, I think a tank top, shorts, and flip-flops would be the most comfortable.” Unfortunately, his wife didn’t agree.
Sure enough, Han Yunru shot him a look. “You’re here to pick up our daughter, and you’re okay dressing like that?”
“But didn’t you just say to dress… comfortably?”
Under his wife’s gentle gaze, Jiang Da barely stopped himself from finishing his sentence. “You’re right, it wouldn’t be appropriate. That’s why I listened to you and wore a dress shirt! See? No wrinkles now, right?”
Han Yunru took out a tissue from her bag to wipe the sweat off his neck and nodded in approval. “Much better.”
Once she finished tidying him up, she began checking herself. “Husband, is my hair messy? Is the color of my dress too bright? The hemline looks fine, but is it too short?”
Jiang Da reassured her, “Your hair is fine. The dress color is just right—it looks great against your fair skin, fresh and vibrant.”
The couple carefully inspected each other, making sure they looked their best to meet their daughter.
Little Brother Jiang had also arrived. Carrying a small backpack, he darted to the front, craning his neck as he eagerly watched for each arriving passenger, hoping to spot his sister first.
His eager anticipation drew quite a few glances, as his adorable, expectant expression and readiness to sprint made him look irresistibly cute.
Wu Qian followed close behind, keeping a step back to ensure the boy’s safety. He also occasionally captured footage on his phone to use for video edits later.
Over time, Wu Qian had developed a habit of carrying a handheld tripod wherever he went, always ready to document Jiang Chenxing’s everyday moments.
“Uncle Wu, is my sister here yet?”
Holding the tripod in one hand, Wu Qian glanced at his watch.
“Soon.”
“Okay!” Little Brother Jiang beamed and turned back to continue watching the exit intently.
His focused gaze, hopeful expression, and poised stance, ready to dash at any moment, were beyond endearing.
Wu Qian couldn’t help smiling like a proud father.
Meanwhile, the actual father was flirting with his wife, lost in their playful banter.
Suddenly—
“Sister!”
Like a little cannonball, Little Brother Jiang shot forward and wrapped himself around one of the girl’s long, slender legs.
Jiang Fuyue had just stepped out when a tiny “koala” clung to her leg.
“Are you a koala?”
“If I’m a koala, then you’re a tree!” Little Brother Jiang wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “That wouldn’t be good.”
Jiang Fuyue ruffled his soft hair. “You seem taller.”
“Really?! Uncle Wu said that too!” The little guy beamed, absolutely delighted to hear it.
Wu Qian walked over, opened his mouth as if to speak, but hesitated. He didn’t know how to address Jiang Fuyue.
Boss?
Miss?
President Jiang?
None of them seemed quite right.
In the end, Jiang Fuyue spoke first. “Uncle Wu, thank you for your hard work.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
Hearing her call him “Uncle Wu,” he felt both flattered and warm inside.
After learning about the hardships Jiang Chenxing endured after his departure from Yimi, Wu Qian had been plagued with guilt. Every time he saw Jiang Fuyue, he couldn’t help feeling ashamed.
He was afraid.
Afraid she would blame him…
But now, everything felt better.
