When A Snail Loves Chapter 6 part1

We turn our focus now to Yao Meng and Shu Hang. We all know Shu Hang has been pursuing her, but this short story tells us just how ardently. Will Yao Meng eventually be persuaded? Will there finally be a happy ending for her?

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Yao Meng & Shu Hang Short Story Part 1.1

What kind of person was Shu Hang?

If one talked about family background, then Shu Hang's family was well-known in Beijing. However, no one in his family had held a government position for several decades. They had prospered in the business world. However, some people felt that the younger generations could not match up to the earlier generations, despite possessing more material wealth. In addition, Shu Hang himself had happily led a life of luxury* and been something of a playboy when he was younger. Now, 25 years later, he had a jaded view of the relations between men and women.

*纸醉金迷 (zhĭ zuì jīn mí) – lit. dazzling with paper and gold

Sometimes, he wondered what he was waiting for. He could not understand why he was reluctant to find a match aligned with his social status, or a woman who would be beneficial to him, and just marry her. What a joke! At his age, he was still not anxious to sell off his body.

Whenever he observed Ji Bai and Xu Xu, he honestly felt very envious – deep, heart-felt envy. Ji Bai, that arrogantly vital man, responded to Xu Xu's every change of expression. It really made Shu Hang want to marry him.

When would he ever have such a woman to love, so much so that life without her would be hopeless?

Later, someone asked Shu Hang why he liked Yao Meng. Shu Hang felt that this question was manifestly simple: First and foremost, she was his ideal type – beautiful, independent, and with a touch of sophistication and slyness, while beneath her cold and arrogant demeanour, a trace of fragility could be seen . . . However, the first time he laid eyes on her, he realised that there was something different about her. Her entire being was shrouded in an aura of mystery, tinged with a hint of sorrow. This made Shu Hang intensely curious, as he desired to investigate the cause.

Also, she had been a police officer. Shu Hang had never been in a relationship with a police officer, and thought it would be interesting.

However, when he first started pursuing Yao Meng, he had no idea that her story would be so explosive.

Shu Hang had first caught sight of her at the Full Moon celebration for Ji Bai's son, when he had been with a group of childhood buddies. That day, when his first attempt at scaling the mountain had failed, he had followed her almost the entire night. Ignoring his buddies who were all laughing behind his back, he carried his wine glass and strolled behind Yao Meng, looking the very model of a Beijing hoodlum.

He was not worried that Yao Meng would freak out. If someone like him – with talent, money, and good looks – took the initiative, while he could be branded a shameless rascal, ladies would generally not view him with disgust, even though they did not accept his advances. Indeed, it turned out exactly as he had thought. Although Yao Meng furrowed her brow slightly, and her face was a little flushed, there was no significant change in her demeanour.

After a while, he saw her conversing with the chairman of the Lin City Chamber of Commerce. He rejoiced, for this meant that she was also engaged in business! Of course, he discovered Yao Meng's net worth soon after, and felt considerably put out – he could no longer use his wealth as a means to attract Yao Meng, for she had loads more money than he did.

When he saw Yao Meng surrounded by a group of entrepreneurs, probably invited by Xu Jun, he smiled faintly to himself and moved closer.

"Mr. Shu."

"Young master Shu."

"President Shu."

When the people saw him, they naturally chorused solicitous greetings. Yao Meng's face remained impassive and indifferent.

However, after observing Yao Meng with the entrepreneurs, Shu Hang very quickly realised that, while Yao Meng was able to smoothly establish social relations, she was clearly inexperienced. She was unable to join the conversation as the men chattered on about economic forces and trends. Shu Hang was elated – at last, an opportunity had presented itself! Therefore, he stuck by her side and softly explained what they were talking about, with the result that the two of them appeared quite intimate. The others naturally misinterpreted the situation, and gazed at the pair peculiarly.

When the people had dispersed, Yao Meng headed quickly for the terrace. Shu Hang followed behind her at a pace that was neither too fast nor too slow. He felt that his recent gentlemanly and considerate showing was enough to win him some brownie points, so he laughed as he said, self-assuredly, "You don't need to thank me. In future, I can teach you whatever you don't understand."

Outside the window, the stars shone brilliantly, and the air was abundant with the scent of the greenery. Yao Meng was wearing a long formal dress. She remained silent.

Shu Hang felt that this beautiful scene heralded the beginning of his Lin City romance. Unexpectedly, she turned her head and glanced quietly at him.

What kind of look was that? Pity, indifference, loneliness  . . .  in her beautiful eyes was a distance that no one could bridge.

In the time that it took Shu Hang to recover from his shock, Yao Meng had already turned and left.

These were thus the circumstances of Yao Meng's first rejection of him. No other words were needed, for all had been revealed in that split-second glance. Instant kill!

Of course, Shu Hang was not going to give up so easily. Indeed, her rejection had provoked in him a desire for conquest. Thus, he hired someone to dig up inside information on Yao Meng. From this investigation, he became vaguely aware of Yao Meng's involvement in the recent Lin City murder cases featuring a psychopathic killer. However, the relevant information was all classified. Shu Hang's inside connection to the police force was Ji Bai but, without the slightest hesitation, Ji Bai refused to help him, saying, "I have no right to divulge information which may compromise another's privacy." Shu Hang had no option but to scrabble for someone else to search for the information.

At that time, he thought – what connection could there possibly be between Yao Meng and the psychopathic killer? She was most likely a victim who had fortunately escaped. He did not feel that this would have any impact on his pursuit of her.

Shu Hang did not remain idle while waiting for the precise information to surface. It so happened that cherries were in season, and someone sent him a box. Looking at the red, tender, plump cherries, he immediately thought of Yao Meng, as if it were a conditioned reflex. He immediately made a call to put in an order for cherries, with half a kilogram a day to be sent to Yao Meng.

They asked, "Who should we say it's from?"

Shu Hang thought for a while before replying, "Xu Xu." His plan was to trick her into eating some first, before revealing that it was actually him. By then, what is done cannot be undone*, she's already eaten my cherries, so she can't deny that she knows me, right? Ha ha ha.

*木已成舟 (mu yi cheng zhou) – lit. the wood has already been turned into a boat.

After a few days, Shu Hang waited for a night when the moon was bright and the winds were calm before giving Yao Meng a call.

It took more than ten rings before Yao Meng finally answered. "Hello?"

Shu Hang was reclining on a couch in a restaurant holding a cherry in his hand. He looked at the moon and laughed as he asked, "Were the cherries good to eat?"

Yao Meng's voice was chilly as she replied, "I didn't eat any. I wouldn't know."

Shu Hang immediately sat up straight. He tossed the cherry into the air repeatedly as he displayed his brazenness to the max by saying, "If Xu Xu sent them, why didn't you eat them? It wasn't me who sent them."

In actual fact, Yao Meng knew Xu Xu had not sent the cherries the first day she had received them. How could Xu Xu do such a thing? Shu Hang had made his intention to 'chase' her very clear, so it took very little effort to deduce that it was him.

She was silent for a heartbeat before saying, "Shu Hang, at this moment, I cannot start a new relationship. Don't send me cherries, and don't contact me. Thank you. Good bye."

Then she simply hung up.
　　
Shu Hang felt somewhat uneasy. It wasn't because he had been rejected – who always succeeded when pursuing a woman? Moreover, the two of them did not really know each other well. It was the tone of her voice, sorrowful and hurt. Hearing that voice would cause a man's heart to be shaken.

How could a 29-year old woman be in so much despair? What on earth had she gone through?

While he was pondering this, his handphone rang. It was the person he had hired to dig up information on Yao Meng.

He suddenly had a bad premonition, and quickly answered the call. "Go ahead."

Translator: shl

TL Checker:

Proofreader: Librismuse, Calculusfanatic

Chapter end