Chapter 41: Love and Responsibility!

  Zhang Ziheng gave Li Wencheng a white eye and said irritably, "Alright, alright, now you can speak. Where did you see Director Xu? Who was she with?"

  "Look, are you in a hurry? Actually, it's nothing much. I just came out of the company and took the bus. When I saw your company's Xu Zong getting off her car. As for the specific location, I really can't remember because at that time I didn't pay much attention to it. But I vaguely remembered that she walked into a coffee shop after getting off the car." Li Wen Cheng said thoughtfully.

  "Coffee shop? Which coffee shop? What did it look like? How long ago was that?" Zhang Ziheng asked hurriedly.

  Li Wencheng looked at him with a mixture of amusement and restraint, saying: "I'm telling you, it's not that serious, is it? I've already said I didn't take it to heart and don't even remember it. And even if you knew, what could you do about it? Ah, right, you still haven't told me why you skipped work today. You can't just run out without a reason, and even if you were looking for that Xu boss, there must be something going on. What is it? Tell me."

  "Hey, it's nothing, nothing. Why think so much? You're always thinking nonsense, I won't talk to you about this anymore." Zhang Ziheng said as he stood up, patted his butt and turned around to leave.

  "Hey, wait for me! Tell me, what's going on? Did you dump Wang Xue and switch to Xu Zong? Or did Wang Xue dump you? What's the story?" Li Wen Cheng said as he hurriedly caught up.

  "Oh no, I thought it was all over, why are you still asking? Don't follow me."

  "You just tell me, we're brothers, why don't you believe me? You tell me, I definitely won't tell others, I swear."

  Twenty minutes later, the two were in a nearby teahouse. Li Wencheng looked at Zhang Ziheng with a helpless expression, shaking his head and saying: "Ziheng, what can I say about you? Something big happened and you didn't even tell me, are you not considering me as your brother?"

  "What's the big deal? I didn't do anything with President Xu, nothing happened, I just confessed to her, is this a big deal?" Zhang Ziheng said.

  "What did you say? This isn't a big deal?! Good grief, how can you be so careless?! Have you ever thought about what would happen if Wang Xue found out about this?! I guarantee she'll kill you!" Li Wen Cheng said seriously.

  "This doesn't need to be said, how could I possibly let her know? Besides, I've already talked to Xu and we agreed to consider that matter as if it never happened, just forget about it, that's all." Zhang Ziheng said.

  Li Wencheng snorted and said, "Forgot? If you really forgot, you wouldn't have run out today. Ziheng, I've been brothers with you for four years now, although it's not a long time, but I know you too well. Whenever something is on your mind, it's written all over your face, especially when it comes to emotions. Ziheng, as a friend, I'm telling you that Wang Xue is not a bad person, so don't do anything to hurt her."

  Zhang Ziheng sighed and said, "I know too, but sometimes I really can't control myself. I've also told you and Xiao Tian before that I don't even know if I like her or not. Yes, it's true that Wang Xue is great in every aspect except for being a bit hot-tempered, basically the kind of girl every boy dreams of. But... but from start to finish, I just didn't have that feeling towards her, you know, that heart-pounding feeling? Counting back, I've lived over 20 years now, and in these 20 years, there were only two people who gave me that feeling: one was Yu Jie, the other was Xu Zong. If you were me, how would you choose?"

  Li Wencheng nodded, thought for a moment and said: "Indeed, it's a bit troublesome. So I'll tell you as your brother. Ziheng, in this life, it's not easy to find someone you love. Once you have the chance to possess that love, don't give it up. Although this will hurt others, if you don't hurt others, in the end, the one who gets hurt is yourself."

  "So?"

  "So if you really like Director Xue, then go after him. However, you need to settle things with Wang Xue first, otherwise even if you're together with Director Xue, your second half of life won't be comfortable." Li Wencheng said as he lit a cigarette.

  Zhang Ziheng glared at him and said, "What kind of ridiculous idea is this? I never thought of hurting Wang Xue, in fact, I was thinking of marrying her in the future."

  "What? Marriage? You're thinking quite far ahead. No... aren't you fond of Director Xu? What about Director Xu then?" Li Wen Cheng asked.

  "What's the point? Even if I like her, what can I do? I'll just keep this feeling deep in my heart and let it gradually turn into friendship. I hope she can find someone who truly loves her and live happily ever after." Zhang Ziheng said.

  Li Wencheng snorted and said: "You're speaking with a forked tongue. Is this really what you think in your heart? Why don't I believe it?"

  "Yes, I'm having a hard time accepting it now, but it will get better with time. General Xu said that time can change everything, I..." Zhang Ziheng's words became more and more unconvincing as he spoke, so much time had passed yet he still hadn't forgotten, how could this prove the saying that time can change everything?

  "Haha, what's wrong? Speak up, you're the one who's always saying that. What time can change everything? Those are just excuses made by people who don't understand love. True love won't expire with the passage of time. If a love fades away due to the length of time, it's not true love, and those people aren't truly in love either. What about staying friends after breaking up? I'll tell you, if a couple really breaks up, there are only two possible outcomes: one is that they never see each other again and become strangers who know each other all too well; the other is that they're still connected by a thread and end up getting back together or hurting each other. Those people who can stay friends after breaking up aren't even real couples, just two like-minded acquaintances at best. So don't be fooled by what others say, those are just people who can't get true love themselves and don't want others to have it either." Li Wen Cheng spoke like an expert, leaving Zhang Zi Heng stunned.

  Zhang Ziheng listened to his words, thought for a moment, and felt that it made sense. "So, Wen Cheng, you're saying that I can't be friends with Xu Zong?"

  Li Wencheng slapped the table and said, "Ah, I don't dare say it to others, but you, someone who takes emotions so seriously, you two definitely can't be friends. Zi Heng, I know you too well, just from the fact that you're willing to skip class to find Xu Zong, I'm sure you'll get into some kind of trouble with her in the future, what kind of trouble it is will depend on yourself."

  Zhang Ziheng lowered his head, thought for a moment, lit a cigarette, and then said: "No way, no way. If it's really like you said, what about Xue'er? I can't do anything that would wrong her, I have to be responsible to her."

  "Huh? Responsible? What responsibility? Ah? You... you didn't get her pregnant, did you?" Li Wen Cheng asked in surprise.

  Zhang Ziheng slapped him and said irritably, "What are you talking about? What's with the big belly? How can others hear this?"

  "You didn't even get her pregnant, what responsibility are you talking about? You can't think that just because you slept with her, you have to be responsible for her, right?" Li Wen Cheng asked.

  "What's wrong? Is something wrong?"

  Li Wencheng shook his head and said, "Ziheng, what era are we living in? You still have that old way of thinking. When will you ever grow up? Nowadays, it's very common for young men and women to be involved with each other, just like eating a meal. And yet, you're still thinking about taking responsibility for this? I really don't know what to say to you."

  "What are you talking about? If it's as you say, then people can't get married." Zhang Ziheng said with a frown.

  "Hey, that's where you're wrong. Nowadays people don't get married just for love or responsibility, but simply to get married. And just because two people are married doesn't mean they have feelings for each other, and having feelings for someone doesn't necessarily mean getting married, do you understand?" Li Wencheng asked.

  Zhang Ziheng thought for a moment and said: "I somewhat understand, but also don't quite get it. If there's no emotional connection between them, then why bother getting married?"

  "There are many reasons for this, and they vary from person to person. Some people do it for money, some because of pressure from family members, and others because of children, which is what's known as 'marrying for the sake of the child.' There are all sorts of reasons, of course, not excluding love. But many facts have proven that those who get married for love often end in tragedy." Li Wencheng said.

  "Really? I feel like you're just making all this up!"

  "Hey, don't you believe it. Isn't there a song that goes like this? Why can't people who love each other be together? It's just that they end up becoming memories. In other words, people who love each other can't be together, and in the end, all that's left is those beautiful memories." Li Wencheng laughed.

  Zhang Ziheng furrowed his brow and looked at him, saying: "What's all this nonsense? What does this song have to do with emotions? And what does it have to do with me? You've gone off on a tangent again."

  "Huh? Alright, let's talk about you. Don't think that just because something happened between you and Wang Xue, you two will definitely end up together. Some people get married and still get divorced, not to mention your current situation. So don't have any burdens. If you really find someone you truly like, and they also like you, then you can be together. But I'm warning you, the consequences are yours to bear, because that's your own choice, no one is forcing you." Li Wen Cheng said.

  Zhang Ziheng sighed, lowered his head and fell into deep thought. He didn't know what to do because he still really liked President Xue. He didn't know whether or not to pursue his true love as Wen Cheng had said, because once he made a decision, he would have to bear the consequences himself. What should he do? Zhang Ziheng was in a dilemma again.