CHAPTER 251: CHAPTER 251: NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN

Miss Bian Shu’s prose poem fell to the ground, she was dazed and went to pick it up, her gaze landing on a man’s slender, handsome fingers. He said, "Let me help you."

Miss Bian Shu never liked obscure and difficult poetry, nor did she enjoy the so-called poignant recitations of melancholy for spring and autumn.

She was simply using the prose poem book to block the sunlight.

But now, as she watched Ji Anshen picking up the prose poem and seriously browsing through it, sunlight fell on his scholarly face, complemented by rimless glasses that added an air of elegance.

He smiled, dimples appearing at the corners of his lips, exceptionally warm. He said, "Goethe? I like him very much too."

Miss Bian Shu didn’t want to tell him, of course, that she didn’t like these poems. In fact, she was just quietly watching him, her palms sweaty.

Reluctantly, she said, "Yes, his lyric poetry is wonderful."

What was wonderful wasn’t the lyric poetry; what was wonderful was the feeling of first love.

Miss Bian Shu had fallen in love with her home tutor, this young, frail, and gentle man.

He would appear in front of her every day at two o’clock in the afternoon, his body carrying the soft fragrance of sunlight.

He liked to use a fountain pen, his writing sharp, carrying a grandeur that didn’t match his gentle appearance.

Miss Bian Shu’s dull and boring life suddenly had something to look forward to.

She liked the feeling of waiting, waiting for someone to come to her side on time every day.

That year, Bian Yue was still a child. Miss Bian Shu would talk a lot with her, and Bian Yue would watch her with innocent, wide-open eyes, asking, "Sister, why does this teacher always wear the same clothes?"

It was then that Miss Bian Shu was pulled out of her absorbed world, realizing that Ji Anshen’s life might not be easy.

Finally, one day, she followed him back to his residence.

It was in the cramped, stifling pigeonhole apartments of Jiulong City, under dim street lights, filled with an odd assortment of people.

Miss Bian Shu looked at Ji Anshen’s silhouette under the soft street light, gaunt and bland.

He walked through the chaotic streets, completely out of place.

Perhaps, the person more out of place was herself.

Miss Bian Shu was unwilling to admit it.

Until they walked one after the other up the narrow, towering staircase, Ji Anshen finally realized someone was behind him, turned around in surprise, and saw Miss Bian Shu in a blue dress standing behind him.

"Miss Bian Shu..."

He called her Miss, unlike at home, where he would call her Bian Shu.

Even now, standing in a higher position, his face remained constrained, as if he was seconds away from prostrating at Miss Bian Shu’s feet.

And Miss Bian Shu, looking at him, felt her heart tighten inexplicably, feeling a pang of heartache for the first time, she softly said, "Teacher Ji, do you live here?"

"Yes... Miss Bian Shu, this place isn’t suitable for you, it’s too chaotic, you should go home," Ji Anshen said, then paused before walking down, his figure shadowed and distorted under the dim yellow light.

He walked up to Miss Bian Shu, his eyes full of concern, "Miss Bian Shu, shall I escort you home?"

Miss Bian Shu knew, perhaps she was in the wrong.

She shouldn’t have come here.

So rashly intruding into someone’s life, no matter how you look at it, it was too irrational.

Bian Shu’s face was tinged with sadness under the light, as she hung her head, full of apologies, "Teacher Ji, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to follow you."

The man smiled forgivingly, softly saying, "It’s alright, let me take you home, let’s go."

Thus, Bian Shu followed Ji Anshen out of the narrow, complex-smelling alley.

Ji Anshen lowered his head to look at her, his voice husky, gently whispering, "Did you need me for something?"

Bian Shu’s heart was racing, at the street entrance, outside was a road bustling with traffic, listening to the noisy mingling of cars, she nervously said, "Teacher Ji, I didn’t know you were having such a hard time."

Ji Anshen paused, then his smile was very genuine.

It was the first time Bian Shu saw Ji Anshen smile like this, his eyebrows and eyes relaxed, with an indescribable tenderness, slowly saying, "Bian Shu, actually, everyone in this world has it tough in their own way, thank you for your concern, but it’s not necessary by comparison, I’m living quite well."

Bian Shu back then was still very young, only 17 years old, the life Ji Anshen had was already the most terrible situation she could imagine.

Bian Shu couldn’t understand how it could be any worse.

Her eyes unclear, she earnestly said, "Teacher Ji, but you don’t need to live like this!"

"Don’t need to?"

"I... I am the young lady of Bian Family, if you date me, you will have everything, you won’t have to suffer!" Having said this, Bian Shu gathered her courage and blurted out, "Ji Anshen! I like you! I really like you!"

Ji Anshen’s face at first showed astonishment, and then, fear appeared.

The next moment, in his voice, Bian Shu heard a sentence she would never forget.

Ji Anshen said, "Bian Shu, with your status, your affection for me is deadly."

Bian Shu hadn’t had time to respond; she didn’t understand why Ji Anshen would say such a thing to her.

The young girl, just immersed in her own grief, said angrily, "Why don’t you like me? What’s wrong with me! Ji Anshen, I am the daughter of the Bian Family, many young masters desire to be with me! What right do you have to reject me!"

She certainly had her pride; her first confession having been harshly rejected, Bian Shu did not want to ponder over the implications of Ji Anshen’s words.

Bian Shu looked at him, wronged and unwilling, while he, on the other hand, sighed, and then, without saying anything, he turned and walked towards the street.

"Go ahead! Just don’t ever show up in front of me again!" Bian Shu’s tone was angry as she bitterly said, "Ji Anshen, you will regret this!"

But the one who regretted wasn’t Ji Anshen, but Bian Shu.

From the next day onward, Ji Anshen never visited the Bian Family again.

Bian Shu initially pretended as if nothing had happened, but as time went on, she became restless, and even the other members of the Bian Family noticed something was off.

But no one linked this matter to a seemingly insignificant home tutor.

The rainy season in Xiangjiang arrived, Bian Shu looked out the window at the fierce wind and pouring rain, anxiously turning to the butler, she couldn’t help but ask, "Is Teacher Ji coming today?"

"Do you not know, Miss?" The butler looked at Bian Shu in surprise.

A chill ran through Bian Shu’s heart as she blankly stared at the butler, her hands subconsciously clenched into fists, "What would I know?"

"Ji Anshen has resigned already, Chairman Ji is currently finding you a new home tutor, who will come soon," the butler said gently, "Don’t worry, your studies will not be delayed at all."

Bian Shu finally understood, Ji Anshen wasn’t just rejecting her affection.

He was rejecting her entirely.

He didn’t even want to have any interaction with her anymore.