After Crossing Over to the Republic of China, I've Become a Heartthrob Chapter 17

Song Liao Proposes Again

---

After leaving work, following the address in the envelope, Shi Yao found the apartment, which was hidden in a busy residential area.

The room was small, with little space, but it was tidy and had a comfortable sense of security.

Putting his luggage down, Shi Yao looked at the suitcase given to him by Ling Junde and fell into deep thought.

This briefcase was full of American dollars, and he felt that it was not safe to leave it here. Where should he take it? Deposit it in the bank? He didn't even have a proper identity, and he couldn't explain where the money came from.

Give it to a trustworthy person to keep?

A trustworthy person...

For some reason, Han Pu's face immediately popped into his mind.

Shi Yao couldn't tell, but Han Pu gave him the impression that he was a clear and honest gentleman.

Even if all the people in the world were lying, Han Pu would never deceive him, he had this inexplicable feeling.

In the middle of the night, he knocked on the door of Han Pu's house with a heavy briefcase: "Professor, I've come to see you for tutoring."

Although a little surprised, Han Pu smiled and said, "Visiting late at night, I don't have any secret skills to teach you."

"Professor Han, are you cosplaying?" Shi Yao looked at him in shock and swallowed his saliva.

Han Pu was dressed in a long white robe, in the style of the Ming Dynasty, and was as gentle and elegant as if he had come out of an ancient painting.

"What is cosplay?" Han Pu led him in and offered him a cup of tea.

"It's, like, role-playing, which is what you are like now!"

"What am I like now?"

"Immortal air." Shi Yao stared at him intently, "More immortal than the gods in costume dramas!"

"Mr. Shi is always saying strange things," Han Pu sat across from him, "this is a Ming Dynasty style of home clothing, made for daily wear, what's wrong with it?"

Shi Yao suddenly remembered that this was the Republic of China, and many intellectuals in the Republic of China did wear ancient Chinese clothing, such as Zhang Taiyan.

"There is nothing wrong with it, I think it suits you particularly well." Shi Yao drank his tea and calmed down: "I actually want to ask you for something. That is, I have a briefcase that I would like you to keep for me."

"Okay."

"Aren't you going to ask what's in the briefcase?"

"I don't need to ask."

"Why?"

Setting his guqin on his lap, Han Pu stroked the strings and let out a clear voice: "If you wanted to tell me, you would have told me."

"In fact, the briefcase is..."

"Mr. Shi," Han Pu asked, "would you like to hear a song?"

"Okay."

The rhythm started, and Han Pu hummed softly, it was 'Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix'.

———

There is a beautiful woman, who I will never forget.

When I don't see you for a day, I think about you like crazy.

The phoenix soars, the phoenix seeks all over the world.

The helpless beauty, is not on the east wall.

Replace the guqin with the language, chat and write from the bottom of my heart.

When will I see Xu Xi, comfort me in my hesitation.

Wish to match virtue, hand in hand.

If you can't fly, I will perish.

———

Han Pu's elegance was so breathtaking; the Wei and Jin dynasties were like orchids in the snow.

Shi Yao said, "Master Han, you remind me of one of Wordsworth's first poems."

"Master?" Han Pu looked at him in confusion.

"Master means teacher, I'm used to using it." Shi Yao hastily explained, "Where I used to live, we used to use the term 'Master', which is a respectful term for our teachers."

"Where did you live before?"

"A magical place," Shi Yao couldn't help but say, "if I said that I had come here a hundred years from now, would you think that I was mentally ill?"

"A hundred years from now," Han Pu pondered, "the year 2023?

"Mmm."

"What is that like?"

"Every child will be able to study, regardless of gender, and regardless of wealth. Every young person will have access to education, and the light of science and knowledge will shine in China, where your vision has been realised."

"Is that true?" Han Pu's eyes rippled.

"Yes."

"Really?" Han Pu asked once more, looking at him seriously.

"Yes." Shi Yao was gentle and patient, saying word by word, "Master, I promise you."

"Okay," Han Pu's voice was cool and soft, "Mr. Shi, how about I play another piece for you?"

"Don't call me Mr. Shi, just call me Shi Yao."

"Shi Yao," Han Pu recited, "Shi Yao."

"Mmm."

"Do you have a song you want to hear?"

"I don't know anything about music, but you remind me, Master, of Jian'an poetry, and Wei-Jin demeanour."

"Who is your favourite of the seven scholars of Jian'an?"

"Ruan Ji!" Shi Yao said, "Drunk and stoned, running around naked, definitely a trend of the times!"

"You're always so unusual." Han Pu laughed lightly, "Let me play a piece of 'Yong Huai' for you."

———

I can't sleep at night, so I sit up and play my zither.

The curtain is thin, reflecting the light of the moon, and the clear wind blows on my lapel. 

A lonely bird calls out to the wilderness, and a flying bird sings in the northern forest.

What will happen if I wander? I am still feeling lonely and sad.

———

The moon was bright and the breeze caressed his lapel. When Shi Yao looked at the man in front of him, he felt as if, through the sound of his guqin, he could touch his pride and solitude, he could touch his ideal of helping people in the world. In this troubled world, they could drink a cup of sorrow and peace together.

The next morning.

Shi Yao went to work at the Nanyang Chamber of Commerce and was called by Song Liao to his office immediately after he arrived.

Song Liao said, "After work, you will come back with me."

"Back where?"

Song Liao gave him a warning look, "Where else do you want to go?"

"That's not necessary." Shi Yao said, "Our engagement is over, isn't it?"

"The marriage contract that your father and my father made for us is indeed over." Song Liao looked at him, "What if I asked you to marry me?"

What?

What the hell was Song Liao doing?

Did he hear that right?

Shi Yao could not contain her shock: "Mr. Song Duheng, is today April Fool's Day?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about you." Song Liao played with the pen on his desk between his fingers, "You were destined to belong to me before you were born, and I will not allow you to leave my control."

"Hey, how many times have I told you, Young Master Song, I am an independent human being, a complete human being, not your private property, please show a little respect for me..."

"That's why I'm asking for your opinion." Song Liao's expression did not look fake: "If you say yes, I will take you back to the Song family."

"Didn't your father ask you to enter into a marriage with the Jiang family? Can you defy his resolution?"

"I can't."

"Then what should I do back there?"

"You don't need to do anything, I will keep you safe and I will support you."

"I refuse." When he saw Song Liao's slightly hurt expression, Shi Yao's heart suddenly throbbed: "Because, I am no longer the Shi Yao I was before. Believe it or not, he and I are different people, maybe he likes you, he belongs to you, but I..."

"You truly are not him." Song Liao put the pen back in the holder: "He would never reject me."

"I'm sorry."

"If this is an excuse you made up, then I accept it." Song Liao's eyes were sombre: "You'll regret it, one day, Shi Yao. You'll be begging and crying, begging me to let you come back to me."

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: June 16, 2023