After Crossing Over to the Republic of China, I've Become a Heartthrob Chapter 30

Too Late to Love You

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Before Shi Yao could think of an excuse, Song Yuan emerged from the corridor behind him.

He looked calm and collected, as if nothing out of line had just happened.

Han Pu nodded at him and said, "President Song."

Song Yuan smiled lightly, showing no emotion: "Professor Han."

Shi Yao thought he was going to ignore him again.

Unexpectedly, Song Yuan's gaze fell on his face the next moment: "Mr. Shi, it's good to see you."

They exchanged pleasantries politely, as if they had no personal relationship.

Shi Yao said, "It's good to see you too."

Song Yuan withdrew his gaze and indifferently turned to leave.

Shi Yao called out to him and said, "Song Yuan."

Song Yuan stopped and looked at him suspiciously, "Mr. Shi, is there something you want to tell me?"

Is this man schizophrenic? He could win an Oscar for his acting skills, right? Shi Yao secretly complained.

He really wanted to tell Song Yuan that they had already broken up, so they shouldn't be kissing each other for no reason. He was so unsettled, but Han Pu was still there, so it wasn't convenient for him to say anything.

However, Song Yuan's gentlemanly, business-minded and superior attitude made Shi Yao feel very uncomfortable. Who was it that was just secretly embracing and entangling?

Resisting the urge to curse, Shi Yao said, "It's nothing, thank you for your hospitality, I mean the banquet."

"You're welcome." Song Yuan smiled, "If Mr. Shi is interested, you are always welcome."

Shi Yao secretly clenched his hands, he was really, really good at acting.

An inexplicable irritation surged in the bottom of his heart, Shi Yao tugged at Han Pu's sleeve: "Professor, let's go."

Song Yuan looked at Shi Yao's movement, and a chill spread across the bottom of his eyes: "Professor Han, please stay."

Han Pu straightened the folds of his shirt and waited patiently for Song Yuan's next words.

"Recently, I have read your new work, which is very enlightening and beneficial for the people." Song Yuan's words sounded sincere and genuine: "I hope that Professor will uphold his original heart, a high-level student is a teacher, and an upright person is a model."

His words were so dignified, but they were just implicitly hinting to Han Pu, don't engage in teacher-student relationships, you're too loose!

On the way back, Han Pu asked him, "President Song Youlan, what is your relationship with him?"

Shi Yao lied, "I don't know him well at all."

"You were previously engaged to Song Duheng, and Song Youlan is his elder brother, how could you not know him well?"

"He's a strange man with a sick brain, I didn't really pay much attention to him."

"What makes you say that?"

"At the time of the Song family's accident, some of his actions were too much for me to accept. The difference between his views and mine is too great, and our paths are not the same."

"People who walk different paths cannot make plans together," Han Pu recited, "how do you understand this saying?"

"That's, ah," Shi Yao noticed the lights not far away and immediately got excited: "it's so lively over there!"

Han Pu was always quiet and did not like commotion, but seeing how happy Shi Yao was, he walked over there with him.

"It's the Lantern Festival! Have there been any festivals recently?" Shi Yao spent four copper coins to buy two bunches of candied gourds and handed one to Han Pu.

Han Pu never ate such things, yet he didn't refuse, holding it in his hand, and feeling as if he was a teenager.

Shi Yao licked the candy coating and ran to buy more candy floss, and, as usual, handed one to Han Pu.

Holding the two items in his hands, Han Pu was a bit bewildered for a moment.

"There are lantern riddles!" Shi Yao stared curiously at one of the lanterns in the shape of a rabbit: "Professor, do you remember? Last time at the Lantern Festival, you taught me how to solve lantern riddles."

Of course Han Pu remembered that the answer to that lantern riddle was: the person who loves you the most is me.

At that time, he was teased by Shi Yao.

Laughing to himself, Han Pu moved a little closer to him to see the contents of the riddle.

In the candlelight, he suddenly sensed the aura of danger.

Han Pu dropped the food in his hands and immediately took Shi Yao in his arms, knocking over the shelf in front of him and knocking the lanterns to the ground.

"Be careful." Han Pu's warning sounded in his ears, cold, sharp and determined.

Several gunshots pierced the sky, heart-wrenching screams came from the crowd, and there was an endless stream of pushing and cursing.

Shi Yao fell to the ground, clutching Han Pu tightly, his mind going blank.

The painful scene in the back of his mind that he didn't want to remember replayed itself, as Han Pu's white shirt was stained with blood.

He had been shot.

Warm blood dripped from his chest and stained his collar.

"Professor, Professor Han." Shi Yao called out to him in a panic, "Wait, I'll find a doctor for you."

He helped Han Pu off to the side and was just about to leave when Han Pu grabbed his wrist, "Don't go, it's dangerous."

"Is there anything more dangerous than your current situation!"

Shi Yao pushed into the crowd, his heart filled with grief as he rushed through the crowd like a headless fly, stumbling and falling.

He grabbed people and asked, where is the nearest hospital? Where is a doctor?

But everyone just shrugged him off in disgust and focused on running for their lives, and no one paid any attention to him.

Fortunately, in the distance, he caught a glimpse of the Red Cross hospital sign, which was faintly lit up.

Shi Yao immediately rushed back to Han Pu's side, carrying him on his back while encouraging, "Professor, hold on a little longer. Soon, we'll be there soon."

As he spoke, his voice trembled.

He recalled the image of Ling Junde being shot and killed in front of him.

"Shi Yao, do you remember... 'Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix'?" Han Pu's breath was faint: "The ancient guqin piece I played for you."

"I don't remember," Shi Yao said, "tell me about it, Professor."

As long as he could still respond to him, there was still hope for survival, Shi Yao thought to himself, hang in there.

"There is a beautiful person who is not forgotten when you see her." Han Pu sang in a low voice in his ear, "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."

Tears flowed down for no reason, and Shi Yao trembled all over.

"Don't cry, Shi Yao," Han Pu wiped away his tears: "if you can't fly… I will perish..."

At some point a fine rain began to fall, pouring over his body and face, blurring the tears.

Shi Yao held Han Pu tightly, as if he could hear the song 'Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix' playing in the night sky.

———

After being rescued in the hospital, Han Pu was finally out of life-threatening condition, but fell into a coma.

Shi Yao stayed up almost all night, watching over Han Pu, hoping for a medical miracle to happen.

However, the level of medical care in the Republic of China was limited and the doctors did their best, but they could not predict when Han Pu would wake up.

If Ling Junde's death had taught him his first lesson about the chaotic times, Han Pu's attack had almost announced the complete demise of his ideals.

He crafted a small, delicate dagger in a good iron shop and hid it in his clothing.

If the people he valued were repeatedly put in danger because of him, Shi Yao thought to himself, he would not be able to live with a clear conscience.

There was no justice in a world of chaos, there was only power in a world of chaos.

So he had no choice but to take justice into his own hands, even at the cost of his life.

For some reason, Shi Yao was certain that this was Song Yuan's handiwork.

If he could kill Ling Junde out of jealousy, he could naturally be angry with Han Pu for the same reason.

Otherwise, how could Han Pu, who has never been involved in any business ventures, have any enemies?

Song Yuan, do you want me to be left alone, to live and die as a teacher and a friend, and to have to rely on you?

Song Yuan, do you want me to be at my wit's end, completely isolated, to have no choice but to come back to you?

Song Yuan, if my only mistake was to trust you and love you mistakenly.

Then tonight, let me put an end to my sins with my own hands.

Relying on the familiar memories in his mind, Shi Yao effortlessly climbed over the wall of the Song residence and entered Song Yuan's room through the window.

As the moon was bright and the stars were sparse, he was surprisingly calm.

Song Yuan looked up from his desk, and his eyes were full of surprise and delight.

Shi Yao smiled, seemingly fondly: "Youlan, I'm back."

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

The lantern riddle gave me PTSD from the first chapter with them, so annoying to translate.

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

Translated: June 28, 2023