Her Wild Rose - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Let’s Fall in Love Again

Su Qian was slightly taken aback. Once she realized the meaning behind Tang Tang’s gesture, she simply gave up resisting and let the girl wipe the sweat from her forehead.

The boy standing next to them clearly hadn’t expected Tang Tang to do something like that. He froze in place, and the confident smile he wore just moments ago cracked.

“Um, I’m…”

He hadn’t even finished speaking when Tang Tang cut him off. She glanced at him with thinly veiled disdain—her eyes cold and critical, as if she were inspecting a slab of cheap pork on sale.

“Kid, while Su Qian may have been a student in the Literature Department at Liao University, I believe starting from the year before yours, the department was merged into Chinese Language and Literature. So technically, you two aren’t even from the same department—just the same school.”

She deliberately emphasized the words “same school.” Then, casting a teasing glance at Su Qian, the expression on her face practically said: “I’ve laid the groundwork. The rest is up to you now.”

Su Qian smiled as she took the tissue from Tang Tang’s hand and gave the girl’s still-raised hand a light squeeze. Then, she turned her attention to the boy, her face showing a polite but emotionally distant smile.

“That’s right, junior. My department’s already been merged with another. At best, we’re just alumni.”

With a sweet, almost possessive smile, she reached out and pulled Tang Tang—who hadn’t stopped staring at her—closer.

“She’s your real senior—Tang Tang. You do know her, don’t you?”

Perhaps Su Qian’s introduction sounded too natural, because the boy’s expression suddenly shifted, as if he’d noticed something deeper behind their unusual interaction. His once-bright eyes dimmed in an instant.

“I’m sorry… I overstepped.”

Like a dream he had clung to for so long suddenly shattered, his eyes turned red. He looked at Su Qian pitifully, his lips trembling, still wanting to say something.

He wanted to tell her that it was reading her novels that had inspired him to apply to her school. He wanted to say how many résumés he submitted when he heard she would be filming a variety show in Lüteng, just to get chosen by the director to work at their restaurant.

But somehow, after learning she already had someone she liked, all those things lost their meaning.

After all, in love—timing is everything. And he was simply too late.

“Someday you’ll meet many people and go through many things,” Tang Tang said with a gentle smile, her voice devoid of sarcasm for once. “And then you’ll realize the person you’re infatuated with now isn’t the only one.”

She pointed toward the kitchen, where the water had begun boiling. “The water’s boiling. Maybe go check on it?”

Comment section highlights:

“Ahhh Tang Tang is so gentle!”
“Right?? She almost got her girl stolen, and she still gave that guy a graceful way out.”
“Gotta say, Su Qian and Tang Tang really are in sync—Tang Tang knows exactly what’s making Su Qian hesitate, and Su Qian can instantly tell when Tang Tang is jealous.”
“Like, I’m okay being single, but these two? They better not break up!”
……

“Why didn’t you push him away just now?”

Once the annoying boy was gone, Tang Tang angrily confronted Su Qian. She glared at her, pinching the soft flesh of her upper arm hard.

“Was it because you felt sorry for him? Or… do you just not care what I’m thinking?”

Her voice was soft, calm even, but Su Qian knew—this was a prelude to her getting seriously mad.

“So… you hate it when I flirt with anyone else?” Su Qian asked.

“No. I just hate it when you act like an old flirt.”

Maybe Tang Tang had gotten too used to hiding her affection behind sarcasm. She lowered her head and played with the spoon in her hand. She honestly didn’t know how to answer Su Qian’s question. Deep down, she knew she still couldn’t make any promises—because she didn’t even know where their future lay.

She admitted Su Qian would make a great partner. But her? Maybe not such a great lover.

“Come on, let’s go serve the customers.”

Su Qian didn’t say anything more. She simply set down her rolling pin and stepped out of the kitchen. For a brief moment, she didn’t even know how to be around Tang Tang anymore.

“What’s wrong?”

At the front desk, Gu Shuangran turned around in surprise, just in time to see Su Qian downing a big gulp of ice water.

“Nothing,” Su Qian said smoothly. She casually took the menu from Gu Shuangran’s hand and handed it to a newly seated couple. Then she turned back to her and offered a bitter smile. “Just got played a little. Feeling a bit rattled.”

It was the first time Su Qian had revealed any emotion in front of others—or the camera. Clearly, she was genuinely upset.

“Then play her right back,” Gu Shuangran said, pulling out a tarot card like a magician and handing it to Su Qian. “The World. Looks like it’s time for a breakthrough.”

A breakthrough, huh?

Su Qian gave a hollow smile. She really didn’t understand what Tang Tang was trying to avoid.

“Su Qian, why are you out here?”

When the lunch rush finally passed, Tang Tang came out of the kitchen, shaking the water off her hands. She walked straight to Su Qian’s side, completely unaware that the woman was still in a bad mood.

Su Qian avoided her gaze but spoke automatically, out of habit.

“It was hot in the kitchen, so I came out to help.”

She didn’t bring up her foul mood, only offering a vague excuse. She didn’t even know how to argue with Tang Tang anymore—after all, they’d already argued countless times over the past three years.

“Hey… want to take a walk?”

Tang Tang could sense her low mood and nervously fiddled with the hem of her sweater. “There aren’t many people outside right now. Maybe we can go out for a bit?”

“Okay.” Su Qian nodded, agreeing to her suggestion.

The winter in Lüteng was chilly. They walked side by side along a stone path. The cold wind blew against them, cooling down their restless hearts.

After a long silence, Tang Tang finally broke it.

“Su Qian, why were you being flirty with that guy?”

As she asked, she instinctively put some distance between them, tucking her hands nervously into her coat sleeves.

For the first time, Su Qian felt irritation rise in her chest. Her brows furrowed tightly, and for once, she didn’t respond positively to Tang Tang’s emotional probing.

“I’m tired, Tang Tang. I don’t want to live every day constantly wondering what’s going on in your head.”

Her voice was low, nearly swallowed by the sound of the wind.

Tang Tang was stunned. For the first time, she heard exhaustion in Su Qian’s tone. Then she snapped back, flaring up too.

“You think I’m not tired? You think I don’t spend every day afraid you’ll fall for someone else? Su Qian, don’t act like you’re some saint!”

The moment the words left her mouth, Tang Tang realized she’d gone too far. She glanced at Su Qian nervously—half her face was cast in shadow, looking oddly somber.

Live chat comments:

“Oh no—they’re fighting. And it’s bad.”
“This is the first real fight I’ve seen between them on the show.”
“Honestly, Tang Tang’s words were too harsh. Su Qian’s been the one compromising more all along.”
“Stop stirring the pot! Tang Tang has mentioned so many times that Su Qian hurt her three years ago! Clearly Su Qian was in the wrong back then!”
“Just break up already. Su Qian shouldn’t have to put up with this princess act.”
“Su Qian stans, get over yourselves. You two old ladies keep clinging to our young girl!”
……

The comment section exploded. Fans from all three camps were locked in a heated debate, their comments flooding the screen.

Back on the path, Tang Tang became more anxious with every second of Su Qian’s silence. She edged a step further away, waiting for the inevitable eruption. She had even mapped out an escape route—just in case Su Qian exploded.

But then, Su Qian just softly asked:

“Is that really how you see me, Tang Tang?”

Her voice trembled with a fragile vulnerability that made Tang Tang feel even worse. She wanted to explain, to say she didn’t mean it, but had to admit that sometimes, words spoken without thinking are the truest reflections of one’s heart.

For a brief moment, she wondered—Maybe I don’t like Su Qian as much as I thought I did.

That realization hit her like a punch in the gut.

“Maybe… we should just end this,” Su Qian said, looking at her calmly. For the first time, the words give up passed her lips.

She looked at the tears welling in Tang Tang’s eyes, and despite everything, still reached out to gently touch her cheek.

“Tang Tang, I think deep down you know—you might not like me that much. I’m afraid you’ll regret this someday.”

“Regret liking you?”

Tang Tang’s nose stung, tears threatening to fall. She looked at Su Qian helplessly, hoping to find that familiar sense of security she always sought in her presence.

She wanted to say how much she liked her—but when the words reached her lips, she just couldn’t say them.

“You silly girl, let’s both cool down a bit.”

Su Qian smiled and ruffled her hair. She knew, for someone like Tang Tang, the lines between like and love were still blurry.

But she needed closure—about herself, and about the three years she’d waited.

With that, Su Qian turned and walked away. Her familiar figure faded into the distance.

Tang Tang couldn’t take it anymore.

“Su Qian, wait!”

She ran after her, closing the gap in a few hurried steps. The confusion and uncertainty in her eyes were gone—replaced by a rare clarity.

She firmly grabbed Su Qian’s hand, intertwining their fingers.

“Su Qian, let’s fall in love all over again. I don’t know if we’re right for each other, and I still don’t understand how to really love or accept someone. But I want to start over. I want to find that feeling of loving you from the beginning again.

So… will you, Su Qian?”