BT70sTMUMP Chapter 11

I Don’t Like You

Lin Chuan didn’t say a word, just stood under a tree nearby, smoking.

There was no denying it—men looked handsome when they smoked. If only he could be a little gentler to girls. But thinking about it, he wasn’t wrong either. She was just a stranger he had rescued in the mountains; his gentleness should be reserved for the female lead.

Just as she was thinking about the female lead, she arrived with two other young female volunteers. They seemed to misunderstand that Lin Chuan was there to meet the female lead. Upon seeing him, they giggled and walked away. The female lead shyly smiled and approached him, asking, “Chuanzi, are you looking for me?”

Lin Chuan took a drag on his cigarette and replied, “No.”

Well, Su Su mentally rolled her eyes. With that attitude, it was no wonder the female lead didn’t like him—he was just too cold.

“Oh, I thought you were waiting for me. Chuanzi, don’t you think the timing for our wedding is a bit off? Maybe you should discuss it with your family…”

“When do you think would be the right time?”

“I… if I get into university, I’ll have to go study. Even if we get married, we wouldn’t be able to live here, right?”

“So, what do you suggest?”

Lin Chuan felt a wave of frustration. The marriage report had been filed. If they didn’t get married, how would he explain it to his superiors? Most importantly, he didn’t understand what she was trying to achieve by saying all this. Not get married now and wait until she graduated from university?

“I think we should wait until I finish university before we get married, okay?”

Lin Chuan stubbed out his cigarette.

“First of all, you’re not guaranteed to get into university. Even though the acceptance rate has increased since the first year of the reintroduction of the college entrance exam, it’s still very difficult. Moreover, I came back specifically to get married. If you wanted me to wait until you graduated, why didn’t you say so in our correspondence? I mentioned in my letter that I had filed a marriage report, but you didn’t address it in your reply.”

Wow, Su Su counted on her fingers and realised that was the most Lin Chuan had spoken since she arrived in this world. Still, he added, “If you really want to go to university, I support you. So we can get married but delay having children.”

Su Su paused for a moment. Lin Chuan was actually quite considerate, willing to support the female lead’s education and even postpone having children, despite his age. Well, at least for this era, he wasn’t young anymore.

He wasn’t as cold and hard as the book portrayed. His family had already made many preparations, including buying a house for them. If they didn’t get married, how would the Lin family be viewed by others? They would likely become a laughingstock in the village.

So, Lin Chuan insisting on marriage wasn’t wrong. After all, they were not getting any younger.

But what Lin Chuan didn’t know was that the female lead genuinely didn’t want to marry into a rural life. Her plan was to leave the village and find broader opportunities, eventually finding a tender and affectionate man. Even if it were the male lead, he was far superior to the supporting male character.

Of course, the book didn’t mention this; it was Su Su’s analysis. After all, being a woman herself, she understood how ambitious women thought.

“I-I don’t want to discuss this anymore.” The female lead, Qin Yue Yue, was on the verge of tears, frustrated by Lin Chuan’s lack of empathy.

“Are you two done talking? I’m well-rested now. Oh, Comrade Qin, why are you crying? Are you so happy about marrying Brother Chuan?” Su Su said with a smile, catching a glance from Lin Chuan that seemed to say, “You’re young, but how can you be so blind?”

Su Su lifted her chin slightly and continued, “You have great taste. You’ll definitely be happy in the future.” A man who flatters isn’t necessarily a good partner. Sure, the male lead might seem great, but later he would attract numerous admirers, and dealing with them would be a headache.

In contrast, the supporting male character was honest and dependable, waiting for her for so long. How many three-year periods does one have in life? Most importantly, theirs was a sexless marriage. He hadn’t touched her without her consent, even though they were married. He ended up yearning so much that he just hugged a friend’s child, which the female lead misunderstood, leading to a difficult explanation.

Reflecting on this, she felt she hadn’t praised him wrongly.

However, Lin Chuan gave an awkward cough and turned his face away, embarrassed.

Qin Yue Yue glanced at Su Su and then ran off.

Su Su touched her chin, wondering if Qin Yue Yue had misunderstood something about her. Why did she look at her that way before running off? Honestly, she had no romantic interest in the supporting male character. She just wanted them to break up sooner. Without her, he would surely find a good woman to marry and live happily ever after.

As soon as the others left, Su Su hurried over to Lin Chuan and whispered, “Brother Chuan, don’t you think Comrade Qin doesn’t really want to marry you? Maybe she doesn’t like you?”

Lin Chuan suddenly glared down at her and said, “Young girls shouldn’t meddle in these matters.”

“Hey, I’m just analysing the situation. Why are you so agitated? After all, if a girl truly likes a man, wouldn’t she be eager to marry him and stay by his side all the time?” She was just speaking off the cuff, not really sure herself.

Lin Chuan paused. He was well aware of these issues, but what could he do? If he really called off the wedding, Qin Yue Yue wouldn’t be able to stay in the village. In this era, a woman’s reputation was everything.

Not marrying her would also disappoint his parents. He was caught in a difficult position.

Of course, as a man, he swallowed these concerns and wouldn’t speak a word about them.

Su Su didn’t understand why, despite knowing that Qin Yue Yue didn’t like him, Lin Chuan still insisted on marrying her.

When they got home, they found everyone busy tidying up the newly bought house just behind their own, across the street. It was very convenient, with the new house being much better than the Lin’s current one. It had a pigsty, a large courtyard, and a big vegetable garden. In modern times, such a big courtyard would be worth at least several thousand or even tens of thousands. Living in such a rural home would be quite nice.

However, the female lead was a university student and would eventually return to the city.

For a modern person, the distinction between rural and urban living had become blurred. In her era, rural life was often better than city life, with land, houses, and yearly subsidies. Many city people, tired of urban life, even bought land in the countryside to build homes and live. The fresh air and simpler life were very appealing.

She remembered that before she came, her parents mentioned a wealthy relative who had retired to the countryside, even bringing their pets along. It was truly enviable.