Under Clear Skies Chapter 100: I’ve Waited Too Long

Chapter 100: I’ve Waited Too Long

Translated by KarateChopMonkey of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

 

They couldn’t make it to Hunan on Tian Xiaoqin’s anniversary.

The report in the “Hanyang Morning News” was like a fuse, exploding with many unexpected revelations. It wasn’t until both Tang Guomu and Fu Liling were taken away for investigation, and rumors of Tang Guomu’s economic crimes spread like wildfire, that Tang Heng suddenly realized—in a sense, Tian Xiaoqin’s case had become a weapon used by others.

Sure enough, he soon met with officials from the disciplinary department of Han University and leaders from an economic department in Wuhan.

“Professor Tang, rest assured, we will definitely get to the bottom of this matter,” the person across from Tang Heng said amiably, “But we also hope you can provide as many clues as possible.”

Tang Heng calmly responded, “We have already disclosed all the clues related to his assault on Tian Xiaoqin.”

“Are there any others?” the person pressed, “Such as bribery, embezzlement…”

“I really don’t know.”

“Professor Tang, please think again. Every clue you provide now is very important.”

Seeing Tang Heng remain silent, the leader of the economic department gestured for the others to leave the room, then personally assured Tang Heng, “Our goal is only to deal with Tang Guomu. You have made a contribution to this matter, and out of respect for you, we won’t make things difficult for your mother either.”

Tang Heng fell silent for a moment, then shook his head, “I haven’t been back in six years. I didn’t have much contact with him before due to poor health.”

…

Similar conversations occurred four times, each lasting over two hours. Tang Heng couldn’t reach Fu Liling, and later learned from Professor An that Tang Guomu had been closely associated with a certain leader in recent years. Last year, that leader had a fierce conflict with another faction, so this time Tang Guomu ended up caught in the crossfire.

Tang Heng’s final conversation with them occurred in early May, on the same day six years ago when Li Yuechi stabbed Tang Guomu with a knife.

“Go ahead,” Li Yuechi patted Tang Heng’s arm, “I’ll be waiting here for you.”

“Okay,” Tang Heng took a few steps forward, then turned back to look at him, “I’ll be right back.”

Li Yuechi smiled and said, “Alright.”

The content of the last conversation wasn’t much different from the previous three, except that towards the end, the other party suddenly said, “Was it Li Yuechi who came with you?”

Tang Heng suddenly became alert, “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” the person waved his hand with a smile, “Just noticed… he used to be Tang Guomu’s student.”

Tang Heng stared at him, frowning.

“It’s a pity to waste such a promising youth,” the person paused, speaking softly, “Does he still want to study? If he has any regrets, maybe…”

“It’s his own business, let’s talk about it later.”

“Okay, but if he’s interested, he can contact me anytime.”

After the conversation ended, Tang Heng got up and left the office. The distance from the third floor to the first floor wasn’t far, but he deliberately walked slowly, perhaps taking two minutes to descend—when he reached the lobby on the first floor, he saw a straight back at the entrance, holding a cup of milk tea.

Tang Heng let out a long sigh of relief.

When he was going downstairs just now, he had a moment of panic: Li Yuechi wouldn’t disappear again, would he?

Just like six years ago, when he woke up and never saw Li Yuechi again.

Fortunately, this time Li Yuechi stayed by his side, handing him the milk tea and smiling, “I saw the students lining up, so I bought one too.”

It was a rich caramel milk tea. Tang Heng took a sip and handed it back to Li Yuechi, “Try it.”

It was just past six in the afternoon, the time when students went to the cafeteria for dinner. Li Yuechi wore the simplest white t-shirt and jeans, holding a cup of milk tea, no different from those students. Tang Heng stared blankly for a few seconds, hearing the words of the leader in his ear.

That person even gave Tang Heng his business card.

“Li Yuechi,” Tang Heng tugged at his sleeve, “I have something to ask you.”

Li Yuechi turned his head, “What?”

“Do you still want to… go to school?”

“Why are you asking that?”

“Just asking. Do you still want to?”

“Do your graduate studies,” Li Yuechi handed the milk tea to Tang Heng, with a hint of amusement in his voice, “I saw it online, overseas schools don’t differentiate between advisors and co-advisors. Assistant professors can also supervise graduate students, right?”

“Oh?” Tang Heng was puzzled, “Yes.”

“Have you supervised graduate students before?”

“I’ve supervised one… she’s not really my student, she’s about to graduate. Her advisor had something come up, so she was temporarily transferred to me.”

“Oh, how did it feel?”

“I’m not so good at it,” Tang Heng replied truthfully, “Her thesis was a mess, but she felt good about it, so I scolded her several times.”

“Boy or girl?”

“Girl.”

“And you’re okay with scolding her?”

“I have to scold her or she won’t graduate.”

“I really can’t imagine…” Li Yuechi lifted his hand and smoothed down Tang Heng’s hair that was sticking up at the back of his head, “What Professor Tang looks like when he scolds someone.”

Tang Heng said stiffly, “Very stern.”

“How stern?”

“The students dare not cry.”

“Really?” Li Yuechi said, “Very stern indeed.”

As he spoke, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and his voice dragged on, as if he was deliberately performing for Tang Heng to see. Tang Heng suddenly felt a sense of being looked down upon. He thought Li Yuechi must be too spoiled, if he really was his student, he would definitely be scolded into submission.

If Li Yuechi really was his student… the scene seemed a bit strange, but amidst the strangeness, there was a hint of excitement. If the Li Yuechi from back then was his student now, at least Li Yuechi wouldn’t have to struggle so much. He was the advisor, he could rightfully pay Li Yuechi. But another tricky question arose: what if he still fell in love with Li Yuechi? He was the advisor, he was the student, he had to adhere to the principles of being a teacher…

“Watch out!” Li Yuechi suddenly grabbed Tang Heng, pulling him forcefully so that Tang Heng leaned against him.

Tang Heng snapped back to reality and saw a puddle of cream on the floor.

“What were you thinking about?”

Tang Heng felt slightly guilty, “Nothing.”

Li Yuechi asked sharply, “Did they say something to you?”

“They… yes, they said that if you wanted to come back to Han University to study, you should contact them.”

“It must come with conditions.”

“They want me to provide evidence of Tang Guomu’s illegal activities,” Li Yuechi said this way, and Tang Heng thought he was really tempted, “I really have no evidence left. My mom definitely has it, but I think we’d better not get involved in these matters… If you want to study, I’ll try.”

“How will you try?”

“I’ll investigate those companies my mom owns. I have the authority to do so.”

“Tang Heng,” Li Yuechi suddenly pressed his shoulder, “This isn’t something you owe me.”

“I know, but I just feel that if you want to, I should try my best to satisfy you…” Tang Heng remembered the day they were in the teaching building at Shi Da, Li Yuechi was listening attentively to the female teacher’s lecture through a wall. He asked Li Yuechi if he wanted to go say hello, Li Yuechi said no, and at that moment, he felt a pang of heartache.

“I don’t want to,” Li Yuechi said lightly but firmly, “I’ve passed that age. Do you know what I want most now?”

“What do you want?”

“To see Tang Guomu sentenced quickly, and then I’ll take you away.”

Tang Heng’s heart skipped a beat, “You’ll take me away—”

“Anywhere, back to Guizhou, or go to Beijing for a few days. I promised you this back then, but haven’t fulfilled it,” Li Yuechi smiled, “Even if I go with you to Macau, to listen to your lecture, it’s fine.”

“Yeah,” Tang Heng said softly, “I want that too.”

“I’ve waited too long,” with no one around, Li Yuechi kissed Tang Heng’s lips lightly, “I want to make up for all of this.”