Chapter 121: Caught off guard
Song Zhen's crisp, clearly articulated voice came through the auditorium's sound system, bringing a particularly refreshing lift to an audience that had already heard its fill of baritones. Looking at Song Zhen on the podium, whose mature attire could not conceal her youth and beauty, Su Can felt a sense of unreality.
For once, he recalled their encounter on the flight to California in the United States, the surprise of their chance meeting afterward, and even their walk along a road near Stanford lined with magnificent palm trees.
He remembered her sharing her reflections and experiences growing up, telling him about her troubles and worries, while he likewise complained about the difficulty of adjusting to the United States and his unease throughout the process. They had gotten along like friends who had not seen each other in years. In truth, however, they were merely passersby, people who had met in a foreign country only because of a chance flight and a business connection.
Song Zhen came from a wealthy family with a long tradition. Because she was also highly likely to become its next female heir, her status made most of the things she pursued easily hers to command. All this lent her appearance and bearing a nobility ordinary people did not possess.
Su Can, meanwhile, was a fortune seeker waiting to turn his dreams into reality. Wearing a white shirt and carrying a hiking pack filled with all his gear slung over one shoulder, he had flown alone across thousands of miles to the other side of the ocean. Landing in California's hazy sunlight, he would squint at the unfamiliar land and await a fate he likewise did not know would be thrilling or end in utter defeat.
Both of them should have had