46 Chapter 46: His Concept of Right & Wrong

After her argument with Lin JinYan, Su Ning had stopped picking up the latter's calls and texts. When Lin JinYan had come to Gu YuChen's apartment, Su Ning had left the double lock on, preventing him from being able to enter by inputting the key code. In fact, she was not purposefully trying to avoid him out of spite, rather her heart was conflicted. Su Ning felt sorry for those students who participated in the 'mock audition' and she felt guilty for stealing someone else's opportunity. The fact that music was a mere hobby for her as opposed to the other students specializing in performance arts, made her feel worse.

At the same time, Su Ning did not know how to face Lin JinYan. He was her closest friend; and just as he trusted her, she trusted him and always saw the best in him. She never saw him as someone who could casually disregard others. 'But is it truly right to judge him based on my own experiences? Both Lin JinYan and Gu YuChen grew up in completely different circumstances, subject to a chaotic family life. If I was in his shoes, would I also make the same decisions?' Su Ning pondered.

However, Su Ning still cannot help but feel disappointed in her best friend. To be completely honest, she even felt afraid of Lin JinYan. She wondered what it would be like if his unfeeling choices had been directed at her had she not been special to him.

In the end, she decided it was best to not meet with Lin JinYan until she was able to organize her thoughts and come to terms with her feelings of guilt. Su Ning felt it would be wrong to lash out and blame her friend. Because despite what had happened, she still truly cared for him and considered him as her best friend.

.........…...

And so, a week had passed by without any communication with Lin JinYan. Su Ning went on with her routine as normal except her mood was slightly downcast. When questioned by her classmates, Su Ning attributed this to the upcoming exams but her friend Song Yu was perceptive enough to notice the real issue at hand.

"Su Ning, did you have a fight with Lin JinYan?" Song Yu asked during their art class.

"Hoo.. as expected nothing gets past Yu-ge," Su Ning sadly replied as she tried to hopelessly paint a still life portrait of the art model. Her canvas currently looked like a kindergarten student's work and Su Ning was trying to somehow salvage her creation.

"Lin JinYan has stopped by class several times this week and you've conveniently always been preoccupied. People are starting to talk." Song Yu calmly responded as he continued to work on his piece.

"I know.. I..I am trying to muster up the courage to face him." Su Ning admitted.

"Is this because of your role in the musical?" Song Yu inquired without a change in his expression causing Su Ning to stare at him wide-eyed.

"Like I said, people talk. There are people who are dissatisfied that you were chosen for the role. Others are implying you used Lin JinYan to get the part. But, the fact of the matter is...what's done is done. What you can do right now is show them how much you shine, that you deserve the role. Isn't that what Lin JinYan believed when he made his position clear to the panel?" (Song Yu)

"..." (Su Ning)

"Look, I am not saying what Lin JinYan did was right. But the upbringing of heirs in the noble families is very different from what you have likely experienced. The competition can be very fierce between siblings and the treatment afforded to each child can be entirely different based on their abilities or deemed merit. And you have to understand, compared to other noble families..the Lin family is of a different class. So even I, Xiao Wei or Xiao Lei cannot imagine how Lin JinYan grew up." (Song Yu)

"I am not sure how much he has told you about his family situation or about how his mother passed. But her death was quite a dark history for the family..people say she committed suicide, others say she'd been murdered. Of course, this is just what I had heard from the noble society grapevine. To know the details...you'll need to ask Lin JinYan yourself." (Song Yu)

"..." Su Ning remained silent. To a certain extent she had been aware that Lin JinYan's family situation may not have been the most harmonious; however, she didn't know the particulars. She had just been waiting for Lin JinYan to open up to her when he was ready.

"What I am saying is...his concept of right and wrong may not exactly match with yours. Since in our world it's a lot more difficult to find companions that will treat us with sincerity, maybe for the people Lin JinYan cherishes, he is willing to take actions that others may deem unethical." (Lin JinYan)

"I, I understand…I know Lin JinYan is not a bad person. And I know he did it for me because he thought it would make me happy, that it would be good for my future," Su Ning softly replied.

"I think... I know what to do." Su Ning turned to her right to look at Song Yu, her eyes filled with resolution.

"Yu-ge, Thank you," Su Ning whispered.

"Hmmm." Song Yu gave a soft hum of acquiescence.

After a few seconds, Su Ning continued with a contemplative tone, "By the way, are you really 16 years old? When you speak… sometimes I feel like I am talking to an uncle."

Song Yu turned to look at Su Ning and pointed at her canvas, "Are you really 16 years old? That painting looks like it was drawn by my 4 year old niece."

"Yu-ge! You! You! I am not good at art! So what?! Hmph!" (Su Ning)

"Feel better now?" (Song Yu)

"... Yu-ge, there are other ways to get my mood up… You really don't need to comment on my art," Su Ning whined and Song Yu just responded with a soft chuckle.

"By the way, is the decoration committee going well? I heard you're taking the lead this year." (Su Ning)

"Mm.. It is good." (Song Yu)

"If..if you need any help. I don't know much about art but one of my good friends is very good at drawing manhua. Ugh, I don't even know how that helps with painting backdrops and decorations, but yeah." (Su Ning)

"Pfft. It's okay.Things are going fine for me. Figure things out with Lin JinYan first." (Song Yu)

............

That afternoon, Su Ning promised herself that she would talk to Lin JinYan in person tomorrow. They were good friends, but they were two different people who grew up with different life experiences. 'There were bound to be things that we disagree on; what is important is we talk things out and try to understand each other's viewpoints. If we will need to make a decision for the sake of the other, we can just make a promise to discuss things first before taking any action. I think this should work in most cases.' Su Ning positively thought, satisfied with her conclusion.

Unfortunately, she was a little too late with making her resolution because just as she was about to have dinner, a call came from Assistant Mu.

[Assistant Mu]: Miss Su, this is Assistant Mu. I don't know if you recall, but we had dinner together with Young Master Lin a few years back.

[Su Ning]: Ah yes. I remember, Assistant Mu. What's up?

[Assistant Mu]: That well.. An urgent matter has occurred. Young Master Lin is currently in bad shape.

[Su Ning]: What!?

[Assistant Mu]: Can I trouble Miss Ning to come with me to see Young Master Lin? I think if you were there his condition would improve.

[Su Ning]: Yes, of course. Where is Lin JinYan currently?

[Assistant Mu]: He is at the Lin Mansion at the moment. I will pick up Miss Ning at her apartment. I believe it will be more efficient if I drive.

[Su Ning]: Sure! Thank you, Assistant Mu.

In less than 10 minutes, Assistant Mu arrived at the luxury apartment near M Academy. And as Su Ning hurriedly went out of the apartment to go see Lin JinYan, she coincidently received a text message from Gu YuChen.

**text message**

[YuChen_Fox]: NingNing, is everything alright?

[YuChen_Fox]: Call me when you get the chance.