Chapter 92

He lacked his usual confidence and courage to show his affection for her.

He feared that taking things further would lead her to his home because he thought it was just a reunion with a close friend, but he would overstep his bounds.

Jian Sheng didn't say anything.

Chen Zhoujing became taciturn.

She's become unlike him, more like the woman she used to be.

Not long after they finished eating, Jian Sheng escorted him downstairs.

As soon as the door opened, a familiar voice came out.

Jian Sheng looked up and saw Xie Yihe standing not far away, carrying a lot of things.

His face was extremely dark, and he approached with a menacing air.

Jian Sheng's head started hurting again.

She subconsciously turned her head and saw an even darker expression on Chen Zhoujing's face, and her heart skipped a beat.

The two seemed to ignore her, their gazes locked in a fierce contest.

"Who is he?" Xie Yihe was the first to speak.

Jian Sheng closed his eyes briefly and asked Chen Zhou in surprise, "Are you going back first?"

Chen Zhou turned his head in surprise, his deep eyes looking at her.

Jian Sheng's heart softened instantly, and she inexplicably explained, "He's my college classmate, Xie Yihe."

After saying that, he turned to Xie Yihe, pointed at Chen Zhoujing, and said, "I... my good friend and high school classmate, Chen Zhoujing."

"He's a good friend, so I'm a college classmate?" Xie Yihe stared at Chen Zhoujing, his words coming out heavily as if squeezed out from between his teeth.

He said in a simple voice, "What are you doing here?"

"Just finished a business trip, came back to see you." He looked away from Jian Sheng, "Shall we go upstairs?"

Chen Zhou glanced at him in surprise.

The atmosphere around them lowered.

Jian Sheng raised his right eyebrow: "It's my house. What are you going up there for? Go back."

Her ruthlessness left Xie Yihe speechless, and he said with disappointment, "I brought you breakfast and souvenirs."

Jian Sheng glanced at the things in his hand: "I've already eaten. You can keep the souvenirs for your brother. I don't need them."

Chen Zhoujing suddenly spoke up: "I'm leaving first."

"I'll return the clothes to you after I wash them."

Without even looking at the two of them, he walked directly to his car, got in, and drove away.

"Is he the person you've liked for seven or eight years?" Xie Yihe asked.

Jian Sheng watched the car speed away and nodded.

"He even wore clothes from your house?"

Jian Sheng did not respond.

"I really can't compete." Xie Yihe took a breath. "You can keep the gift."

Since you've already eaten breakfast, I'll just take it myself.

He didn't care whether Jian Sheng needed it or not, he just put the bag on the ground and left.

For several days, Jian Sheng had not seen Chen Zhoujing. Xu Mai also came to class alone. It was as if he would vanish into thin air if Jian Sheng did not contact him or was unsure of his whereabouts.

But Xie Yihe was always running to her building, delivering things here and there.

Jian Sheng has developed a conditioned reflex of getting a headache whenever she sees him.

I don't know who recommended him, but I know that her type seems to be someone who is talkative, loves to laugh, and is always around her, sticking to her like a leech.

bookstore.

Jian Sheng held her phone for several days before finally sending a message to Chen Zhoujing.

-: I've taken your suit to be washed, and your shoes too. Send me your address, and I'll deliver them to you when you're free.

After sending the message, she covered her phone with the screen on the table.

I glanced at it every now and then, but no vibration occurred.

Xie Yihe couldn't stand her obvious actions anymore.

"You like him that much?" he muttered.

Jian Sheng turned her head and asked, "When did you arrive?"

Xie Yihe pointed to the glass outside the window: "It's been five minutes, and you've been looking at your phone the whole time. You haven't noticed me."

"Your bookstore is quite crowded."

"What are you doing here?" Jian Sheng leaned back in his chair.

Xie Yihe pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down: "Is that not allowed? I'll pay for the seating."

"Sure, please go ahead."

Jian Sheng had nothing to say, so she picked up her phone and started scrolling through her WeChat Moments. Xie Yihe chatted with her for a long time, trying to make conversation.

She responded casually, while keeping an eye on her phone.

It took Chen Zhoujing about half an hour to reply to the message.

- Friday night.

Jian Sheng's hand trembled, and he almost dropped his phone.

Xie Yihe noticed this and didn't say anything more, but just leaned back, looking at her curved lips and upturned eyebrows.

A dull pain shot through his chest. He used to think that this man was just an excuse she made up to reject others, and he never took it seriously.

But to his surprise, when he returned from a business trip, he saw her leaving her house with a man.

She was still wearing clothes from her home, and the same white shoes as her.

Their movements and actions appeared natural and relaxed.

Jian Sheng was noticeably happier and more genuine in his presence.

I even laughed many times.

He had competed with so many people, always feeling that as long as he was sincere, constantly sought to make his presence felt, and treated her well, he could enter her heart, instead of appearing in her mouth as a college classmate or friend.

But the moment he saw Chen Zhoujing, he suddenly understood.

Some people, even if you do nothing or show anything, just by appearing with memories, can steadily enter her heart.

He suddenly felt a little lost and confused.

I thought I could stay by her side as a classmate and friend.

None of those ridiculous prayers from before came true.

He prayed that the person she loved wouldn't come back, that the person she loved was just a facade, a fictitious person.

But unexpectedly...

Jian Sheng put away her phone and looked up to meet Xie Yihe's blank stare.

She looked at him intently, and soon the two lattes he ordered were served.

Jian Sheng slowly said, "You don't need to revolve around me all the time. I've told you that many times."

“You don’t need to keep sending me things. I keep refusing, and it makes you feel bad too. I’ve told you this many times.”

"Xie Yihe, you are a very good person. I don't mean to give you a 'good person card'. I just think you should focus your energy on yourself, not on someone as insignificant as me. There's no comparison. You have your strengths, and you have complete control over your life. You can shine brightly, but these shouldn't make you revolve around me."

“I’ve been telling you all along that I don’t hate you or like you, but that doesn’t mean I accept your repeated attempts to get closer to me, even though they’ve all come to nothing.”

"I said I don't hate you, I just didn't want you to be disappointed when you heard me say I don't like you, and you would think that I dislike you because I hate you."

"When I like someone, I don't look at their type. What you've learned isn't a method, nor is it the kind of person I would like."

“I like him simply because he is who he is, not because he is talkative, cheerful, always around me, buys me things, and always sides with me.”

"I gave all my emotions in the relationship to him, and I won't give even a little bit to anyone else."

"Thank you for your continued support, I am very grateful."

"Let me buy you a drink."

"No need, I've already paid the bill." Xie Yihe said, then got up and left.

Jian Sheng watched as he walked out of the bookstore with his head down and drove away.

She took only one sip of the hot latte on the table and didn't touch it again.

On the afternoon she delivered the clothes to Chen Zhoujing, she stood in front of the mirror trying on clothes for two hours before finally rushing out the door.

Chen Zhoujing's address information was also sent over. Upon seeing the message, Jian Sheng's eyelashes trembled slightly.

My heart felt a pang.

When I arrived at Linglong Residential Area by taxi, it was already completely dark.

Jian Sheng greeted the security guard, carrying two large bags of things, and walked all the way to his building.

She gazed at this familiar place, her steps growing slower and slower, increasingly hesitant to move.

She didn't know what emotions were pulling her in, but the memories here were something she dared not think about, yet she couldn't avoid them.

His door was open.

As soon as Jian Sheng stepped inside, a voice came from the living room: "No need to change your shoes."

She closed the door, took off her shoes, and went inside.

The person on the sofa sat on the carpet, leaning back, and glanced at her casually.

Jian Sheng swallowed hard, forgetting to do anything.

Chen Zhou stood up abruptly, threw the remote control he was holding onto the sofa, walked over to her, and placed the bag of clothes she was holding to the side.

He whispered, "Why aren't you listening?"

Jian let out a soft "Ah," as he was being pulled to the carpeted area.

The two were standing not far apart. He seemed to have drunk quite a bit, as his clothes smelled faintly of tobacco, mixed with his own fragrance, which wafted into her nostrils, making her momentarily forget what she was thinking.

Chen Zhoujing's every word and action was a bit strange. Compared to his awkwardness when they first reunited a few days ago, he seemed to have changed.

Or perhaps it's that people become more unrestrained when they're drunk.

Jian Sheng felt a little dizzy and was pulled to sit on the carpet.

She looked at the familiar furnishings and the rug on the floor where she used to sit.

Chen Zhoujing suddenly chuckled softly: "I had it cleaned before I came back, it's spotless."

She turned her head, about to explain, when she suddenly met his dark pupils.

His lips curved into a smile, his deep-set eyes and thin cheeks made his features even more defined, his eyebrows raised in a slight arc, and his ambiguous gaze lingered on her face.

Jian opened his lips, and a sound came out, but it seemed like nothing was made.

She was clearly stunned; it was as if the whole world consisted only of Chen Zhoujing.

The swelling sensation in her chest had made her forget to do anything.

Chen Zhou's smile deepened as she stared blankly at him, as if he had forgotten his lack of confidence from a few days ago.

After a long silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "Please don't like him, okay?"

"What do you mean you like him? Are you drunk, Chen Zhoujing?"

In fact, he wasn't drunk at all.

It took him a lot of effort to say those words.

When they met again, his fear and lack of confidence seemed to have been instantly forgotten the moment that man appeared.

His irrationality led him to rush ahead, driving him to frantically search for her.

Each time he was about to send a message, his last shred of reason pulled him back.

Until she took the initiative to send him a message.

A flame suddenly ignited in my heart.

Jian Sheng took a step back, about to look away, when Chen Zhoujing gently grasped her wrist and slowly leaned closer: "Why are you hiding?"

"You still haven't answered me?"

"Who do you like? You mean Xie Yihe? I don't like him, never. Are you drunk, Chen Zhoujing?" Jian Sheng's heart raced, and her speech quickened.

"Really not?" he asked.

"No, I swear."

"I have never liked anyone, never. There is no one else in my life."

"He was just my college classmate, there's nothing between us."

Several sentences in a row startled Chen Zhou.

He hadn't expected Jian Sheng to explain to him, and his smile deepened: "Explain what?"

The ending note rose, clear and pleasant to the ear, leaving Jian Sheng somewhat bewildered.

Chen Zhou was incredibly strange.

Just a few days ago, we were complete strangers, but now she's suddenly changed.

A flush rose in her cheeks, and her eyes began to dart away.

Chen Zhoujing noticed all the awkward little movements.

His eyes softened, and his smile held a hint of indulgence: "Hiding again?"

Jian Sheng tried to break free from his hand and get up, but he held her back with his strength. He glanced at her hand and asked, "What? Don't you like me being near you?"

"Not going to say anything again?" His tone turned somber.

Jian Sheng quickly explained, "No, no."

"Not what? Not that you don't like me getting close, or not that you don't like me?" Chen Zhou asked in surprise.

Jian Sheng's pupils widened: "What are you saying?"

These words sounded so familiar that she couldn't believe it was the current Chen Zhoujing who could say them.

"you........."

Chen Zhoujing also felt that he had gone too far, so he let go of her hand, lowered his head and rubbed his temples: "I'm sorry, I scared you. I did drink a little too much."

Jian Sheng didn't speak, but her eyes welled up as she watched his hair fall down.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

She didn't know why she was crying.

She didn't know why tears started flowing uncontrollably when she saw him sitting so peacefully in front of her.

It's uncontrollable; it's spontaneous.

When Chen Zhou looked up in surprise, he was startled.

"Why are you crying?" He quickly pulled out a few tissues and gently wiped her eyes. "Don't cry, okay?"

"I was wrong, I was a bastard, I shouldn't have done that."

"You...you shouldn't cry."

Choking back tears, she couldn't speak. She simply moved closer, knelt down, and hugged him tightly.

Her spontaneous hug startled Chen Zhou.

He was stunned for a moment.

His heart was pounding, his hands were frozen in mid-air, and his body was taut.

“Simple voice,” he called out.

With a sob in her voice, she pleaded, "Please don't leave me, okay?"

Her tone was almost pleading: "Could you please not disappear without a word again?"

"Your WeChat account is deactivated, your phone number is unreachable, and you can't be reached through any of the registered communication apps."

"I'm sorry, I'm the one who's sorry."

"It has caused you trouble."

Chen Zhou was startled and a few tears instantly welled up in his eyes. He hugged her back.

Her words resolved the past grievances.

Everything seemed to have crossed that barrier.

It was a barrier that Chen Zhoujing dared not cross.

But Jian Sheng couldn't care less.

Chen Zhoujing hugged her tightly, and after a long time, he managed to squeeze out a few words from the bottom of his heart: "I missed you so much."

I miss you so much, so much, so much.

"I will not leave."

"Jian Sheng, I will never leave you again."

"You shouldn't say sorry, it was clearly me who made the mistake."