Chapter 91 once-in...

Turning the last page of the error notebook, the college entrance examination arrived as scheduled.

Because Xunning No. 2 Middle School is also one of the test centers, most of the students from No. 2 Middle School take the exam at their own school.

June marks the beginning of summer's height.

The sun lost its early summer coolness and gentleness, gradually becoming scorching and bright, and even breathing began to carry a hot and dry feeling.

Sunlight filters through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on the ground, which sway gently in the breeze.

Early in the morning, the entrance of No. 2 Middle School was already bustling with people.

Jiang Deyu had just opened his mouth when his father slapped him on the back of the head. "You brat, wake up!"

Immediately afterwards, Ms. Sun slapped Mr. Jiang as well, saying, "Why did you hit him? He wasn't very bright to begin with, and now he's even dumber!"

Mr. Jiang rubbed his hands guiltily, "I just heard a sound, I didn't use any force."

This force was less than one-tenth of his usual strength.

"Dad, you've blown away all the important points I finally managed to memorize!"

Jiang Deyu jumped a long way, reciting the contents of "Ode to the Red Cliff" as he went, but he got stuck after only a few sentences. He scrambled over to find Ji Jingyu, "Ahhh, Brother Ji, help me! Quickly read 'Ode to the Red Cliff' to me! I have a feeling it will be on the test today!"

He had only run halfway when Gu Ci grabbed his arm.

What are you doing?

"Don't you have any sense? Brother Ji is talking to Uncle Jiang. Don't disturb them." Xia Fan took out some documents from her bag and handed them to Jiang Deyu. "Everything you want is in here. Take a look."

Ji Jingyu and Jiang Sui stood under the shade of a tree, with Jiang Yunzhao beside them.

Jiang Yunzhao, who had been completely at ease the night before, seemed even more tense than Jiang Sui, perhaps influenced by the atmosphere around him.

"Sui Sui, have you brought everything?"

"Don't worry, nothing was missed." Jiang Sui said, amused and helpless. "You just checked me over two minutes ago."

"That's good, that's good." Jiang Yunzhao paced back and forth. He tended to talk a lot when he was nervous. "Baby, don't be nervous. Your situation is different from your dad's. If Dad didn't do well on the exam, he would have completely lost the right to pursue your mom. But if you don't do well on the exam, we will still love you the most."

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Ji Jingyu and chuckled, "Right, little Ji?"

Ji Jingyu said seriously, "Of course."

“Your mother told me not to contact her again until I got into Jiangda University, but I know she was secretly waiting for me outside the exam hall on both days of the college entrance exam.” Jiang Yunzhao’s eyes softened as he recalled the past. “She always thought I didn’t know, but I spotted her immediately…”

"Parent, please don't affect the student's mood. If you are really nervous, you can go across the street and run a couple of laps."

Su Yinian smiled politely, enunciating each word with extreme clarity, though one could vaguely detect a hint of gritted teeth.

She came over during her free time, and as soon as she got closer, she heard Jiang Yunzhao's words.

Even if what the other person said is true, not everything is appropriate to say to a child.

Jiang Yunzhao gave a fawning smile and kept his mouth shut to save face.

Su Yinian ignored him and reached out to hug her sweet and soft daughter. "I'm sorry, Mommy has to work and can't stay with you all the time."

Jiang Sui gently nuzzled Su Yinian's shoulder. "It's okay, Mom."

"Your father is right about something: no matter how well you do on your exams, your parents will always love you the most."

—

Jiang Sui and Ji Jingyu were not assigned to the same examination room.

Before parting, Ji Jingyu raised his hand and ruffled Jiang Sui's hair, his voice low and strong, "Don't be afraid."

Whether they are in the same school, the same city, or even the same country, it will not affect their relationship.

"I'm not afraid at all." Jiang Sui's eyes curved like stars. "I don't need you to wait for me. I will walk to you myself."

The weather in June can change in an instant.

Before the exam, the sun was blazing, and the air was stifling and oppressive.

In the afternoon, a sudden gust of wind arose, dark clouds gathered, and large raindrops instantly soaked the road. A short while later, the rain stopped, the clouds dispersed, and the sun scorched the earth.

"Now begin answering the questions. Please answer carefully."

When Jiang Sui received the exam paper, she felt very calm.

Apart from the more solemn atmosphere, the rest of the exams were not much different from the mock exams she had taken before, and some of the questions were even less difficult than in her usual practice.

Jiang Sui wrote more and more smoothly, and with each exam he finished, he felt more confident.

"The exam time is up. Please stop answering the questions."

Despite the unpredictable weather, the college entrance examination has come to a close as scheduled.

The event lasted only two days from start to finish, but the moment the bell rang, the youth of countless young people came to a grand finale in June.

Ji Jingyu waited for Jiang Sui on the first floor.

He took the pencil case from Jiang Sui's hand and said gently, "Let's go."

"good."

Jiang Sui and Ji Jingyu had walked that avenue leading from the teaching building to the school gate countless times.

The summer breeze brushed past their ears; every step they took this time was a farewell.

From this moment on, their lives truly entered a completely new and unfamiliar phase.

—

The moment the final bell rang for the college entrance examination, the entrance to the examination center erupted in chaos.

Parents outside the cordon immediately surged forward, carrying flowers and cold drinks, their eyes eagerly searching through the surging student crowd.

Are you tired?

"How did the exam go? Were the questions difficult? Did you finish?"

"Don't cry, don't cry, it'll all be over after the exam."

"I've booked your favorite restaurant, let's go now."

"What on earth was that nonsensical reading comprehension passage about?"

"The exams are over, so shut your mouth."

"Let's go to the internet cafe tonight and play games all night long. Anyone want to team up?"

"I'm never studying math again!"

"I'm free! Tomorrow I'm going to sleep until the sun is high in the sky!"

...

As the noise gradually subsided, the teenagers went their separate ways to their respective destinations.

"Let's go home."

Jiang Sui told Jiang Yunzhao to stay and wait for Su Yinian, while she went back with Ji Jingyu and the others first.

Jiang Yunzhao knew she had other plans with her friends, so he gave her a few words of advice and then let her leave.

"Wait, let's call the class monitor too. The exams are all over now, she'll definitely have time."

Jiang Deyu thought to himself, "This time, I'm determined to make it an even number."

“Okay.” Jiang Sui glanced at Jiang Deyu, tapped her chin with her finger, and said with a hint of teasing, “Since it was your suggestion, then you will be in charge of inviting the class monitor.”

Jiang Deyu patted his chest loudly, "No problem, leave it to me. I'll send her a message right now."

—

On a June evening, the afterglow painted the sky orange-pink, and the chirping of cicadas and returning birds blended into the gentle twilight.

The newly lit streetlights cast a warm yellow glow, mingling with the distant sounds of cooking fires, creating a relaxed and pleasant summer night scene.

As the last rays of sunset faded into the horizon, the lights on the rooftop platform of the Nianhuali residential complex came on.

The grill pan sizzled, oil splattered up and fell, and a large bunch of grilled skewers were piled up on the foil plate. The aroma of cumin mixed with the smoky fragrance of charcoal made one's mouth water.

A refreshing fruit platter and iced milk tea were placed next to the grilled skewers. Water droplets condensed on the inside of the milk tea cup, and the icy coolness perfectly neutralized the heat from the charcoal fire.

In the center of the table sat an exquisite cake with the words "Liberation!" written on it. Jiang Deyu had ordered it from the cake shop a few days ago.

He was always enthusiastic about doing these things.

The tiny colored lights twinkled on the vegetable garden trellis, like a falling galaxy. A white curtain hung in the night, becoming the vessel for light and shadow. As the light and shadow shifted, movie scenes slowly unfolded on it.

"Our class monitor is here! Everyone, let's give him a warm welcome!"

Jiang Deyu led Yu Xiaocheng up; his voice preceded his arrival.

Upon seeing the scene before her, Yu Xiaocheng instinctively widened her eyes, "Wow, you guys actually have such an interesting secret base."

Xia Fan and Jiang Sui waved to her, "Class monitor, come over here quickly, the skewers are ready to eat, we're just waiting for you."

Gu Ci's gaze swept over Jiang Deyu, who was a few steps behind, and he raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh, you bought some wine too?"

"We're finally liberated, of course we should drink and celebrate. Besides, we're all adults now, what's there to be afraid of?" Jiang Deyu put the beer in his hand on the edge of the table.

Fearing there wouldn't be enough to drink, he specially carried a whole case up.

Gu Ci laughed: "Coming home reeking of alcohol, aren't you afraid Uncle Jiang will beat you up?"

"Don't worry." Jiang Deyu had already thought of a plan in advance. "I'll just say that I drank with you and Brother Ji. When my dad hears that you two were also included, he definitely won't say anything."

"Everyone's finally here. Let's eat and chat." Xia Fan pulled Yu Xiaocheng to sit down. "Order whatever you want."

Yu Xiaocheng couldn't help but exclaim, "What have I done to deserve having two generations of the most handsome boys from No. 2 Middle School personally grill skewers for me?"

"If you're worried you can't enjoy them, then you can have the ones I grilled." Jiang Deyu placed the freshly grilled skewers next to Yu Xiaocheng. "I remember these are all your favorites."

Yu Xiaocheng feigned disgust, "Why are you eating yours instead of Ji-ge's and Gu-xue-chang's skewers? Are you crazy or am I crazy?"

“I’m doing this for your own good. Brother Ji will definitely not add chili powder because he needs to cater to Jiang Sui’s taste, but you love spicy food. If you eat Gu Ci’s grilled food with Xia Fan, neither of you will be full. Therefore, it’s the best solution for you to eat what I grilled.” Jiang Deyu said logically, “The three of us guys can serve you one-on-one.”

"A whole bunch of fallacies."

Despite her words, Yu Xiaocheng still picked up Jiang Deyu's skewers.

Jiang Sui placed a large plate of refreshing vegetables in front of Yu Xiaocheng, saying, "The lettuce, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes are all grown by Grandma Ji herself, and they taste much better than what you buy."

"Grandma Ji is amazing."

Jiang Sui waved the skewers in her hand with a smug look on her face. "Of course."

"Here you go, take this." Jiang Deyu handed out beer to everyone one by one. "Barbecue skewers and beer, this is the right way to celebrate the end of the college entrance exam. Don't be shy, everyone, there's plenty of beer tonight!"

With a flick of the fingertip to pull the tab of the beer can upwards, a "sizzle" sound, mixed with the soft popping of bubbles, and snow-white foam overflows from the mouth of the can, the refreshing aroma of malt lingering in the air.

Ji Jingyu handed the opened beer to Jiang Sui, "Take a small sip first, and drink it only if you're sure it's okay."

Jiang Sui obediently took a sip, her nose wrinkled slightly, and her pretty face puffed up. "It tastes awful."

"Then I won't drink it."

Ji Jingyu took the beer from Jiang Sui's hand and put the milk tea back in front of her.

The whole process was smooth and effortless, as if he were a dedicated servant to Jiang Sui.

Yu Xiaocheng watched Ji Jingyu, with his handsome and aloof face, busily taking care of Jiang Sui. If she hadn't been in the thick of it herself, she would have almost thought it was a scene from a movie.

She rested her chin on her hand and smiled, "Brother Ji, don't give me bad advice. Beer is meant to be drunk in big gulps; you can't really drink it by sipping it."

Jiang Sui asked curiously, "Class monitor, you seem to have a lot of experience. Have you drunk this before?"

"Yeah, sometimes when I'm studying and I get frustrated, I'll have a little drink." Yu Xiaocheng tilted her head back and took a big gulp. The cold liquor, with its slightly bitter malty aroma, slid down her throat and into her stomach. "I'm actually more efficient when I'm a little dizzy."

"Holy crap! You're not talking about the 'slightly tipsy learning method,' are you?"

Yu Xiaocheng was surprised, "You, a slacker, actually know about the 'slightly tipsy learning method'?"

“So it turns out we’re the ones who really have a tacit understanding.” Jiang Deyu raised his can and gently tapped it against hers, the cans making a crisp sound as they collided. “Come on, let’s have a drink.”

The can of beer was quickly emptied.

Yu Xiaocheng gripped the can, tightening his knuckles, and with a crisp "crack," the aluminum can was instantly crushed.

Jiang Deyu, with great insight, handed her a new can.

Jiang Sui vaguely sensed something was wrong. "Class monitor, don't drink so fast, be careful not to get drunk."

"It's okay, I can hold my liquor well, I won't get drunk."

"Why don't you call your aunt and uncle and tell them you're staying at my house tonight?"

"No need. I told them before I left that I was staying at my grandma's house tonight. My grandma loves me very much and won't say anything."

Jiang Deyu raised his beer, "Looks like the squad leader came prepared. We'd better drink until we drop tonight. Anyway, Brother Ji and the others don't drink, so we'll have plenty of people to take us home."

Jiang Sui leaned against Ji Jingyu's shoulder and whispered to him, "The class monitor is obviously in a bad mood. Only an idiot like Jiang Deyu can't tell."

"Hmm." Ji Jingyu let Jiang Sui lean on him, not intending to interfere in the matter between Jiang Deyu and Yu Xiaocheng.

Time passed second by second, and more and more empty cans appeared on the ground.

"Jiang Deyu," Yu Xiaocheng suddenly called out to him.

"ah?"

"Actually, I was really happy when you invited me here today."

A gentle evening breeze swept by, causing the colored lights to sway softly, and the warm-colored particles of light to dance along with them.

Yu Xiaocheng's gaze fell on Jiang Deyu, who was bending down to grill skewers for her.

His profile flickered in and out of the light and shadow on the screen, and his movements while grilling skewers carried a touch of nonchalant naiveté.

"If you like, I'll invite you to every time we get together from now on."

Jiang Deyu spoke without hesitation.

Having been classmates with him for so long, no matter how bad her attitude was, Jiang Deyu never lost his temper with her. He always followed behind her cheerfully, calling her "class monitor," as if he could unconditionally fulfill any of her requests.

"Jiang Deyu".

"Hey." Jiang Deyu's face showed no impatience. "Squad leader, just tell me what you need. Is the kebab too strong or too weak in flavor?"

He kept calling his name, which made him inexplicably nervous.

“I used to,” she paused for a moment, then took a deep breath, “liked you.”

"Thud." The kebab fell onto the grill pan.

Jiang Deyu stood there stunned, a smile still lingering on his lips, as if struck by lightning.

After a long while, he asked Yu Xiaocheng in a very uncertain tone, "Class monitor, are you kidding me?"

But today isn't April Fool's Day?

Could this be a prank after the college entrance exam?

“Who would joke about something like this?” Yu Xiaocheng tilted her head back and took a sip of beer, the cold liquid suppressing the bitterness in her throat. “I thought you liked me too. You were so good to me, so good that it made me overthink things.”

She paused, recalling the test papers he had more red crosses than checkmarks after each exam, his indifference to grades, and how he would always complain about being tired when she painstakingly assigned him study tasks, only to then play games all night long. "But later I realized that you seemed to only be nice to me out of habit, and never thought about following the same path as me."

"I..." Jiang Deyu opened his mouth, but he was too tongue-tied to say anything.

“I have universities I want to attend and majors I want to study.” Yu Xiaocheng’s voice was calm. “But you’ve never asked me these questions, so I know it’s all just wishful thinking on my part.”

Jiang Sui and Ji Jingyu sat right in front of her. People who truly like each other will become better for each other. All seemingly insurmountable gaps will eventually be smoothed out in the mutual pursuit.

Clearly, she and Jiang Deyu are not a good match.

Yu Xiaocheng looked at Jiang Deyu's tightly pursed lips and the helplessness churning in his eyes, and suddenly smiled: "It's because I failed in my crush, why are you so flustered? Okay, I already said 'before,' I allow you to forget everything I just said, just pretend nothing happened."

She finished the rest of her beer in one gulp. "My car is almost here, so I'll be going now."

"Squad leader..."

"Please don't ask me to stay, it'll be really awkward."

Xia Fan stood up from her seat. "Then Gu Ci and I will go back with you. We're worried about you going back alone."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you again."

"If you keep being so polite to us, I'm really going to get angry."

“Exactly.” Jiang Sui took a bottle of milk from the table and handed it to Yu Xiaocheng. “Jiang Deyu is Jiang Deyu, and we are us. You can’t do that thing of collective punishment.”

"Don't worry, you and Xia Fan are such good friends, how could I bear to stop contacting you two in the future? You will always be my good friends."

After half the people left, the once lively terrace suddenly became quiet.

Jiang Deyu stared intently in the direction Yu Xiaocheng had left, his panic and helplessness gradually giving way to another emotion, "The class monitor..."

After a long silence, his voice was terribly hoarse. "What exactly do you mean?"

Jiang Deyu knew he wasn't smart, and now his mind was a complete mess, so he could only turn to the sidelines for help.

Jiang Sui was furious with him. "Ask yourself."

"What do you want to ask?"

"Are you looking for the class monitor simply to make it an even number, or do you want to see her in person?"

After all, they were good friends, so Jiang Sui suppressed her anger and patiently continued to ask him, "If it was just to make up the numbers, why didn't you ask Tong Xia? He was your deskmate, so you should be closer to each other."

Jiang Deyu's mind was still in turmoil, but he knew he couldn't just let Yu Xiaocheng leave like that.

"I'm going to find her now."

"They've already left. Do you know her grandmother's address?"

I asked Xia Xiaofan.

"Your brain works better now," Jiang Sui muttered softly. "You're not completely stupid."

—

"Everyone's gone, let me help you clean up."

Just as Jiang Sui was about to make a move, Ji Jingyu grabbed her wrist, saying, "Gu Ci and the others will take care of this."

He would never let Jiang Sui do these things, no matter what.

Ji Jingyu's palms were warm, damp with a thin layer of sweat.

Jiang Sui tilted her head and looked him over for a while, her eyes slightly upturned, and poked his arm with her pink fingertips, "You seem very nervous?"

"Year after year".

"Um?"

"I want to use the gift voucher."

Jiang Sui felt that the conversation sounded somewhat familiar.

The next second, her clear, bright eyes looked at Ji Jingyu with some displeasure.

She remembered.

A not-so-pleasant memory.

"sorry."

The guilt of rejecting Jiang Sui had been lingering in Ji Jingyu's heart.

The thought of her sad expression at that time made his chest feel like it was blocked, and even his breathing felt difficult.

"I already said it's not your fault." Jiang Sui didn't want to see Ji Jingyu looking guilty, so she held out her hand to him. "Give it to me."

A thick stack of vouchers was carefully placed on her fair palm.

Each note was carefully laminated, with smooth edges and no wrinkles, showing that the owner has always taken good care of them.

"The college entrance exam is over, I don't need Teacher Ji to tutor me anymore." Jiang Sui kindly reminded him, "These vouchers are now a non-renewable and scarce resource, are you sure you want to use them all? Don't you want to take some back?"

"I'm sure."

Ji Jingyu, as if gambling everything, made a desperate gamble and maintained her original answer.

"I hope Sui Sui will allow me to watch the sunrise and sunset with her every day."

"I hope Sui Sui will allow me to share all her joys and sorrows."

"I hope Sui Sui will allow me to spend New Year's Eve with her."

"I hope Sui Sui will allow me to accompany her to do anything she wants to do."

...

"I hope Sui Sui can accept my crush."

"I hope Sui Sui will allow me to be her boyfriend."

"I wish you would always be yourself. But I love you."

It is clear from his words that Ji Jingyu was not at peace when he wrote down these wishes.

The pen tip traces the paper with varying speed and pauses, full of unadorned eagerness, as if a thought had just popped into the mind and immediately fallen onto the page.

This time, Ji Jingyu was very greedy; he made many, many wishes.

"How did you come up with the idea of ​​using this to confess your feelings to me?"

"cover."

It was just two concise words, but Jiang Sui understood them.

Time that has passed is like sand slipping through your fingers, never to return.

All Ji Jingyu can do is cover up the gloomy old times with a warm and beautiful new memory.

When Jiang Sui sees these things again in the future, she will only remember how much Ji Jingyu liked her and how much he longed to be with her.

She picked up the last voucher and looked at Ji Jingyu, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "What does this mean?"

"You don't need to deliberately accommodate me, you don't need to change yourself to become someone else's ideal, you don't need to hide your little temper and those strange and cute ideas. I hope you will always be yourself, always live according to your own wishes, passionate, free, and flamboyant."

He paused for a moment, his deep voice overflowing with obvious affection and doting, "But, I love you. I love you just the way you are, I love all your good and bad, I love this unique you that no one can replace. You don't have to do anything, I will go through all the rules and regulations and do everything I can to love you."

So, are you willing to give me this opportunity?

In fact, from the moment Ji Jingyu called her name, Jiang Sui had a vague answer in her heart.

She knew Ji Jingyu liked her, but she didn't expect him to like her this much.

Jiang Sui glared at him fiercely, but because her eyes were still wet, it seemed more like she was unconsciously being coquettish than angry. "Aren't you just asking a question you already know the answer to!"

"Um."

Ji Jingyu responded softly, his warm palm tightly holding Jiang Sui's hand, his fair and slender fingers gently caressing the back of her hand.

Then, he gently lifted Jiang Sui's wrist and leaned down to kiss the spot where her pulse was beating.

The kiss was as light as a feather, yet it carried a tender warmth, lingering and precious.

He poured all his love into that kiss.

"Uncle Jiang said I have extremely high moral standards, but I'm not." Ji Jingyu pulled Jiang Sui into his arms, his palms resting on the back of her neck—a hug imbued with intense possessiveness.

"When I saw you return to Xunning, I was so happy that I lost my composure. The day you confessed to me, I clenched my fist until it bled before I could say the words of rejection. If I were truly moral, I should have stayed far away from you, stopped being nice to you, and stopped giving you any hope, instead of rejecting you but being unable to bear leaving you."

He wants Jiang Sui.

I really, really want to.

Otherwise, with his intelligence, he would have a hundred ways to make Jiang Sui give up on him completely.

Jiang Sui raised her hand and gently wrapped it around his waist, her fingertips unconsciously gripping a small piece of fabric on his back. She pressed her cheek against his warm chest, the crisp and reassuring scent of mint lingering around her nose.

That's because you like me too much.

“Do you remember? We learned a phrase in English class, once-in-a-lifetime.” Ji Jingyu tightened her embrace. “I think meeting you is also once-in-a-lifetime. It only happens once in a lifetime, and once is a lifetime.”

Jiang Sui was an unexpected encounter for him, and also a joy he would cherish until death.

Author's Note: The main text is finished! [Fireworks][Fireworks][Fireworks]

Thank you so much to all the readers who have been following along during this time! I am so incredibly grateful for your support [crying emoji][heart emoji] To be honest, without you all, I probably wouldn't have been able to finish writing (a lot happened in between, and I even had a mental breakdown).

Enough said, we absolutely have to send out red envelopes to celebrate! [kissing emoji]

↓

Just a quick plug: if you like Fanfan and Gu Ci, you can add this book, "Hurry Up, You're Going to Be Late!" [heart emoji]

"You were an unexpected encounter for me." This quote is from the internet and has been modified in the text.

"I wish you were always yourself. But I love you." (From Shakespeare's Sonnets)