Chapter 14, The Fourteenth Strange Phenomenon

When Yu Bai recovered from her illness, Jiang Jizhou gave her a lop-eared rabbit doll, which was super cute and fluffy.

Yu Bai placed the doll on the bedside table and slept with it every night.

There are four days left in the National Day holiday.

Aside from occasionally going out with Mingjing, Yu Bai spends most of her time at home, while Chen Ye sends her messages from time to time, and the two chat casually.

【What are you doing? 】

【watch TV】

What show is it? I'm so bored at home.

Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf

Yu Bai doesn't like watching TV dramas; he occasionally watches cartoons to pass the time.

Chen replied with a cute "hahaha" emoji.

[Still a childlike heart~]

Yu Bai leaned back on the sofa, so engrossed in watching TV that her eyes started to hurt, and she was parched from not having drunk water for a long time.

She jumped off the sofa, went to the refrigerator, and grabbed a can of Fanta, green apple flavor.

Back on the sofa, I took a few sips of my drink before checking my phone. Chen had sent another message.

Watching TV is bad for your eyes, do you want to come out and play?

Yu Bai pouted. She and Chen Ye had only become slightly more familiar with each other during the two days she was sick, so it wouldn't be appropriate for them to go out alone. She would feel very awkward. After thinking for a while, she looked up at the second floor and thought she could call Jiang Jizhou.

"Then I'll ask my brother."

Chen replied instantly.

[No need to ask A-Zhou. He's probably in a bad mood these days. Let him have some peace and quiet.]

You can ask a friend of yours.

Looking at Chen Ye's message, Yu Bai thought about it for a moment and felt that what he said made sense. He couldn't always stick to Jiang Jizhou, so he sent a message to Ming Jing to ask if she wanted to go out. Ming Jing was bored at home and readily agreed.

Having arranged a time with Chen Ye, Yu Bai went upstairs to change his clothes.

The weather was nice after the rain, but it was still a bit chilly.

Yu Bai was wearing a light blue suspender dress with a thin off-white cardigan draped over it.

Pushing open the door, Jiang Jizhou was carrying a can of cola upstairs. He was taken aback when he saw her. She was dressed gently and cutely today, like she was going on a date.

"Where are you going?"

Jiang Jizhou's tone carried a hint of accusation.

Yu Bai hesitated for a moment, then answered vaguely, "Mingjing asked me to go out and play."

After she finished speaking, she awkwardly tossed her hair, lowered her eyes, and dared not look at him. Her earlobes were red, and she looked suspicious no matter how you looked at her. Jiang Jizhou tightened his grip on the Coke can.

However, Yu Bai has always been obedient and timid, and one can see through him at a glance; he generally wouldn't lie to him.

Jiang Jizhou smiled slightly, "Oh, really? Then you should go home early and don't stay out too late."

Yu Bai nodded and hurried downstairs, his steps a little flustered.

Jiang Jizhou frowned slightly as he watched her leave, his eyes growing colder.

It seems that ever since returning from the cemetery, Yu Bai has suddenly become more distant from him. Although he obediently treats him as his older brother and no longer asks him about Ruo An and Ruo Bai, keeping his distance and being well-behaved and sensible, there is still an indescribable sense of estrangement. He also can't help but feel a strange sense of loss.

He squeezed the Coke can so tightly that it caved in, and the spilled Coke flowed onto his hand.

—

Upon arriving at Central Park, where she had arranged to meet Chen Ye, Mingjing and Chen Ye were already sitting on a bench waiting for her.

It was around two o'clock in the afternoon, the autumn air was crisp and clear, and the park after the rain exuded the fragrance of earth and the freshness of plants, which made the three of them feel refreshed and healed, as if they had undergone a natural therapy.

Looking at the various shades of green before him, Yu Bai felt a sense of healing for both body and mind.

"Let me take a picture of you."

Chen was very professional and even brought a camera.

“Okay.” Mingjing immediately hugged Yu Bai and struck a pose.

So, while strolling through the entire park, Mingjing searched for various photo spots, then pulled Yu Bai to pose, while Chen Ye took the photos.

Finally, their feet ached from walking, so they sat down on a bench to rest.

Yu Bai suddenly noticed a small bird on the ground not far away, which seemed to be injured and was still struggling. She immediately ran over to check on it.

Chen Ye watched her slender back as she crouched down and picked up the little bird. Her long black hair cascaded down her sides. She looked down at the bird, her pure face tinged with worry, like an angel. As if struck by Cupid's arrow, Chen Ye froze, then immediately picked up his camera and captured the scene.

It wasn't until Yu Bai looked up and called them over that they heard them.

“Come and see.” Yu Bai frowned slightly. “This bird is injured.”

"Ah, what?" Mingjing immediately got up and ran over, and Chen Ye followed.

The bird's wings were covered in blood, and its body was soaking wet. Fortunately, the injury wasn't serious; it was probably scratched by something sharp during the rainy and windy day.

"You can just get it bandaged at a small clinic," Chen said.

“Let’s go now.” Mingjing nodded.

Yu Bai wrapped the little bird in a tissue. "Okay."

The three went to the clinic, where the doctor gave the bird a simple bandage and told them they could keep it at home for a few days until its wing wound healed and it could fly again.

When asked who kept the bird, Chen volunteered, "I'll take it. I really like birds, and I even have a myna at home."

Actually, what's more important is that he has his own ulterior motives.

Mingjing and Yubai felt that since he had experience raising birds, he was indeed more experienced than they were, so they agreed and asked him to take good care of the birds.

"Don't worry, I'll send you pictures every day, I guarantee the task will be completed."

Chen also gave Yu Bai a reassuring look.

Yu Bai pursed her lips and smiled back at him.

It was sweet, and Chen chuckled to himself.

Mingjing, who was on the front line of watching the drama unfold, sensed something was off between the two.

The three of them temporarily left the bird at the clinic, and Chen would come to pick it up when they went home.

As Yu Bai left the clinic, he received a message from Jiang Jizhou.

Where did you go for fun?

Yu Bai was taken aback. She had never seen Jiang Jizhou ask about her when she went out to play.

Central Park

Yu Bai put away her phone, and Chen Ye noticed that she was slightly frowning, as if she was not very happy.

"What's wrong?" Chen asked her.

Yu Bai said nonchalantly, "My brother asked me where I went to play."

"Jiang Jizhou is such a siscon," Chen Ye muttered softly.

At this moment, Mingjing said in a flustered manner, "I'm sorry, I have something to do at home and I have to go back right away."

"Oh, what's wrong? Are you alright?" Yu Bai asked with concern.

"It's okay, I'm leaving now, you guys have fun."

With that, Mingjing hailed a taxi and left.

Without a mirror, Yu Bai and Chen Ye were alone together, feeling awkward and out of place.

She tossed her hair, and Chen scratched his head. The two stood side by side, avoiding each other's eyes, both feeling embarrassed.

Finally, Chen also spoke up, "How about we go for a stroll on the pedestrian street and grab a bite to eat?"

It's just past four o'clock now, not yet time for dinner.

Yu Bai had already strolled through the pedestrian street with Ming Jing last time and found it uninteresting.

After hesitating for a moment, she said in a low voice, "I've already been there."

"Ah." Chen Ye scratched his head. It was his first time going out with a girl, and she was the girl he liked. He really didn't know where to go with her.

After a long pause, he swallowed hard. "How about we go play ball?"

Yu Bai frowned slightly. Although Jiang Jizhou had taught her how to play ball last time, she was still not very good at it.

But it wouldn't be good to spoil Chen Ye's fun, so she agreed.

The two went to the billiards room that Chen Ye and Jiang Jizhou frequented.

"Chen Ye, what kind of person do you think my brother is?" Yu Bai asked Chen Ye cautiously.

Chen also potted the ball into the net, leaned on his cue, thought for a moment, and said to her, "What do you think?"

"Very good." Yu Bai's eyes unconsciously held a smile.

Chen nodded, "Yeah, A-Zhou seems arrogant and cold to people, but he's actually a very nice person."

"He's the kind of person who's all bark and no bite," Chen Ye chuckled. "He's just a little bit of a womanizer."

Yu Bai bit her lip. "What do you mean?"

“He used to have a lot of ambiguous relationships.” Chen also stopped talking to make amends for him, “But it was always the girls who took the initiative. You know, Jiang Jizhou is quite popular.”

Yu Bai paused, "Is Ruo An one of them too?"

"Who?" Chen didn't hear clearly and moved closer.

Yu Bai was about to say it again in a louder voice, but was interrupted.

What are you doing?

Jiang Jizhou's cold, clear voice came from behind.

Both of them were stunned. Chen also stepped back to create distance, while Yu Bai turned to look at Jiang Jizhou, his heart skipping a beat.

His long eyelashes drooped slightly, and he looked at Yu Bai with a deep gaze, his emotions unreadable.

"Didn't you go to Central Park with Mingjing?" Jiang Jizhou stared at Yu Bai, his voice unconsciously revealing his anger.

Yu Bai's body trembled, and he wanted to explain.

“A-Zhou, we…” Chen also chimed in.

"Get lost." Jiang Jizhou glanced at him, his eyes full of hostility.

Immediately, he walked up, grabbed Yu Bai's hand, and pulled her away with great force.

Yu Bai groaned softly in pain, feeling as if his wrist was about to break. He was in pain and scared, and tears welled up in his eyes, making him look pitiful.

"Jiang Jizhou, she is just your sister."

Chen couldn't stand it anymore and said to Jiang Jizhou.

Jiang Jizhou stopped, looked at him expressionlessly, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Although Chen was intimidated, he looked straight at him.

For a moment, the atmosphere became tense.

Yu Bai's palms were sweating, and she reached out with her other hand to carefully tug at Jiang Jizhou's clothes.

"Brother, let's go."

She was afraid that Jiang Jizhou would really get angry. She had never seen Jiang Jizhou angry before and dared not imagine what might happen.

Her voice was soft and ingratiating, which calmed Jiang Jizhou's irritable and angry mood a little.

He looked at Chen Ye coldly, "Then what is her relationship with you?"

Chen was taken aback.

Jiang Jizhou chuckled and pulled Yu Bai away.

Inside the car, Yu Bai huddled cautiously in a corner, barely daring to breathe loudly.

Jiang Jizhou sat coldly to one side.

After the car drove smoothly for a while, Yu Bai slowly spoke, "Brother, I didn't mean to lie to you."

"But you still lied to me, didn't you?" Jiang Jizhou's tone was somewhat irritated.

What I thought I had control over turned out to be beyond my expectations.

"sorry."

After apologizing, Yu Bai thought to herself that she was free, and he wasn't her real brother, so what right did he have to question her like that? But looking at his cold face, Yu Bai didn't dare to say it.

"Didn't you say you'd always be with me?"

Suddenly, Jiang Jizhou turned his head and met her timid gaze.

"Yes, but I also have the right to make new friends."

Thinking of Ruo'an, and Chen Ye's words about his ambiguous relationships with so many people, Yu Bai felt a pang of bitterness and mustered the courage to refute.

Jiang Jizhou chuckled. "So, you lied to me?"

Yu Bai felt that he was being unreasonable and deliberately making things difficult for her. She hadn't mentioned that Chen Ye was also among the people she was going out to play with, but what else had she lied to him about?

Yu Bai bit her lip, wanting to move on quickly, "I'm sorry."

"So, were your promises also lies to me?"

The warmth of her embrace when she hugged herself that day in the drizzling rain at the cemetery still lingers.

A hint of vulnerability flashed across Jiang Jizhou's face, and his voice became very soft.

Yu Bai was stunned, a feeling of heartache rising within him.

But she also wondered what her place was in his heart. Was she a new ambiguous relationship? Or just a younger sister? Or was she simply unable to tolerate being lied to?

A misty fog settled over Yu Bai's eyes, like a lake after a rain.

Your eyes are the lake that traps me.

It is the last line of that poem, which finally comes to a perfect conclusion at this moment.

A strange feeling suddenly rose in Jiang Jizhou's heart, as if he had been gripped and suffocated for a second. He wondered why he was so angry today. Yu Bai was just his sister.

When he saw Chen Ye getting close to Yu Bai, all he could think about was knocking Chen Ye down with one punch.

A note from the author:

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