Chapter 20 (Liked)

After the marching formations are completed, each class will gather at their designated location for the final item on the opening ceremony: a speech by the leaders.

This process was extremely tedious. Students from each class either huddled together whispering with their heads down or looked around and discussed amongst themselves. Few people were actually listening attentively to the leaders' speeches.

Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou, who were holding up signs, stood at the very front of the class line.

The midday sun shone directly on Yu Bai's exposed, fair skin, making it slightly red. She squinted, feeling drowsy, and turned her head to look at Jiang Jizhou beside her. He stood loosely, and even in a suit, he exuded a roguish charm.

"I heard that Yu Bai's dress was designed by Jiang Jizhou himself!"

"So beautiful."

...

The hushed conversations of her classmates behind her reached Yu Bai's ears, and she immediately snapped out of her daze.

Indeed, this dress is beautiful, especially now that it's bathed in sunlight. The hem of the skirt shimmers like countless stars in the daytime sky, or like thousands of fireflies, making Yu Bai even more stunning.

It perfectly matches the name of the dress—Flowing Star River.

Yu Bai lowered her eyes, and Jiang Jizhou raised an eyebrow, smiled, and leaned closer to her, saying, "You suit her very well."

An ambiguous, warm breath spread across Yu Bai's slender neck, turning it red. Yu Bai stepped back slightly, her almond-shaped eyes blinking as they met Jiang Jizhou's affectionate and tender peach blossom eyes.

A blush spread from her neck to Yu Bai's cheeks. She turned her face away shyly, her heart pounding.

"Yu Bai, your necklace is so pretty."

Just then, the girl in the first row behind her suddenly started talking to Yu Bai. Yu Bai turned around and avoided Jiang Jizhou's gaze.

"Thank you." Yu Bai subconsciously reached out and touched the necklace on her chest. The diamonds on the necklace sparkled with pure light under the sunlight.

"Where did you buy it?" a girl asked Yu Bai.

Remembering Jiang Jizhou's words, Yu Bai replied, "I bought it on the way."

"No way!" a girl exclaimed in surprise. "This is a Vatican necklace, you just bought it on the way here."

"Wow! It's a luxury brand!" several girls exclaimed in surprise.

Yu Bai knew nothing about so-called luxury brands, but from their reactions, he could tell that the necklace was very expensive.

"No wonder it looks so good."

"Indeed, it's beautiful."

"Yu Bai's family must be very rich, he can buy luxury goods casually."

...

Upon hearing this, Yu Bai looked at Jiang Jizhou with embarrassment and surprise, but Jiang Jizhou just smiled at her indifferently with a nonchalant expression.

Although she was misunderstood, she couldn't just say that Jiang Jizhou gave it to her, otherwise it would definitely cause an even bigger misunderstanding. Her ambiguous and inexplicable relationship with Jiang Jizhou would be even more difficult to explain.

Yu Bai likes Jiang Jizhou, but only secretly. However, she doesn't want these untrue rumors to spread and cause trouble for Jiang Jizhou.

However, Jiang Jizhou always seemed to be teasing her intentionally or unintentionally, making Yu Bai's heart in turmoil. She knew that there was a world of difference between them. He was always the center of attention, while she was deaf and walking on thin ice. There was no possibility between them. Yu Bai felt increasingly bitter.

The sunlight was getting stronger and stronger. It was already past eleven o'clock, and many students were getting impatient. Some even sneaked away.

Finally, at 11:30, the opening ceremony ended, and the Nancheng No.1 Middle School Campus Meeting officially began.

Yu Bai's 800-meter race started at 3 p.m.

When Chen's mother went home for lunch with Jiang Jizhou, she heard about Yu Bai's participation in the 800-meter race and was very worried.

"Bai Bai, with your thin arms and legs, I'm worried you might get hurt."

Yu Bai pursed her lips, "It's okay. Mingjing and I used to run on the track every day, so it's fine."

Chen's mother was still worried, but Jiang Jizhou put down his chopsticks and chuckled, "I believe Bai Bai can do it. We have to give it a try."

"Of course, safety comes first."

Yu Bai looked up at Jiang Jizhou, who smiled slightly and said, "I'll go cheer you on this afternoon."

Yu Bai felt a pang of tenderness and smiled gently as well.

Yu Bai thought that the cheerleader was coming to cheer him on, but he didn't expect that the cheerleader would bring a large group of brothers and even put up a banner, with Yu Bai and Ming Jing each holding one side.

Yu Bai blushed to the color of an apple, lowered her head, feeling very embarrassed, but also deeply moved.

"Ready—" After a gunshot, Yu Bai and several other opponents rushed out of the starting line and raced on their respective tracks.

The cheers of Jiang Jizhou and his team echoed in my ears.

At first, Yu Bai was able to sprint ahead, but in the middle section, she lost her strength and gradually fell behind. However, when Yu Bai saw Jiang Jizhou smiling and waiting for her at the finish line, a surge of power burst forth from her body. She sprinted forward with all her might, as if she could no longer feel tired, and finally crossed the finish line first.

Jiang Jizhou was standing right in front of her when Yu Bai suddenly threw herself into his arms. He naturally embraced her, and his refreshing fragrance filled the air. Yu Bai looked up and saw Jiang Jizhou's handsome face beaming with a smile. Her heart, which had been pounding violently from running, was now beating even faster.

A lot of cheering and jeers arose from the surroundings. Yu Bai quickly broke free and took a few steps back in embarrassment.

But they didn't see the fleeting look of disappointment in Jiang Jizhou's eyes.

"Great! Bye-bye." Mingjing walked over to Yu Bai and handed her a bottle of mineral water.

Yu Bai was panting heavily. She slowly calmed her breathing, took the mineral water, and gulped down several mouthfuls.

"Let's go over there and rest for a bit," Mingjing said, pulling Yu Bai along.

Yu Bai glanced at Jiang Jizhou, who was talking to others and not looking at him. Yu Bai looked away and walked out of the crowd with Ming Jing.

The two sat in a corner of the playground. A cool breeze blew, and Yu Bai felt a chill as the sweat on his body was cooled.

"Bai Bai, Jiang Jizhou is so good to you."

Mingjing suddenly said.

Yu Bai was stunned for a moment, his expression somewhat unnatural.

"Because I was staying at their house, he treated me like a younger sister."

Mingjing smiled, a gossipy glint in her eyes. "So, do you like him?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Bai's heart trembled. Not daring to let anyone know her feelings, she lowered her head, her eyes darting away, and whispered, "I don't... like him."

After speaking, he looked up and saw Jiang Jizhou standing in front of him, holding Yu Bai's coat in his hand, which he had taken off while running and temporarily entrusted to Jiang Jizhou for safekeeping.

Their eyes met, and Yu Bai was stunned.

Jiang Jizhou seemed unconcerned. He smiled lazily and tossed his coat onto Yu Bai's lap. "Here you go."

Then he turned and left.

Yu Bai placed his hand on the coat, which still seemed to retain his warmth. Yu Bai gripped the coat tightly, feeling extremely sad.

—

Seeing that Jiang Jizhou had returned alone, a group of friends remarked in a few words why Yu Bai hadn't come.

Jiang Jizhou is hosting a party to celebrate Yu Bai's victory and also to introduce Yu Bai to some new friends.

Jiang Jizhou, hands in his pockets, said calmly, "She's not going."

Everyone could tell that Jiang Jizhou was in a bad mood; his expressionless face and brows exuded a gloomy and irritable aura.

A boy asked, "Are we still having a party?"

Jiang Jizhou glanced at him. "What do you think?"

After saying that, Jiang Jizhou left alone, leaving the crowd looking at each other in bewilderment.

Jiang Jizhou took a taxi home. The weather was nice, but he was in a bad mood. He rested his chin on one hand, leaned against the car window, and thought about Yu Bai absentmindedly. His hand went numb. He let go of his hand, leaned back in the seat, but still couldn't relieve the frustration in his heart.

Jiang Jizhou thought Yu Bai liked him too, but it turned out he was just being delusional.

When he got home, he threw the gift for Yu Bai into the trash can and went back to his bedroom. The cool-toned room calmed him down a little.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his thoughts drifted back to those rainy nights when he and Yu Bai were in a state of ambiguity.

The rain pattered softly. They exchanged a knowing smile in the car, and later, they held hands and slept in the bedroom…

Jiang Jizhou felt a tightness in his chest. Perhaps at first, he couldn't help but tease Yu Bai because she was easily embarrassed, treating her like a younger sister. But later, he developed an inappropriate possessiveness towards her.

Her timid smile replayed in my mind.

Jiang Jizhou stood there for a long time, but in the end, his emotions prevailed over his reason. He turned around, went downstairs, and took the gift box out of the trash can.

Just then, Aunt Chen passed by and asked, "Jizhou, what are you doing standing by the trash can?"

Jiang Jizhou turned around, covering the gift in his hand, "It's nothing, just throwing out the trash."

"What's in your hand? A gift for Bai Bai?" Chen Ma smiled knowingly.

Jiang Jizhou stubbornly insisted, "No, it's for the girl I like."

"Ji Zhou has a girl he likes?" Chen Ma's eyes lit up.

"Um."

Jiang Jizhou's voice was muffled.

He took the gift upstairs, and Chen called him.

Since Jiang Jizhou beat up Chen Ye at the KTV last time, they haven't spoken. When Chen Ye sends messages to Jiang Jizhou, he doesn't bother to reply or respond.

Jiang Jizhou was annoyed by the phone ringing again today and let it ring until it was disconnected.

"Jiang Jizhou didn't answer." Chen also smiled wryly.

He met Jiang Jizhou in their first year of high school. It was a case of "no fight, no friendship." Back then, Jiang Jizhou was even colder and more arrogant than he is now, and he managed to subdue Chen Ye.

I never imagined that they would break up because of Yu Bai.

Today he contacted Yu Bai, wanting to arrange a meeting with Jiang Jizhou, but Jiang Jizhou didn't answer his phone.

"Why don't you call him?" Chen also looked to Yu Bai for help.

Yu Bai swallowed hard, thinking of how coldly he had handed her the clothes earlier that day. She was a little hesitant, but Chen Ye begged her, and she also had her own reasons for it, so she finally softened and agreed.

The phone was answered almost immediately after it rang; Jiang Jizhou answered it instantly.

Jiang Jizhou remained silent, waiting for Yu Bai to speak.

Yu Bai bit his lip and after a long while said, "Jiang Jizhou."

"What is it?" Jiang Jizhou asked in a cold voice.

"Chen Ye wants to apologize to you. He didn't lie to you on purpose, and he hopes you can forgive him."

Jiang Jizhou's face darkened even more as he contacted him again, clearly annoyed.

"Fine, you wait for me to come find you. I've forgiven him, and I'll make him get lost."

Jiang Jizhou still couldn't suppress his desire to see Yu Bai.

After hanging up the phone, Chen's expression improved considerably. "That's good. I'll go now. Let's keep to ourselves and avoid contact in the future."

Mingjing clicked his tongue in amazement, "Indeed, brothers are like hands and feet."

She left with Chen Ye, leaving Yu Bai alone there.

She waited for a long time, and it was almost dusk. The autumn air was getting stronger and a bit chilly. She sat on the chair and curled up in a ball. Because she had used up too much energy running in the afternoon, she felt sleepy and took a nap with her eyes half closed.

When Jiang Jizhou arrived, he saw her small figure, curled up in a ball, and his anger vanished instantly, his heart softening completely.

Even if she really doesn't like him, so what? Jiang Jizhou can still make Yu Bai fall in love with him.

Jiang Jizhou walked to her side, bent down, and whispered, "Bye-bye."

He took off his coat and draped it over Yu Bai, his gesture incredibly gentle.

The students who were passing by whispered among themselves when they saw this scene.

Jiang Jizhou has many admirers, but he has always been arrogant and spoiled, and he never serves anyone. He has never been seen to be so gentle with a girl before.

-----------------------

Author's note: We're going to talk soon and turn the tide. Even though it's just a crush on Bai, the dog still has to pursue her!