Chapter 26 Candy

After the New Year's Day holiday, Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou returned to school. The school was also covered in white snow, with a thick layer of snow. The school specially hired people to clear the snow to prevent it from freezing.

The classroom was air-conditioned and warm enough to make anyone sleepy. The math teacher was lecturing away, while a bunch of students were dozing off.

Mingjing also had her head down, swaying from side to side. Yu Bai gently poked her arm with his pen to remind her, but she couldn't resist the drowsiness in her head and slept soundly.

Suddenly, half a piece of chalk came flying at me.

Mingjing was startled awake, "Ah!"

Looking up, I saw the teacher's dark face. "Mingjing, if you're sleepy, stand for a while."

Mingjing had no choice but to stand up.

The teacher made an example of someone to warn the others, saying, "Whoever is sleepy, stand up now, or I'll catch you asleep again."

A few people stood up sparsely.

"Hmph, out of so many people, they just had to throw chalk at me." Mingjing muttered to Yu Bai.

Yu Bai couldn't help but purse her lips and smile slightly.

After class, Mingjing slumped into her chair, saying, "I'm exhausted."

Yu Bai was still working on the problem when he said casually, "Take a nap."

"No, I want to eat potato chips." Mingjing immediately sprang up like a spring, grabbing Yu Bai's hand, "Come with me to the supermarket, Bai Bai."

Yu Bai smiled helplessly, "Alright."

The snow was still falling, and many people were having a snowball fight in the open space in front of the teaching building. Yu Bai and Ming Jing passed by there. By sheer coincidence, a snowball hit Yu Bai inside her scarf, and the icy snow dripped onto her skin through the gaps, making her shiver.

Mingjing immediately sought revenge, throwing a ball of snow at her.

"Hahaha, I'm so awesome!" Mingjing laughed heartily after hitting the target.

If Yu Bai hadn't held him back, Mingjing would have already joined the snowball fight.

Upon arriving at the supermarket, Yu Bai wasn't initially keen on buying snacks, but after seeing the dazzling array of options, she still picked and chose to buy a bag of Want Want milk candy and a bag of original flavor potato chips. Meanwhile, Ming Jing busily grabbed a large shopping basket and went on a shopping spree.

"This candy looks delicious." Yu Bai looked down at the candy on the shelf in front of her. The transparent glass jar was tied with a pink bow and contained pink candies, peach flavored. She said to Ming Jing, but Ming Jing didn't like candy and wasn't interested. Yu Bai thought for a moment and bought it herself.

As soon as they left the supermarket, Yu Bai was unscrewing the lid of a glass jar when Ming Jing pulled her aside, saying, "Look, isn't that Jiang Jizhou?"

Yu Bai looked in the direction Mingjing pointed and saw Jiang Jizhou holding a can of cola, standing there casually, looking somewhat impatient.

A girl was standing opposite him, not wearing a school uniform; she was Xiaoxiao, Aze's girlfriend.

"Isn't that girl Aze's girlfriend?" Mingjing was stunned.

"What happened?" Mingjing turned to look at Yu Bai, her face full of surprise and disbelief.

"Let's go take a look."

As she spoke, Mingjing pulled Yu Bai toward Jiang Jizhou.

"I really like you." Xiao Xiao's voice was a little nervous and trembled, showing that she was very serious.

Jiang Jizhou grew increasingly impatient; he wouldn't have paid any attention to her if it weren't for the fact that she was Aze's girlfriend.

"I don't have a fetish for liking my brother's girlfriend," Jiang Jizhou said coldly, his thin lips barely moving.

"We've already broken up," Xiaoxiao said urgently.

Jiang Jizhou frowned slightly and looked up impatiently, but saw Mingjing pulling Yu Bai toward him. Like a spring breeze, his frown immediately relaxed and his peach blossom eyes spread with a smile.

Xiao Xiao thought he still had feelings for her and was ready to press her advantage, but then she heard Jiang Jizhou say, "I'm sorry, I have someone I like."

"Who?" Xiao Xiao asked instinctively.

“Her.” Jiang Jizhou lifted his leg and walked towards Yu Bai.

Hearing their conversation, Yu Bai's face turned as red as a ripe apple. She didn't even dare to look at Jiang Jizhou, lowering her head and burying her face in her scarf, her heart pounding like a drum.

Xiao Xiao followed his gaze and saw a girl from New Year's Eve. She was quiet and reserved, and seemed to have a very obedient and indifferent personality.

"Are you lying to me?" Xiaoxiao forced a smile. "Just saying someone."

“I’m serious.” Jiang Jizhou shrugged.

"What does she have that I don't? Why do you like such a boring girl?"

Upon hearing her words, Mingjing immediately became displeased and prepared to retort, but Jiang Jizhou spoke first, his indifferent tone tinged with impatience and malice, "You are not worthy to be compared with her."

Xiao Xiao's face turned pale. She was usually fawned over by a bunch of boys, and her occasional sharp tongue was also praised. She had never suffered such humiliation. After a pause, she glared at the group of boys, bit her lip, and ran away unwillingly.

"Don't take those trashy words to heart," Jiang Jizhou said softly to Yu Bai, bowing his head slightly.

Yu Bai looked up, smiled gently, and nodded heavily.

She no longer easily gets caught up in internal conflict and self-doubt because of what others say.

Mingjing beat her chest in despair, "You deceived my feelings! On New Year's Eve, I was still marveling at her and Aze's love, but I never expected this..."

Mingjing, now like a weasel in a melon patch, couldn't wait to ask, "Jiang Jizhou, do you really like my Bai Bai?"

Jiang Jizhou did not answer, but gazed tenderly at Yu Bai, who turned her face away shyly.

“It’s just an excuse,” Yu Bai answered Mingjing on behalf of Jiang Jizhou.

Mingjing blinked and looked at Jiang Jizhou, "Is that so?"

A hint of disappointment flashed in Jiang Jizhou's eyes, but it disappeared in an instant, replaced by a nonchalant smile, as if in acquiescence.

Yu Bai sensed that the aura around him had become noticeably colder, so he pouted but didn't say anything.

Mingjing's eyes darted between the two of them, noticing the awkward atmosphere.

"Let's go back to the classroom together, class is about to start," Mingjing suggested.

Jiang Jizhou gave a soft "hmm".

Yu Bai was still holding an unopened glass jar of candy, which looked a bit like a fruit can and was difficult to open.

She looked at Jiang Jizhou cautiously, "Could you help me unscrew it?"

Jiang Jizhou raised an eyebrow. "Hmm."

He easily unscrewed the glass jar and handed it to Yu Bai.

"Thank you." Yu Bai grabbed a handful of candy and gave it to Jiang Jizhou. Jiang Jizhou opened his palm, and Yu Bai placed a bunch of pink candies in his hand.

Then, Yu Bai secretly observed Jiang Jizhou's expression. He looked much better, like his mood had cleared up from being cloudy. Yu Bai breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mirror, do you want some?" Yu Bai asked Mingjing beforehand because she didn't like candy.

Mingjing was still thinking about the melon she had just eaten when she casually said, "I want one."

"good."

The three of them walked towards the teaching building.

-

The snow stopped at noon, and the sun peeked out from behind the thick clouds. The sunlight shone directly on the white snow, which melted into water and flowed all over the ground. Vehicles drove by and people walked by... making the place dirty.

Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou went home together.

According to Aunt Chen, Lin Yun has been discharged from the hospital and is now living in a large apartment that Uncle Jiang recently bought for her in the city center.

"Don't mention those two at home anymore," Jiang Jizhou said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Chen's mother smiled and said, "Okay, I won't mention it again."

Jiang Jizhou then asked, "Aunt Chen, have you changed the lock?"

Chen Ma took out new keys and gave them to Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou, saying, "It's been changed."

Yu Bai looked at the new key, somewhat surprised, "You changed the locks?"

Jiang Jizhou turned his head to look at Yu Bai, "Mm."

Yu Bai hadn't expected Jiang Jizhou to go to such lengths, actually changing the locks. This was clearly a way of severing ties with Uncle Jiang. Although she felt a little reluctant, she considered that Uncle Jiang hadn't even listened to Jiang Jizhou's explanation before calling the police to arrest him. If Jiang Jizhou hadn't installed surveillance cameras, wouldn't he be in a situation where he couldn't clear his name no matter what? Therefore, Yu Bai felt that Jiang Jizhou's actions weren't excessive. Besides, Lin Yun's madness at the hospital last time was frightening, and this also prevented Lin Yun from retaliating in case she came back.

So Yu Bai remained silent and continued eating.

After finishing her meal, she helped Chen Ma clear the dishes and was about to go upstairs to do her homework when Jiang Jizhou stopped her at the bottom of the stairs.

Jiang Jizhou leaned slightly forward, his shadow falling over Yu Bai. His gaze towards Yu Bai was inscrutable, and his tone was indifferent, revealing no emotion. "Why did you say that to Mingjing?"

Yu Bai lowered her head, unsure of what to say. She didn't know Jiang Jizhou's true thoughts.

Perhaps Jiang Jizhou only saw her as a younger sister. After all, he had never seriously told Yu Bai that he liked her. He always teased her unintentionally. Yu Bai was afraid that she was just imagining things and that she would get hurt.

"Idiot." Jiang Jizhou reached out and ruffled Yu Bai's hair. The soft hair felt nice in his hand, and the scent of gardenias lingered in his nose.

Yu Bai blushed, somewhat at a loss for what to do.

Fortunately, the ringing of the phone broke the awkward silence. Yu Bai turned on his phone and saw that it was Ms. Yu calling.

Since letting Yu Bai stay at Jiang Jizhou's house, Ms. Yu has been able to go abroad with peace of mind. During that time, she has made very few phone calls. As for the calls Yu Bai made, she only answered one out of ten, as she was too busy with work to answer the rest.

Yu Bai gestured to Jiang Jizhou and quickly ran upstairs.

Jiang Jizhou watched Yu Bai's retreating figure, feeling a bit irritated. He returned to his bedroom, took out the lighter Yu Bai had given him, and fiddled with it in his hand. But he became increasingly irritable, and the indescribable anger and restlessness in his heart surged out like the flame of the lighter.

Jiang Jizhou didn't answer Mingjing immediately, wanting to see Yu Bai's reaction. As he expected, Yu Bai was like a cute, panicked rabbit, but what he said was not pleasant at all. Jiang Jizhou lay on the bed, staring at the pale ceiling, where Yu Bai's figure seemed to suddenly appear.

So this is what it's like to be moved.

Yu Bai was completely unaware of this. She answered the phone, and as usual, Ms. Yu first inquired about her studies and whether she had behaved well at Uncle Jiang's house.

Yu Bai stood by the window, his free hand fiddling with a pot of chrysanthemums on the balcony. The golden chrysanthemums were still in full bloom. While listening absentmindedly to Ms. Yu's words, Yu Bai unconsciously plucked the delicate petals of the chrysanthemums.

"Bai Bai, I heard that your Uncle Jiang's...girlfriend had a miscarriage?"

Yu Bai nodded. "Mm."

Then, she quickly added, "She tried to hit her brother, but missed and rolled down the stairs."

Upon hearing this, Ms. Yu smiled enigmatically, "You seem to favor Ji Zhou quite a bit, don't you? You two get along well, don't you?"

Yu Bai plucked a small handful of chrysanthemum petals and retorted, "I'm just stating the facts."

After a moment, a smile appeared on her lips. "Yes, we get along very well. My brother is very good to me."

"Then I'm relieved." A burst of noise came from Ms. Yu's end, which then quieted down. Ms. Yu said anxiously, "Don't get involved in the Jiang family's affairs. Okay, Mom has work to do, I'll hang up now."

After saying that, the phone was hung up before Yu Bai could speak.

After putting down her phone, Yu Bai realized that she had plucked a large chrysanthemum bare. This was a flower that she and Aunt Chen had carefully tended to. Yu Bai was stunned and gave a bitter smile.

"It's over."