Chapter 15 A Valentine's Day Just for Her

Just as Jiang Meng was about to reply to him, someone came up from behind.

Jiang Meng didn't know if Lin Fei had secretly practiced some kind of light-footed skill, because his footsteps were completely silent. It wasn't until he reeked of the distinctive cigarette smell of a middle-aged man that Jiang Meng was caught off guard and slammed her phone into the table.

It was too late.

A few seconds later, Jiang Meng looked up in fear and met a dark face.

Lin Fei asked sharply, "What, you added your idol on QQ?"

"..."

"Hand it over!"

Jiang Meng held up her palm and pitifully held up a five: "I lost 500, teacher."

Lin Fei put his hands behind his back, let out a sigh of relief, and walked forward: "This is the last time."

Then he said to the class, "Bring out yesterday's test papers."

Jiang Meng looked down and flipped through the math test paper.

She wasn't unhappy, just her heart was beating a little fast. It took her five minutes of class to gradually calm down.

It's strange, can someone fall in love with a complete stranger?

In fact, she didn't even know if he was male or female.

It could be a girl, an old man, a primary school student, or even a robot—who knows?

Jiang Meng glanced at her phone after class ended.

A: "Just kidding, don't be mad at me."

"Joke" is such a useful word; it's as effective as April Fool's Day. If your confession is rejected, you can say: "I was just kidding, don't take it seriously."

Jiang Meng: "I'm not angry anymore."

A: "I left a little surprise, did you find it?"

Jiang Meng: "What?"

A: "Look to your right."

Jiang Meng's right side was the classroom corridor, and her seat was by the window. After the theft, everyone was still shaken, and the window lock hadn't been opened since.

After observing the gloomy sky and the students coming and going in the corridors and plaza for a while, Jiang Meng looked away: "Teaching building, courtyard, trees, plaza, what do you want me to see?"

A: "You need to look at what's in front of you."

Before my eyes?

Jiang Meng didn't quite understand, but she turned her head and did as she was told, with the window glass in front of her.

besides……

Upon noticing the subtle change, Jiang Meng's eyes widened.

A tiny rainbow sticker was placed on the edge of the classroom window. The sticker was double-sided, so you could see the rainbow from both the outside and the inside. It stuck firmly to the glass, and its vibrant colors made the otherwise monotonous view look much more beautiful.

Jiang Meng typed with delight: "Little Rainbow"

She asked, "Did you put that up?"

A: "It's raining every day, I'm afraid it will bother you."

A: "I'll help you summon the sun."

After saying that, he sent the same pat-on-the-head emoji he used yesterday.

Jiang Meng laughed.

She was no longer upset.

She felt very warm.

Jiang Meng's fingertips brushed against the windowpane, aligning with the position of the rainbow on the outer glass. She imagined how he came here, how he looked at her sleeping face, and how he carefully placed this rainbow to dispel the dark clouds for her.

She knew that someone had been here and left a little kindness.

A sleeping child doesn't need to be obsessed with Santa Claus passing by; all she needs to do is happily unwrap her presents when she wakes up.

She said, "You're so romantic."

-

During the summer vacation, Wang Qi hired a tutor for Chen Jizhou so that he could brush up on his English at home in preparation for the language exams in the second half of the year.

"Here we go again. What's there to improve in English? I could get 120 with my eyes closed."

Last summer, Wang Qi hired a tutor for him. She found a girl who was studying at S University. The tutoring location was at Old Wang's place in the South Third District. Every time the girl saw Chen Jizhou, she would blush abnormally. After all, she was a decent girl. Although she had some feelings for him, she still cared about not delaying the high school student's studies, so she taught three or four classes. Later, she took the initiative to resign, saying that she really couldn't continue teaching the class.

Wang Qi is the kind of mother who always looks for the cause in her son whenever there is any trouble. She grabs him and asks: Did you say something you shouldn't have said to the teacher and scare them away?

This rumor is really spreading wildly.

Chen Jizhou was so angry he laughed while lying in the rocking chair.

"Chen Jizhou, speak up!"

He was too lazy to explain: "Stop making a fuss, let me go in peace."

A year later, he lay in the same rocking chair.

Wang Qi stated unequivocally that such a situation would not occur again: "This time, we invited a man."

Chen Jizhou was holding a vocabulary book and reading it, with a "what's the use" attitude: "Men won't do either. I've told you before, everyone loves me. Being in the same room with someone is even worse. Forget men and women, even a savage would fall in love with me, you know?"

Wang Qi angrily rebuked: "You're just making excuses to skip school!"

Chen Jizhou nodded and naturally confessed, "I was just making excuses not to go to school."

"Chen Jizhou, I urge you to think this through. If you keep drifting like this, I'll send you to work in a factory tightening screws after graduation."

Chen Jizhou turned a page of his book, his expression calm: "Not bad at tightening screws. Judging by my hand speed when I'm playing games, I should be able to tighten a small team leader very quickly."

"..."

Wang Qi was speechless; she was truly exasperated by his stubbornness.

She turned her back, clasped her hands together, and stood there silently in the dim light, her face as cold as ice.

Seeing that his mother remained silent for a long time, Chen Jizhou realized that he might have been a bit impulsive. After a while, he got up, came over to look at Wang Qi, who was standing with her back turned and not saying a word, and asked softly, "Are you really angry?"

He tilted his head and looked his mother up and down: "Just trying to make you happy. I'll study hard."

Chen Jizhou showed his exam results on his phone: "I really studied, and I ranked third in the grade at the end of the semester."

Wang Qi gave him a way out, glanced at him, and seeing that he had improved, her expression softened a bit: "Then let me ask you, why did you lie to me and say you got the lowest score?"

Chen Jizhou leaned against the edge of the table, still speaking in his nonchalant tone: "Who knew you could get so angry? You're not happy even having a son that everyone loves, but you're happy to be in the top three in exams. Your priorities for happiness need to be adjusted. It's not worth it."

Wang Qi frowned: "Besides your mother, who else is worried about whether you live or die?"

Chen Jizhou: "Don't worry about me, I can survive even if I'm just tightening screws."

When Wang Qi isn't around, his maternal grandfather has to take on the role of disciplining the brat, but when his mother is around, he can enjoy the leisure of watching the show.

Wang Jingbo said, "He has finally figured out how to live."

Chen Jizhou turned around with a smile, "Grandpa was right."

The result of the negotiation was that a tutor was no longer needed, but Chen Jizhou was confined to his home for the entire summer vacation and had to study at home.

Honestly, Wang Qi is worried sick about her son. With the crucial senior year of high school approaching, he still exudes a lazy and irresponsible attitude. Although he pretends to be studying every day under parental supervision, he's really good at putting on an act and has no idea whether he's actually paying attention or not.

At work, she couldn't help but complain to her colleagues about how difficult it was to raise boys, and she was always envious of families that only had daughters. On this sweltering day, she drank cup after cup of cooling tea. Wang Qi spat out the date pits, put the lid back on the teacup, and said, "Send him abroad next year. Hurry up and leave. He's an eyesore in my way; he's really no pushover!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than there was a knock on the office door.

A bouquet of flowers was brought in.

The flowers were arranged quite neatly and beautifully. At a glance, Wang Qi noticed that there were violets, irises, and freesias, all in a light purple hue, which was her favorite color.

She had been so focused on work lately that she hadn't even noticed it was a special day until she saw the birthday card inside the flower. Wang Qi couldn't help but let out a soft "Oh!" as she realized that someone still remembered her.

Just as she was about to call her husband, she received a call from Chen Jizhou first.

As soon as the call connected, the boy's boastful voice rang out: "Did you receive the flowers, Ms. Wang?"

Wang Qi exclaimed again, "You bought this? I thought your dad was being romantic, what a disappointment!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jizhou knew that his father hadn't given him a gift.

However, although he said he was disappointed, his happy tone almost overflowed from the phone receiver.

Chen Jizhou said slowly, "Since Old Chen doesn't understand romance, then Little Chen will do it for you. It's my fault for always making you angry. Buying flowers is for the sake of family harmony, so let's make it clear, you can't give me a sour look before these flowers wither."

He said in a casual, smiling tone that he had bought a piece of "peace under the eaves" that lasted as long as fresh flowers.

but.

The key message is: "Happy birthday, Mom."

-

The concert will be in August.

Jiang Meng went to a tutoring class during the summer vacation to specifically improve her math and physics.

About two weeks into the holiday, the case of the theft involving a high school student finally came to a conclusion.

When she received Lin Fei's call, she was still at the tutoring center. Her homeroom teacher explained the situation to her on the phone: the police had caught a thief practicing driving at the neighboring driving school, and the students who had lost money were to go to the principal's office to retrieve their money. Jiang Meng rushed to the scene and got her hard-earned money back.

On her way back, Jiang Meng excitedly shared the news with the world. Finally, she naturally told her dear online friends, "I got my money back! You didn't expect that, did you? The long arm of the law will eventually catch up with you."

A replied: "Good job, police officer!"

Jiang Meng laughed: "How can I give it to you?"

A: "Do you really have to pay me back?"

Jiang Meng: "Definitely."

Jiang Meng: "But I only have five hundred. You bought this spot for more than five hundred, right?"

A didn't reply, but instead asked, "Where do you get your tutoring?"

Jiang Meng: Wenlan Road

A: "Okay."

Jiang Meng: "Hmm?"

After a while, A replied: "There's a flower shop at the intersection. Just pass by when you get home from school, and give the money to the owner. Five hundred is fine."

Jiang Meng: "Does your family own this place?"

A: "Yes"

This "yes" answer was suspicious; she always felt that this person was talking nonsense.

Jiang Meng wanted to say yes, but hesitated and didn't reply. Finally, she mustered up her courage and asked, "Can't you just see me?"

A: "The current situation is not very convenient."

Jiang Meng: "You're going to be a senior next semester, right?"

A: "Yeah"

Although she was a little disappointed, Jiang Meng was very understanding: "Okay."

Wenlan Road is an old street, and Jiang Meng happens to go there for meals every day.

That noon, Jiang Meng followed A's instructions and went to the flower shop on the street corner.

The flower shop was quiet, a summer breeze gently caressing the lilies by the door. The owner was inside playing games on the computer. Jiang Meng knocked on the door, and the other person glanced outside before beckoning her in. Jiang Meng clutched the money in her hand, unsure of what to say. They stared at each other for a few seconds, both seemingly waiting for the other to speak. Finally, Jiang Meng spoke first: "I have five hundred yuan here..."

As if they had exchanged a secret code, the boss nodded and held out his hand: "Yes, yes, give it to me."

Jiang Meng handed over the money: "Did someone ask you to meet me?"

The answer was obvious. The shopkeeper took the money, counted it, and said, "Yes."

Jiang Meng looked around at the shop environment.

It was just an ordinary flower shop, nothing special. Her gaze swept over the colorful flower branches, as if searching for something, but there was clearly nowhere for someone to hide, and no indication whatsoever that person could have any connection with this flower shop.

Could it be... this boss?

Jiang Meng's eyes became more alert as she sized up the man's detached demeanor. But then she felt something was off; he was too open and clearly had no interest in knowing anything about her. Jiang Meng continued, "Boss, do you have a son?"

"Yes, I do." The boss put the money into the savings drawer.

Jiang Meng's expression shifted, as if he had found a clue. Just as he was about to ask further questions, his wife came out carrying their son who was sucking on a pacifier.

Jiang Meng: "..."

She paused for a moment, pointed to the drawer, and asked, "Has the person who told you this been here? Did they tell you what the money is for?"

The boss said, "I don't know. I just got a call saying they'll come to pick it up later."

Jiang Meng: "And then, what else did he say?"

The boss's gaze became much more wary as he looked at her, frowning. "What do you mean? A meeting with underground agents? You're not trying to frame me, are you?"

Jiang Meng found it amusing: "You don't even know what the money is for, yet you dare to accept it?"

The shop owner said, "He said he would definitely come. If he really doesn't come, he'll let me take the money and send the flowers to the office of the director of teaching at No. 1 Middle School. He ordered two hundred bouquets to contribute to the cause of teachers."

Jiang Meng lowered her head in thought, then murmured, "Ah, it really is from our school."

"You're from No. 1 Middle School?" The shopkeeper's expression brightened. He took the child from his wife's arms and tried to get closer to the girl in front of him. "Look, a sister from No. 1 Middle School! Little Bao, let's share in the joy and call her 'sister'."

"..."

"Hehe, he can't speak yet."

"………………"

Jiang Meng wasn't in the mood for idle chatter, and quickly asked, "How was his voice?"

The shop owner recalled: "It was a man, very young, with the voice of a young man."

"Does it sound good?"

"It sounds nice, quite clean. He probably doesn't smoke or drink, unlike us old hands."

A strange thought popped into Jiang Meng's mind: "Is it a robot? You know, that kind of mechanical voice that says, 'The number you dialed is currently switched off'?"

The boss was speechless. "What robot? It's a person!!"

Jiang Meng puffed out her cheeks, said "Oh," and then asked absurdly, "So, what do you think he looks like?"

The shopkeeper, holding the child in his arms, gazed into the distance and seriously pondered for a moment: "I'd guess he's tall and thin, probably good-looking. In his late teens or early twenties, around your age—but I'm not sure, can you really tell what someone looks like just by their voice?"

Jiang Meng said "oh" again, then quickly returned to the five hundred yuan: "Thank you. If he doesn't come, just send the flowers as he said. If he does come..."

She really wanted to ask, "Could you help me observe what he looks like?" But she didn't need to specifically ask for that, and besides, the request sounded rather unreasonable. If she didn't have classes in the afternoon, Jiang Meng might have found a nearby spot to wait, but not now. Her afternoon and evening study load was too heavy, and Jiang Meng could still prioritize.

"It's alright, thank you."

Jiang Meng was in a good mood when she returned.

There weren't many students in the tutoring class, less than thirty, and half of them were from No. 1 Middle School.

This tutoring center was recommended to Jiang Meng by Li Shuheng when they had dinner together last time. It was run by a relative of his, and Li Shuheng said that this relative did indeed have very good teaching resources. Despite a barrage of exaggerated advertising claims about college entrance rates, she chose to trust her classmate.

However, Li Shuheng hasn't come over these past few days. He's not taking physics lessons; he's only taking math lessons.

Her phone remained silent all day. The "robot" still wouldn't contact her.

During evening self-study, Jiang Meng finally couldn't help but urge him, "Did you take the money?"

A replied quickly: "Not yet."

Jiang Meng: "If you don't come soon, the flower shop will close down."

About five minutes later.

A: "Can you see the moon?"

Jiang Meng: "What's wrong with the moon?"

A: "The moon is so bright tonight, look!"

Jiang Meng was completely bewildered and looked up at the sky...

All I could see was the ceiling.

She couldn't see the moon from where she was sitting, so Jiang Meng left the classroom.

It's recess time, but everyone is busy doing their homework, and there's hardly anyone in the hallway.

Jiang Meng looked up and found the moon's position, but it was a cloudy day, and the moon was not obvious at all, reluctantly hiding in the clouds and not coming out, even its shadow was very blurry.

Is this what he meant by the moon being very bright?

She planned to give him a good roasting.

Just as Jiang Meng was about to return to the classroom, suddenly, a loud "bang" rang out in mid-air, and the burst of flames made her abruptly look up.

Immediately afterwards, another firework shot into the sky at high speed, its straight line shooting upwards with a "whoosh" before exploding with a loud bang once again.

Jiang Meng stood there, stunned, under the eaves.

Wow, what day is it today?

Is anyone having a birthday?

"Was it placed on the road behind? It looks like it was placed very close by."

"So beautiful!!"

...

People who were bored doing their homework in the classroom poured out and looked up with her, letting the bright light illuminate their eyes.

The exhaustion of everyone eased at this moment, and the lifeless teaching building was awakened by the fireworks.

The fireworks lasted for quite a while.

When Jiang Meng looked down at her phone again, the other party had already left two messages.

A: "Happy Valentine's Day, this is for you."

A: "Be happier, worry less."

Valentine's Day?

Jiang Meng immediately checked the date.

Is it the 14th?

No...

Is it Qixi Festival?

No, that's not true!

Jiang Meng sent a string of question marks: "What kind of Valentine's Day is today? What country are you from??"

A: "As long as you love the right person, every day is Valentine's Day~ Haven't you heard of that?"

A: "I wanted to celebrate with you, so today is the day."

What a load of absurd and twisted logic...

Jiang Meng naturally wanted to say, "We don't seem to have that kind of relationship, do we?"

If he said that, he would just keep going in circles with her.

Forget it, who can beat him?

She smiled with relief and quietly watched the fireworks bloom one after another in the crowd.

Jiang Meng had a gut feeling that he hadn't come to Wenlan Road today.

They really have a clever idea for avoiding showing themselves.

She felt a light, mocking thought to herself, but a satisfied smile graced her face. Although it wasn't a particularly brilliant idea, she genuinely found joy in these little tricks. Jiang Meng opened the calendar page of her planner.

July 28th.

Jiang Meng drew a heart on the calendar.

She will remember this day, a "Valentine's Day" that belongs only to her.