Chapter 27 A precious heart should be kept in one's chest

This New Year was very awkward for me, a senior in high school.

Because Jiang Meng is going to see Jiang Su again.

The Lunar New Year is a time for family reunion. Although Jiang Su may have several homes, he still needs to come back to make a show of it until his divorce certificate with Ye Zhaoxu is issued. In layman's terms, he is still the head of the household and therefore still has the right to preside over the New Year.

They ate together and put up couplets, but Jiang Meng no longer lingered at the harmonious dinner table, nor did she call him "Dad" anymore. The plan she swore as a child to never speak to them again would probably really be carried out from now on.

Jiang Su disliked her behavior and, unable to bear it any longer, knocked on her door, saying he wanted to talk to her.

Jiang Meng said she didn't want to talk.

On the Lantern Festival, Jiang Meng felt uneasy amidst the festive atmosphere. Feeling lost, she sent Xie Zhu a message, not knowing what to say, so she just casually started with: "Did you go to the orphanage with Su Yu last week?"

Xie Zhuo: "Hmm"

Jiang Meng: "Has she stamped it yet?"

Xie Zhuo: "It's covered."

Xie Zhuo asked again, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Meng: "It's nothing, just checking in."

She worked on a test for a while, and a very difficult math problem made her scratch her head.

Jiang Meng wasn't in the mood, so she picked up her phone again and sent a message to Chen Jizhou: "No one's home."

A few minutes later, Chen Jizhou replied, "Come to South District 3, I'll cook for you."

Jiang Meng's expression instantly softened. She smiled, put down her phone, and immediately got up to grab her coat.

When she came downstairs, she excitedly called him: "Can you cook?"

The voice on the other end lazily retorted, "What do you think?"

Jiang Meng laughed and said, "I don't think you can do it. You're a pampered old man who never lifts a finger!"

He seemed to chuckle softly, a faint sound emanating from the receiver.

Chen Jizhou said, "The first time is very important, and I need your support and witness."

Jiang Meng said, "Wow, this is such a ritual! Even something as simple as cooking has to be recorded for the first time."

"The main thing is to provide support. If I accidentally burn down the kitchen, you can save my life."

Jiang Meng laughed and asked him, "Will we still be able to buy groceries tonight?"

He said casually, "If I can't buy any, I'll go begging next door and borrow a few. I won't let you go hungry."

Jiang Meng arrived at his home satisfied.

"Is Teacher Wang not here?"

She walked inside, took off her hat and scarf, and peered in with her bright eyes, glancing around slightly.

"Going to play cards."

It was warmer inside, so Chen Jizhou wore a black sweater. He opened the door for Jiang Meng and then turned and went back to the kitchen. The sleeves of his sweater were rolled up to his arms, and his hands, which were still wet from washing vegetables, were wet. He went back and turned off the tap. Jiang Meng watched as he took the drained vegetables out of the basket and placed them on the cutting board, his movements quite practiced. She didn't know if it was really his first time cooking, but Chen Jizhou rarely showed any signs of panic when doing anything. He seemed to be born with ease, exuding only the weariness and tranquility of the night.

Chen Jizhou didn't say that it was actually him who sent her grandfather away. With elders around, she inevitably became reserved, showing a forced smile and engaging in forced small talk, unable to relax and be at ease at all.

She rarely has a moment to relax.

He didn't want to see her like this.

Jiang Meng didn't have many life skills; she didn't even know where to turn on the gas, but she wanted to help him out.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Jizhou saw her peeling potatoes with a fruit knife. Her movements were stiff, and she had no support in her hands. The potato skins were practically being scraped off piece by piece. This was dangerous, so he immediately grabbed her wrist. Meeting Jiang Meng's curious expression, Chen Jizhou couldn't help but laugh: "Do you cause such a commotion at home?"

Jiang Meng was stunned for a moment.

She thought he was going to say the next second: No wonder they all hate you.

However, Chen Jizhou did not say such a thing.

He put down the knife from her hand, looked down at her, and his deep breath lingered behind her ear, seemingly mixed with a hint of indulgent laughter, as if he found her scatterbrained and amusing: "I wish I had a daughter like you."

Jiang Meng stopped doing anything and speaking.

Chen Jizhou turned his back again, adding oil to the fire. Aside from the sizzling sound of the oil in the pan, she heard him say, "Jiang Meng, how about I be your father in the next life?"

The emphasis in Chen Jizhou's name is on the character "I".

Amidst the lively atmosphere, she raised an eyebrow: "Why do you boys always have this peculiar obsession with being called 'Dad'?"

After she finished speaking, she didn't bother to listen to his reply and quickly slipped out.

After dinner, Jiang Meng saw some pictures of Lantern Festival activities at scenic spots on her phone; the venues were quite beautifully decorated.

She suggested, "Let's release some river lanterns."

Chen Jizhou agreed to her request.

They walked there, talking as they went, and it was a long way.

She talked to him about her favorite movies, anime, historical figures, and books.

Coincidentally, he liked everything she liked.

She couldn't explain it; perhaps it was due to his extensive knowledge, or perhaps it was a kind of fate?

On the way, Chen Jizhou saw a stray kitten. He liked cats, so he stopped there and interacted with it for a while.

Jiang Meng was afraid that stray cats would bite, so she stood behind him and watched. She didn't have the urge to touch them, but asked curiously, "You like cats and dogs so much, have you ever thought about raising one yourself?"

“I won’t keep one,” Chen Jizhou said, squatting there petting the cat with his back to her, in a very irreverent yet serious tone, “I’m going to roam the world.”

What do pets symbolize? They represent the bonds that cannot be taken away, and the love that remains.

He cannot leave home with ties to his family; he cannot leave his love behind. Undoubtedly, this would affect his poetic life of wandering the world.

“It doesn’t bite,” Chen Jizhou said in a tone that suggested he knew the kitten intimately, then turned to look at Jiang Meng, “Would you like to pet it?”

She shook her head, still resting her chin on her hand as she offered him advice: "Then you can support him after you get married. Getting married will definitely settle you down."

The slender fingers of the young man brushed against the kitten's chin, pausing slightly upon hearing those words.

He said, "I'm not getting married."

Although it was premature for them to discuss such topics at their age, his assertive tone startled her. Jiang Meng hadn't expected such an answer and stammered, instinctively asking why.

"Nobody likes me, so I can't get married."

Chen Jizhou stood up, looking over with a smile in his eyes, "Being alone is fine too. I don't like being trapped."

Nobody likes him? Is he joking? She couldn't understand him. He was always so nonchalant, it was hard to tell if he was telling the truth or lying.

Jiang Meng wanted to ask why.

However, Chen Jizhou had already gotten up and found a place to wash his hands.

Jiang Meng and he released river lanterns in the moat of the ancient street. Suddenly, she had a whimsical idea and found an advertising paper. She folded it into a paper boat and let it float down the river naturally with the current.

She said that she folded many paper boats when she was a child, but never launched them, wanting to test how far they could float. She was mentally prepared for the paper to get damp and sink to the bottom of the river, but the accident did not happen.

Finally, it really did flow a long way, and under the cover of the lights, with its unstoppable speed, it quickly disappeared from her sight.

She watched them go with a heart full of blessings, yet couldn't hide her sorrow, wondering if the little boat that wanders the world would ever return.

Jiang Meng couldn't come up with an answer. Looking at the person behind her, Chen Jizhou had been quietly watching her. The first thing she said when she turned around was, "Mom and Dad are getting a divorce."

Before he could say anything, Jiang Meng immediately tried to save face: "Don't think I'm pathetic. I'm actually quite happy."

Chen Jizhou remained calm: "Why would I feel sorry for you? I'd rather congratulate you."

He smiled and looked at her with genuine congratulations, saying, "It shows that everything in the past is meaningless. The love and happiness that happened are over and done with. You don't need to keep thinking about those rights and wrongs, or getting hung up on this and that."

Chen Jizhou used his fingers to scrape away a speck of dust from between her eyebrows. Only when his knuckles felt cold did he realize that it wasn't dust, but a snowflake.

He leaned slightly closer, stared into her eyes, and said with a half-smile, "Think more about yourself from now on, and stop being so melancholy all the time."

He scraped the snow off his knuckles and gently tapped her forehead, as if hoping she would remember his words.

Snow fell from the sky.

Jiang Meng blinked, and one or two of her eyelashes turned white.

He could always stand before her so calmly, his face saying: What is there to be unhappy about? Life clearly has so many solutions. He could mend and patch things up for another three years, and even when he was penniless, he could still go out begging for alms. So what if you want a divorce? It's not like you're the one who's leaving—if you were, that would be even better; after living half a lifetime, you could still find a new spring. How many people in this world have that kind of luck?

Just as she was about to agree to his request, she suddenly heard a faint cracking sound behind her ear.

Jiang Meng was slightly startled by the sound, and then her hair fell loose.

It was because her old hair tie broke out of place.

The rope was too short to tie a knot, so Jiang Meng walked with him for a while with her hair down. It wasn't a big deal, and she wasn't too insistent on tying her hair back up. But as she stood there, a thought suddenly arose in her mind, so urgent that it was almost bursting out. If it wasn't fulfilled, she would regret it immensely in the future.

Jiang Meng asked, "Chen Jizhou, do you know how to tie hair?"

He didn't say anything, but he seemed a little confused.

She said, "I can't see the back, so I can never tie it properly. Could you help me comb it?"

He hesitated for only two seconds, and although he was hesitant, Chen Jizhou did not refuse her request. There happened to be a convenience store nearby, so he went in and bought a hair tie and a comb.

Jiang Meng tilted her head slightly to make it easier for him to stand higher. She looked up and saw the somber ancient tree, a bitter chinaberry that was out of season. Its lush branches and leaves were blocking the flying snow, allowing them to hold onto a last moment of warmth amidst the bitter cold.

"Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt. Press harder, or it won't be tight enough."

She had barely finished speaking when a hissing sound came from her ear as a hair snapped off, so softly it was almost silent.

Chen Jizhou seemed to have made a terrible mistake. His hand paused noticeably, and he said quickly and awkwardly, "I broke one. I'm sorry."

Jiang Meng smiled and immediately turned her eyes to catch his expression.

She could almost see him looking embarrassed when he made mistakes as a child.

Unfortunately, this person was no longer in a sorry state. He became more and more experienced as he lived, and he could handle anything with ease. Nothing could stump him.

Unexpectedly, in the end, I was defeated by a single hair.

"Does it really not hurt?" he asked earnestly.

"It hurts so much, but I'm forcing a smile, okay!"

"Then I'll be gentler."

He was so careful that he even lowered his voice.

Jiang Meng couldn't help but laugh to herself.

He was so careful, afraid of hurting her, until his slightly cold fingertips brushed against her scalp. She stopped laughing, because her heart skipped a beat.

Jiang Meng suddenly felt her heart racing.

It wasn't panic, tension, fear, or the suspension bridge effect.

This is a purely physiological reaction that occurs when he gets close.

Perhaps, it should be attributed to being moved.

How can this subtle and obscure perception be described?

If someone were to ask her to deliver a love letter to Chen Jizhou now, Jiang Meng would definitely refuse.

It's not about saving face, it's about being true to your feelings.

She developed an inappropriate possessiveness towards her friend.

"See if this works for you."

Jiang Meng stood up; whether she could do it or not didn't matter.

However, Chen Jizhou was quite satisfied. He stepped back and took a closer look.

"Not bad for my level. Looks like I have a talent for styling." Chen Jizhou crossed his arms, staring at her round and pretty head, admiring her with a good mood. "I'll tell my mom the good news, she won't starve to death."

He became proud again.

Jiang Meng forced a smile: "Okay, I'll get my hair and styling done by you from now on, and give me a discount!"

Chen Jizhou looked at her and smiled.

Despite the heavy snow, she felt as if she had been scalded.

Jiang Meng immediately avoided his smile and walked forward, feeling the rise and fall of her chest.

She let her heartbeat slowly return to normal in the wind.

That day in Yunzhu, she didn't want to cry at all, but when she said to the tree hollow in the valley, "I have an all-powerful friend, and I want him to stay by my side," tears would involuntarily flow down her face.

She can't speak loudly.

She cannot hinder others from flying.

Jiang Meng doesn't want to grow up at all.

Growing up is disheartening.

She didn't know what example to use to prove that the world is eternal.

Yet, she always possesses an incredibly clear perception of how to interact with people, which gives her the strength to resist the curse of "everything has a beginning, but few things have an end."

She didn't want to be foolish enough to ask: Are we going to be best friends forever?

A precious heart should be kept in one's chest.

Jiang Meng walked ahead, her back to Chen Jizhou, and asked him, "When are you leaving?"

His voice drifted to her ear along with the snow: "If all goes well, in July."

"So early..."

Jiang Meng walked a few steps quietly, then suddenly stopped.

She saw something.

Chen Jizhou followed her gaze and saw a car parked at the entrance of the alley with its hazard lights on.

There was only this one car here, seemingly waiting for them to pass.

He couldn't see the license plate, but he could tell whose car it was from Jiang Meng's panicked expression. After a few seconds of thinking about whether she didn't want to see the car, Chen Jizhou quickened his pace and walked in front of her.

Jiang Su got out of the car.

Chen Jizhou went over and greeted him politely, "Happy New Year, Uncle."

Jiang Su looked at him, then glanced at Jiang Meng behind him, and asked Chen Jizhou, "Didn't you spend the holiday at home?"

"Let's go for a walk."

Jiang Su nodded, not intending to exchange excessive pleasantries, and simply said, "It's so late, don't wander around outside. You should go home and rest early too."

You should go back and rest early too.

The intention behind this sentence is quite clear: he plans to take Jiang Meng away.

As expected, after speaking, Jiang Su looked at the girl who was hiding behind him and called out to her in a deep voice, "Jiang Meng."

Jiang Meng refused to move forward any further.

Jiang Su planned to bypass Chen Jizhou and pull her away.

But he didn't expect that the boy in front of him would raise his hand to stop him.

Chen Jizhou held his arm out in front of him and told him, "I will take her back."

Jiang Su frowned and asked, "What?"

He wasn't unaware of what was happening; he was simply surprised by the standoff and struggle before him.

Chen Jizhou repeated, slowly and deliberately, "I said, I will take her back."

Chen Jizhou has many ways to deal with people he doesn't like: he can ignore them, retaliate, throw them into the river, or simply tell them to get lost.

But he is Jiang Meng's father, so there's nothing he can do.

He stood in front of the other person.

The elder, who seemed superior to him, looked at him with a puzzled yet condescending gaze, almost ready to use his parental authority to pressure him at any moment. But Chen Jizhou did not back down, his eyes did not waver even slightly. The only thing he could do was to quietly look at him, block him, and then say firmly, "Please don't hurt her anymore."

As Jiang Meng watched Chen Jizhou's retreating figure, she felt for the first time that he was like a broad and solid wall, building a gentle yet stable boundary for her all these years.

She belatedly came to understand the true feelings hidden beneath the jokes.

In the next life, I'll be your father.

I will definitely love you well.