Chapter 27. Will there be a sequel?
The boy became even more nervous, took the can, but didn't dare to actually drink it.
Jiang Shiyan asked, "What is your relationship with her?"
"N-nothing."
"It's okay, why are you blaming her for not giving you her WeChat?"
His eyes, which had been smiling the whole time, finally turned cold.
With a relaxed wrist and a gentle flick of the fingers, the beer bottle, held only by the strength of the fingertips, fell forward, splashing onto the ground and rolling to a stop at the boy's feet.
"Sorry, it was a slip of the hand."
The claim that people who have learned keyboard instruments since childhood have strong finger muscles and great hand strength is utterly untrue.
The boy swallowed hard. Seeing the puddle on the ground, he inexplicably thought of the famous saying, "Take a piss and look in the mirror."
His desire to escape was at its peak, but when he thought about how his family had gone to great lengths to get him into such a large film crew for his internship, the blood rushing to his legs gradually returned to his body.
A society governed by the rule of law, a society governed by the rule of law...
"So, do you want to know what my relationship with her is?"
Seeing the boy look up, Jiang Shiyan chuckled and continued:
“We were high school classmates. Back in school, there were rumors about us dating, and she was terrified. She would avoid me whenever she saw me.”
Moonlight fell on the man's face, revealing his deep-set eyes beneath his brow bone, which held a watery, moonlit glow. Suddenly, the ruthlessness on his face vanished, and a gentle smile appeared in his eyes, but only for a moment.
“I don’t care what others say, and besides, I know she will be with me one day, so it’s not a bad thing to get used to it sooner.”
That was what he originally thought.
As the autumn night grew cool, Jiang Shiyan, immersed in the misty, windy air, suddenly found his thoughts drifting back to the season of late spring and early summer.
On campus, it was a time when people were wearing long coats and people were taking them off at the same time. Jiang Shiyan took off his coat very early. When he went to school, he would occasionally follow Xu Yuewei at a distance. Seeing that she was still wearing long sleeves, he felt hot for her.
That semester, every Tuesday morning, the last physical education class was scheduled at the same time as her class, Grade 11 Class 7, and his class, Grade 12 Class 2.
The physical education teachers of each class led their classes to different areas of the playground for lessons. The boys in their class were taking pull-ups, and the horizontal bar equipment was right under the stands. Jiang Shiyan stood in the back row of the line, waiting idly.
Suddenly, he sensed someone watching him. He looked up and his pupils dilated as he gazed into the distance. When he saw the girl resting on the stands, he couldn't help but smile.
It was his "rumored girlfriend" with whom he hadn't spoken for ages.
He saw her quickly turn her head away, resting her chin on her hand and chatting with the girl next to her about something, a faint smile on her face, no longer looking at him.
Jiang Shiyan watched with an air of nonchalance, making no attempt to conceal the direction of his gaze.
Suddenly, an arm slipped across his shoulder, and a male classmate came over with his arm around his shoulder, teasing him: "Hey, isn't that your girlfriend? I was wondering why so many girls couldn't win you over, turns out you like junior girls!"
His voice was neither too loud nor too soft. Jiang Shiyan frowned and nudged him with his elbow: "Keep your voice down."
The male classmate had been his deskmate for a month. He was the type who didn't do well academically but was very clever. Jiang Shiyan and he were just casual acquaintances, but he thought they were very close.
The classmate lowered his voice, but still couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"Okay, okay, I understand. Are you going to the supermarket to buy 'that' after class? My girlfriend makes me buy it every time she comes back, it's so embarrassing."
Jiang Shiyan paused for a moment, then remained silent.
He knew that if a girl asked for leave without any external injuries, it was usually during her period, which was very common and not a big deal.
To quickly end the conversation, he mumbled an "Mmm".
But the male classmate leaned over and whispered, "Let me tell you, you can observe for a few months. Generally, girls whose periods come regularly also have regular safe periods, which will save you the trouble of buying..."
He let out a sly, malicious laugh.
Just recalling these things makes a burning fire surge from my heart to my head, and even the coldest autumn night can't cool it down.
Jiang Shiyan still remembers that she was wearing a long-sleeved school uniform in that class, and she sat the straightest and looked the best in the stands.
How could anyone look at her like that?
In that instant, he realized what he had done wrong. Guilt and anger took over his actions, and in a moment of impulse, he got into a fight and was punished.
As time passed, he once again thrust her into the limelight, and this time it was even more dangerous.
It can't get out of control anymore, otherwise...
The thought of the message she sent her today disappearing without a trace made Jiang Shiyan feel a tightness in her chest, and she looked at the boy with even more disgust.
“Back then, someone also caused trouble and said some insulting things to her in front of me.”
Jiang Shiyan pointed to the area between his right eyebrow and hairline, "I hit him here, and he needed three stitches."
"Unfortunately, we can't do that anymore."
The boy then understood why he emphasized the rule of law in society, and shrank back, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I really won't do it again!"
Jiang Shiyan glanced at his hand, which was gripping the can and his fingertips were white from pressing it down: "Why aren't you drinking? Don't you like drinking?"
He didn't say anything strange, nor did he lay a hand on anyone.
He was just about to explain it that way when Jiang Shiyan suddenly changed the subject.
How much alcohol does your friend drink?
The boy paused for a moment: "Huh?"
Jiang Shiyan bent down to get a can of wine from the car, opened the bottle, and went over to clink glasses with him.
"Tell me about this person, I'm quite interested."
...
The night deepened, and the foam on the spilled beer surface had completely disappeared. If the first snow had fallen early tonight, this irregular puddle might have frozen over.
Jiang Shiyan picked up the empty can and threw it into the trash can inside the car.
His phone happened to vibrate, so he picked it up and glanced at it.
Mr. Jiang, should we fire this person?
Jiang Shiyan types with one hand: 【No need.】
If someone who so easily betrays their friend's information is left unrestrained, then their conversation tonight will surely be exposed online.
So, not only can't it be opened, he also has to give a slap and a sweet date.
Jiang Shiyan transferred 1,000 yuan: [Give him a cash red envelope, saying it's my treat for drinks.]
It was worth it; he also gained some information.
The boy just explained why he went drinking:
"Actually, I'm quite puzzled too. Xu Yaochen and I were only close when we were in the same class in the first year of high school. I was really envious of him having such an outstanding and beautiful older sister. But I didn't expect him to suddenly ask me out and say that his sister was coming too. I thought he wanted to set us up... Of course, I don't dare to think that way now, really, really."
"After it was over, I left first. They said they would call a designated driver to go home together. I thought they were siblings, so I didn't think much of it. So when I saw the video of her and you trending on social media... I was really surprised. Then I was a little angry, so I posted that Weibo post. After thinking about it, I felt it wasn't good, so I deleted it."
In fact, Jiang Shiyan knew that Xu Yuewei had a younger brother when he was in high school.
One day, just as he was about to leave, he heard an unusually loud door slamming downstairs. He quietly opened the door, leaned over the railing, and peered down. He saw a young boy standing at the door of apartment 501, calling out "Sister" and knocking a few times. When no one answered, the boy lowered his head as if he had done something wrong, paused for a moment, and then went downstairs.
But when he asked her, she didn't tell the truth, so he didn't press her further.
Later, in the early hours of a summer night, the air conditioner in the rented room was old and yellowed, filled with dust. The fan took its place, turned on to the highest setting, stirring up the surging heat and humidity.
The mat was damp with sweat, and we were both drenched in sweat. We huddled together, not feeling hot at all, like two young animals with barely grown fur, relying on each other, each other intertwined.
Jiang Shiyan hadn't withdrawn yet, and he kept touching her head, whispering in her ear if it still hurt. He had been too rough with her and had slammed her head against the headboard.
Xu Yuewei gently shook her head, saying that it hurt more in other places and that his technique was terrible.
Jiang Shiyan teased her a little, and she protested.
After calming down, he said seriously, "When we have a home in the future, we'll put a soft cushion by the bed."
Xu Yuewei stared blankly for a moment, then murmured, "Will that day ever come?"
Jiang Shiyan: "Of course, I've already started making money."
Xu Yuewei snuggled closer to him, feeling his heartbeat, sweat, and the warmth of his skin. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths.
After a while, she suddenly said, "Actually, I have a younger brother, he..."
It was as if he had made a decision, but then stopped halfway through his speech.
"I'll tell you later, I'm so tired."
If I had known there would be no future, I should have pressed them for answers back then.
Jiang Shiyan put a cigarette in his mouth, but didn't light it. He held it tightly in his mouth, venting the emotions that had been frozen inside him.
He misunderstood her; at least the person she was drinking with that night wasn't in that kind of relationship with her.
She felt both relieved and guilty, and unconsciously pondered her brother's name.
Xu Yaochen.
That's a really good name; it makes you want to beat someone to death the moment you hear it.
After spacing out for a while, Jiang Shiyan got into the car and started reviewing messages.
As we all know, netizens are like a giant fish; their memory doesn't last more than seven days.
His affair with Meng Jiao will quietly disappear under the cover of endless gossip.
However, Meng Jiao was affected to some extent. On the surface, the benefits she gained from deliberately creating a CP (couple pairing) were greater, and the backlash from CP fans was even greater after the CP collapsed.
Fortunately, no one has discovered her affair with Zhou Weinian yet, so she can just bear it. In this circle, most harmless gossip will pass if you just tolerate it.
But she was clearly still angry and started harassing him with messages:
[Go ahead and chase after her! Why haven't you caught up yet? Oh, I remember, you got dumped. A good woman doesn't go back to an ex, hahaha!]
Jiang Shiyan replied with a "Get lost" to her.
He exited the chat interface, and above Meng Jiao's profile picture, his only pinned post, was still completely blank.
Only a few posts he made intermittently:
Have you eaten? Aunt Zhang said you ran off on an empty stomach.
"Everything's been taken care of. I'm the one who dragged you into this. Let me treat you to a meal, okay?"
[You won't regret kissing me, will you? I'm serious, and I'm ready to take responsibility anytime.]
*
At this moment, Xu Yuewei was replying to someone else's message.
GaoGao: [Did you receive the package? I see it shows as signed for.]
Xu Yuewei took the package home just as the courier station was closing time, and then Gao Gao's message arrived.
She changed her shoes and replied: 【Just received it, thanks.】
The other person replied with a cute emoji.
While the package was on its way, Xu Yuewei controlled herself from thinking about it, but when she received the book, she didn't dare to open it.
Just like when she was packing her luggage in Guangyang, she didn't feel anything special, but after the plane landed, she had a real sense of being back.
As the saying goes, "One feels timid as one gets closer to home."
She stood there blankly in the entryway for a while, then decided not to open it yet. She opened the cabinet door, arranged the package and shoe box, changed into slippers, and went into the bedroom.
A light blue 24-inch suitcase lay open beside the bed, containing a makeup bag and a few scattered seasonal clothes.
The clothes folded on the bed are waiting for the corrugated cardboard box to be delivered by courier; they'll be packed together and put into the box.
I didn't notice it when I was tidying up, but now that I've walked in, I realize that the clothes she's bought over the years are mostly dark colors. So I dug out a few light-colored or bright-colored pieces from the back of the closet, compared them to myself, and they all fit, some even a bit too big.
Jiang Shiyan's voice suddenly popped into my mind, deep and husky yet gentle and tender.
He said, "You've lost weight."
I can't recall the scene when he said those words, but the sound of his voice still lingers faintly in the gaps of my memory.
Alcohol is really harmful.
The phone rings, a message notification appears; it's clear that there are some people you shouldn't even think about.
[You really don't plan to talk to me anymore? Fine, I have plenty of time to waste.]
See, men's patience is really limited. It hasn't been long since he replied, and his tone already carries a hint of anger.
Xu Yuewei lowered her hand and pressed the lock screen.
But he's right, time is always generous.
But what if she's about to leave the Fog Bridge?
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Author's Note: Hehe [droopy-eared rabbit head]
I've been struggling to find the right words for the last few chapters, so I'm just begging for some nutrient solution! [dog head with rose in hand]
It's almost the end of the month, and some of my nutrient solutions are about to expire. If you adults still like them, please water my plants! [Please][Please][Please]
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