Chapter 94
He said he would take her home, but the two of them walked around the mall for a while, waiting for the rain to stop. They chatted as they walked along the long road until they reached her apartment building.
"Shall I go up first?" she looked up.
Chen Zhoujing nodded: "Go on up."
Jian Sheng frowned, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment: "I really went up?"
"Okay." Chen Zhoujing didn't try to stop her, but just waited for her to go upstairs.
Jian Sheng turned around and took two steps, then turned back: "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
Chen Zhou raised his right eyebrow, a hint of helplessness in his eyes: "Can you even speak?"
She didn't say anything, but took a few steps forward, stood in front of him, and before he could react, she put her arms around him.
In just one second, he let go.
"Welcome back." With that, she turned and hurried upstairs.
Chen Zhoujing stood downstairs for a while before he realized what was happening when a message came in on his phone.
He squeezed the back of his neck with his hot palm, then took out his phone from his pocket.
Go home and get some rest. Goodnight.
Chen Zhou glanced at the time; it was 9:30 PM.
It was still early, so he replied with a goodnight message. He didn't stay long before leaving the residential area, walking back to the mall along the same route, and then driving back to Linglong Residential Area.
When Li Jing returned, he saw him sitting on the carpet, lost in thought.
He turned around and took another look at the living room.
"She came here?"
Chen Zhou glanced at him in surprise: "You came in without making a sound?"
"You're just too engrossed in your own thoughts," Li Jing chuckled. "You can move into the house in Xiqi next week."
"Are you sure you don't want to come to Beilu with me?" He put the clothes he was carrying on the sofa, took two cans of beer from the shopping bag he had just bought, and placed them on the coffee table. He glanced at Chen Zhoujing's drooping head. "Jiangzhou's resources and platform are not as good as Beilu's right now. If you insist on staying here, it will take many times more time and energy, and it's not stable either. Traveling around all the time will inevitably lead to conflicts..."
"They are not together."
"?" Li Jing opened his mouth, speechless. "You're not together, but you stayed downstairs at that girl's place all night, and you even had to take a shower at her place before coming back. She's already taken a big step towards you, and you say you're not together. If someone hears that, they'll be furious, Chen Zhoujing."
"How can someone be so stupid?"
Chen Zhou frowned in surprise and turned his head, saying, "I haven't officially confessed yet."
"..." Li Jing understood what he meant, "If you haven't confessed, then you're not considered a couple, right?"
"Hmm." He nodded.
"Didn't you also confess your feelings to Sister Qin first before you got together?"
“We’re different.” Li Jing sighed and patted him on the shoulder. “She was introduced to me by my uncle. We’ve only known each other for two years, while you and she have known each other since your student days.”
"It has nothing to do with the length of time. What kind of relationship is it if she doesn't even confess her feelings? She has no sincerity, so why should she be with me..."
"You don't object anymore?" Chen Zhou asked suddenly.
Li Jing took a breath: "I've never objected. I'm just considering things from your perspective. As long as you like it, that's fine. Besides, I think she really likes you."
"I have to admit, I used to think she was a nuisance to you..."
Li Jing, holding the wine bottle, bumped it against Chen Zhoujing's: "From the moment you carried her into the infirmary, I saw how anxious and flustered you were."
"Then, when you started to revolve around her, your emotions became much more stable and you became much more cheerful."
"After that, I found that with her around, you wouldn't do anything to hurt yourself. My impression of her changed because of that. I admit I had my own selfish motives. I don't like things that are bad for you, but I found that she really is different."
“I went to Beilu after thinking about it for a long time. Seeing that you were in a better mood because of her, I felt much more at ease.”
"But to be honest, I hated her because of what happened to her father."
Li Jing stopped.
“It has nothing to do with her,” Chen Zhou exclaimed in surprise.
"I knew you were going to say that. I know it has nothing to do with her, but selfishly, I feel she's affecting you..."
"Later, when I saw that during your time abroad, because of your aunt and this incident, you relied entirely on this relationship to get by. Seeing you desperately climbing up the ladder, I realized that her influence on you was enormous."
"After thinking about it for a while, I realized that she has many similarities to you, and I also understand why you like her."
“I’m also reflecting on how much influence family has on a person who is still growing. At that age, we can’t think about so many things.”
"She has her reasons, and you have yours."
"At this stage, we can no longer go back and recount the past, or use that past to lock away our present selves."
"Some relationships are rare. Since both parties are interested, let's not delay any longer."
"Whether you say you like me or want to confess your feelings."
"Don't be afraid of rejection; don't let your straightforward feelings become convoluted."
Li Jing knew him quite well. He was always very careful when facing Jian Sheng, and he would think for a long time before confessing his feelings, for fear that something might go wrong.
Whether it was when I checked my scores or now.
I always think a lot.
Chen Zhou smiled and clinked glasses with him.
The two sat on the carpet and chatted, just like Li Jing had always done for him.
Year after year, time flies, and I've reached the age where I can get married.
*
Jian Sheng was driving Aunt Yang crazy; not replying to her messages was impolite.
Every day at the appointed time, Aunt Yang would send her a greeting.
Tell her to add that guy on WeChat.
No matter how many times I tell you I have a boyfriend, it won't work.
Finally, the boy added her again.
Jian Sheng was about to refuse when he clicked on the box and saw Yanjiang No. 7 Middle School, along with a familiar name.
Zhou Xiang?
This person......
She couldn't remember for a moment, so she glanced at the introduction.
Hello: My name is Zhou Xiang. I'm a student in Class 19 of Yanjiang No. 7 Middle School. We've met before. I'm not currently planning on dating. Let's add each other on WeChat to keep things casual. Thank you.
Jian Sheng clicked "approved".
Zhou Xiang... the more I think about it, the more familiar it seems, but I just can't quite remember it.
After connecting with her via WeChat, he invited her to a coffee shop.
After sending out the message of rejection, he sent another message saying "Let's catch up with old classmates."
Out of politeness, she accepted the invitation.
The location is a coffee shop near the Xiqi Commercial Building, and it's not very crowded on holidays.
When Jian Sheng arrived, the others were already seated inside.
White short-sleeved shirt, black jeans, and black sneakers.
She's dressed very neatly; from behind, she looks like a college student.
Only when Jian Sheng got closer did he realize who this person was.
When Zhou Xiang saw her, his eyes lit up slightly: "Long time no see, Jian Sheng. I wonder if you still remember me. I used to come to your class often to look for Zhao Chengyang."
“I remember, Zhou Xiang.”
"Please sit down. What would you like to drink?" He handed her his phone.
Jian Sheng casually ordered a latte.
"You've grown your hair long?" Zhou Xiang placed the order and put away her phone.
Jian Sheng nodded. She had never spoken to him, but she had seen him many times, and he had changed quite a bit.
"I'm so sorry, but my mom kept urging Aunt Yang, so..."
"It's alright, getting to know each other is like an old classmate reunion." Jian Sheng smiled slightly, her eyes unconsciously drifting over his wrist.
She then moved away, unsure of what to say, but the other person was quite talkative and didn't let any words get to the ground.
"Yeah, I haven't kept in touch with my old classmates much lately. I only had drinks with Zhao Chengyang a while ago. He's doing pretty well now. He got a startup subsidy and started his own company in the semiconductor industry. He's incredibly busy. We only get to see each other twice a year..."
"You've probably heard about his family situation. Now that he's achieved so much, his parents are much better off. Last time I visited, they even asked us two young people to look after him, telling me to take good care of Zhao Chengyang and remind him not to forget to eat no matter how busy he is. They even packed a bunch of things for me when I left..."
"Oh, and Xu Yanghe, I don't know what he's doing now. I heard he didn't do well on the college entrance exam and went to another province, and now he's working there..."
"His deskmate seems to be Chen Zhoujing."
Are you still with Chen Zhoujing?
Jian Sheng hadn't expected him to mention Chen Zhoujing. After a moment's thought, he shook his head and then nodded.
"Is this still unclear? Still in the testing phase?" Zhou Xiang was more direct and clear. "You've been together for so many years, and you still think you've lost contact?"
"I wonder what he's doing now."
Zhou Xiang's gaze lingered on Jian Sheng's silent face. After thinking for a moment, he changed the subject.
After the fight between Chen Zhoujing and Qian Xiao, he basically faded from the sight of the people of Yanjiang No. 7 Middle School. After that, it was said that he went abroad and there was no news of him since.
When he learned from Aunt Yang a couple of days ago that his blind date was Jian Sheng, he asked for her WeChat without hesitation.
I also learned that she has a boyfriend, so I just asked that question.
But judging from her reaction...
Suspended.
The two talked for a long time, mostly Zhou talking about things from the past.
I also know quite a bit about the people in Class 13.
For as long as they talked, Chen Zhoujing watched from outside.
It went on until the sky outside turned a dark purple.
He lit a cigarette, his face grim, and leaned against the car door.
Wait for the coffee shop door to open from the inside.
Jian Sheng politely declined Zhou Xiang's offer to take her home and walked back alone.
The lights at the entrance of the building were very bright, and she saw Chen Zhoujing at a glance as she walked over.
Jian Sheng felt a chill in her heart and looked back at the coffee shop not far behind her.
She and Zhou Xiang sat by the window, where the warm yellow light inside at night made it easy to see outside.
She squeezed her phone, stood there for a moment, and then walked towards him again.
Chen Zhoujing was waiting for her.
Waiting for her to walk up to me.
He said in a simple voice, "What are you doing here?"
"Not allowed?" His voice was cold, making people uncomfortable.
She didn't feel guilty and simply said "Oh".
He turned to leave, but Chen Zhoujing grabbed him.
"Where are you going?" he asked, frowning.
Jian Sheng turned her head and said, "Are you going to stay here just to see what you think?"
After a brief standoff, Chen Zhou laughed in surprise: "I was wrong."
"Get in the car." His hand slid down her arm to her palm, and he led her to the passenger seat.
Once he was in the car, his expression softened: "Who was that just now?"
“Zhou Xiang, a high school classmate, works in the same building as me,” Jian said in a low voice.
Chen Zhoujing had no recollection of it.
“The one who committed suicide,” Jian Sheng added.
He lifted his eyelids.
I remember now. Before the college entrance exam, I heard that someone at the school had jumped off a building. I was so anxious that I didn't have time to buy a ticket and took a taxi directly back to Jiangzhou.
"he......"
“We’re from the same town. The last time I went back for my dad’s funeral, her mom probably found out about me through that old lady who was wailing.”
“He doesn’t seem interested in dating either,” Jian Sheng said, looking at him. “He told the truth.”
"What else do you want me to say?"
Chen Zhoujing just stared at her in the dimly lit car, at a distance where he could almost hear her heartbeat.
His gaze, filled with aggression, traveled from her long, smooth, black hair to her beautiful, unbearable eyes, and finally to her slightly parted red lips.
"Why are you looking at me again?" Jian said in a low voice.
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