Chapter 21: Heat Vents I am rooted, but I flow. …
After Xiang Li was discharged from the hospital after the swelling on her ankle subsided, she made a video call to Zheng Yi. She felt that children should be respected and should be told what they should know, whether it was her own business or Jiang Haoxiang's.
She didn't beat around the bush and simply told the story of Jiang Haoxiang and Jiang Cheng's quarrel.
On the other end of the phone, Zheng Yi said anxiously: "I'll book a flight and be right back."
"What are you doing back? Coming back to cause more trouble? I think the most important thing right now is stability before the college entrance exam. If you come back and your emotions fluctuate, will it help her or affect her?"
Zheng Yi was clearly frustrated. "Does she really hate me? She had such a big fight with her dad this time, and I wasn't even there for her."
Xiang Li was silent on the other end, feeling that her son was truly annoying. He usually looked smart, but when faced with difficulties, he became stupid. She didn't directly call him stupid, but instead played it straight: "Zheng Yi, do you like Jiang Haoxiang?"
Zheng Yi didn't hesitate at all: "Yes."
Xiang Li fell silent for a moment, pinching his brow. He felt that this was to be expected, but when it came to the surface, it was still a bit complicated. After a moment, he continued, "Zheng Yi, it seems Jiang Hao doesn't hate you. He likes you."
…
…
Those three words, echoing across thousands of miles, made Zheng Yi feel as if he had escaped gravity and was floating in mid-air. He suspected an electric current had exploded in his ears, and now his heart was pounding with fear.
Yes, I like you. I like you. I like you.
He couldn't believe it. But he also felt that this was how it should be!
During this period, Jiang Haoxiang replied to his messages less and less frequently, and her tone became more concise. Zheng Yi was actually feeling nervous and depressed, like a fan that couldn't turn.
Zheng Yi wondered what he had done to anger her, and he was distraught. He hated himself for being across the ocean, for not being the captain of an ocean-going vessel. He remembered how he had acted like a resentful husband, secretly checking An Fengyang's various social media accounts, hoping to find some clues. Finally, he asked An Fengyang indirectly about her recent situation.
An Fengyang was frank, saying he had confessed his feelings to Jiang Haoxiang and that he was willing to wait until she went to college. But Jiang Haoxiang sternly rejected him. At the time, he'd assumed Jiang Haoxiang was too focused on her studies or simply didn't have feelings for An Fengyang. Now he realized the wall he'd been standing in front of was made of paper. All his previous jealousy had been for nothing.
An indescribable ecstasy rushed over his head, electrifying his whole body.
Zheng Yi couldn't help it after all.
The flight didn't go directly, so he had to transfer in Hong Kong, a total of nineteen hours. While waiting at the Hong Kong airport, he remembered that Jiang Haoxiang had loved eating a certain brand of Hong Kong egg rolls when she was a child. Since he was already here, he saw that he had enough time, so he took a taxi and went straight to the store, queuing up to buy a few boxes. After returning to the airport with the egg rolls, he looked at the boxes in his hand and thought, since he had bought something, it would be impossible to hide it from Xiang Li. He sent Xiang Li a message, saying that he had bought some things for his family and asked her to help cover up and say that she bought them.
"Mom, I passed by Hong Kong and bought some things for you and Haoxiang. I left them at home. Tell Haoxiang that you bought them. Don't tell her that I'm back."
Xiang Li was shocked and asked Zheng Yi why he returned to China. Zheng Yi promised that it would not affect Jiang Haoxiang and gave a high-sounding reason - he was worried about Xiang Li's injury.
Xiang Li sneered on the phone.
Having solved the problem of where to get the gifts, Zheng Yi felt freer. He simply started buying Jiang Haoxiang a lot of things, including clothes, shoes, headphones, snacks, and even three thermos bottles.
Xiang Li came home from work and saw three large bags piled in the corner of the living room. He walked over, looked through them, and rolled his eyes speechlessly. His ability to cover his ears and steal the bell hadn't changed at all since he was a child.
Zheng Yi's logic was simple: Xiang Li was afraid he would affect Jiang Hao's mood before the college entrance exam. That was easy, wouldn't he just prevent Jiang Hao from knowing he was back?
So, like a thief, he stood at the door watching Jiang Haoxiang walk out of school, then slowly go to the cafeteria to eat, then go back to the dormitory. On the way back to the dormitory, he even stopped at the canteen to buy a bag of coconut candy. He didn't notice at all that there was a tall, suspicious person wearing a hoodie, a hat, and a mask standing in the shade of the tree.
Zheng Yi wrapped himself up so tightly that Xiang Li could barely recognize him. Hiding in the distance, he watched her daily actions, feeling a surge of satisfaction. He felt that he really had the potential to be a pervert, and that being able to secretly observe Jiang Haoxiang like this was quite satisfying.
He stayed in the country for less than six hours in total. Fortunately, he bought a direct flight ticket for the return trip, which only took eleven hours.
Before leaving, his anger towards Jiang Cheng continued. Unsatisfied, he went to the supermarket and bought a kitchen knife. He secretly went to Jiang's house, disassembled the knife, and left it outside the door. Only after he had done so did he leave. He was a man who kept his achievements and fame to himself.
Just as the gardenias began to bloom, it was Jiang Haoxiang's last day for the college entrance exam. Zheng Yi had already taken care of his school affairs and boarded his flight back home, this time with a legitimate reason. He had received high scores on several projects in the Department of Architecture that semester, and a concept design he had participated in even won a prize in a small competition. The sense of accomplishment and confidence he gained in his professional field gave him a sense of confidence.
He calculated the time and waited outside Jiang Haoxiang's examination room, which was crowded with parents and reporters.
The students filed out. Something unexpected happened. A male candidate, perhaps suffering a breakdown from a poor performance, suddenly went berserk at the entrance to the exam room, crying and shouting, yanking at those passing by. Several students, fresh out of the exam room, were startled and hurriedly moved away. Jiang Haoxiang happened to be not far from him.
Zheng Yi was almost scared to death, and rushed in without thinking. As soon as he took a step——
Jiang Haoxiang calmly blocked the boy's hand, took a few steps back to a safe distance, and ran into another group of people, away from the center of trouble.
Zheng Yi's rush to the front faltered. A complex emotion replaced him. He'd expected relief, but instead, it felt like guilt. During his absence, she had quietly grown into a more powerful persona than he'd ever known. She wasn't some princess passively awaiting rescue. Jiang Haoxiang quickly spotted Zheng Yi at the edge of the crowd. She smiled and walked quickly towards him.
"Why are you back? Where's Aunt Xiang Li?"
"I didn't ask my mom to come. I came to pick you up myself. How did you do on the exam?"
"Not bad." Jiang Haoxiang smiled.
Zheng Yi took her to dinner. After ordering the dishes, Zheng Yi couldn't help but ask: "Did you miss me?"
Jiang Haoxiang didn't answer immediately.
Zheng Yi pressed on, "Have you thought about it?"
Jiang Haoxiang raised his eyes and looked at him: "It's no use thinking about it."
Zheng Yi was a little anxious: "Why is it useless! Jiang Haoxiang, do you like me?"
Jiang Haoxiang was silent for a long time. Zheng Yi ignored her and continued, "I miss you very much. I like you very much, Jiang Haoxiang. I want to be with you. I want to be with you forever. I can make way for you no matter what. Will you be with me?"
When Zheng Yi felt like he was about to suffocate, Jiang Haoxiang looked at him and smiled: "I like you too. I do, Brother Zheng Yi."
Zheng Yi felt like he was thrown into the clouds. He was flying everywhere, surrounded by rainbows and sunshine. He couldn't wait to express his loyalty: "I have liked you for a long time, really, much earlier than you think!"
Jiang Haoxiang tilted his head and asked, "What's up with that photo of you with the girl on Instagram? And the 99 comments below it?"
Zheng Yi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "That was really a group photo after our group project. The 99 at the bottom wasn't for me. Turn the page, the second photo is a solo photo of her and another girl. The 99 was a blessing for them both! How could it be for me?"
Jiang Haoxiang nodded, but it was unclear whether he believed it or not.
Zheng Yi was even more anxious and grabbed her hand directly: "Hurry up and tell me, are there any other misunderstandings? Is there anything I haven't explained clearly? I will explain everything to you bit by bit. Jiang Haoxiang, I have only liked you and have always liked you. I treat you as my treasure and will always treasure you. I like you so much that I am almost dying. When I graduate in a year, I will return to China to find a job and rent an apartment near your school. From now on, wherever you go, I will be there."
Jiang Hao wanted to see his anxious look, so she smiled again and shook his hand back: "Okay, I know. I like you too."
Zheng Yi felt relieved, and the urge to show off came back. He leaned in closer and asked, "What about you? When did you start liking me?"
Jiang Hao thought for a moment and said, "I think I was six years old. Didn't I say at that time that I wanted to marry you?"
Zheng Yi suddenly realized. Yes, Jiang Haoxiang had always been perceptive. So perceptive that she couldn't deceive herself. She had sensed that emotion earlier. It was he, on the other hand, who had been going around in circles, doubting himself, and deceiving himself for so long.
He was uneasy from beginning to end, wanting nothing more than Jiang Haoxiang's complete and sincere heart. And Jiang Haoxiang might have already given him that sincere heart without reservation when he sent that gust of wind on that sultry night when he was six years old.
Zheng Yi looked at her so close, his heart softening. He suddenly leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. They separated immediately.
Jiang Hao was stunned, then blushed. Suddenly, she remembered Xiang Li's question to her in the hospital that day: "Do you like your brother Zheng Yi?"
She asked at the time: “Can I like it?”
Although she already knew that Xiang Li's "No, that's not possible" was because Jiang Cheng had a big fight with her a few days ago, accusing her of raising Jiang Haoxiang as a child bride. Xiang Li was worried that any attitude she took would encourage Jiang Haoxiang to think in that direction. She couldn't fuel the flames. Although Jiang Haoxiang already knew, she still asked this question: Can I like her?
Can I?
Xiang Li hugged her tightly and said, "It doesn't matter what you like. You can like whoever you want. The world is so big, you are free."
Jiang Hao almost burst into tears and said, "I don't want this kind of freedom."
Xiang Li looked at her tenderly: “Baby, you have roots, but you can flow.”
Yes, I am rooted, but I flow.
Jiang Haoxiang usually stayed in the dorm, occasionally returning to her home. Although she often visited Xiang Li, she didn't really have many clothes. She wore only short-sleeved shirts. The temperature was so strange, it suddenly and without warning plummeted from 30°C to 13°C. It was outrageous. Jiang Haoxiang woke up freezing cold, and she didn't want to go back home. Zheng Yi's return had already put her in a wonderful mood, and she didn't want to have her good mood interrupted.
Xiang Li's own coats were very business-like, and Zheng Yi was afraid Jiang Hao would catch a cold, so he hurried back to his room to find her a coat. He had two identical coats, one he was wearing and the other he had just found.
For some reason, Zheng Yi took off the clothes he was wearing and put on the one he had just found. Then he took out the one he was wearing and gave it to Jiang Haoxiang.
"Put it on, don't catch a cold."
Jiang Haoxiang took the coat, thanked him, and put it on obediently.
The two people stood together wearing the same coat, looking very intimate. But in fact, the truth was even more intimate than that, and this intimacy was only known to Zheng Yi. When he thought of this, he had a shameful reaction.
I quickly looked away and pretended to look at the weather outside the window.
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The author has something to say: "I am rooted, but I am mobile" is from Woolf's "The Waves"
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