Chapter 20 Seventeen years old is just '0 years old +'...
After hearing Jiang Deyu's words, Jiang Sui instinctively went to look at Ji Jingyu.
I thought I would see another expressionless face, but I noticed a subtle change in his expression.
Although it only flashed by, Jiang Sui still managed to catch it.
It's like a long-frozen lake finally showing some cracks.
Jiang Sui wasn't afraid of Ji Jingyu getting angry; she was afraid that he wouldn't care.
"You've really never been in a relationship?" Jiang Deyu looked at Jiang Sui with disbelief.
"That doesn't make sense, you're so good-looking." He couldn't help but mutter softly.
"Although I've never been in a relationship, there's a long line of people who want to date me."
Upon hearing Jiang Sui's words, Ji Jingyu paused almost imperceptibly, glancing sideways at the speaker without making a sound.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Sui caught him red-handed.
Jiang Sui smiled brightly at him, her eyes slightly upturned, her pretty face as white as porcelain under the streetlights, her beauty beyond compare.
"However, I'm not someone I can just fall for."
Her tone was very arrogant, but given her beautiful face, it seemed so natural.
"What kind of girl would you be interested in?"
Jiang Deyu took the bait and followed her lead, asking the question.
What kind of person do I like?
She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, like melted hot cocoa, with an inexplicably sticky sweetness.
As Jiang Sui spoke, she walked toward Ji Jingyu's location.
After slowly coming to a stop, she raised her eyes and looked directly into the other person's deep eyes, and unsurprisingly saw her own reflection in them.
It was as if his gaze had never left her.
Jiang Sui made a pointed remark, "I like people who are good to me and pamper me."
"It's that simple?"
"It's not that simple. Not everyone deserves to be kind to me, and I won't accept kindness from everyone."
Jiang Sui's lips curved into a distinct arc, as beautiful as a little rose, both proud and adorable.
"This is too hard to understand." Jiang Deyu scratched his head with a relieved look on his face. "Luckily, I don't like you, otherwise just trying to guess what you're thinking would be exhausting."
Jiang Sui rolled her eyes at him and retorted, "Perfect, I don't need your liking."
"Sui Sui!" Xia Fan waved to her from a distance. "Are you hungry? Let's go across the street and get something delicious."
Compared to Jiang Sui's ideal type, Jiang Deyu was more interested in filling his stomach. He interrupted, "Go away, I'm starving."
After saying that, he ran away in a flash.
Only Ji Jingyu and Jiang Sui remained.
What good food is available across the street?
Indeed, as Xia Fan said, among their group, Jiang Sui relied on Ji Jingyu the most.
Ji Jingyu lifted her leg and walked towards the main group, saying, "You'll know when you go and see."
He was tall with long legs, so his strides were naturally long, but strangely enough, Jiang Sui could always keep up with him very easily.
—
There used to be a commercial street opposite Xunning No. 2 Middle School.
With people and vehicles coming and going, there are often traffic jams during peak hours, making it noisy and chaotic all day long, which often leads to complaints from parents.
Later, the government re-planned the location of the commercial street, and most of the shops moved to new addresses, leaving only a few "holdouts," and the old street gradually declined.
However, such a large piece of land was just going to be left uncultivated anyway, and with a school right across the street, vendors spontaneously gathered in this area, gradually forming a small-scale night market.
As night falls and the lights come on, the night market becomes most lively.
If the wind is blowing from the south that day, the classroom with the windows open will be filled with the aroma of barbecue, fried skewers and other foods, making you want to sneak out of school immediately to buy some.
After crossing the road and going around a small alley, you'll reach the area where the stalls gather.
Inside, they sell not only food, but also toys, jewelry, and handicrafts. Each little cart has flashing lights on it, striving to be the most eye-catching presence in the place.
Their customers are not only students from No. 2 Middle School, but also residents who come for a stroll nearby.
Everyone was drawn here by the aroma of fireworks.
This is the first time Jiang Sui has ever been to a place like this in her life.
She looked around curiously; everything here was new and exciting to her.
Xia Fan called out to her from ahead, "Sui Sui."
"ah?"
The night market was crowded, and in the short time Jiang Sui was there, she almost bumped into a pedestrian coming from the opposite direction.
Someone grabbed her backpack from behind and carefully pushed her inside.
Then a familiar yet cool voice rang out, "Watch where you're going."
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Sui had assumed Ji Jingyu had gone ahead, but she hadn't expected him to be behind her. "Brother Ji, were you worried about me?"
Ji Jingyu did not answer Jiang Sui's question, "They are all waiting for you up ahead."
He didn't answer, and Jiang Sui didn't press him. She went around behind Ji Jingyu and grabbed the corner of his school uniform. "Then you go first, and I'll go with you."
Jiang Deyu and his group stood in front of the barbecue stall they used to frequent, each holding a stainless steel tray.
"Where's Sui Sui?" Xia Fan looked around. "Is she lost?"
Jiang Sui popped out from behind Ji Jingyu, "Here I am."
"Sui Sui, take whatever you want to eat, don't be shy." Xia Fan handed Jiang Sui a new tray. "Today we're treating to celebrate you joining us."
It's impossible not to be moved.
When I used to hang out with Qin Beibei, Jiang Sui always paid for everything; it seemed to have become a tacit agreement.
This was the first time she had ever been treated to a meal.
"Well, thank you everyone."
Xia Fan smiled and said, "Why are you being so polite with us?"
The barbecue stall was run by a middle-aged couple with kind faces, both wearing transparent face masks. One of them was in charge of grilling and seasoning, while the other was in charge of recording and collecting money. They worked together very well, so even though business was busy, they were able to handle it with ease.
Jiang Sui basically just followed Ji Jingyu's choices; whatever Ji Jingyu picked, she would take.
Seeing that she was a new face, the proprietress took the tray and asked, "Young lady, do you have any dietary restrictions?"
"Auntie, please don't add chili or scallions."
Jiang Deyu looked at Jiang Sui with a surprised expression, his face full of disbelief, "No chili? What flavor is left then? Auntie, I still want it extra spicy, just like before."
The proprietress smiled and replied, "I know."
Just then, a spicy smell wafted over from somewhere. Jiang Sui wrinkled her nose, covered her mouth, and sneezed.
"Mind your own business."
Her eyes were red, her nose was red, and even her voice had a heavy nasal tone, making her sound incredibly pitiful.
"Xia Fan, you and Jiang Sui go to Grandma's and wait for us. We'll come and meet up with you when things are better here."
"Okay, Brother Ji."
Xia Fan took Jiang Sui's arm and led her away from the area that was so irritating to her sense of smell and taste.
Where are we going?
Seeing that they were almost at the end, and Xia Fan still showed no sign of stopping, Jiang Sui couldn't help but become curious.
"Let's go to the wonton stall."
"ravioli?"
“Yes.” Xia Fan nodded. “There’s an old lady who comes here to sell wontons every night, but she’s too old to get a good spot. She always ends up in the corner with no customers. After Brother Ji found out about this, he often brings us here to support her business.”
"So kind."
"Of course! Don't let Ji Ge's cold demeanor and seemingly unapproachable appearance fool you; he's actually very kind-hearted."
I agree with your point of view.
A girl's happiness can sometimes be this simple.
The two looked at each other and burst out laughing at the same time.
Amidst laughter and banter, the two arrived at their destination.
Just as Xia Fan said, this is the very end of the alley, and there are very few people around.
"You're here!" The old woman greeted Xia Fan warmly. "Oh, I've never seen this little girl before."
"Grandma, this is our new friend Jiang Sui. We'll need your help to cook an extra bowl of wontons from now on."
"Okay," the old woman smiled kindly. "Same as before? Three large bowls, and you two little girls can have small bowls."
"Yes, right, don't put scallions in one of the bowls."
Jiang Sui was taken aback. She had only mentioned it briefly, but she didn't expect Xia Fan to remember her taste.
To make it easier for customers to dine in, the wonton stall has two simple small tables and a few small stools next to it. The small tables also have vinegar, chili sauce and tissues on them.
Xia Fan led Jiang Sui to sit down and introduced her, "Grandma is very good at making wontons. The wonton wrappers are thin and the filling is generous. They are so delicious. I'm sure you'll like them."
—
Just as the wontons were ready, Ji Jingyu and the others arrived.
"When Brother Ji said he was going to buy freshly squeezed chilled orange juice, I was worried that we wouldn't have enough time, but it turned out to be just right. Our Brother Ji truly is a master of time management."
Jiang Sui chuckled upon hearing this.
Jiang Deyu looked puzzled. "What are you laughing at?"
"'Time management master' isn't a good term these days, it doesn't suit our Brother Ji." Jiang Sui looked Ji Jingyu up and down and said in a very sincere tone, "Brother Ji looks like someone who will stick to one thing from beginning to end."
Ji Jingyu seemed not to hear Jiang Sui's teasing and continued doing her own thing.
Xia Fan chimed in, "I agree with Sui Sui's point of view."
She felt a warmth on the back of her neck as Gu Ci gently pinched it again, and she quickly added Gu Ci's name to the message, "Brother Gu Ci must be too."
"You're making it sound like no one is innocent. I'll only ever like one girl in the future."
"Alright, alright." Jiang Sui raised her orange juice. "Let's drink to the innocent boys in our neighborhood!"
"Hahaha." Xia Fan almost collapsed into Gu Ci's arms with laughter, and then obediently raised her orange juice.
Her free hand wasn't idle either; she grabbed Gu Ci and insisted that he lift it up with her.
"Ugh, that's so silly."
As a result, Jiang Deyu, who kept muttering "How stupid," raised his hand higher than anyone else present.
Only Ji Jingyu is left.
Jiang Sui blinked at him, as if she was certain he would cooperate.
Ji Jingyu gave a helpless yet indulgent smile. He really had no way to deal with Jiang Sui, and in the end, he had no choice but to lift her up as well.
Although the old woman didn't know what the children were having fun about, seeing them happy made her smile with affection.
—
There were no other customers besides them, so the boys put the two tables together.
The wontons served were all plump and adorable. Except for Jiang Sui's bowl, which was just clear broth, the other bowls were sprinkled with dried shrimp, seaweed, and fresh green scallions. They were steaming hot, fragrant, and delicious.
The barbecue was placed in the very center of the table, and you could eat whichever you liked.
The wontons were alright; the texture wasn't that different from the ones with added fillings.
Jiang Sui tasted her own barbecue. It tasted alright, but she felt like something was missing.
Seeing this, Jiang Deyu began to encourage Jiang Sui to take the first step bravely.
"Is it really that delicious?" Jiang Sui was persuaded by his words and her face was full of eagerness to try it.
“Absolutely true.” He added another spoonful of chili sauce to his wonton soup. “And I don’t think it’s spicy at all.”
Jiang Sui started eating too quickly; Ji Jingyu couldn't stop her in time.
"Cough cough cough..."
Jiang Sui was overwhelmed by the spiciness of the first bite. She hurriedly grabbed her orange juice and drank two large gulps before feeling like she had come back to life.
Jiang Sui waved her hands repeatedly, her voice hoarse from choking, "Jiang Deyu, you liar, I'll never believe you again."
Jiang Deyu hadn't expected Jiang Sui to be so unable to eat spicy food. He quickly apologized to her, patting his chest with lingering fear, "Luckily, Brother Ji bought some chilled orange juice."
Otherwise, if all they had was piping hot wonton soup, Jiang Sui would definitely feel even worse.
Gu Ci glanced thoughtfully at Ji Jingyu, while Jiang Deyu remained oblivious, unaware that the orange juice was specially prepared for Jiang Sui.
He had anticipated that Jiang Sui would be curious about other people's grilled skewers and might even try them, so he prepared drinks to help her cool down from the spiciness in advance.
Tsk.
Gu Ci shook his head inwardly. It turned out that the person in their neighborhood who was least likely to fall in love had fallen for him.
He glanced at Jiang Sui, then glanced at her again, still not understanding what kind of magic she possessed.
As she looked away, she unexpectedly met Ji Jingyu's gaze. His usually indifferent black eyes now held a hint of coldness.
Gu Ci: "..."
What's this?
Indiscriminate attack?
Gu Ci reached out and pulled out a tissue, slowly wiping Xia Xiaozhu's mouth as she ate with relish.
He truly never imagined that Ji Jingyu would one day be associated with the term "love-obsessed".
This late-night snack was truly a "fruitful" experience.
—
After this experience, Jiang Sui stopped craving other people's late-night snacks and obediently ate her own wontons.
After a while, she seemed to remember something, "Could you take a picture with me?"
"Um?"
"I want to take pictures to show my dad, so he knows I've made new friends here and am having a great time."
Jiang Yunzhao was supposed to come see Jiang Sui today, but unfortunately he had a contract to sign and had to leave the country overnight.
“Of course, no problem,” Jiang Deyu blurted out. “But it’s only for your dad to see, not your mom?”
Jiang Sui: "..."
The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.
Xia Fan kicked Jiang Deyu under the table, and Jiang Deyu belatedly realized that he might have said something wrong.
"Jiang Sui, I'm sorry, I didn't know your mother... uh," he trailed off, realizing that no matter how he phrased it, it didn't sound right. Was Jiang Sui's mother dead, or had she divorced her father?
Seeing Jiang Deyu's anxious expression, Jiang Sui smiled and said, "Why are you apologizing to me again? Of course I'll show it to my mother too. I just haven't finished speaking yet."
"I'm really fine," she emphasized again.
That means they got divorced.
With her parents divorced, and her family leaving their hometown to live with unfamiliar distant relatives in a strange place, something very serious must have happened in Jiang Sui's family.
Ji Ge was right during the day; he shouldn't have pried into Jiang Sui's private affairs and reopened her wounds.
Jiang Deyu thought.
Xia Fan and Jiang Deyu had similar ideas, so she quickly smoothed things over, "Come on, let's take pictures. Sui Sui, don't worry about the boys' lives or deaths, as long as we both look pretty."
Jiang Sui was amused. "Haha, that's what I thought too."
Seeing Jiang Sui smile, Jiang Deyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. This late-night snack had been quite nerve-wracking.
—
[Having a late-night snack with friends. [Photo]]
The first thing Jiang Yunzhao did upon receiving the WeChat message was to save the photo. Then he zoomed in on the photo and looked at his precious daughter several times before finally looking at Jiang Sui's friends.
His gaze lingered on the handsome young man beside Jiang Sui.
He wondered if it was a coincidence, but he always felt that Jiang Sui was standing a little close to him.
[Dad: This looks delicious, but you should eat less, or you'll get a stomachache.]
The last time Jiang Yunzhao ate at a roadside stall was when he accompanied Su Yinian. The pampered young master had diarrhea all day after eating there, but he didn't dare tell his girlfriend, fearing that she would think he was useless.
He was afraid that Jiang Sui's stomach would follow his.
It's okay, my friends eat these all the time.
Seeing Jiang Sui's reaction, Jiang Yunzhao didn't want to spoil her mood. "As long as Sui Sui is happy. It's getting late, we should go home."
"Yes, I was just about to take the bus."
Upon seeing this, Jiang Yunzhao almost teared up again. [Are there seats? Will someone crowd you?]
Jiang Sui held onto Ji Jingyu's clothes with one hand and slowly replied to Jiang Yunzhao's message with the other.
The more she walked, the more itchy her arms felt.
Finally, she loosened her grip on Ji Jingyu's clothes and scratched her arm vigorously.
"What's wrong?"
Ji Jingyu noticed as soon as she let go.
Then, everyone stopped.
Jiang Sui complained softly, "My arms itch."
"Let me see."
The alleyway was dimly lit, and fearing she wouldn't be able to see clearly, Ji Jingyu even turned on her phone's flashlight.
You wouldn't believe it until you look; Jiang Sui's fair arms have several mosquito bites.
Her skin was thin, and because she scratched it quite hard, it looked red and swollen, which was inexplicably shocking.
Jiang Deyu gasped, "Jiang Sui, you attract mosquitoes so much! How did you get bitten like this?"
"It's probably because you've kept your phone on the all-time."
Ji Jingyu turned off her phone. "Let's get out of here quickly. There's a lot of garbage and mosquitoes around."
Jiang Sui nodded hurriedly, indicating that she would never dare to play on her phone in such a place again.
Among the few remaining "holdout" properties on the street, there happened to be a pharmacy that was still open for business.
Ji Jingyu stopped in her tracks. "Wait here for me for a moment."
"Okay." Jiang Sui nodded while continuing to scratch her itch.
His warm hand grasped her wrist, and he looked down at her. "Can you bear with it for a little while until I come out?"
"Then you'd better hurry."
"I'll be quick."
"What's Brother Ji doing at the pharmacy?" Xia Fan was still clueless. "We should hurry home now. We have some comfrey ointment at home. We can put some on Sui Sui and she'll be fine."
Gu Ci sighed, "Your brother Ji is probably worried that Jiang Sui's injuries are too severe and she won't be able to make it home."
"ah?"
Are they talking about the same thing?
Ji Jingyu came out very quickly, as expected.
"Give."
"What's this?"
“Comfrey soothing patch,” he said succinctly. “It will feel much better if you put it on the bitten area.”
"Thank you, Brother Ji."
It wasn't a big deal in itself, but the cartoon pattern on the packaging was too childish, so Jiang Deyu couldn't help but take a few more glances and noticed that the bottom right corner clearly said "0 years old+".
Jiang Deyu looked somewhat speechless. "This thing seems to be for babies."
Jiang Sui readily accepted the suggestion and happily began applying soothing patches to her mosquito bites. "I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Seventeen is '0+' years old."
I don't know if this thing is really effective or if it's just Jiang Sui's placebo effect, but after applying it, the itching really stopped.
"Thank you, Brother Ji!"
Ji Jingyu turned her face away, "You're welcome."
—
"Grandma, I'm back."
"Xiao Jing is back!" Grandma Ji came out to greet him, holding tadpoles. "Did Sui Sui come home too?"
Su Yinian is the homeroom teacher, so he gets back even later.
"I've gone back."
He watched as Jiang Sui closed the door before entering the house.
"That's good... Hey, what's wrong with the hem of your clothes?" Grandma Ji asked with a smile.
Ji Jingyu followed her gaze and realized that one side of her school uniform had been pulled long and wrinkled.
"It must have been pulled by some kid who was afraid of getting lost." He smiled slightly at Grandma Shangji's questioning look. "It's nothing, it'll be fine after a wash."
Author's Note: Xiao Jiang: Trembling with fear
Ci Ge: Speechless + Full of gains
Xiao Ji's Diary: My baby is still a baby.
Yes, Xiao Ji is right!
Here it is! I've been too busy with work lately, so I'm giving out red envelopes to you all as an apology in this chapter.
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