Chapter 75 I told him he liked me
“Going back now would just mean more classes, so it’s better to have dinner with Dad before going back.”
"I didn't tell Brother Ji I was going back." Jiang Sui looked at the scenery rushing past the window, her heart filled with longing to return home. "I'm going to give him a surprise."
"..." Jiang Yunzhao suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.
Jiang Sui turned to look at him, her smile light and cheerful, "Once you've taken care of everything, not only me, but even Mom can eat with you."
Jiang Yunzhao's slight unease vanished, and he even felt that he didn't need to eat tonight.
He couldn't wait to get rid of all that mess right now.
—
Jiang Sui still didn't send him a message.
Ji Jingyu lowered his head slightly, his expression inscrutable, the cool light from the phone screen reflecting in his dark eyes.
Jiang Sui had only been away from Xunning for two days, yet he was already so restless.
Can he really bear to see Jiang Sui leave him?
Ji Jingyu knew better than anyone that Jiang Sui did not belong to Xunning, and that she would leave sooner or later.
Jiang Sui's pursuit of him was more like a child's playful antics; it shouldn't be taken seriously and doesn't count.
And he certainly doesn't deserve it.
Therefore, Ji Jingyu constantly reminded herself not to respond and not to be moved.
But he overestimated himself.
He was completely incompetent when it came to distancing himself from Jiang Sui.
The person who truly can't bear to part with or let go is always himself.
But on what grounds?
It was rare for Ji Jingyu to feel any resentment.
Yu Juncheng never supported him for a single day. He did nothing wrong, so why should he have to bear these karmic debts?
If he tells Jiang Sui everything, is it possible that Jiang Sui doesn't care about these things?
He dared not gamble.
Ji Jingyu slowly tightened her fingers, her knuckles turning white, and blue veins spreading across the cold white back of her hand.
Moreover, someone as despicable as Yu Juncheng will cling to him like a leech once he finds out he's with Jiang Sui. Even if he doesn't cause any real harm, he'll still be disgusting enough.
Jiang Sui is pure and innocent; she shouldn't be entangled with such a petty person because of him.
Ji Jingyu took a deep breath and forced herself to look away from her phone, which had already gone black.
Unless he can completely eliminate the problem of Yu Juncheng...
—
Qin Lin, who was speaking eloquently, suddenly fell silent.
When he was quiet, the students in Class Two didn't even dare to lift their heads.
Who would dare to daydream in Lao Qin's class? Daydreaming is one thing, but to be so careless as to get caught red-handed by Lao Qin is quite another. Jiang Deyu sighed and curiously followed Qin Lin's gaze, only to find that he was looking at the corner next to him.
There were two people sitting in that corner.
If Jiang Sui takes leave, then only Brother Ji will be left.
Qin Lin walked over to Ji Jingyu and said to Wenrou in a tone that Jiang Deyu had never heard before, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Ji Jingyu carries the hopes and honors of the future of No. 2 Middle School, and cannot afford to make any mistakes.
Qin Lin became more and more worried. "Why don't you go to the infirmary to get checked out? If it's really not good, I'll write you a sick leave certificate so you can go home and rest for a day."
"Me!" Jiang Deyu raised his hand high as soon as Qin Lin finished speaking. "I'll take Brother Ji to the infirmary."
Qin Lin scolded him irritably: "...Why aren't you so enthusiastic when answering questions?"
Jiang Deyu replied righteously, "I'm just worried about Brother Ji. If you don't let me go, I won't be able to concentrate on the class. It's better to give the opportunity to attend the class to the students who really love learning."
"Stop joking around, go on." Qin Lin knew they had grown up together and their bond was special, so he gave Jiang Deyu a few instructions and then let him go.
"Brother Ji, are you alright? Should I carry you on my back?" Jiang Deyu said, squatting down.
"I'm fine." Ji Jingyu grabbed his arm and pulled him up.
"Then who are you?" Jiang Deyu was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening. He suddenly widened his eyes and looked at Ji Jingyu in disbelief. "Brother Ji, you were actually faking illness!"
"It's stuffy, I'm going out for some fresh air."
Ji Jingyu hadn't originally intended to do this, but since Qin Lin had said so, he went along with it.
Jiang Deyu looked at Ji Jingyu suspiciously, scrutinizing him from head to toe. "Brother Ji, you're acting very strangely today."
Daydreaming in class and faking illness to skip class—this doesn't seem like something Ji Jingyu would do.
Jiang Deyu is mostly oblivious, but sometimes he can hit the nail on the head.
Just like last time at Jiangda University.
Ji Jingyu shut down all of Jiang Deyu's next words with just three words.
"Then go back?"
Jiang Deyu had finally escaped from the dull classroom. If he were asked to go back now, he would die right in front of Ji Jingyu.
"No way! We're already out here, why would we go back?"
He jumped down the stairs in a few steps, afraid that Ji Jingyu might really change her mind. "When we get to the infirmary, just say that I'm not feeling well and let the school doctor give me a proper check-up. I promise you'll get plenty of fresh air, until you don't want to breathe anymore."
Since Brother Ji is healthy, he can even skip a math class, which is like winning the lottery for Jiang Deyu.
"It's so unfair! It's like climbing to heaven for me to ask for leave." Jiang Deyu was almost green with envy. "Last time I said I wasn't feeling well, Old Qin's eyes practically turned into X-rays, scanning me from head to toe. He wouldn't believe me no matter what, and he insisted on calling my dad..."
Ji Jingyu interrupted his rambling, "Did you tell Jiang Sui?"
"What?" Jiang Deyu was completely confused.
"The matter concerning Jiangda University."
"No, of course not." Jiang Deyu shook his head vigorously, pointing four fingers to the sky. "I've never even talked in my sleep, I swear."
Even if Jiang Deyu didn't say anything, Jiang Sui would still find out. Ji Jingyu knew perfectly well that this matter couldn't be hidden from Jiang Yunzhao.
Let's go.
"Okay."
—
Where does it hurt?
"School doctor, I think I have low blood sugar." Jiang Deyu slumped into a chair, looking weak and listless.
The school doctor couldn't see any signs of hypoglycemia in this seemingly stronger student, but she recognized the person standing next to him—Ji Jingyu, the top student in the entire school. Since he was with her, he probably hadn't skipped class.
"Then you should rest for a while, I'll go get you some glucose."
"Okay, thank you, school doctor."
Jiang Deyu lay on the only bed in the infirmary, pretending to cry out "Ouch!"
Annoyed by his noise, Ji Jingyu glanced at him and said, "Shut up."
Jiang Deyu pursed his lips, finally quieted down, and obediently cosplayed as a patient.
The school doctor handed the glucose to Jiang Deyu and gently instructed Ji Jingyu, "If he still feels unwell, call me."
"good."
No sooner had the school doctor left than Jiang Deyu rolled off the bed and deftly pulled the curtain next to the hospital bed shut.
Jiang Deyu took out his phone and silently raised his arm, shouting: "Time is money, enjoy life while you can, and play this game!"
Ji Jingyu remained quietly seated in her chair throughout, seemingly detached from the situation.
The late autumn sunlight streamed in through the half-open window, gently outlining the superior features of his face. Beneath his thick, slightly drooping eyelashes, his deep black eyes were fixed on a certain spot outside the window, his thin lips pressed into a line.
The fingers resting on her lap were so pale they were devoid of any color, and the blue veins were clearly visible.
He was so gloomy that he had no emotions at all.
Yu Xiaocheng secretly sent a message to Jiang Deyu to inquire about the situation.
[Class Monitor: Is Brother Ji alright?]
[Jiang Daoli: Don't worry, nothing's wrong. He just wanted to skip class on a whim.]
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Deyu added: "I reckon he's entered his rebellious phase."
[Class Monitor: What does it have to do with you that Ji is going through a rebellious phase? Why aren't you back in class?]
Yu Xiaocheng sent a soul-searching question.
Jiang Deyu wiped non-existent cold sweat from his forehead. "I'll stay and keep him company."
After a moment's thought, he quit the game, opened a document, and then continued messaging Yu Xiaocheng with a straight face: "Besides, I haven't neglected my studies; I'm currently memorizing the materials you sent me last time."
Although Yu Xiaocheng knew Jiang Deyu was lying, she didn't expose him.
[Class Monitor: Brother Ji can rest for as long as he wants, but you must be back before the next class starts, or you'll face the consequences.]
[Unwilling to accept Jiang Daoli's explanation: Understood.]
Jiang Deyu glanced at the time; it seemed he still had enough time to play another game.
For some reason, he suddenly lost interest, and after struggling for a moment, he obediently started looking at the information that Yu Xiaocheng had sent him.
"Brother Ji, let's go back to the classroom after class."
"Um."
—
[Jiang Deyu, where did you take Brother Ji? Bring him back to me right now!]
Hurry!
【tight! 】
【deliver! 】
【Return! 】
【Come! 】
Jiang Deyu's phone kept vibrating in his pocket, so he quickly took it out and replied, "Don't rush me, don't rush me, I'm already on my way back."
Just before entering the classroom, he realized something was wrong; the person who had just messaged him didn't seem to be the class monitor.
"Brother Ji..."
Before Jiang Deyu could finish speaking, Ji Jingyu met Jiang Sui's gaze.
Before he could make any attempt to hide it, Jiang Sui caught the surprise and longing in Ji Jingyu's eyes.
A faint smile appeared on Jiang Sui's lips. She grabbed a book to block Ji Jingyu's view and turned to Xiao Cheng and Xia Fan, saying, "I told you he likes me."
The emotions that people reveal when they are unguarded are the most genuine.
Yu Xiaocheng nodded repeatedly in agreement, "Who can argue with that?"
True couples are so adorable!
A casual glance is like a feast.
The little darling is finally back.
Jiang Deyu suddenly felt a sense of relief, as if the burden on his shoulders had been lifted off his shoulders.
As long as Jiang Sui is there, everything will return to normal.
He thought.
"I heard from them that you've entered your rebellious phase?" Jiang Sui teased Ji Jingyu in a low voice.
"Don't listen to their nonsense." Ji Jingyu seemed to still be in shock from suddenly seeing Jiang Sui, and her voice was somewhat low.
"It must be Jiang Deyu's own fault for not studying hard enough, that's why you had to take him out for some fresh air."
Jiang Deyu, who was not entirely innocent, couldn't help but sneeze. He rubbed his nose hard, his face filled with horror, "Holy crap, could I have really caught some kind of virus in the infirmary?"
Upon hearing this, Tong Xia silently moved her chair further away.
"Is everything settled?" Ji Jingyu asked Jiang Sui seemingly casually as she sorted the test papers that had piled up over the past two days according to their importance.
“No,” Jiang Sui shook her head, “there’s still some left to process.”
"Then why are you back now?"
"Because I need to come back and deal with the remaining matters."
Jiang Sui's words sounded like a tongue twister, but Ji Jingyu still understood them.
"Wh-what?"
“Brother Ji, you’ve been naughty. You’ve been hiding things from me. I’ll give you a chance. Confess and you’ll be treated leniently…” Jiang Sui suddenly widened her eyes, looking at Ji Jingyu in disbelief. “These are all my test papers. Didn’t I just take two days off?”
This thickness is almost equivalent to the amount of homework done during a short holiday.
"Sigh, don't even mention it," Yu Xiaocheng said. "I heard that the average score of No. 2 Middle School in the midterm exam was lower than that of No. 1 Middle School. So our principal couldn't sit still on the spot and held a special meeting with the senior teachers."
"Heh." Jiang Sui sneered, "The solution they came up with after their meeting was to send us a bunch of test papers."
"The 'sea of questions' strategy, quantity leads to quality," Yu Xiaocheng said, pointing to the test paper that Ji Jingyu had placed on top. "Hurry up and do this one, Lao Qin will go over it during self-study later."
Jiang Sui was speechless. "But I just got back."
"Old Qin doesn't care about any of that. As long as you're in the classroom, you have to do his test." Yu Xiaocheng patted Jiang Sui's shoulder sympathetically. "Hurry up and do it. Anyway, Brother Ji is right next to you. If you don't understand something, just ask him."
Jiang Suisheng slumped onto his desk for a while, looking utterly dejected, before reluctantly starting to work on the test.
Distracted like this, Jiang Sui had no choice but to postpone the "interrogation" of Ji Jingyu.
"I'll interrogate you when we get home." Jiang Sui flipped through the test paper in her hands, making a rustling sound, regretting coming back so early. "Ugh, so annoying!"
The sunlight outside the window was warm, but Ji Jingyu felt a chill running through her body.
—
"Yay! School's finally over!" Jiang Deyu grabbed a few books and stuffed them into his bag. "Brother Ji, what are we having for dinner today?"
The small night market next to No. 2 Middle School was shut down because some students got sick and were hospitalized. So, Ji Lanwan officially took over the responsibility of providing late-night snacks for Jiang Sui and the others. She made delicious food for the kids almost every day.
"No late-night snack tonight, let's go back to your place."
Ji Jingyu didn't speak; it was Jiang Sui who spoke.
"Why?"
"There's no reason why. I said no, and that's it."
Jiang Deyu had been starving during the entire evening self-study session, relying entirely on Grandma Ji's delicious late-night snacks to keep him going. Now, suddenly being told there would be no late-night snacks was like a bolt from the blue for him.
"Brother Ji, say something!"
Ji Jingyu has been out of sorts all day, so she's even less likely to get involved in such childish topics.
Jiang Sui stood in front of Ji Jingyu, saying, "What kind of brother is Ji? Even your brother Ji has to listen to me."
"Jiang Sui, you're too domineering!"
"Hehe, that's just how domineering I am."
"Alright, Jiang, you're down there." Xia Fan, who had witnessed the entire conversation, pushed Jiang Deyu forward. "You won't starve if you skip a meal. If you're really hungry, I'll go with you to the convenience store to buy some bread."
Even from a distance, you could still hear Jiang Deyu's loud exclamation: "Jiang Sui is spoiled rotten by you all..."
"Don't like bread? Then I'll buy you instant noodles."
"Xia Fan, how come even you are bullying me?"
"I'll give you another one, no, two sausages."
"Hehe, deal."
Jiang Sui was very principled. She had agreed to interrogate Ji Jingyu again when they got home, and she really didn't ask him anything on the way.
See you tomorrow, my dear friends.
Jiang Deyu was appeased with a bucket of instant noodles and two sausages.
Hearing the commotion, Mr. Jiang opened the door and came out. He was furious when he saw Jiang Deyu's nonchalant attitude. "Get your ass in here right now!"
"My mom hasn't gotten off work yet, let's talk at my house."
Jiang Sui opened the door and pulled Ji Jingyu in by hooking the strap of his schoolbag.
The latter could have easily broken free, but he did nothing, simply obediently cooperating with Jiang Sui's actions.
Once the door closed, it was as if the whole world went silent.
A moment of silence enveloped Jiang Sui and Ji Jingyu; neither of them spoke.
In the end, it was Jiang Sui who broke the long silence.
What would you like to drink?
"No need, I'm not thirsty."
"Then drink milk, it will help you sleep better at night."
Jiang Sui wasn't really asking Ji Jingyu's opinion; she opened the refrigerator and took out two cans of milk.
"I'll do it."
Ji Jingyu's voice was unusually hoarse, as if a damp, heavy wad of cotton had been forcibly stuffed inside.
He poured the milk into a small pot, turned on a low heat, and stirred it slowly.
His movements were so practiced that it was as if he were the master of the house.
The milk was heated up quickly.
"Be careful, don't burn yourself."
Jiang Sui took the milk, looking both amused and reproachful, "You really know how to keep things a secret."
"sorry."
Ji Jingyu's body was stiff and aching, like a tightly wound spring, and only these three words remained in her mind.
He sat there quietly and helplessly, like a condemned prisoner awaiting his final verdict, his fingertips trembling behind his back, his palms sweaty.
He felt that he had some tinnitus.
Jiang Sui called Ji Jingyu over, not to hear him apologize, but strictly speaking, Ji Jingyu was actually quite innocent, caught between her and her mother.
She lowered her head and took a sip of warm milk. "If it weren't for this parent-teacher conference, when Grandma Ji told my dad..."
"Wait," Ji Jingyu suddenly interrupted Jiang Sui, "You said my grandma told your dad?"
"Hmm." Jiang Sui pursed her lips unhappily, "Don't interrupt me."
"I'm sorry." Ji Jingyu apologized to Jiang Sui again, but her tone was much more relaxed than before.
It was as if the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head had vanished, the roar had disappeared, and the clamor of the world returned to his ears.
“If I hadn’t run into Grandma Ji, I wouldn’t have known that we’ve known each other since we were little. Why didn’t you tell me?” Jiang Sui sat down next to him with a glass of milk. “Also, you’re not allowed to say ‘sorry’ to me anymore.”
"I didn't mean to hide it from you."
"Did my mother ask you to do this?"
You know?
"It wasn't certain before, but it is now."
When Su Yinian made this request, Ji Jingyu had his doubts, but he knew how much Su Yinian loved Jiang Sui, and that she must have made this decision for Jiang Sui's own good.
So he didn't ask any questions and became one of the "accomplices" in this scam.
"I know Mom is doing this for my own good." Jiang Sui finished her glass of milk in one gulp. "You have no idea how many twists and turns are hidden in this..."
Jiang Sui recounted the complete story that Jiang Yunzhao had pieced together to Ji Jingyu in detail.
Only at this moment did Jiang Sui truly feel the lingering fear, "If I had really been deceived by appearances and returned to Licheng, my mother would have been heartbroken."
When she first arrived in Xunning, facing the cold and heartless Su Yinian, Jiang Sui did have doubts about Su Yinian's love for her, otherwise she wouldn't have called Jiang Yunzhao in anger and grievance.
"Thankfully, I persevered."
Otherwise, you'll miss the truth, miss Su Yinian, miss Ji Jingyu...
She almost missed out on the best things in her life.
"Did you take the past two days off to go for a medical check-up?"
Nothing is more important than Jiang Sui.
"Yes, I didn't say anything because I was afraid you'd worry."
Jiang Sui will probably never know the long and painful self-torture that Ji Jingyu went through during the time she was out of contact.
Although she knew Jiang Sui was definitely alright, otherwise Jiang Yunzhao wouldn't have let her return to Xunning, Ji Jingyu's voice still couldn't help but be tinged with worry as she looked at Jiang Sui sitting obediently beside her, "What did the test results say?"
"Don't worry, I'm perfectly healthy."
Jiang Sui had been acting all afternoon and couldn't keep up the act any longer. She rested her chin on her hands and looked at Ji Jingyu, her clear eyes filled with barely suppressed laughter. "You came back while I was asleep, didn't you?"
On her way back to Xunning from Licheng, Jiang Sui carefully reviewed the scene of her second meeting with Ji Jingyu and indeed found many suspicious points.
The phrase "Why are you sleeping here?" was not something spoken in a dream.
Now that things had come to this, there was no need to hide it from Jiang Sui anymore, so Ji Jingyu readily admitted, "Yes."
"So that big bag of snacks was bought for me," Jiang Sui said with certainty.
She found it strange at the time, wondering why they would buy so much if she didn't like it, but she didn't expect it was all prepared for her.
Thinking of this, Jiang Sui pretended to be angry and pouted, "Hmph, Jiang Deyu got a good deal."
A barely perceptible smile flashed across Ji Jingyu's face. "I'll buy you a new one tomorrow."
He was in a rush at the time, and although he bought a lot, not all of them were necessarily things that Jiang Sui liked.
Unlike now, he knows exactly what Jiang Sui likes and dislikes.
"Okay." As if suddenly remembering something, she asked, "Brother Ji, do you know how to pick locks?"
Ji Jingyu paused briefly, then said, "No."
He was a little confused by Jiang Sui's wandering thoughts. "Why did you suddenly think of asking this?"
"There's a locked room in my house, full of things my mom bought for me. I want to see it." Jiang Sui's gaze fell on the closed door, her face full of longing.
That locked room, which Su Yinian forbade her to approach, was like Pandora's box, holding a fatal attraction for her.
“I could learn how to pick locks,” Ji Jingyu said, not taking her words as a joke. She even seriously considered the feasibility of the plan. “But I think you would prefer that Teacher Su open this door herself.”
Jiang Sui was slightly taken aback, but then she understood the deeper meaning behind Ji Jingyu's words.
A smile crossed the corners of her beautiful eyes, and Jiang Sui nodded. "I have a feeling that I should be able to truly own this room soon."
"It's getting late, I should go back."
Jiang Sui is, after all, a girl, and Su Yinian hasn't returned yet. It's not quite right for Ji Jingyu to stay at her house.
Before leaving, he washed the small pot and cups from which he had boiled milk.
Ji Jingyu's hands are beautiful, fair and slender, with distinct knuckles. Watching him wash dishes is an ultimate visual treat.
"Is there anything else you're hiding from me?"
Jiang Sui asked casually.
She always remembered Ji Jingyu's unusual behavior.
Upon hearing Jiang Sui's question, Ji Jingyu paused in his brushing of the ceramic cup.
"There really is."
"……Um."
"Can't you tell me now?"
"yes."
"If you ever feel like talking about it, can you tell me? I'm definitely a great listener, just like you."
I will tell you.
He just needs a little time to prepare.
"Ji Jingyu." Jiang Sui called him by his full name again, her tone solemn and serious, "What I like about you is you as a person, nothing else matters, none of that matters."
For a fleeting moment, Ji Jingyu felt as if Jiang Sui already knew.
Ji Jingyu's heart was pounding like a drum, but her face showed no sign of distress.
He wiped his hands clean, put everything back in its place, and then said softly, "Okay."
"I have one last question to ask you."
"Go ahead and ask."
"Are you happy that I'm back?" Jiang Sui stared intently at Ji Jingyu, not missing a single expression on his face.
"Happy."
Jiang Sui leaned against the door, watching Ji Jingyu leave with a satisfied expression. Just as he was about to enter, she smiled and said, "Good night, sweet dreams."
"The same to you."
—
As soon as Ji Jingyu entered the door, Tadpole immediately put down his toys and came over to greet her.
After circling around his feet twice, it looked up at Ji Jingyu with its big, fluffy face and meowed.
It had gotten used to playing with Jiang Sui for a while every night, and it was a little anxious because it didn't see Jiang Sui today.
Ji Jingyu bent down, picked up the tadpole, patted its little head, and explained gently, "She's not coming today."
Meow~
"I'll come play with you tomorrow."
Meow~
"It's getting cold, and she loves to hug you, so you need to shed less fur, okay?"
"Meow meow meow~"
Listening to the conversation between the person and the cat, who seemed oblivious to everyone else, Ji Lanwan was amused.
"Our Xiao Jing is in a great mood today."
Although Ji Jingyu was used to hiding all his emotions, Ji Lanwan had watched him grow up, so how could she not notice his abnormality?
"Yes, I'm very happy."
Author's note: Happy Qixi Festival, everyone! [heart emoji]
Sending red envelopes to the babies~
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