Chapter 59 Strategy: Day 59 - Wanting the Little Angel
That was a terrible question, and the others' gazes toward the flute immediately took on a deeper meaning.
She had just agreed to tell everyone after the college entrance exam, but she didn't expect that her loophole would be caught so quickly. She looked to Bai Jiangxin for help.
"I'm asking you, why are you looking at him?" Ye Minjia mischievously blocked her view. "What, trying to ask for help from his family right here? Sorry, we don't have that segment. 3, 2, 1, please answer."
Xiang Di hesitated, "What should I answer? I haven't researched anything else..."
"Oh~" Ye Minjia said with a look of sudden realization, "So you two, a lone man and a lone woman, were alone in the car late at night, and did nothing but study the car's control panel, right? My goodness, you're so studious! In my eighteen years of life, this is the first time I've seen someone as studious as you. It's a good thing you weren't born in Confucius's time, otherwise, what would Confucius have had to do with it? Don't you think so?"
Zhou Linxiao and Liang Qianqian smiled without saying a word, while Wang Sichen nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, otherwise everyone would be worshipping Xiang Zi now."
Liang Qianqian corrected her: "You're so uncultured. Confucius's surname wasn't Kong; Kong was his clan name."
Unfortunately, Wang Sichen didn't understand and looked completely bewildered: "...What the heck? Isn't that called Xiangzi, it's called Dizi?"
Ye Minjia laughed heartily: "Flute, hahaha, I also play the erhu!"
Xiang Di frowned, feeling as if everyone was targeting her.
She glanced at him, intending to ask Bai Jiangxin for help in seeking justice, but found that he was also smiling, only his lips were slightly curved, and his smile was not so obvious.
She immediately glared at Bai Jiangxin with resentment, her lips pursed.
It's one thing for them to laugh at me, but how could you bear to laugh at me too?
Receiving a wronged look from someone, Bai Jiangxin finally stopped smiling and gestured to Ye Minjia, "That's enough, are you leaving or not?"
"Now you know to urge me? You two were in the car for so long, didn't you even bother to urge each other?" Ye Minjia narrowed her eyes, her smile meaningful. "Is the control panel that fun? Is it worth spending half an hour studying it with Xiang Di?"
Bai Jiangxin raised an eyebrow: "Otherwise, what are we researching?"
"You'd have to ask you guys," Ye Minjia shrugged. "How would I know what you're researching? Half an hour is more than enough time to study the origins of humankind."
The others gave him meaningful looks, and Xiang Di could tell that the class monitor's words had a hidden meaning, and her face instantly flushed.
That stinky class monitor! It's one thing for him to flirt with her—she's already got a dirty mind, so she's not afraid of being flirted with—but how could he flirt with Bai Jiangxin?
He was the only pure white jasmine in her heart! He was a detached, aloof flower that she cherished dearly, afraid to touch him or make any lewd jokes in front of him, and she wouldn't allow anyone else to flirt with him.
Xiang Di called out to the class monitor with dissatisfaction, trying to persuade him to stop, but Bai Jiangxin was one step ahead of her.
Instead of blaming Ye Minjia, he curled one corner of his mouth and gave a lazy smile.
"Half an hour is more than enough?" he said casually. "Who do you think you are?"
"?"
Ye Minjia was stunned, and so were the others.
Xiang Di was also stunned.
Among those present were people who had been classmates with Bai Jiangxin for three years, people who had been classmates with Bai Jiangxin for one year, and people who had only known Bai Jiangxin for less than two months. Without exception, none of them could believe what they had just heard.
What is Bai Jiangxin saying?
What was he saying with that aloof, ascetic face of a campus heartthrob? It's so disillusioning.
Not only was Xiang Di frightened, but everyone else was also frightened, because no one dared to respond to him, and the topic was dropped.
Because they were so shocked, everyone was trying to convince themselves and rationalize what Bai Jiangxin had just said in their minds.
It must be an auditory hallucination. Even if it wasn't, Bai Jiangxin was definitely not showing off his duration in a certain area.
Yes, it must be because their thinking is too lewd. How could Bai Jiangxin possibly be driving?
-
"You can actually drive?" Ye Minjia asked incredulously. "Do you have a driver's license?"
With the parent-teacher meeting almost over, Ye Minjia was really reluctant to leave the Rolls-Royce. It was such a waste to leave such a luxury car parked in their school's dilapidated parking lot.
He couldn't imagine how happy he would be if he could ride in this car and stroll down the street.
Unfortunately, I was too busy with my studies, and even after my eighteenth birthday, I didn't have time to take the driving test, so I really couldn't handle this car.
Ye Minjia looked at Bai Jiangxin: "Can't we just call a designated driver? I'll pay for it."
"What kind of family background do you have that you have to pay for a designated driver just to show off?" Liang Qianqian said. "Let's go, let's go. A Rolls-Royce is something you can own once you've seen it. Let's take a taxi."
Ye Minjia asked in a resentful tone, "Do you think you can hail a Rolls-Royce by taxi?"
"No way." Liang Qianqian's tone was icy. "Do you think a Rolls-Royce is as cheap as cabbage? Are you going or not? You were the one who said you wanted to take us out, and now you're the one who's refusing to leave the car. If you're not going, I'm going home. Don't waste my time."
Ye Minjia lay on the VIP chair: "Let me spend two more minutes with my little Lao Lao."
Liang Qianqian rolled her eyes and had Zhou Linxiao and Wang Sichen pull him off the seat.
"Be gentle, don't break it," she reminded them.
Ye Minjia was touched for a moment, not realizing that Liang Qianqian cared about him so much.
The next second, Liang Qianqian said, "Don't tear the leather seats, our class monitor is too poor to pay for them."
Ye Minjia: "..."
Dead Qianqian.
Ye Minjia was still reluctant to part with Xiao Laolao, and Xiang Di couldn't bear it, so she quietly tugged at Bai Jiangxin's clothes beside her.
"How about we call a designated driver?"
Bai Jiangxin said, "Designated drivers may not necessarily be willing to drive this car."
Xiang Di thought about it and realized that it made sense.
"Never mind." Bai Jiangxin suddenly sighed.
He stepped forward and said to Ye Minjia, "Alright, stop acting, I'll start."
It was only at this point that everyone realized Bai Jiangxin actually had a driver's license.
Ye Minjia didn't believe it at first, but after seeing Bai Jiangxin's driver's license photo, she had no choice but to believe it.
This person is insane; how could they find time to take a driving test during their senior year of high school?
Ye Minjia asked skeptically, "Are you a good driver? I don't want to die on my first time riding in a Rolls-Royce."
Bai Jiangxin: "If you're afraid of dying, don't sit here."
"..."
Ye Minjia's vanity and survival instinct were locked in a battle in her mind, and in the end, without any suspense, her damned vanity won out completely.
You can ride in a luxury car now, but seating arrangements are a problem because the car only has four seats, and you have to remove the driver's seat, meaning there are only three seats in the car.
When Bai Jiangxin's father bought this car, he probably never imagined that one day his son would be crammed into this car with his classmates to go out on the street.
Finally, Bai Jiangxin sat in the driver's seat to drive, Zhou Linxiao, who was about the same height as him, sat in the passenger seat, and the remaining four people squeezed into the back seat.
After Zhou Linxiao got into the passenger seat, he first apologized to Bai Jiangxin.
"I'm sorry, I'm too tall to squeeze into the back seat with anyone, so I'll have to take Xiang Di's passenger seat."
If there weren't only four seats on the bus, requiring careful arrangement, everyone would have dragged Xiang Di into the front passenger seat, while the others in the back seat would have been responsible for making a fuss.
However, Bai Jiangxin didn't care at all: "It's okay, I never intended for her to sit in the passenger seat anyway."
Zhou Linxiao was surprised: "Why?"
“In the event of a car accident, the passenger seat has the highest mortality rate,” Bai Jiangxin said calmly. “It’s fine for you to sit in the passenger seat.”
Zhou Linxiao: "..."
The people behind him were trying to suppress their laughter. Seeing Zhou Linxiao's speechless expression, Bai Jiangxin's lips twitched slightly.
This was Bai Jiangxin's first time driving this car, so he had to study it first. Driving is actually like taking a test; it requires both boldness and carefulness. Although it was his first time driving, Bai Jiangxin got the hang of it quickly and drove the car out of the parking lot smoothly.
After leaving the school, we drove for a while longer, and the street scene gradually became more bustling.
This is the perfect time for adults to relax after get off work, so the streets are especially lively, and the roads are naturally a bit congested.
Ye Minjia pressed her face against the car window, marveling at what it felt like to sit inside a Rolls-Royce and watch the ordinary life unfold outside.
A short while later, the car arrived at the intersection, just as the green light turned yellow. Not every rich kid likes to seek thrills and speed. Bai Jiangxin is a rich kid who strictly abides by traffic rules. Instead of speeding through the intersection like the car in front of him, he stopped the car directly behind the pedestrian crossing.
The pedestrian crossing light turned green, and large numbers of pedestrians passed by their cars.
“Now I finally understand why the first thing many people do after they become successful is to buy a luxury car,” Ye Minjia suddenly said.
Wang Sichen: "Why?"
"It's awesome! You're sitting in a luxury car, and eight out of ten people passing by can't help but stare at you. Isn't that awesome?" Ye Minjia raised her chin. "Look at those people crossing the street, they're all looking at this car."
When he said that, the others noticed that many people were indeed looking in their direction.
I must say, it was really fun.
"What do you think are the troubles of rich people?" Ye Minjia said with envy and jealousy. "If I could sit in this car every day and be looked at with envy, I really can't imagine what troubles I could have in my life."
Ye Minjia patted the back of the driver's seat: "I'm asking you, young master."
“You should ask my dad that,” Bai Jiangxin said. “The car is his, the money is his, it has nothing to do with me.”
"How can it be none of your business? Isn't he your father? Won't all his money be yours in the future?"
Bai Jiangxin: "How do you know he'll definitely give it to me?"
"What else? He only has one son, so don't give me that rich kid act all high and mighty. Say things like 'I don't care about my dad's money, I want freedom, I want to do what I want to do.' If someone from an ordinary family said that, it would have some ambition. But if someone like you, who was born into privilege, said that, it would be too ironic."
Bai Jiangxin did not answer.
Ye Minjia: "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Didn't you say it was sarcasm?" Bai Jiangxin asked calmly. "Then what else can I say?"
"Wow, you really think so?" Ye Minjia sighed. "Then I'm sorry I can't empathize. You're so rich and still so pretentious. I've really had enough of you rich people."
Bai Jiangxin didn't say anything more.
Indeed, he couldn't refute Ye Minjia's words. He lived an enviable material life and was unrestrained. If he said he was unhappy, it would be a bit ungrateful.
Today, those parents came to the school for a meeting. Even if the parents were busy, there were at least other relatives, such as Xiang Di's aunt and Zhou Linxiao's uncle. Bai Jiangxin couldn't say he envied them, because he didn't want to be controlled, but he couldn't say he wasn't envious either.
He doesn't consider himself a very well-behaved person. He is sometimes late and misses classes. Every time there is a parent-teacher meeting, he sees other parents coming to school and asking the teachers about their children's performance at school. Those who perform well are praised, and those who perform poorly are scolded.
He won't get scolded because it's always his dad's subordinates who come to attend his parent-teacher conferences. But even if his dad comes, he probably won't get any praise or criticism from him.
Bai Jiangxin had considered taking a more radical approach, such as deliberately submitting a blank exam paper, or simply disappearing for a few days, spending the night at an internet cafe, or buying two packs of cigarettes and finding a place where he could be easily spotted to smoke a couple.
But once the thought crossed his mind, he quickly suppressed it.
There's no need to do something so rebellious and self-destructive just to get attention.
He is not one of those foolish rich kids who don't understand the hardships of life, who claim they don't care about money but only want freedom, but are actually nothing without their families.
But he might not even be as good as those foolish rich kids, because he can't even come up with a slogan.
Because he has no idea what he wants.
The self-deprecating mood passed quickly, and Bai Jiangxin soon regained his usual expression.
The light turned green, and he stepped on the gas, crossing the pedestrian crossing. The neon lights falling on him began to flow again, and his profile was hidden in these neon lights, making it impossible to see his expression.
Liang Qianqian came across a funny video and shared it with Xiang Di.
"Baby, look at this video, it's hilarious!"
Xiang Di took it, glanced at it, and then chuckled twice.
Liang Qianqian continued scrolling through videos, while Xiang Di looked up again at Bai Jiangxin in the driver's seat.
No one paid attention to the conversation between Ye Minjia and Bai Jiangxin. Even Ye Minjia himself didn't care. After all, it wasn't the first time he had yelled at Bai Jiangxin, "I'm really fed up with you rich people." Of course, he didn't mean any harm; he was just envious of Bai Jiangxin's privileged family background.
Having spent three years together, Bai Jiangxin certainly knew Ye Minjia well enough, so he didn't say anything. Even if he had any emotions, he quickly processed them and continued driving quietly.
Xiang Di could never discern Bai Jiangxin's emotions. He was indifferent to everything, as if nothing could stir any ripples in his heart. He had no particular likes or dislikes.
She only found out today that he actually had obvious emotions.
He also has very vivid emotions; he gets angry and excited, laughs when he's happy, and sometimes he deliberately teases people when he's joking.
Even now, a faint gloom has settled over him. Xiang Di would never have noticed it before, but she has now.
-
Upon arriving at the destination indicated by the navigation, Bai Jiangxin parked the car directly on the side of the road, letting the others get out and go have some fun. He drove the car into the underground parking lot and then took the elevator up to meet them.
Ye Minjia didn't understand: "Why do you want us to get off first? Let's go together."
Bai Jiangxin pointed outside.
"Didn't you see all those cameras filming outside? Don't you want to pretend to be rich anymore?"
Their destination happened to be a famous commercial street, where street photographers are everywhere. They often rush up and take pictures of anyone with a good figure and fashionable clothes. Many online celebrities love to come here to take photos.
Similarly, there are many car enthusiasts and photographers. Whenever a nice car drives by at an intersection, many people stand on the street and take pictures of it.
These enthusiasts spotted the little silver man car coming from afar and had already set up their equipment, ready to take as many photos as they wanted.
Ye Minjia's eyes lit up: "Brother, you understand me so well!"
Bai Jiangxin: "Get off the bus."
As Bai Jiangxin guessed, the car door opened, and people got out of the luxury car. Many people gathered around, wanting to see who was sitting in this car worth over ten million.
It turned out to be a group of high school students in school uniforms.
It really satisfies vanity; no wonder those internet celebrities love to rent luxury cars to check in here.
Xiang Di, who was on the side of the road, got out of the car first. After everyone else got out, she turned around. Bai Jiangxin naturally assumed that she would get back in the car and accompany him to the underground parking lot to find a parking space. But she said, "I'm going in with them."
As the car door closed, watching her leave with Liang Qianqian and the others, Bai Jiangxin suddenly felt a pang of regret for having misplaced his affections.
never mind.
Instead of wasting time wandering around the parking lot with him looking for a spot, it's definitely a better choice to go out and have some fun with other people first.
Bai Jiangxin started the car, turned the steering wheel, and drove away from the roadside.
-
Today was a weekday, so parking was easy to find. About ten minutes later, Bai Jiangxin took the elevator upstairs.
He thought everyone else would be having a blast at the arcade by now, but when he went upstairs, a group of people were waiting for him by the elevator, each holding a cup of milk tea.
As soon as Xiang Di saw him arrive, she immediately smiled.
"You're here? Here, I ordered your milk tea."
Bai Jiangxin took the milk tea; it was peach-flavored fruit tea again.
She remembered to buy him a cup too, but when she thought about how she hadn't taken the initiative to accompany him to the parking lot, Bai Jiangxin didn't really want to accept the milk tea.
But in the end he accepted it anyway.
When they arrived at Bai Jiangxin's place, the group headed towards the arcade. As soon as they entered, they scattered and went to find the game equipment they wanted to play. Bai Jiangxin went to buy game tokens on his own initiative.
Only Ye Minjia followed him.
Bai Jiangxin: "What's up?"
Ye Minjia smiled somewhat awkwardly: "I'm here to apologize to you."
A hint of confusion flashed in Bai Jiangxin's eyes: "Apologize for what?"
"I apologize for what I said in the car just now."
Bai Jiangxin was even more puzzled: "Where did you go?"
"..." Ye Minjia was stunned. "But what? Xiang Di told me you were unhappy. She just said a few things to me, saying that I rode in your family's luxury car and mocking you as a pretentious rich second-generation. That's so lacking in emotional intelligence."
Bai Jiangxin was slightly stunned.
Ye Minjia scratched the back of his head: "After she pointed it out, I felt like there might be some... unconscious resentment towards the rich sometimes, but I definitely don't have any issues with you, you have to believe me on that point."
Bai Jiangxin didn't speak. Ye Minjia thought he was still angry and was about to say something when she heard him say softly, "Thank you."
Ye Minjia: "Huh?"
Is he alright? He apologized to him, and he replied with a thank you?
"...Why are you suddenly saying thank you?"
"Thank you for going through three tough years with me."
"Hey, I was just joking about the hard times, why did you take it seriously?" Ye Minjia rubbed his nose. "How could it be considered a hard time with you? I've eaten so many meals from you for free."
"Those were indeed tough times," Bai Jiangxin said calmly. "I'm sorry."
Ye Minjia was taken aback and fell silent.
He blinked, and when he understood, his usually nonchalant expression suddenly softened. He raised his hand and squeezed Bai Jiangxin's arm hard.
"It's alright, we're all brothers." He said magnanimously.
[Waaaaah, you little rascal, the power of love is amazing! Thank you, Xiang Di! You're finally starting to feel more like a real person!!!]
My son is growing up so fast, I'm so proud of him!!
Bai Jiangxin frowned instantly.
Does this person have no shame?
...
After buying the game tokens, Bai Jiangxin gave them all to Ye Minjia to distribute to others. He himself wasn't really interested in playing games, so he turned and left the noisy arcade, standing on the railing drinking milk tea while waiting for them to come out.
Suddenly someone gently patted him on the back.
"Hey!"
Then a small figure darted to his side.
Bai Jiangxin looked down at her: "Why did you come out?"
"I'm tired of playing the claw machine, let's take a break."
Because she wasn't quite good at chatting with him, Xiang Di's attempt to change the subject was rather abrupt: "By the way, what did you and the class monitor talk about just now?"
Knowing full well the answer, Bai Jiangxin called her, "Xiang Di."
Xiang Di: "Hmm?"
"Do you have mind-reading abilities?"
"Mind reading?" Xiang Di laughed. "How could I possibly have mind reading? If I did, my life would be a cheat code by now."
As she spoke, she actually started to imagine: "That way I can find out my brother's mobile payment password, and I can use his money to buy things directly, haha."
Listening to her naive imagination, Bai Jiangxin knew that she certainly didn't have the ability to read minds.
Only those who lack this ability would think it's a good thing.
Sometimes he is unaware of his own emotions, which pass quickly like a gust of wind. By the time he realizes it, there is no need to dwell on it or feel sad about it anymore.
If she didn't also have the ability to read minds, then why would she be able to detect the conflict that even he and Ye Minjia hadn't noticed?
Xiang Di was still chattering away, imagining what it would be like if she had the ability to read minds, when the person who had been listening to her suddenly reached out his hand.
Inside the bustling shopping mall, a boy and a girl in school uniform shirts were chatting while leaning against the glass railing. Suddenly, the boy reached out and pulled the girl into his arms.
Enveloped by a refreshing scent, Bai Jiangxin bent down and buried his face in the crook of her neck, looking somewhat dazed as Xiang Di asked, "Huh?"
"Ye Minjia just apologized to me," Bai Jiangxin said in a muffled voice.
Xiang Di was relieved.
[Excellent, excellent, good class monitor! A quick learner, grasps concepts immediately.]
"Okay, so you're not angry with the class monitor anymore, right? You two shouldn't fight."
His tone was like a kindergarten teacher trying to mediate a fight, which made Bai Jiangxin smile.
He was never angry with Ye Minjia.
Before her, Ye Minjia was the only person who could understand him even slightly.
Therefore, he must cherish Ye Minjia, even though Ye Minjia sometimes cannot empathize with his feelings.
Are you worried that Ye Minjia and I will argue?
"yes."
"Why?"
“Because…” Xiang Di pondered the wording in his mind.
The act of embracing made their physical contact significant enough that her feelings were once again conveyed to Bai Jiangxin's mind.
Because I don't want you to be alone.
You said you didn't have many family members and didn't keep in touch with your relatives. Although you told me this in a very casual tone, as if you didn't care at all, it still pained me.
Perhaps I'm being presumptuous, but I feel it's not enough for only me to love you; I hope many others will love you and be there for you.
Xiang Di was almost moved by her own words, thinking: "Oh my, I'm such a little angel!"
Luckily he hugged her, luckily he could hear her, otherwise she would have missed so much more.
His consistent way of dealing with people is like a slow-flowing mountain spring, neither rapid nor turbulent, with its own direction. He never shows his emotions outward, nor does he like to complain, and he is good at processing things on his own.
Until he met Xiang Di, Bai Jiangxin found that he began to have very obvious emotions, just as Ye Minjia thought, he was becoming more and more like a living person.
He no longer only remembers Ye Minjia; he gets jealous of Liang Qianqian, teases Wang Sichen, and even jokes with Zhou Linxiao, whom he has always disliked.
He suddenly remembered many people around him, their faces, and their personalities.
Bai Jiangxin never knew what she wanted.
But now he knows.
He wants a little angel.
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