Chapter 51 Strategy: Day 51 - Saying I Love Him Every Day [Revised]...
How did Qianqian grow so tall?
Previously, Qianqian was 1.7 meters tall, which Xiang Di thought was already quite tall. Now, it seems like Qianqian has grown another ten centimeters or so? She has to tilt her head back to see her face.
Upon seeing the newcomer's cool, dark eyes, which held a hint of a smile, Xiang Di froze, realizing it wasn't Qianqian's mature, willow-leaf eyes.
She couldn't see what she looked like, but she knew it must be hilarious.
Otherwise, why would Bai Jiangxin laugh at her?
To scare people, she even spread her arms wide and made a zombie-like attack gesture with her hands. But who can tell her why the Qianqian she wanted to scare turned into Bai Jiangxin?
So embarrassing, I want to die.
[It’s over. 】
My carefully maintained ladylike image is completely gone; he must think I'm a crazy woman.
This time, Xiang Di had no interest in appreciating how handsome Bai Jiangxin's smile was; she just wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
She awkwardly explained, "I didn't mean to scare you, I thought it was Qianqian."
Bai Jiangxin: "It's nothing."
"Okay, bye-bye."
Hurry up, hurry up, walk faster, my legs are killing me! Xiang Di urged himself on, and turned to leave.
She had only taken a couple of steps when a hand deftly hooked onto the handle of her backpack. Her heart skipped a beat, but she ignored it and kept walking. However, with her backpack in someone's hand, she couldn't move her feet at all.
Unless she doesn't want her schoolbag anymore, but her homework is in it, and she still has to go home to do it later.
She stood there pacing for a few seconds, head down, before Bai Jiangxin couldn't help but cough twice with a laugh and ask, "Aren't you afraid of wearing out your shoes?"
Xiang Di muttered with her back to him, "Then you should just let go."
"I won't let go." Bai Jiangxin refused directly. "Go ahead and try to wear it out. If you ruin it, I'll buy you a new pair."
Xiang Di gritted her teeth, listening to him casually offer to buy her a pair of shoes. At that moment, her proletarian pride actually rose up.
Who's asking you to pay?!
[Just because you're rich doesn't mean you can be superior!]
I have the most dislike for people like you who own Rolls-Royces!
She pretended not to hear and continued to struggle forward.
Seeing that she was determined to stick to her guns, Bai Jiangxin didn't know what Rolls-Royce had done to offend her. Didn't she used to really like Rolls-Royce and even want to experience it?
Ever since she last lamented the difference in their family backgrounds, Bai Jiangxin felt that she was being inexplicably resentful of the rich.
If he keeps pulling like that, her backpack will be deformed. He could buy her a new backpack, but given her current resentment towards the rich, she probably won't accept it.
Bai Jiangxin sighed silently and let go of her hand.
"ah!"
Little did anyone know that Xiang Di was just gathering her strength and was about to make a sudden rush to break free from him.
And so, he let go, she rushed forward, and with the momentum, she took two steps forward before her foot twisted and she fell face-first to the ground.
As it turns out, those slow-motion scenes in idol dramas are all lies. Bai Jiangxin didn't even have time to play the hero and save the damsel in distress before Xiang Di had already fallen to the ground.
Bai Jiangxin immediately went to help her up.
Are you alright?
Fortunately, Xiang Di reacted quickly enough and managed to brace herself with both hands when she fell, thus avoiding disfigurement.
She felt quite embarrassed, so she didn't say anything, forced herself to stand up, patted her trouser leg, and then suddenly hissed.
When I opened my hand, I saw that the rough cement road had chafed my skin a little, and it was covered in dust.
Bai Jiangxin saw it too and frowned: "Does it hurt a lot?"
It's just a small scratch, no blood. Besides, she's fallen before when she was little. We can just put some ointment on it when we get home. She's not the Princess and the Pea. She just fell in front of him, so it's a little embarrassing.
Sigh, I used to have the nerve to laugh at those idol drama heroines who tripped and fell flat on their faces, but it turns out I'm even more of an idiot than them.
Seeing that she still had the mood to compare herself to the female lead in an idol drama, Bai Jiangxin thought that she should be fine elsewhere. Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he heard Xiang Di say, "It hurts."
Bai Jiangxin didn't say anything for a moment, but then she touched her arm in front of him and bent down to touch her knee.
"...It hurts a bit here and here, I think I probably scraped my skin."
She flexed her foot and shook it, then frowned and whispered, "I think I sprained my ankle too."
Then she stopped talking, lowered her head, and pitifully and silently rubbed the spot where she had fallen, without explicitly asking him to take responsibility, trying to arouse his pity with this appearance.
[Since you can't see me because of the school uniform, I can just pretend to be injured however I want~]
Bai Jiangxin: "..."
I've been blackmailed by a cunning person.
If he hadn't been able to hear her inner thoughts, he would have actually believed it.
“There’s a pharmacy near the school,” Bai Jiangxin said. “Since it’s so serious, I’ll take you to get checked out. I’ll pay for the medical expenses.”
"Huh?" Xiang Di hesitated. "It's so late, the pharmacy should be closed, right?"
Bai Jiangxin: "A 24-hour pharmacy."
Oh no, she overdid it. She can't go to the pharmacy. If she goes there, the doctor will make her take off her school uniform, and then she'll be completely exposed.
Xiang Di: "...Actually, it's not that serious, so there's no need to spend money."
Bai Jiangxin said calmly, "You don't need to save me money. Since it was my fault, I should pay for it."
Xiang Di: "Really, you don't need to!"
Bai Jiangxin: "Are you sure? You look like you've been hurt quite badly."
To avoid being exposed, it was best to leave. Xiang Di forced a smile and said, "It's okay, it won't affect my walking. I have medicine at home, I'll just apply it when I get home. Bye-bye."
She was about to leave when Bai Jiangxin called her back.
Xiang Di sighed inwardly, vowing never to use scheming tactics again. She didn't have the ability; why should she be a scheming woman?
"I really don't need to go to the pharmacy to buy medicine, I have medicine at home..."
"I know."
"Then you are..."
Bai Jiangxin pursed his lips, lowered his eyes, and pointed with his chin at her ankle: "Didn't you say you sprained your ankle?"
Xiang Di said "Oh," and was about to say that it wouldn't affect her walking when he said, "Since you sprained your ankle, don't walk. I'll carry you."
...
The gatekeeper was eating sunflower seeds and watching TV on his phone in the gatehouse when he checked the time. He realized it had been quite a while since evening self-study ended, and figured most of the day students should have left, so he prepared to close the school gate.
However, just as the school gate was half closed, he heard someone knocking on the window. He looked up and saw two students outside the gatehouse, one of whom was a boy carrying a girl on his back.
The boy was very tall, and the girl on his back looked like a tiny turtle shell.
The girl said she had sprained her ankle, which was why she was walking slowly, and asked if the school gate could be opened again.
The gatekeeper saw that the girl was fair-skinned and well-behaved, and spoke politely. He also saw that the boy was carrying the girl on his back and couldn't carry his own backpack, so the girl carried a backpack on her own and was holding another backpack in her hand. He felt a pang of sympathy.
He immediately asked with concern, "You sprained your ankle? Is it serious? If you can't walk, it must be serious. Hurry up and go to the pharmacy next door. Here, let me carry you. Girl, let me carry her. You can hold her backpack."
"Need not."
"Need not."
They all said no, leaving the gatekeeper stunned.
For a moment, a faint smirk flashed across the eyes of both the boy and the girl. They couldn't see each other, but the gatekeeper saw it all.
The gatekeeper didn't say anything and opened the school gate for them.
After the two students left and the school gate closed again, he continued to sit down and watch the drama on his phone, watching the male and female protagonists talking about love. For some reason, he leaned out of the window again to look for the two intertwined figures.
The tall boy carried his small tortoise shell on his back, walking step by step under the moonlight.
The gatekeeper shook his head and smiled.
Suddenly I realized that although all these recent idol dramas feature handsome men and beautiful women, when it comes to their little schemes, they really can't compare to these high school kids in real life.
-
Bai Jiangxin carried Xiang Di to the bus stop opposite the school gate.
There was one last bus at this time. There were chairs on the platform, but Xiang Di didn't say she wanted to sit down, and Bai Jiangxin didn't seem inclined to put her down either. He just carried her on his back and stood by the roadside waiting for the bus.
Last time she had her period, she pretended to have stomach cramps, and he carried her to the clinic. This time she fell and pretended to sprain her ankle, and he carried her home again.
Xiang Di thought to herself, "I never thought I would have such a talent for being a scheming woman."
From now on, I'll play around with him more, making Bai Jiangxin even more unable to resist me.
Hehehe, take this, man, you've fallen into my spider's web.
Xiang Di obediently lay on Bai Jiangxin's back, beginning to fantasize about how she would use her cunning to completely conquer him, both physically and mentally.
Bai Jiangxin curled his lips expressionlessly.
I really don't know where she got her confidence from. Does she really think her little spider cave can trap him?
In other words, he willingly fell into it and was too lazy to get out.
But the next second, Xiang Di asked him if he should put her down first, because she was afraid he would get tired carrying her.
Bai Jiangxin didn't put her down. Instead, he lifted her up a little, his arms firmly under her knees. He leaned forward slightly so that she would be more comfortable on his back.
“No need,” he said. “You’re very light.”
It's no wonder she was so confident; it was his constant indulgence that fostered such blind self-confidence in her.
Xiang Di said "oh" and didn't mention getting off again. Anyway, she didn't want to get off and wished she could stay on his back forever.
After a while, Bai Jiangxin heard her think: "My husband has amazing stamina. He's been carrying me for so long and he's not tired at all."
Bai Jiangxin felt it wasn't that he was particularly strong, but rather that if he couldn't even carry her, given her small stature, then all the meals he'd eaten over the years would have been for nothing.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard her mutter again: "With such great stamina, won't you last incredibly long in bed too? Hehe, my good fortune is yet to come."
Bai Jiangxin: "..."
Someone should overcome their timidity first. They're too embarrassed to even make eye contact with him now, yet they expect good fortune.
...
The last bus finally arrived. Bai Jiangxin carried her onto the bus, found a window seat, put her down, and then sat down next to her very naturally.
Sitting together, with the car swaying slightly, you can feel the other person's arm making subtle contact with yours, which is certainly very exciting.
But... what should I say?
Why not ask him how his exam went? Or how about the parent-teacher conference? Like, will his dad or his mom come to the conference tomorrow? Or how about his hobbies? Anyway, she loves to hear anything about him, no matter how trivial.
Xiang Di really wanted to find something to talk about with Bai Jiangxin, but unfortunately, her stubborn mouth just wouldn't cooperate. She was usually very sharp-tongued when arguing with Xiang Sheng, but when she was in front of Bai Jiangxin, it was as if her brain had degenerated. She had to think carefully about every word and even bit her tongue when she spoke.
Just as she was racking her brains trying to figure out how to naturally start a conversation with him, Bai Jiangxin asked, "How did you do on your exam this time?"
Then Bai Jiangxin asked her about her scores in each subject, and Xiang Di answered them one by one, saying that she did not do well in math this time.
Bai Jiangxin said that this year's math exam was relatively difficult, so there's no need to just focus on your own score. Look at your ranking within the score range; as long as you're still above average, that's fine.
"In terms of ranking, we should be in the top 15%, we haven't dropped," Xiang Di said. "But I still want to improve it a bit more in the last month or so."
Bai Jiangxin then helped her analyze her other subjects. In fact, her grades were already quite good, ranking in the top 15% in the city.
If she applies to a local university, she will have an advantage as a local student with local residency. Apart from a few top universities, other schools shouldn't be a problem.
However, Xiang Di seemed unsatisfied with his performance and wanted to strive for even greater success.
Bai Jiangxin asked her, "Do you have a target school?"
Xiang Di shook his head: "Not yet."
“But you have very high requirements for scores, so I thought you already had a school you wanted to apply to,” Bai Jiangxin said.
Xiang Di gave a dry laugh.
Would it be too unrealistic of me to say I want to go to the same school as you?
Forget it, let's not talk about it.
Bai Jiangxin raised an eyebrow slightly. So she wanted to apply to the same school as him?
She needs to improve her score by at least 30 points. The higher the score, the harder it is to improve. Her score is already in the middle to high range, so it will be very difficult for her to improve by another 30 points.
She is timid in matters of the heart, but she is not afraid of difficulties when it comes to taking the college entrance exam.
Despite her small stature, she showed great enthusiasm for learning. Bai Jiangxin smiled slightly, not wanting to discourage her, but instead guiding her by saying, "Set a goal. You can try setting your target school higher."
Xiang Di's eyes flickered: "But...wouldn't this make me seem presumptuous?"
"Miracles don't happen to those who are timid and hesitant; they only happen to those who dare to take risks and dream big," Bai Jiangxin asked softly. "What if?"
Xiang Di's eyes lit up, and Bai Jiangxin asked, "Tell me, which university do you want to apply to?"
[Your university! But I know my place, so any university that's close to yours will do!]
Bai Jiangxin was taken aback, and then she heard her name several universities.
The universities she mentioned were indeed geographically close to the universities he had written on his mock college application form; some were even just across the street from each other.
Bai Jiangxin smiled with his eyes lowered.
Xiang Di tensed up instantly: "What's wrong? Are these universities really that difficult for me?"
“It’s not difficult, you can pass the exam.” He turned to look at her. “Now that you’ve set your goal, you can’t go back on it.”
Since you've decided to stay closer to me, then don't go to places that are too far away.
After a pause, Bai Jiangxin said, "I've noted down the universities you mentioned. If you change your mind and don't go, I'll hold you accountable."
Xiang Di blinked, puzzled.
If she doesn't get into the school she wants, she'll be the one who regrets it. Why should he hold her accountable?
However, she firmly stated, "I won't regret it."
"Then keep it up. Feel free to ask me any questions you don't understand."
"Uh-huh!"
We chatted about the college entrance exam and university for a while, then the bus arrived at its stop.
Bai Jiangxin had dropped Xiang Di off several times, always leaving after dropping her off at the entrance of the residential area, but today was a different story.
Xiang Di twisted his ankle.
Bai Jiangxin said, "Come on up."
He carried her on his back towards her apartment complex. Xiang Di wanted to treat him to dessert, but unfortunately the bakery closed early that day.
Xiang Di quietly lay on his back, wondering what to talk about next after they had just finished discussing the college entrance exam.
"Will your dad or your mom come to the parent-teacher meeting tomorrow?" Bai Jiangxin suddenly asked.
Xiang Di immediately replied, "Oh, my parents are both unavailable tomorrow, so my aunt will be coming."
Bai Jiangxin asked, "Are your parents so busy with work?"
"Yes, that's how legal personnel are; they're incredibly busy whenever there's a case."
"Legal personnel?" Bai Jiangxin asked. "Do they work in the courts?"
“My mother works at the court; she’s a judge, or to put it more formally, a judge. My father doesn’t work at the court; he’s a policeman.”
This was the first time Xiang Di had revealed her family situation to Bai Jiangxin. To be honest, it felt like she was giving information on a blind date. She was a little nervous, wondering if he would be interested in her family background.
Bai Jiangxin said, "Your parents both have very noble professions."
Hearing him praise her parents' noble profession, Xiang Di felt a sense of affirmation and said with a smile, "You flatter me, you flatter me. We are all serving the people."
With him in the lead, it became natural for her to inquire about his family information.
"And you? Will your dad or your mom come tomorrow?"
"I don't know."
Xiang Di hadn't expected this answer, and her tone instantly became cautious: "What do you mean you don't know?"
“I just don’t know if he will come,” Bai Jiangxin said. “He’s still out of town right now.”
Xiang Di said "Oh," and then said, "May I ask what your father does? If not, that's fine."
"It's convenient," Bai Jiangxin said. "Ask whatever you want."
Next, Xiang Di learned that Bai Jiangxin's father owned a company, which was indeed a capitalist, otherwise he wouldn't have a Rolls-Royce. She also learned that his mother was a doctor, but she definitely wouldn't be attending the parent-teacher meeting tomorrow.
Because his parents have been divorced for many years, and he hasn't seen his mother for more than a decade.
Xiang Di said apologetically, "...I'm sorry, I just asked if your mother would come, I..."
That's inhuman! Isn't this just reopening old wounds?!
"It's nothing," Bai Jiangxin said calmly.
It's not that I'm pretending to be fine; I'm genuinely fine.
He has almost lost contact with his mother's relatives, while his father's relatives have a weak sense of family ties, and most of the elders live in different places, so they rarely see each other except for holidays.
Because of a special genetic disease, Mr. Bai was very open-minded about people's lives. Only his beloved wife could make him completely open his heart. Even towards Bai Jiangxin's father, Mr. Bai was indifferent.
He knew that his children and grandchildren had their own blessings, and he didn't want to see them being filial on the surface but secretly resenting him for being an old man when he got old. So, many years ago, he had already divided up his property. He had entrusted lawyers to sign agreements with his children regarding the money and real estate to be divided, and he had also found the appropriate trust institutions.
After arranging everything, the old man moved to a coastal city with his wife. He didn't need anyone else; the only person he needed was his wife.
Bai Jiangxin said, "We don't keep in touch with our relatives much, so there are hardly any people at my house all year round, and it's quite quiet."
Because there's no one around and relatives don't keep in touch much, there won't be any of the family feuds she's worried about. Even if they get together in the future, it will be just the two of them living alone, and no one will ask her to do this or that.
What Bai Jiangxin actually wanted to tell her was this.
But Xiang Di clearly didn't understand his subtext, or perhaps she just suddenly realized that his family was wealthy and was just feeling sentimental; she hadn't really thought that much about it.
[Oh my god, a cold-hearted single father and a broken heart, I feel so sorry for the poor little one.]
Bai Jiangxin frowned: "..."
What nonsense are you spouting again?
[But it's okay, I'm the little angel sent by heaven to save you. You've got me now!]
Bai Jiangxin pursed his lips.
To be honest, he never felt sorry for himself, nor did he ever feel that he needed to be saved.
Everyone has a different lifestyle. He doesn't like crowds. Ye Minjia had tried to help him integrate into the crowd before, but he didn't like it.
Ye Minjia's personality makes him naturally sociable, while he is the complete opposite.
He was too aloof. When emotions came his way, his first reaction was to avoid them. People around him would praise and look up to Bai Jiangxin, but they would not be close to him.
Therefore, Bai Jiangxin always felt that he and Ye Minjia were not really suitable to be friends. In order to accommodate his solitary nature, Ye Minjia often had to refuse other people's invitations.
Ye Minjia has his own brilliant life, and they can't be friends for life. Bai Jiangxin doesn't want to restrict him because of this.
Once he graduates from high school, Ye Minjia will also leave, and he will be alone again. He doesn't know when the next person who can accommodate him will appear.
Perhaps it will never happen again, Bai Jiangxin always thought so.
He felt peaceful and at ease being alone, and he didn't feel lonely at all.
Until the person on his back came into his line of sight.
He then realized that, like his grandfather, he needed someone to be by his side.
At this moment, Bai Jiangxin really wanted to ask her if she meant what she said about having her in the future. Could she keep her word?
She already has so much love; he might not be her first choice in life.
She has a happy family. Although her parents are very busy and don't have time to attend parent-teacher conferences, he can tell from her words that she is happy and that her parents must love her very much.
Xiang Di is a child who grew up in love.
Only children who grow up bathed in love can have such straightforward affection and treat everyone around them with kindness and consideration.
Between them, he was the one who was unworthy, and he was also the one who was more greedy.
Xiang Di was completely unaware of his greed and was still fantasizing about their future together.
Once we're together, you'll have family to keep you company. My parents will be your parents, my brother will be your brother, and my relatives will be your relatives. Your life will become truly exciting!
She then said to him, "If you don't mind, how about I invite you to my home sometime in the future? My family is very nice."
Bai Jiangxin did not answer, but the warmth from his back felt so real and soft.
They were both extremely passive individuals. If their true feelings hadn't been revealed, she would have ended up with nothing for him, and he would have missed out on her.
For Xiang Di, this missed opportunity may be slowly forgotten many years later, because she is not lacking in love, and there are people who love her all around her.
But he will regret again and again that he did not keep this person firmly by his side in time, and let this person slip away from him.
When will we finally be together? She kept dreaming of him, but she didn't even dare to say "I like you" aloud.
How much longer must he wait before she finally speaks her honestly?
He doesn't want silent love. Once the connection of hearts is lost, he can neither hear nor see it. He needs her to put it into action, preferably by saying she loves him every day, and ideally by letting her eyes and her body tell him how much she loves him every second.
This fool, who only wanted to have a crush and didn't want to take responsibility, had no idea that she had unintentionally ruined him completely. She was the one who liked him first, but he was the one who fell for her.
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