Chapter 59
A girl's delicate charm can soften one's heart.
Perhaps because Airi was a spoiled child, she spoke with great confidence and took it all for granted.
When she acts coquettishly, she's as delicate and adorable as a flower, making her irresistible.
"Saying less won't kill you," Jiang Li glanced at her coolly, "Eating won't shut you up."
The girl grumbled as she handed his phone back after paying.
She snatched the bag from his hand, turned around angrily, and was about to leave.
Jiang Li: "Go wait for me in the car."
"No, we won't wait."
Finally, Jiang Li's expression changed slightly, and he turned to look in the direction the girl was looking: "So where are you going?"
"I want to," the girl said fiercely, taking a bite of her ice cream, "to run away from home!"
After a two-second silence, Jiang Li sneered, "Try it and see if I can break your legs."
The girl, emboldened, declared: "You dare! I'll call my brother!"
"I'll take him down too," Jiang Li said casually.
"······"
"······"
The atmosphere was a little awkward.
The girl got so angry with him that she snatched his phone away.
Then, they ran away...
"I'm sorry, please excuse my behavior." Jiang Li watched her run off into the distance, feeling a bit of a headache. He turned to Qi Yang and apologized politely, "She's young and doesn't know any better."
Yes, you can be very polite to one person, but the other person might not even notice.
Guan Nan stood to the side like a wooden statue.
The next second, Qi Yang laughed and said gently, "You have to coax your girlfriend; you can't reason with her."
"She doesn't..." Jiang Li was about to say something when his indifferent gaze shifted slightly, as if he had something to say but couldn't get it out. His expression visibly became irritable, and his tone turned cold. "When have I ever been unreasonable?"
"There's no one else in this world as reasonable as me, okay?"
The two, who were just amicable, suddenly became at odds.
I didn't say anything, but somehow I touched a nerve and made him upset and talkative again. He became so sharp that he didn't even bother with basic manners.
And it was his usual arrogance and self-confidence.
Guan Nan pursed her lips, and in the awkward and dry atmosphere, tugged at him: "Let's go."
Unexpectedly, Qi Yang followed the movement and naturally took her hand. In the moment when Guan Nan was stunned, he said to Jiang Li in a very serious tone, "Then we'll be leaving now."
Jiang Li's gaze sharpened, and when he looked up, his smile was mocking. He straightened up a bit, his previously casual and relaxed posture becoming more upright.
A few seconds later, he put one hand in his pocket, curled his lips into a slow, sarcastic smile, and said in a harsh tone, "If you want to leave, then leave. Do you think I can stop you? Why are you even saying hello to me? Do you think your legs are on my body?"
Upon hearing this, Guan Nan was startled and looked at him again.
But then he frowned and looked away impatiently.
“Your girlfriend is angry,” Qi Yang said with a good-natured smile. “Go and coax her. We’re leaving now.”
"My girlfriend?" Jiang Li raised his chin, looking at Guan Nan blatantly as if he had made a fool of himself. "Why don't you just say she's your girlfriend?"
Guan Nan looked at him in that direction.
At that moment, Qi Yang held her hand tightly, not letting her break free, and smiled gently, "Don't worry about it, I have my own."
Jiang Li ignored Qi Yang; it was as if she wasn't speaking to him, but rather to her.
His gaze remained fixed on her, unwavering and unbiased.
The area under the clock tower was still bustling with activity. Not only were people blowing trumpets, but others were also live-streaming. The various noises were overwhelming and drowning out the three of them, leaving them in a silent standoff.
The pain in my hand was nothing compared to the weight conveyed through that gaze.
Guan Nan lowered her eyes somewhat awkwardly, afraid that the unspeakable twists and turns of her emotions would seep through her eyes and leave her utterly disheveled.
Suddenly, he chuckled and waved his hand, saying, "I'm leaving."
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Qi Yang only let go of Jiang Li's hand after she had walked quite a distance away. Looking at her sullen and silent expression, he suddenly remembered that it had been like this many years ago.
Back then, she was loved by everyone and chased all over the garden by people.
Even being bullied occasionally makes me feel this sad and upset.
He listened to Zhen Xiaoya's advice; although he didn't like her, he still treated her like a younger sister, holding her hand and shielding her. Later, as time went on, he found Mingliang's adorable manner utterly annoying.
But when did I start to feel sorry for her?
It was after Ran Mingju was admitted to the mental hospital that he suddenly felt a pang of pity for her, realizing that the two of them were the same kind of flower when that flower, so beautiful under the scorching sun, suddenly fell into the mud and was trampled on.
As a result, his attitude towards her improved later on, which became even more obvious after she went to Tangzi Lane.
However, given Guan Nan's obvious emotions at the moment, he didn't want to know.
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The two returned to the entrance of the grocery store.
Guan Nan sat on a bamboo chair, her hands clasped on her knees, her head down and her eyes closed.
It was as if they hadn't yet recovered from the sudden tinnitus.
Jiang Li.
The boy who used to call her name and tug at her ponytail is still as carefree and unrestrained as I remember him.
If there's any change, it's the difference between his youthful face and his current sharp eyebrows and sculpted features, along with a more confident and unrestrained demeanor in his gestures, exuding a carefree and flamboyant air.
However, the way they looked at people was so indifferent that it was unsettling.
"This year's new tea," Qi Yang placed the water on the table, "have a taste."
Just as Guan Nan was about to bring the cup to her lips, she belatedly realized that she was wearing a mask and a hat. She had gone out and returned completely covered up.
Suddenly, she felt a sense of relief, relieved that Jiang Li's indifference at the time might have been because he hadn't recognized her.
This sudden emotion caused her to forget that someone possessed "perfect pitch".
It was at this moment, after calming down, that Guan Nan recalled what Qi Yang had said in front of Jiang Li. She looked around, took off her mask, took a sip of tea, and said softly, "Brother Qi Yang."
Qi Yang opened the bamboo chair, sat down, and responded to her, "Hmm?"
“Don’t say those kinds of things again…” Guan Nan gripped the teacup tightly. “Don’t make jokes like that.”
Qi Yang pursed his lips. "I'm serious."
"······"
Qi Yang picked up the kettle and poured himself a cup of tea. As Guan Nan sat there restless, he heard him say, "Guan Nan, he's not right for you, and you can't hold onto him."
The person sitting face-to-face with the other knew perfectly well who he was, without needing to say anything more.
Without realizing it, her hand trembled slightly, and the tea slid down her clothes and spilled onto the ground. Guan Nan unconsciously recalled a time when water splashed everywhere, soaking half of her body in the same way.
Across from him, Qi Yang put down his teacup and handed over two tissues.
Guan Nan avoided answering, her silent attitude seeming to be a reply to what he had said, stubborn and obstinate.
“Guan Nan,” Qi Yangtuan said, holding a tissue and staring straight at her, putting pressure on her, “Aunt Ranran said that the most important thing for a girl is to respect and love herself, and not to do things that make people look down on her or embarrass her.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Guan Nan paused in his actions without even looking up.
Unable to wipe the water stains clean, Guan Nan threw the tissue into the trash can and said seriously, "Thank you for reminding me, but I really didn't have that idea."
"That's good. Girls should be more capable." Qi Yang's expression softened a bit. "For so many years, everyone has been worried about you. The reason I said this is to give you a heads-up, so you won't be silly... you know?"
Guan Nan forced a smile, saying in a very official tone, "I know."
Over the years, she has had nothing, but she is better than anyone else at self-awareness.
She was tactful in her actions and dealings with people, and she didn't want people to continue gossiping about her behind her back after Ran Mingju's death.
She will always guard herself and not do anything excessive.
Seeing this, Qi Yang reached out and poured her another cup of tea, gesturing for her to continue drinking.
Just then, someone called out "Boss." Qi Yang was about to get up and go over when Guan Nan took the opportunity to stand up, drank the tea, and regained her usual cool demeanor: "Brother Qi Yang, thank you for the tea. You go ahead and do your work. I'm going upstairs."
Qi Yang wanted to say something more, but his partner kept urging him to go, so he had no choice but to nod and go.
The boy next door in my memory has long since become smooth and worldly-wise through all the trials and tribulations he has faced.
After glancing at it again, Guan Nan pursed her lips, turned around, and went into the building.
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Jiang Li opened the car door, looked at the person in the driver's seat, and said, "Get out."
"Jiang Li!" The girl sat in the car, scooping ice cream with a wooden spoon and stuffing it into her mouth, glaring at him through gritted teeth: "You! Are! Dead!"
"I'd really die if I let you drive." Jiang Li was in a bad mood and didn't want to waste words with her. "Hurry up, you're a grown man, can't you be a little more sensible?"
Seeing that she remained motionless, as if nailed to the spot, Jiang Li raised his hand and patted her head again: "Get out of the car."
"You hit my head again!" The girl swatted his hand away. "My mom said you're the one who made me stupid! You have to take responsibility!"
"He wasn't particularly bright to begin with, so what responsibility do I have?" Jiang Li pulled the person out, sat down beside him, and said with a sharp tongue and annoyance, "Also, can you keep your distance from me when we're out?"
The girl huffed and puffed, "Then don't look for me again next time."
Jiang Li nodded dismissively.
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