Chapter 75
What kind of fate is this?
Guan Nan couldn't quite decipher what Jiang Li was conveying in his expression. She guessed that he might be expressing a sense of dread, or perhaps a kind of disdain, at meeting someone here.
It's a tragic fate.
Guan Nan choked immediately.
But after that moment, only one thing occupied her mind: "Why wear white clothes when eating barbecue? Will the oil splatter on them be washable?"
She felt that wearing white to a barbecue was a very unwise choice.
Hei Zi led a large group of people toward him. They carried chairs and sat down casually, instantly turning the previously quiet Jiang Li's place into a lively one.
They spoke in varying volumes, which was quite ordinary amidst the many people queuing up to find their own amusement.
That one person, who clearly did nothing, stood out remarkably.
Xie Qiao dried his sweat, looked around, and couldn't help but complain, "Wasn't it supposed to be a niche market? Why are there so many people today?"
Upon hearing this, Guan Nan immediately looked away.
People from Fuling are warm-hearted and hospitable; they strike up a conversation naturally and without making you feel awkward. Even if you're alone, someone will respond as soon as you open your mouth.
"Maybe it's because they've been advertising lately. We came here because a blogger we like said their barbecue was good," a young couple next to Xie Qiao added. "Sigh, it's just so hot."
A man who looked like the older brother next to him laughed and said, "Tell the boss to install an air conditioner."
"You're always out here in the dark, barbecuing outdoors. Why would they install air conditioning for you? The boss might just put it on your head later." The older brother's wife slapped him on the head.
Clearly, Xie Qiao hadn't gotten used to this enthusiasm yet, and gave an awkward smile.
Just then, Zhang Hong finished taking a group photo and, with his excellent communication skills, started chatting with the person.
Xie Qiao turned her head and whispered in Guan Nan's ear, "Even if it's delicious, this arrangement is too exaggerated. The marketing is outrageous."
"Yes, there is a little bit." Guan Nan nodded. Last time, when she arrived late and picked up people, the flow of people in Rongshuli was still normal. But after only a short time, the queue has become like this.
It must be admitted that the boss has spent a lot of money on marketing.
The group's voices were a bit loud, inadvertently attracting the attention of Hei Zi and his group. Hei Zi, who had just looked away, paused, then quickly turned his head back to stare at the people in front of him.
"Hey, which girl have you spotted this time?" the man teased him.
However, others recognized Guan Nan and exclaimed, "Holy crap, isn't that the girl from last time? Didn't the haters say she was one of their own?"
The words had barely left his mouth when Hei Zi shouted, "Sister..."
After shouting, when Hei Zi met Jiang Li's gaze, he realized that he had been led astray by the others, and quickly changed his address: "Guan Nan, beautiful Guan."
Guan Nan was listening to Xie Qiao complain about how aggressive the marketing was, saying that if the food wasn't good, she would give it a bad review.
Kuroko's voice, which wasn't very loud, naturally didn't reach her ears.
The next moment, two words, both strange and familiar, slammed into her ears with a loud volume.
The sound source is located to the side and rear.
A moment of silence.
Just when she thought it was an illusion, that loud voice called her name again, like a call between mountains.
Xie Qiao: "Is this person crazy? In a public place—"
Upon hearing the name "Guan Nan," Xie Qiao fell silent, unable to utter the rest of his words.
Zhang Hong frowned: "Do you know them?"
"..." After a two-second silence, Xie Qiao asked incredulously, "Your friend?"
Guan Nan couldn't answer their questions immediately.
Are all the people here so fierce?
The only response she received was from Kuroko, who waved to them and warmly invited them to sit down together, seemingly worried about embarrassing him in front of so many people.
The two exchanged a glance, forced a smile, and moved on.
Jiang Li, who was sitting at the same table with them, was still scrolling through his phone, oblivious to everything around him.
The air instantly became deathly still.
Thanks to Hei Zi, the atmosphere wasn't too awkward. He awkwardly steered the conversation towards Jiang Li and Guan Nan to highlight their extraordinary relationship of not only knowing each other but also being classmates.
It wasn't just Hei Zi's group that were shocked; Xie Qiao was also shocked, given Jiang Li's occasional nods and perfunctory responses.
Shocking! Absolutely shocking! Utterly shocking!
The phone on the table vibrated twice. Guan Nan glanced at it and saw a message notification. She picked up the phone and looked at it.
Xie Qiao: [/angry]
Xie Qiao: [/angry]
Xie Qiao: [/angry]
Xie Qiao: [/angry]
Xie Qiao: [/angry]
Undeterred by her anger, she continued her tirade, head bowed, which gave Guan Nan a headache.
Xie Qiao: [Why didn't you say so!]
Guan Nan: [What?]
Xie Qiao: [You and Jiang Li are classmates!]
Xie Qiao: [Still! At! Desk! !!!]
Guan Nan was typing when she saw another message from her: "[I'm angry]"
Xie Qiao: [She's not the kind of person who's easy to appease!]
Xie Qiao: [Hands on hips.jpg]
Guan Nan deleted all the words. "You didn't even ask me."
After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Li casually tossed his phone onto the table and stared straight at her.
Guan Nan looked up and saw that he had that seemingly mocking expression again. She immediately remembered the words he had said to her that night, such as "busy with affairs of state" and "small fry".
His expression at this moment was strikingly similar to that of that night.
Guan Nan subconsciously put down her phone.
But when she turned her head, Xie Qiao's gaze towards her became resentful. Guan Nan gave a dry tug at her lips, offering no explanation.
At the table, Hei Zi pulled the only man among them to sit on the other side, seemingly creating a deliberate distance.
“Hey bro,” one of them asked, “you look so familiar.”
The critic immediately exposed his mistake: "He looks familiar to everyone. This isn't a girl, you don't need to flirt with her like this."
The man said, "Don't be silly, I really look familiar."
“…Um,” Xie Qiao glanced at Zhang Hong, who had blended in with them so naturally. Seeing that the other person couldn’t remember who Zhang Hong was and was trying to guess the name over and over again, Xie Qiao’s lips twitched involuntarily. “Is it possible that it’s because he’s a beauty blogger?”
“Yes!” The man clapped his hands. “My girlfriend showed me your video.”
Zhang Hong jokingly asked, "Are you going to learn makeup too?"
At this point, the conversation abruptly shifted, and Hei Zi, carrying the words, went straight to Guan Nan. However, he noticed that Jiang Li had gotten up and walked away during their brief conversation, only to return later.
And so, the yogurt on Guan Nan's table pushed aside the wine he had poured, and the direction of the drinks shifted to Jiang Li.
"He can't drink alcohol," Guan Nan whispered to stop him before he was put on the table.
Kuroko looked bewildered: "Why?"
Jiang Li, who had been quiet and barely spoke, leaned back in his camping chair with his arms crossed, observing without participating. His indifferent gaze swept over as he spoke.
The other person clearly did nothing and said nothing, but she felt awkward and uncomfortable.
Just as she was at a loss, she saw Hei Zi reluctantly put down his wine glass and complain, "What kind of man doesn't drink? He said that himself."
Guan Nan looked surprised.
Moments later, unexpectedly.
She heard Jiang Li chuckle softly, then ask teasingly, "What, you won't even let me have this?"
When Guan Nan heard these words, the subtext became that the matter had just been put to rest that night, as if subtly reminding her that she was being nosy and "really idle."
“No,” Guan Nan reacted slowly, worried that his friend’s clear statement might lead to another misunderstanding and make him think that he had any improper intentions to interfere in other people’s relationship. “What I mean is, your stomach… the doctor said that you can’t eat these things.”
By the end, his tone had become muffled.
Jiang Li's eyes curled up at the corners, carrying a hint of flippancy and nonchalance.
A pair of eyes darted between the two, an unbearable itch that gnawed at their hearts, making them wish they could hear the whole story from beginning to end.
"Really?" Jiang Li asked, seemingly skeptical. "I don't remember."
He was there at the time, and Guan Nan didn't know why he asked that question. Now, seeing his 'don't remember' expression, she couldn't answer for a long time. "Then drink it. Just pretend I was talking nonsense."
“Since you’ve said that,” Jiang Li seemed to have finally relented, lazily agreeing with her, “then let’s just say that.”
Is there even a need to make this happen?
Guan Nan pursed her lips and didn't say anything more.
"I'm sorry," Jiang Li said, loosening his grip on her arm and gently pushing the wine glass away with the back of his hand. His eyebrows and eyes moved slightly, relaxed and carefree. "I was just a little sick a few days ago and can't drink for the time being. Thank you for your understanding."
"Sick!" Upon hearing this, Xie Qiao's curiosity was immediately extinguished. She couldn't control her voice and blurted out, "How are you sick? Is it serious? You can still—"
Kuroko raised his glass to his lips, then paused: "Are you sick?"
Everyone present knew what he did, and after hearing those words, all eyes instinctively turned to him.
Undoubtedly, there is only one emotion: worry.
Jiang Li smiled nonchalantly: "It's not that serious. It's just an illness, I'm not dead."
Just as Hei Zi was about to speak, Xie Qiao interrupted him, his expression serious and solemn, "Pah, pah, pah!"
"······"
"······"
Her excitement made everyone a little embarrassed.
The hater concluded her identity, glanced at Guan Nan again, and then changed the subject: "You said this in front of your... fans."
“You’re really not a good idol,” Xie Qiao said seriously.
Hearing this, Jiang Li sat up straighter and said with a serious expression, "I never said I wanted to be an idol, did I?"
After saying that, the group exchanged glances and fell silent.
Jiang Li runs a band and a studio. Except for necessary stage performances, he never accepts any commercial performances, and his team is rarely seen in public endorsements.
They always focused on behind-the-scenes work.
Even his appearance on stage was only possible because the band's lead singer had to quit at the last minute, and they urgently sought him out to fill in.
He likes to sing and his hobby is being in a band, but he has never said that he likes to be in the spotlight.
“But, but,” Xie Qiao stammered, “aren’t you...disqualified from being an idol?”
Jiang Li repeated her words: "Disqualified idol?"
He seemed to realize that he had spoken without thinking.
Xie Qiao looked towards Guan Nan with pleading eyes.
Seeing this, Jiang Li ignored her and went straight to Guan Nan in front of her: "Could you please explain what 'disqualified idol' means in plain language, class monitor?"
"······"
Although he paused for a moment when he called her class monitor, Guan Nan naturally couldn't really explain the meaning behind the words: "I'm sorry, she's young and speaks bluntly without any ill intentions. However, she's not very good at expressing her thoughts, so what she says may be inconsiderate."
“But she really likes you too much,” Guan Nan added, trying to smooth things over.
Jiang Li: "Really?"
"Mm." Guan Nan nodded in agreement.
"And what about you?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
