Blind Box Glutinous Rice Balls
The green plants in the library study room sprouted new branches, while the red flowers on them gradually withered.
Jiang Yichun packed up his books, stood up, and looked out the still brightly lit window.
Spring sunshine gradually covered the long nights; it was already mid-to-late April.
"Xiaochun, you did a great job on the data analysis project I gave you."
He Yinxin's voice drew her gaze back from the window.
"You used those codes correctly, you'll definitely be able to complete the summer camp paper assignment."
Jiang Yichun smiled at him: "Yes. Old He, thank you for your continued help."
"Our conversation sounds so formal."
He Yinxin sat opposite her, looking at her smile, and also raised the corners of her mouth: "It's mainly because you worked hard. I just helped a little."
"After all, we're... cooperating for mutual benefit, right?"
"Yes. Cooperation leads to mutual benefit."
Jiang Yichun reached out and stroked the leaves of the green plant on the table, then looked at the computer. A notice about the summer camp had just popped up on the official website of A University's Graduate Admissions.
Jiang Yichun clicked on the link and carefully read the requirements.
Academic credentials, CET-4/6 scores, professor recommendation letters, confirmation letters...
A huge amount of material flooded into her view like a wave.
"Ah!" Jiang Yichun sighed deeply.
He Yinxin took off her glasses, sprayed them with lens cleaner, and carefully wiped them clean.
"Shouldn't University A have released the summer camp notices today?"
Jiang Yichun nodded: "Old He, you guessed right."
He Yinxin put on her glasses and looked at her: "It's not a guess, I went to check the notice."
He paused for a moment: "Uh, because you are, after all, my tutor."
Jiang Yichun avoided his gaze and gently rubbed her hand on the soft cushion beneath her.
Over the past ten days or so, she has been "bumping into" He Yinxin in various places.
She would run into him when she went to the convenience store to buy milk, just as he finished heating up his rice balls; on non-tutoring days, she would run into him as she worked on her exams in the library, typing away furiously; and when she walked past him with her study materials after class, she would brush past him.
She used to give him a perfunctory smile or a greeting whenever she bumped into him, but in recent weeks…
She became unwilling to look into his eyes anymore, she wanted to spend more time with him, and she became fond of the faint scent of kapok on him.
She could also catch glimpses of the curve of his lips in her peripheral vision, hear him gently call her "Xiaochun," exchange a few casual words about his daily life these past few days, and even hear a few dry jokes from him that weren't funny at all.
The cold robot melted into fine raindrops before her, gradually permeating her life.
Her mind told her she should escape him; he was no longer a safe robot.
However, each time, her feet always remained in place, and her eyes always fell on his profile.
Jiang Yichun's world, and the world connected to him, became unstable, and she was always troubled by this subtle loosening and shaking.
Why have you become so gentle, He Yinxin?
You've become so gentle, unlike the aloof and reliable person you used to be; you've become uncertain.
Like Sister Xixi, who has repeatedly broken promises and has recently been giving her perfunctory answers, she is gentle yet uncertain.
Is it tacit understanding, love, or something else that makes them so similar?
Jiang Yichun kept these words buried in his heart. The answer was about to be revealed, but he was held back by the seed of "doubt" and dared not write a single word.
Because of that man who kept calling him "cute," because of that man who should have called him "Dad," Jiang Yichun hated betrayal and disliked infidelity even more.
She didn't want her "special friend" to hold flowers in her hands, yet hurt her by stepping on her father's shadow.
She picked up bricks and reinforced her high wall to resist the spread of spring that he brought to the garden.
Seeing her silence, He Yinxin broke the awkward atmosphere: "Xiaochun, what's wrong? You look very tired lately. Are you under too much pressure?"
Jiang Yichun nodded: "Yeah, a little. After all, there are so many materials to prepare for graduate school applications, such as transcripts, guarantees, and letters of recommendation from professors."
"Recommendation letter? Have you finished writing it? Which professor do you plan to get to sign it?" He Yinxin leaned slightly towards her.
Jiang Yichun looked up at him.
Here he comes again; he's getting close to me again.
She moved her chair back a few steps and turned her head to the side: "I've finished writing it, and my roommate and I have already signed the recommendation letter with Professor Zhang. As for the other one—"
She muttered to herself, "I want to see Professor Lin Feng."
"That is, your mentor."
He Yinxin's lips twitched slightly, and she tactfully leaned back in her chair: "Yes. He's quite nice, he'll even help you revise your recommendation letter. Do you need me...?"
Jiang Yichun waved his hand and stood up abruptly: "No need, no need, Senior He! Xingxing and I have already discussed it. Professor Lin is also at school on Saturdays, so we'll go see him together tomorrow."
"There's no need for you to communicate with him!"
He Yinxin caught the jarring "Senior He" and frowned.
He chuckled dryly, "Ah, okay, okay. Xiaochun, what's wrong with you lately?"
Jiang Yichun shook his head and grabbed his schoolbag: "It's nothing, I... I'm just under too much pressure. I'll go back now if there's nothing else."
“I’ve completed my three meals with the staff this week on time, so there’s no reason for me to stay.”
"I've been quite busy lately, but I'll get all my work done."
"It's the last two months, I'll do my best."
She grabbed her schoolbag and strode towards the study room door, opened it, and left, leaving He Yinxin alone in the study room.
He Yinxin rubbed the hem of his denim jacket with her hands and lowered her eyes.
Xiaochun has been acting strangely lately...
Is she avoiding me?
Jiang Yichun's last words kept playing in his ears.
He Yinxin covered her eyes, but what came to mind was the happy look on her face when she first met her and she introduced the two cups of fresh milk tea to her.
What exactly happened to Xiaochun?
She was clearly defending herself when she was almost exposed that day, but after that day, everything went wrong.
Her body drew closer and closer to him, but her heart drifted further and further away.
"Sigh." He Yinxin sighed and took out her phone.
He had already written over two thousand words in the memo about "minor matters related to Jiang Yichun".
[March 28th. I almost gave myself away today. Qiao Maizi is no simpleton, but luckily Xiaochun trusted me.]
[4.2 Xiaochun really likes the pork chop noodle soup at the cafeteria.]
[4.5 Went to eat at Grandma Tianfang's barbecue with Xiaochun. Grandma's business was booming, which made me very happy.]
[On April 10th, Xiaochun took me to eat dipping noodles. It was delicious. Xiaochun said the noodles were very chewy, and I agree.]
[April 13th, Xiaochun completed her first data analysis task today, and she did a great job.]
[On April 18th, Yang Fei and Lin Yan dragged me hiking, and Xiao Chun went too. She's really healthy; she wasn't even out of breath during the hike.]
He Yinxin scrolled through the text, his fingertips pausing in mid-air.
Why did it start as recording Jiang Yichun's hobbies so that I could communicate with her better, but now... it's turned into how I feel about being with her?
It really reads like a long diary entry, a diary full of emotions.
His cheeks were flushed, and his pounding heart kept disturbing him, yet it also unearthed the deepest guilt in his heart.
Guilt stemming from the lie about "Xi Xi".
He has already entered a swamp called lies. If he does not find an opportunity to extricate himself, he will sink deeper and deeper until he dies without a burial place.
The summer camp notification from University A finally arrived as scheduled.
My food obsession has also been alleviated. Those foods are no longer just data, but simply food.
Once all the application materials for graduate school are submitted, I'll be honest with her.
During this period of waiting for the preliminary test, she can process her deception and then embark on her own future.
Those who deceive others should not be forgiven.
The moth that flies into the flame will eventually turn to ashes.
He closed the memo app, buried himself in packing his things, and prepared to go to his new tutoring center to teach the children.
Jiang Yichun carried large and small bags and strode back to his dormitory.
She didn't have much of an appetite today, so she didn't even eat dinner.
"Swish—"
"Bang--"
Jiang Yichun dragged his tired body and plopped down in a chair.
"Koharu?"
Su Yanyue's voice rang in her ears.
Jiang Yichun looked up at her, and a chubby little dumpling was stuffed into her hand.
She stared wide-eyed at Su Yanyue: "Yanyue, this is..."
"Oh, these are glutinous rice balls my mom ordered. Each one has a random flavor. Hehe, you're the first one back in the dorm, and I'm the first one to tell you that I've been spotted by a famous director in China and I'm about to film my first movie!" Her eyes were shining.
"My favorite actress was also discovered by this director, so I'm absolutely ecstatic!"
"This is one of my dreams to enter the entertainment industry!"
Jiang Yichun stared at the soft, white glutinous rice ball in her hand. She took a bite and quietly watched Su Yanyue pacing around the dormitory.
Su Yanyue had studied ballet before, and she had an upright posture. When she got excited, she would even spin around on the spot.
With her long neck, slender limbs, and fair skin, she resembled a swan playing in the water.
Dreams, dreams?
What is my dream?
Is it just about getting a guaranteed admission to University A for graduate studies, and then proving yourself to those who look down on you?
"Yan Yue, actually I've always had a question." Jiang Yichun swallowed the sticky pancake and met Su Yan Yue's narrowed eyes.
Su Yanyue immediately stopped in her tracks: "Come on, speak, Xiaochun."
"Yan Yue, you used to say you studied ballet, but why did you ultimately choose to become an actress?"
Su Yanyue raised an eyebrow, then plopped down in a chair: "You've hit the nail on the head."
"I learned ballet when I was a child under the guidance of my parents, but actually... I don't really love it. It's more like a course, a course to prove to my parents that I'm great."
Jiang Yichun chewed on the dumplings one bite at a time; the blind box she opened contained osmanthus-flavored fermented rice wine.
Beneath the outer skin of Geng Jiujiu lies a creamy filling with a sweet fermented rice flavor. If you savor it for a while, you can also taste a faint fragrance of osmanthus.
Do I need to prove it to my parents?
Su Yanyue became more and more excited as she spoke, her fingers trembling uncontrollably: "Later, I saw the movie my idol starred in. She played a female knight-errant on screen, and she looked so cool and dashing!"
"I decided right then and there that I didn't want to dance anymore, I wanted to be like her and become a movie actress!"
"That's why I chose acting as my major when I took the college entrance exam for arts."
"And your parents..."
Su Yanyue's eyes darted around, and she touched her chin: "Oh, them. They did disagree a little at first, but why should I care about them? Being an actress is what I'm doing, and it has nothing to do with them."
“I’m not living to prove myself to them. Even if they object, I’m still going to study acting.”
"But thankfully they didn't object too much. Anyway, I'm so happy to be able to do what I love and do it well."
The phrase "I'm so happy" pierced straight into Jiang Yichun's heart.
Although her relationship with Su Yanyue was delicate, she could always sense that Su Yanyue had a unique aura.
Su Yanyue was like a gentle breeze, free and unpredictable, leaving no trace.
Live for what you love, for what you want to do, not to prove yourself to others...
So, what is the significance of my decision to pursue a master's degree through the recommendation system?
Is it just to prove yourself to those awful relatives?
With this mindset, I broke through the encirclement. But after I finally proved myself to those people, what did I gain?
Jiang Yichun was lost in thought when the box of plump white dumplings reappeared in front of her.
Su Yanyue smiled and blinked her peach blossom eyes: "Xiaochun, I see you've finished eating, would you like another one?"
Jiang Yichun looked at the group of chubby white figures, raised her hand, and grabbed one of them.
Am I not one of these white balls myself?
To prove to others that it is "delicious," I try my best, but I still don't know what filling is wrapped under my glutinous rice skin.
She took a bite, and a sweet and sour strawberry flavor filled her taste buds.
"How is it, Xiaochun? What flavor did you like to try?"
“Fermented rice wine with osmanthus and strawberries.” Jiang Yichun looked up at Su Yanyue’s smiling face. “Yanyue, sometimes I’m quite envious of you.”
"Hmm? Why do you say that?" Su Yanyue frowned. "You suffer so much by not eating and controlling your diet just to look good on camera!"
"Xiaochun, I'm so envious of you because you can eat whatever you want."
Jiang Yichun's eyelashes trembled slightly, her hand holding the dumpling tightened, and she looked at Su Yanyue's face, softly humming in agreement.
"I just envy you... for being able to find something you love."
"Oh, sorry, I accidentally said something so profound."
"What's this? My dad and uncles talked much more outrageous things at drinking parties when they were drunk!" Su Yanyue slowly squatted down in front of her. "Xiaochun, I'm also very happy to have talked to you so much. I understand you better now."
Jiang Yichun met Su Yanyue's eyes, those peach blossom eyes filled with sincere light. Whether it was the sourness of the strawberries or some other reason, the tip of her nose felt sore.
"Me too, I understand you better now, Yan Yue."
"Thank you too, Yan Yue."
Jiang Yichun forced a smile at her, and Su Yanyue was taken aback, but she laughed too: "Hey, it's no big deal. Xiaochun, someone as outstanding and cheerful as you will find your own future."
"Thank you for your kind words."
Jiang Yichun swallowed the last bite of the dumpling, turned around, and held back the tears that welled up in her eyes. She looked down and opened her phone.
Zhang Xingxing sent her a message:
Starlight: [Xiaochun, I've prepared a surprise for you when you go to see Professor Lin tomorrow!]
[This is to thank you for reporting Professor Chaolin for plagiarism last time!]
Jiang Yichun smiled and said, "Could you give me a little hint about the surprise?"
Starlight: [It's another senior student who's a real star.]
He really did get into A University for graduate studies!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
