Chapter 60 One-sided Unrequited Love
After dinner, Jiang Ronghai offered to drive Zhou Chong home.
But Zhou Chong said his bicycle was still at the school, and it would be more convenient for him to ride it back himself, so he had to give up on that idea.
On the way back to school from the hotel, they passed through Jiang Wan's residential area, so Zhou Chong walked with them for a while.
When they parted ways outside the back gate of the residential compound, Shan Tong and Jiang Ronghai exchanged a glance and walked to the gate of the compound to watch Jiang Wan and Zhou Chong say goodbye at the intersection.
"We agreed to go to the city library together tomorrow?"
"Okay, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning?"
"Okay." Jiang Wan smiled and nodded, glancing at her parents not far away, and quietly took out her phone from her pocket and waved it. "I'll contact you again at a later time."
"Okay." Zhou Chong nodded, and glanced at Jiang Wan's parents standing by the gate of the residential area. "Go back quickly, your parents are waiting."
"Okay, I'll talk to you later on QQ." Jiang Wan put her phone back in her pocket and waved to Zhou Chong, "Bye-bye."
"Bye-Bye."
Jiang Wan turned and walked towards her parents, while Zhou Chong also turned to the side and waved goodbye to Jiang Ronghai and Shan Tong.
"Zhou Chong, be careful on your way home."
"I'll send a message to Wanwan as soon as I get home safely, so that her parents can know and feel at ease."
"Okay, I will. Goodbye."
Zhou Chong turned around and walked towards the school alone.
Jiang Wan went upstairs with her parents to go home.
After changing into slippers, she was about to go back to her room to put down her schoolbag when she remembered something and turned back to her parents, saying, "Dad, Mom, I'm going to the city library to study tomorrow."
To my surprise, I didn't hear the usual cheerful "okay".
Jiang Wan stopped in her tracks, looking at the two people in front of her, waiting for their answer.
Shan Tong and Jiang Ronghai exchanged a glance and tentatively asked, "Are you going with Zhou Chong?"
Jiang Wan didn't intend to hide it and nodded, "Yes."
Anyway, they've already met today and have a certain understanding of Zhou Chong. The conversation at the dinner table ended with Jiang Wan telling him to learn from Zhou Chong, so there's nothing wrong with frankly admitting that she'll study with Zhou Chong.
Unexpectedly, Shan Tong's expression became even more conflicted. She exchanged glances with Jiang Ronghai, and finally looked hesitantly at Jiang Wan.
"Wanwan, Mom wants to talk to you about something. Shall we go to your room?"
Jiang Wan paused for a moment, then turned around and opened the door. "Sure, come in and let's talk."
She walked into the room with an air of nonchalance, put down her schoolbag, and sat down in the chair in front of the desk, turning to look at Shan Tong who was following behind her.
Dan Tong slowly walked in, thought for a moment, then turned around and closed the door before sitting down next to Jiang Wan.
"Mom, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Looking at Jiang Wan's open and honest expression, Shan Tong silently organized her thoughts. After a while, she blurted out, "Wanwan, why don't you invite Zhou Chong to our house for some lessons tomorrow?"
"Huh?" Jiang Wan's mouth dropped open, and she asked blankly, "Why?"
“Because…” Shan Tong scratched her forehead and smoothed her hair. “It’s warm at home. In this freezing weather, we have to go to the city library to grab a seat. Studying at home is just as good. Mom can also prepare lunch and snacks for you.”
Jiang Wan thought about it and realized there was nothing wrong with it. "It's possible, but why didn't you mention it before?"
"Before, I..." Shan Tong scratched his head again, stammering and unsure how to explain.
Jiang Wan keenly noticed that her mother was not in a good mood, as if she was hiding something from her.
After all, she is now twenty-eight years old and knows her mother much better than Shan Tong had imagined.
"Mom, is there something you want to tell me?"
Dan Tong was taken aback, then nodded heavily, "Yes."
"Then you speak." Jiang Wan leaned back comfortably in her chair, fiddling with the plush rabbit on her phone charm, while waiting for her mother to speak.
Dan Tong's gaze fell on the rabbit doll she was playing with, and he immediately found a breakthrough.
"Wanwan, your phone charm, is it the same style as Zhou Chong's?" She bit her tongue, abruptly changing her words, "...?"
"Yes, that's right." Jiang Wan nodded. "I bought it for him."
Upon hearing this, Shan Tong unconsciously frowned.
She could already imagine that one weekend when Jiang Wan and Zhou Chong went out to study together, they went shopping after leaving the city library.
Jiang Wan saw the cute and fun couple phone charms and liked them. She bought them without hesitation and then coaxed Zhou Chong to help her put them on.
This is something her daughter would do.
Seeing Shan Tong's face turn red and white in turns, her expression changing repeatedly, Jiang Wan couldn't help but ask, "Mom, what are you thinking about?"
"I...I think..." Shan Tong was still immersed in her own imagination when she blurted out her true feelings, "Wanwan, I know that at your age, it's normal to have some budding feelings..."
Jiang Wan felt increasingly uneasy. "Mom...Mom, what are you saying?"
Dan Tong turned to look at Jiang Wan, sighed softly, and carefully chose her words, "I said, Zhou Chong is indeed very outstanding, a very good person, and handsome. I understand why you like him."
Jiang Wan stared blankly, her mouth agape. She had just managed to call out "Mom" when Shan Tong raised her hand to stop her. "Of course, Mom knows. Our Wanwan is also very outstanding. She's smart, beautiful, has a good personality, and is very likable."
She paused, then said in a serious tone, "To be honest, after meeting and talking with Zhou Chong today, my parents also think he's a good person, his family situation is good, and he's quite suitable for our family. If you two develop a relationship in the future, it will be a wonderful story."
Jiang Wan was still surprised by her parents' open-mindedness, or rather, their open-mindedness, when she was caught off guard by a "but".
“But,” Shan Tong sighed, “Wanwan, you’re a sensible child. You must understand that now is not the time for puppy love. The college entrance exam is just around the corner, and you should prioritize your studies. I didn’t want to say much, but you did in this mock exam…”
Jiang Wan interrupted her at the right moment, "Mom, I just didn't perform well in the mock exam this time, and I've already told you that."
“Your father and I both believe in you.” Shan Tong softened her tone, “But Wanwan, Zhou Chong is the top student in the grade. Your teacher, Mr. Fan, said he’s a sure thing for Tsinghua University. Have you thought about what might happen if you two break up after the college entrance exam…”
"Mom, I've thought about it." Jiang Wan smiled gently, her tone serious but soft. "I've thought about everything you've said, so Zhou Chong and I aren't dating yet."
"Huh?" This time it was Shan Tong's turn to be stunned. "Really?"
"Really?" Jiang Wan couldn't help but chuckle. "But you're right about one thing, no, two things."
She held up two fingers and said, "First, I do like Zhou Chong. You just said that he is very outstanding, handsome, and good in every way. It's normal for me to like him, so it's just me having a one-sided crush on him."
Shan Tong's eyes widened.
"Secondly, I also think you will like Zhou Chong, and our two families are quite compatible. So I want to have a further relationship with him in the future. Therefore, first of all, I want to get into the same university as him, which is Tsinghua University."
Jiang Wan explained her plan in a very logical and reasonable manner, "After I get into Tsinghua University, I'll slowly pursue him. A girl as beautiful and smart as your daughter shouldn't have too much trouble pursuing someone, right?"
Shan Tong nodded blankly, "No...it's not difficult."
"So, this phone charm," Jiang Wan picked up her phone to answer Shan Tong's last question, "is a keepsake we made to take the Tsinghua University entrance exam together, nothing more."
Looking at her daughter's unusually serious and determined expression, Shan Tong had no doubt about the truthfulness of what she had just said.
"Mom, I know you'll discuss this with Dad after you leave, so don't worry. I know exactly what's most important right now. I just didn't do well on the mock exam this time, but I'll definitely do better next time because I want to take the Tsinghua University entrance exam with Zhou Chong."
Shan Tong could no longer utter any words of doubt.
After a moment, she opened her mouth and said, "Then you should stay home and study tomorrow."
Jiang Wan raised an eyebrow and didn't refuse, "Okay, I'll ask him."
She knew that after confessing her feelings for Zhou Chong, her parents would still need some facts to put their minds at ease.
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