Chapter 98 I Have Someone I Like
The time before the college entrance examination is especially long, but when you actually get to the examination hall, those two days pass in the blink of an eye.
When the bell rang to signal the end of the last English exam in the afternoon, Jiang Wan put down her pen and waited for the invigilator to collect the exam papers before leaving the exam room.
The feeling of walking out of the exam hall this time was quite different from that in my previous life.
In her past life, she felt no pressure and ran out lightly after finishing her exams. Now, she still feels a sense of relief, but she is even more at peace.
Old Fan had previously informed everyone to gather briefly in the classroom after the exam so that they could discuss the answers when they returned to school the next day.
Jiang Wan's exam room was on the second floor, not on the same floor as Zhou Chong's, and there were no classmates she knew in the next exam room.
She walked up the stairs alone, her steps light as she made her way to the classroom.
Several boys ran past in the corridor, swinging their transparent pencil cases and throwing stacks of review materials out of their backpacks.
Jiang Wan glanced at them with a smile, then turned and went up to the third floor.
She had just reached the corner of the stairs when someone behind her called out to her.
"Jiang Wan."
It was a cheerful and sunny male voice, which didn't sound unfamiliar.
Jiang Wan turned around and saw Qi Ming in the corridor behind the stairs.
He leaned against the corridor railing, raised his right hand, waved at her, and smiled broadly.
"Is something the matter?" Jiang Wan didn't walk over, but just stood there and asked him.
Qi Ming glanced at the noisy corridor around him, scratched the back of his head, and took two steps closer to Jiang Wan. "I have something I want to tell you."
Jiang Wan nodded. "Okay, go ahead."
"There are too many people here, could we..." Qi Ming turned to look at the end of the corridor, "and talk there?"
Jiang Wan was taken aback, glanced in the direction of Qi Ming's gaze, and said calmly, "Let's talk here. It doesn't matter if there are many people, I can hear you clearly."
Qi Ming turned around, biting his lip with some hesitation.
Jiang Wan saw this and probably already knew what he was going to say.
She had sensed something was amiss and had already clearly rejected Qi Ming's invitation, and had kept her distance from him ever since.
Unexpectedly, after the college entrance examination, Qi Ming came to find her again, seemingly waiting for her on her way back to class.
Qi Ming hesitated for a moment, then looked back at the corridor railing behind him. "Let's at least talk over there; it'll be a bit quieter."
Jiang Wan thought about it and agreed.
The area by the corridor railing wasn't exactly secluded, but it was less crowded than the area by the stairs. Since we were going to make things clear with Qi Ming, we should also consider his feelings.
Jiang Wan turned around and walked forward with Qi Ming.
Zhou Chong came out of the examination room at the other end of the corridor and had only taken a few steps toward the stairs when he saw that familiar figure.
Jiang Wan and Qi Ming leaned against the railing, looking at each other.
From his angle, he couldn't see Jiang Wan's expression, but he could see Qi Ming's.
Qi Ming smiled, his eyebrows curving upwards, and looked at Jiang Wan with a bright smile in his eyes.
Zhou Chong slowed his pace without making a sound, turned around, and went behind the pillar closest to the two of them.
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"Jiang Wan, do you know?"
Qi Ming turned to the side, one hand resting on the railing, unconsciously clenching his fist. As he spoke, he also unconsciously swallowed.
Jiang Wan noticed his nervousness. "What?"
"Back in the first year of high school, for a while, I sat behind you. We were in the row by the window, do you remember?"
Jiang Wan paused for a moment, too embarrassed to shake her head in front of Qi Ming.
The events of her first year of high school were too far in the past for her to remember, which is perfectly normal.
She didn't speak, so Qi Ming continued, "Back then, it was June, just like now. It was hot, so we opened the window, and the wind blew in, lifting your hair. It looked so beautiful. I remembered it the moment I saw it, and I've never been able to forget it since."
"Later, we were divided into different classes in the second year of high school, but every time we raised the flag or did morning exercises, I couldn't help but look for you in the crowd." Qi Ming lowered his head and smiled shyly. "I... I want to say that I've liked you for a long time."
Finally, after uttering his last words, Qi Ming let out a long sigh of relief.
Jiang Wan took a deep breath.
The affections of youth are pure and simple, sometimes requiring only a glimpse of someone's back. Although most of them end without a trace, as someone who has been through it all, she wants to protect Qi Ming's innocent heart as much as possible.
I didn't want him to lose hope in love because of my rejection.
In short, she couldn't say the rejection in a way that was too hurtful.
"Qi Ming, thank you for your affection." Jiang Wan spoke carefully, "You're a good person, very popular with girls. When you go to university, you'll meet even more people, and you'll definitely meet girls even better than me, you... understand?"
Qi Ming stared at her blankly for a moment, then opened his mouth and said, "I've been admitted to a sports university through the recommendation program, and I'll be in Beijing from now on. I know you'll definitely go to Tsinghua University or Peking University. In the future, we'll be in the same city, and we'll have many more opportunities to meet."
He paused, then continued, his voice a little muffled, "It's okay if you don't like me now, there's plenty of time in the future, let me pursue you slowly... okay?"
Qi Ming left room for maneuver in his words, without putting any pressure on Jiang Wan to respond.
Jiang Wan now understood why Qi Ming waited until after the college entrance examination to confess his feelings to her.
However, he humbled himself enough that Jiang Wan could only refuse him more firmly, otherwise, it would only hurt him.
“Qi Ming, you are really good, really.” Jiang Wan pursed her lips. “But I can’t accept your advances because…”
Jiang Wan paused for a moment, then looked up at Qi Ming and said seriously, "I have someone I like."
Qi Ming was taken aback, lowered his eyes, and his gaze immediately locked onto Jiang Wan's wrist.
Jiang Wan was wearing a summer short-sleeved school uniform, her fair arms were exposed, but what was even more eye-catching was the red mark on her wrist.
He had noticed the bracelet on her wrist a long time ago, but at first, he just thought it was a small accessory that Jiang Wan liked to wear.
He had originally intended to say that she looked very beautiful wearing the cinnabar bracelet.
But now, he seems to understand something.
"I understand." Qi Ming gave a wry smile, turned around, leaned on the railing with both hands, and gazed into the distance with feigned nonchalance. "Thank you, Jiang Wan. I won't bother you anymore."
Jiang Wan gave a soft "hmm," thought for a moment, and then decided not to say anything more to comfort her.
At this moment, Qi Ming probably really didn't want to hear her say those things and just wanted to be alone for a while.
After saying "goodbye," she turned and headed towards the stairs.
Suddenly, a figure appeared beside him.
Jiang Wan turned her head and saw that it was Zhou Chong.
He was walking over from the other side of the corridor, and like her, he was about to step onto the stairs.
She smiled happily, "You just came from the exam room?"
Zhou Chong nodded. "Yeah, we just happened to run into each other. Let's go back to the classroom together."
"Mhm." Jiang Wan nodded with a smile and walked up to the fourth floor with Zhou Chong.
Zhou Chong stepped down one step from her and silently watched her back as it appeared so close to him.
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