Chapter 85 Embrace
Jiang Wan's heart skipped a beat.
The possibility she dared not even think about turned out to be true.
Zhou Chong actually gave up participating in Tsinghua University's independent admissions program because of her.
But... why would he do this for her?
“It’s my own business that I didn’t get a school recommendation. It has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to worry about it. I won’t have any awkward thoughts about you participating in the independent admissions process.”
Jiang Wan had wanted to tell Zhou Chong these things for a long time, ever since she discovered that he deliberately avoided mentioning the independent enrollment process in front of her, but she thought she was overthinking it until now.
She didn't want any misunderstandings or estrangement between them.
“I said I wanted to take the Tsinghua University entrance exam with you, not to tie you down.” Jiang Wan looked earnestly into his eyes. “Just keep running forward, I will catch up with you. It was my fault for not doing well on the mock exam, but I have caught up now, and I will get into Tsinghua University.”
Zhou Chong looked straight at her. "Of course I know."
He knew she wasn't trying to tie him down, he knew her grades had caught up, and he knew even more that Jiang Wan would definitely get into Tsinghua University.
But she didn't know.
She didn't know that he never wanted to just run forward on his own, nor did he ever want her to chase after him for first place.
In his past life, he was clumsy and naive, trying to get Jiang Wan to look at him more in this way.
But now, having been given a second chance at life, he knows exactly what he wants.
He didn't want to watch her chase after him any longer; he wanted to be by her side every moment, standing with her.
He'll always be there for her whenever she needs him.
As long as she needs him.
"Since you already know, why did you still do it?" Jiang Wan's voice trembled slightly.
Zhou Chong understood.
He stared at her intently, his hand, which had been resting on the bench, slowly rising and hovering behind her, but he hesitated to bring it down.
Jiang Wan tilted her head slightly, her eyes red-rimmed, and met his gaze. She bit her lip, stubbornly demanding an answer from him.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Chong lowered his eyes resignedly, "Because I don't want to leave you, afraid that I won't be there when you need me."
Jiang Wan was stunned for a moment.
After pondering his words several times, she said in a daze, "But it's only a few days. I'll go to Beijing, have the interview, and come back. You won't be gone for too long. It's just a few days. I can manage on my own. It's okay."
“It’s related.” Zhou Chong looked up at her, his tone firm. “It’s not just a few days. I don’t want you to feel like I’m abandoning you and leaving first. I promised to accompany you to take the Tsinghua University entrance exam. I won’t leave ahead of you.”
Jiang Wan stared blankly into his eyes, speechless.
She never expected it to be for this reason.
She had previously misunderstood that Zhou Chong was deliberately trying to take care of her feelings, and her pride prevented her from accepting such care, even if it was well-intentioned.
But the truth is, Zhou Chong never had such thoughts from the beginning; he just wanted to give her the most steadfast choice and trust.
Let her feel at ease spending this last period of her senior year with him.
In her previous life, she had experienced early independent enrollment. Although she still had to return to take the college entrance examination after being pre-admitted, she enjoyed the preferential policy of being admitted with the largest reduction in scores, which was no different from being recommended for admission.
Zhou Chong was the same.
During the final period before the college entrance examination, Jiang Wan knew better than anyone the envious yet repressed looks others gave her.
Although she entered the examination room with everyone else, she had already walked ahead of them, leaving them far behind.
Zhou Chong didn't want her to experience that feeling with him.
So he gave up participating in the independent enrollment program from the very beginning and chose to accompany her to the examination hall together.
“Zhou Chong…” Jiang Wan bit her lip, but couldn’t suppress her sobs.
"What's wrong?" Zhou Chong looked down at her.
The woods by the lake were dark at night. Jiang Wan had her head down, so he couldn't see her face. He could only tell from the sobbing in her voice that she was in a bad mood.
"Are you angry with me?" Zhou Chong was at a loss for words. "I may not have explained myself clearly. It's not that I gave up the recommendation to stay with you because I was worried you would hold a grudge against me for not getting the school's recommendation. That's not what I meant..."
“I know.” Jiang Wan interrupted him abruptly, still keeping her head down. “I know everything, you don’t need to explain.”
Zhou Chong paused, then breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as he relaxed his tense body, the next second, a furry head suddenly burrowed into his arms.
Zhou Chong was stunned. His hand, which was still hanging in the air, froze, and his shoulders and back were taut. He had no idea how to react.
Jiang Wan buried her head in his chest, her arms wrapped around his waist, and said in a muffled, broken voice, "Zhou Chong... why are you so good to me?"
I can't control myself, I'm growing to like you more and more, do you know that?
Jiang Wan closed her eyes and pressed her cheek tightly against his chest.
Since there's no one here anyway, let her be unrestrained this once.
Zhou Chong slowly lowered his head, his lips brushing against the top of her hair, a slight tickle that stirred a slight unease in his heart.
He closed his eyes tightly, slowly lowered his hand, and carefully stroked the back of her head, gently rubbing her hair. With his other hand, he slowly put his hand on her shoulder.
The movements were very light and slow, and Jiang Wan could clearly feel each touch.
For a long time, neither of them spoke, and they simply embraced each other quietly in the gentle spring night.
Zhou Chong did not answer the question Jiang Wan had just asked.
But it didn't matter; Jiang Wan didn't care about his answer, she knew it in her heart.
Zhou Chong is a man of action who speaks volumes without making a sound decision.
Some things cannot be judged by whether someone says them, but by whether they do them, and what they do.
During the years they were married, she thought he was indifferent, that he was just dutifully fulfilling the agreement, and that he had no feelings for her.
Looking back now, perhaps that's not entirely true.
But the past is untraceable and cannot be retrieved. She has already missed so many years with him, and she cannot miss it again now.
She wanted to hold him tightly.
Just as she was quietly tightening her arms around herself, Zhou Chong's voice suddenly rang out above her head, clear yet gentle, carried on the wind.
"I didn't know, but I just wanted to do it."
Jiang Wan's heart stirred, and she instantly became completely smitten.
She tilted her head back in his arms, sniffed, and smiled at him, saying, "You're so cute."
I like you so much.
Zhou Chong was stunned for a moment, not understanding why Jiang Wan would use this word to describe himself.
That's about right to describe her.
Zhou Chong didn't know how to respond to this, and Jiang Wan didn't explain further. She just looked at him with a smile and snuggled into his arms in a coquettish manner.
The top of her hair rubbed against his neck.
Zhou Chong was aroused by her charm, tilted his head back slightly, his jawline taut, and his Adam's apple bobbing up and down unconsciously.
Who's there?
Suddenly a flashlight beam shone over, and the patrolling security guard's voice rang out.
Jiang Wan was startled. She exchanged a glance with Zhou Chong and quickly stood up from the bench. "Run!"
Zhou Chong grabbed Jiang Wan's hand and led her to run towards the teaching building, turning back as he ran, saying, "Hold on tight to me."
"Mmm." Jiang Wan squeezed his hand and nodded with a smile.
The two men's sneakers sank deeper and deeper into the cobblestones, their shoes crunching against the wind as they ran forward with an air of exuberance.
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