Chapter 38
"It was a free gift when I bought the chocolates."
Mu Zhengxi described the New Year's gifts as follows.
I wonder what kind of chocolate shop would give away an orange baseball cap with the letters NoraJ embroidered on the edge of the cap.
Jiang Jiawei propped her chin up as she pondered.
"Dad, I'm going out for a bit."
Where to go at this hour?
"Go to the photo studio next door, I'll be right back."
"Okay."
The photo studio owner rolled up the shutter halfway and saw Jiang Jiawei's figure. "Jiawei."
Good evening, Uncle.
"What's the matter so late?"
"Uncle, I'd like you to help me develop this photo."
"Okay, you'll have to come back to pick it up in a while, I've got a lot of orders lately."
"Can you hurry up?" Jiang Jiawei clasped her hands together and pleaded, "I'm in a bit of a rush, please, Uncle."
"Okay, I'll try to be as quick as possible."
"Okay, thank you!"
One day, Jiang Jia, who had developed a hoarse voice, was going through puberty. In just over a month, she had grown taller and was now taller than Mu Zhengxi, which made him feel a sense of crisis.
They didn't eat breakfast at home today; instead, they went to a peanut soup shop near Jiang Jiayi's school.
The peanuts were stewed until soft and tender, and an egg was added. It seemed like an odd combination, but it tasted surprisingly sweet. The eggy smell I had imagined was also washed away, and it went down my throat and into my stomach, making me feel warm.
Jiang Jiawei's preferred way to eat it is to soak fried dough sticks in soup, while Jiang Jiayi doesn't like that. He prefers to add hot taro paste to the soup. Both of them enthusiastically promoted their own exclusive recipes.
After trying it, Mu Zhengxi felt that the pure peanut soup was the best.
This led to the establishment of a tripartite balance of power.
When we arrived at the Li Ji Peach Crisp Shop that Jiang Jiawei had mentioned, we were very lucky to arrive just as the chestnut cakes came out of the oven. The aroma wafted for miles around, and the owner generously treated each of us to a piece.
Jiang Jiawei said, "By the way, we can buy some for our aunt and uncle to try."
Turning her head, Jiang Jia gasped for air, unable to speak from the heat. Coincidentally, Mu Zhengxi's face was also contorted. The two grabbed each other's shoulders to share the pain.
Jiang Jiawei: "..."
Because of the good weather, when you look up on the street, you can see that every household's balcony is full of clothes drying, and the bougainvillea is also desperately stretching its branches outwards.
"Hey bro, let's go play basketball later."
"Let's go, let's call Zhang Chao."
"I don't know if he's awake yet, why don't you give him a call?"
Mu Zhengxi took out his phone.
"Zhang Chao?" Jiang Jiawei stopped and turned around. "You know Zhang Chao from our class too?"
Jiang Jiayi and Mu Zhengxi's eyes slowly met, and they both subconsciously held their breath.
Jiang Jiayi said, "Um... I've played basketball with him a few times at the community activity center." She clapped her hands and excitedly added, "And! Doesn't he often buy breakfast from our house?"
Jiang Jiawei said "Oh," and pouted, "I've never heard you mention that." It sounded like she was unhappy that her younger brother hadn't shared it with her, but she didn't seem to be asking any questions or doubts.
Unaware that the two people behind them had quietly given each other a high five, they both breathed a sigh of relief.
Mu Zhengxi made a phone call to Zhang Chao.
"How are you? Are you up yet?"
He said he'd be there in twenty minutes and told us to go ahead.
Jiang Jiayi called out to the person walking in front, "Sis! We're going to play basketball."
"Okay."
Mu Zhengxi: "Jiang Jiawei, are you going or not?"
"What would I do if you guys were playing ball?"
Mu Zhengxi said with a smile, "You can be a cheerleader."
"It's so hot, I... ugh—"
Mu Zhengxi ignored her refusal and grabbed her arm, heading towards the community basketball court.
"Wait a minute, something's about to fall."
Mu Zhengxi took the bag from her hand.
When Jiang Jia turned around, she felt that something was off.
There's no such thing as knowing each other on the basketball court; anyone who wants to play can join in. Mu Zhengxi and Jiang Jiayi joined a group of college students who had returned from winter break.
Jiang Jiawei was originally sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree by the court to help them carry their coats, but later she got bored and went to the other side to play badminton with the uncles and aunts.
"Jiang Jiawei".
"You're here to play badminton too?"
Jiang Jiawei, who was waiting for her turn to be free, was somewhat surprised to see Liu Xinze.
Liu Xinze gestured to the badminton racket in his hand, "Want to join me?"
"Okay, are you all alone?"
"Yes, and you?"
"My brother and I came together; they were playing basketball."
Liu Xinze followed her gaze and asked, "Your cousin is here too?"
"Huh? Haha."
Jiang Jiawei chuckled twice and took the racket from his hand. "Wait a minute, I'll take off my jacket, it's a bit hot."
After Zhang Chao arrived, the number of players on their half became even, which resulted in two teams.
Take a break midway.
Mu Zhengxi hadn't seen the person on the bench yet. He folded his coat and placed it on the bag of pastries he'd bought that morning. "Where's your sister?"
Jiang Jiayi, hands on her hips and panting, asked, "I don't know, did they go to buy water?"
"Did it take so long to buy?"
"They must have gone to play badminton." Jiang Jiayi wiped her sweat with her sleeve. "Go buy a bottle of water, it's so hot."
Zhang Chao nodded in agreement.
Mu Zhengxi looked towards the badminton court. The trees obscured the view, making it difficult to see the whole thing, but he could still confirm that it was indeed Jiang Jiawei.
After gesturing to the other players on the court, the three of them walked together to the convenience store next door.
On the way back, they first went to the badminton court to deliver water to Jiang Jiawei.
Zhang Chao: "Isn't that so-and-so from our school?"
"who?"
Jiang Jiayi and Mu Zhengxi both turned to look at him.
“Our top student in the grade is Liu Xinze.” Zhang Chao raised his chin and pointed to the boy opposite Jiang Jiawei, clicking his tongue in amazement. “No wonder he’s Jiang Jiawei, he can even hang out with Liu Xinze.”
Mu Zhengxi pondered for a moment, "Liu Xinze, why does this name sound so familiar? Have I heard it somewhere before?"
Jiang Jiayi asked curiously, "What's wrong with him?"
Zhang Chao put his arm around Jiang Jiayi's shoulder and said, "The world of academic geniuses is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people."
"Explain in detail."
"Well, it's normal for a top student to be a little arrogant," Zhang Chao shook his head. "Anyway, we just don't click. I guess only someone with a good personality like your sister could put up with it."
Jiang Jia glanced at Liu Xinze, who was going toe-to-toe with her sister, and said, "He looks alright." He was good-looking and seemed like the kind of person who was well-mannered.
Zhang Chao held up his finger and shook it, "nonono".
Mu Zhengxi, who had been silent all along, suddenly called out, "Jiang Jiawei."
The person who heard the name turned around, picked up the ball they hadn't caught, and walked over. "You guys are done playing?" Seeing the bag Mu Zhengxi was carrying, they said, "I was just about to say I'd go buy you some water."
Mu Zhengxi handed it to her, saying, "This isn't cold."
But before drinking it herself, Jiang Jiawei handed it to Liu Xinze first.
"No need, I've brought it."
"It's nothing, don't mention it."
The other party politely declined.
Jiang Jiawei did not insist and withdrew her hand.
Liu Xinze nodded slightly to the three people, glancing at Zhang Chao as a greeting.
Zhang Chao forced a smile.
Liu Xinze walked to the side and picked up the thermos he had brought.
There was a familiar unpleasant feeling in that gaze. Mu Zhengxi squinted and carefully looked the person up and down. Before he could make an assessment, Jiang Jiawei interrupted him, "Twist it for me."
"oh."
Mu Zhengxi glanced at her. "Your hair is messy."
Because she was playing basketball, Jiang Jiawei had her hair tied up in a bun. After running around vigorously, it came loose and a few strands of hair fell down.
Jiang Jiawei tilted her head back to drink water and nodded with her chin to indicate that she understood.
Zhang Chao lowered his voice and said to Jiang Jiayi, "See?"
Jiang Jiayi raised an eyebrow. "He's quite interesting."
Zhang Chao rolled his eyes. "Let's go, let's go."
Anyway, he didn't want to be with Liu Xinze; he felt a kind of uncomfortable, itchy feeling all over his body.
Jiang Jia called out, "Brother Xi, let's go."
Mu Zhengxi didn't follow immediately. He asked Jiang Jiawei, "Do you still play badminton?"
Jiang Jiawei shook her head. "It's too hot, I don't want to play anymore." She walked over and handed the racket back to Liu Xinze.
"I'm going now."
"good."
"Bye-Bye."
Goodbye, Jiang Jiawei.
Mu Zhengxi, hands in his pockets, looked at the person with a slightly hostile expression. Jiang Jiawei? Then, realizing something was off, he said, "Why is he calling you Jiang Jiawei too?!"
"Huh?" Jiang Jiawei was stunned. "Isn't my name Jiang Jiawei?"
Mu Zhengxi said indignantly, "That's different!"
Jiang Jiawei was startled and blinked at him, "What's different?"
"I-"
Everything is different. Mu Zhengxi wanted to say it, but he didn't know how to say it. In the end, he turned his head away, shut his mouth, and sulked angrily, looking like he refused to communicate.
Jiang Jiawei fanned herself with her collar and took out a tissue to wipe her sweat. "Can I go home first? It's so hot."
"Can I cheer you on from home?"
Jiang Jiawei tilted her head to look at Mu Zhengxi.
With his height advantage, Mu Zhengxi could easily look down at Jiang Jiawei's face. He noticed that Jiang Jiawei didn't seem to care about his anger at all, but she was smiling, smiling like she was coaxing a child, and speaking in the same way. This meant that even though his anger was being ignored, Mu Zhengxi couldn't bring himself to put on a cold face. So he clicked his tongue and reluctantly replied, "Fine, then you can go back first."
It's better than staying here and playing badminton with that guy.
Mu Zhengxi secretly regretted that he should have given Jiang Jiawei a badminton racket.
Jiang Jiawei handed the remaining tissues to Mu Zhengxi, saying, "Here, you can use them to wipe your sweat later."
Zhang Chao called out to him on the basketball court.
"Jung-hee! Hurry up."
"knew."
"Then I'll go back."
"Um."
Jiang Jiawei turned around and patted his shoulder, pointing to the bench, "Don't forget your coat, and bring back a piece of pastry too."
Mu Zhengxi's depressed mood immediately eased a lot. "Okay~"
Zeng Yuan returned from her two-day business trip to Singapore. The first thing she did upon arriving home was to ask about Mu Zhengxi's whereabouts. This was nothing short of shock, as Mu Zhengxi was only kept in Changqing for two days before being sent back home.
Mu Zhengxi went to the airport, and Jiang Jiawei and Jiang Jiayi also went to the station to take a bus to find their aunt.
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