Chapter 46
Saturday morning.
Jiang Jiawei went to class, while Jiang Jiayi and Mu Zhengxi went to the bookstore to do their homework.
Zeng Yuan was right about one thing: the training camp in April and the exams in May were both just around the corner.
This was the first time Jiang Jiayi had seen Mu Zhengxi do his homework, despite Mu Zhengxi having come to the weekend so many times. She found his behavior novel and was also curious about his homework, which was entirely in English.
"That's impressive."
If there's anything that Jiang Jiayi is weak at, it's English. And it's easy for people to admire others for things they're not good at but who are good at.
"It's nothing special," Mu Zhengxi said casually. "If you were in the same environment as me, you might have learned even better."
Jiang Jiayi exclaimed "Eh!" and put her arm around Mu Zhengxi's shoulder, who had suddenly become serious. "Brother, whether it's the environment or talent, that's only part of the reason. Being able to do this much is already amazing, so don't be modest, okay?"
Mu Zhengxi turned his head to look at him, raising an eyebrow, "You little rascal, when did you learn to speak like a human being?"
Jiang Jiayi quipped, "Occasionally, just occasionally~" She glanced at him, sensing something was off, and asked, "Why aren't you wearing your glasses anymore?"
"I don't know where I threw it."
They were nowhere to be found when I woke up in the morning.
Just like him, he's so forgetful. Jiang Jiayi was speechless for a moment, then asked, "Do you want to play ball this afternoon?"
"Okay, let's call Zhang Chao."
"He's probably been focusing on his studies lately. I haven't seen him on the basketball court in a long time. I heard from the internet cafe owner that he doesn't even go to the internet cafe anymore."
"real?"
"Yeah, my sister said he got 33rd in his class in this monthly exam. He used to be at the bottom. I heard he broke up with his girlfriend."
"Broken up again?" Mu Zhengxi smirked. "Are they playing house?"
The person twirling the pen said with an air of wisdom, "Isn't this how all high school students date?" He seemed to have been there all along.
Mu Zhengxi glanced at the person, speechless, but immediately agreed firmly, "Yes, so you have to keep an eye on your sister and make sure she doesn't fall in love too early."
Hearing this, Jiang Jia was even more speechless, and secretly curled the corner of her mouth, "What, are you feeling threatened?"
Mu Zhengxi countered, "Why would I feel a sense of crisis?"
"I can't control my sister." Jiang Jiayi shrugged, indicating her helplessness, then changed the subject, "Besides, campus romance is so wonderful. What if you meet someone you like but don't pursue it and regret it later?"
Mu Zhengxi couldn't hold back any longer and grabbed the book in his hand, yelling, "Regret my foot!"
Jiang Jia, who was covering the back of her head, moved her lips and silently cursed.
"Do you actually like my sister? You do like my sister, don't you?!"
Mu Zhengxi quickly covered Jiang Jiayi's mouth, "The bookstore, brother!"
Jiang Jia glanced around and noticed several gazes directed at her. She wisely shut her mouth, but didn't let the matter rest, lowering her voice to press, "I told you you only wanted to get close to my sister! And teaching me basketball, too, wasn't it!"
Mu Zhengxi answered quickly, without the slightest hint of guilt, "Bullshit! No way!"
"Then what? Just tell me if you like my sister or not."
Mu Zhengxi angrily threw a book at him, "Go do your homework."
Jiang Jiayi said quietly, "...This is your book."
"I'll let you learn from it."
A male high school student, whose toughest trait is his mouth.
Jiang Jiayi shook her head.
The judges said to Mu Zhengxi, "Okay, I agree to have you as a candidate."
Mu Zhengxi raised his hand as if to hit him.
The person who made an X in front of their chest wasn't afraid at all, and their expression was tough. "Hitting me proves you have a tendency to commit domestic violence, so you're disqualified."
Mu Zhengxi smiled and pinched his cheek, "It's not up to you."
"Then I'll tell my sister—"
Mu Zhengxi changed the pinching motion to a loving pat, "Little brother, my adorable little brother, let's have a delicious lunch together. What would you like to eat? Let's eat out, steak? Pizza or hot pot?"
Jiang Jiayi looked coldly at the fickle face in front of her and chuckled.
A girl walked over with her head down.
A note was handed to him.
Mu Zhengxi threw it directly to Jiang Jiayi.
"She really does attract attention," Jiang Jiayi clicked her tongue as she opened the package, then a feeling of embarrassment washed over her.
Mu Zhengxi saw that the person was still blushing and was glad that he had handed it over.
But soon Jiang Jiayi spread the note out in front of her, and before the words of refusal could slip out of her mouth, she swallowed them back down after mentally recognizing the words.
The two lowered their heads in tacit agreement, holding math papers and asking English questions.
What does this word mean?
"Oh, this? It means to adapt, to adapt."
As I wrote...
Jiang Jiayi suddenly thought, "So you'll be going abroad in the future, right?"
Mu Zhengxi paused in writing, blurring the black dots, but he didn't deny it.
"Foreign countries aren't on Earth; you can just buy a plane ticket and come back anytime you want."
Jiang Jiayi paused for a moment.
"You went back to Hanyang, was it really just to see your grandmother?"
They had never met Mu Zhengxi's grandmother, and in all the time they had known each other, he had never invited them to Changqing's house for a meal.
That's really strange.
Mu Zhengxi zipped up his coat and said casually, "Otherwise what?" He stood up. "I'll go buy a bottle of water. What do you want to drink?"
"Mineral water, please."
My brother-in-law is a real handful; he's got a million questions and he's not easy to fool.
Mu Zhengxi, who had bought water at the convenience store downstairs, took a deep breath and gripped the bottled water in his hand.
Qingming Festival holiday.
Mu Zhengxi needs to finish several group report assignments with Yan Yuheng and the others in these three days, because his second closed training camp will begin after the holiday.
"So, this means things have progressed to a conclusion?"
Xu Zizhao, sitting at his computer desk, watched Mu Zhengxi, who had been glued to his phone since he entered the room, constantly tapping away.
Yan Yuheng called out to the person slumped on the sofa, "Hey, you in a relationship, come over here."
Mu Zhengxi rolled his eyes, stuffed his phone back into his pocket, and stood up.
Is this layout okay?
Mu Zhengxi gestured for the people to move aside, preparing to adjust the situation himself, when his phone rang in his pocket just as he was about to sit down.
Mu Zhengxi had no choice but to answer the phone first.
As Xu Zizhao spun around in his chair, he joked, "Being in love really makes a difference."
Mu Zhengxi gave him a direct boost, making him feel like a spinning top, "What are you talking about, Mu Yashan? Let me show her our group's report." He grabbed her, "Get out of the way."
"No way, they haven't even started dating yet? That can't be, it's been so long!"
Mu Zhengxi continued typing on the keyboard, ignoring him.
"Dude, is your charm really that weak??"
Mu Zhengxi raised his eyelids slightly and said lazily, "Are you itching for a beating?"
I care about you!
Xu Zizhao pulled up another chair.
"Really, you haven't even talked to her yet?? You've been to Changqing so many times, you should have won over Shi Nu by now."
Mu Zhengxi said impatiently, "Shut up."
Xu Zizhao reflexively pursed his lips and looked at Yan Yuheng. The person flipping through the documents smiled and said, "Don't ask. He's getting married. It's different from dating and playing around with you. He values a long-term relationship."
Xu Zizhao retorted, "Who's playing around in relationships? I'm serious about mine!!"
"Yes, you're very serious. You're serious for three months straight."
"So what? I was really serious!" Xu Zizhao said dismissively, pushing off with his toes and spinning around. "Life is short, so enjoy it while you can."
Yan Yuheng clicked his tongue and shook his head in disgust, "Look at your shameless attitude, you didn't inherit any of your parents' loyal and excellent qualities."
Xu Zizhao rolled his eyes at him, finally finding a chance to tease Mu Zhengxi. He kicked Mu Zhengxi, moved closer, and teased him with a look of amusement: "Does Jiang Jiawei not like you? Oh right, were you two your first love in your dream?? Could it be that she has someone she likes now?"
Every blow could be fatal.
Xu Zizhao was overjoyed to see Mu Zhengxi's face turn as black as the bottom of a pot.
Yan Yuheng glanced at Xu Zizhao, then looked at Mu Zhengxi with some incredulous surprise, "Holy crap, it can't be true, right?? Hahaha, Mu Zhengxi, aren't you just watching yourself get cheated on?"
Liu Xinze, he must have been incompatible with people whose names contained the character "Xin" in his past life. Mu Zhengxi typed on the keyboard as if he were about to pull the trigger and kill.
Who is it???
"Which person??"
Xu Zizhao and Yan Yuheng approached the Bagua at the same time.
As Mu Zhengxi's gaze swept over, Xu Zizhao patted his chest in unison and said, "Don't be afraid, brother will back you up. Who did you say? I'll take care of it for you!"
Yan Yuheng nodded in agreement, his face filled with unwavering loyalty.
“Okay.” Mu Zhengxi raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t finished my interview assignment yet. Which of you two can help me complete it?”
"I need to revise this manuscript again, I need to revise it again."
"I'm going to the restroom."
Mu Zhengxi gave a cold laugh.
A brotherhood based on false affection.
Xu Zizhao couldn't hold back any longer, "Brother, we can't really be—"
"Want to die?"
"Hello everyone!!"
"..."
The calendar pages were blown over by the wind.
Time was accelerated in the countdown to the college entrance examination. In the atmosphere of everyone being on high alert, even the students who were least concerned about their grades were trained to feel a conditioned tremor in their hearts when they heard those two words.
Jiang Jiawei impatiently scribbled a few lines on the half-finished draft with her pen, threw it on the table, ran her hand through her hair, and was covered in sweat again after taking a shower.
With her hands supporting her on the table, she covered her face in despair. How could it be so difficult?
Jiang Weichao stood silently at the half-open door for a while, then looked up at the clock on the wall; the hands were almost pointing to twelve.
"Knock knock".
"Jiajia".
Putting her legs down from the chair, Jiang Jiawei responded loudly, "Yes."
Jiang Weichao pushed open the door. "Want to go to the rooftop and grab some late-night snacks?"
The person with the pursed lips frowned and nodded.
The long-lasting early summer has arrived.
Wearing a light jacket and enjoying the breeze on the rooftop at night is refreshing, and with an ice-cold beer, half of your worries can disappear.
It is permissible to do something out of line occasionally, but only when your parents are around. Jiang Weichao has told her this since she was little.
"Jiajia, is it because everyone is praising your younger brother that you feel a lot of pressure?" Jiang Weichao asked, picking up some food with his head down.
"Um?"
In families with multiple children, comparisons are inevitable, and for children in school, grades become the sole measure of success.
"It's true that your younger brother is very good at studying, but in Dad's eyes you are just as good. Exam scores only show that you have different strengths, and there's no way to compare who is smarter or more sensible."
Jiang Jiawei lowered her eyes. She had never thought that way. Jiang Jiayi had learned faster than her in many aspects since childhood and was more agile. As the older sister, even though she was often told by outsiders that she was dumber than her brother, she never felt jealous. She was just very proud to have such a smart brother.
Because her mother would always whisper in her ear, "Jiajia is also very smart. She knows many things that her brother doesn't know, but they just don't know it. In her mother's heart, she is just as smart as her brother."
When her father brought it up today, Jiang Jiawei covered her face with her hands and couldn't help but shed tears.
"What's wrong? It's nothing, it's nothing."
Jiang Weichao put his arm around his daughter's shoulder, and Jiang Jiawei burst into tears.
"It's good that you did your best. It's okay if you didn't do well on the test. You still have your dad and your younger brother. There's nothing to worry about."
Jiang Jiawei shook her head, "No, it's like this, hiccup, no, hiccup, like this."
"What is it? Tell your father."
"I……"
Jiang Jiawei couldn't speak, she just cried.
"You miss your mom, don't you?"
She nodded.
She just...misses her mother, misses her a little bit.
Jiang Weichao raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes and gently patted her back.
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