Chapter 8 She's such a spoilsport, you're not my boyfriend yet...
Tao Jiang was silent for a moment. In that instant, many memories seemed to flash through her mind, but it was only for a moment.
“How could I possibly like Qin You?” She shook her head, denying it with an incredibly natural expression. “He’s the person you like, and you’re my best friend. How could I possibly compete with you for him?”
“Even if I like him, it doesn’t mean other people can’t like him,” Yu Kui frowned, feeling that this was not a valid reason. “You also have the right to like him, but if you like him, I hope we won’t hide it from each other. No matter what the final outcome is, we will still be friends.”
Yu Kui's words were very clear: she hated deception and did not want any misunderstandings between friends.
Tao Jiang seemed amused by her serious expression. "If... I said I like Qin You, what would you do?"
Yu Kui's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly said, "We can compete together."
"What if Qin You chooses to be with me?" Tao Jiang's face still held a smile, but her eyes were somewhat cold. "What will you do after we're together? Will you hate me?"
“If he follows his heart and chooses the person he likes, then it proves that you two are in love, and as your friend, I will wish you well.” Yu Kui did not smile, but answered with utmost seriousness.
Her gaze was so open and honest that Tao Jiang could hardly look directly at her.
She's had a crush on her childhood sweetheart for so long, and it's okay for her to take him away? Why is Yu Kui so nonchalant? It's as if she and Qin You have become insignificant. It's infuriating.
How could she answer those questions so calmly? Where did she get her confidence? To make herself compete fairly with her? Did she know that Qin You had already...
Tao Jiang's smile gradually faded. She looked at Yu Kui quietly, her voice slightly cold, "Yu Kui, no matter where I gave you the wrong impression, I don't like Qin You, and I won't pursue him. You don't need to ask me such questions. This is a questioning of our friendship, and I don't like that."
Yu Kui opened her eyes wide, and Tao Jiang sighed, "Do you know how upset I was when you asked that question? I have nothing in common with Qin You, how could I possibly like him? You treat Qin You like a treasure, but I don't."
Looking at Tao Jiang's delicate and fair face, Yu Kui knew that Tao Jiang had many suitors and received love letters from students of all grades almost every day. She disdained all the boys. Perhaps she shouldn't have asked Tao Jiang this question, but after Tao Jiang learned that she didn't like Qin You, she did feel relieved and realized that she had overthought things. If Tao Jiang liked Qin You, she wouldn't be so calm.
“I’m sorry…” Yu Kui immediately wanted to apologize, but Tao Jiang interrupted her, “You don’t need to apologize to me. It’s my fault for not being a good friend that made you suspicious. I should apologize to you.”
Hearing her say that made Yu Kui feel even more guilty.
"Alright, don't think so much," Tao Jiang took her hand again. "I know what you're thinking. Now you can relax. Qin You is your childhood friend, and he always will be."
Yu Kui blushed slightly upon hearing this, "Then don't be angry."
“I’m not angry,” Tao Jiang said, looking at the teaching building in front of her, her eyes filled with a darkness that only she could understand. “We are best friends, and I will never be angry with you.”
Yu Kui didn't say anything, but she held Tao Jiang's hand, and her tense heart finally relaxed.
After the sports meet ended, the classroom returned to its intense study routine. Yu Kui's monthly exam results were much better than she had expected, with slight improvements in English and math. Although not very noticeable, Yu Kui was still satisfied and planned to extend her evening study time to achieve her ideal score.
Tao Jiang's grades were unexpected by Yu Kui. Whether it was because she was too nervous during the exam or because she had only recently transferred to the school and had not yet integrated into the learning environment, her grades were actually in the lower middle range. The English teacher called her out in class, emphasizing her basic knowledge and telling her to review more and catch up as soon as possible.
Tao Jiang pursed her lips, her expression somewhat embarrassed. After class, Yu Kui and other classmates went over to comfort her. Yu Kui offered to tutor her, but Tao Jiang refused without hesitation, saying, "It's okay, I've already found a suitable tutor. With him, I'm sure my grades will catch up."
"Did your family find this for you?" Yu Kui had never heard her mention a tutor before, so she asked curiously, "What does he/she teach?"
“I teach him everything,” Tao Jiang said with a slight smile. “He has excellent grades; there’s no subject he can’t learn.”
"Is he still a student?" Yu Kui was a little surprised. She thought Tao Jiang had found a teacher from an institution.
“Yes,” Tao Jiang said, seemingly in a good mood when she mentioned her tutor. “He spends a lot of time teaching me every night. He’s the most responsible tutor I’ve ever met.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Kui suddenly thought of the time when Qin You tutored her before. He had also done very well and was very meticulous when explaining the problems.
"Are they classmates from our school?"
Tao Jiang paused, a sly glint in her eyes, "It's a secret."
Seeing this, Yu Kui knew that she had tacitly agreed, but was too shy to say who the person was. She couldn't help but say, "Studying is one thing, but be careful when you're with him."
"I understand," Tao Jiang looked at Yu Kui's face, a smile playing on her lips and in her eyes, as if she had thought of something. "He's a very good person, he won't hurt me."
Yu Kui wanted to say something more, but seeing Tao Jiang's delighted expression, she didn't want to spoil the mood. However, she was thinking about when to meet that person and make sure he was a good person before saying anything more.
However, Tao Jiang kept that person a secret very well. Every time Yu Kui asked her, she would act like a girl in love, which was in stark contrast to her usual aloofness. When Yu Kui asked her if she was in love, Tao Jiang chuckled and said, "It's not time yet."
“Let’s date after we graduate high school,” Yu Kui said. “By then we will be adults and more responsible for each other.”
"Why are you more worried than me?" Tao Jiang pinched her baby fat. "When it comes to love, it's not just about me. It's about whether he takes the initiative. If he pursues me, then I'll consider it." Her words were full of confidence about love, as if she was certain that the boy would pursue her.
Yu Kui felt a little envious. Tao Jiang had already found someone she liked, but she and Qin You hadn't made any progress yet.
Qin You was very busy during this time and lost contact after school. Even when Yu Kui took the initiative to look for him, he declined, citing his studies as the reason. Even Yu's mother was a little surprised that he didn't come to their house for dinner anymore. Even if she cooked his favorite dishes and called him, he wouldn't come. After a few times, Yu's mother gave up on the idea of inviting him over.
Qin You has grown up and is no longer the little kid who was always entrusted with things, so Yu's mother no longer bothers him.
Over the weekend, Yu Kui invited Qin You to the library to read, but Qin You declined again, saying she had other things to do.
After several weekends in a row, Yu Kui found that her relationship with Qin You seemed to have become distant. Before, no matter what she wanted to do, Qin You was always by her side. But at some point, apart from school, she and Qin You had no other contact, and they seemed to have become just ordinary friends.
This realization made Yu Kui feel very sad. She sent Qin You a long message, asking him what he was doing, why he never had time, and what had happened.
She's always been like this; she'll ask directly about anything and never beat around the bush or speculate.
Little did they know that Qin You was at the arcade with Tao Jiang. The two first watched a recent hit movie, and then went to play claw machines. Their interaction was similar to that of a couple.
For the past two months, whether at school or at home, Qin You has spent a lot of time on Tao Jiang, tutoring her, taking her out to play, and fulfilling her every wish without reservation.
"Whose message is this?" Seeing him looking down at his phone, Tao Jiang covered the screen with her hand. "Is it Yu Kui?"
Qin You slightly avoided her hand, but Tao Jiang grabbed her palm. "I'm asking you a question."
Qin You shifted his gaze from his phone to her face. Tao Jiang looked at him with a slightly reproachful and provocative expression, "Did you ask where you are? Are you going to come back?"
Qin You didn't speak, but subconsciously put the phone back. Then he held Tao Jiang's hand tightly, giving Tao Jiang an answer with his actions.
Tao Jiang's lips curled into a smile, and she leaned softly against him. Her voice was sweet, completely unlike the coldness she displayed in front of Yu Kui, making it sound exceptionally pleasant. "If Yu Kui knew how heartless you were, do you think she would cry? She's been so good to you, how could you bear to do this?"
"Shut up." Qin You knew she was deliberately saying these things to provoke him, so he grabbed her wrist tightly and said irritably, "Don't mention her again."
"Feeling guilty?" Tao Jiang raised her eyes and lowered her voice, "Afraid she'll find out we're out having fun behind her back?"
Qin You pursed his lips and looked at her intently. "Isn't it a downer to bring her up at this time?"
Tao Jiang paused for a moment, then smiled even more brightly, tapping Qin You's heart firmly with her finger. "If she knew you said that about her, she'd really cry. She cares about you so much..."
The last sentence carried a hint of jealousy, as if she was accusing the boy of having a childhood sweetheart who had occupied his life for more than ten years, which made her jealous.
“She has nothing to do with me,” Qin You retorted instinctively. “Even if she cares about me, she’s not the same as you.”
As he said this, he leaned in and hugged Tao Jiang, saying meaningfully, "Don't you know very well who I care about?"
The boy's embrace was broad and warm, enveloping Tao Jiang tightly. From a distance, they looked inseparable, like a match made in heaven.
"What are you doing?" Tao Jiang pushed the boy's chest, pretending to be reserved, and said, "I haven't accepted your confession yet, you're not my boyfriend yet."
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