Chapter 34 Chapter 34 A Habit of Getting Closer to Him
Jiang Meng didn't apologize to Fang Yuze; it wasn't a big deal to her.
But he ignored her for a few days.
On the third day, Jiang Meng messaged him: "What time are you leaving tomorrow?"
He remained silent.
She thought he hadn't seen it, but that afternoon he posted a picture on his WeChat Moments of the flowers he saw on a Tokyo campus.
Jiang Meng was confused: "Why didn't you tell me you were going back??"
Fang Yuze still has not replied.
This feeling was incredibly disheartening for Jiang Meng.
She absolutely, absolutely, absolutely hates passive-aggressive behavior.
She couldn't help but recall those cramped and suffocating days she spent with her father.
In previous verbal arguments that took place over the internet, he had similar cold shoulder behavior. Perhaps his way of dealing with problems is to ignore them and wait for time to pass so that they will naturally calm down.
But Jiang Meng stopped contacting him, tacitly acknowledging the end of their relationship.
A few days later, Fang Yuze, acting as if nothing had happened, sent her a piece of anime merchandise she really liked: "Is this what you wanted? I'll send it back to you."
How can you act so nonchalantly?
Jiang Meng initially planned to retaliate by ignoring him, but fearing that Fang Yuze would continue to pester her if she didn't make things clear, she announced to him with two words: "Break up."
That evening, Fang Yuze called her to try and win her back.
He explained the situation over the phone and told her what he had been thinking these past few days, while also defending himself: "I really like you, so sometimes I feel insecure."
His words were gentle enough; he lowered his stance and elevated her, a very effective tactic.
However, Jiang Meng wasn't buying it at all: "So, the consequence of your lack of security is going to be borne by me?"
The other person was stunned and said, "I didn't think that at all."
Jiang Meng: "What can you get in return for emotional abuse? Emotional control, obedience tests? Do you get pleasure from my attempts to please you?"
"Forget it, you don't need to answer me. I don't want to know at all."
"I can never understand the motivations of people like you, because I am a normal person who knows how to communicate."
Fang Yuze was puzzled.
How could a little jealousy that he had already moved on from lead to a breakup? He said, "Is it such a big deal? We just have different ways of solving problems."
Jiang Meng's tone was resolute: "It's not a big deal, but I can't stand it. I don't want to try to make it work because I know you won't change for me, and you'll treat me like this countless times in the future. If it's a breakup, then it's a breakup. I won't go back to an old flame, and we shouldn't contact each other again."
Before Jiang Meng hung up the phone, she suddenly heard him change the subject and ask in a low voice, "Will he argue with you?"
She didn't even need to think to know who he was talking about: "No, he always gives in to me."
He paused for a moment, then said, "Not many men would go to this lengths."
"You want me to teach you how to be a person and how to do things?"
Helpless, Fang Yuze called her name again: "Jiang Meng".
He is still fighting for himself.
He certainly didn't think it was a fatal problem.
Fang Yuze is a top student at Dongda University. What serious offense did he commit by not replying to her two messages?
But this is a fatal problem for Jiang Meng. She hopes that the pain, confusion, and tears of the past will never be repeated.
That relationship didn't last long, and they only met once, their last meeting ending in a bitter argument.
But Fang Yuze came back to look for her.
Jiang Meng avoided seeing him.
When she heard that name again, she no longer felt angry, only annoyed.
This relationship was very monotonous.
Her roommate asked her, "What's so boring about it? Isn't this how relationships are supposed to go? You two haven't even entered the honeymoon phase yet, have you? Try calling him 'husband' and see."
Jiang Meng immediately got goosebumps: "No, that's disgusting."
My roommate was nonchalant.
"It's normal. Some people just don't like arguing. That's just their personality. It's really not a big deal. If you don't like it, just remind him, and he might change next time."
Jiang Meng said, "I don't have a hobby of taming others, and I can't afford to wait."
Seeing her righteous indignation, her roommate couldn't help but laugh: "I'm quite curious about what kind of man you'll marry in the future."
After all, she is very picky. She has countless suitors, which is very enviable, but Jiang Meng's standards are frighteningly high. She is extremely demanding of men. Any flaws in them will be intolerable to her. She can't accept shooting hoops in the air, her nails being too long, or her smacking her lips while eating. Not to mention those with bad character and questionable manners.
Since then, Jiang Meng has become less obsessed with online dating.
She thought that, in her heart, her relationship with Fang Yuze was at most a continuation of a broken emotional bond.
She was fascinated by fireworks and by the fabricated Valentine's Day.
Her fascination with virtual companionship moved her to tears on a bittersweet night.
However, after this experience, Jiang Meng has since kept the adage "be careful when dating online" firmly in mind.
After returning home from the bar, Jiang Meng took a shower, wrapped herself in a towel, and rolled onto the bed with her Abebe puppy plush toy. She then turned on her phone and found that Qi Yunqing had sent her a message.
He asked, "Did you take the cards?"
Jiang Meng: "Yeah, do you want me to buy you a new one?"
Qi Yunqing: "No need, no need, we won't be seeking compensation from you."
Qi Yunqing felt a serious sense of crisis and repeatedly reminded him, "Seriously, don't fall in love with my friend. He'll only leave you with nothing but heartbreak."
Qi Yunqing: "Of course, my brother is different."
Jiang Meng: "Will you leave a little oil behind?"
Qi Yunqing: "...You're so heartless."
Jiang Meng smiled.
She asked, "How did you two meet?"
Qi Yunqing: "Just badminton."
Qi Yunqing: "By the way, I'll add you to the group."
Jiang Meng was quickly added to the group by him.
The group name is: "Nanjiang SOHO Badminton League".
A dozen or so people.
Jiang Meng quickly flipped through the list and saw that Chen Jizhou was on it.
His online name is still Chen Xiaoyao.
His profile picture was still that NBA star whose name she still didn't know—dark-skinned and not handsome at all.
Jiang Meng once grabbed him by the collar and "ordered" him: "Can you change your profile picture? I really can't appreciate your idol."
Chen Jizhou turned around and looked at her with a smile: Sure, I'll wait for you to send me the photos.
Jiang Meng was speechless for a moment, then raised her fist and shouted: "Pervert!"
Chen Jizhou quickly grabbed her fist.
Back then, his eyes were bright and sparkling when he smiled; he was clear-eyed, gentle, handsome, and dashing.
Now, those vibrant years have been faded and their saturation has diminished.
She has become much calmer and more mature. Her passionate nature has turned into a steady one, and the fiery color left in her glass marbles has almost completely faded.
Let's go back to the profile picture she clicked.
"It's been more than ten years since it was changed. It's really loyal," Jiang Meng thought.
When Jiang Meng joined the group, there were several people discussing the venue and time. The messages were coming in so fast that she didn't have time to read them carefully.
Qi Yunqing tagged her and introduced her to everyone: "This is Teacher Jiang."
The group chat was filled with enthusiastic cheers.
Jiang Meng: "I'm a newbie, I don't play well, please give me some pointers~"
After saying that, she sent a few cute emojis.
The men who were drinking earlier were all there: Xu Fang, Jiang Jiaming, and Shen Shuhuai. There were also two or three girls, chatting noisily for a few minutes.
Chen Jizhou remained silent.
Perhaps noticing his absence, Qi Yunqing called out, "It doesn't matter if you play well or not. Badminton can also be a visually appealing sport. Please enjoy @Chen Xiaoyao's powerful smashes."
Shen Shuhuai: "Are you still bringing this up? The new girls are all starting to know that you were driven to the brink of collapse by Young Master Chen."
Qi Yunqing: "Once you break through their defenses, all that's left is admiration. Please don't smear our battle."
Chen Jizhou finally replied: ".
Taking advantage of the chaos, a girl asked, "Is Mr. Chen going tomorrow?"
Chen Jizhou: "Something's up."
Shen Shuhuai: "When should we meet?"
Chen Jizhou: We'll talk about it next week.
Qi Yunqing: "There are fewer girls on the court when you don't come."
Shen Shuhuai: "Actually, he's suffering from Stockholm syndrome. He can't stand it unless you hang him up and beat him for a day."
Chen Jizhou: "..."
Jiang Meng watched them chat and kept laughing.
He only replied with those three or four sentences, and then didn't say anything more.
Jiang Meng agreed to help Qi Yunqing secure the school's premises.
The following evening, she changed into a short-sleeved shirt and shorts and drove to the medical school's stadium.
Jiang Meng was here for the first time, and the parking lot was crowded, so she had to find a place to get stuck in traffic.
Seeing an empty space, she moved her car over. Although this time the cars around her were ones she could afford to hit, the previous minor collision still made her apprehensive, and Jiang Meng's foot trembled slightly as she stepped on the brake.
As Jiang Meng turned the steering wheel to reverse, she noticed a car waiting for her behind her.
It was Chen Jizhou's car.
He rolled down his car window, glanced at Jiang Meng's car, and saw that she had probably been waiting for a while. He wasn't in a hurry, resting his elbow on the window frame as he waited leisurely.
Jiang Meng's hands, gripping the steering wheel, were a little sweaty.
The distance and direction should be fine, but she just wouldn't dare drive any further in.
After crawling along at a snail's pace for ages, Jiang Meng opened the passenger window and leaned out, saying, "Could you take a look for me? I'm a little scared to drive."
Chen Jizhou got out of the car and waved.
Jiang Meng quickly went downstairs.
“I’ll take charge for you,” she said.
He went upstairs and closed the door: "No need."
Chen Jizhou quickly parked her car and found an empty space across the street to squeeze his own car in. He took the black backpack off the passenger seat, draped one strap over his shoulder, and as he closed the door, he saw Jiang Meng standing by the roadside waiting for him.
She was dressed lightly today, revealing her beautiful and slender limbs. Her ponytail was tied up, revealing her face, which was already quite beautiful even without makeup. In the evening breeze, her smile towards him was warm and lovely. A pink thermos hung around her neck, which she held in her hand. Standing there, she looked like a juicy peach.
Jiang Meng's sportswear wasn't particularly stylish; she probably just thought it was appropriate for playing basketball. Besides the cup, she didn't bring anything else, suggesting it was her first time there.
As he approached, he saw her rosy, full lips move slightly, and she said in a wronged tone, "I bumped into Qi Yunqing's car the other day, and I'm starting to have PTSD."
Chen Jizhou remained expressionless. He glanced at the navigation system, which was still on, determined which direction he was in, and then looked for an exit to leave. "It's normal to be unfamiliar with the road since I haven't been driving for long. I'll get used to it after a year or two."
Jiang Meng smiled and said, "You're the first person to comfort me like this."
"Someone else is talking about you?"
"Some people say that women are not suitable for driving big vehicles, but I have already given them a serious talking-to."
Jiang Meng, recalling Zhou Xun's recent disdain, clenched her fist to show that her serious education had been effective.
Chen Jizhou caught a glimpse of her heroic expression out of the corner of his eye, smiled faintly, took out an unopened wristband from his bag, and handed it to her, "This is for you."
Jiang Meng curiously took the packaging bag in her hand, looking at it from all angles. As she unwrapped it, she asked, "Did you buy this for me?"
He said casually, "Buy one get one free."
But it's pink.
Jiang Meng put on the wristband in a good mood; it fit perfectly.
She glanced at the person walking ahead and followed, saying, "Didn't you say you didn't have time today?"
Chen Jizhou remained silent for a few seconds, as if he was thinking about how to answer the question. He put his hands in his pockets and looked down ahead because she was studying the wristband. He followed her for a while and then stopped. He needed to slow down his pace to move forward.
"I have something to do tonight, I'll be on the phone for an hour and then I'll leave."
Jiang Meng said "Oh," and finally caught up with him to walk side by side. She then looked up at him and said, "We used to play badminton together, do you remember?"
He gave her a very brief glance.
She speaks without considering the nuances of conversation, frank and straightforward. She can easily start reminiscing about the past without considering the traces of time's changes.
“I remember,” Chen Jizhou said.
Jiang Meng booked two venues, not consecutive ones. Chen Jizhou and Shen Shuhuai went to play at the other venue, which was quite far away.
Qi Yunqing provided guidance to Jiang Meng.
Qi Yunqing said that he was being modest, but he looked like a professional coach. He taught her how to hold the racket and how to generate power, and then played two more games with her.
She only managed to catch 5 out of 30 balls, and Jiang Meng began to wonder if there was something wrong with her technique. Just as she was about to leave, feeling disheartened, she heard someone speak lazily behind her.
"Don't listen to his nonsense. This is a thankless and exhausting method. You'd break your arm and still not get anything out of it." Chen Jizhou stood behind her and watched for a while before he couldn't help but say.
She turned around.
He walked over and glanced at the racket in Jiang Meng's hand: "Don't use your wrist to generate power, use your arm. And the racket isn't held like that, it's not facing straight ahead."
Jiang Meng made a racket-swinging motion in the air: "Isn't that how it is?"
Chen Jizhou gave a helpless smile, wondering what she had learned after all that trouble. He seemed to be laughing in exasperation, and even had a bit of a headache: "He taught you to fight like this? You should get your tuition back right away."
In his smile, she saw that carefree, nonchalant, and slightly arrogant side of his past.
However, Jiang Meng found these words unpleasant to hear, and she frowned: "I'm a newbie, can you please not be so impatient?"
"..."
As he moved closer, wanting to grasp her wrist to help her adjust her posture, he glanced down and saw the corner of her mouth turned to one side. Because of sweat, two strands of Jiang Meng's hair were wet and stuck to her temples. She probably really ate a peach; he could smell it when he got close, and there was a faint fruity fragrance on her body.
Chen Jizhou's eyes trembled slightly, and he lowered his gaze when she looked at him: "Okay."
Jiang Meng thought for a moment before realizing that Chen Jizhou's words weren't directed at her, so she quietly chimed in, "I knew his technique was flawed."
He nodded: "Yes, a little. You can fight me."
And so, the rest of the time was very pleasant.
She returned 20 out of 30 balls when playing against Chen Jizhou!
Sure enough, adjusting her grip was effective, but of course, this was also due to her own athletic ability.
When Jiang Meng took a break, she became full of fighting spirit again, because she found badminton to be a lot of fun.
When Jiang Meng turned on her phone, she saw that her mother had called her. She called back and whispered to Ye Zhaoxu, "I'm playing badminton with Chen Jizhou."
"You're hanging out with him again."
Jiang Meng beamed, "He went to play with him again."
She defeated the "God of War" and spoke with great pride, eagerly telling her mother, "I played super well. He's very good, but I could catch all his balls. He said I have talent."
Ye Zhaoxu scoffed: "You still have talent, but you can't even beat me."
Jiang Meng quickly retorted, "It's because your skills are too poor that you can't see how good I am!"
"Don't let him coax you into becoming an embryo."
Jiang Meng, holding back her anger, said, "No, that's not it. Don't just learn a word and use it carelessly. It's greasy."
She shook her water glass and realized it was empty, so she put down her phone and went to the water dispenser next to her to get some.
Two people I know were standing in front of the water dispenser.
Jiang Meng walked past them, about to point out Qi Yunqing's coaching mistakes, but before she could speak, she heard Qi Yunqing tease her, his voice laced with laughter: "Young Master Chen fed her dozens of balls, making her run all over the court, and the girl thought she played really well, she was so happy. I just asked him, 'Didn't you say you were going to coach her? How can she improve if you spoil her like this?' He even blamed me: 'We agreed to finish last together, but you left her alone, how can she not feel bad?'"
Shen Shuhuai chuckled, "That makes sense. Even on the court, it's wrong of you to always be thinking about winning against pretty girls. You need to find the right balance, and they'll be more willing to play with you next time. Learn from that."
"..."
Jiang Meng, who had just been beaming with joy like a beautiful, inflated balloon, slowly deflated as they talked, quickly becoming shriveled and lifeless.
When she came looking for him, Chen Jizhou checked the time and realized she was really leaving.
He walked to the bench where he was resting, looking for his bag, only to see that Jiang Meng had placed her bag next to his. She must have just tossed it over there, almost draping it over his backpack.
Chen Jizhou, who was bent over, paused as he was about to pick up his bag.
There were plenty of empty seats around, but she insisted on sitting right next to his.
She remained accustomed to it, used to getting close to him, used to relying on him, and drawing upon the invaluable friendship he offered.
Chen Jizhou's phone was on the bench outside. When he picked it up to look at it, the screen had just lit up.
The screen displays a name: Zhou Xun.
Who is Zhou Xun?
Chen Jizhou was puzzled for two seconds, then turned his phone over to take a look.
The phone case is pink.
...You took the wrong one.
He quickly put the hot phone back along with the man's name.
The next second, Jiang Meng picked up the phone before the call was even disconnected. She looked at the name and muttered a muffled "Huh?"
Chen Jizhou pulled out his bag and immediately noticed the pendant hanging from the zipper.
The bright color startled him.
I don't know if she saw it just now, but Jiang Meng is carefree and probably didn't notice. Chen Jizhou quickly took the pumpkin carriage off and stuffed it into his pocket.
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