Happy Adulthood
After a day of classes, Jiang Jingshu moved her luggage to her dormitory and, after unpacking, sat down at her desk.
When Li Xuan saw the sunflowers in Jiang Jingshu's hands, she quickly stepped forward and asked, "Wow, who gave you these?"
Jiang Jingshu smiled sheepishly, "A friend."
After she finished speaking, she took out the greeting card that was tucked inside the sunflower. She picked it up, and the words on the card came into view.
"I will wait until the day you tell me your secret."
Jiang Jingshu smiled unconsciously. She glanced at the agave on the table, which had only grown a little bit since before the training camp.
Jiang Jingshu lay on the table, staring at the agave, thinking that Xie Zhijin might be able to wait until the moment when Jiang Jingshu revealed this secret.
Jiang Jingshu took out her phone and searched for "how to care for sunflowers".
After watching the tutorial, she found a cup, added water, and carefully cut the bottom of the sunflower at an angle, placing the sunflower in the cup.
It was placed next to the agave.
It is very visually appealing.
Jiang Jingshu lay there for a while and then fell asleep.
—
Jiang Jingshu had just finished school when she received a call from Su Xiaoyue, and she answered it quickly.
"Jiang Jiang!" Su Xiaoyue's eager voice came through the phone. "Come out now!"
"Where to?" Jiang Jingshu asked.
"Hey, get out of the school gate, hurry up, I'll give you three minutes."
Su Xiaoyue hung up the phone after speaking. Jiang Jingshu was a little confused, but still walked towards the school gate.
When she was still some distance from the school gate, Jiang Jingshu saw Su Xiaoyue waving at her, and she quickly ran over.
The moment Jiang Jingshu stepped out of the school gate, Su Xiaoyue gave her a firm hug. Before Jiang Jingshu could speak, Su Xiaoyue whispered in her ear, "Jiang Jiang, happy birthday."
Jiang Jingshu suddenly realized that it was already December, and today was her birthday.
“You’re 18 now, Jiang Jiang is an adult.” Su Xiaoyue took Jiang Jingshu’s hand, and only then did Jiang Jingshu notice Wen Jinyan standing next to Su Xiaoyue.
Wen Jinyan also said, "Happy birthday."
Jiang Jingshu politely thanked them, and then instinctively looked behind the two of them.
There was no one else.
Xie Zhijin did not appear to have come.
Jiang Jingshu felt a little regretful, but this feeling only lasted for a second.
"See if Xie Zhijin is here?" Wen Jinyan seemed to notice the fleeting emotion in Jiang Jingshu's eyes, so he quickly nudged Su Xiaoyue. "Tell Jiang Jingshu quickly, I think she's quite curious."
Su Xiaoyue glared at Wen Jinyan, then pulled Jiang Jingshu and said, "Come on, we've booked the hotel again this time. Xie Zhijin is setting it up there."
Jiang Jingshu and Su Xiaoyue arrived at the hotel.
This time it wasn't on such a large scale as last time; only Su Xiaoyue and Wen Jinyan were there. Jiang Jingshu pushed open the hotel door and met Xie Zhijin's gaze.
Xie Zhijin said, "Congratulations on growing up."
He took a bunch of jasmine flowers and handed them to Jiang Jingshu.
The scent of jasmine filled her nostrils. Jiang Jingshu took the gift, while Su Xiaoyue exclaimed from the side, "Wow, Xie Zhijin, why did you prepare another gift behind my back?"
"I don't think this counts," Xie Zhijin said sheepishly. "Does a bouquet of flowers even qualify as a gift?"
Wen Jinyan quickly said, "Flowers are no gift at all. Isn't this what I should do?"
Su Xiaoyue nudged Wen Jinyan with her elbow, "Then why didn't you see me off?"
Wen Jinyan clutched his arm in pain, "I'm innocent, Su Xiaoyue! Besides the flowers, what else did you want that I didn't give you?"
Heaven has eyes! From childhood to adulthood, whenever Su Xiaoyue wanted something, Wen Jinyan would eagerly go and get it for her. Besides, he himself has a slight pollen allergy and still wants flowers.
Su Xiaoyue sneezed without realizing it.
Wen Jinyan quickly took out a tissue from his pocket and handed it to her, then said to Jiang Jingshu, "Xiaoyue is allergic to pollen, so please move the flowers further away."
Jiang Jingshu nodded, then placed the jasmine flowers far away and opened the window.
"Xiaoyue, are you alright?" Jiang Jingshu asked after releasing the flowers.
"It's nothing, just a slight allergic reaction, nothing serious." Su Xiaoyue waved her hand. "But Xie Zhijin, why did you send jasmine flowers? Jiang Jiang likes roses."
Jiang Jingshu's eyebrows twitched. She didn't like roses. Roses were bright and flamboyant, which was not her personality, nor was it the kind of rose she liked.
Perhaps the one who liked roses was Jiang Jingshu from before.
On the contrary, Jiang Jingshu also really likes jasmine. The fragrance of jasmine is light and unique, a faint scent that is not pungent and can calm the mind.
Xie Zhijin quickly replied, "I'm sorry, I'll send roses next time."
Jiang Jingshu said, "Jasmine is fine too."
I send you jasmine, hoping you will never leave me.
Perhaps the flowers concealed the boy's hidden love, but his resolute gaze told her that one day he would finally express it.
Xie Zhijin then took out a brand new bottle of jasmine perfume from behind him and handed it to Jiang Jingshu.
Jiang Jingshu was somewhat surprised. Sun Huai had wasted a lot of the last bottle of jasmine perfume, and Jiang Jingshu had never used it again.
Unexpectedly, Xie Zhijin took out the same bottle as last time from behind his back and said to Jiang Jingshu, "This is for you."
She took it, opened the package, sprayed it a few times on her wrist, and then stared at Xie Zhijin, saying, "Thank you."
Xie Zhijin suddenly smiled and said, "You're welcome."
Wen Jinyan brought out the cake, and Jiang Jingshu closed her eyes. The other three sang "Happy Birthday." Jiang Jingshu picked up her phone, turned on the video recording, and placed it on the table. Su Xiaoyue asked her curiously, "Why are you recording a video?"
“These memories are worth cherishing forever.” After saying this, Jiang Jingshu pressed the record button, and the room was plunged into darkness. Xie Zhijin lit the candles, and Jiang Jingshu heard him say, “Remember to make a wish.”
Jiang Jingshu smiled slightly, clasped her hands together, and listened to her friends' birthday song.
At eighteen, Jiang Jingshu stumbled into the adult world, and she seemed to find that this world had infinite charm.
If she were in ancient times, at the age of eighteen, she would probably have already been betrothed by her father to some unknown man, to bear children, and to be a good wife and mother.
It seems that this was the case for women in ancient times; when they reached marriageable age, they would begin to arrange marriages and become bound to their husbands' families.
In today's world, a woman's eighteenth birthday is a brand new beginning, with unlimited potential. She can realize her dreams through the college entrance examination and choose whether or not to get married, instead of having no choice but to depend on her husband's family, follow the three obediences and four virtues, and be a good wife and mother.
At eighteen, they stand at a new starting point, integrating into society as independent individuals. They can choose to go to school, work, or get married and have children.
They can be anything they want, no longer conforming to societal norms. They can be passionate and unrestrained, or gentle and reserved. They can stand on their own two feet, or enjoy love and being loved without any burden.
When it comes to relationships, there will never be a situation where "a woman's infatuation is unspeakable." They can be just like men, loving one person from beginning to end, and also decisively ending any unhealthy relationship.
Jiang Jingshu suddenly fell in love with this world.
If the ancient world could be like this now, it would be wonderful.
Her wish is that women, regardless of time or place, can have their own right to choose, and that every woman can be reborn on every birthday and live the life she wants.
She blew out the candle in one breath, the light came on, and the moment she opened her eyes, she subconsciously looked at Xie Zhijin.
Her second wish was that the thing she longed for would have a perfect ending.
The two looked at each other, but Jiang Jingshu was the first to look away.
Jiang Jingshu couldn't look him in the eye; she felt that every time they made eye contact, the man would see right through her love.
She instinctively looked away, but she didn't expect that Jiang Jingshu in the video was staring at her so directly.
His undisguised gaze seemed to confirm his feelings for her.
As Jiang Jingshu's eighteenth birthday finally came to an end, Xie Zhijin took her back to school and asked her, "This time, did you remember to make a wish?"
Jiang Jingshu nodded and said, "Xie Zhijin, in the new year, I think I will be even more courageous."
“You’ve always been courageous,” Xie Zhijin said, simply looking at her.
Jiang Jingshu shook her head and said to him, "I don't have that kind of courage."
It is the courage to be certain of one's mind, to pursue one's goals, and to not be afraid of the outcome.
This courage strengthened her resolve for the future. She said, "Xie Zhijin, do your best on the college entrance exam, okay?"
Xie Zhijin smiled and replied, "Okay."
Jiang Jingshu added, "Xie Zhijin, actually I don't like roses."
Xie Zhijin smiled and replied, "Okay."
Jiang Jingshu was a little curious as to why Xie Zhijin wasn't puzzled, and why Jiang Jingshu suddenly didn't like roses anymore.
"Xie Zhijin, aren't you going to ask why?"
A gentle breeze is blowing, and it's snowing again.
She heard him say, "No need to ask, but I'm glad I didn't choose to give you roses today."
"Why did you give me jasmine?" This time it was Jiang Jingshu who asked him.
Xie Zhijin just smiled and didn't say anything more.
Jiang Jingshu remained seated behind Xie Zhijin and said to him, "Xie Zhijin, it's snowing."
Xie Zhijin always responded to her patiently.
"This snowy day is still warm. Thank you, Xie Zhijin."
When Jiang Jingshu returned to her dormitory, she was holding a bouquet of jasmine flowers. Li Xuan saw her return and quickly asked, "Jingshu, why are you carrying a bunch of flowers again?"
Jiang Jingshu simply smiled and said, "It was a gift from a friend."
"It's still jasmine, they really put a lot of thought into it."
Hearing Li Xuan's words, Jiang Jingshu asked her curiously, "What's wrong with the jasmine?"
Li Xuan asked her if the jasmine flowers were a gift from a male friend. After receiving Jiang Jingshu's affirmative answer, she said with certainty, "He's a very good person!"
"How did you come to this conclusion?" Jiang Jingshu wondered. Xie Zhijin was indeed a very good person, but what did that have to do with jasmine?
“Most suitors choose roses to express their love, but he chose jasmine. As everyone knows, jasmine can express both faithful love and pure friendship.” Li Xuan seemed quite certain as she said to Jiang Jingshu, “He must really like you, right?”
Jiang Jingshu nodded.
Yes, she knew he liked her.
“But he must be unsure of your feelings. He’s afraid that giving roses would be too abrupt. Jasmine is definitely the best choice. It’s versatile; it can represent love or friendship.” Li Xuan analyzed to Jiang Jingshu in a serious tone, and then gossiped, “Was it him who gave you sunflowers the other day?”
Jiang Jingshu nodded.
"Do you like him?" Li Xuan asked her.
"What if I said I like it?" Jiang Jingshu met Li Xuan's eyes.
Just the fact that she liked Xie Zhijin made her heart start pounding.
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