Suspension Bridge Effect
That night, Jiang Jingshu had trouble sleeping and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
She could only pick up her phone and start browsing posts.
"I think I've encountered the suspension bridge effect," Jiang Jingshu clicked on the post, the content of which is as follows.
Today, the company organized a team-building trip to an amusement park, and everyone unanimously chose to go to the haunted house. Because I was scared, I stayed until the very back. My male colleague seemed to notice that I was alone, so he went to the back to keep me company. When we encountered ghosts with sudden appearances, he would cover my eyes, pat my back, and comfort me, telling me not to be afraid. I found myself feeling a little fluttery around him. I wanted to ask everyone, is this just a case of being attracted to someone or simply the suspension bridge effect?
Jiang Jingshu stopped at this post. She glanced through the comments, which mostly told the poster that it was just the suspension bridge effect at work, a false sense of attraction.
Jiang Jingshu was still pondering what the suspension bridge effect was when Su Xiaoyue's voice came, "Were you too scared today to sleep?"
"It's nothing." Jiang Jingshu shook her head, not dwelling on it any longer, and quickly turned off her phone.
"But Xie Zhijin is a really nice person. He was comforting you the whole time, I saw it all." Su Xiaoyue lay on the bed, asking Jiang Jingshu with some curiosity, "Jiang Jiang, what kind of person do you think Xie Zhijin is?"
Jiang Jingshu became inexplicably nervous. "It's fine."
"Jiang Jiang, which university do you want to apply to?" Su Xiaoyue just smiled and turned over to ask Jiang Jingshu.
"Me?" Jiang Jingshu really hadn't thought about what school she wanted to attend.
The college entrance examination must be a major event for everyone in the world, Jiang Jingshu thought to herself, "I might study art."
"Jiang Jiang, I'm planning to learn Chinese language and literature. You can design the cover for my novel then," Su Xiaoyue said with a smile.
The two chatted about this and that until they slowly drifted off to sleep.
Later, they went to many places and ate a lot of local snacks, but they ran into a familiar person in a snack shop.
"Jiang Jingshu?"
Hearing someone call her name, Jiang Jingshu turned around and saw a familiar face. "Jiang Yuzhou, what are you doing here?"
Hearing the commotion, Su Xiaoyue came over as well. "Are you also here in S City for tourism?"
Jiang Yuzhou pointed to the barbecue restaurant at the entrance and said with considerable pride, "My brother owns it."
Su Xiaoyue's eyes lit up. "Wow, this popular restaurant is actually owned by your brother! We were just about to go there to eat."
Before Su Xiaoyue could finish speaking, Wen Jinyan tapped her forehead, saying, "Why is all you can think about is food?"
"I'm willing, what's it to you?" Su Xiaoyue glared at Wen Jinyan. Then she took Jiang Jingshu's hand, "Jiang Jiang, Jiang Jiang, let's go help Jiang Yuzhou boost his sales."
Jiang Yuzhou's gaze fell on Jiang Jingshu. "Want to try some? It's on me."
Jiang Jingshu nodded and was then pulled into the small shop by Su Xiaoyue.
The four of them ordered a lot of lamb skewers. This was Jiang Jingshu's first time eating barbecue skewers outside. Jiang Jingshu never expected that there was such delicious food in the world, and she accidentally ate too much.
Xie Zhijin poured water for Jiang Jingshu.
Jiang Jingshu smiled politely, "Thank you."
Xie Zhijin then handed the roasted mutton he had prepared to Jiang Jingshu. Jiang Jingshu was already full, but she couldn't resist the delicious taste of the mutton.
"Xie Zhijin, if you give me any more, I'll turn into a little pig," Jiang Jingshu said somewhat embarrassedly as she ate.
Xie Zhijin smiled and said, "Perhaps we can come back to eat here again in the future."
"How's the food?" Before Xie Zhijin could finish speaking, Jiang Yuzhou's voice came over. He had just finished his work and sat down next to the four of them, staring at Jiang Jingshu as he said, "Come again next time."
Jiang Jingshu nodded in agreement. "No wonder it's called a popular online store; your cooking skills are truly amazing."
Jiang Yuzhou thoughtfully brought over desserts, and everyone ate to their hearts' content. Su Xiaoyue kept pulling Wen Jinyan along, telling her that next time she came to S City, she should definitely go to Jiang Yuzhou's restaurant.
Jiang Jingshu was amused by Su Xiaoyue's reaction. Jiang Yuzhou didn't linger, "Where are you going to play tomorrow?"
"We're planning to go hiking tomorrow," Su Xiaoyue replied. Then she glanced at Jiang Yuzhou, "Sports Committee Member, do you want to come with us?"
Jiang Yuzhou shook his head, "No, you guys go ahead and have fun."
Seeing that Jiang Yuzhou refused, Su Xiaoyue did not insist. Jiang Jingshu glanced at Xie Zhijin beside her out of the corner of her eye and found that Xie Zhijin was staring at her, so she couldn't help but look away.
The atmosphere was a little awkward for Jiang Jingshu, so she quickly asked, "Sports Committee Member, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
Jiang Yuzhou stood up, intending to leave his seat, but upon hearing Jiang Jingshu's question, a slight smile appeared on his lips, "Do you want me to go?"
For a moment, Jiang Jingshu didn't know how to answer, "If you have time, you can go and have some fun."
Jiang Yuzhou waved his hand, "I have to help my brother watch the shop tomorrow, you guys go ahead." After saying that, he left his seat.
Wen Jinyan was still mimicking Su Xiaoyue's words, "Sports Committee Member, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
Su Xiaoyue kicked Wen Jinyan with a cold face and pulled Jiang Jingshu to pay the bill.
After paying the bill, Jiang Jingshu noticed Xie Zhijin and Wen Jinyan talking to each other. When they saw Jiang Jingshu and Su Xiaoyue return, they stopped talking.
The next day, the four of them decided to go hiking together.
The weather was just too cold, and Jiang Jingshu's cheeks were red from the cold. Wen Jinyan was still racing with Su Xiaoyue, while Jiang Jingshu and Xie Zhijin walked slowly behind.
"Those two are such a lively pair, so energetic even in this cold weather," Xie Zhijin couldn't help but exclaim. He looked at Jiang Jingshu's flushed cheeks beside him and subconsciously stopped in his tracks.
Jiang Jingshu turned to look at her and asked, "Why are you not leaving?"
Just then, another gust of wind blew by, and Jiang Jingshu couldn't help but sneeze.
Your face is all red.
Jiang Jingshu was a little flustered. Ever since they played an escape room game together last time, Jiang Jingshu had always felt a little uncomfortable around Xie Zhijin. She thought of that post, wondering if it was infatuation or the suspension bridge effect.
Jiang Jingshu knew it would be very difficult to win her heart, so she attributed her feelings in the locked room to the suspension bridge effect.
The so-called suspension bridge effect refers to the phenomenon that when a person is in a dangerous situation, their heart rate will involuntarily increase. If they encounter another person at this time, they may mistake their nervousness for attraction to that person.
Jiang Jingshu felt that she was affected by the suspension bridge effect. In order to stay calm, she reduced her communication with Xie Zhijin. However, now Xie Zhijin pointed out that she was blushing.
Jiang Jingshu was still wondering why she was blushing when a warm sensation on her neck pulled her back from her rambling thoughts, and she unconsciously raised her head.
Xie Zhijin was wrapping a scarf around her neck.
At that moment, her heart pounded like thunder, and Jiang Jingshu felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
She forgot what to do for a moment.
Xie Zhijin quietly helped Jiang Jingshu put on her scarf. Seeing Jiang Jingshu staring blankly at her, she couldn't help but smile and ask, "Are you freezing?"
As their eyes met, snow began to fall again, as if by coincidence. Jiang Jingshu touched her cheek.
It's warm.
Jiang Jingshu looked around at the surrounding environment. Although it was on a mountain, it was actually quite safe.
There is no suspension bridge here, and there is no danger.
Jiang Jingshu thought this probably wasn't the suspension bridge effect; she didn't know what her current emotion was.
The nanny had never taught her.
None of the ancient books I've read record this feeling.
She could hardly believe it; she seemed to have actually fallen for him.
“Jiang Jingshu, there’s snow on your eyelashes.” Seeing that Jiang Jingshu didn’t speak for a long time, Xie Zhijin spoke softly.
Jiang Jingshu then came to her senses and rubbed her eyes vigorously.
"Why are you rubbing so hard?" Xie Zhijin couldn't help but laugh as he watched Jiang Jingshu's movements. "Su Xiaoyue and the others are almost at the top of the mountain, let's keep going!"
Jiang Jingshu nodded and walked upstairs as if she were running away.
Halfway there, fearing that Xie Zhijin might be alone, she stood still and waited for him.
After finally reaching the top of the mountain, Su Xiaoyue teased her, "You two climbed so slowly, what were you whispering about on the way?"
Jiang Jingshu smiled and brushed it off.
This trip to City S ended amidst Jiang Jingshu's chaotic heartbeat.
—
Upon returning to Z City, Jiang Jingshu deliberately reduced her contact with Xie Zhijin, throwing herself entirely into the training camp.
After a month of intensive training, the new school term has begun.
On the eve of the start of the school term, Jiang Jingshu suffered from insomnia.
She sent Su Xiaoyue a text message, basically asking if she was asleep.
Soon, Su Xiaoyue returned her call.
Jiang Jingshu quickly answered the call and got out of bed. "Xiaoyue, I'm a little confused."
"Jiang Jiang, is this the first time you've contacted me so late at night?" Su Xiaoyue seemed quite surprised. "Is there something you need me to answer?"
"Xiaoyue, I feel like something's not right with me right now."
Jiang Jingshu poured out all her unusual feelings from the past two days to Su Xiaoyue, desperately wanting to know what these emotions were.
After listening with a serious expression, Su Xiaoyue said to Jiang Jingshu, "You've fallen for her."
Jiang Jingshu remained defiant, "I didn't."
"Then what's the point of you calling me? Jiang Jiang, this is normal. Xie Zhijin is gentle and considerate, and handsome. It's normal for you to like him. Jiang Jiang, you need to face your own heart."
Jiang Jingshu shook her head. "Thank you, Xiaoyue. I'm going to sleep now." As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Jingshu hung up the phone.
Jiang Jingshu looked at the moon outside and couldn't help but sigh.
How could she possibly fall in love with someone from this era? She and Xie Zhijin were separated by two eras, like Romeo and Juliet. Obsessively pursuing her goal would only lead to tragedy.
Moreover, she had no idea how Xie Zhijin felt about her.
The right thing to do is to cut your losses and stay as far away from him as possible. Jiang Jingshu thought to herself.
During this time, her attention was drawn too much to Xie Zhijin, which caused her to become distracted. Now she should focus on cultivating agave plants. She needs to cultivate agave plants quickly so that they can flower and bear fruit.
In this way, she can return to ancient times as soon as possible and do what she should do.
She looked at the agave, which was still just a few small leaves, but Jiang Jingshu noticed that the leaves were slowly growing.
Since the system told her that agave relies on its own growth experience as nourishment, she wholeheartedly trained herself and grew.
Only in this way will the agave receive more nutrients, allowing it to return to its own world sooner, to see its long-missed nanny, and to reconnect with its distant family.
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