The subway station was crowded that evening.
Sang Tian carefully trailed Jiang Xiao and the unidentified female coser, making sure their subway train was heading toward Nanxi.
After confirming, she paused for a moment before immediately reporting the situation into the small group chat of only four people.
［Xie Zhuran］: Lao Lin, what’s your take on this?
［Lin An］: Although it seems impossible, on second thought it’s not entirely out of the question. Lao Jiang might be planning to bring her back to our dorm.
［Xie Zhuran］: So, this means she’s going to spend the night at our dorm…
［Xie Zhuran］: But the question is, where would the girl sleep?
［Lin An］: Take a guess.
That really is a serious question!
Sang Tian frowned as she glanced at the chat messages, then bought tickets for the same train, following right behind them. As she waited for the train to arrive, she mulled over the issue.
What she least wanted to see was one of two possibilities: either this female coser really went to Jiang Xiao’s dorm and slept on his bed—the one right next to Song Classmate’s bed—or she didn’t sleep on Jiang Xiao’s bed but instead took the bed next to it… Song Classmate’s bed.
Sang Tian had tried private messaging Song Qiuyu several times but received no reply. She figured maybe Song was deeply upset and wanted some space.
When someone really wants to be alone, they won’t respond to anyone.
So she didn’t dare disturb her further.
“Song Classmate…”
She could only silently pray that the other party was okay, hoping that Song wasn’t the kind of person who would lose her mind over a messy relationship.
The train arrived.
Sang Tian quickened her steps and boarded the same car as them. To avoid being separated by the crowd and losing sight of them—yet also not letting them notice—she carefully maintained her distance.
The train started moving. The petite female coser suddenly swayed due to the inertia and almost fell.
In the next second, Jiang Xiao’s quick reflexes grabbed her small hand and pulled her close.
After she steadied herself, the crowd inside the car was so packed that people were pressed tightly together. Naturally, the female coser was no exception.
A middle-aged uncle behind her was about to press against her back and her rounded hips.
Jiang Xiao seemed a bit uneasy.
Holding her small hand, he guided her to grip the pole and shifted her whole body from in front of the middle-aged uncle to stand in front of himself.
Because of this, the female coser looked as if she was wedged between Jiang Xiao and the pole.
Afraid of being noticed, Sang Tian couldn’t see the coser’s face clearly this whole time. At this moment, she only saw the coser bowing her head, seemingly shy.
Seeing this, Sang Tian involuntarily drew a sharp breath, her heart swelling with mixed emotions. She immediately crafted a message and sent it into the group.
［Sang Tian］: Family, so Jiang Xiao is this boyfriend-material? He caught the female coser when she almost fell, then protected her from a middle-aged uncle who was pressing too close by pulling her in front of himself.
［Xie Zhuran］: Whoa, sounds like she’s a delicate, easily toppled soft girl?
［Lin An］: Looks like we can pretty much confirm that this girl is very likely the woman we’re talking about.
［Sang Tian］: The woman? Who exactly are you talking about?
Silence hung for a moment.
［Xie Zhuran］: Should we say… Lao Jiang’s childhood friend?
［Sang Tian］: Huh?
［Xie Zhuran］: @Song Qiuyu, Lao Song, you should speak up! You know her too, right?
［Sang Tian］: Song Classmate knows her as well?
［Xie Zhuran］: Yeah, the three of them were probably classmates in middle school.
Sang Tian almost couldn’t catch her breath, staring at the unfamiliar messages on her phone screen in shock, not knowing what to say.
Well then.
God, it’s been a stomach-aching love triangle since middle school?
If Song Classmate was here and saw this scene, it would basically be a Bai Xue Phenomenon.
Who came first was unknown, but no matter if it was Song Classmate or not, judging by how things were turning out, it seemed like Song Classmate was about to become the Defeated Dog…
Song Classmate was truly pitiful.
At this moment, the defeated dog clung tightly to the pole, pressing her body against it as much as possible.
This was terrible. Song Qiuyu really disliked crowded subways, but because they were cheap and convenient, she had no choice but to take them.
It was fine if she could find a seat, but if she had to stand all the way from entering to exiting the station, it would be miserable.
She didn’t know how the others felt, but she especially hated having other people’s bodies pressed so close to hers—whether men or women.
Though with Jiang Xiao’s help, she no longer had to worry about other passengers pressing against her, the price was that the person behind her was Jiang Xiao himself.
The scent of soap on Jiang Xiao’s body enveloped her like a net. Coupled with the fact that she was on her period, she strongly resisted being too close to him.
Fortunately, Jiang Xiao likely thought the same way. They maintained a slight distance between their bodies—an intentional space Jiang Xiao kept.
He blocked others from getting too close, yet didn’t crowd her himself.
Song Qiuyu lowered her eyes and clenched her hands.
Feeling this sense of protection, a strange warmth suddenly rose within her, and her heart beat a little faster.
She didn’t think much of it, only wondering how Jiang Xiao could be so considerate even toward his own brothers.
She dared not imagine how considerate he’d be if Shen Xi were here instead of Song Qiuyu!
This afternoon he bought her medicine, brought her water, fed her medicine, and last night even massaged her feet…
Her fevered mind involuntarily listed it all out.
Even though she was the one trying to make amends, it somehow felt like Jiang Xiao was the one doing the penance, leaving her with a strange sense of defeat.
But thinking back to Jiang Xiao in middle school was like this too, and she felt somewhat relieved.
Yet after two seconds of relief, guilt and unease returned. She lowered her face even further, lips pressed tightly into a thin line. Though she wanted Jiang Xiao to become the sunny boy he used to be, now that he was slowly opening up, she felt uneasy.
Though this was a good thing, the thoughtful side Jiang Xiao showed her tormented her heart.
The train arrived amidst this torment.
“Jiang Xiao, didn’t I say last night I’d treat you to a meal? Let’s grab a late-night snack first, then head back to the dorm?” Song Qiuyu said calmly as she stepped off the train.
“Okay.”
Jiang Xiao nodded.
Because of the distance and noise in the car, Sang Tian couldn’t hear their conversation clearly, only clutching her phone and keeping close behind.
Meanwhile, she updated the group chat.
［Sang Tian］: They got off.
［Xie Zhuran］: Good, follow them closely, report back with updates!
［Sang Tian］: Got it!
About ten minutes later.
［Xie Zhuran］: @Sang Tian, how’s it going now? War correspondent, report back!
［Sang Tian］: They’re eating at a noodle shop, but there seems to be some conflict between them? Too far to hear clearly.
［Lin An］: Maybe move closer and try?
［Xie Zhuran］: Yeah, get closer and listen in!
Sang Tian took a deep breath, pulled her hat brim down low, and entered the restaurant.
She sat at a corner seat where they couldn’t see her and picked up the menu.
Jiang Xiao furrowed his brows, serious as he said, “Let’s just rent a place. It’s inconvenient to bother others. Having our own place is better for doing what we want without worrying about being disturbed.”
“Doing what we want?”
Hearing this, Sang Tian froze for a moment before relaying Jiang Xiao’s words verbatim into the group chat.