Nighttime, at the Jiang family residence, in a bedroom.
Jiang Chi paced back and forth in the room, his mood slightly restless, or more precisely, filled with unease. Messages full of greetings and concern had been sent on WeChat, yet none had been replied to.
Had he been too reckless today?
Jiang Chi touched his slightly sharp tiger tooth, his mind drifting to the faint scent of gardenia and the image of the girl blushing as she called him “Senior Jiang, you’re such a big jerk” before running away.
After much thought, Jiang Chi decided to try the video call one more time. He needed to take the initiative—he had to take responsibility as a boyfriend.
Love definitely isn’t a one-sided effort.
Qing Chan had already given so much; now it was his turn.
Not long after, the video call connected amid Jiang Chi’s nervous anticipation.
On the screen appeared a girl lying on a large bed, her face flushed red. A slender hand clutched the phone, the pale light from the screen gently illuminating her delicate features, causing her long lashes to tremble slightly. She looked sleepy, still not fully awake.
Jiang Chi was about to speak when the girl’s red lips parted slightly, “Who is it?! Disturbing my sleep!”
The familiar voice, but an unfamiliar tone, startled Jiang Chi for a moment.
“Qing… Qing Chan?” Jiang Chi called softly, disbelief tinging his voice along with a hint of surprise.
“Got something to say, then say it. Stop dragging it out. I’m so tired I could die.” Ji Qing Chan responded impatiently, completely different from the usual well-behaved and cute junior schoolmate image.
In the video, she squinted those beautiful eyes, her posture relaxed, wearing an oversized T-shirt that barely contained her youthful yet charming figure. Especially when she moved slightly, accidental glimpses of skin flashed unexpectedly.
However, Jiang Chi didn’t harbor any mischievous thoughts—this girl on screen was just too different from the obedient and gentle “Junior Ji” he remembered.
Suddenly, he keenly noticed the rosy flush on both her cheeks and frowned slightly. “Did you drink?”
“A bit. Feeling annoyed.”
“Do you want me to help?”
“Why are you so annoying? I said I’m annoyed and want to sleep, and you’re still talking nonsense! Jiang Chi, when did you become such a nag?!”
Jiang Chi?
Ignoring the tipsy girl’s mischievous tone, the blue-eyed boy mulled over the two characters, and a bright gleam suddenly flashed in his eyes.
Not “Senior Jiang” anymore, but “Jiang Chi.”
No longer the respectful, admiring “Senior Jiang,” but an equal, direct use of each other’s names like a couple.
Could this mean their relationship had taken a big step forward?
Ji Qing Chan really seemed to have drunk quite a bit. Tossing and turning on the bed, leaving the large bed in disarray, she slowly opened her eyes, still thick with drunkenness.
Her black eyes tinged with a faint red, the girl looked at the blue-eyed boy on the video with concern etched on his face. She tilted her head and suddenly smiled, stunningly beautiful.
“Jiang Chi, didn’t expect you to care about people. I thought you really were an aloof ice mountain.”
“You’re my girlfriend, of course, I care about you.”
“Is that a love confession?”
“It is a confession.”
“Ha…”
Ji Qing Chan laughed, a hint of coquettishness in her tone.
“The supposedly unattainable, aloof flower of Wanqing Yongxing School is confessing to me—I feel so honored! I wonder how many people would be jealous and resentful if they heard. Maybe some girls would curse me for eating instant noodles without seasoning packets.”
“I’ll buy you seasoning packets, or I’ll personally feed you noodles.”
“Ha ha… Is that a dirty joke? Jiang Chi, do you realize that’s remote harassment? I’m underage—minimum three years, maximum death penalty.”
“Me too,” Jiang Chi said gently, his gaze soft and warm. “But we’re a couple—you and me, Ji Qing Chan and Jiang Chi.”
Hearing this, the drunken girl suddenly fell silent.
After a long while, she covered her face with both hands. “Alright, I’ll tell you why I’m in a bad mood.”
“I feel like I’ve changed.”
“Not the same me as before—changed so much, so many times. I’m really afraid one day I’ll become someone who’s no longer myself.”
“Ah ah ah! Anyway, you wouldn’t understand. Even I’m confused when I say it. Whatever, whatever. I’m drunk now, and drunk girls have privileges! Hmph! I’m a girl now, so even if I talk nonsense, you have to comfort me.”
“Uh… Speaking of that? Oh! I’ve changed, I’ve changed, I hate myself now—I hate being a weakling, hate not being able to control everything. Ah ah ah~ so frustrating. If settling down wasn’t so costly, I wouldn’t even want to play games with you anymore.”
“People always change.”
Though Jiang Chi didn’t quite understand what Ji Qing Chan was saying, he did his best to comfort her with what he knew.
“Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. From childhood to youth, from youth to adulthood, from adulthood to old age—every stage of life involves change, and we call this change growth.”
“You mean I’m growing up?” The drunken girl muttered, touching her head and softly mumbling, “But I haven’t grown taller at all.”
Watching the adorable Ji Qing Chan, Jiang Chi couldn’t help but smile slightly. He said softly, “It’s growth of the heart—from immature to mature, from green to full-bodied, from vague ignorance to profound knowledge.”
“Oh! You mean I’ve gotten smarter!” Ji Qing Chan excitedly slapped her thigh, then drooped her head in slight disappointment. “But using my brain just doesn’t fit my style.”
“Style comes from how others define you. Don’t mind those things—they’re just burdens. Just be yourself.” Jiang Chi said gently.
“Just be myself.” The drunken girl murmured softly, repeating it twice, then suddenly her eyes brightened.
She slapped her thigh hard, her eyes sparkling. “I know what to do now—just be myself! If anyone dares to nag me, I’ll make them taste my sandbag-sized fist!!”
Jiang Chi: ???
Why does that style feel oddly familiar?
“Jiang Chi,” the drunken girl suddenly called out, “Come closer, I’ll show you two big treasures.”
Jiang Chi leaned in as instructed.
The next moment, the tipsy girl let out a sloppy hiccup, then tugged hard at the oversized short-sleeved shirt she was wearing, instantly revealing vast patches of snow-white skin and two plump, snowy mounds.
Jiang Chi quickly turned his face away, cheeks flushed, nervously saying, “Don’t, don’t do that. Qing Chan, please put your clothes back on.”
Ji Qing Chan seemed not to hear him and kept giggling, poking at her “little white rabbits,” mumbling, “Don’t hide, I know guys like this.”
“This person is always straightforward. You solved my troubles, so I’m giving you benefits.”
“Come on, come on, turn your head. I said I’ll show you, so I will!!”
Ji Qing Chan’s voice grew louder, filled with drunken excitement.