“Sigh~ Sister Chengzi, so Jiang-ge just transferred schools like that?”
This was the fifth time Wang Yu had asked Jiang Cheng this question; this time, Jiang Cheng didn’t even turn her head, just faintly mm’d in response.
“Sigh~ I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him, didn’t even add his WeChat. Sister Chengzi, how about you give me your brother’s WeChat?”
“You just want my WeChat, don’t you?”
Jiang Cheng turned and slapped the test paper onto Wang Yu’s desk; it was covered in red crosses.
Wang Yu compared it to Jiang Cheng’s paper, which was nearly perfect, and felt a pang in his chest.
As expected, swapping papers with a top student for grading was torture.
“Well… I can’t say I don’t want it.”
“Oh.” After taking back her paper, Jiang Cheng ignored him completely.
Now, every time she talked to Wang Yu, it made her think of Wang Ziyue.
Annoying…
Jiang Cheng twisted open her pen cap and started correcting her mistakes.
But she couldn’t write a single word until the bell rang.
After the bell, she hastily added the paper to her error notebook and was about to go get water when Chen Ting linked arms with her and pulled her away.
“Chengcheng, are you going to get water too?”
Jiang Cheng shook the thermos in her hand, lips pursed.
“Let’s go together.”
Only then did Jiang Cheng realize Chen Ting had something to say; soon, Zhou Qingying followed as well.
The three walked side by side into the water room; Jiang Cheng placed her thermos on the rack and let Chen Ting and Zhou Qingying go first.
“I’ll fill it for you; we’re not thirsty.”
Chen Ting took Jiang Cheng’s thermos to fill it, then lightly kicked Zhou Qingying.
Zhou Qingying, lost in thought, suddenly got kicked and irritably pinched Chen Ting’s waist.
“Hey hey, I’m holding boiling water!”
Chen Ting nearly slipped; she screwed the lid on and handed it to Jiang Cheng, who softly said, “Thanks.”
“Chengcheng, are you in a bad mood?”
Chen Ting stared at Jiang Cheng’s face; though still cool and aloof, Chen Ting could sense a slight difference.
Jiang Cheng looked away, but accidentally met Zhou Qingying’s gaze; she simply lowered her head.
Jiang Cheng didn’t want her emotions fully exposed to her friends.
Self-protection, or perhaps resistance.
Today she had tied a ponytail; half her face was bathed in sunlight streaming through the hallway, but the gloom was palpable.
“Is it about Wang Yu?”
Zhou Qingying frowned; during class, she had noticed Wang Yu say something, after which Jiang Cheng’s expression soured.
“Did he harass you?!”
Chen Ting said dramatically.
Jiang Cheng shook her head helplessly, took a deep breath, unsure whether to tell them.
“You can tell us any worries… no matter what, we’ll fully support you.”
Chen Ting waved a small fist.
“There’s someone…”
Jiang Cheng finally spoke.
“There’s someone.”
Chen Ting and Zhou Qingying perked up their ears, repeating in unison.
“She had a bit of a conflict with an elder… not really a conflict; actually, it’s her unilaterally venting… um… but she’s not that close with the elder, and now she doesn’t know what to do.”
Jiang Cheng’s thoughts had never been this chaotic; even the final big question on a math paper, she could keep a clear head.
But the moment it came to Wang Ziyue, she felt tongue-tied.
“So, you…”
“It’s not me; it’s someone.” Jiang Cheng’s face flushed peach-pink.
“Oh oh, my bad… so this someone had an issue with an elder they’re not very close to, and now she’s wondering whether to apologize?”
“Pretty much…”
Jiang Cheng did feel her phone apology hadn’t been steady enough, but for now, she didn’t want to face Wang Ziyue in person.
She was somewhat resistant to “pouring out” her heart to the other.
“I think… um, this someone is being too stubborn?”
Chen Ting hit the nail on the head; she was about to say more when Zhou Qingying cut in.
“You’re a minor; as an adult, she should be more tolerant. Whether to apologize depends on the other’s thoughts.”
Jiang Cheng pursed her lips, seemingly disagreeing. Seeing this, Zhou Qingying pressed her lips together and said no more.
“If it were me, I’d probably come apologize to you proactively.”
“Mm…”
Jiang Cheng felt something off about this statement. “She did do that.”
Zhou Qingying felt a bit awkward, but luckily Chen Ting jumped in to save the day.
“Then isn’t that happily resolved?!”
She grabbed Jiang Cheng’s hand; their eyes met, and Chen Ting’s big eyes behind round glasses were full of disbelief.
“Chengcheng! You’re so torn up—could this elder actually be your crush?”
“How could that be…”
Jiang Cheng facepalmed; turning, she saw Zhou Qingying’s face alternating red and white.
“Impossible—and I told you, it’s about someone else.”
Though unsure how the topic veered to romance, Jiang Cheng denied it without thinking.
She just wanted to study hard; puppy love was out of the question.
The scene of herself dating Wang Ziyue floated through Jiang Cheng’s mind—however she thought about it, it felt weird.
“Actually, I think just letting it be is best. From what you said, there’s no major conflict between you, right?”
“Mm.”
“Yes, let it be.”
Zhou Qingying also cast an agreeing vote.
The JK heart-to-heart session ended unanimously with full approval.
“Class is starting soon; let’s hurry back.”
Chen Ting glanced at her watch; Jiang Cheng instinctively looked at her wrist, only remembering her wristband wasn’t there.
Did Wang Ziyue take it?
She forgot whether she had left it in the empty classroom.
“Chengcheng, I’ve realized you’re actually pretty fun to talk to.”
Chen Ting, walking ahead, suddenly turned back; when she smiled, dimples appeared on both cheeks.
“Fun?”
“Yeah! It feels… haha, you’re actually really easy to get along with~”
Chen Ting’s tone held teasing, yet seemed to voice her true thoughts.
Jiang Cheng couldn’t help reflecting whether she usually came off as cold… but Chen Ting wasn’t wrong—normally, she wouldn’t share so many feelings with them.
No, there wouldn’t even be a chance to talk. She was somewhat unlike her usual self.
Jiang Cheng’s eyes flickered with confusion and emotion.
Zhou Qingying, glancing over, caught the subtle expression but quickly looked away.
The three slipped into the classroom just in time.
After sitting, Jiang Cheng felt her heart less burdened.
Maybe after adjusting a few more days, I can talk properly with Wang Ziyue.
An official apology is still needed… she thought.
For the next two periods, Jiang Cheng listened attentively.
Until the dismissal bell rang, she was still correcting the earlier paper.
“Chengcheng, aren’t you going home?”
Her back was patted; turning, she saw Chen Ting stuffing a thick workbook into her bag.
Chen Ting and Zhou Qingying had tutors and didn’t stay for evening self-study; they usually went home together.
“I’ll be a bit later… after finishing this question.”
Okay: “Okay… then tomorrow you have to go home with us~”
Chen Ting, rushing to tutoring, didn’t wait; Zhou Qingying glanced back but was pulled out of the classroom.
Most classmates headed to the cafeteria, while Wang Yu went to the field with some boys to play ball.
Now only Jiang Cheng remained in the classroom; after copying all the questions into her error notebook, she stretched, ready to pack up and go home.
As she stood, she felt an intense gaze piercing from the window; Jiang Cheng frowned and looked—
It was Wang Ziyue.