He seemed thoughtful.
Gradually, a hint of guilt grew inside, though his handsome face remained as cold as ever.
He felt like he’d done something he shouldn’t have.
Even though Xie Zhuran said those things, the girls’ group didn’t immediately believe it, instead casting questioning glances toward the remaining three boys.
Seeing this, they tacitly agreed with Xie Zhuran’s words.
“I see. Seems like we really can’t trust everything online.”
Cool Sister nodded.
Sweet Girl agreed as well.
“Ahem.”
Taking the chance, Song Qiuyu changed the topic.
“Since we’re talking about business-order short videos, do you want to come watch us shoot next time?”
The three girls who had never seen them shoot a video lit up immediately.
“If you come, you mustn’t make any noise during the entire shoot,” Song Qiuyu warned.
The three girls hurriedly nodded their agreement.
“So, have you decided how to shoot it? That sounds exciting!”
Cool Sister laughed.
“Not completely. The script is still being refined. It’ll probably start shooting around this time next week,” Song Qiuyu shook her head.
They continued chatting about trivial topics while eating skewers.
During the conversation, Song Qiuyu learned more about the girls’ situation.
As expected, they all claimed to have had many suitors but remained pure and untouched—a blank slate.
Unexpectedly, they all loved gaming and were playing CS under Sang Tian’s leadership.
So after this meetup, they could play CS together.
Besides gaming, they all enjoyed sports and planned to go night running or basketball together sometime.
The chat was very pleasant.
“The weather’s getting colder; doing outdoor exercise to warm up is indeed a good choice!”
Song Qiuyu raised both hands and feet in full support of basketball.
If normal methods couldn’t make Jiang Xiao taller, then she’d trust folk remedies—maybe they’d work!
Most importantly, basketball would help Jiang Xiao’s personality rehab and was a great way to attract girls!
Jiang Xiao glanced at her eager expression and thought of the times back in middle school when they often played basketball together.
His eyes darkened slightly.
They really were close back then, but maybe…
It was only in his mind.
He lowered his lashes and looked at his phone’s black screen, increasingly curious about the other side’s thoughts during those three years and the following three years.
Hopefully, it wouldn’t be the worst kind.
“Then, there’s no time like the present—let’s play basketball tomorrow!”
Xie Zhuran was even more enthusiastic, already imagining winning over the girls with his handsome moves.
Song Qiuyu considered carefully. Their priority was still shooting the business-order short video and earning their second pot of gold.
She had no time to oppose.
Suddenly, a familiar yet unexpected figure entered Song Qiuyu’s sight, startling her.
Hmm?
Wasn’t that the slash fan girl?!
Suppressing the impulse to stand up abruptly, Song Qiuyu quickly sent Jiang Xiao a glance and then gave the others a plausible excuse, grabbing her backpack and leaving temporarily.
Jiang Xiao silently followed.
The slash fan girl was likely also dining out with friends today, dressed up more carefully than her usual simple school look.
She noticed that they had spotted her and were following.
So she steadily moved toward the exit, gradually quickening her pace.
Neither she, nor Song Qiuyu and Jiang Xiao wanted to make a scene.
Thus, Song Qiuyu and Jiang Xiao flanked her outside with ease.
“I think Jiang Xiao and I both need an apology and an explanation.”
Song Qiuyu took out the notebook from her bag.
“First, tell me why you wrote so much about Jiang Xiao and me!”
The slash fan girl’s eyes darted nervously. Knowing she was guilty, she lowered her head and was silent for a long moment before biting her lip and timidly saying,
“Sorry, I couldn’t help it!”
“Huh?”
Song Qiuyu was stunned.
“If it made you unhappy, I can throw this notebook away…”
The slash fan girl held out her hand, gesturing for her to return the notebook.
“Please give it back. I’ll throw it in the trash right now!”
Before she could say more, Jiang Xiao interrupted.
“If you really feel guilty, there’s a way to make up for it.”
Seeing this, the slash fan girl’s eyes brightened.
“Hmm?”
Song Qiuyu looked at Jiang Xiao with surprise, waiting for him to continue.
“You do have writing talent. If you’re willing, join us to write scripts together.”
Jiang Xiao reached for the notebook in Song Qiuyu’s hand.
Then casually flipped it open.
Song Qiuyu reacted a bit slowly. When she came back to her senses, Jiang Xiao had already closed the notebook again.
Her lips parted, wanting to say something, but then she recalled the strong impression the slash fan girl had left on Jiang Xiao—possibly as a candidate for Jiang Xiao’s wife.
So she pursed her lips and remained silent.
“Can I?”
The slash fan girl hesitated.
“You have the ability.”
Jiang Xiao was concise.
“Then, I’ll give it a try.”
The slash fan girl was nervous.
“Leave your contact info.”
Jiang Xiao nodded gently.
“Okay.”
The slash fan girl took out her phone.
After exchanging contacts, Jiang Xiao returned the notebook and watched her leave.
Song Qiuyu also added her contact.
Looking at the information on her phone screen, she felt a bit annoyed.
For now, she treated this emotion as if a cabbage raised at home had been lured away by an outside pig…
No, it should be reversed—it was a pig raised at home, plump and fat, being seduced by outside cabbage!
This was the frustration of not meeting expectations.
“What’s wrong, upset again?”
Jiang Xiao turned to her, his gaze calm and steady.
“No.”
Song Qiuyu shook her head, denying it.
“I just think she really writes well, but her writing those fanfiction smut scenes about us, she just glossed over it?”
“Because you can’t control what people think. You can stop her from writing in the notebook, but she’ll think about it in her mind. Sooner or later, she’ll write it.”
Jiang Xiao turned and walked back into the store.
“That’s true. So it’s better to use it. Just worried she’ll drive the ship too far.”
Song Qiuyu looked up helplessly at the stars.
Still unable to let go of their situation, she rolled her eyes and tentatively asked,
“By the way, you seem pretty special to that girl. We’re brothers, so don’t hold back. Tell me honestly, are you—”
“No.”
Jiang Xiao stopped walking, turning to look back at her.
…That was so decisive.
“From beginning to end, I’ve only ever liked one person.”
“Xi’er?”
“Yeah.”
“But you don’t seem to have much luck.”
“That’s because Xi’er…” Jiang Xiao hesitated, “…passed away.”
Song Qiuyu swallowed and suddenly felt too hesitant to respond. Her mood grew heavy.
Jiang Xiao had once avoided and refused to say this, but now it came out so easily.
This undoubtedly meant her efforts had worked.
Only by beginning to move on could he speak of it.
“I see. No wonder you looked like you were about to cry back then.”
She didn’t know where to look, so she tilted her head and pretended to watch the stars.
As they spoke, a strange tightness filled her chest, a suffocating heaviness.
The cold night breeze brushed her face, scattering hair behind her ears.
Several images flashed before her eyes.
Alcohol was really harmful—drinking reduced self-control and opened many locks.
She was like that, and so was Jiang Xiao.
“But this is the first time I’ve heard you say this. Tell me more. Judging by how you look, you haven’t gotten over it.”
She nervously avoided his gaze and kept staring at the night sky.
“So tell me more. Maybe I can help you get stronger!”
She pressed on, hoping to coax out more unknown stories of Shen Xi, so she could help Jiang Xiao further as a roommate.
Though cliches, pep talks have always been effective.
“Why are you suddenly laughing?”
Hearing Jiang Xiao chuckle softly for no reason, she frowned in confusion and forced herself to meet his gaze.
“Maybe next time.”
Jiang Xiao didn’t answer her question and deliberately left her hanging.
“Let’s go. They’re still waiting for us.”
Seeing this, Song Qiuyu pressed her lips and reluctantly followed Jiang Xiao, closing the distance between them.
She wanted to ask more, but she wouldn’t. Jiang Xiao said next time, which meant no more questioning tonight.
Before they reached their seats, they spotted their table surrounded by many unfamiliar people, but it didn’t seem like anyone was causing trouble.
At that moment, a girl wearing a red scarf glanced at them and suddenly smiled.
“Teacher Lemon and the others are back!”
She quickly informed the rest.
Upon hearing this, Song Qiuyu was stunned. The crowd around the table turned and looked excited and joyful.
These people could only be fans of their short videos.
After a while, the crowd dispersed. The eight people at the table looked slightly drunk.
This was the nature of social relations; the fans’ enthusiasm was hard to refuse.
Initially, only the boys’ group and Sang Tian needed to drink, but as the atmosphere heated up, the remaining girls joined in too.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
Song Qiuyu stood up from her seat.
“Song, are you okay alone?”
Sang Tian recalled the earlier drunken incident and was concerned.
“No worries. I didn’t get drunk much this time, I’m fine.”
She said this and asked the waiter, heading straight toward the restroom.
Sang Tian still felt uneasy.
Just as she wanted to ask Jiang Xiao to help watch over, Jiang Xiao stood up on his own, saying he would check on her, and followed.
Sang Tian swallowed her words and smiled with satisfaction.
After a while, Jiang Xiao and Song Qiuyu came out of the men’s restroom. At the door, she suddenly stopped for some unknown reason.
“What’s wrong?”
Jiang Xiao frowned, looking at her curiously.
She looked around the restaurant excitedly, eyes sparkling.
This slightly tipsy girl seemed to have discovered a room full of rare treasures, her pretty face radiating surprise and excitement anyone could see.
She said, “Jiang Xiao, when did you learn the multi-shadow clone technique?”
Jiang Xiao: “?”