“What?!”
“This can’t be!!”
A wave surged in Jiang Chi’s heart, rippling outward… no, it was like a colossal meteor crashing into the center of the Pacific Ocean, stirring up towering waves!
Ji Qingchan doesn’t exist?
Ji Qingchan is fake?
Then who is that “Ji Qingchan”?
Why did that “Ji Qingchan” get close to him?
Jiang Chi’s lips trembled slightly as he desperately tried to process this thunderclap of news. He stared at his parents’ serious and worried faces, trying to find even the slightest hint of a joke.
But there was nothing…
“Dad, Mom, you’re really not joking with me, right?” The boy’s voice was bitter.
This news was a bolt from the blue for him!
If Ji Qingchan wasn’t “Ji Qingchan,” then who was the “Junior Sister Ji” with the innocent appearance but a heart full of maturity that he liked?
If it was all fake, then was his passionate love fake as well?
At this moment, Jiang Chi suddenly felt somewhat pitiful.
Chen Mengrou glanced at her son with full sympathy, sighed, and said, “A Chi, the truth still needs further investigation. But what’s certain right now is that the girl wasn’t called ‘Ji Qingchan.’ She might have had another name. You…”
“You need to learn to grow up. Of all things, love is the most hurtful.” Jiang Yushu spoke calmly but firmly.
“Being emotional won’t solve anything. It will only make things worse. What you need now is to think about how to solve the problem, not just be furious.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Chi’s nearly distorted expression gradually calmed down. After a moment of silence, he nodded. “Thank you, Dad.”
“I know what to do next.”
“Good. Find a time to have a proper talk with her. There’s no obstacle that can’t be overcome.” Jiang Yushu reached out and patted Jiang Chi’s shoulder encouragingly. “You’re my son; you can’t just walk away… ahem, go quickly.”
Jiang Chi vaguely sensed there was something hidden in his father’s words, but he couldn’t care about that now. He hurriedly left the house.
Watching Jiang Chi’s hurried figure leave, Jiang Yushu sighed softly and shook his head repeatedly. “The purer the feelings, the more terrifying they become when taken to extremes. I hope little Chi can understand that.”
“Equal and peaceful communication is the only way to resolve problems.”
“Just like you did back then?” Chen Mengrou rested her head on her husband’s shoulder and whispered, “Yushu, do you think Chi will go to extremes like you once did?”
“Probably not…” Jiang Yushu’s eyes flickered with a hint of worry, but he still comforted his wife with words. “Chi has been introverted since childhood. He wouldn’t do those things.”
“If only we could have communicated calmly back then, we wouldn’t have delayed getting married by several years.” Chen Mengrou quietly gazed at her husband and suddenly sighed.
“Still blaming me?”
“How could I? I’m already yours.”
“Not even a little?”
“Well, okay, maybe a little. But so many years have passed.” Chen Mengrou kissed her husband’s cheek and snuggled against his chest.
“Though, there’s something I find frustrating—out of all of us, you and I had the fastest progress, yet Xiao Huanghuang and the others got married first. I don’t even know what Xiao Huanghuang was doing those years. It’s like she disappeared, rarely chatting with me. The next time we connected was when she sent me the wedding invitation.”
Jiang Yushu smiled faintly at this, then turned his head slightly, lowering it to press his forehead against his wife’s, gazing into those clear blue eyes.
“Mengrou, remember my self-introduction? I have two main strengths.”
“One is intelligence.”
“And the other…”
They both said in unison,
“Loyalty.”
They exchanged a glance and burst out laughing together.
Because he was smart, every step he took was calculated ten moves ahead; he would never do anything without a shred of confidence.
Because he was loyal, he would firmly hold onto what was in his hands—even if it meant destroying it—he would never let go easily.
……
“Jiang Chi, Jiang Chi.”
In the bustling hot pot restaurant, a clear female voice sounded in his ear, snapping the boy back to reality as he met those round, black grape-like eyes.
“Who exactly are you…?”
“Something wrong?” “Ji Qingchan” cut him off, picking up a slice of beef tripe, dipping it briefly in the spicy broth, then biting into it with puffed cheeks, looking utterly adorable.
“Nothing.” Jiang Chi shook his head.
Right now, he felt pitiful. He didn’t want to know the truth… he was afraid to know the truth… he couldn’t accept the truth…
If she wasn’t “Ji Qingchan,” then who was the one he loved?
“Oh, I thought you had something to tell me. After all, who eats hot pot at noon? When I came, I was wondering if you invited me out to propose.” The girl swallowed her food and casually responded, but her words seemed to carry a hidden meaning.
Hot pot ranks first in the ** food rankings because the intimate exchange between lovers is too similar—constantly swapping saliva, blushing, heart racing, dry mouth, drunk without wine.
With the semester almost over, Ji Yuennian planned to close the net. Using the pretense of a proposal, she would publicly humiliate Jiang Chi in front of the whole school, then abandon him, leaving him to cry his heart out, broken and devastated.
Just thinking about it made all her fun genes twist and writhe.
Would Ji Yuennian’s conscience hurt from such a prank?
Impossible. The person in front of her was her mortal enemy. Although he had helped her a few times, Ji Yuennian was determined to snatch the “Campus Prince” spot right under his nose.
Besides, Ji Yuennian had no feelings involved. All the emotions were just acting, with no sincerity at all. Even if she dumped Jiang Chi, all that would rise in her heart was a slight regret that she couldn’t tease him anymore.
Thinking further, Ji Yuennian decided to be a little bolder and set this relationship, about to reach its end, on fire!
“Jiang Chi.” The girl’s leg lightly kicked the boy’s under the table, her voice lowered and coaxing, “I want to hear you say ‘I love you.’”
The girl’s face was full of expectation, as if waiting for her boyfriend’s confession.
Jiang Chi looked up into the girl’s eyes, seeing his own hesitant reflection within—deep blue eyes, with a touch of confusion, as if recalling something.
Ji Qingchan.
Was she really “Ji Qingchan”?
Was the one he loved truly “Ji Qingchan”?
No! No! No!
A few flashes of madness crossed the boy’s eyes. This girl used the name “Ji Qingchan” and accompanied him through school days, so wasn’t she the “Ji Qingchan” he loved?
“I love you.”
“I love you!”
“I love you!!”
Jiang Chi’s words sped up and grew louder, even reaching out to tightly grasp the girl’s pale white hands, his eyes filled with madness and longing. His heart pounded fiercely, as if it might leap out of his chest at any moment.
“Ji Qingchan, I love you!!”
The boy’s sudden outburst left the girl momentarily stunned. She looked at Jiang Chi blankly, her eyes full of astonishment.
“I’m just saying ‘I love you.’ Is it really necessary to get this excited? As if you’ve lost your mind.”
“Jiang… Jiang Chi.” The girl’s trembling voice brought the boy back to himself.
Jiang Chi realized his emotions had gotten out of hand. He awkwardly smiled, withdrew his hand, and apologized to the few customers nearby.
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