When Song Qiuyu reacted and tried to grab the camera, someone had already caught it first.
The camera shake that should have appeared in the frame was smoothly and skillfully compensated by the other party, who switched to a low-angle shot.
Song Qiuyu frowned slightly, the other party’s words echoing in her ears.
She didn’t think this was a spur-of-the-moment question; rather, she felt the other party had planned it.
‘What exactly does Jiang Xiao’s cousin want? How can he be so sure I’m a girl?’
“Love is a matter for two people. My cousin has given his true heart and everything, but the other person is still hesitant and doesn’t dare to fully give their heart.”
Jiang Zhi held the camera, filming the scene in the swimming pool.
“You don’t even have the resolve to show your true self.”
Even though she wasn’t being directly looked at, just hearing these words made Song Qiuyu feel like a kitten that had suddenly fallen into a snake pit, surrounded by snakes.
The shame buried in her heart was gradually exposed, placed on the surface, making it impossible for her to ignore anymore.
She was forced to face her ugly inner world.
She always said she would absolutely work hard to be Jiang Xiao’s girlfriend, but in reality, she really didn’t even have the courage to confess the truth.
All she could think about was to safely wait until summer vacation.
She couldn’t help breaking out in a cold sweat.
“How dare you like my cousin, making him endure a relationship that can only be hidden from everyone?”
Jiang Zhi laughed, looking at the figures under the sunlight in the swimming pool, then at the person standing in the shadows beside him, and said.
Hearing this, Song Qiuyu bit her lip, suppressing the urge to unconsciously seek help from Jiang Xiao, and clenched her hands.
She lowered her eyes, took a deep breath, then shook her head, throwing away all the shameful thoughts that the other party’s words had evoked in her mind.
Then she turned her face, her pretty brows furrowed slightly, and said seriously:
“Mr. Jiang, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying. Jiang Xiao and I are indeed just an innocent relationship. It’s true that I like Jiang Xiao, but it’s only as a friend.”
“Is that so?”
Jiang Zhi tilted his head, clearly not believing her.
As he spoke, he ended the filming and returned the camera to her, then turned back into his refined and gentle appearance, picking up his round-rimmed sunglasses and putting them on.
“It’s about time. I have an appointment with the principal, so I’ll take my leave. Please tell Jiang Xiao and the others that I’m looking forward to this afternoon’s basketball game!”
“Okay…”
Song Qiuyu’s reaction was slightly delayed. Seeing that he had turned around, she felt relieved and let out a sigh.
She had probably been deliberately tempted just now; she almost wanted to confess everything to everyone right then and there.
Even though she had recovered now, she was still ashamed of her own cowardice.
‘But she had to drag it out until summer vacation, not only because she was afraid, but also because revealing that illness at the right time would prevent things from becoming the worst.’
‘If she said it now… it would undoubtedly be the worst situation.’
With that thought, she collected herself and gently squeezed the camera in her hand—this was a decision she and Jiang Xiao had made together, so she didn’t need to waver!
Jiang Zhi left the swimming pool, but before leaving, he turned back to look at Jiang Li and Jiang Yu on the shore.
Following their gaze, he looked at the two people in the swimming pool, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
‘It seems all the kids of this generation in the Jiang family are contrarians.’
‘Interesting.’
He suddenly wanted to go home in July or August this year.
Then, Song Qiuyu pretended nothing had happened and relayed Jiang Zhi’s exact words to Jiang Xiao and the others.
As for Jiang Zhi seeming to know that Jiang Xiao would be participating, she didn’t think much of it—after all, the participants for the basketball game had long been decided.
“I see.”
Jiang Xiao glanced sideways in the direction his cousin had left, nodding thoughtfully.
In fact, he had seen and heard everything that happened on the shore just now.
‘It seems that what stands between Xi’er and me is not just my parents; this cousin is also one of them.’
‘Although I’m not sure how much this cousin knows, it seems he knows at least more than Lin An and Xia Qi.’
“So this cousin of Lao Jiang also plays basketball? Then this afternoon’s game will be worth watching!”
Xie Zhuran couldn’t help remarking.
“Indeed. Lao Jiang, even though your cousin is on the opposing team, you shouldn’t go easy on him, right?”
Lin An wiped his glasses with a cloth and said.
Hearing this, Jiang Xiao smiled and shook his head.
“Not only do I not need to go easy, I need to give it my all!”
Song Qiuyu blinked, feeling that Jiang Xiao had suddenly become full of fighting spirit.
She thought back.
The last time she had seen Jiang Xiao play basketball was probably in third year of middle school.
Every shot, every dribble past a defender, every dunk of Jiang Xiao’s would inevitably draw cheers from a crowd.
The cheers came from both boys and girls, but the boys’ voices were louder than the girls’.
Surely, when the time came, there would be even more people cheering for Jiang Xiao.
That was only right, because Jiang Xiao’s handsomeness was the kind that even boys couldn’t resist.
But even thinking about it made her a little jealous.
She was jealous that other girls could openly express their liking for Jiang Xiao, but she couldn’t.
While she was still secretly jealous, a warm, big hand ruffled her soft hair.
Jiang Xiao’s gentle and refreshing scent drew closer, invading her unprepared senses, disturbing her thoughts.
“Have you decided what to eat later?”
Jiang Xiao said.
“Mmm…”
Song Qiuyu frowned slightly in thought, glanced at the others, then mumbled that she wanted sweet and sour pork ribs as usual, patting Jiang Xiao’s arm.
However, because her pat was gentle and soft, it looked more like she was being coquettish.
“You really like sweet things, huh.”
Jiang Xiao seemed to be saying something he had always wanted to tease her about. As he spoke, he laughed, and the more he laughed, the gentler he became.
“I just like eating sweet things.”
Song Qiuyu said matter-of-factly.
They chatted and laughed as they checked the final scene they had filmed.
The result… it was very well shot.
Because AI technology was needed for compositing, this video editing would take more time.
They had originally planned to do it together after the school anniversary, but their reliable department head once again took on the task.
“What’s with those expressions? Your senior said he’d bear the hardship himself and let you juniors have it easy. What, you’re not happy about it?”
Seeing the four of them wearing strange expressions, the Drama Club president scratched his head and said.
“Not at all! Thank you for your trouble, President!”
Song Qiuyu quickly shook her head and said politely.
The three roommates also nodded in agreement.
Then, Song Qiuyu glanced at her phone time and turned into a meal-time reminder, telling everyone to go eat.
However, with a casual look, she caught many girls with hearts in their eyes, secretly taking photos of Jiang Xiao in just his swim trunks. She instantly felt displeased.
Although once this short video was released, even more people would appreciate Jiang Xiao’s handsome looks,
for now, she refused to let them take secret photos.
She desperately wanted to assert her ownership.
“Alright, you guys put on your clothes quickly, don’t catch a cold!”
She ran over directly, picked up Jiang Xiao’s jacket from the bench, and placed it in his hands, urgently signaling with her eyes for him to hurry up.
Jiang Xiao nodded, watching his girlfriend’s reaction, his heart blooming with joy.
Seeing three figures in the distance each holding a piece of clothing and walking over, they handed them to three people respectively.
One of them was Xia Qi.
Jiang Xiao looked at the other two and was slightly stunned.
These two were Jiang Yu and Jiang Li. As for the clothes in their hands…
“Sister Sang Tian, your clothes!”
Jiang Yu’s ears were red, and he only dared to look at Sang Tian’s fair and slender legs and toes. If he looked up even a little, his eyes would be filled with a blood-pumping sight.
He was bearing a pressure that kids his age shouldn’t have to bear.
Almost…
Fortunately, a clear, cold voice from Jiang Li next to him saying, “Brother Zhu Ran,” woke him up.
It was as if a cold current suddenly hit him, freezing his mind back to clarity.
Jiang Yu sighed in relief.
“Th… thank you.”
Xie Zhuran took the clothes Jiang Li handed him, feeling flattered and a bit dizzy.
He was afraid that Jiang Li would then turn around and help other department members get clothes too.
‘It’s not that she’s only nice to me, she’s like this to everyone.’
‘Jiang Li wouldn’t help other department members.’
‘Because they’re not close.’
Taking in the interaction of the four, Jiang Xiao’s handsome face gradually turned serious.
‘I go to university, and everyone in my family is getting partners. That’s not right, is it?’
‘Especially Jiang Yu.’
‘So young, not learning good things. At this age, what’s he doing dating?’
Thinking about this, he paused, thinking about his own past with his girlfriend, and suddenly felt he had lost the right to say anything.
‘So it was me who set a bad example first.’
Then, he felt someone nudge him.
He turned his head and saw Song Qiuyu’s sweet and obedient face, but her lips were pouted in displeasure, as if she wanted to jump up and help him put on his clothes.
His girlfriend was unexpectedly possessive; she couldn’t tolerate even a speck of sand in her eyes.
Coincidentally, he was the same.
He couldn’t help but imagine his cute girlfriend wearing a swimsuit and swimming with him. Since she was already both sexy and cute, wearing one would make her even more attractive.
If she also wore a sheer white dress over it and semi-transparent white stockings, it would be perfect.
‘This kind of good stuff can only be enjoyed at home. I’ll definitely build a pool at home in the future and watch every day!’
He was nudged again.
Feeling a little guilty, he didn’t delay any longer and quickly put on his clothes.
Seeing this, Song Qiuyu smiled in satisfaction.
In the afternoon, at the gymnasium, everyone came as promised. Within a few minutes, the audience seats were almost full.
On the basketball court, participants and coaches from both sides gradually appeared, and soon the basketball game officially began.
As she had expected, the cheers from the audience rose like a tidal wave, but the cheers were not just for Jiang Xiao; they were for everyone on the court.
Everyone on the court was sweating, whether they scored or missed, their faces always carrying smiles.
This was just a friendly match between alumni. Winning or losing no longer mattered; what mattered was enjoying the feeling of returning to the university campus.
Watching Jiang Xiao run on the court and execute perfect coordination with his teammates, Song Qiuyu couldn’t help but be stunned.
This was something that the Jiang Xiao from his three years of high school and the Jiang Xiao from the beginning of last semester could never have done.
Jiang Xiao had changed. The change was visible. He was becoming better and brighter, just as he originally was.
The girls’ shouts for Jiang Xiao surged like a flood, rushing into her ears. Each shout stirred ripples, big and small, deep in her heart.
Her eyes followed Jiang Xiao’s movements, and the corners of her mouth lifted.
During halftime, Jiang Xiao exchanged a few words with his teammates, then took the towel Lin An handed him, wiped off some sweat, and instinctively looked toward Song Qiuyu.
But at that moment, for some reason, her seat was empty. Song Qiuyu seemed to have quietly left at some point.
Not only that, but Sang Tian was also missing.
Just as Jiang Xiao was wondering, Jiang Zhi’s figure suddenly came into his view.
Jiang Zhi still had that cynical smile on his face. While wiping his sweat, he smiled and greeted him, then deliberately stopped in front of him, bent down, leaned close, and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear:
“Cousin, now your older cousin is going to teach you a life lesson about dealing with people. If a person gets close to the sun, they will become better too. But if they get close to someone who is insecure and twisted, they will only be dragged into a quagmire and become worse and worse.”
“And the person you like now is undoubtedly the latter. A smart person would know to stay away from her to protect themselves.”
It’s the beginning of the month, but I don’t see any votes. Grumble!