Ah… this…
You, me, him… uh…
Ji Yuenian was momentarily speechless.
He didn’t even know why he had followed along-it was like… like… a little pet instinctively trailing after its departing owner.
The moment this thought surfaced, Ji Yuenian crushed it mercilessly and cursed himself inwardly!
“Uh, so… are you free this weekend? There’s a volunteer event… yeah! A volunteer event! Traffic control duty, and it gives extra credits! Didn’t your mom ask me to help you integrate more with the group? Well, here I am, thinking of you first when something good comes up!”
Ji Yuenian racked his brains and finally came up with a reason convincing enough to justify why he had followed.
“Not this time, maybe next time,” Jiang Chi replied absentmindedly, preoccupied with thoughts about “Ji Qingchan.”
His response was half- hearted, and he didn’t even notice the holes in Ji Yuenian’s excuse.
Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Jiang Chi tossed out, “If there’s nothing else, I’ve got to go,” and strode away without a backward glance, his satchel slung over his shoulder.
Long after Jiang Chi’s figure had vanished down the hallway, Ji Yuenian remained rooted in place.
“Bro Ji.”
Su Tian suddenly popped up from behind, noticing Ji Yuenian’s odd demeanor.
“You okay?”
“Nothing much, just feeling a bit…”
Ji Yuenian shook his head, hesitating to continue.
After that nightmare, he could clearly sense changes in himself—more violent, more emotional, more eager to seek thrills, and his nerves had grown sharper.
The slightest frustration now kindled a fire in his chest, urging him to vent.
And every time he saw Jiang Chi, a strange, indescribable feeling welled up inside him—something utterly bizarre.
“Wanna grab a drink?”
Of course, Su Tian had no idea what was going through Ji Yuenian’s mind, but as his loyal sidekick, he did his best to offer solutions.
“Nah, I’ll head back to the dorm and nap. Probably just tired from these past few days.”
Ji Yuenian declined politely, then glanced once more in the direction Jiang Chi had gone before turning away.
Back in the dorm, the drama king Yao Shiming was absent-likely rehearsing with the arts club—and the playboy Luo Yikang was out chasing girls again.
The only one present was Hu Li, slurping noodles while scrolling through short videos.
Ever since the incident, the dorm’s atmosphere had shifted subtly.
Luo Yikang no longer teased Hu Li with playful “Daji, little sister” remarks, while Yao Shiming and Hu Li’s friendship had skyrocketed, nearly reaching best-friend status.
As for Ji Yuenian, he remained the same pretending to be “Ji Qingchan” to get closer to Jiang Chi, skipping classes to wander off-campus, and occasionally treating his underlings to meals.
The balcony’s glass door was wide open, letting in gusts of cool wind that brought relief in the sweltering summer heat.
No sooner had Ji Yuenian flopped onto his bed than Hu Li, seated at the desk, spoke up:
“Hey, Old Ji, quick question—are you legal yet?”
“Not yet.”
Despite Ji Yuenian’s tall, sturdy build-like a young bull-he was actually only seventeen, still underage.
He asked casually, “Why do you ask?”
“No reason, just curious.”
Hu Li slurped his noodles loudly, as if deliberately changing the subject.
“Just wanted to know who in our dorm or class is already legal.”
“Old Yao, right? Didn’t he mention he had to repeat a grade in elementary school?”
Hearing this, Hu Li gave a slight nod, a thoughtful glimmer flashing in her eyes before she fell silent again, simply continuing to eat her noodles.
Meanwhile, Ji Yuenian lounged leisurely on his bed in a relaxed sprawl, resting while idly scrolling through funny short videos with one hand.
Time flowed by like a murmuring brook, quiet and unnoticed. Gradually, the grayish hues outside the window spread like ink, enveloping the entire sky.
Suddenly, a “ding-dong” sounded—a special notification popped up. Ji Yuenian lazily rolled over, switched accounts, and took a closer look. It was a message from Jiang Chi.
Ji Yuenian had Jiang Chi saved in his contacts as “Destined to Cry His Eyes Out Pretty Boy · Jiang.”
Destined to Cry His Eyes Out Pretty Boy · Jiang: “Free tonight? I want to meet you by the fake bridge at school to stargaze.”
Ji Yuenian scratched his head.
Huh… So the blockhead finally had an epiphany?
But with Wanqing City’s level of light pollution, where exactly were the stars supposed to be?
Ah, whatever. No point arguing physics with a lovesick pretty boy.
If he dared to ask, Ji Yuenian wasn’t about to refuse.
Immediately, he grabbed his phone, left Hu Li a message saying, “Going for a few laps around the track,” and hurried out of the dorm.
Back in the room, after confirming Ji Yuenian had truly left, Hu Li silently opened a drawer and pulled out a medical report.
Her dark eyes scanned the final line of red-inked conclusions, her expression dimming slightly as she let out a quiet sigh.
In the end, she tucked the report back where it belonged….
Tonight, the moon was bright, and the stars sparse, its silvery light spilling over the earth.
In the fake bridge park of Wanqing Yongxing School, lush trees formed dense canopies, swaying gently in the breeze like emerald forests.
The grass, thick and soft, spread like a verdant carpet beneath their feet.
Dim streetlamps cast a gentle glow, painting hazy patterns of light and shadow on the ground.
On a bench sat a slender young man, his features indistinct in the dimness.
He sat quietly, as if blending into the surroundings.
This spot was the top-recommended dating location on the school forum, the air practically humming with romance.
Among the flower bushes, fireflies occasionally flitted past, their tiny lights flickering like distant stars.
Not far away, a small lake shimmered under the moonlight, its surface rippling gently.
An artificial fake bridge connected the two shores, often jokingly called the “Magpie Bridge” by students.
Soft footsteps broke the tranquil atmosphere, growing closer until they stopped right behind Jiang Chi.
A pair of small hands playfully covered his eyes, followed by a voice deliberately feigning an old-fashioned tone.
“Guess who~”
“Junior Ji.”
“Ah! You guessed right!”
The voice behind him could no longer maintain its faux-mature act, dissolving into cheerful laughter instead.
Jiang Chi reached out, effortlessly scooping the little troublemaker into his arms before setting her down on the bench. Behind his mask, the corners of his lips curled upward.
“Good evening, Junior Ji.”
“Senior Jiang, I told you to call me Qingchan! ‘Junior’ is so distant-couples should have affectionate nicknames.”
“Then what should you call me?”
“Senior Jiang, of course, because I just like calling you Senior Jiang.”
Ji Qingchan crossed her arms and pouted coquettishly.
“This is a girl’s privilege.”
Calling you “senior” is already giving you face.
Ji Yuenian thought to herself.
There was no way she’d call Jiang Chi terms like “Jiang-Jiang,” “Chi-Chi,” or “hubby.”
Though toying with his feelings was fun, those cringey pet names were where she drew the line.
Jiang Chi gazed at the girl’s radiant smile, feeling a slight flutter in his chest.
Unconsciously, he reached out to gently pinch her soft, rosy nose and called softly.
“Qingchan~”
“Senior Jiang, what did you just say? It was too quiet, I didn’t hear~”
Ignoring the boy’s teasing gesture, Ji Qingchan blinked her eyes and asked with feigned innocence.
“Qingchan.”
The boy called again, this time slightly louder.
“Louder.”
“Qingchan.”
“Even louder!”
“Qingchan!”
“Say you like me.”
“I like…?”
His voice abruptly cut off as Jiang Chi froze in place.
He looked at Ji Qingchan, only to meet a pair of eyes brimming with amusement.
“Hehehe- Senior Jiang isn’t as dense as before anymore.”
Ji Qingchan giggled like a sly little fox, leaning slightly forward.
The faint scent of gardenias wafted over, carrying delicate wisps of fragrance.
“Since Senior Jiang likes me…”
The girl tilted her head slightly, her eyes shimmering with a blend of innocence and seduction, making her all the more alluring.
Then, her slender fingertip began tracing circles on the boy’s chest, each touch seemingly imbued with a magical current-tingling, electrifying, sending waves of heat pooling low in his abdomen.
The sensation was like fine silk threads, slowly winding around the boy’s heart.
Lowering her head, she exhaled softly, her breath warm and intimate.
“How about we play some games… special little games between couples~~”
Ji Qingchan’s voice was like a hook, light and teasing as it plucked at Jiang Chi’s heartstrings, stirring endless fantasies and anticipation within him.
Won’t call him pet names but will kiss him and tempt him with her body? Weird holdup.
Anyway, Hu Li finally became a girl! I knew it’d happen eventually.