Chapter 43: No Misunderstandings, No Need for Explanations
TL: Etude
After leaving the Literature Club activity room, Jiang Qin looked up at the clear sky following the rain and pondered whether he should fulfill his promise to treat someone to two meals.
After all, such cool weather was rare. Once the temperature rose back to its previous levels, even rewarding himself would result in sweating profusely, making dining out seem like a luxury.
Hong Yan, Feng Nanshu…
Jiang Qin hesitated between the two names in his contact list. Glancing at the time, he decided to invite Hong Yan for lunch and Feng Nanshu for dinner.
Perhaps it would be more convenient in the evening?
After all, doing this in broad daylight could easily become notorious.
Soon, the call connected, and Hong Yan’s delicate and sweet voice came through, tinged with a hint of surprise.
After arranging the time and place, Jiang Qin pocketed his phone and accepted the bottle of mineral water handed to him by Dong Wenhao, his gaze drifting towards the college girls with slender legs and waists by the lake.
“The beauties at your East Campus aren’t very impressive,” Jiang Qin commented with a click of his tongue, looking somewhat disappointed.
Dong Wenhao immediately disagreed, seeing it as a matter of East Campus’s pride: “Today’s a weekend, and the really pretty ones have already been asked out. You wouldn’t even get to see them.”
“Really?” Jiang Qin asked skeptically.
“Forget the rest; just the freshmen this year have two campus beauties, setting a new record for East Campus.”
After listening, Jiang Qin took a sip of water, already guessing who Dong Wenhao was referring to: “From the Law Department?”
Dong Wenhao’s eyes widened in surprise: “You’re well-informed. Interested?”
“Not even for a romance dog.”
“In fact, it’s useless to think about it. Beautiful girls are colder than others, and it’s a struggle even to add them on QQ. My dorm mate, a rich second generation, couldn’t even buy their contact for a thousand yuan online.”
Jiang Qin almost spat out his water laughing: “Such a big loser? Honestly, I’m old friends with them. I’ll sell it; have your dorm mate come to me.”
Dong Wenhao looked at him skeptically: “Nonsense.”
“Damn, these days no one believes the truth. What a messed-up world.”
Muttering under his breath, Jiang Qin walked forward with Dong Wenhao, passing through the vine corridors to the south shore of East Campus Lake.
Perhaps because Dong Wenhao felt guilty for having only submitted eight articles but receiving 150 yuan in payment, he insisted on being Jiang Qin’s tour guide.
As the vice president of the Literature Club, Dong Wenhao was well-liked. Along the way, many greeted him, and he introduced two friends to Jiang Qin: Pang Hai, a graphic design student, and Gao Dapeng, president of a part-time club.
Dong Wenhao thought Jiang Qin’s website promotion would inevitably involve campus publicity, which was about to start. These two would be just the people he needed.
Jiang Qin got along well with them, even tentatively settling on a plan for promotion and poster design, waiting for enough content to kick off the project.
But just as they were discussing the price, Dong Wenhao suddenly tugged at Jiang Qin, pointing towards a pavilion in the garden opposite.
“Look, one of the campus beauties, Chu Siqi.”
“?”
Jiang Qin looked over and indeed saw Chu Siqi in a white dress, looking like a literature ’s heroine, with her fluffy long hair draped over her shoulders and her bare arms pale and delicate.
In front of her stood a boy in a black T-shirt, about 1.8 meters tall, wearing silver-rimmed glasses and Nike zk3 basketball shoes, the same model Kobe wore.
Gao Dapeng also looked over, his eyes widening in surprise: “Isn’t that Zheng Qinglong, the chairman of the Law Department’s student union? I heard he’s been pursuing Chu Siqi since the beginning of school. Has he finally asked her out?”
“Damn, it’s always the one closest to the pond who gets the moon. Such a beast,” Pang Hai said, clearly resentful.
“Let’s go over and see, hear what they’re talking about.”
Jiang Qin quickly waved his hands in refusal, eager to avoid any trouble: “You guys go ahead. I don’t want to. I know her; it might cause issues.”
“Nonsense, come on, don’t be shy. It’s also a chance for you to see the pinnacle of beauty at our East Campus,” Dong Wenhao insisted, pulling him along.
“I really don’t want to see!”
“You have to, otherwise you’ll keep saying our East Campus isn’t pretty!”
The four sneaked over, planning to catch them off guard. However, the target was too obvious, and they were not blind. How could they not see them approaching? A quick glance would reveal their presence.
However, being spotted wasn’t an issue. Pang Hai, Gao Dapeng, and Dong Wenhao didn’t bother to hide; they walked over openly.
“Zheng Qinglong, you’re quite something, hitting on a junior just after school starts, and the prettiest one at that!”
Zheng Qinglong, revealing his handsome face, pushed his glasses up on his nose and smiled, “Stop it, it’s just a chance to chat with the junior.”
Pang Hai couldn’t help but click his tongue, “Cut the bull. How come I never see you chatting with me?”
“Okay, I admit I do have feelings for Chu Siqi, but she hasn’t agreed yet, so don’t spread rumors.”
“Not yet? Pfft, junior, don’t agree to him. This guy is full of sweet talk; be careful not to be deceived!”
Zheng Qinglong gave a gentlemanly smile, “If she doesn’t agree to me, who else is worthy of Chu Siqi?”
Chu Siqi blushed at their words, about to say she didn’t plan to date in college, but upon lifting her head, her face turned pale, and she unconsciously clasped her hands together.
Jiang Qin…
At this moment, Jiang Qin was standing at the back of the group, motionless and expressionless.
“Hmm?”
Zheng Qinglong paused, noticing Chu Siqi suddenly walking towards a stranger in the back. Her eyelashes trembled, and her face even showed a hint of panic.
Pang Hai, Gao Dapeng, and Dong Wenhao’s gazes followed her, eventually settling on Jiang Qin.
Then, after three seconds, they witnessed a scene that left their jaws dropped.
“Jiang Qin, what brings you to the East Campus?”
Jiang Qin stepped back and nodded politely, “I’m here for some business.”
Chu Siqi looked dazed as he stepped back, “Don’t misunderstand, he’s a senior from our Law Department. He said there was an issue with my student record and wanted to talk.”
“It’s fine, you guys talk. Don’t mind me.”
“What kind of attitude is that? I’m telling the truth!”
Jiang Qin sighed in resignation, “I know, I heard. But I really don’t care. You’ve got things to do, go ahead.”
Chu Siqi stopped in her tracks, biting her soft lips tightly, her eyes welling up, “Why won’t you listen to me properly? Are you trying to make me angry?”
“What the hell did I do?”
“Pretending not to care about me, pretending not to like me. I admit it’s effective, you win, okay? I’m almost sick of it, just make up with me already!”
Jiang Qin took a deep breath, “How many times do I have to say it for you to understand? I really don’t like you; it’s not an act. Please don’t act like I’m your boyfriend. We have nothing to do with each other; it’s awkward for me.”
Chu Siqi suppressed her temper, softening her tone, “Let’s make up. I can forgive you for ignoring me all summer. Let’s go back to how we were before.”
“Damn it, Chu Siqi, do you even see others as human? How can your thirty-six-degree mouth say such cruel and cold words?”
Jiang Qin couldn’t comprehend, clueless about Chu Siqi’s thought process.
Go back to before?
I desperately pursued you, you rejected me, then turned around, hugging your new boyfriend, asking me if he was handsome?
It’s like being peed on by someone with jaundice; what’s the point of a rebirth?
Chu Siqi stared at him, suddenly feeling a surge of sorrow from deep within.
Tears swirled in her eyes, her nose turning red, suddenly realizing what it meant to see someone as a stranger.
Mountains and rivers should never meet again, never to see each other in this life. From now on, spring and autumn shall not mingle, nor shall wind and moon relate.
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