Chapter 44: My Heart Sealed in Cement
TL: Etude
For Jiang Qin in his past life, the name Chu Siqi was a nightmare throughout his entire college era.
It took him many years to walk out of that nightmare, learning to let go, to not treat love as everything in life, and to stop blaming himself for all the mistakes.
Now, having been reborn, he truly feels nothing for Chu Siqi.
No, it’s more than just feeling nothing.
To maintain his inner peace and serenity, he even suppresses his disdain for Chu Siqi, displaying only the minimal courtesy towards her.
This is called cultivation.
Otherwise, right now, he would really be cursing up a storm.
But upon hearing Chu Siqi speak of going back to the past, Jiang Qin felt a shudder, as if getting goosebumps. Her words were too harsh; this woman should have been a minister of justice.
“Junior sister, is this your friend?”
Zheng Qinglong frowned slightly, tentatively asking.
He had inquired about Chu Siqi when he pursued her and knew she didn’t have a boyfriend. But he couldn’t understand who this sudden stranger was.
He hadn’t moved at all, yet the goddess junior sister he had taken so much effort to ask out had taken the initiative to approach this guy, who seemed annoyed and hastily backed away? Zheng Qinglong couldn’t understand; why was this disparity so strong?
“Jiang Qin was my high school classmate,” Chu Siqi bit her red lip lightly.
Jiang Qin didn’t want to get involved in this mess anymore. Looking up at Dong Wenhao, he said, “Old Dong, just call me if you need anything. If it’s really urgent, come find me at the main school. I won’t come to the East Campus anymore.”
“Ah? Oh, okay.”
Dong Wenhao, suddenly named, came out of his shock and subconsciously responded, then looked at Jiang Qin with a complicated expression, thinking to himself that the boss really wasn’t bragging; he indeed knew Chu Siqi! What was even more unbelievable was that a goddess junior sister like Chu Siqi was actually pestering Jiang Qin. That seemed too unreal, right?
But even more unbelievable was the sound of footsteps coming from the left side of the garden walkway.
Hong Yan approached with brisk steps, wearing a tight waist-short skirt paired with thin black stockings and black heeled leather shoes.
She stopped in the middle of the garden, pausing in surprise at the scene before her, then stopped her steps gracefully.
“Aren’t we going to eat? What are you doing?”
Jiang Qin coughed and then spoke, “It’s nothing, just a small misunderstanding. Let’s go have lunch.”
“Oh, okay.” Hong Yan instinctively glanced at Chu Siqi and followed.
“Jiang Qin, do you really like Hong Yan? I’m telling you, if you take her away, I will never bother with you again in this lifetime.”
Chu Siqi, seeing him so gentle with Hong Yan, was instantly furious, feeling as if several holes had been pierced in her heart.
Jiang Qin widened his eyes in surprise: “There’s such a good thing where I can kill two birds with one stone? Make sure you keep your word!”
“What did you say? Jiang Qin, you’re going too far!”
Watching this scene, the few who had just regained their senses fell into endless silence again.
Isn’t that Hong Yan, not one of the campus beauties?
There’s a campus heartthrob in the Literature Department named Wang Junyi who played guitar under her dorm for five days and couldn’t get her to agree to a date.
And Jiang Qin just called her softly, and she obediently followed him to lunch?
“Jiang Qin, come back here, I’m giving you one last chance, do you hear me?!”
“Blah blah blah.”
“??????”
Jiang Qin waved his hand, reining in his facial expression, and left the East Campus with Hong Yan, heading towards South Street’s Shiwei Tian for lunch.
It was the busy lunch hour, and South Street was bustling with people and noise, full of life and activity.
Throughout the journey, Jiang Qin and Hong Yan remained silent, eventually finding an open-air seat next to the main road.
It wasn’t until the dishes were served that Jiang Qin leisurely began to talk about the past.
He narrated everything: his acquaintance with Chu Siqi, his secret love for her over three years, and his passionate confession after the college entrance exam, using these memories to accompany his drink.
Hong Yan sat with her legs together, one hand propping up her cheek, quietly listening. She couldn’t help but immerse herself in the role of the female protagonist, feeling the affection of the boy in front of her.
But after hearing these stories, she felt somewhat puzzled, thinking that Jiang Qin hadn’t told her everything. In her eyes, Jiang Qin seemed mature and steady, as if he could see through the essence of everything. It seemed unlikely that someone like him would fall for a girl with Chu Siqi’s personality.
“Do you have someone you like now?”
Jiang Qin put down his empty wine glass. “I’ve sealed my heart in cement.”
“What does sealing your heart in cement mean?” Hong Yan asked, puzzled.
“It means I don’t believe in love. I think dating is nonsense. I only believe in interests and strive to make money to ensure a good life for myself and my loved ones.”
Hong Yan’s gaze dimmed slightly. “Then… have you ever met a girl who touched your heart? Other than Chu Siqi.”
Jiang Qin pursed his lips. “A guy only becomes love-struck once in his life, never a second time.”
“But you’ll have to get married eventually, right? You can’t stay single forever.”
“That won’t happen. So, I’m working hard, hoping some little rich lady will come and support me.”
Hong Yan thought he was joking, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed by his answer. “Jiang Qin, why are you telling me all this?”
Jiang Qin refilled his glass. “I don’t want to cause trouble for others, so I need to clear up those misunderstandings. I hope you and Chu Siqi can still get along well. You’ll spend your entire college life in the same dormitory. It’s not worth falling out over someone.”
Hong Yan pursed her lips, realizing he was referring to her. He didn’t want her to be troubled or to fall out with her roommate. He hoped she would have a harmonious and warm college experience.
See, even when he’s irritable, he still considers others. How could Hong Yan not be moved?
But he doesn’t like her.
But what does it matter if he doesn’t? She still wants to like him.
Hong Yan felt a sudden surge of courage, ready to confess her feelings.
However, just then, footsteps sounded behind her, and three striking figures approached along the noisy street.
One was Chu Siqi, who had changed her outfit from a long skirt to a short one and replaced her slippers with small leather shoes. She had put on light makeup, looking exquisitely beautiful.
Another was Wang Huiru, her expression conflicted, worry written in her eyes, one hand gripping Chu Siqi as if afraid she might rush out.
The last person, Jiang Qin hadn’t seen before. Her name was Si Huiying, another of Hong Yan’s roommates. Her face was cold, filled with hostility, staring straight at Jiang Qin.
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