Jiang Yumo took Ning Zhiyu upstairs.
In the corridor, Ning Zhiyu felt a bit uneasy and asked, “Will this disturb Uncle and Aunt’s rest?”
“How could it? They don’t sleep this early,” Jiang Yumo looked back at her and called out, making the voice-controlled lights turn on. “Besides, I told my mom when I left, and she was really happy about it.”
Ning Zhiyu nodded and said, “I must have come too suddenly.”
“Oh no!” Jiang Yumo reassured her. “Not at all. Yan Qing and Mengting used to sleep over at my place frequently. By the way, my Mom said it’s a bit late today, so she suggested you stay at our house. How about that? Tomorrow we can go to school together.”
Ning Zhiyu hesitated.
She had never stayed overnight at someone else’s house before.
“Or maybe I can ask my Dad to drive you back later,” Jiang Yumo said seriously. “It’s already late, and it’s impossible for you to take a taxi alone. The buses have stopped running at this hour.”
Ning Zhiyu didn’t want to cause any trouble for anyone.
After thinking for a moment, she realized that Jiang Yumo’s Dad was a long-distance bus driver who had to leave early every day. It would take nearly half an hour to drive from here to Linjiang Road.
One round trip takes just an hour.
She pressed her lips together, having made a decision, and softly said, “Then I’ll trouble you today.”
Jiang Yumo was extremely happy. They had arrived at the doorstep, and she linked her arm with Ning Zhiyu’s, saying, “How could that be? I’m so happy! By the way, I made a mistake in a fill-in-the-blank test and I don’t know where I went wrong.”
When Jiang Yumo came out, she didn’t bring her keys, so she knocked on the door.
The old house didn’t have good sound insulation, and footsteps could be heard from outside.
Ning Zhiyu suddenly became nervous.
She couldn’t help but feel that she was disturbing Jiang Yumo’s parents.
Mother Jiang opened the door, looked at Ning Zhiyu, and her face was filled with a smile. “Oh, it’s Xiao Ning. Come in quickly, it’s cold outside, don’t catch a cold.”
Mother Jiang was particularly enthusiastic. She pulled Ning Zhiyu inside and found slippers for Ning Zhiyu.
Ning Zhiyu, on the other hand, didn’t know how to react. “Aunt, I can do it myself.”
Jiang Yumo pouted and said, “I have never enjoyed such treatment before, Mrs. Chen.”
Mother Jiang reached out and flicked her daughter’s forehead. “You heartless child. Alright,” she also worried that she might put pressure on Ning Zhiyu, so she pretended to yawn, “I’m going to rest. Momo, there are two cups of hot milk on your desk. You and Xiaoning each have one. Remember to drink them, it’ll help you sleep better.”
“Thank you, Aunt,” Ning Zhiyu hurriedly said.
After Mother Jiang went back to her room, Jiang Yumo took Ning Zhiyu’s hand and entered her own bedroom.
This was Ning Zhiyu’s first time visiting Jiang Yumo’s home.
“I didn’t know you were coming, I didn’t even tidy up,” Jiang Yumo hurriedly picked up the socks thrown on the floor and neatly put away the crumpled paper and snack wrappers on the desk. She looked at Ning Zhiyu with embarrassment, “My room is like a dog’s nest, really.”
“No, it’s cozy,” Ning Zhiyu sincerely replied.
Jiang Yumo’s room wasn’t large, with a one and a half-meter bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. But the bedsheet was adorned with many embroidered strawberries, giving it a fluffy and soft look.
Posters of celebrities were stuck on the walls.
There were also several teddy bears piled up on the bed.
After Jiang Yumo tidied up, she and Ning Zhiyu each had a cup of hot milk. She sat on the edge of the bed, while Ning Zhiyu sat on the chair in front of the desk.
Jiang Yumo didn’t ask Ning Zhiyu what the matter was.
After drinking a cup of hot milk and feeling the warmth gradually spreading through her body, Ning Zhiyu held the transparent glass and softly said, “Yumo, I know who the online friend who sent you the crystal ball is.”
Jiang Yumo looked up, puzzled and bewildered. “Huh?”
“I’m sorry, Yumo,” Ning Zhiyu sincerely apologized. “I suspected it this afternoon, but I wasn’t sure, so I didn’t tell you. Later, I asked you to upload the photo… it was actually to test that person. On my way home, I saw him. He came to find me.” She looked at Jiang Yumo. “Do you want to know who that online friend is?”
“…,” Jiang Yumo hesitated.
Jiang Yumo didn’t expect that what was initially a simple matter suddenly became complicated.
Moreover, Ning Zhiyu said she knew Traveler!
“Who is it?” Jiang Yumo asked.
Ning Zhiyu remained silent for a few seconds. “It’s Ye Wenxu.”
Jiang Yumao was shocked. “Ye Wenxu, how is that possible?”
But as soon as these words came out, Jiang Yumo recalled some information that Traveler had revealed to her, and indeed, it matched up with Ye Wenxu.
For example, Traveler is from First High, and Ye Wenxu is too.
For example, Traveler had told her before, saying that his parents and teachers had high expectations of him.
Ye Wenxu is also a famous top student in First High.
“It’s him. He was surprised to know that his online friend is you,” Ning Zhiyu looked at Jiang Yumo and said, “Maybe he won’t chat with you anymore, Yumo. I understand him, he… is actually a very good person.”
Jiang Yumo suddenly recalled something she had said before and asked in astonishment, “Ye Wenxu was your…”
“Yes,” Ning Zhiyu nodded with a light laugh, but corrected her, “But it’s not the kind of liking you mentioned, it’s more of a good impression. He’s really good, and many people like him. My former best friend was one of them. Actually, if she had told me that the person she liked was Ye Wenxu, I wouldn’t have had any feelings for him at all. For me, friendship is the most precious.”
Jiang Yumo stared at Ning Zhiyu in a daze.
Ning Zhiyu rarely showed this side of her. She wasn’t talkative on ordinary days, but today was different. Jiang Yumo had a feeling that Ning Zhiyu wanted to open up everything to her.
“I don’t blame her for not telling me. After all, everyone has their own secrets, and it’s my own fault for being confused,” Ning Zhiyu lowered her gaze. After a while, she continued, “I just… didn’t expect that I didn’t matter to her to this extent. He’s just a guy, isn’t he? I wouldn’t fall for someone my friend likes. I don’t understand,” she murmured, “why she hesitated for a moment and chose to give up on me between me and Ye Wenxu. Weren’t we friends for several years?”
Jiang Yumo also feels uncomfortable.
She feels a surge of emotions surrounding Ning Zhiyu.
Unable to bear it any longer, she stands up, walks over, and hugs Ning Zhiyu, patting her shoulder. “Maybe… you’re just not meant to be friends. Don’t blame yourself. It’s just that you two aren’t suitable as friends. It’s not your fault.”
From third year of middle school to third year of high school…
She has heard Shen Yawei apologize and seen the remorse on Ye Wenxu’s face, but no one has told her, ‘It’s not your fault.’
It’s not her fault.
The emotions that have been building up in Ning Zhiyu’s chest suddenly loosen, and she can’t control it as tears stream down her face.
Jiang Yumo pats her back gently.
Ning Zhiyu is a strong-willed person. Tonight is a special circumstance. If it weren’t for tonight, if it weren’t for this atmosphere, and if she hadn’t drunk that cup of hot milk, she wouldn’t have said these things to anyone.
Soon, she composes herself and wipes away her tears, feeling a bit uneasy. Her voice is slightly hoarse, but as calm as ever. “Today, Ye Wenxu came to find me, and I confirmed it, but… Zhou Ji was also there, and something unpleasant happened. I didn’t want him to know because he would immediately tell Duan Ye. I was afraid it would cause you trouble.”
Jiang Yumo couldn’t help but laugh. “You, oh you.”
Jiang Yumo hands her a hot water bottle that has been fully charged. “I can imagine how unpleasant it must have been. Zhou Ji, he’s the King of Jealousy, and his family runs a vinegar factory1. Zhiyu, thank you.”
Ning Zhiyu shook her head and said, “I didn’t do anything.”
Jiang Yumo thought for a moment and took out the new phone that Duan Ye had given her from her pocket. “Let me see if Duan Ye is asleep, it shouldn’t be this early.”
Ning Zhiyu was taken aback. “Are you going to call him?”
Jiang Yumo nodded. “Yes, I want to tell him that I already know who Traveler is.”
“But…” Ning Zhiyu instinctively felt that this was not a good idea. If she told Duan Ye, there would definitely be misunderstandings. Now that they already knew that the online friend was Ye Wenxu, they could handle it themselves without letting Duan Ye know. Duan Ye would never find out.
She would absolutely not reveal it.
Ye Wenxu’s character spoke for itself. He wouldn’t tell anyone.
Jiang Yumo smiled at Ning Zhiyu. “I can’t help it. I confessed today.”
“Aren’t you afraid he will misunderstand?” Ning Zhiyu asked.
Jiang Yumo blinked. “A little, but I feel that if I keep it from him, I’ll always feel uneasy. I’ll always feel uncomfortable.” Then she proudly added, “This is my little trick in life. If I make a mistake, I have to admit it quickly and sincerely. The longer you drag it, the bigger the problem becomes.”
Ning Zhiyu hesitated, but still didn’t stop Jiang Yumo from making the call.
Jiang Yumo leaned against the desk and dialed Duan Ye’s number.
There was actually something she didn’t tell Ning Zhiyu.
She didn’t know what would happen between her and Duan Ye in the future, whether they would repeat the on-and-off ending from the original work, but she felt that she wanted to do better. So she worked hard for the art entrance exam and wanted to attend a better university. The same applied to Duan Ye; she hoped there would be fewer and fewer obstacles between them.
Keeping secrets… of course, it was possible, but what would be the meaning in that?
She also worried that temporary concealment would sow the seeds of future troubles.
It would be better to dismantle it now.
When Duan Ye’s phone rang, he subtly breathed a sigh of relief.
The atmosphere at this moment was truly strange. The TV displayed an intense atmosphere of a soccer match, but Zhou Ji’s mind was clearly not on it. He stared blankly at the TV, showing no intention to open up. Duan Ye sat beside him, experiencing the feeling of being on pins and needles for the first time.
Seeing the caller ID, he thought that Jiang Yumo couldn’t sleep and decisively got up, heading towards the bedroom.
He was afraid that he would have to read The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng for her later.
He answered the phone while walking and said, “Hello.”
There was a smile in Jiang Yumo’s eyes. “You’re still awake. It’s so late.”
Duan Ye made a sound of agreement, feeling a headache and sounding a bit helpless. “Zhou Ji is at my place. He doesn’t seem to want to leave.”
Well, if Zhou Ji, in that half-dead state, really wanted to leave, Duan Ye couldn’t rest assured.
Jiang Yumo was shocked and looked at Ning Zhiyu, tentatively asking Duan Ye on the other end of the phone, “How did Zhou Ji end up at your place?”
She could guess that Zhou Ji was jealous and would definitely go crazy, but she didn’t expect him to be at Duan Ye’s place at this hour—
Wait, since when did they become so close??
“I don’t know, I’m not sure,” Duan Ye said. “There might have been some incident, and he hasn’t said a word since he came over.”
Ning Zhiyu’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and she gripped the cup in her hand even tighter.
Jiang Yumo understood the ins and outs of the situation and sighed helplessly. “Alright, since Zhou Ji is there, we can’t clarify things over the phone. Here’s the plan: you bring Zhou Ji downstairs to my place. Zhiyu is also staying at my house tonight. We’ll talk about everything at once. Let’s not leave any misunderstandings overnight until tomorrow morning. Can we do that?”
After hanging up the phone, Duan Ye went back to the living room and approached Zhou Ji. He said in a deep voice, “Just now she called me and asked us to go over. Oh, Ning Zhiyu is also at her place.”
Zhou Ji remained silent, still absentmindedly staring at the TV screen.
Duan Ye had already put on a down jacket and asked, “Are we going or not?”
Zhou Ji sneered, “If she wants me to leave, I’ll leave. If she wants me to go over, I’ll go over. What does she take me for, a dog?”
Duan Ye : “…”
He didn’t bother dealing with Zhou Ji, grabbed his phone and keys, and headed out. Before reaching the downstairs, he heard footsteps behind him.
Zhou Ji followed along as expected.
Duan Ye had already anticipated it and wasn’t surprised in the least.
- not literal meaning, it’s just to exaggerate how jealous he could be ↩︎