Zhou Ji didn’t dare to joke with Duan Ye anymore.
Zhou Ji retracted his hand and pretended to casually change the topic, saying, “Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep the driver waiting for too long. They charge extra for that.”
Duan Ye withdrew his gaze and ignored him.
Zhou Ji remained unexpectedly silent throughout the journey. When he arrived at Duan Ye’s house in the evening, he was also silent, but this time was completely different from that time.
Zhou Ji got off the car first, opened the door, hesitated for a moment, then turned his head to look at Duan Ye, who was leaning against the side and in the shadows. He said, “Actually, it all depends on how Jiang Yumo thinks. I can see that she’s completely focused on you and no one else.”
Anyone with eyes can see whom Jiang Yumo likes, right?
Zhou Ji didn’t understand Duan Ye either.
Zhou Ji thought that if Ning Zhiyu were like Jiang Yumo, he wouldn’t have any worries. But then again, if he and Ning Zhiyu really reached that kind of relationship… maybe he would be just like Duan Ye.
Being mutually attracted is one thing, but knowing that someone else desires the person you like is another thing entirely. No one can truly remain calm and composed.
Duan Ye glanced at Zhou Ji but still didn’t say anything.
Zhou Ji understood and waved his hand, saying, “I’m going back.”
It’s better to stop talking about certain things.
Jiang Yumo and Ning Zhiyu sneaked back. The two ate some chocolate, so now they were squeezing in front of the sink in the bathroom, brushing their teeth.
Maybe because they had explained things, they were both feeling happy.
Jiang Yumo’s bed was 1.5 meters wide, spacious enough for two girls to sleep comfortably. They closed the lights, and the moonlight poured in from outside. Jiang Yumo wasn’t sleepy and quietly asked, “Are you ready to sleep?”
Ning Zhiyu smiled and shook her head.
It’s not easy to fall asleep in an unfamiliar environment.
“You know, it’s good that we talked about today’s events,” Jiang Yumo recalled Zhou Ji’s defeated look and wanted to laugh, “But what happened to him today? Did he fight with Ye Wenxu?”
“No,” Ning Zhiyu kept her eyes open, looking at the ceiling. The blanket was soft, and there was a fresh scent of sun, “It’s fortunate that he didn’t fight. Otherwise, I would think of him… Oh, I don’t know how to explain it. Regarding today’s matter, Duan Ye handled it maturely. You both dealt with it well, with reason and moderation.”
Jiang Yumo chuckled, “Really? Then why do I feel like you actually prefer immaturity.”
Ning Zhiyu reached out to pinch Jiang Yumo and said, “I don’t like childish people, who would?”
“Wait a moment.” Jiang Yumo struggled to stretch her hand out from under the blanket and fumbled in the darkness to retrieve her phone from the bedside table. After a while, she said to Ning Zhiyu, “I pressed the recording button. Say what you just said again.”
Ning Zhiyu pretended not to understand and asked, “What did I say?”
“I want to record the part about who would like a childish person. I’ll play it back to you later.”
Ning Zhiyu smiled and said, “Okay… People shouldn’t make absolute statements, indeed.”
“Are you implying…” Jiang Yumo elongated her tone, “that you like Zhou Ji?”
“I didn’t say that!” Ning Zhiyu protested.
“But I can tell, though. But today, I’ll be fair and say that Zhou Ji is indeed a bit childish. He thought you liked Ye Wenxu, and then you made him leave… I think if it were me, I would be upset too.”
“But,” Ning Zhiyu said dazedly, “I already told him I had something to do and would talk to him later.”
“Yes, you told him. But if I saw another girl coming to look for Duan Ye, and Duan Ye asked me to leave first, saying he would talk to me later, even if I knew in my heart that he wouldn’t do anything with the other girl, I would still be upset. It’s hard for people to control their emotions.”
Jiang Yumo pondered for a moment and added, “The only difference between Zhou Ji and me is that he shows it, while I just walk away feeling very sad.”
She imagined the scene, clutching the blanket tightly in her hands, “Just thinking about it makes me unbearably uncomfortable.”
“Zhou Ji and I, are we both childish?” Jiang Yumo said softly.
Ning Zhiyu consoled her, “No, I don’t think Duan Ye would do that.”
As soon as these words came out, she realized that Jiang Yumo had led her astray.
Was it wrong for her to act that way today?
Or maybe next time, if a similar situation occurs, she could handle it in a slightly more tactful manner?
Yes.
It was her own assumption that she was helping Yumo keep it a secret, but she didn’t realize that Yumo never intended to hide it from Duan Ye from the beginning.
She wanted to keep Zhou Ji away because she was afraid he would say something…
But would Zhou Ji really say anything? Or perhaps she and Zhou Ji could come up with a better solution?
Why does she exclude everyone from the beginning and handle everything on her own?
Ning Zhiyu also fell into contemplation.
Jiang Yumo’s emotions come and go quickly. In the darkness, she whispered, “I also don’t think Duan Ye would do that.”
This is how it is between girls. When they have the experience of staying at each other’s homes, their relationship becomes closer.
Just like Jiang Yumo and Ning Zhiyu.
They woke up in the morning, brushed their teeth and washed up, and then walked hand in hand to catch the bus. They were closer than before. Life in the third year of high school was intense, and Jiang Yumo didn’t dwell on the matter of Ye Wenxu anymore. As she had guessed, Traveler didn’t message her again, and she wouldn’t chat with him anymore… Although it was a pity to lose a friend she could talk to, she could accept and digest this emotion. She and Traveler became mere acquaintances.
Before the evening self-study session began, Duan Ye took the initiative to invite Zhou Ji to play basketball, breaking the norm.
Others thought Zhou Ji would happily agree and run faster than anyone else, but deep down, Zhou Ji was unwilling. If he hadn’t seen Duan Ye’s expression and gaze last night, he would have been deceived by Duan Ye and gladly accepted the invitation. But now… maybe only he knows that Duan Ye just wants an outlet for venting, and playing basketball is probably the only way Duan Ye can think of.
After all, a love fool like Duan Ye would never have the heart to trouble his closest people.
He didn’t want them to notice any negative emotions from him, even the slightest bit.
So even good buddies like Zhao Zheng and Guo Shichao didn’t realize it—Duan Ye was very displeased, extremely displeased, and utterly furious.
Zhou Ji really wanted to refuse, but the words stuck in his throat.
When he thought about these past few days, every time he was unhappy and turned to Duan Ye, although Duan Ye wouldn’t comfort him, Duan Ye never turned him away either. He would always say that Duan Ye was his brother, and isn’t a brother supposed to be there in times like this? Firmly, like a warrior regretting, he nodded with a heavy expression and said, “Alright!”
The two of them went to inform the homeroom teacher that they would be taking leave.
With the new year came a fresh start, and Zhou Ji also wanted to accumulate good karma for Ning Zhiyu. Now, he would let the homeroom teacher know if he arrived late or left early. This confused the homeroom teacher of Class 10 lately—how did these two troublemakers suddenly become well-behaved? Did something happen??
The two of them went to the indoor basketball court that Zhou Ji had reserved before.
On such a cold day, and a workday at that, there was no one else there to play basketball. Zhou Ji and Duan Ye changed into their basketball jerseys. Although he had long made up his mind to ‘risk his life for the sake of this gentleman,’ when they actually started playing, Zhou Ji couldn’t help but marvel—Duan Ye was truly a fierce opponent.
He remained silent, furrowing his brows tightly.
Originally, Zhou Ji was not as skilled as him in basketball, and now he couldn’t even defend himself. This wasn’t playing anymore; it was clearly fighting for his life.
Later, Zhou Ji was completely overwhelmed by the other person’s dominance. He signaled to stop and simply lay down on the floor, panting heavily. He said, “I’m done, I’m done. Let me take a break. What the hell is wrong with you? I’m not Ye Wenxu. Do you really need to be so ruthless?”
Duan Ye looked at him.
Sweat trickled down Zhou Ji’s forehead.
Zhou Ji resigned himself and sat up, suggesting sarcastically, “If you’re really unhappy, just go beat up Ye Wenxu. Why keep it all inside? Who knows, maybe you haven’t even told her!”
Duan Ye shook his head. “You wouldn’t understand.”
Zhou Ji chuckled. “I understand. Nobody understands better than me. Do you think I don’t know what’s going on in your mind? It’s all because of Ye Wenxu. Are you jealous? Let’s not talk about anything else. If she were just chatting with a stranger you didn’t know, even if it was a man, would you react this way?”
They were both men; who didn’t know each other’s secrets.
Zhou Ji understood it all too well.
Back then, when he found out why Ning Zhiyu was so angry about Ye Wenxu, was it because she had liked someone else?
He wasn’t so petty. It was just that he was upset that she liked Ye Wenxu.
Ye Wenxu is someone that even they, as men, have to admit is quite impressive.
The crucial point is that they know this person and have had confrontations with him.
Duan Ye remained silent.
Zhou Ji’s emotions became complex. “Tell me, did Ning Zhiyu really have feelings for Ye Wenxu?”
He really wanted to know the truth about this matter. But since Ning Zhiyu didn’t speak up, he couldn’t possibly go and ask Jiang Yumo. He didn’t know before, but now that he knew Duan Ye was such a jealous person, he had to keep some distance from the dangerous person, Jiang Yumo.
Duan Ye ignored him.
Zhou Ji thought for a moment, perhaps influenced by Duan Ye, he was also feeling upset now. Once a person becomes upset, the way to cheer up is quite simple—make the people around them more upset than themselves. “This Ye Wenxu is quite capable. How did he become friends with that someone?”
Duan Ye threw the basketball at Zhou Ji and said in a low voice, “Had enough rest? Let’s have another round.”
Zhou Ji gritted his teeth; he was also feeling displeased.
“Come on!”
—Let’s fight!
Did he just say “They charge extra for that.” ?
Ningcheng is changing him!