I’ve Never Had a Husband Since I Was Young 31

Chapter 31

Jiang Chaochao was incredibly busy during the two days of the music exchange event.

He shouldn’t have been this busy, but a free program was added to the schedule on the second day. Since the parents knew about this, it was hard for them not to let their children participate. It was the classic “since we’re already here” situation.

The parents just had to say the word, and Jiang Chaochao had to run around and make it happen.

After running around, he finally couldn’t take it anymore and called Zhang Xinping, his partner in the studio.

The two of them had always worked well together. They didn’t waste time with small talk after meeting, just a quick greeting, and Zhang Xinping went off to do his assigned tasks.

“Luckily I’m free today,” Zhang Xinping said to Jiang Chaochao after delivering the things Jiang Chaochao gave him. “I was planning to go back to A City yesterday.”

“Good thing you’re free,” Jiang Chaochao finished what he was doing. “Help us take pictures later.”

Zhang Xinping nodded, “No problem.”

Jiang Chaochao asked: “How are your photography skills?”

Zhang Xinping: “Then you’ve asked the wrong person.”

Jiang Chaochao looked at Zhang Xinping questioningly.

Zhang Xinping shrugged and laughed, “Not very good.”

Jiang Chaochao: “Then why did you agree so readily?”

Zhang Xinping: “Do you have any other options?”

Jiang Chaochao indeed didn’t have any other options, but he still told Zhang Xinping, “The photos will be posted on the official account.”

Zhang Xinping said “ah,” then, “Then they’ll be passable.”

Jiang Chaochao told Zhang Xinping to “take good pictures” and went backstage.

His students were performing next. After their performance, Jiang Chaochao took them to meet a few teachers. The parents also came over, and there were polite exchanges all afternoon.

After everything was over, Jiang Chaochao felt numb. Although there were still many people talking around him, and he was still responding with “yes” and “right,” his soul had already left his body.

Inexplicably, he thought of Xiang Ye.

Inexplicable, firstly, because nothing that happened around him, not even the air he was breathing, had anything to do with Xiang Ye. There was nothing that could be linked to him, but he still thought of him.

Inexplicably, secondly, because he tried to get Xiang Ye out of his head, but it was no use.

But he felt it wasn’t entirely his fault, because during his lunch break today, someone was enjoying double-skin milk in A City all by himself and even told him about it.

“Wow.”

A sudden commotion arose from the crowd, and Jiang Chaochao, his mind blank, also followed everyone’s gaze outwards.

Looking at the sky outside the window, Jiang Chaochao couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly, “wow” as well.

Wow, such a beautiful sky.

Various shades of pink clouds, gradually changing, some dark, some light.

So, Jiang Chaochao thought of Xiang Ye again.

He thought, A City was so close, would there be such beautiful clouds there too? He thought, such a beautiful sight, he should show Xiang Ye.

Although he thought this, he didn’t pick up his phone.

Actually, he and Xiang Ye hadn’t been in much contact these past two days. He was busy, Xiang Ye was also working, and they didn’t seem to have much to talk about.

So, most of the time, Jiang Chaochao thought his infatuation was gradually cooling down.

A very conflicted individual.

This was really a bit bad.

He didn’t know if cooling down was worse, or being infatuated was worse.

On one hand, he felt this fresh, strong interest in such an excellent man was a good thing. But on the other hand, he felt this affection came too quickly. He wasn’t satisfied with his emotions escalating so rapidly. Many times, before his mind could react, he was already overjoyed.

He was clearly someone who warmed up slowly and liked things to progress slowly.

The pink clouds were complex. Looking at them for a long time, they looked like a flock of little sheep. The little sheep at the very edge seemed to be lagging behind, a small one all alone.

It was too cute. Jiang Chaochao finally took out his phone.

Just as he opened the camera, a notification popped up.

XY: [Picture]

Jiang Chaochao moved his thumb away from the camera button and opened the message.

As he opened it, he realized he was already smiling.

See, this was his current state.

Below the picture, Xiang Ye also sent a message.

XY: “Looking at the sunset.”

The picture was of the sunset, very different from the one in C City. Bright orange clouds stretched across the sky, also very beautiful.

Jiang Chaochao’s smile deepened.

Of course, he wasn’t smiling because he saw the sunset in A City. He was smiling because when he thought of someone, that someone seemed to be thinking of him too.

Very fair, hmph.

So Jiang Chaochao, who was still hesitating whether to share the sky, opened the camera and switched to video mode.

“Showing you the sunset here too, it’s pink,” Jiang Chaochao spoke to his phone and extended his finger, “What do they look like?”

After saying this, Jiang Chaochao traced the outline of a little sheep with his finger, following the edge of the clouds.

If Xiang Ye still couldn’t guess, then he was an idiot.

Whoosh~

Message sent.

Whoosh~

Message received.

In an office in A City, someone clicked on the video that just appeared in the chat window.

“Showing you the sunset here too…”

Xiang Ye was sitting by the window. It was already after work, but he was still at the company because of some unfinished business.

The sunset was beautiful, both the orange and the pink.

The video was short, only a dozen seconds, but because there was a question, Xiang Ye repeatedly replayed the latter half.

It was a sheep.

Xiang Ye figured it out on the third replay.

XY: “Little sheep.”

XY: “Right, Jiang laoshi?”

After sending this message, Xiang Ye opened the video again and watched it once more.

When he saw Jiang Chaochao extend his finger, he paused the video.

Then zoomed in.

He could tell it was taken from a window, perhaps in a bright hall.

Xiang Ye suddenly remembered what his cousin said, “Cousin, your friend is so fair-skinned, his knuckles are pink.”

Xiang Ye zoomed out the screen back to normal size and continued playing the video.

Played it again.

And again.

“What’s so interesting?”

A voice suddenly came from behind.

Xiang Ye was startled. He closed his eyes helplessly, also locking his phone.

“Haha,” the newcomer pulled a chair and sat next to Xiang Ye. “That startled you?”

Xiang Ye: “Are you a ghost?”

Chen Ke disagreed: “My footsteps are loud, you were just too engrossed.” He glanced at Xiang Ye’s phone. “What are you looking at?”

Xiang Ye: “Nothing.”

Chen Ke suddenly put on a suggestive tone: “What do they look like?”

Xiang Ye slowly turned to look at Fu Jing.

Chen Ke became even more suggestive: “Tell me, gege, what do they look like? What do they look like?”

Xiang Ye smiled faintly: “Do you want to die?”

Chen Ke: “Can I see you two kiss before I die?”

Xiang Ye continued looking at Chen Ke with the same expression.

Chen Ke wasn’t afraid at all, he even picked up the almost-finished double-skin milk on the table, “Can I eat this, gege?”

Xiang Ye raised an eyebrow, completely sarcastic, “Eat it.”

Chen Ke scooped up a large spoonful, pretending to put it in his mouth.

Xiang Ye didn’t react, just continued watching.

Just as he was about to put it in his mouth, Chen Ke stopped and put it back obediently.

“So in love, gege,” Chen Ke said.

Xiang Ye made a sound of exasperation: “Mind your own business.”

Chen Ke drew out an “oh,” picked up his coffee, and took a large gulp: “Ah, the coffee my girlfriend bought is so good.”

Xiang Ye suddenly let out a short laugh, nodding, then nodding again.

Chen Ke burst out laughing.

Xiang Ye said confidently, “Just you wait.”

Chen Ke became excited, “Hey? What do you mean? Progress?”

Xiang Ye continued confidently, “No.”

Chen Ke: “…Haha, ‘no’ you say so confidently.”

Xiang Ye chuckled: “Worry about yourself.”

Chen Ke laughed even harder, “Okay, okay, okay, as long as gege is happy.”

“Oh right,” Chen Ke suddenly said, “I came in to ask you, is Jiang Chaochao at that music exchange event in C City?”

Xiang Ye: “Yes, why?”

Chen Ke: “Is Zhou Qi there too?”

Xiang Ye: “He is.”

Chen Ke said “oh,” then “You know, have they met?”

Just as he finished speaking, Xiang Ye’s phone lit up.

What a coincidence, it was a message from Zhou Qi.

A picture: [Picture]

A sentence: “I went to say hi.”

The picture must have been taken just now. Jiang Chaochao was standing by the window, among a group of people, looking at the clouds outside.

The next second after seeing it, Xiang Ye handed his phone to Chen Ke.

“What?” Without any context, Chen Ke looked down at the phone in confusion.

Then he understood what Xiang Ye meant.

It was a very telling picture. Even though there were many people in the frame, and even though the angle wasn’t that great, Jiang Chaochao still stood out, very eye-catching. Black-brown hair, white t-shirt, a clean and refreshing young man under the setting sun.

Chen Ke sighed: “I see, very handsome.”

Xiang Ye took back his phone and said casually, “Good eye.”

Chen Ke looked at Xiang Ye with a mixture of disdain and amusement, what was with this guy’s smugness?

“I didn’t expect,” Chen Ke sighed dramatically, “you to be like this when you’re in love, can’t stand it. Gege, you were the most stoic one among us.”

Xiang Ye waved his hand dismissively, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

The corner of Chen Ke’s lips twitched, “Right, right, you’re not in love yet.”

Xiang Ye: “I was talking about the stoic part.”

Chen Ke frowned, sensing something was wrong, “Hmm?”

On the other side…

Jiang Chaochao, after receiving Xiang Ye’s message, although he read it immediately, he waited for two minutes before replying.

On his phone: “Yes, it’s little sheep.”

In his mind: “Yes, someone isn’t an idiot.”

After sending it and just as he was about to put down his phone, another message arrived.

XY: “I’m being bullied.”

This time, Jiang Chaochao didn’t wait, and immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”

XY: “Chen Ke is showing off to me.”

Jiang Chaochao: “Showing off what?”

XY: “The coffee his girlfriend bought him.”

Jiang Chaochao pursed his lips again and quickly reminded himself that he was currently outside, surrounded by many familiar faces, so he shouldn’t be smiling foolishly at his phone.

He felt that his self-perceived image of being slow to warm up was crumbling again.

Crumbled twice today.

The first time was with the double-skin milk at noon, when Xiang Ye said he added blackcurrants and macadamia nuts.

Seeing that picture of the double-skin milk, Jiang Chaochao almost flew to the moon.

And Xu Hengzhi’s words started playing on repeat in his mind, “He loves you,” “He loves you…”

It took him a while to calm down and tell himself that Xiang Ye might have simply wanted to drink double-skin milk.

Jiang Chaochao really felt he lacked willpower.

He felt like he was doing that stupid thing where if Xiang Ye beckoned, he would open his arms and run towards him.

He really was hopelessly in love.

“Jiang laoshi.”

A polite voice suddenly came from beside him.

Jiang Chaochao turned towards the voice, it was a stranger.

Jiang Chaochao put on a polite smile: “Hello.”

“Hello,” the person extended his right hand. “I’m Zhou Qi, the director of this event.”

Jiang Chaochao shook his hand, a bit confused: “Hello.”

Zhou Qi smiled: “You’re even more handsome in person, Jiang laoshi.”

Jiang Chaochao’s head was full of question marks: “Ah, thank you.”

Zhou Qi: “Oh right, forgot to mention, I’m Xiang Ye’s friend.”

Jiang Chaochao gave an “oh,” then an “ah,” then, “Hello.”

Xiang Ye was like a switch for Jiang Chaochao. After Zhou Qi said this, Jiang Chaochao suddenly felt much closer to this person.

“I’ve been busy these past two days and haven’t had a chance to see you,” Zhou Qi smiled, “Finally met you today.”

Jiang Chaochao: “He didn’t tell me his friend was here too.”

Zhou Qi: “Haha, he told me not to disturb you.”

After saying this, he suddenly raised his phone and opened his photo album.

“Can we take a picture together?” Zhou Qi asked.

Jiang Chaochao had taken so many pictures these past two days he was numb to it: “Sure.”

Zhou Qi raised his phone, switched to selfie mode, and extended his arm.

“Need me?” Zhang Xinping, who had automatically transformed into a photographer, suddenly appeared.

Zhou Qi first said, “Sure,” but quickly changed his mind, “No need.” He turned to Jiang Chaochao with a smile, “Selfies feel more intimate.”

He said he would take a picture, and he did. Just as Jiang Chaochao looked at the camera, Zhou Qi had already snapped five pictures in a row.

“Alright,” Zhou Qi said with a click of his tongue, “Jiang laoshi, you’re so handsome.”

Jiang Chaochao: “Thank you.”

Zhou Qi’s next sentence, “I’ll send this to Xiang Ye right now.”

Jiang Chaochao: “Haha.”

Perhaps their conversation went beyond the boundaries of polite small talk, because Zhang Xinping, standing beside them, whispered curiously, “Who is that?”

Jiang Chaochao: “A friend of my friend.”

Zhang Xinping gave an “oh,” then suddenly nudged Jiang Chaochao’s arm, “Do you know that person? The tall one in the suit?”

Jiang Chaochao followed Zhang Xinping’s gaze, “Lin Qixing?”

Zhang Xinping: “You know him?”

Jiang Chaochao: “Met him once before, why?”

“I just saw his performance and couldn’t resist taking a few pictures,” Zhang Xinping exclaimed, “So handsome, such long legs, is he mixed race?”

Jiang Chaochao nodded, “His mother is Thai.”

After he said this, Zhou Qi, who was looking at his phone, also looked over.

Zhang Xinping: “You even know this.”

Jiang Chaochao: “Handsome guys are usually quite well-known.”

Zhang Xinping nodded: “Indeed, the cheers after his performance today were deafening.”

Jiang Chaochao asked: “Did you cheer?”

Zhang Xinping: “I… of course, hey, wait, why is he walking towards us?”

“Jiang Chaochao.”

Almost the second after Zhang Xinping finished speaking, the long-legged handsome man walked over, “Long time no see.”

Jiang Chaochao gave his umpteenth standard smile of the day: “Long time no see.”

The handsome man smiled brightly: “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Jiang Chaochao nodded: “Yes, what a coincidence.”

Handsome man: “Since fate has brought us together, let’s add each other on WeChat.”

So sudden, Jiang Chaochao was stunned: “Huh?”

The handsome man smiled charmingly: “You’re not going to reject me, are you?”

Jiang Chaochao made a sound of hesitation.

Before Jiang Chaochao could react, the person beside him was practically setting his phone on fire with his typing.

Almost a live text broadcast of the scene.

And his last sentence…

“You’re doomed, I think he’s trying to pursue Jiang Chaochao.”