Chapter 34
When the children and parents were around, Zhang Xinping was very well-behaved, seriously acting as Jiang Chaochao’s assistant.
Zhang Xinping arrived late this time and couldn’t buy tickets together with Jiang Chaochao and his group. He originally thought it wasn’t a big deal to be in a different carriage, but Jiang Chaochao felt bad and refunded his own ticket, buying a new one next to Zhang Xinping’s in the same carriage.
After they boarded the train and separated from the parents and children, Zhang Xinping’s public persona disappeared, and he returned to his usual gossipy self.
“So?” Zhang Xinping looked at Jiang Chaochao with a playful smile, “Regret it now?”
Jiang Chaochao asked, “Regret what?”
Zhang Xinping: “Regretting refunding your ticket and buying one with me.”
Jiang Chaochao closed his eyes briefly, “I regret it.”
Zhang Xinping laughed: “It’s too late for regrets. Are you ready to receive my judgment?”
Jiang Chaochao, not intimidated at all, said, “I’m so scared.”
Zhang Xinping: “You should be.”
Jiang Chaochao was curious, “Why are you so curious about this?”
Zhang Xinping: “Damn, of course I’m curious. You, Jiang Chaochao.”
Jiang Chaochao: “What’s wrong with me, Jiang Chaochao?”
Zhang Xinping: “Back in school, before I knew you, I heard a lot of rumors about you.”
Jiang Chaochao asked: “What rumors?”
Zhang Xinping: “Don’t you know? You were already a bit famous when you first entered school, many people talked about you. Later, the rumors spread that many people were pursuing you, both men and women.”
Jiang Chaochao was puzzled: “Who pursued me? Why don’t I know about this?”
Zhang Xinping tsked and started recounting, “Chen Xueyi! Remember! Don’t you!”
This name sounded familiar, but, “Who?”
Zhang Xinping: “…The beauty from the Chinese music department! You forgot?”
Jiang Chaochao remembered who it was, “You’re overthinking.”
Zhang Xinping said helplessly, “I’m really not. Just because she didn’t confess to you, you’re denying it?”
Jiang Chaochao: “You know that for sure?”
Zhang Xinping: “I know it very well,” he then remembered something, “Didn’t she buy you milk tea?!”
The train doors opened. Jiang Chaochao said, “It’s not like she only bought it for me, you drank some too,” and then followed the other passengers into the carriage.
“Hey, wait!”
Zhang Xinping, very unwilling to accept it, followed behind.
“Don’t you understand, Jiang Chaochao,” Zhang Xinping said. “You know that saying, ‘To hug you, I hugged the whole class’?”
Jiang Chaochao said in the same tone: “How do you know I wasn’t one of the whole class?”
Since it happened a long time ago, Zhang Xinping, unable to produce strong evidence at the moment, could only say, “Jiang Chaochao, you’re heartless.”
Jiang Chaochao was amused and turned around, not saying anything, just giving Zhang Xinping a helpless look.
Zhang Xinping was two years older than Jiang Chaochao, but at this moment, he felt like he was being controlled by him.
“No, wait,” Zhang Xinping collected his thoughts and returned to the topic he wanted to discuss, “Forget about Chen Xueyi, let’s talk about the handsome guy today.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Xiang Ye.”
Zhang Xinping nodded, “Yes, let’s talk about Xiang Ye, hmm?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Should I put my bag up there?”
Zhang Xinping took off his bag: “Go ahead.”
Jiang Chaochao put away his bag, and Zhang Xinping settled into his seat, mentally reviewing the questions he wanted to ask.
There wasn’t any evidence for Chen Xueyi, but there was for Xiang Ye? Look at today, just look, look.
So, after Jiang Chaochao sat down, Zhang Xinping said, “Don’t think I didn’t notice, there’s definitely something fishy going on between you two.”
Jiang Chaochao smiled: “What’s fishy? Tell me more.”
Zhang Xinping was just about to say this, “First of all, the flowers. You didn’t have a performance, why did he give you flowers?”
Jiang Chaochao nodded: “Mm-hmm, very logical.”
Zhang Xinping ignored Jiang Chaochao’s perfunctory attitude and continued, “You two were whispering on the way to the restaurant,” Zhang Xinping then exclaimed, “He asked you, why do you think I volunteered to come to C City? I heard it!”
Jiang Chaochao couldn’t help but smile after hearing this, but he asked Zhang Xinping, “Why?”
Zhang Xinping was completely fooled by the innocent, blinking Jiang Chaochao and said clearly, “Don’t you understand yet? He wanted to see you! Why else?”
Jiang Chaochao bit his lip lightly, trying not to smile too much, “Is that so?”
Zhang Xinping was very satisfied with his own analysis: “Absolutely!”
Jiang Chaochao said “ah,” then “Yes, yes.”
“Don’t ‘yes, yes’ me,” Zhang Xinping continued his argument. “And after we finished eating and were waiting for the car, when Lin Qixing came over, did you see his expression?”
Jiang Chaochao really didn’t know what Zhang Xinping was going to say this time, “What expression?”
“Annoyed,” Zhang Xinping gestured dramatically. “When Lin Qixing came over to talk to you, he was super annoyed. And the tofu, even I could tell he liked it, but because you wanted to recommend it to Lin Qixing, he insisted he forgot. Then they exchanged a look, sparks flew.”
After saying this, Zhang Xinping crossed his arms, seemingly even more pleased with his own observation, and looked at Jiang Chaochao expectantly.
Jiang Chaochao couldn’t pretend anymore, he was overjoyed, “Really?”
Zhang Xinping patted his chest, “Absolutely.”
Jiang Chaochao: “He was jealous?”
Zhang Xinping said matter-of-factly, “What else?”
Jiang Chaochao’s cheekbones almost reached the sky: “I didn’t see it.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Zhang Xinping waved his hand dismissively, “There’s definitely something going on between you two.”
Jiang Chaochao’s eyes curved into a smile: “Yes.”
Zhang Xinping was stunned by Jiang Chaochao’s straightforward agreement, “Hey, you’re admitting it?”
Jiang Chaochao smiled even more, “I’ve always been saying ‘yes.’”
Zhang Xinping frowned, staring into Jiang Chaochao’s eyes, trying to recall.
It seemed to be true.
“No, wait,” Zhang Xinping was confused, “You weren’t like this in the taxi earlier.”
Jiang Chaochao: “It’s been half an hour, people’s thoughts are fluid.”
Zhang Xinping blinked in disbelief: “Yours are a bit too fluid, how can they suddenly be fluid?”
Jiang Chaochao smiled.
Of course it wasn’t sudden.
It was because of Xiang Ye’s courage, because Xiang Ye came to C City just to see him, because of Xiang Ye’s blatant expressions, because of Xiang Ye’s unreserved pursuit.
Of course, it was also sudden.
It was a sudden realization that there was no need to hesitate, a sudden recognition of sincerity, a sudden letting go of the significance of time.
Zhang Xinping was clearly stunned by Jiang Chaochao’s sudden fluidity. He struggled for a while, then finally asked the question he had wanted to ask from the beginning, “So what’s your relationship?”
This question stumped Jiang Chaochao.
But not entirely. After thinking for a moment, Jiang Chaochao said, “Currently friends.”
Zhang Xinping drew out a long “ah”: “I like that word ‘currently.’”
Jiang Chaochao: “I like it too.”
Zhang Xinping exclaimed, “Jiang Chaochao, you’re so different now.”
Jiang Chaochao: “What’s wrong with me?”
Zhang Xinping thought for a moment, “Like Chen Xueyi I mentioned earlier, actually I can give many similar examples, but you wouldn’t admit to any of them, right?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Mm-hmm.”
Zhang Xinping thought for a moment and then asked, “Did Xiang Ye confess?”
Jiang Chaochao: “No.”
Zhang Xinping clapped his hands together, “I knew it.”
Jiang Chaochao laughed: “What are you trying to say?”
Zhang Xinping: “What I’m saying is, those who liked you before, even if they expressed it very clearly, as long as you didn’t hear them say they liked you, you wouldn’t acknowledge it.” As if afraid Jiang Chaochao would deny it, Zhang Xinping continued without pausing, “But! You didn’t say anything to Xiang Ye!”
Jiang Chaochao said helplessly, “Xiang Ye is different.”
Zhang Xinping: “Ah~”
Jiang Chaochao was amused by Zhang Xinping’s teasing tone, but quickly said, “Okay, let’s end this topic here, it would be rude to ask further.”
In his opinion, they had already talked a lot.
He hadn’t completely changed, change required time.
“Okay! Okay~” Zhang Xinping was also very satisfied. He patted Jiang Chaochao on the shoulder happily, “I’m quite happy to see you like this.”
Jiang Chaochao was puzzled: “Why?”
Zhang Xinping said, “I used to think you were a cold-blooded robot, a robot in your studies, a robot in your work, a robot in your relationships. I even thought you pretending to like handsome guys was just to please me, your senior.”
Jiang Chaochao: “You’re not that important.”
Zhang Xinping: “Hey! That’s harsh.”
Jiang Chaochao raised an eyebrow at Zhang Xinping: “My character is very consistent, right?”
Zhang Xinping: “Don’t be too consistent, Xiang Ye is really too handsome,” he then said, “If you hadn’t gone to him earlier, I would have asked for his WeChat.”
Jiang Chaochao glared at him.
“Of course not,” Zhang Xinping burst out laughing, “Jiang Chaochao, do you know how cute you are right now?”
Jiang Chaochao: “I do.”
Zhang Xinping was speechless again because of Jiang Chaochao’s matter-of-fact answer, then he laughed, “Oh my god, who are you?”
Jiang Chaochao didn’t answer, he didn’t know how to answer.
He just smiled.
Zhang Xinping also smiled.
Then they both laughed out loud.
Jiang Chaochao also wanted to ask who was talking to Zhang Xinping right now.
In all his life, besides Xu Hengzhi, Jiang Chaochao rarely talked about his life with people he knew, let alone his relationships.
After all, before today, he had also hidden some things from Xu Hengzhi, but Xu Hengzhi couldn’t be fooled and always saw through him.
Not long after they calmed down, Zhang Xinping leaned back in his chair and fell asleep.
Jiang Chaochao was also sleepy, but he couldn’t sleep.
He seemed to be thinking about many things, but also nothing at all. His thoughts seemed chaotic, but also very clear.
The train entered a tunnel and suddenly darkened. Jiang Chaochao looked away from the window.
He picked up his phone, opened Xu Hengzhi’s WeChat, took a picture of the flowers someone had given him, which were neatly placed on the small table, and sent it to Xu Hengzhi.
A few seconds later…
Xu Hengzhi: “?”
Xu Hengzhi: “What’s up? Xiang Ye gave you those?”
Jiang Chaochao smiled: “Bingo.”
Xu Hengzhi: “Huh? Really?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Pretty, right?”
Xu Hengzhi: “Pretty, pretty.”
Xu Hengzhi: “So thoughtful, even buying you flowers when you’re away.”
The corners of Jiang Chaochao’s lips curled upwards: “He came to C City.”
Xu Hengzhi: “? Wasn’t he still in A City yesterday?”
Jiang Chaochao: “He came today.”
Xu Hengzhi: “What, couldn’t wait to give you flowers after hearing what I said?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Who knows?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Maybe.”
Xu Hengzhi: “? Wait.”
Xu Hengzhi: “Who are you?”
Xu Hengzhi was indeed Xu Hengzhi. They hadn’t even talked about anything much, and he immediately noticed.
Xu Hengzhi: “Landscapes bleak and desolate.” (First line of a poem)
Jiang Chaochao: “[Shifting the burden of responsibility].” (A line associated with Lu Xun/Zhou Shuren, often used in conjunction with the previous line to jokingly deflect blame)
Xu Hengzhi: “Password correct.”
Jiang Chaochao chuckled: “Crazy.”
Xu Hengzhi: “Tell me, what happened!!”
Xu Hengzhi: “How did you suddenly become enlightened?”
Xu Hengzhi: “You’re actually playing along with my jokes now.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Shut up for a minute.”
Jiang Chaochao: “I’ll briefly explain.”
Xu Hengzhi sent a “Shutting my mouth” emoji.
Jiang Chaochao started: “Okay.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Starting today…”
Jiang Chaochao: “No more avoiding, no more pretending, no more restraining, no more holding back.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Facing my feelings head-on.”
After sending these, Jiang Chaochao: “Okay, you can talk now.”
But immediately…
Jiang Chaochao: “Actually, don’t talk.”
Jiang Chaochao didn’t dare to look at his phone. He swiped his thumb and minimized WeChat.
The train had already exited the tunnel. Jiang Chaochao looked at the vast fields outside and let out a slow breath.
So awkward, what was he doing?
But even so, he didn’t want to retract the messages.
He said it for Xu Hengzhi to hear, and also for himself to hear.
Right, Jiang Chaochao?
It took him a full five minutes to calm down.
Picking up his phone again, as expected, Xu Hengzhi had sent him many messages.
Laughter was inevitable, three messages long, each one longer than the last.
Xu Hengzhi: “HAHAHAHAHAHA”
Xu Hengzhi: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”
Xu Hengzhi: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”
Of course, after laughing, he had to praise him.
Xu Hengzhi: “Jiang Chaochao, you’re really becoming cuter and cuter recently.”
Then, a summary speech.
Xu Hengzhi: “You’ve finally recognized your true feelings!”
Xu Hengzhi: “I’m so proud of you, bro. I always felt you were too hesitant. You have to live freely, love if you like someone, fight for what you want.”
Xu Hengzhi: “I’m so happy I had another drink.”
Then…
Xu Hengzhi: “Why did you disappear?”
Xu Hengzhi: “Feeling embarrassed?”
Xu Hengzhi: “Hey, it’s not a big deal.”
Jiang Chaochao smiled seeing this. He was sometimes truly grateful, happy, and honored to have Xu Hengzhi as a friend. Straight, yet not straight.
Of course, he couldn’t let Xu Hengzhi know this, otherwise he would become even more arrogant.
Jiang Chaochao: “Why are you drinking in the middle of the day?”
Xu Hengzhi: “A friend opened a bar, it’s opening in a few days, so we’re here for a few drinks.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Not working?”
Xu Hengzhi: [Speechless]
Xu Hengzhi: “On my way to the company now.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Quite the busy schedule.”
So Xu Hengzhi naturally didn’t pry further into Jiang Chaochao’s words; he understood Jiang Chaochao’s subtle cues.
This was a short-distance train, the final stop being A City, so there weren’t many passengers in their carriage at the moment.
Zhang Xinping was already sound asleep, his slightly heavy breathing audible beside him. Jiang Chaochao scrolled through his phone, bored.
Finally, he landed on Xiang Ye’s WeChat.
He didn’t know what to do, so he’d just poke him.
It was Jiang Chaochao’s first time poking Xiang Ye, and as expected, his poke message had no custom settings, just the standard “You poked ‘XY.’”
Jiang Chaochao waited for a while, but there was no response from Xiang Ye, he must have been busy with work.
Jiang Chaochao exited the chat. Just then, he suddenly had an idea, so he opened his WeChat settings.
His poke message also had no custom settings, but now it could.
He typed in the blank box, “He wants to show you his [sunflower].”
The sunflower emoji wasn’t easy to find, it took Jiang Chaochao a while to find it.
You poked Jiang Chaochao. He wants to show you his [sunflower].
What a coincidence, just as Jiang Chaochao finished setting it and exited, Xiang Ye’s notification popped up.
Xiang Ye had also poked Jiang Chaochao.
Before Jiang Chaochao could click on it, a text message from Xiang Ye arrived.
He said: “Jiang Chaochao.”
Full name.
Being called by his full name at this moment, it was hard for Jiang Chaochao not to imagine Xiang Ye seeing his poke message.
He had simply poked Jiang Chaochao in return, but he didn’t expect to see such a message.
Jiang Chaochao clicked into the chat.
At the same time, another message from Xiang Ye arrived.
XY: “How could you do this to me?”
