Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Want a Kiss
The evening self-study session had three class periods. Though the tests hadn’t been handed back, a teacher went over the monthly exam questions in every class.
Jiang Xia didn’t let this time go to waste. He sat up straight, listening with his full attention. For the question types he already knew, this deepened his understanding. For the ones he got wrong, the teacher’s explanations brought sudden clarity.
With his freakishly good memory, it was almost guaranteed he wouldn’t get the same type of question wrong again.
Before he knew it, the bell signaling the end of class rang.
He packed his schoolbag and looked toward the other corner of the classroom.
"Old Wang, coming with me to Class 1?"
"You’re going to wait for your girlfriend. What am I supposed to do there?" Wang Ming grumbled under his breath. "I can handle being a third wheel, but I’d also have to deal with that little tyrant who’s always ready to start hitting people."
Jiang Xia knew exactly who he meant by "little tyrant." He chuckled lightly. "So, are you coming or not?"
"Forget it. Let’s go," Wang Ming sighed, ’reluctantly’ agreeing. "What can I do? I’m your brother."
The two of them walked over to Class 1, only to find the math teacher still explaining the last fill-in-the-blank question. It looked like he had no intention of dismissing the class until he was done, so they waited patiently in the hallway.
"Old Wang, what do you think of that girl Shen Ying?" Jiang Xia asked out of the blue.
"An outspoken lunatic."
"That’s a pretty low opinion, don’t you think?" Jiang Xia shot him a sidelong glance. ’This guy is completely ignoring the fact that Shen Ying is gorgeous.’
Wang Ming looked away, a little guiltily. "What else? Look, every time I walk with you guys, I’m the one who gets hit. And it’s always her hitting me. She doesn’t hold back at all. It hurts like hell."
Jiang Xia couldn’t help but chuckle. "Isn’t that because you’re asking for it? You’re always provoking her. Who else would she hit?"
"How am I supposed to know what’ll set that crazy girl off?" Wang Ming muttered under his breath.
Jiang Xia just smiled without saying a word.
’It just goes to show how inexperienced and awkward young love can be. When a boy develops a crush on a girl, he always tries to find ways to get her attention.’
Including, but not limited to: poking her back with the tip of his pen, playing with her hair, pontificating in front of her, and acting like he’s on steroids during sports.
A few minutes later, Class 1 was finally dismissed. Lin Yanwan and Shen Ying walked out of the classroom arm in arm.
"Hey, you-know-who, I saw you messing around in class just now. You didn’t even look at the blackboard for the last few minutes." Wang Ming’s lips curled into a smirk, his tone cheeky.
Shen Ying walked up to him and gave him a kick that was neither light nor heavy. "Hmph, I already knew how to do that problem. You got a problem with that?"
Seeing how the two of them interacted, Jiang Xia’s face twitched. ’This guy seems to have no idea that these underhanded tricks won’t make a girl think of you fondly. The key is to actually be nice to her.’
’Still, judging by the current situation, even if Shen Ying doesn’t have a crush on him, she at least doesn’t hate him. There’s still hope.’
’As for Wang Ming, he’d probably feel great even if he got a daily beating from Shen Ying.’
At that thought, Jiang Xia looked up at his girl. "Babe, are you hungry?"
"A little," Lin Yanwan nodded.
"BLECH! Trying to make us single dogs puke again, are you?" Wang Ming mimed vomiting.
Jiang Xia laughed nonchalantly. "After a few more meals of dog food, you’ll get used to it."
"Damn!" Wang Ming finally couldn’t resist flipping him the bird.
"Come on, let’s go to the barbecue stand outside of school and get some skewers," he said.
"Whoa, is Handsome Jiang finally going to play the big shot and treat us? In that case, I won’t hold back!" Shen Ying blinked.
"Ha, in your dreams. What I meant was one grilled sausage each for you and Old Wang. My babe can have two."
"Tch~"
"So do you want one or not?"
"Hmph, hmph, hmph. It’s free, so why not?"
The four of them walked in two pairs, with Jiang Xia and Lin Yanwan holding hands and strolling slowly behind. It wasn’t long before they saw Shen Ying smack Wang Ming hard on the back again. Who knew what kind of smart-aleck remark that guy had just whispered.
"What part are you planning to draw for the second episode?" Lin Yanwan asked softly.
"’Invisible Ink,’" he said. "It’s a really classic episode of Cat and Mouse, and I just happened to draw Spike’s character design sheet today, so it’s perfect timing."
"Oh, that one. I remember it. After Jerry turns invisible, he pranks Tom in all sorts of ways. It’s hilarious."
The two of them exchanged a smile and, before they knew it, had arrived at the barbecue stand outside the school gate.
He bought five grilled sausages, but Lin Yanwan was only willing to eat one. In the end, the other two ended up in Jiang Xia’s stomach.
"Alright, you two. Now that you’ve had your sausages, time to go your separate ways and find your own mommies."
"Bye-bye."
Watching the other two walk off into the distance, Jiang Xia squeezed his girl’s hand. "I’ll walk you home."
"You don’t have to. If you get back too late, your parents will worry," Lin Yanwan said, shaking her head.
"It’s fine. It’s only about twenty minutes round-trip. And if I jog on the way back, it’s like I didn’t waste any time and even got some exercise."
Hearing his reasoning, Lin Yanwan resignedly agreed.
The two walked at a leisurely pace, their conversation slowly shifting from the new Cat and Mouse episode to Wang Ming and Shen Ying.
"By the way, babe, when you’re chatting with your bestie, does she ever mention Old Wang?"
"Did Wang Ming ask you to find out?" Lin Yanwan asked with a smile.
Jiang Xia said, "No, he probably doesn’t even know what it means to like someone yet. But he definitely has a crush on her."
Lin Yanwan nodded lightly. "Actually, she has mentioned him a few times."
"Oh? What’d she say?"
"’Is that pig-head Wang Ming sick in the head?!’"
Lin Yanwan mimicked Shen Ying’s tone, leaving Jiang Xia momentarily dumbfounded.
’Looks like that kid has a long way to go before he can win the fair lady’s heart.’
Chatting and laughing, the two arrived at Brocade Splendor City before they knew it. This time, Jiang Xia only walked her to the entrance of the residential complex, not planning to go upstairs.
"I’m going upstairs now. You should head back quickly."
"I want a kiss," Jiang Xia said, blinking.
Lin Yanwan sighed. ’I knew it. The moment he offered to walk me home, he must have been plotting something naughty.’
She quickly pecked Jiang Xia on the cheek and said irritably, "There. Happy now? Hurry up and go back."
"Not on the cheek. I want a real kiss."
"You’re so annoying..."
Lin Yanwan squeezed her eyes shut, intending to give him a quick peck on the lips, only to be pulled in tight as Jiang Xia wrapped his arms around her waist. After a passionate kiss that lasted over ten seconds, he finally let her go, completely satisfied.
"Is that enough for you now?" Lin Yanwan couldn’t help but shoot the shameless rogue a glare.
"Super satisfied," Jiang Xia grinned, his eyes fixed on her plump, crimson lips.
"Then hurry up and go back. I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going upstairs."
"Yes, Ma’am. I’m off, then."
Jiang Xia took a deep breath, shouldered his bag, and began to walk faster and faster, eventually breaking into a jog.
