Chapter 1244: Chapter 832: Window Paper (Part 2)
Li Hua: "I don’t know, he didn’t mention it."
Ma Guojun: "(ridiculous) I went there."
Huang Fang: "(covering her mouth with a laugh) I went too."
Zhang Ningzhi: "???
"When did he do it?"
"Today, it was very short and rushed." Ma Guojun continued with a smirk, "Received some red envelopes, not a loss."
"What about Fangfang?" Yu Zhiyi @ Huang Fang, "Are you in the county town, how do you still have time to go to him?"
"At home." Huang Fang replied with a smiling emoji, "He forced me to go, I didn’t want to participate."
Yu Zhiyi: "Oh oh."
Wang Yuhe: "(bewildered) Why didn’t he tell me!!"
"Your Brother Jiang likes to keep it low-key, I guess." Ma Guojun laughed, "It seems he’s selling clothes in Yuhang."
Tao Ran: "Are there cosplay outfits? @Jiang Nian."
In the cinema.
Song Xiyun turned her head and glanced at Jiang Nian beside her.
"Your phone lit up."
"It’s nothing, junk messages." Jiang Nian said awkwardly, disconnecting the internet, thinking to himself about the troublesome large fellow.
Deceptive appearance.
But this thing couldn’t be kept secret, nor does it have much of an impact.
"What’s wrong?" Xu Qianqian turned her head, glancing at him, this person, really insists on sitting in the middle.
But it doesn’t matter, as long as he doesn’t get handsy.
"It’s nothing, the phone is broken."
"Huh?" Song Xiyun looked confused.
"It’s fine."
Jiang Nian kept his hands clean, though the relationship among the three had been clarified. Ultimately, a conservative approach was best, not overly aggressive.
After all, he and Xiao Song were indeed innocent.
There were some things he had no experience with, but he’s not stupid, roughly gauging the pros and cons.
Xu Qianqian values face, Xiao Song is sensitive.
Too aggressive methods would only push both away. One leaves far, one disappears, reconciling twenty years later.
Slowly, not quickly.
On the screen, the most gripping scene in "Love Letter" played, the two girls held their breath.
Their eyes sparkled, faces showing signs of emotion.
Song Xiyun caught a glimpse of Xu Qianqian again, then lowered her gaze, staring absentmindedly at the seat in front.
Jiang Nian watched her, but said nothing. Silently waiting for the end, then pulled the two out after the movie.
The screen still showing credits, no lights yet.
In the darkness, neither girl resisted. They followed out the screening room, naturally letting go of hands.
Jiang Nian achieved his purpose, the movie watching also worth it. The more open, the more reserved; the more reserved, the more open.
The more open, the more open indeed.
The three went home, another night without words. Until the next day at dawn, the door across the hall opened from inside.
Song Xiyun, carrying a large bag, glanced back at the dim living room.
"Sigh."
Ultimately leaving, dragging on wouldn’t be good. Now seemed right, freeing up some space.
She closed the door, walking towards the stairs. The farther she walked, the more uncomfortable it felt, like a block of cotton stuffed in her heart.
Reached the staircase, her face already streaked with tears.
Suddenly, she saw someone sitting there. A black figure, indistinguishable, startled her.
"Ah!!"
Hearing the sound, the black figure stood up. Finally stretched into a familiar form, Song Xiyun froze.
"Why... why are you here?"
"The bed at home is too soft, couldn’t sleep." Jiang Nian said without much credibility, "I figured the stair floor was hard enough."
Song Xiyun: "...."
"You, where are you going?" Jiang Nian stretched, bones cracking, "Running with weights?"
"I... I want to travel, to be by myself for a while."
"Why not tell us?" Jiang Nian just asked, blocking the way, "Is there anything that can’t be said?"
Song Xiyun lowered her head, saying nothing.
"It’s only five in the morning." Jiang Nian said, "If I wasn’t here, where would I find you?"
"We’ve been together for so long, even if you leave, don’t go secretly, otherwise, I’ll keep thinking about it."
The words were euphemistic, after all, he couldn’t say much, and saying more doesn’t beat squatting at a key moment.
Stayed up all night but instantly recovered.
Song Xiyun appeared restrained yet wild-hearted, once she had an idea, she’d follow it through.
Heedless to harsh words, but couldn’t handle soft ones. Seeing Jiang Nian coaxing her cautiously,
made her nose tingle, spilling her heartfelt words.
"Couldn’t keep dragging things out, Qianqian feels bad too; leaving might be a way."
"Will your leaving make it easier for her?"
"Better than dragging on, yet another university year; and, leaving would hurt more too."
In that moment, the fog between was swept away.
"Better I take some time off, a month later. When you two reconcile, I wouldn’t care as much."
"If I didn’t care for you, why take you to the hospital?" Jiang Nian looked at her, straightforwardly.
"Why squatting here then?"
Song Xiyun turned her head, unable to suppress tears. This year’s constant company, like uncut strings.
Some matters needed no words.
Jiang Nian stepped forward, hugged Song Xiyun. Wiping her tears, holding her shaking shoulder.
Thought for a moment, leaned over and kissed her.
Song Xiyun froze, emotions swirling. Calmed by the softness, her mind set off a thousand waves.
Body quivered, slowly closed her eyes.
Dopamine surged, sealing the drafty hole in her heart, warmth spreading through her.
Even tempted to indulge further.
Until a while later, needing breath. Straightening her clothes, her cheeks flushed deep red.
"Actually, last time I saw you two on the balcony..."
Jiang Nian: "???"
Pretending to sleep, huh?
"Why didn’t you speak?" he asked bewildered, "Don’t tell me you... like that?"
"Of course not, I... waited for quite a while." Song Xiyun said, "No real concept of it."
Hearing this, Jiang Nian chuckled.
"Now?"
"It... felt nice, no wonder you two stayed on the balcony so long." Song Xiyun shyly said.
"Still leaving?"
"I... I don’t know." Song Xiyun pursed her lips, feeling somewhat softened, not as resolute.
"Then let’s find a place for now, hmm?" Jiang Nian suggested, pragmatic as ever.
"In daylight, when you’ve thought it through?"
"Mm." Song Xiyun replied.
Around seven, Jiang Nian sat on a dirt building beside the education bureau, beside him, Song Xiyun and her bags.
"How’s this spot?"
"Pretty nice." Song Xiyun covered her face, "But it needed wall climbing, over the bureau’s fence."
"Dislike it?" he asked.
Song Xiyun finally laughed, facing the warm sunrise, she said with a smile, "It’s thrilling."
"During middle school, often sat here with friends." Jiang Nian said, somewhat nostalgic.
Who’d have thought, he’d make it to a top college.
"Oh, I know." Song Xiyun said, "Qianqian said, back then, you liked another girl."
Hearing that, Jiang Nian’s face changed.
"Nonsense!"
Suddenly, a phone call came in. The phone on the cement top buzzed urgently.
They exchanged glances, Song Xiyun tensed up instantly.
"Who...?"
"Who else." Jiang Nian smiled, answering it, "So early, what’s up?"
"Xiyun... Xiyun’s... she disappeared!!" Xu Qianqian’s voice frightened, "Woke up and..."
A while passed.
Xu Qianqian hurried there, wearing slippers. Met by Jiang Nian to climb over the fence.
Reached the roof to see the large bag on the ground. Her heart skipped a beat, face turned pale.
Song Xiyun shrank, wanting to say something.
"I....."
Xu Qianqian rushed over, enclosing Song Xiyun in a fierce hug, "Why... how could you!"
As she spoke, tears flowed again.
After a while, they released, dipping into silence. The intense air dissipating, leaving a battlefield.
