Chapter – 31…
Jiang Jian and his little crew claimed they only beat up school bullies and thugs who extorted classmates, but in the eyes of ordinary students, anyone who could fight was somewhat “mixed” and intimidating.
The girl with the high ponytail clearly looked like an easy target. Yell at her a couple of times and she wouldn’t dare retaliate—but Jiang Jian might actually throw punches.
And once he started, the group behind him might join in just for fun.
The girl in the couple couldn’t keep her expression anymore; she stood up and apologized repeatedly. “Sorry, sorry, we’ll leave right now.”
The two hurriedly packed their bags and slunk away.
Jiang Jian had been wearing a dark face just moments ago, looking every bit like a delinquent ready to stir up trouble. But the moment he turned and saw Luo Shuxin watching him, he raised two fingers next to his face and made a “V” sign—instantly transforming into a goofy, curly-haired puppy.
Jiang Jian looked pleased with himself. Peace at last!
Thanks to him, no couples would dare come to this study café to “giggle giggle giggle” for a long while.
Under Luo Shuxin’s guidance, Jiang Jian had been grinding problems for several weeks straight. As he put it himself, he was now so sick of question banks he wanted to puke at the sight of them.
Shao Xing slapped him on the shoulder. “You don’t know how good you have it. I want New-ge to tutor me this carefully and he might not even agree… What is this between you two now? Mutual attraction between handsome guys?”
Jiang Jian shamelessly replied, “Quite possibly.”
Shao Xing smacked his thigh dramatically. “I’ve said it before—this face of mine will hinder my life someday. Didn’t expect it to happen as early as high school.”
One evening after self-study, Jiang Jian was called away by the homeroom teacher for a talk about his recent progress, so he arrived at the study café later than usual.
When he got there, he only saw Luo Shuxin’s bag placed at their regular table. On Jiang Jian’s side of the desk sat a cup of ice cream.
Jiang Jian didn’t think much of it; he assumed Luo Shuxin had bought it. This café sold coffee, milk tea, fruit tea, ice cream, and little cakes. Studying was brain-draining, and Jiang Jian often ordered desserts halfway through. When he ordered, he usually bought one for Luo Shuxin too.
Luo Shuxin didn’t originally like sweets, but after being repeatedly fed by Jiang Jian, he started ordering small desserts as reciprocation. Over time, Jiang Jian became used to it.
He picked up the ice cream and wolfed down more than half before Luo Shuxin returned, phone in hand—probably just finished a call.
Seeing Jiang Jian devouring the ice cream so ferociously, Luo Shuxin casually asked, “Why’d you get this flavor? Didn’t you say you don’t like matcha?”
Jiang Jian froze. “…Didn’t you buy it?”
He had only taken a few bites out of courtesy, thinking it was from Luo Shuxin.
Luo Shuxin lowered his eyes, looking helpless.
Jiang Jian knew that expression all too well.
It was the same one he gave Luo Shuxin every time the boy got lost—affectionate, indulgent, the gaze reserved for a beloved idiot.
Just to be contrary, Jiang Jian deliberately opened his mouth wide and shoveled in the last big spoonful of ice cream.
Fine, he’d already eaten it. What was anyone going to do?
Arrogance aside, he still had to deal with the aftermath. He went to ask the waitress who had bought the ice cream and placed it on their table.
He had assumed it was a misplaced order.
Turns out, a girl bought it specifically and asked the waitress to put it there.
Jiang Jian: “Which girl? Is she still here?”
The waitress, thinking she was about to witness a budding romance, discreetly pointed her out.
A quiet-looking girl sat by the window at a single-person table. A workbook was open in front of her, but she wasn’t writing—she was holding her phone, typing, apparently chatting with someone.
Jiang Jian found her familiar. After thinking for a while, he dug her out of his memory.
Wasn’t she the timid little quail who had been following Yin Ying the other day?
Jiang Jian: …
Not only had he eaten someone else’s ice cream—he’d eaten their confession ice cream.
Judging from what happened last time, the ice cream was probably meant for Luo Shuxin.
He felt awkward for a moment but relaxed when he remembered how Luo Shuxin only loved studying.
He bought another ice cream from the same series, a different flavor, and asked the waitress to deliver it to the girl.
The waitress, wearing the excited grin of someone witnessing a love story, asked, “What should I say when I give it to her?”
Jiang Jian: “Just tell her she’s a good person.”
Waitress: …
When Jiang Jian returned to the table, he brought Luo Shuxin a milk tea as well, fanning his tail like a peacock as he bragged about helping him “cut off a peach blossom and sever a karmic bond.”
Luo Shuxin gave him a puzzled look, but Jiang Jian refused to elaborate and left him hanging on purpose.
.
Jiang Jian and Luo Shuxin weren’t hiding their improved relationship, but they also didn’t announce it. So naturally, some people didn’t get the memo.
Like Yin Ying.
Yin Ying accidentally learned that her friend had been rejected twice—and both times, Jiang Jian had interfered.
She couldn’t help ranting in the group chat.
[I’m Not a Whimpering Girl]: Don’t tell me Jian-ge has a crush on that transfer student? Why else would he block a girl from confessing to his bro?
[Youth_and_Cicadas]: What what what—pricks up ears.jpg
[LuXun’s_Home]: …Has it occurred to you that maybe Luo-ge was too embarrassed to reject her, so our Jianjian stepped in?
[I’m Not a Whimpering Girl]: My bestie is pure and precious—why should that Luo guy reject her! I’m going to see whether it’s Jiang doing the dirty work or Luo being blind.
[Youth_and_Cicadas]: Can we go? Would it be weird?
[LuXun’s_Home]: Go where? That study café near the school? I want to go too! I want to bask in the aura of academic excellence!!
[Youth_and_Cicadas]: Then I’m going too!
