Chapter 19: I Stopped Liking You a Long Time Ago

After evening self-study ended, the teaching building was packed with people, noisy and chaotic.

Jiang Nian had already packed his things, one shoulder slung with his backpack, about to leave. As usual, he was heading to find Xu Qianqian to go home together, when someone called out to him.

Jiang Nian glanced at Zhou Yuting in front of him. "What is it?"

"Mm." She was a head shorter than him, looking up. "I have something I'd like to discuss with you alone. Can you wait a moment?"

Zhou Yuting's eyes, whenever she lacked confidence, always looked as if she'd suffered a great injustice—glistening, watery. One glance from a boy, and even the fiercest resentment would soften.

Appearing weak was one of her usual tactics.

"It's about the class promotion, right? Talk on your phone." Jiang Nian didn't want to waste time on her, and moved to step past her. "If you haven't deleted my QQ."

Zhou Yuting instantly felt guilty and, in a flash, grabbed his white short-sleeve shirt.

"Wait."

"What?" Jiang Nian's expression was sour, his tone sharp. "This is the classroom—everyone's watching. Study committee, just say what you have to say. Don't pull and tug."

Karma turns. Little bitch.

You used to love smiling, didn't you? Now that the promotion slot's gone, why aren't you smiling anymore?

"Just a moment… it won't take much of your time." Zhou Yuting's tears swirled in her eyes—she'd already deleted his QQ, and these words couldn't leave a trace.

Jiang Nian snorted, pulled her hand away, and turned to leave.

Without morals, you can't be held hostage.

When he reached the classroom across the hall, Xu Qianqian was already waiting by the door. Backpack on, wearing a light blue top and dark sports pants.

"Why so long?" she asked, frowning.

"Nothing. Let's go."

No sooner had the two stepped past the school gate than someone blocked them—Zhou Yuting had followed.

"Jiang Nian, can we talk?"

This was a quiet stretch of road, outside the parking lot behind the mall. Three surveillance cameras covered the area. Jiang Nian used a shortcut key in his pocket to start recording.

"Fine. Say it here. When you're done, I'm going home."

"Here…" Zhou Yuting glanced at Xu Qianqian, hesitating. "Classmate, could you step aside? Just five minutes."

Jiang Nian was about to speak when Xu Qianqian stepped back several meters, arms crossed, watching them.

"Go ahead."

Jiang Nian: "……"

Zhou Yuting's face was pure and delicate, her figure tall. Now, under the streetlamp, she looked disheveled. Her lips parted before she spoke, and her eyes instantly reddened.

"The homeroom teacher talked to me about the promotion. I was online at the time. But only one person from our class can be promoted. I know you had misunderstandings about me before."

"But I really need this promotion opportunity, Jiang Nian. I beg you."

"Even without promotion, you can still easily pass the Gaokao and get into a top university. I can't. I really want to go to Lu Da. Really, really. This is my only chance."

Jiang Nian stared at her expressionlessly. The streetlamp stretched his shadow long; his eyes slightly lowered.

"You stopped me just to say this?"

"Mm, Jiang Nian. Only you can help me." Zhou Yuting was crying now, a tear track glistening on her fair face, looking pitiful.

"What does that have to do with me?"

"What?"

"I said—what does it have to do with me?" Jiang Nian looked up, expressionless, watching the surprise slowly form on her pitiful face.

"Your dream is your dream. What does it have to do with my promotion? If we were friends, there might be room to maneuver. But unfortunately…"

"We're still friends! I just want to study now—I'm not ready to date." Zhou Yuting hurried to say. "We can be good friends first."

"Jiang Nian, you used to like me, right?"

"After the Gaokao, I'll consider being your girlfriend, okay?"

"Please help me. I beg you." Zhou Yuting's tears fell again, sobbing loudly under the streetlamp. "Jiang Nian, I really don't know…"

"Wahhh~! I really don't know what to do!"

As she reached for Jiang Nian's hand, he slipped away without a trace. She stared at her empty hand, frozen in place, the night wind scattering her long hair.

"Jiang Nian… I beg you."

A little ways off, Xu Qianqian couldn't hear the words, but she saw Zhou Yuting crying and reaching out under the streetlamp. For some reason, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Under the streetlamp, Jiang Nian and Zhou Yuting kept their distance, his expression calm.

"Study committee, show some self-respect."

Five minutes were almost up. He didn't want to drag this out.

What the hell kind of nonsense is this? "After the Gaokao, I'll be your girlfriend." Do you think I'm an idiot? I licked your boots for a year, then wait until the Gaokao so you can spend a month in a hotel with someone else?

How much did you drink to say something like that?

Check your IP—see if it's Dunhuang.

How shameless do you have to be to say something like this? Who asked about your dream university? Whether you go to Lu Da or some third-rate college—what's it to me?

And you're thinking about being my girlfriend like you're listing your first-choice school?

Is this even human speech?

"I'm telling the truth, Jiang Nian. I really need this chance." Zhou Yuting's eyes welled up again. "If you don't believe me, we can start as secret lovers."

"No thanks, study committee." Jiang Nian's tone turned serious. "Once bitten, twice shy. I won't be friends with you again. I chose promotion precisely to get away from you."

"You can ask the homeroom teacher to force your promotion. No need to beg me. As for your dream—I just wonder why you didn't say this at your birthday party?"

"I stopped liking you two months ago. You should've felt it. I have zero feelings for you. I just want to go to college and find a prettier senior."

"You really… have zero appeal. So stop bringing up our past. Your little clique is so harmonious—go play house among yourselves."

After saying that, Jiang Nian turned and walked away without looking back even once.

【60】 After saying that, Jiang Nian turned and walked away without looking back even once.

【60】 He turned and walked away, not looking back once.

Under the streetlight, Zhou Yuting's tear-streaks had not yet dried, and she looked as if struck by lightning. Jiang Nian's words echoed in her mind over and over, and the more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt.

How could he be like this? She was the one who had lowered her head first!

She had even said that after the college entrance exam, she could consider being with him. She hadn't even cared about a girl's reputation, hadn't looked down on him for being poor—what gave him the right...

What gave him the right to say he didn't like her!

Isn't love supposed to be about giving for the other half? Isn't it supposed to go through trials!

If Jiang Nian, who had already walked far away with Xu Qianqian, heard this, he would surely have spat blood.

Trial your ass! Keep it simple!

On the road, Xu Qianqian walked with her head lowered, gripping the strap of her schoolbag.

"What... were you two just talking about?"

"Oh, nothing." Jiang Nian glanced at the girl beside him. "She was crying and saying she wanted to be my girlfriend, saying she wanted to have a secret relationship with me."