Chapter 389: Not Even Bothering to Pretend Anymore, Huh?

After evening self-study let out, the school gate was a flowing river of people.

"Can't, can't, I'm dying. Hey Jiang Nian, slow down, your... stamina..."

"Is really not bad."

"No way, Xu Qianqian, you're already done for?"

"How... how could that be, I'm just... a little out of breath. You stop for a moment, this young master will... show you what a sprint is."

*pat pat pat*, Xu Qianqian stopped running. The pedestrians on the street gradually thinned out; they had already run completely out of the school's vicinity.

"I'll give you that."

"Obviously. If you run slow, how can you play forward?" Jiang Nian felt refreshed all over; running these few steps took no effort at all.

Crushing Xu Qianqian in stamina made him especially smug.

"So, do you want me to come down and watch your match?" Xu Qianqian performed steadily. "Cheer you on, satisfy your vanity."

"You're getting a bit narcissistic." Jiang Nian was speechless.

But Xu Qianqian did have the capital to be narcissistic—her brows were like distant hills, and her eyes were as clear as autumn water.

Find a decent camera, snap a picture, and every frame could be wallpaper.

Some might say, if I already have such a badass camera, why would I still photograph a pretty girl? I can only say, you're something else (thumbs up).

"By the way, did your afternoon doctor's visit go smoothly?" Jiang Nian turned his head and asked about the real business, worried Song Xiyun would drag her feet again.

"Pretty smoothly. The doctor's idea was to recuperate first." Xu Qianqian tilted her head. "Anyway, take it slow and there won't be much of a problem."

"Mm."

The two walked into the alley, and the atmosphere gradually quieted down.

Xu Qianqian walked in front, glancing back at Jiang Nian behind her every so often, not daring to leave her back to the big blue basket.

Ever since she got kissed on the neck last time, Xu Qianqian had gotten a little timid.

She knew Jiang Nian had designs on her, that his ultimate goal was to have his way with her, and she knew the two of them had crossed the line into being too flirtatious.

But she couldn't stop.

At the same time, she didn't know how to take the next step. Given their relationship, whichever side confessed first would make things awkward.

Besides, even if Jiang Nian really confessed, she wouldn't outright refuse, but she wouldn't agree right away either—at the very least she'd drag it out for a while and see.

He was too horny; it felt like he wore jeans every day just to prevent... popping a stiffy.

If she agreed too early, she'd probably get horny too along with him, and in the end, muddle-headed, they'd end up doing some pretty outrageous things.

She felt the two of them now were like little boats on a dark lake, a bright lantern hanging at the prow, gazing at each other from afar.

Before going upstairs.

In the dim stairwell, Xu Qianqian turned her head and glanced at Jiang Nian.

"Let me ask you something."

Such a serious opening line instantly made Jiang Nian nervous too.

"What?"

"If I had a friend..." Xu Qianqian said shyly.

"There are no outsiders here, Xu Shao." Jiang Nian pointed at her. "Just you and me. Is that 'friend' of yours you?"

"Fine, I'll just say it straight then." Xu Qianqian spread her hands. "If you had a friend who was reborn to two years ago."

Jiang Nian: "... What the hell?"

"Never mind that, I'm saying if." Xu Qianqian leaned in close, staring into his eyes. "Would he..."

"Still go after Zhou Yuting?"

Zhou Yuting's pressure is really this strong?

In terms of little green-tea-bitch level, Xu Qianqian naturally couldn't catch up to Zhou Yuting. Going abstract against a green-tea-bitch is a battle doomed to fail.

But then again, aside from Xu Qianqian's personality being a bit... that, her own hardware absolutely crushes Zhou Yuting.

So the answer practically writes itself—of course he wouldn't.

But given how much buildup the question had, it couldn't just be wanting to hear his 'friend' deny it once; there was probably a hidden condition.

"I think my friend, whether he can go back two years or not, wouldn't go after Zhou Yuting."

Jiang Nian scratched his face, thinking it over carefully.

"A high schooler should still act like a high schooler—study hard, hang out with friends, waste time."

"Oh, is that so." Xu Qianqian got her answer, unsure whether she was satisfied or not, and kept walking upstairs.

She had just gone up two steps when she suddenly heard his voice from behind.

"If it were you, my friend would probably not be able to hold back. Even if he went back to the past, he'd probably chase you relentlessly."

Hearing that, Xu Qianqian's figure going upstairs froze.

"Then... then your friend really is a simp. I recommend taking dihydrogen monoxide morning and night."

Back home, after washing up.

Jiang Nian was still puzzled, not quite understanding what was going on in Xu Qianqian's mind, but after thinking it over he gave up.

Let it take its course.

Xu Qianqian was too fun a game; if he really focused on studying her single-mindedly, he'd probably have no mind left for studying and just get addicted to her looks.

For instance, he was already starting to zone out right now, wondering which set of underwear Xu Qianqian would change into today.

Miracle Nikki!

While Jiang Nian was still off in wild fantasies, Xu Qianqian had already pulled open the drawer where she kept her underwear and frowned.

In the drawer, all the underwear was neatly folded together. Mostly light-colored sets, no black underwear.

Clothes worn underneath—however you match them, it doesn't really make much difference.

But the moment she thought about this drawer being seen by someone, Xu Qianqian was instantly so angry she gritted her teeth.

?? Jiang Nian really deserves to die!

"Dead pervert!"

Just then, her phone buzzed.

Her thoughts were interrupted. She glanced at her phone. Jiang Nian had sent a message — a cheeky sticker.

"Xu Qianqian, what are you doing?"

"About to take a shower."

"Oh, can you turn on the video?" Jiang Nian habitually typed out the following line, "The bathroom floor is slippery, what if you fall..."

"After I finish washing."

Seeing that, Jiang Nian immediately sat up straight at the desk in his room.

"For real?"

Across the hall, in the bathroom.

Xu Qianqian looked at that line of text and gently pressed her lips together. If she wanted to bait Jiang Nian, she couldn't possibly do it without dangling a carrot.

She typed a line of text, then deleted it, and typed again.

"Maybe."

After sending it, Xu Qianqian flushed red and tossed her phone into the laundry basket. She thought to herself that she was really crazy — why did she say it like that.

But it was already sent, so then... he... what would his reaction be.

Jiang Nian had originally still been working on his test paper, but seeing that he immediately stood up. Quite a wonderful opening — perfect as a bedtime video.

Half an hour passed, and he could hardly hold it in anymore.

"Why aren't you done washing yet?"

Half an hour — whether washing or blanching. Even plucking the hair off a New Year's pig, half an hour would be more than enough.

The message was sent — Shi Chendahai.

The video call was dialed — also no response.

But Jiang Nian wasn't flustered. He guessed Xu Qianqian must be showering. Standing under the showerhead, she'd reply in a few minutes.

However, another sixteen minutes passed.

Jiang Nian's brows knit tightly. No matter how he tried to make excuses for Xu Qianqian — almost an hour had passed, and her not responding wasn't normal.

He could hardly sit still anymore and began pacing around the room.

A girl probably wouldn't pass out under the showerhead. Not replying meant either she was avoiding him, or something had happened.

Avoiding him?

Xu Shao was thick-skinned — she didn't need to play dead at all.

After thinking it over, Jiang Nian sent Xu Qianqian a message.

"Are you okay? I'll grab my key and come check on you."

Sent successfully. He put on his jacket. Key in hand, he walked through the living room, and after stepping out the door, changed shoes and unlocked the security door across the way.

Click — the lock opened.

Jiang Nian heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom. He called out Xu Qianqian's name. However, no one responded to him at all.

He thought to himself this was bad — she couldn't really have fainted, could she?

In a flash, Jiang Nian lunged forward in a single stride. One step ahead, he pushed open the bathroom door, just about to speak.

Xu Qianqian, who had grabbed a few items of clothing to barely cover herself, stood in the bathroom, staring wide-eyed at him — and the next second let out a low-pitched scream.

"Ah!!! What are you doing?!"

It was obvious that the clothes she was using to shield herself in front of her body had been snatched in a panic from the laundry basket — they couldn't cover her smooth, jade-like shoulders.

The bathroom was filled with mist, blocking part of the view.

"No, I called you so many times," Jiang Nian explained. "I thought you'd fainted in the bathroom."

"You... you go out first." Xu Qianqian bit her lower lip, shrinking toward the other side of the bathroom. "The draft's coming in, it's a bit cold."

"Alright, I'll wait for you outside." Jiang Nian was mortified.

Ten minutes later, Xu Qianqian, now in pajamas, appeared in the living room, looking at Jiang Nian on the sofa with a complicated gaze.

"Dead pervert — not even pretending anymore, are you?"