Chapter 19: I Haven't Liked You for a Long Time

After evening study session ended, the teaching building was bustling and noisy, filled with people, alive with excitement.

Jiang Nian packed up his things early, a backpack slung over one shoulder, about to head out. As usual, he planned to find Xu Qianqian and go home together, but suddenly someone called out to him.

Jiang Nian glanced at Zhou Yuting standing before him. “What is it?”

“Um.” She was a head shorter than Jiang Nian, looking up at him. “I have something to talk to you about, just the two of us. Can you wait for a moment?”

Zhou Yuting’s eyes, lacking confidence, looked as if she had suffered a grave injustice, glistening with tears. When a boy looks at her like that, no matter how displeased, his heart softens.

Feigning weakness was one of her usual tactics.

“About the class promotion? Let’s talk on the phone. If you haven’t deleted me from QQ,” Jiang Nian said, not wanting to waste time, and tried to walk past her.

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

“Wait.”

“What?” Jiang Nian frowned, his tone sharp. “We’re in class; everyone’s watching. You’re the class monitor—say what you need to say directly. Don’t drag this out.”

The tide had turned, little troublemaker.

Not so fond of smiling now, huh? When the promotion spot’s gone, no more smiles?

“Just a moment... It won’t take much time,” Zhou Yuting said, tears welling in her eyes. She had deleted him on QQ anyway, and these words couldn’t leave any trace.

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

Without morals, there’s no one to hold you hostage.

When he reached the classroom diagonally opposite, Xu Qianqian was already waiting by the door. She carried her backpack, dressed in a light blue top and dark sports pants.

“Why so long?” she asked, frowning.

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

Just as they stepped out of the school gate, someone blocked their way—Zhou Yuting had caught up.

“Jiang Nian, can we talk?”

They were on a less crowded street outside the parking lot behind the mall. Under the streetlamp, with three surveillance cameras covering the area, Jiang Nian quickly activated a voice recorder from his pocket.

“Sure, let’s talk here. Once you’re done, I’m going home.”

“This place...” Zhou Yuting glanced at Xu Qianqian, hesitating. “Could you please step away? Just five minutes, please.”

Before Jiang Nian could respond, Xu Qianqian took a few steps back, folding her arms as she watched them.

“Go ahead.”

---

Jiang Nian was silent.

Zhou Yuting, pure and tall, looked somewhat disheveled under the streetlamp. Her mouth slightly open, eyes reddened instantly.

“The homeroom teacher talked to me about the class promotion. I was online just then. But there’s only one spot for promotion. I know you had misunderstandings about me before.”

“But I really need this chance, Jiang Nian. I’m begging you.”

“Even if you don’t get promoted, you can still easily get into a top university in the college entrance exam. I can’t—I really want to get into Lu University. This is my only chance.”

Jiang Nian looked at her expressionlessly. The streetlamp stretched his shadow long, his gaze lowered slightly.

“You stopped me just to say this?”

“Yes. Jiang Nian, only you can help me.” Zhou Yuting was crying now, tears streaming down her fair face, looking pitiful.

“What does that have to do with me?”

“What?”

“I said, what does that have to do with me?” Jiang Nian lifted his head, expressionless, watching the surprise slowly dawn on her pitiful face.

“Your dream is your dream. What does that have to do with my class promotion? If we were friends, there might be some room for negotiation, but unfortunately...”

“We are friends! I just want to study now, not date. We can just be good friends first,” Zhou Yuting pleaded desperately.

“Jiang Nian, you used to like me, right?”

“After the college entrance exam, I’ll consider being your boyfriend, okay?”

“Please help me, I beg you.” Tears fell again, she sobbed loudly under the streetlamp. “Jiang Nian, I really don’t know...”

“Waaah, I really don’t know what to do!”

She tried to grab Jiang Nian’s hand but he deftly avoided her without leaving a trace. She stared at the empty space where his hand had been, frozen, her long hair tousled by the night breeze.

“Jiang Nian... I’m begging you.”

Not far away, Xu Qianqian couldn’t hear clearly but saw Zhou Yuting crying and reaching out under the streetlamp. For some reason, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside her.

Under the streetlamp, Jiang Nian calmly put distance between himself and Zhou Yuting.

“Class monitor, please show some respect.”

Five minutes were almost up; he didn’t want to waste time.

What nonsense is this? Saying she’d be his girlfriend after the entrance exam? As if I’m some fool to lick her all year only to watch her check into a hotel with someone else for a month after the exam.

Who drinks so much to say such absurd things?

Check the IP address, see if it’s from Dunhuang.

How shameless must someone be to say things like that about a promotion spot? Who asked about your dream university? Whether it’s Lu University or some unknown college, it’s none of my business.

And seriously considering being my girlfriend, acting like it’s your first choice?

Is this even human language?

“I’m telling the truth, Jiang Nian. I really need this chance.” Zhou Yuting, on the verge of tears again, said, “If you don’t believe me, we can be secret lovers.”

“No need, class monitor,” Jiang Nian said seriously. “Learn from your mistakes. I won’t be friends with you anymore. I chose to transfer classes just to stay away from you.”

“You could have forced the homeroom teacher to promote you without asking me. As for your dreams, why didn’t you say anything at the birthday party back then?”

“I stopped liking you a long time ago. You should have felt it these past two months. I have no feelings for you at all. I just want to go to university and find a prettier senior.”

“You really... have no appeal at all, so don’t bring up the past anymore. Isn’t your little group very harmonious? Go play your make-believe games yourselves.”

With that, Jiang Nian turned and walked away without looking back once.

Under the streetlamp, Zhou Yuting stood with tear-streaked cheeks, stunned as if struck by lightning. Jiang Nian’s words echoed repeatedly in her mind, growing more painful the more she thought about it.

How could he be like that? She had lowered herself first!

She even said she’d consider being with him after the entrance exam. She had sacrificed her purity, didn’t mind his poverty, so why...

Why say he didn’t like her?

Isn’t love about sacrifice for the other? Isn’t it supposed to be tested?

If Jiang Nian, who had walked away with Xu Qianqian, heard this, he would surely spit blood.

Tests, my foot! What a joke!

---

On the road, Xu Qianqian lowered her head, clutching her backpack straps.

“What were you two just talking about?”

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