Lin Jingchu rarely asked Jiang Yuekai out alone. She was still in high school and her time was limited. The two of them met at most at gatherings with mutual friends. Lin Jingchu had always maintained a distance from Jiang Yuekai with great restraint.
He had waited for so many years and was not short of patience, but now that he knew Jiang Yuekai had someone she liked, he could no longer remain as calm as before. He even began to reflect. Perhaps it was precisely because he was too "patient" that he lost the opportunity to be the first to get the moon by the water, and she fell for someone else.
The next day happened to be Friday, and Jiang Yuekai agreed to Lin Jingchu's request, "Then I'll come find you after school this afternoon."
Lin Jingchu pondered for a moment and said to her, "What time do you get off school? I don't have class, I'll pick you up at school."
By the way, he also wanted to see what the boy Jiang Yuekai liked was like, and where he was inferior to him.
Jiang Yuekai, of course, did not know Lin Jingchu's thoughts. Hearing that he had no classes, she told him her dismissal time. Without further conversation, Jiang Yuekai went to do her exercises. Lin Jingchu picked up the doll again, examined it, and walked to the wardrobe to choose clothes for tomorrow.
A person adorns themselves for those who appreciate them. Jiang Yuekai had liked handsome men since she was young, and Lin Jingchu knew this well. Therefore, he always dressed meticulously whenever he met her, but Jiang Yuekai probably wouldn't notice.
It was autumn, and Lin Jingchu chose a pinkish-blue hoodie, paired with jeans and canvas shoes, a very youthful outfit. He usually had a calm personality and spoke little, appearing much more mature than his peers. He rarely wore such "youthful" colors, but Jiang Yuekai liked them.
Lin Jingchu had good grades, outstanding looks, and a prominent family background. Ever since he started university, he had received a lot of attention. Every so often, he would receive confessions or overtures from girls, all of which he politely rejected without exception.
Even so, some people were still not discouraged, such as today.
Lin Jingchu finished his last major class in the morning, and a girl from another major approached him.
Lin Jingchu had heard of her name. She was Xu Yiran, in the same cohort as him. Her academic performance was excellent, and she had even won first place in a competition. She was very beautiful and had a graceful demeanor. Lin Jingchu knew so much about her because Chen Ao had liked Xu Yiran.
During that time, Chen Ao almost talked about Xu Yiran to him every day. Lin Jingchu was forced to listen to a lot, and coupled with his good memory, he remembered it very clearly. However, Lin Jingchu and Xu Yiran had not had frequent contact before.
So, when Xu Yiran asked him to watch a movie that afternoon, Lin Jingchu refused, "I'm sorry, I have other arrangements this afternoon."
This was a polite refusal, at least in Xu Yiran's eyes. He said he had something to do in the afternoon, so perhaps another time would work?
Xu Yiran was sensible. She said to Lin Jingchu, "Okay, then we'll go another day."
Lin Jingchu did not respond and left in a hurry. Chen Ao saw this scene clearly.
In the morning, he saw Lin Jingchu wearing a pink hoodie to class and knew he must be going to see Jiang Yuekai. Xu Yiran's feelings for Lin Jingchu likely wouldn't be reciprocated. Chen Ao was about to advise Xu Yiran not to waste her time when, unexpectedly, Xu Yiran preempted him and asked for Lin Jingchu's WeChat.
Chen Ao gave Xu Yiran his WeChat, but he couldn't help but say a few words, "Jingchu isn't really thinking about dating right now, why don't you find someone else?"
Xu Yiran said, "It's okay, I can wait for him. It's not that easy to give up on someone you like."
Judging by her demeanor, she seemed to have an obsession with Lin Jingchu. Chen Ao didn't say anything more. He couldn't directly say that Lin Jingchu already had someone he liked, as that was his privacy.
Xu Yiran successfully obtained Lin Jingchu's WeChat and left happily.
Nanjiang University was some distance from the international high school where Jiang Yuekai studied. Jiang Yuekai got off school at three in the afternoon. After class at twelve, Lin Jingchu went home to drive. By the time he arrived, there were still half an hour before dismissal.
Lin Jingchu saw a milk tea shop near the school and went to buy Jiang Yuekai a cup of taro bobo milk tea. He himself was not interested in milk tea, but because Jiang Yuekai liked it, he remembered the name of this milk tea.
Jiang Yuekai liked it with half sugar and ice. After buying the milk tea, Lin Jingchu went to the school gate to wait for her. It was almost time for dismissal, and there were quite a few parents standing at the gate.
A few minutes later, the dismissal bell rang. After waiting for a while longer, Lin Jingchu spotted Jiang Yuekai in the vast crowd. She was still wearing her school uniform, and next to her was a girl of similar height. Lin Jingchu recognized her as a good friend in her class.
As she approached, Lin Jingchu waved to her, "Yuekai."
Jiang Yuekai and her classmate looked over together. Lin Jingchu walked up and handed her the milk tea. Jiang Yuekai beamed, "How did you know I wanted to drink milk tea?"
Lin Jingchu smiled. He didn't usually smile much, but when she smiled, he was infected.
Jiang Yuekai's female classmate secretly glanced at Lin Jingchu, her attention drawn by his smile, and she even blushed.
However, Lin Jingchu's attention was not on her. "I bought tickets to Disneyland, let's go."
Jiang Yuekai became excited upon hearing this, "Really? I haven't been in a long time. How do you know me so well?"
Jiang Yuekai went to say goodbye to her friend and walked towards the parking lot with Lin Jingchu. After a few steps, they bumped into Gu Jiang, the boy Jiang Yuekai liked.
Gu Jiang was still waiting for his driver to arrive. Seeing a boy a few years older than them, with outstanding temperament and appearance, appear beside Jiang Yuekai, he inexplicably felt a sense of crisis.
Lin Jingchu had not investigated Gu Jiang, but from Jiang Yuekai's expression, he could guess that this was the person she liked.
Lin Jingchu's gaze rested on Gu Jiang. He was tall and slender, appearing very quiet and good-tempered, indeed the type Jiang Yuekai would like. However, when the other party looked at him, there was some hostility and wariness, likely mistaking his relationship with Jiang Yuekai.
Indeed, the next moment, Lin Jingchu heard him ask Jiang Yuekai, "Is this your friend?"
Jiang Yuekai saw that Gu Jiang had misunderstood and began to explain to him, "This is my older brother, he watched me grow up since I was little."
"Brother?" Gu Jiang was suspicious. He felt that the way Lin Jingchu looked at Jiang Yuekai was far from innocent.
"Yes, his mother is my godmother." Jiang Yuekai's attention was entirely on Gu Jiang, and she did not notice the change in Lin Jingchu's expression.
This was not the first time Lin Jingchu had heard her introduce him to others like this. He thought he had already gotten used to it, but seeing her fear of being misunderstood by Gu Jiang made him feel uncomfortable.
Lin Jingchu spoke up to remind her, "Yuekai, we should go."
Only then did Jiang Yuekai reluctantly part with Gu Jiang and walk to the car with Lin Jingchu. Lin Jingchu habitually took her schoolbag down for her.