Chapter 125: My World Only Has Him, He’s the One I Like Most
The crackling bonfire cast dazzling light.
Across the flames, Qu Xiaoya boldly observed Jiang Zhou. As she stared, her gaze gradually shifted toward Feng Siruo, who stood before the grill.
Looking at her flawless side profile, she felt a twinge of envy, but mostly, it was jealousy.
When the semester first began, nobody paid much attention to Feng Siruo, the girl who wore a mask every single day. She always kept her head lowered, rarely spoke, and seemed like someone who could be pulled aside at any moment to serve as a background character.
Yet it was this very ordinary girl who, after a single performance at the freshman welcome party, suddenly became famous across the entire school.
Everyone praised her as an angel who had accidentally fallen into the mortal world.
It wasn’t just that she was stunningly beautiful, it was also her purity, her obedience, and even her timidness.
With such adorable “moe-girl” qualities paired with goddess-like looks, it was only natural that boys went crazy for her.
Qu Xiaoya didn’t mind that at first.
She was class monitor, busy earning her credits. Feng Siruo could be the goddess admired by the boys.
Their paths didn’t cross. One walked the broad road, the other crossed the narrow bridge.
They were supposed to remain in their own worlds, not interfering with each other.
But all of that changed because of one man — Jiang Zhou, the storm-maker of the school.
On the very first day of classes, he bought milk tea for every girl in the class, saying he wanted them to remember that their first cup of college milk tea had been from him.
At first, Qu Xiaoya only thought he was amusing, humorous, and far more mature than most of his peers.
That was when she first began to feel a favorable impression of him.
Then came the notorious “Western Restaurant Scumbag” incident.
She thought he was awful, playing with people’s feelings. But it turned out to be a misunderstanding.
Instead, he emerged as a campus-famous entrepreneurial rising star.
From then on, her interest in him only deepened.
And when she heard him sing “The Wind Rises” and later a dorm-recorded version of “The Whale That Became a Lonely Island”, she was instantly captivated by this man of dual talent of wit and artistry.
Crushes could be a beautiful thing.
At least, that’s what Qu Xiaoya thought at first.
But once Jiang Zhou began appearing with Feng Siruo — first walking side by side, then holding hands — her sweet fantasy shattered.
Suddenly, her secret crush didn’t feel beautiful at all.
So she pushed herself to be brave, tossing him a note inviting him to the rooftop.
But her tutor called her away to discuss the group outing, and by the time she returned, Huang Qi had beaten her there.
She saw Jiang Zhou gifting Feng Siruo presents.
Later, he gave Huang Qi one as well.
At that moment, she realized she could no longer continue this silent crush.
Thinking of this, Qu Xiaoya took a beer and walked over. “Jiang Zhou, let’s have a drink together?”
He looked up mid-bite of chicken wings. “Sure. On behalf of my dorm, let me thank your dad for his generosity.”
Qu Xiaoya smiled faintly and sat beside him. “How’s your business going?”
“Not bad, everything’s running smoothly.”
“That song, ‘The Whale That Became a Lonely Island,’ was it really written by you?”
Jiang Zhou shook his head. “Nope, I copied that one.”
Qu Xiaoya paused, then asked softly, “Can I ask you a bold question?”
“What is it?”
“What kind of girls do you like?”
…That was it? Just that?
Jiang Zhou turned his head, ready to call over Feng Siruo.
There was no need for a description, just show the living example herself.
But before he could open his mouth, Qu Xiaoya cut him off. “I know you like Feng Siruo. But aside from girls like her, do you like anyone else?”
Again, just that?
He was about to call Huang Qi over. She was another example in the flesh.
“Also not Huang Qi!” Qu Xiaoya added hastily.
Jiang Zhou took a sip of beer, thought for a moment, then said, “There are a few more, all in school. I’ll introduce you tomorrow.”
Qu Xiaoya fell silent again, then pressed on. “Actually, what I really wanted to ask is… do you like girls like me?”
Pffft—
The beer Jiang Zhou had just drunk sprayed right out.
“Class monitor, don’t joke with me about this.”
“I’m not joking, I’m asking seriously!”
Jiang Zhou immediately wrapped an arm around Gao Wenkai. “Then how about my bro Wenkai? Polite, humble, and amazing at laundry.”
“Gao… Classmate Gao is good, but not my type.”
Gao Wenkai sighed and downed a drink. “Another rejection. I really am just a good guy.”
Jiang Zhou patted his chest. “Don’t get discouraged, bro. Someone will notice your shining points.”
“Really? What shining points?”
“You do laundry really cleanly!”
“…Thanks a lot.”
At that moment, Qu Xiaoya’s smartwatch beeped.
She checked the time. Twenty-four minutes had passed.
She had arranged to meet Feng Siruo by the river in half an hour.
She couldn’t delay any longer, so she bid Jiang Zhou goodbye, tossed her beer can in the trash, and walked down the slope into the night.
Jiang Zhou was a strong-willed person. He was stubborn, even arrogant. No one could change his mind.
Qu Xiaoya knew that. A direct confession wasn’t the right move.
But Feng Siruo was different.
She was timid, fearful, and barely spoke up for herself.
And from what Qu Xiaoya had just learned, Feng Siruo had never actually accepted Jiang Zhou’s confession.
Some even said Jiang Zhou had forced her into being with him.
Back then, when she first arrived at school, knowing no one, he suddenly appeared and called her “wife.”
Feng Siruo had been frightened for a long time.
To Qu Xiaoya, that meant Feng Siruo didn’t truly like Jiang Zhou. At least, not the way she did.
Feng Siruo had just gotten used to his teasing and didn’t dare refuse him.
If that was the case, then all Qu Xiaoya needed to do was persuade her, gently but firmly, to leave him.
“Yes, that’s the way. I can do it.”
—
Meanwhile, the bonfire party was in full swing.
Boys and girls sat together, laughing and drinking, while hot skewers kept coming off the grill. The atmosphere was warm and lively.
Feng Siruo glanced at her phone. Twenty-eight minutes had passed.
Qu Xiaoya had told her to meet by the river in thirty.
She hesitated with a grilled corn in hand, then bit her lip and walked over to Jiang Zhou.
“This is for you.”
He ruffled her hair. “Sit with me. I’ll tell you a story.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’m going out for a bit.”
“What for?”
She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Bathroom.”
He immediately stood up. “I’ll go with you.”
“No need. I’ll go myself.”
“It’s so dark. Aren’t you scared?”
“I’ll try…”
He was surprised but nodded. “Alright. If you get lost, call me.”
“Mm.”
“Don’t be gone too long.”
“Got it.”
Taking a deep breath, Feng Siruo walked down the slope.
She already knew Qu Xiaoya liked Jiang Zhou. Her attitude yesterday had made that clear.
She also knew what Qu Xiaoya wanted to talk about.
Honestly, she didn’t want to go.
She was scared. She didn’t understand relationships, much less a love triangle.
But Qu Xiaoya had guessed right. She wasn’t good at refusing people.
If only she were like Huang Qi — direct, fiery, able to curse when she wanted.
But her own nervousness always left her breathless and timid.
Sigh…
Feng Siruo, you really are a weak, spineless girl.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhou munched on the corn, tossed his can into the trash, and quietly followed.
Feng Siruo had one weakness. She couldn’t lie.
Whenever she did, she’d touch her nose.
It was a habit from when he had once teased her in the cafeteria, telling her liars grew long noses.
She believed him, so now she always touched her nose when fibbing.
And just moments ago, Qu Xiaoya had gone in the same direction, yet hadn’t returned in over six minutes.
He was sure she had called Feng Siruo out.
Girls could be adorable, but when troublesome, they were truly troublesome.