16. Very Familiar

Page 1/3

Zhang Heyu woke up and lifted his head from the crook of his arm, bleary-eyed as he gazed out the window.

Jiang Ci had her back to him, seemingly talking with Yu Xijin and the boy beside her.

Occasionally, the sound of their playful laughter drifted over.

They sounded quite happy.

Zhang Heyu glanced out at the scene and saw Zhi Jiangwen’s gentle gaze resting on Jiang Ci. He recalled the day he had seen her home and her smile then.

An inexplicable irritation welled up inside him.

Huo Chensi had known Zhang Heyu for a long time and lately had noticed there was something different about how Zhang Heyu treated Jiang Ci.

Huo Chensi was content to watch the drama unfold. Suddenly, Zhang Heyu rose from his seat. He smirked, “Hey, Yu, where are you headed?”

“The snack bar. You coming?” Zhang Heyu’s voice was as cold as ever, but when he glanced at Huo Chensi, his eyes also flicked toward the figure outside the window.

“Sure, let’s go!” Huo Chensi got up and followed Zhang Heyu out.

Jiang Ci was still listening to Zhi Jiangwen speak when Yu Xijin tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to look.

Jiang Ci frowned and followed her gaze to Zhang Heyu, who was exiting through the back door.

The boy wore his school uniform, muscles sleek and defined, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. His tall stature made him a perfect model for any outfit.

Sometimes Jiang Ci thought Zhang Heyu was wasting his looks and physique by not becoming a star model.

Zhang Heyu’s expression was indifferent as he passed by like a breeze, carrying the fresh scent of youth, leaving behind a tingling trace.

Jiang Ci swallowed unconsciously, her heart pounding faster.

Before she could look away, the smile on Zhi Jiangwen’s face stiffened as he followed her gaze.

Huo Chensi had come out as well. Seeing Yu Xijin smile and nod at him, he greeted, “Hey, coming to see our Jiang Ci?”

“Of course!” Yu Xijin smiled back, and the two seemed quite familiar.

Jiang Ci was momentarily stunned. After they walked away, she asked Yu Xijin, “How do you two know each other?”

She clearly remembered that in the previous life, Yu Xijin barely spoke to Huo Chensi; they hardly knew each other.

“Guess,” Yu Xijin teased.

Zhi Jiangwen was surprised. “You’re close with Zhang Heyu?”

“Sort of,” Jiang Ci replied.

Yu Xijin said, “Not really close.”

Zhi Jiangwen fell silent.

Just then, the class bell rang. Yu Xijin said, “I gotta run, it’s the homeroom teacher’s class!”

Jiang Ci nodded. “Go ahead.”

“Lunch together, okay?” Yu Xijin waved and hurried back to class.

Jiang Ci was about to return when Zhi Jiangwen grabbed her arm.

She paused and looked up to see his stiff expression. “Class monitor, is something wrong? Do you need to tell me something?”

Ever since leaving the regular class, Jiang Ci still called Zhi Jiangwen “class monitor.”

His eyes darkened as he stared at her, then softened a bit before he released her arm with an apologetic tone, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Zhi Jiangwen swallowed, his Adam’s apple moving. “Jiang Ci, are you close with Zhang Heyu?”

Jiang Ci hesitated.

“Stay away from him. We’re not the same,” Zhi Jiangwen said. “We’re not the same kind of people.”

She understood that boundary better than anyone.

At last, Jiang Ci smiled and asked, “Then what do you think is the difference between us and him?”

Zhi Jiangwen was speechless.

“Heart,” she said simply.

Jiang Ci smiled faintly. “I’m heading back now. See you tomorrow afternoon, class monitor.”

Before Zhi Jiangwen could speak, she walked back to class.

He exhaled and, turning to return, ran into Zhang Heyu.

Zhang Heyu passed Zhi Jiangwen coldly, a hidden blade slicing straight through him.

Jealousy flared.

Zhi Jiangwen shot him a glare.

Back in the classroom, Zhang Heyu radiated a “stay away” aura as he approached Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci was usually good at reading moods, but with Zhang Heyu, that skill completely deserted her.

Page 2/3

She hesitated, “Why are you—”

“Class time!” the teacher entered, cutting her off as he stood at the podium.

This class was chemistry, Jiang Ci’s weakest subject among the sciences.

Zhang Heyu hadn’t fallen asleep; surprisingly, he took out a pen and kept scribbling on scratch paper, ignoring the teacher’s rapid-fire lecture.

Forty minutes passed.

Jiang Ci sighed as she looked over her notes.

A muffled chuckle came from beside her. “You wrote so much—did you understand any of it?”

Jiang Ci pursed her lips and looked up at him, nodding then shaking her head.

Zhang Heyu couldn’t help but smile and teased in a slow drawl, “So, do you get it or not?”

“If I say no, will you teach me?” Jiang Ci mimicked his tone.

He was momentarily caught off guard, then his eyebrows lifted in amusement. “You’re hard to please, little Ci.”

Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she turned away, refusing to meet his gaze.

Knowing she was shy, he stopped teasing, not wanting to upset her.

“Where are you stuck? I’ll teach you,” Zhang Heyu said, eyes lowered to her neatly spread-out test paper, which had only a score starting with a seven.

Among their advanced class, that was as low as Huo Chensi’s level—definitely subpar.

Jiang Ci pointed out two questions, and during the break, Zhang Heyu explained them.

He was one of the top students in the senior year; having a genius like him nearby, she shouldn’t waste the chance to ask questions.

Zhang Heyu reviewed the problems, formed a rough plan in his mind, then taught her.

His method was different from the teacher’s traditional approach—he used a simpler, clearer way suited for someone like Jiang Ci with a shaky foundation.

“Understand?” Zhang Heyu twirled his pen between his fingers, his gaze lingering softly on her.

Jiang Ci nodded. “Yes, Teacher Zhang.”

Hearing “Teacher Zhang” made a smile spread across his face. “Repeat it back to me, let me hear.”

She thought for a moment, then clearly explained the problem again.

Zhang Heyu nodded in approval.

Encouraged, Jiang Ci couldn’t help but smile.

During the break, the classroom’s atmosphere livelier with students from other classes mingling, only Jiang Ci and Zhang Heyu sat quietly.

She looked down at her chemistry mistakes, planning to ask Zhang Heyu a few more questions.

“Jiang Ci.”

Hearing her name, she stretched the sound, “Hmm? What is it?”

Thinking of Zhi Jiangwen, Zhang Heyu frowned, displeased, and blurted out, “Are you close with him?”

He?

She didn’t immediately realize whom he meant and tilted her head, “Who?”

“The guy who came with your friend today,” Zhang Heyu frowned, his face dark.

Jiang Ci paused, then realized who he meant.

“Oh, Zhi Jiangwen? He was our former class monitor. He’s a nice guy,” Jiang Ci said. “Not close, just classmates.”

Classmates.

So at least she and Jiang Ci were friends.

That idiot didn’t matter.

Thinking this, Zhang Heyu’s lips curved faintly as he pulled out a candy from his drawer, unwrapped it, and offered it to Jiang Ci. “Have a candy, a reward for a correct answer.”

Jiang Ci took it and saw grey packaging with words printed on it.

“Forever adorable.”

She unwrapped the candy and popped it into her mouth. The taste of green grape and green tea spread in her mouth. Holding the wrapper, she said, “Zhang Heyu, did you know there are words on the wrapper?”

He picked it up and read “Don’t be angry,” then understood.

“Now I know,” he said.

After school that afternoon, Jiang Ci leisurely packed her things.

She overheard two girls passing by in the hallway—one was Ying Chen, if Jiang Ci remembered correctly.

“You’re with Zhang Heyu at the broadcasting station, right? The transition is coming up soon?”

Ying Chen nodded, “This Friday afternoon.”

“So that’s your last time working with Zhang Heyu?” The other girl sounded regretful. “You should make the most of these few days.”

Ying Chen blushed and coquettishly said, “What are you talking about? What do you mean make the most of it...”

“If you like Zhang Heyu, go after him! Once that connection’s gone, you won’t have an excuse to see him anymore!”

Ying Chen bit her lip, hesitating.

“By the way, Zhang Heyu’s been single for quite a while now. It’s rare. Didn’t someone from Science Class Two confess to him not long ago? He didn’t accept.”

The girl comforted her, “But it’s okay. You’ve worked with Zhang Heyu at the broadcasting station for almost three years. You’ve got a better chance.”

Listening to Ying Chen, Jiang Ci breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

Their conversation reached Jiang Ci’s ears word for word.

Once they walked away, Jiang Ci left the classroom.

At home, her grandmother had made delicious food waiting for her as usual.

The whole house smelled of sesame, so Jiang Ci knew her grandmother had made sesame paste.

“Grandma, making sesame paste?” Jiang Ci took the key from the lock, closed the door, and headed to the kitchen.

“Smart, you guessed right.” Grandmother pinched Jiang Ci’s cheek. “I also made your favorite braised pork.”

Jiang Ci hugged her grandmother affectionately. “Grandma, you’re the best. I love you the most.”

“You’re such a sweet talker. You fill my heart with honey.”

“I mean it from my heart!” Jiang Ci washed her hands. “Grandma, I’ll help you.”

* * *

After finishing his broadcasting station duties, Zhang Heyu dragged his tired body out of school.

Just outside the gate, he received a message from Huo Chensi.

[Huo Chensi: Yu Ge, I’m home alone tonight, can I... ]

He glanced and replied.

[Zhang Heyu: At the school gate. Don’t be late.]

[Huo Chensi: Got it, bro! On my way!]

Within minutes, Huo Chensi arrived hurriedly, basketball in hand.

“Yu Ge!” Lin Shuyang came up beside him. “Good thing you’re here, or I’d be eating takeout again!”

Zhang Heyu glanced at him. “Are your uncle and aunties on a business trip again?”

“Yeah, just like your parents. Always out and about,” Huo Chensi pouted. “Misery loves company!”

Zhang Heyu didn’t mind. “I think it’s better. The house is less noisy without them.”

Lu Qing and Zhang Shanghua were at home, constantly smothering Zhang Heyu with affection, giving him nightmares.

They even fed each other, which he found unbearable.

Plus, every time Zhang Shanghua and Lu Qing argued, within an hour, Zhang Shanghua would cling to Lu Qing like a puppy, coaxing her.

Ridiculously, Zhang Shanghua had come up with a strategy: “When the wife’s angry, even if she’s right, concede. When the wife’s in a bad mood, let her save face.”

Zhang Heyu was speechless.

The three got into the car, heading to Zhang Heyu’s house.

When they arrived, they saw Cheng Yaoyao sitting on the sofa playing with her phone.

Zhang Heyu frowned and threw his bag onto the sofa. “Cheng Yaoyao, no homework, just playing on your phone? Looking for a beating?”

“Not at all...”

Before she finished, Huo Chensi came in. “Hey, Tao Yaoyao’s here too!”

Cheng Yaoyao looked at Zhang Heyu’s threatening expression and ran behind Huo Chensi. “Chensi, Zhang Heyu wants to hit me!”

Huo Chensi smiled awkwardly. “Hiding behind me won’t help. I’m scared of your brother too!”

“Loser!” Cheng Yaoyao pouted and gave Huo Chensi a disdainful glance.

“What are you saying?!” Huo Chensi pinched her cheek. “I’m letting Yu Ge beat you!”

Cheng Yaoyao made a face at him, grabbed her phone and bag, and ran upstairs.

Zhang Heyu’s family didn’t hire a housekeeper. He cooked most meals himself. When Lu Qing was home, the kitchen became her playground, always experimenting with new recipes or dragging him to learn cooking.

Page 3/3