20 Adorable

Jiang Ci pondered for a moment and whispered, "He’s a good student who is also a heartless jerk."

Cheng Yaoyao stifled a laugh. "Sister Jiang Ci, that is the perfect summary!"

Just as Cheng Yaoyao was gloating, a chuckle drifted in from outside the door.

Cheng Yaoyao froze instantly, and Jiang Ci wished she could swallow her words back.

"Stop learning bad habits from Cheng Yaoyao."

Zhang Heyu glanced at the two of them with indifference, his gaze eventually settling on Jiang Ci, his tone neither salty nor sweet. But it was clear that he was somewhat annoyed.

Caught in the act, Cheng Yaoyao felt too embarrassed to continue her mischief and gave an awkward smile. Jiang Ci kept her head down, not daring to make a sound.

After packing their things, Jiang Ci and Cheng Yaoyao went downstairs together. Zhang Heyu was sitting on the sofa, carelessly fiddling with his phone. Hearing the movement on the stairs, he put his phone away and looked up.

"Leaving?"

Jiang Ci nodded. "Yes, time to head back."

"Then I’ll walk you." Zhang Heyu seemed to have been ready for a while. Without waiting for her consent, he stood up and strode toward her.

Recalling that she had just called him a jerk, Jiang Ci was overcome with awkwardness. She waved her hand to refuse. "It’s okay, I can go back by myself..."

"No way, that’s not safe, Sister Jiang Ci!" Cheng Yaoyao interjected. "I wouldn't be at ease unless my brother sees you home!"

With that, Cheng Yaoyao gave a helpful push, ushering the two of them out the door.

Jiang Ci stared blankly at the door as it clicked shut. Zhang Heyu raised an eyebrow slightly; he had to admit that Cheng Yaoyao had plenty of tricks up her sleeve.

"Let’s go, Teacher Jiang Ci." Zhang Heyu gave the back of her head a light tap as a reminder.

Jiang Ci snapped back to reality, murmured an "oh," and hurried to keep up with his pace.

Halfway there, neither of them spoke. Jiang Ci licked her lips, trying to think of how to explain what had happened earlier.

"Um, Zhang Heyu." Jiang Ci’s voice was small, the hesitation in her speech evident. "What Yaoyao and I said earlier... that wasn't what I meant."

Zhang Heyu stopped and tilted his head to look down at her, his tone rising. "Oh? And what did you mean, Teacher Jiang Ci?"

"It’s just..." Jiang Ci paused, trying to find a way to smooth things over. "You actually aren't a heartless jerk who’s good at studying."

As soon as she said it, Jiang Ci realized how it sounded.

"Teacher Jiang Ci, you really didn't need to say it again." Zhang Heyu paused. "But I suppose I deserve it, given how poor your impression of me is."

Jiang Ci panicked, waving her hands. "No, that’s not it..."

Zhang Heyu wasn't actually angry; he just had a sudden whim to tease her. "Then what is it? In your heart, what am I like?"

Jiang Ci looked up. A gentle breeze brushed past them, lingering on the two of them. Her face was incredibly earnest as she whispered, "You are very, very good—a perfect ten out of ten."

The girl spoke with such sincerity that there was not a trace of pretense.

Zhang Heyu was stunned for a few seconds. He turned his head away, cleared his throat, and spoke again, "You’ve got a sweet tongue."

Jiang Ci’s cheeks flushed a deep red at his sudden compliment. Seeing her bashful, Zhang Heyu chuckled and followed her lead. "A perfect ten out of ten?"

Jiang Ci nodded firmly. "Yes."

His voice rose with a playful lilt. "With such high praise, Jiang Ci, are you secretly in love with me?"

At those words, Jiang Ci’s heart skipped a beat.

With her secret nearly exposed, she twisted her fingers in distress, her heartbeat thumping loudly in her ears. She turned her head away, her mind in a chaotic mess. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke against her true feelings: "Don't be so narcissistic. I don't... like you."

Jiang Ci was nervous to the point of desperation, her palms already sticky with sweat.

"Don't speak too soon." Zhang Heyu hummed with a laugh, his gaze fixed on her profile.

Jiang Ci reflexively retorted, "Have you ever regretted anything you've said?"

Zhang Heyu’s expression stiffened as the memory of Huo Chensi asking him if he had his eye on Jiang Ci flashed through his mind. Suddenly, he felt his face sting.

"Yeah, I have," Zhang Heyu replied nonchalantly, unsure if he was being serious or not.

***

Jiang Ci was about to say something else when her phone in her bag vibrated several times. She pulled it out and saw that Huo Chensi had added her to a group chat and was flooding it with messages. There were several images; Jiang Ci clicked on one at random and saw a packed schedule.

"Zhang Heyu, Huo Chensi posted the schedule for the day after tomorrow in the group." Jiang Ci held up her phone. "Do you want to... take a look?"

As soon as she asked, she remembered that Zhang Heyu had a phone of his own.

Suddenly, the shadow beside her drew closer, and the scent of tea drifted to her nose. The young man leaned over to look at the screen, and as the distance closed, Jiang Ci could clearly see the fine down on his cheek. His eyelashes were long and curled, his nose bridge high and straight, and his thin lips were slightly curved, lacking their usual coldness and appearing exceptionally gentle.

Looking further down, she saw his prominent Adam’s apple and his faintly visible collarbones.

He looked... very kissable.

Jiang Ci swallowed silently. His voice sounded in her ear, "If there’s anything you can’t handle, let me know, and I’ll make him change it."

She nodded dumbly. "Okay."

When they reached the bus stop, Jiang Ci insisted on going back alone, not wanting to trouble Zhang Heyu with the back-and-forth.

With no other choice, Zhang Heyu relented. "Message me when you get home, or I’ll come drag you out myself."

Jiang Ci nodded. "Mhm, I know. You head back now."

Zhang Heyu was still worried. "I’ll watch you get on the bus."

Jiang Ci didn't refuse, feeling a small spark of joy in her heart.

***

When she reached home, Jiang Ci smelled the scent of cooking.

"Grandma, it smells so good!" Jiang Ci closed the door, put her things down, and headed to the kitchen. "Let me help."

"Alright, alright, I'll go rest for a bit." Grandma rubbed her lower back. "My back just isn't what it used to be after standing for too long."

Jiang Ci helped her grandmother out. "I'll give you a massage after I'm done."

"Good."

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Ci finally finished cooking. After serving her grandmother a bowl of rice, she remembered she had forgotten to message Zhang Heyu. She set down her bowl and chopsticks and hurriedly pulled out her phone.

[Zhang Heyu: Hm, thought the young lady had forgotten me. To remember me now, I suppose you still have some conscience.]

Jiang Ci couldn't help but smile and replied.

[Jiang Ci: I was afraid you’d wait too long and come to my house to drag me out.]

[Zhang Heyu: Good that you know.]

The chat ended with Zhang Heyu sending a rare, cute sticker of a stick-figure dog.

After dinner, Jiang Ci massaged her grandmother’s back, checked her blood pressure, and helped her take her medicine. Only after everything was done did she return to her room to shower.

There were five days in the holiday, two of which were for tutoring Cheng Yaoyao. After the last session, Cheng Yaoyao was acting up again, shaking Jiang Ci’s hand. "Sister Jiang Ci, do you have any plans for the rest of the holiday?"

"I'm going out with friends tomorrow, and then I'll be staying home to keep Grandma company," Jiang Ci said.

Cheng Yaoyao whined, "Wuwuwu, then I won't be able to see you for a long, long time!"

"How about I come visit you next time?" Jiang Ci coaxed her patiently. "But you have to score over ninety on your monthly exam."

Cheng Yaoyao thought about it. She had scored eighty-three on the last one, so improving by seven points should be a piece of cake.

As Jiang Ci stepped out of Cheng Yaoyao’s room, she ran into Huo Chensi, who had come to visit Zhang Heyu.

"Jiang Ci?" Huo Chensi was surprised at first, but upon reflection—recalling the suggestion he had made to Zhang Heyu earlier—he didn't find it so unexpected.

"Here to tutor Yaoyao?"

Jiang Ci smiled and greeted him. "Yes, just finished."

"Tsk, he even got you to be a tutor. Brother Yu really doesn't say anything; not much of a bro." Before Huo Chensi could finish, he was kicked. "Holy crap!"

Zhang Heyu stepped out from the gaming room next door, glanced at Huo Chensi, and then turned to Jiang Ci. "Heading back?"

"Yes, getting ready to," Jiang Ci replied.

Huo Chensi rubbed his backside with his right hand, then heard Zhang Heyu say, "I kicked a bit too hard, sorry. Go ahead and take that latest game."

Huo Chensi’s eyes lit up, and he suddenly felt his backside stop hurting. He gave a thumbs-up to Jiang Ci and Zhang Heyu. "God, I’m happy to let you kick me, bro!"

With that, he scurried into the room. Jiang Ci genuinely admired Huo Chensi’s ability to "bend and stretch" according to the situation.

***

"Let's go down; I'll see you home." After Zhang Heyu said this, fearing Jiang Ci would refuse, he added, "To the bus stop."

Jiang Ci said "oh" and followed behind Zhang Heyu.

The sunset in the evening wasn't too harsh. Jiang Ci and Zhang Heyu walked side-by-side. Suddenly remembering something, Jiang Ci spoke up, "Are you free the day after tomorrow? Grandma said she wants to invite you to our place for a meal."

Feeling it might be inappropriate, she added, "It's fine if you're not free, there's always next time..."

"I'm free. What time?" Zhang Heyu asked calmly.

"You can come over around six o'clock," Jiang Ci said, her lips curling into a beautiful, radiant smile.

Zhang Heyu glanced at her, his expression softening. "Alright, then I shall pay a visit."

"Then I'll have to treat the young master Zhang to a feast," Jiang Ci said, playing along with his banter. "A full imperial banquet awaits you."

Jiang Ci’s personality was such that she clearly opened up once she became familiar with someone.

Zhang Heyu reached out and pinched the girl’s cheek; the soft sensation made his heart feel like a complete mess. He had wanted to do that for a long time.

Jiang Ci was startled by his sudden action. She blinked, unconsciously twisting her fingers, her ears turning bright red.

"Jiang Ci, I didn't expect you to have a side like this." Zhang Heyu laughed until his shoulders shook. "Really cute."

Cute enough to make his heart melt.

Jiang Ci shyly averted her gaze, cleared her throat, and tried to defend her usual gentle image. "I was just... just blabbering. You know I'm usually not like this..."

"It’s fine. It’s my honor to be the only one to see such a cute side of you." Zhang Heyu’s lips curled up imperceptibly, his deep voice particularly captivating.

Jiang Ci’s cheeks turned fiery red, and for some reason, she felt a wave of heat wash over her body.

When they arrived at the bus stop, seeing her bus approaching, Jiang Ci turned to urge him, "You go back now, I can go on my own."

Zhang Heyu had intended to go with her, but he remembered he had promised the girl he would only accompany her to the bus stop. If he followed her onto the bus, she would probably be annoyed.

Thinking for a moment, he called out to her, "Jiang Ci."

Jiang Ci, having just swiped her card to board, heard him call her name and turned back. "Yes?"

"I'll come pick you up tomorrow."

Jiang Ci found a seat on the bus, Zhang Heyu's words still echoing in her ears. She felt like she could tell that Zhang Heyu didn't dislike her as much as he did at the beginning.

Jiang Ci pulled her rationality back and let out a helpless sigh.

After getting off the bus, Jiang Ci had to walk a distance to get home. Passing by a newspaper stand, she inadvertently caught sight of an image on a copy of the *Nancheng Daily*.

She paused in astonishment, walked over to the stand, and picked up the paper. Her eyes landed on the prominent headline.

"Chairman of Sun Group Attends Auction with His New Wife."

The woman in the photo was none other than Jiang Nanyan.

Jiang Ci’s hands trembled as she held the paper. She looked up at the old man sitting on a rattan chair, fanning himself. "Grandpa, I’d like a copy of the daily paper."

"Four yuan." The old man pointed to the QR code on the wall. "You can scan that too."

Jiang Ci took out her phone, scanned the code to pay, and left with the newspaper.

Back at her doorstep, Jiang Ci hid the paper, making sure her grandmother wouldn't see it. After dinner, Jiang Ci sat alone in her room, staring at the newspaper on her desk.

Jiang Ci gritted her teeth and gripped the corner of the paper, struggling to hold back tears, but in the end, they began to fall, one by one.

The old Jiang Ci had longed for her mother, wishing for Jiang Nanyan to come back and see her just once. But having already died once, Jiang Ci would certainly not walk down that desperate dead end again.

Jiang Ci wiped her tears, folded the newspaper, and tucked it into the very back of her drawer.