Since there were only six boys in the class, and none of them really knew how to cook, they were divided into five groups. Jiang Xun was placed in Jiaojiaoâs group.
But while Jiaojiaoâs group had their meal ready, Jiang Xun was nowhere to be seen. They couldnât start eating without him.
So they dispersed to look for him. Jiaojiao really didnât want to move, but since he was a classmate and part of the same group, it wouldnât be right to stay put. She had no choice but to search alongside Li Yaoyao and the others.
The mountain was full of people from the school, making it completely safe. Jiaojiao was just going through the motions, but unexpectedly, she found him!
She saw him sitting on a large rock, his back facing her, looking as if the world had abandoned himâa lonely silhouette. She silently rolled her eyes, walked over, and called out, "Jiang Xun, the foodâs ready. Do you want to eat?"
Jiang Xun remained facing away, unmoving, as if he hadnât heard her.
Didnât he hear?
Jiaojiao could only raise her voice and call out again, "Jiang Xun, do you want to eat?"
Still, there was no response from Jiang Xun.
Jiaojiao glanced around. Many students were passing by. The distance between them was only about ten meters, so there was no way he hadnât heard her shouting.
Jiaojiao felt that he probably did hear her but was too lazy to respond. Perhaps because she had spoken too bluntly last time, he decided never to speak to her again. So she was about to turn around and leave when she saw Jiang Xun turn his head towards her, his gaze carrying an indescribable complexity and stubbornness.
He asked, "Jiaojiao, Iâve never understood why you dislike me so much." And why, when making choices, itâs always Duan Xi.
Back then, when choosing whom to foster, she chose Duan Xi. Now, when choosing whom to like, itâs still Duan Xi.
Practically every freshman knew already: Jiaojiao had confessed to Duan Xi in front of the girlsâ dormitory this morning.
He couldnât believe itâJiaojiao was only fifteen.
Until earlier, when he saw Duan Xi rushing to her, although he didnât overhear their conversation, just witnessing her shy and blushing demeanor made it clear that this wasnât just a rumor.
Yet he couldnât comprehend, truly couldnât.
Was he inferior to Duan Xi? Back then, she and Duan Xi skipped ahead to the third grade. To prove he wasnât lacking, he would read whenever he had time, studying ahead and consulting teachers. He finally managed to leap to the third grade as well, but she immediately skipped to the fourth grade with Duan Xi without even telling him.
Even after the Jiang Family brought him back, he didnât relent, continuing to strive to keep up with her pace. He even sacrificed the path his family prepared for him to be in the same class as her. But why couldnât she ever see this?
He truly couldnât understand why she could never see him!
Even more, he could sense annoyance from her attitude towards him. Last time, the words she said to him were like a sword that nearly left him wounded beyond repair.
Yet, despite all this, he couldnât fathom what unforgivable act he committed to make her hate him.
Was his effort not enough? Or was he not outstanding enough now?
Jiaojiao hadnât expected Jiang Xun to pose such a question. She was truly stunned upon hearing it.