Chapter 44: I Want To Get Closer To You
Xie Jingyan stared at this message for a long time without snapping out of it.
Huh?
He pursed his lips uncomfortably. He had known this Ning Zhaozhao for nearly half a month now.
Apart from the beginning, Xie Jingyan now had a pretty good impression of this girl.
He looked at this sentence, always feeling like the person on the other side might have sent it by mistake.
He was just about to say something.
Another message came from the other side.
Lingling You Nan: 【Junior, don’t mind it. I just have a good impression of you. I really like your sister, and I like you too. I’m very happy chatting with you. You’re different from the people I know around me. If you think I’m being too forward, then don’t message me anymore.】
Xie Jingyan was stunned.
Chatting with Ning Zhaozhao was very relaxing for him.
It was just like in reality, with someone who didn’t know him at all, didn’t know his past, didn’t know his situation, but could still get along so well with him, like an anonymous channel for spiritual solace.
He could share many things with her, just like Ning Zhaozhao said she had no friends in reality.
Xie Jingyan didn’t either.
The only close friend was He Shang.
The rest were all jackals, wolves, and tigers.
He struggled a bit, with two little people fighting in his mind.
One said that stopping chatting with Ning Zhaozhao was the right choice.
He was in the critical period of Grade 3, and should focus even more on study.
The other said, but reality was already so tiring.
Couldn’t he find a channel to relax himself?
The first little person lost the fight.
Xie Jingyan messaged his benefactor: 【Senior, I’m also very happy chatting with you.】
After sending it, he wanted to withdraw it for a moment.
But the other side replied instantly.
Lingling You Nan: 【Haha, looks like we’re a match! From now on, I’ll call you Meng Jing, and you call me Zhaozhao, okay? Junior and senior sound so distant. I want to get a little closer to you.】
Xie Jingyan felt his whole body heat up.
This was the first time something like this had happened.
He was actually made to blush with just a few words online.
Chunfen: 【Okay.】
Lingling You Nan: 【I really hope you take the Gaokao right away. I want to see you at Qingbei / heart JPG】
After sending this message, Jiang Ning happily rolled around nonstop on the bed.
It’s done, it’s done!
Little Honey: 【……】
Too fast and sloppy.
It: 【Online relationships never end well. What if he goes to Qingbei and doesn’t see you there!】
Jiang Ning said leisurely, “Cold salad, I guess. After all, I’m just a woman greedy for a momentary thrill. There’s no possibility of meeting him.”
Little Honey: 【……】
Femme fatale!
To cultivate the relationship, Jiang Ning invited the other party to play a game for an hour.
This time, the atmosphere between the two was much more subtle.
Meng Jing didn’t like voice chat, so Jiang Ning did.
Her voice was very sweet, different from her usual voice.
She lavishly praised him.
“Meng Jing, you’re so good at jungling.”
“Meng Jing, I’m behind you, wait for me.”
“Meng Jing, playing games with you is so fun.”
“Meng Jing, someone said our names sound like a couple’s.”
“Meng Jing, what is a couple’s tag?”
He only replied by typing.
He didn’t speak.
But he responded to every sentence.
Jiang Ning would also tell him about her school life, half true and half false.
They played for over an hour.
Jiang Ning’s stars were almost promoted to Star Glow.
They didn’t lose a single game.
Meng Jing treated the opponents like bots to farm.
Seeing Sui Tang send another invite.
Jiang Ning pretended not to see it.
Instead, she said, “Meng Jing, it’s nine-thirty. Go study now. I’m going to take a bath and sleep.”
After a few seconds, the other side turned on voice and said his first sentence of the day.
“Zhaozhao, good night.”
Both went offline.
Jiang Ning didn’t disturb him anymore.
She didn’t know what being in love felt like.
But this flirting made her heart itch.
She shook her head and went to the bathroom to take a bath.
On the other side.
Xie Jingyan sat at the desk.
He still felt hot.
He pushed open the window, letting the night wind blow in.
A full moon hung in the sky.
He let out a light breath and glanced at their game names, unable to resist muttering, “Like a couple? It does seem a bit…”
The telephone rang.
Xie Jingyan shook off the stray thoughts in his mind.
It was Old Mrs. Xie’s call.
He answered.
“Hello, Xiao Yan.”
“Mm, Grandmother, is Xiao He better?”
Old Mrs. Xie’s voice relaxed: “She’s stable for now. The medical level in Capital City is very advanced. By the way, Xiao He’s original attending doctor in Jin Cheng actually came to Jingya. He found us and said that the bone marrow match for Xiao He is still being searched for, with a reply at the latest next month, because Xiao He’s condition can’t be delayed anymore. Surgery must be done within half a year at the latest.”
Xie Jingyan’s clenched hand relaxed again.
Finally, there was some progress.
“That’s good.”
Old Mrs. Xie kept muttering Amitabha.
“Meeting Zhaozhao is truly a blessing. It seems like many things are getting better. Xiao Yan, you must repay her. As long as you can do it, don’t refuse, okay? I’m going to rest. You sleep early too.”
The call ended.
Xie Jingyan was still stunned.
Things he could do, don’t refuse?
After hesitating repeatedly, he logged into the game again and sent a couple-binding invitation to “Ning Zhaozhao.”
She wanted to see the couple’s tag… and he had it empty too.
It was his first time doing something like this, a bit uneasy and a bit nervous…
……
The next day.
School autumn outing.
Jiang Ning took the thermos lunchbox prepared by Madam Jiang, which could keep the meal from cooling all day.
She carefully instructed Jiang Ning to pay attention to safety when out.
She also handed him the lunchbox prepared for Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan took it, his gaze lingering on the lunchbox for a long time.
This was the first time he received a bento prepared by his mother for him.
But Jiang Ning had one every year.
He went from envy to numbness to despair.
But he still gripped the lunchbox tightly.
The two headed to school.
Jiang Ning kept staring at the lunchbox and swallowing. She started making excuses: “Mom said there’s spicy crispy duck inside. How about I eat it now? It won’t taste good cold.”
There were only three dishes and one serving of rice inside. Eating it now might not leave enough for lunch.
Jiang Yan said matter-of-factly, “It won’t get cold. This lunchbox locks in temperature.”
Jiang Ning: “…”
Her gaze turned to Jiang Yan’s lunchbox.
He turned his body to block her inquiring gaze: “I don’t have spicy crispy duck here.”
Jiang Ning: “…”
She hadn’t even said anything, look at his stingy look.
Jiang Ning huffed angrily: “I told Mom I want to swap and eat with you.”
Jiang Yan calmly: “Oh, I disagree.”
“…”
Damn it!
They arrived at school.
Everyone was carrying a lunchbox.
Only Su Wanyuan didn’t have one.
Jiang Ning immediately warned Jiang Yan: “You must eat lunch by my side at noon! Even if you don’t give me any, don’t give it to anyone else.”
She was afraid this fool Jiang Yan would give his food to Su Wanyuan.
And then go hungry himself.
Jiang Yan frowned, a bit puzzled, but didn’t say anything.
Ten o’clock.
All teachers and students assembled.
Grade 1 left school first.
Then Grade 2.
Class 1, Grade 3, where Jiang Ning was, was at the very front of Grade 3.
Two columns total, boys in one row, girls in the other.
Short ones in front, tall ones in back.
