Yang Zhi Misses Him, Misses Him Terribly

After bravely initiating voice and video calls, Ding Yebai and Yang Zhi could now communicate naturally via WeChat.

During the nights these past few days, Ding Yebai had been asking Yang Zhi for help with his studies.

Yang Zhi, in turn, patiently explained everything.

Ever since they exchanged photos last time, the two hadn't chatted about anything unrelated to studying.

After all, as high school seniors, their studies came first.

What was a bit strange, though, was that while Yang Zhi was walking around her middle school during the day, she would occasionally think of Ding Yebai.

It was an indescribable feeling.

Perhaps it was seeing the trees outside the window, the clouds in the sky, the condensation on the car window, or the cap of a pen on her desk. Looking at these things, all she could think of was Ding Yebai's face.

Whenever this mood struck, Yang Zhi would mock herself.

"It's not good to say this about a science student, but Sister, your younger brother really is like a Taoist priest."

"It's like he's cast a spell on all these plants and flowers, otherwise why do I see him in everything?"

This woman thought very, very rationally and calmly. So, in the end, she concluded that this feeling was simply due to her excessive worry about his academic performance.

A week of studying passed quickly.

On the morning of her departure from Qi City, Yang Zhi bought a roasted sweet potato to eat while waiting for her ride at the community entrance.

A warm, roasted sweet potato~

Autumn had truly arrived; the weather had grown significantly colder.

A gust of wind blew, and ginkgo leaves clung to her khaki trench coat.

She pinched one and turned it around. "By November, they should be completely yellow. I saw a ginkgo leaf bouquet a few days ago; I'll make one then."

With that, she took another bite of the sweet, delicious potato.

"Yang Zhi."

"Hm?"

Yang Zhi turned her head upon hearing the voice and saw Fu Hui. The smile froze on her face.

She frowned slightly and looked at him. "How come I see you everywhere?"

Actually, ever since that night, she hadn't wanted to see Fu Hui again; his presence irritated her.

This time, Fu Hui lacked his previous arrogant demeanor. Instead, he was reserved and low-key, completely different from the spoiled young master he had been before.

Fu Hui slowly walked up to Yang Zhi. First, he bowed deeply to her, then let out a breath, looked her in the eyes, and said with great self-reproach, "I'm sorry. I was drunk last time, and what I said was beyond human. Please don't take it to heart."

Yang Zhi: "????"

She was stunned for a moment, unable to comprehend what Fu Hui was doing. He seemed like a completely different person.

Fu Hui: "I'm sorry. I thought about it a lot after I went back. My behavior at the time was very bad. That student was right; if you love someone, you should love all of them, cherish their vulnerabilities. I'm sorry!"

Yang Zhi looked at him, saying nothing.

Having a big argument with him was not her nature, but she couldn't just brush it off with a smile as usual.

So, she was also thinking about how to handle the situation.

Fu Hui: "I thought about it a lot after I went back. You were right, you don't like me, and there's no point in me wasting more time on you."

Yang Zhi's expression remained calm. As she listened, her right hand, holding the sweet potato, felt too hot, so she switched it to her left hand.

Seeing her casual action, Fu Hui knew that she was still repulsed by him.

She wasn't even listening to him seriously.

Sigh, what a failure I am.

Even someone like Yang Zhi dislikes me. It seems I still need to improve.

"Ah, alright!!! I've said what I needed to say!" Fu Hui scratched the back of his head and said with a sheepish grin, "This should be the last time I inquire about your workplace, Yang Zhi. Sorry for the trouble I caused you before. Sigh... Damn it, saying I'd let go is harder than I thought."

I understand the principle of knowing when to stop when you don't get a response.

But...

Sigh.

In the end, I realized that what's not yours will never be yours.

Fu Hui: "Don't worry, I will absolutely never bother you again. I will go find my own happiness elsewhere!!! Yang Zhi, I hope you will be happy and find the person you can spend your life with."

He paused, then suddenly remembered something and said hurriedly, "Oh, right, don't worry too much about it. Age isn't a problem. But it's best to wait until after the exams."

"??????"

Hearing this, Yang Zhi finally slowly looked up at Fu Hui. Although she wasn't smiling, her expression wasn't as cold as before.

After a long moment, she sighed helplessly.

After all, they were elementary school classmates, and indeed, they were both survivors of the great earthquake.

Neither side spoke, and silence fell again.

Fu Hui understood Yang Zhi's feelings; it was normal for her not to talk to him. As for what he had said that night, she should be grateful just to be able to stand there and listen to him finish.

Beep--Beep

Just then, Ding Yuerong arrived in her car to pick Yang Zhi up and take her back to Jinghuai.

She was a savior. Otherwise, I don't know how to resolve this awkward situation.

After getting into the car, Yang Zhi was contentedly eating a roasted sweet potato.

Ding Yuerong glanced at her and asked, "That guy, came again?"

Yang Zhi: "Not anymore."

Ding Yuerong: "Oh? It seems you've completely let go?"

Yang Zhi felt as if a weight had been lifted: "Mm."

"Pfft, you've finally figured it out," Ding Yuerong couldn't help but laugh.

"..."

Yang Zhi didn't say anything, but it was easy to see that she was not in the right mood.

Ding Yuerong: "Uh-huh? It's rare to see you like this. Well, that's true. He did mention the earthquake, so I wouldn't be surprised if you cursed that guy out right now, and I'd curse with you."

After speaking, she stared at Yang Zhi intently for a moment.

After all, it was rare to see a dispirited Yang Zhi. In her memory, Yang Zhi was always cheerful, gentle, and approachable.

Actually, without smiling, she was a beautiful woman with great demeanor, carrying a hint of sadness.

What was that saying? Ah, yes, brightness within coolness, low-saturation brilliance.

Yang Zhi rubbed her throbbing temples: "Sigh..."

Ding Yuerong: "Haha, let's not think about the earthquake anymore. Hmm... interpersonal relationships are quite troublesome. But honestly, I think you have good people skills."

"..."

Yang Zhi raised her eyebrows slightly, looking at Ding Yuerong strangely: "Really?"

Ding Yuerong: "Whether it's men or women, who doesn't like someone who is understanding, knowledgeable, beautiful, and gentle?"

"..."

"Silence? Has no one ever told you that you have these qualities?"

Yang Zhi: "How could they say such things to my face? But if I had to count, there is one person."

Ding Yuerong: "Only one? Then those people must be quite shy. You're really likable."

Being liked was a super happy thing.

Yang Zhi raised her eyebrows slightly upon hearing this, remaining silent.

Her extreme lack of confidence made Ding Yuerong blurt out: "I'm not lying. Even my ice-block younger brother often tells me these things."

After saying that, she glanced at Yang Zhi guiltily.

That's right!

Ding Yebai didn't say it often at all!!

At most, he had said it once or twice.

This made it sound as if he praised her every day, saying, "[Sister Yang Zhi is so gentle]"

"[She's truly the ideal elder sister.]" "[I just like elder sisters who take care of people.]"

Yang Zhi stared blankly ahead, her mouth still chewing the sweet potato: "Ding Yebai... said that to you too?"

Ding Yuerong: "What? Don't you believe me? He does talk to his sister about things. When he talks, it's for over 3 hours."

Saying that, she glanced at Yang Zhi guiltily again.

That's right!

She was making things up again.

Yang Zhi couldn't help but laugh just thinking about the scene of the siblings talking.

Her eyes curved, and she was extremely happy.

"I wonder how Ding Yebai is doing," she asked softly.

Ding Yuerong: "Don't worry, he's definitely alive."

Yang Zhi was amused again.

Meanwhile

Jinghuai Water Town

Ding Yebai sneezed several times during math class.

The math teacher, however, thought he was deliberately sneezing to point out errors in his blackboard writing, so he kept asking.

"Ding Yebai, are you alright? Is the problem I wrote incorrect?"

"Did I calculate this answer wrong?"

"Or is the entire equation wrong!"

"Ah, student Ding Yebai, say something!"

Ding Yebai: "..."

The math teacher is really strange.

And I'm strange enough too. Who is talking badly about me behind my back???