Chapter Forty-Three: Heartache

The scorching sun blazed overhead, making Ye Mian restless and uneasy. She found one of the teachers stationed outside the exam center to inquire, only to discover that Jiang Chen had been the first to leave the examination room.

Ye Mian: What!?

She spun around and walked toward her father, feeling stifled inside: Why did he leave so quickly? She had wanted to ask him how he did on the test, what university he was planning to apply to.

When they reached Qingshui Alley, Ye Haisheng went off to buy groceries, considerate of his daughter who’d been exhausted by exams all day, and told her to head home first.

So Ye Mian walked home alone, feeling more troubled with each step. She’d been quite happy to learn she and Jiang Chen were in the same examination room.

She had been waiting for this day, only to not even catch a glimpse of Jiang Chen!

She arrived at the exam center early, but Jiang Chen hadn’t shown up even as the exam began. When it ended, she was the first to dash out of the classroom, only to be told that Jiang Chen had already left first.

There had been so many missed chances like this between the two of them—it seemed no matter how hard she tried, she could never catch up to him.

It left her feeling frustrated and helpless.

To make matters worse, music from a newly opened milk tea shop drifted through the street, the lyrics perfectly matching her mood and striking a chord in her heart:

“I tried my best to wipe away the tears at the corners of your eyes.”
“I tried my best to shield you from the wild winds and waves.”
“I chased and chased with all my might, until I could chase no more.”
“Until I could no longer tell who I was.”
“I’m not the only one who feels so tired.”
“Still, I keep running, chasing through the pain.”

Ye Mian: What???

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Well, it was just the rough road of chasing after a prodigy, that’s all.

She was fine with it.

After adjusting her mindset, she decisively added the song to her playlist, planning to play it on repeat at home.

Swinging her pen pouch on her wrist, she couldn’t help but grit her teeth and mutter a classic complaint:

“So, Jiang Chen, just because you’re smart, you think you’re all that?”

“Ye Mian.”

…

Her grumbling and another cold, clear voice overlapped.

Ye Mian hadn’t even reacted yet when she looked up and saw Jiang Chen standing right in front of her.

In that split second, time seemed to freeze.

Startled, she instinctively took a step back, her expression instantly awkward.

Never speak ill of someone behind their back, nor speak of ghosts at night—there was some truth to that.

Alas, she hadn’t taken the advice.

Jiang Chen: “…”

He lifted the corners of his eyes slightly, his gaze settling on Ye Mian as he enunciated with a clear, amused tone: “What were you saying about me? That being good at school makes me… all that?”

Ye Mian’s upper body went completely rigid. She was utterly still, which only heightened her hearing, letting her catch every word, even though he hadn’t spoken loudly.

He heard! Every! Word!

I can’t live anymore!

For a long moment, under Jiang Chen’s teasing gaze, she decided to redeem herself from the embarrassment.

She gritted her teeth and said, word by word, “You must have misheard. I said that you’re amazing for being good at school, and I very much admire you.”

Jiang Chen tilted his head back and gave a soft “hmm.”

Yet, inexplicably, Ye Mian still felt a chill down her spine.

How could a single “hmm” make her feel even guiltier? Had the prodigy secretly leveled up behind her back?

In the golden afterglow, she stole a glance at Jiang Chen. He had grown tall, easily over six feet now.

Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dots of light upon him. Ye Mian couldn’t help asking, “Were you looking for me?”

Jiang Chen nodded calmly, unhurried. “May I ask which university you’re planning to apply to?”

Ye Mian hesitated, not quite sure what he meant.

Was he planning to apply to the same school as her?

Or was he just asking for reference?

After a pause, she shook her head and answered cautiously, “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll wait for the results before estimating my options.”

Then, considering the first possibility, she ventured boldly, “What about you? Are you aiming for one of North City’s top-tier universities?”

Jiang Chen was silent for a moment. His usually cool voice carried a hint of hoarseness, “I haven’t decided yet.”

Ye Mian took a deep breath. If she were Jiang Chen, there’d be nothing to consider—it would definitely be one of North City’s elite schools!

But perhaps the prodigy didn’t rely on academic credentials for his future. Maybe he had his own plans.

She realized her own perspective might be too narrow to understand his way of thinking.

Biting her lip, Ye Mian thought of her past results and a trace of boldness rose in her heart. “If you apply to North City, maybe I can go too. Then we could look out for each other—what do you think…”

She trailed off, wanting to see Jiang Chen’s reaction.

The boy replied evenly, his tone rational and calm.

“It’s unlikely.”

Ye Mian: …

This wasn’t the Jiang Chen she knew.

“Almost impossible.”

…

She forced a laugh, suddenly at a loss for words.

Jiang Chen turned, looking her straight in the eyes, his expression serious. Worried she wouldn’t believe him, he added,

“Really.”

…

Ye Mian sighed, her little face falling as she gazed at him, utterly deflated. “I get it. You don’t have to say more.”

But Jiang Chen smiled—not out loud, but the corners of his mouth curved deeply, and with his gentle eyes, he was dazzling to behold.

What’s so funny? Ye Mian muttered inwardly, but on the surface, she remained obedient and well-mannered. Clearly, she’d misjudged him before—Jiang Chen was actually quite sly.

After a brief silence, Ye Mian looked up at him. If it weren’t for her feelings supporting her, she really wouldn’t want to keep up this awkward conversation.

The new milk tea shop’s music was still playing on the sweltering street. Ye Mian pointed at the shop and asked, “Jiang Chen, do you drink milk tea?”

Jiang Chen’s expression remained calm. “What would you like?”

Head lowered, Ye Mian thought for a moment, then grinned, “Mint milk green.”

He nodded. Jiang Chen went to the counter, repeated her order, then glanced at the menu and added, “And a lemon tea, half-sugar, no ice.”

Ye Mian paused, glancing at Jiang Chen. How come his way of drinking lemon tea was exactly the same as hers?

Jiang Chen happened to look down at her just then.

At that moment, the music in the shop switched from rock to a love song.

“When your eyes narrow in a smile…”
“I want to tell you something, but I never have—I really like you, did you know?”

Ye Mian’s heart pounded wildly, the sweet, syrupy lyrics making the air around her feel thick with dopamine. Her cheeks flushed red in an instant.

But the next second, the song’s mood shifted dramatically.

“You are my lover.”
“A woman as lovely as a rose.”
“With my thick, thick lips…”

…?

The blush vanished from Ye Mian’s face. She looked speechlessly at the shop’s speakers.

Was this a medley? Such a wildly mismatched medley?

Who on earth had sung this—with an accent, no less.

She felt resigned. All she wanted was to grab her milk tea and get out of there as fast as possible, the farther away the better.

Just then, the drinks were ready. Jiang Chen picked up a napkin, pinched the straw wrapper, and inserted the straw into her cup before handing it to her.

Ye Mian accepted it with a “Thank you.”

The sweet, chilled milk tea melted away much of the heat inside her. Watching the leaves sway in the shade, and the boy beside her holding his lemon tea, Ye Mian suddenly felt that a summer so ardent and vibrant was just as it should be.