Jiang Yu looked at the test paper Lu Yige handed him, utterly baffled. "What is this?"
"A test paper," Lu Yige said awkwardly. "Didn't you say you wanted to see that Chinese reading passage that moved me to tears?"
Jiang Yu said softly, "What are you thinking?"
"I meant the reading assignment the Chinese teacher gave us this morning—the one she went over during self-study. I didn't bring my workbook."
"What do I want this for?" Jiang Yu pointed at the test paper.
Lu Yige: ...
She had completely overthought it. How embarrassing.
Lu Yige took her test paper back and handed him the workbook, adding defensively, "That's because you didn't make yourself clear."
"Alright, I'll be clearer next time," Jiang Yu said, his gaze still gentle.
Lu Yige came to her senses—she really had underestimated Jiang Yu. There was no way he would show anything like heartbreak in front of her.
With that flawless topic shift and unbroken composure, she looked at him with sympathy. He was putting on such a good act now—who knew, maybe he'd go cry in some corner later.
Although Jiang Yu seemed fine, Luo Qing behind them clearly wasn't.
Her eyes were red, tears welling up.
Lu Yige handed her a tissue and comforted her. "Don't cry."
The moment Luo Qing heard her voice, she became even more aggrieved. Big tears fell one after another, her voice trembling with sobs.
"Why... why is it like this? When we were little... he clearly said he'd marry me, said he would when we grew up."
"I even... even thought he was just fooling around with Jiang Nian. How did it turn out like this..."
"Is Jiang Nian really that good? Where... where am I worse than her?"
Lu Yige helped tidy her tear-mussed bangs. "You're very good. You're not worse than her at all. And someone even better will like you."
"Really?" Luo Qing looked at her with watery eyes, pouting. "But Chi Yexuan doesn't like me anymore."
"Well, they do say there are plenty of fish in the sea," Lu Yige said cautiously. "How about you take a look at Ye Chen?"
"Ye Chen..." Luo Qing frowned, thinking.
"He's even worse than Chi Yexuan. He changes girlfriends every semester. He's bullied me since we were little."
"When he bullied me back then, Chi Yexuan would always protect me..." Luo Qing's eyes reddened again.
"Don't talk about him."
"It's fine." Luo Qing choked as she wiped away her tears. "Aunt Chi... wouldn't agree anyway."
Lu Yige knew Luo Qing wouldn't come around so easily, but her heart still tightened.
Luo Qing was kind. Unlike Jiang Yu, who would stop at nothing, she hadn't hurt anyone—seven years ago or seven years later—aside from being a bit distant with Jiang Nian.
So why had she hung herself on Chi Yexuan of all people?
During self-study, after the Chinese teacher finished going over the assignment, Jiang Yu left the classroom alone.
Lu Yige didn't think much of it and planned to work through a mock exam she'd just bought.
When she looked up, she saw Ye Chen standing by the window, signaling her to come out.
Again? Lu Yige frowned.
But Ye Chen wasn't wearing his usual flippant expression, so after a moment's thought, she went out.
"You're here to see Luo Qing, right?" Lu Yige said the moment she stepped out.
Ye Chen glanced into the classroom. "Let's talk somewhere else."
Lu Yige followed him to a small grove and couldn't help laughing. "Don't tell me this is where you usually go on dates with your girlfriends?"
Ye Chen ignored her, staring at the ground. "So... how is Luo Qing?"
"Not great," Lu Yige said.
"Did she cry?"
Lu Yige shot him a look. "She did—just like when you used to bully her as a kid."
Ye Chen froze. "How do you know everything?"
Lu Yige sighed. "She told me herself. You were childhood friends too—how did you end up like this?"
"If you'd treated her even a little better, it wouldn't have come to this."
"I won't bully her again." A trace of sadness appeared on Ye Chen's usually arrogant face.
Lu Yige smiled. "You don't have to be so upset. The girl you like just broke up—doesn't that mean you have a chance?"
"I don't," Ye Chen shook his head. "She hates me."
"She doesn't hate you. At most, she thinks you're a flirt." Lu Yige patted his shoulder. "Try harder. Nothing's impossible."
In the book, Luo Qing eventually chose to let go and make room for the main couple—so Ye Chen still had a chance.
"Though you might have to try for a few more years."
After all, seven years later there was still the plot of Chi Yexuan and Luo Qing getting engaged.
"Trying is pointless," Ye Chen snorted. "Just help me look after Luo Qing. Thanks."
Lu Yige frowned at his retreating back. How did he manage to ask for help while still being so cocky?
There were ten minutes left before class ended. Lu Yige checked her watch regretfully—a perfectly good self-study period wasted.
If she hurried back, she might still finish a math problem. She walked on and spotted a familiar figure at the piano room door.
Jiang Yu?
She looked again—definitely him.
Inside, Jiang Yu was leaning against the piano, looking at something.
If she guessed right, this had to be where Jiang Nian practiced piano in her free time.
So Jiang Yu really had come to reminisce about his unspoken, prematurely ended crush!
Lu Yige felt a tiny spark of excitement and crept closer, pressing herself to the door to peek inside.
Jiang Yu was holding a piece of paper, murmuring something.
He set the paper down and continued reciting.
He looked toward the piano.
He looked over—
Lu Yige shuddered. The piano room door opened, and Jiang Yu stood there, silently looking at her.
Lu Yige: ...
So this is what "if you don't court death, you won't die" means. She finally understood.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Yu walked over.
Lu Yige steadied herself. "You hadn't come back, so I was a bit worried."
"Oh?" Jiang Yu smiled at her. "How did you know I was here?"
"I didn't. I just happened to see you when I passed by."
Jiang Yu nodded. "Alright. Come in."
Lu Yige waved her hands. "No, no, I'll head back first."
"Come in and take a look for me, alright?"
"Look at what?"
"I signed up for the recitation competition next week." Jiang Yu lifted the paper.
It was actually the recitation script. Lu Yige stared at it—she'd thought it was an unsent love letter.
"Didn't the teacher say seniors shouldn't join in?"
Jiang Yu's voice was light. "First prize is a 3,000-yuan award."
"Oh." Lu Yige responded.
Jiang Yu had participated in all kinds of competitions since freshman year—for the prize money. She really wanted to tell him that her mother had already transferred 100,000 yuan into his account; apparently, he'd never touched it.
Of course—small sacrifices for a bigger plan. What he wanted was far more than that.
She remembered that in the book, Jiang Yu also took first place in this competition, then used the prize money to buy Jiang Nian a new phone.
Which Chi Yexuan later threw away.
"Help me see if there's any problem." Jiang Yu's clear, resonant voice rang out.
Lu Yige listened patiently. She had to admit he was excellent—his emotions were spot-on, his diction clear, his voice pleasant and magnetic, clean and crisp.
Jiang Yu himself was clean-looking, with a clean voice and clean handwriting—yet his heart was dark.
From the start, Lu Yige had been puzzled. With his qualifications, he could get into a good university and have a bright future no matter what he did.
Why insist on such an extreme path—deceiving people's feelings to climb upward?
The book never explained it. Lu Yige had assumed it was vanity or his feelings for Jiang Nian.
But now, neither seemed quite right.
"Any problems?" Jiang Yu asked. "You've been quiet for a while."
"No—no real problems."
"The emotion and technique are all there. It just feels like something's missing," Lu Yige thought for a moment.
"Music?" Jiang Yu suggested.
Lu Yige clapped her hands. "Yes—music. It can drive the audience's emotions and make the effect better."
"There'll be music played on site." Jiang Yu rested a hand on the piano. "Yige, can I ask you a favor?"
"Go ahead."
"You're good at piano. Could you help me on site—"
"Accompany you?" Lu Yige pouted. "No way."
Help Jiang Yu take first place, then watch him buy Jiang Nian a gift? She wasn't that kind-hearted.
Besides, the outcome was already set. She might as well do a few more math problems.
"Live accompaniment is easy to mess up. Using a track is safer," she added.
"This kind of collaboration can earn extra points with the judges," Jiang Yu explained.
Lu Yige tilted her head at him. "You could ask Jiang Nian. She can play too."
"I don't want to trouble her." Jiang Yu shook his head. "And besides, she's now... Chi Yexuan's girlfriend."
The sourness was practically spilling over. Lu Yige glared at him. "So it's fine to trouble me?"
Jiang Yu looked at her. "Is it not okay? You're my—"
"Fine." Lu Yige sighed. "I'll do it."
"Give me the score."
"I'll give it to you tonight." Jiang Yu packed up his things and grabbed her wrist, pulling her outside.
Seeing her stare, he let go. "Sorry."
"It's fine."
Lu Yige looked at him, a bad feeling rising in her chest. Jiang Yu's scheming seemed deeper than she had thought.
***
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