Chapter 638
Even at the school gate, I'll still kiss you.
Just as her soft lips were about to touch Jiang Yang's, she heard Jiang Yang slowly say, "Tongliang's teacher, your homeroom teacher is over there."
Upon hearing this, Tian Xiwei shrank back in fright.
Follow his gaze and look outside.
There were only a few students in school uniforms, carrying backpacks, rushing to evening self-study sessions, walking arm in arm with each other.
The lights on at the food stall.
The aroma of fried skewers and grilled sausages wafted through the car window.
There were no teachers for Tongliang, and I didn't see her homeroom teacher either.
She then realized that Jiang Yang was teasing her.
Feeling both ashamed and angry, and unwilling to accept it, she obediently pulled on her seatbelt and fastened it with a click as the car slowly started moving.
The car drove towards the back hill of Tongliang Library.
He chatted with Jiang Yang casually.
Once she starts talking, she can't stop.
They started talking about the production assistant and the female extra on set.
We discussed how to train our eyes to express ourselves in the upcoming commercial.
When talking about her younger sister, Tian Xi's tone softened.
Her younger sister would cling to her arm and act coquettishly, with a very sweet tongue. When they argued, she would sulk, but once she admitted her mistake, she couldn't bring herself to be harsh with her.
When talking about Yang Chaoyue, Tian Xi smiled and said, "Chaoyue is really stingy. She's greedy for money and stingy. When we organize a game of cards, she really doesn't play a single penny. It's strange. Logically speaking, since she likes money so much, she should especially like playing cards to win money."
Being with Jiang Yang always means having endless little conversations.
Little anecdotes from filming, small expectations for commercials, my younger sister's little tantrums, funny stories about friends—even trivial matters feel reassuring to share.
It wasn't just Jiang Yang; it was the same when he was with Chao Yue and Hao Chun.
They chattered away for ages.
They can talk about anything from work to life, from worries to jokes, and there's never a dull moment.
Someone tagged her in the classmates' group chat on her phone.
They were talking about the next class reunion.
Ask her if she wants to go.
Looking at the message on the screen, Tian Xi hesitated for a long time, wanting to politely decline, but in the end she simply didn't reply to the message.
I have fond memories of those three years in high school.
I really don't know what to say.
Back in Tongliang Middle School, my classmates and I would talk about the questions on the test papers and which restaurant outside the school was good.
They would also talk about monthly exams and the notes they secretly passed in class.
During PE class, they would lean on the corridor railing during breaks and chatter away for the entire period.
But now, they're talking about their future university major courses and academic studies.
What she was talking about was filming, advertising planning, her on-camera presence, and the mundane details of life in the entertainment industry.
Even when the topic of the entertainment industry comes up, her classmates are only concerned about whether she will be subjected to unspoken rules, which roles she has played are for money laundering, and how dark the entertainment industry is.
These are topics she simply cannot discuss.
Those shared school days have gradually become fragments of memories, with no new intersections to fill the void.
Everyone changes.
They drifted apart little by little.
Everyone walks different paths, lives completely different lives, meets different people, experiences different things, and sees the world differently.
We have fewer and fewer things in common to talk about.
There were more and more silences during conversations.
Just as Chaoyue said, after becoming famous, when she returned to her hometown, even her former junior high school classmates became cautious when greeting her.
Tian Xi blinked slightly, suppressing her faint emotion.
She turned her head and glanced at Jiang Yang, who was driving beside her, and the corners of her mouth subtly curved up again.
Tong Liangtian was completely blackened.
The streetlights receded one by one.
The dim, yellowish light band stretched and shortened.
The shops along the street have their signs lit up.
The electric scooter honked its horn and slowly glided past.
The car drove past the main gate of Tongliang Middle School, where the lights of the teaching buildings were on.
These are the first and second-year high school students who are still studying hard and haven't had a summer vacation yet.
Further on, after turning a few corners, the number of people gradually decreased, and the air was filled with the smell of grass and earth. We headed towards the back hill of Tongliang Library.
Tian Xiwei gently pressed her cheek against the cool car window, thinking that the car was about to stop so she could bother Jiang Yang.
My heart was pounding uncontrollably.
The more I thought about it, the more ashamed I felt, and the tips of my ears started to burn.
But the corners of her mouth couldn't help but secretly curl upwards.
"What are you laughing at, Xiwei?" Jiang Yang asked.
"You can't laugh, anyway, I'm going to need that later..."
Tian Xiwei mimicked Yang Chaoyue's tone: "Give me a kiss!"
"Don't try to learn everything from Chaoyue. You are not the same as Chaoyue."
Jiang Yang spoke the truth.
Tian Xiwei and Yang Chaoyue are indeed different; Xiwei is already an adult, while Chaoyue is not.
When the topic of leapfrogging comes up...
Tian Xiwei asked Yang Chaoyue and Jiang Yang about the rented room they lived in in the Fuli Community of Shanghai last year.
I really envy that leap forward back then.
She was already living with Jiang Yang when she was still being beaten up by those girls who practiced sports at school.
“Let me tell you, Xiwei, the first time Chaoyue bought me breakfast, he bought me xiaolongbao, which was normal. But from the second time onwards, he learned to be greedy. I would give him ten yuan and ask him to buy seven yuan worth of xiaolongbao, and he would only give me two yuan back when he got home.”
"It's outrageous. People like Chaoyue are immoral and probably have the best chance of getting by in society."
Tian Xiwei responded.
I can't be like Yang Chaoyue.
Perhaps their family wasn't poor enough to be considered exceptionally poor.
"Jiang Yang, don't worry about letting me manage the money from now on. If you ever fall on hard times, I'll steal Chao Yue's money to support you."
"Nonsense! Stealing Chaoyue's money? With her limited courage, she can only steal small amounts and not go far. You should steal from Ruth and Zhou Ye. They are both rich women. Losing ten or twenty thousand won't hurt them at all."
"Oh, that makes sense, that makes sense."
Tian Xiwei nodded repeatedly.
She then asked, "Chaoyue told me that back then, you and she each slept in a separate room, and you tutored her from dawn till dusk. Is that true?"
"It's true, I get up early, she stays up late."
Jiang Yang laughed and said, "Why have you been talking about Chaoyue the whole way here?"
"Because you're particularly willing to talk about transcendence."
Tian Xi tilted her head slightly, her eyes shining brightly: "I just want to talk about something you're willing to talk about."
It's impossible to hide the fact that she likes Jiang Yang.
Just like Jiang Yang's preference for Yang Chaoyue, anyone with eyes can see it.
Which of her sisters couldn't see her feelings for Jiang Yang?
Bai Lu secretly pulled her aside and gave her some advice: "Xiwei, don't always keep it to yourself. Next time, find a secluded place, pounce on him, hug him, and tell him you like him." She added, "If all else fails, drink some alcohol to give yourself courage."
At that time, she just smiled and didn't rush to do it.
When exactly did she fall in love with Jiang Yang?
Tian Xiwei herself couldn't explain it.
Anyway, it has nothing to do with Jiang Yang being the top scorer in the college entrance examination.
It's not because Jiang Yang is a good actor or can write songs.
Even now, I still can't quite describe what it feels like to like someone.
One thing is for sure: even if Jiang Yang were just an ordinary high school student, inconspicuous in a crowd, she would still like him.
The day she first met Jiang Yang was in a narrow, dark alley behind the school. She was cornered by three girls who studied physical education.
Pushing, mocking, bullying.
He got beaten up.
She can't beat him.
Pretending not to be afraid, but actually trembling with fear, I didn't even have the courage to look up, feeling like the whole world had gone dark.
The blinding yet warm high beam shone in from the alley entrance.
I still remember the silhouette of Jiang Yang carrying the glass bottle.
Every time I think about it, it's incredibly clear.
It gave her courage she had never had before.
With Jiang Yang by her side, she dared to resist and fight back, slapping him again and again, hard.
From the moment Jiang Yang appeared in her life, it took her on a completely different path.
The car stopped, and Tian Xiwei unbuckled her seatbelt.
"There's a teacher..."
Jiang Yang had just opened his mouth when Tian Xiwei covered his mouth.
"Teacher, teacher, there's not a soul around here."
She switched to her Chongqing accent to bolster her courage: "I've already graduated from high school, what am I afraid of, teacher? Even if the principal stood here, even if it was at the gate of Tongliang Middle School, I'd still kiss you!"
After saying that, Tian Xiwei didn't hesitate at all.
He roughly reached out and grabbed Jiang Yang's neck: "Teach me how to kiss. I'm not very good at it yet, hurry up!"
He leaned in and kissed her fiercely.
Her cheeks flushed red, but she showed no fear whatsoever.
The evening breeze slipped in through the cracks in the car window, carrying the sweltering heat of late summer. In the cramped car, Tian Xi's ears turned slightly red.
In the [Battle of the Girls 4] group chat, Zhao Lushi chimed in: ["Let me tell you guys, if I had Chunbao's upbringing, I wouldn't be this big. I'd probably be dead by now."]
Zhang Ruonan replied: ["What does 'ga le' mean?"]
Zhou Ye chimed in: ["It means turning into a duck."]
Zhao Lushi replied: [“It means dead, @Zhou Ye, focus on delivering your takeout... Who taught me this word again? It's quite interesting. Oh right, it was Chao Yue who taught me.”]
[“Chaoyue must have learned it from Jiang Yang.”] White dew bubbled.
Zhao Lushi put away her phone.
It was completely dark in Changhua.
The campus of Mingdao University has quieted down, but the streetlights are still on.
Zhao Lushi walked out of the campus cashier, carrying a large bag of snacks and paying.
The shop is small, with a beverage cabinet against the wall, and the air conditioner hums softly.
The middle shelf is stocked with instant noodles, biscuits, candy, and daily necessities.
Many Taiwanese snacks.
Beverages made up the majority of the items, and the labels were all in traditional Chinese characters.
The air was filled with the aroma of tea eggs and oden.
The cash register beeped as it scanned the merchandise. The owner chatted with the students in Taiwanese-accented Mandarin. Having stayed here for a while, Zhao Lushi felt that she sometimes spoke with a Taiwanese accent.
Outside the door is a brick-paved path.
Palm and banyan trees are planted on both sides.
A student on a bicycle passed by, the bell jingling.
She texted Liu Haochun: "Haochun, is there anything else you'd like to eat? I'll buy it for you."
[“No need, that’s enough.”] Liu Haochun replied: [“I’m watching a movie on your computer.”]
Zhao Lushi continued typing: [“If you need anything, just tell my roommate.”]
Liu Haochun sent a message: ["Okay, your roommates are all so gentle."]
Indeed it is.
Zhao Lushi strongly agrees with Hao Chun's statement.
Having studied at Mingdao University in Taiwan for so long, her most direct impression is that the people here speak in a really soft and gentle way.
Regardless of gender, their tone was gentle and soft, and even their harsh words didn't sound aggressive.
Unlike her, who was born and raised in Chengdu.
She has the fiery temper typical of Sichuan girls.
At the same time, he speaks bluntly and bluntly, and sometimes his voice rises unconsciously.
Her temper is even worse than Xiwei's.
She didn't even realize her roommate was angry with her several times until someone pointed it out to her.
When school started, I borrowed my roommate's curling iron. I was in a hurry to do something, so I just tossed it on the vanity and rushed out.
The electrical wires were tangled up in a mess.
When her roommate came back and saw it, she frowned and said to her, "Lushi, you should put away your curling iron properly after you're done using it. The cord is all messy, it'll be inconvenient to use it next time, and the hair oil stuck on it is a real pain to clean."
At the time, Zhao Lushi was busy finishing her homework and casually replied, "I know."
I forgot about it as soon as I turned my head.
Looking back now, I still remember my roommate's comment, "It's so troublesome," though the last syllable of his voice was still soft.
But there was a hint of displeasure in his tone.
She didn't recognize it at all at the time.
Back in my hometown of Chengdu, if someone borrowed something and didn't tidy it up, the other person would frown and raise their voice: "What's wrong with you! Don't you know how to put things away after you're done? What kind of mess is this, with the wires all tangled up like this! There's oil on it, other people still need to use it!"
You can tell from his voice that he's angry.
Let's talk about a few days ago.
Before Haochun arrived, she would call Chaoyue at night.
We got so engrossed in our conversation that we lost control of our voices and talked until almost midnight.
Her roommate said softly, "Lu Shi, could you please keep your voice down a little? We have to get up early for class tomorrow, and we won't be able to sleep if you do this."
She laughed and said, "Okay, okay."
After hanging up the phone, I remembered that when my roommate said she wouldn't be able to sleep, I felt a little helpless.
She only felt that her roommate was still speaking so gently, completely unaware that she was disturbing others and that her roommate was already a little unhappy.
So when I went to class this morning, I casually gave my roommate a bottle of Helena Rubinstein's Black Bandage as an apology.
In a Chengdu dorm, if this happened, your roommate would most likely just pull back the curtain and yell, "Keep your voice down! You're making so much noise in the middle of the night! Other people need to sleep!"
There's no need to guess; you know he's angry.
The more I think about it, the more interesting it seems.
My roommates are all adorable.
Back in my hometown, whether arguing or offering a reminder, people speak loudly, quickly, and their emotions are very clear in their tone.
Even about trivial matters, they can speak with conviction and a menacing tone.
Even if they're unhappy and want to complain, their tone is still soft and gentle.
They can use interjections such as "超", "蛮", "捏", and "耶".
He speaks slowly and deliberately.
Even harsh words sound like coquettishness compared to those spoken in my hometown.
Zhao Lushi replied to Liu Haochun: ["They are really nice people, don't be shy~ I'll be back soon, Chunbao."]
Then, in the [Pretty Girl Battle 4] group chat, she typed: [@Jiang Yang, @Tian Xiwei, what are you two doing? I haven't heard you say anything for ages.] (End of Chapter)