After being placed in different classes in their sophomore year, Ning Er and Jiang Chen had very little contact.
They were in separate classes, and their classrooms were far apart. They had also made new friends, so it was impossible for them to be as close as they used to be. But whenever Jiang Chen reached out to Ning Er, Ning Er didn’t feel any distance in their relationship. It was as if they were still good friends.
【Ning Er: What’s wrong?】
Late at night, he sent a WeChat message seeking help, and Ning Er quickly responded.
Jiang Chen began to share with Ning Er the events of his first few months back at school.
【During the summer vacation, didn’t Xiaomeng and I go to the art exhibition and watch Jay Chou’s concert together? We even went out a few times afterward. Then, by pure coincidence, Xiaomeng and I ended up in the same class. It feels like fate! I think we might really have a chance, and Xiaomeng is nice to me. But… but I’m not sure at all whether she likes me or not.】
Ning Er remembered that three months ago, Liu Xiaomeng had told him that she had decided not to like him anymore. She mentioned that she had a great time with Jiang Chen but didn’t explicitly say anything about liking Jiang Chen.
A woman’s heart is deep like a needle in the depths of the ocean.
Ning Er couldn’t even understand someone like Shao Bohan, so there was no way he could understand a girl’s complicated heart.
All he could do was try to offer advice to his friend: 【If she treats you well, does that mean she has feelings for you?】
But Jiang Chen was crying and replied, 【Yes, and no. I’ve hinted at it several times with Xiaomeng, like asking her which university she wants to attend in the future and saying I want to fill in the same application as her. She didn’t tell me but just smiled at me. So, do you think she likes me or not?】
As an outsider, Ning Er couldn’t possibly know about these things.
He talked with Jiang Chen for over an hour and heard a lot about the interactions between Jiang Chen and Liu Xiaomeng.
Ning Er had a vague feeling that Liu Xiaomeng might not dislike Jiang Chen, but when it came to whether she liked him or not, he genuinely had no idea.
The two cobblers together made both of them even more confused. The discussion ended to an abrupt and fruitless end.
In the end, Jiang Chen realized: 【… I probably shouldn’t have asked you this question. Ning Er, I feel like you have less experience in relationships than I do. Have you ever been in love? Liked a girl?】
In the dark room, Ning Er huddled under the covers, suddenly saw this message, and his face turned bright red with embarrassment.
How could he have been in love or liked a girl…
He hadn’t liked a girl, but there was one boy he had feelings for, des that count?
Ning Er no longer responded to Jiang Chen.
The next day, while heading to school, Ning Er followed behind Shao Bohan, walking absentmindedly.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Shao Bohan said, “What’s the matter? You seem a bit distracted today.”
Ning Er was still thinking about what Jiang Chen had told him last night and was contemplating the relationship between Jiang Chen, Liu Xiaomeng, and his own relationship with Shao Bohan. He couldn’t even handle his own issues properly, let alone help Jiang Chen. After thinking for a while, he decided to share Jiang Chen’s situation with Shao Bohan. Perhaps Shao Bohan could offer some advice?
When Shao Bohan heard the name “Liu Xiaomeng,” his eyelid twitched, and his expression visibly darkened.
But as he continued listening, his expression relaxed a bit. He took a sip of soy milk and let out a disdainful laugh, “Liu Xiaomeng doesn’t seem to dislike Jiang Chen. She actually seems to like him quite a bit. It’s been several months, and they’re classmates now. Can’t Jiang Chen handle it? He’s quite pathetic.”
Ning Er instinctively looked up at him and asked, “If it were you, could you handle this situation?”
Shao Bohan didn’t even hesitate, “Of course, isn’t it obvious? Liu Xiaomeng doesn’t dislike him, as you said yourself, she mentioned a few months ago that she enjoyed being with Jiang Chen. If it were me, I could make someone who doesn’t have any ill feelings toward me and spends time with me every day fall for me in just a month…” His voice abruptly stopped, and Shao Bohan stared at Ning Er in disbelief.
Ning Er gazed at him innocently.
Shao Bohan blushed from being stared at.
Together every day.
Not disliking oneself.
Could he make someone fall for him in a month?
Isn’t this Ning Er!
He’s been back in Yancheng for half a year, and he still hasn’t won over Ning Er!
Shao Bohan suddenly felt a blow to his confidence and began to doubt his own charm. But he still found some comfort in it.
Liu Xiaomeng and Jiang Chen are in a heterosexual relationship, but he and Xiao Er are both guys. Making Ning Er like him is much more difficult than making a girl like him. So, it’s not that he can’t do it. It’s just that the objective conditions are too difficult.
After giving himself these reasons, Shao Bohan calmly took another sip of soy milk and continued, “Although there are many people who like me, I haven’t been in a relationship. But I know someone who might be able to help Jiang Chen. He has quite a bit of experience.” After a pause, Shao Bohan put down his soy milk and looked at Ning Er. “You also know him.”
Ning Er was taken aback. “Who’s that?”
“Zhao Haicheng.”
During the morning reading session, Shao Bohan had sent Zhao Haicheng’s WeChat contact information to Ning Er.
Ning Er confusedly added Zhao Haicheng as a friend and introduced himself, explaining his purpose. Zhao Haicheng replied within three minutes,【Hahaha, I’ve already heard it from Shao Ge. Xiao Er, do you need help with matters of the heart? You’ve come to the right person!】
Ning Er was somewhat surprised, 【I thought you were in class.】 He replied so quickly.
【Zhao Haicheng: Our school starts at nine o’clock. I’m having breakfast at home now.】
Ning Er was envious to the point of turning green.
【Zhao Haicheng: Tell me in detail about your friend’s situation, and I’ll see what I can do.】
Ning Er quickly recounted Jiang Chen’s situation.
During morning self-study, Shao Bohan noticed that Ning Er was constantly and discreetly messaging Zhao Haicheng on his phone.
Shao Bohan casually placed his Chinese textbook in front of him, propping his chin up with one hand. He kept a watchful eye on the teacher patrolling the classroom to prevent them from discovering Ning Er’s little actions. His peripheral vision was fixed on Ning Er’s face, observing the various adorable expressions he made from time to time.
And Ning Er was genuinely shocked.
You could do that?
Can you act like this?
You could pursue a girl like that?!
There was a reason Shao Bohan had recommended Zhao Haicheng to Ning Er.
He said that in Haicheng, he used to be the school’s heartthrob, but Zhao Haicheng had the most girlfriends. Zhao Haicheng had good looks, came from a well-off family, and most importantly, he had a silver tongue. With his smooth talk and playful words, girls couldn’t stop giggling when chatting with him.
Zhao Haicheng even had two girlfriends simultaneously, and amazingly, both of his girlfriends didn’t seem to mind this at all. It was a mystery how he managed that.
People say you can’t judge a book by its cover, and Ning Er remembered that Zhao Haicheng looked clean-cut and came from an intellectual background. How could he be so skilled in matters of the heart and be so good at charming others?
In the end, Zhao Haicheng came up with an idea for Jiang Chen: 【That girl probably likes him too, but girls are usually shy. Most of them won’t confess to a guy until the last moment. They prefer the guy to take the initiative. So, you should have your friend invite this girl to hang out on the weekend. You know what this coming Sunday is, right? Double Eleven and Singles’ Day. There will be a lot of people selling roses on the streets. Have your friend find someone he knows, act a bit pitiful, but not too much, it should be obvious that it’s an act. Have them approach your friend and insist that they are a couple, forcing them to buy roses. Your friend should buy all the roses and then tell the girl that it doesn’t matter whether it’s real or fake, but since he said you’re my girlfriend, I’m happy and have to buy them.】
Ning Er: “!!!”
That’s an overwhelming plan!!!
Ning Er shared Zhao Haicheng’s method with Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen was overjoyed but somewhat hesitant. Ning Er gave him the final assurance, saying, 【My friend said that Liu Xiaomeng definitely likes you.】
Jiang Chen was shocked and finally made up his mind.
On Monday, during the school’s morning self-study session, a classmate called out, “Ning Er, someone’s looking for you.”
Ning Er craned his neck to look out the window, and Jiang Chen excitedly waved at him. When he went outside, Jiang Chen couldn’t contain his joy, and he was so happy that he almost wanted to give Ning Er a hug. He held Ning Er’s hand and kept saying, “Ning Er! You’re the best friend! Xiaomeng and I are together now. She actually agreed to be my girlfriend yesterday! I want to thank you. I definitely want to thank you. I’ll treat you to dinner this Saturday!”
Ning Er was also quite surprised. He hadn’t expected Jiang Chen and Liu Xiaomeng to get together so easily?
But one thing had to be made clear: “It wasn’t my idea. It was Shao Bohan’s friend who came up with it.”
Jiang Chen said, “Then I’ll treat Shao Bohan to dinner as well. I’m really grateful to you all. I’ve liked Xiaomeng for over a year, and I promise to treat her well from now on!”
Ning Er declined politely, but Jiang Chen held onto him and wouldn’t let go, so he had no choice but to agree.
Back in the classroom, Shao Bohan stared at him with a steady gaze and then glanced at his hand.
“What’s up?”
Ning Er didn’t think too much about it and sat back at his desk. “Jiang Chen and Liu Xiaomeng are really together now,” he paused for a moment, “Zhao Haicheng is really amazing.”
Shao Bohan’s gaze lingered on Ning Er’s hand as he replied with a low chuckle, “It’s not that he’s amazing. He just figured it out. Liu Xiaomeng definitely wanted to be Jiang Chen’s girlfriend. She liked him.”
Ning Er asked confused, “Isn’t that amazing?”
Shao Bohan paused for a moment, pursed his lips, and didn’t say anything more.
At least he hadn’t figured out whether you like me or not.
***
The author has something to say:
Shao Bohan: … It turns out I’m so useless. We spend every day together, and Ning Er doesn’t dislike me, yet I can’t even understand his thoughts…
Ning Er: Who…who said I don’t dislike you anymore?!!!
Fuwa: Of course, it sounds just like you! 233333
K: Hello guys, sorry for the late update! I am currently on the process of editing all the chapters. Probably by 35th chapter chapter release will be every 4x a week ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა Enjoy reading!
