Chapter 35

Chapter 35 Rose x Kiss

Jiang Ji quickly left and returned again.

In his hand was still that familiar medical kit.

He brought half a cup of warm water and handed it in front of her, signaling her to mix it with the capsules and drink them together.

Ji Mingzhu was still angry about the mocha latte from earlier. Even now, her anger had not subsided.

But more than that—she didn’t know why she was like this.

If it were just anyone else, then fine, if they didn’t want it, so be it. She definitely wouldn’t take it to heart, and she absolutely wouldn’t lower herself.

If they didn’t want it, it was simple. In the future, trying to get her goodwill again would be as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

But when it came to Jiang Ji, it carried a different meaning.

Or rather, he was different to begin with.

Since she became aware, Jiang Ji had almost spanned her more than twenty years of memories, running through them from beginning to end.

He was not only her fiancé in name, but also the other half matched by arranged marriage and equal family status.

A connection that, no matter what, could not be shaken off; an unfastenable button; entwining vines spreading in all directions, the two ends inseparably linked.

Perhaps the two wouldn’t be together in the future, but everything now, and the sudden reopening of something in her heart,

all made her feel restless.

She couldn’t avoid it, nor shake it off.

“You’re not drinking?”

Ji Mingzhu didn’t answer. Instead she asked directly, “Jiang Ji… you threw away the coffee I bought you?”

Jiang Ji never liked to lie.

If he nodded… then today…

She, Ji Mingzhu, would rather hurt to death right here! Even if she crawled outside in pain! She wouldn’t drink a single mouthful of his medicine!!

“I didn’t throw it away,” Jiang Ji answered. When Ji Mingzhu showed a trace of relief, he leaned closer. “Are you drinking or not? If you don’t, I’ll feed you directly.”

“............”

“I don’t need you to feed me.”

Ji Mingzhu took it herself, gulped it down in a few swallows, then buried herself again.

With her back to him, ignoring him.

But for some reason, perhaps because of what he just said, or perhaps because the medicine was taking effect, she closed her eyes, and drowsiness quickly flooded over her.

After Ji Mingzhu finished the medicine and gradually quieted down, no longer in pain, slowly falling asleep, Jiang Ji finally relaxed.

Before she closed her eyes and fell asleep, Ji Mingzhu stretched out her arm and even scratched Jiang Ji a few times, looking deeply resentful.

Fierce, and the force wasn’t light.

Jiang Ji covered her with a thin blanket, tucked in the corners, then got up slightly, leaving only the lamp by the bed.

For a moment, under the dim light, the room was silent.

Only the wind unique to winter nights faintly tapped against the floor-to-ceiling glass on the balcony.

He sat at the bedside, turned his face slightly, lowering his eyes to look at her.

Ji Mingzhu’s small face nestled in the soft pillow, her brows still faintly furrowed. Because her skin was fair, even her eyelids showed a light pink tint.

He just looked at her like that, letting the quartz clock tick slowly.

Jiang Ji kept watch for several hours. Seeing that she didn’t suddenly have pain again in the middle of the night, he finally dismissed the thought of going to the hospital.

......

After closing Ji Mingzhu’s room door, Jiang Ji took two strides to his own door.

He stepped in the dim light of the corridor wall lamps and directly pushed open his room door.

On the table, an unopened mocha latte stood there quietly.

Jiang Ji’s gaze fixed on the label on it. The printed note was exactly the same as what Ji Mingzhu had said in his ear that morning—

“Full sugar, no ice, and add cheese milk foam.”

There was also a small extra reminder thoughtfully printed: The drink is best consumed within one hour, please enjoy it as soon as possible~

Jiang Ji paused for a long moment, then slowly tore open the cup seal and drank it.

Probably because it had been left for the whole day, the milk foam on top had solidified, and the latte below had separated into layers.

Compared to before, the taste was much worse.

And it was overwhelmingly sweet—full sugar.

Jiang Ji didn’t stop, taking sip after sip until he finished it.

Actually, it wasn’t unexpected that she would run into Jiang Mo today.

One day she would meet him anyway. After all, the world isn’t that big, nor that small.

But even knowing that, he still couldn’t help thinking about what the two of them talked about in the café, how long they talked, and whether the conversation was pleasant.

Jiang Ji had been calm since childhood, and this temperament, as he grew older, settled into indifference and distance.

He was used to the feeling of having everything under his control. He rarely lost control, but on the few occasions he did, it would still descend unexpectedly.

Jiang Ji’s dark eyes looked out the window. The winter night was like water, extremely similar to that year’s birthday banquet.

When the cake was cut, he left the crowd behind, yet couldn’t find Ji Mingzhu. Until he reached the back garden, he caught sight of the hem of her clothes—then he stood there, watching her tilt her head up toward the person opposite her.

His leg was lightly bumped, then rubbed twice—

Back and forth, very quickly, Jiang Ji’s thoughts returned.

He lowered his head and looked at the small robot quietly by his leg. “I’m fine.”

......

Ji Mingzhu’s stomach pain had an answer the next morning while she was washing up.

She had entered those few days that came every month again.

But she usually didn’t feel much each time. This time, probably because she had been reckless enough in winter—drinking iced latte and habitually wearing little—she got hit.

Ji Mingzhu thought about her nearly “flammable and explosive” emotions over the past few days and felt everything now had an explanation—

No wonder she had recently thought herself inexplicably unreasonable.

So it was all “pre-period syndrome.”

However, the attitude she should give, she still had to give!

For the next several days, Ji Mingzhu didn’t communicate with Jiang Ji, except for a few necessary responses. The rest of the time, she mostly stayed in the small attic, editing her videos.

Although it was a special period these days, she still didn’t stop going to yoga class every other day.

Liu Xi had another set of targeted poses. After doing them, that sinking discomfort in her lower abdomen improved a lot, and she wasn’t afraid of the sudden aftereffects like that night.

But the awkwardness between Ji Mingzhu and Jiang Ji was first noticed by the “Pig Chicken Breeding Kingdom” group.

After all, everyone was in the same group. Sometimes interesting online topics and novel gossip from Yin City’s social circle would always be shared by Lian Tang.

Although Jiang Ji spoke little, he had responded a few times in the group before.

This proved he wasn’t someone who completely ignored group messages.

These past few days, Ji Mingzhu and Jiang Ji were like they had gone into hiding. People in the group occasionally spammed a few questions, only to receive perfunctory “mm,” “ah,” and “oh.”

Lian Tang even privately messaged Ji Mingzhu, but this time she concealed it tightly, not revealing the slightest thing.

Even her WeChat status had changed—to “Busy roasting chicken, free time burning paper.”

Lian Tang and Xiao Yi seemed to have coordinated, appearing in the group chat at the same time.

Xiao Yi: This weekend, everyone, Yingli Basketball Court, you coming or not?

Xiao Yi: We’ve never really gathered properly, so how about this time?

Lian Tang: I’m coming, I’m coming!

Lian Tang: Everyone

Lian Tang: Must come, our high school is still open on weekends.

After a while, Cheng Chi sent a picture over—

Cheng Chi: I just walked the red carpet at Weibo Night.

Cheng Chi: Got plans this weekend, no time.

Cheng Chi: picture.jpg

Lian Tang looked at the photo and was immediately surprised.

Lian Tang: Whoa, is that Bian Li sitting at the table next to you?!

Lian Tang: Damn, in front of you is Ace!

Lian Tang: Cheng Chi, get me an autograph! Hear me!!!

Xiao Yi: ……

Xiao Yi: Can you aim a little higher?

Xiao Yi: Back to the point, are our Jiang Zong and Xiao Ba going or not? Give us a clear answer.

Ji Mingzhu saw the group messages after coming down from the attic; it was already late.

She opened the messages and saw that Jiang Ji hadn’t responded.

Ji Mingzhu: High school?

Ji Mingzhu: I haven’t been back in ages.

Ji Mingzhu: I’m going, of course I’m going.

The group agreed on the specific time. On that day, Ji Mingzhu drove up in her newly bought Bugatti Veyron, making a grand entrance.

Lian Tang saw it and circled the car. “You really go all out, huh? Bought the big one, and up close, it’s even studded with crystals. Amazing, Ji Mingzhu.”

Ji Mingzhu tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Those are crystals, not diamonds.”

After a pause, she added, “Anyway, I didn’t spend my own money.”

Lian Tang laughed. “Jiang Ji bought it for you?”

Ji Mingzhu raised an eyebrow, tacitly confirming, then asked, “Alright, where’s Xiao Yi?”

“He got here early, at the basketball court.” They didn’t linger long, heading straight to the basketball court at Yingli International High School.

Since it was a privately established elite school, the decoration combined Eastern and Western styles—a mix of redwood and modern high-tech forming a new campus.

Even after all these years, it looked the same as in their memories.

French plane trees lined up in a row, a red-tiled auditorium at the end of the road, exuding classical depth.

The basketball court was on the right side of the teaching building. On the weekend, there were no students; along the way they only encountered a few people.

“Really haven’t been here in a long time. You haven’t come back once since graduating?”

“Wanted to, but no one to come with, it felt a bit dull. Anyway, you were going to come back, so what’s the big deal?” Lian Tang said, looking at her. “Not gonna lie, I haven’t gone to any class reunions these past few years.”

Ji Mingzhu looked at her, feeling inexplicable. “No way… you don’t mean you… like me…?”

“What are you thinking? Didn’t I say, only if I become a man in my next life would I cover for you,” Lian Tang said very seriously. “But I’m not a man right now.”

Ji Mingzhu rolled her eyes at her and walked toward the gym, “Did Xiao Yi call anyone else? Otherwise he’ll be performing tricks for us alone?”

As she spoke, her view widened as she approached.

In the spacious, bright indoor basketball court, there were two tall figures.

One was Xiao Yi, and the other was… Jiang Ji.

The two had already started competing, barely glancing sideways.

“See, he’s got company, why bother calling anyone else?” Lian Tang said, laughing twice, and walked over to a nearby seat confidently. “Zhuzhu, come here. Look, this is your spot.”

Ji Mingzhu followed her gaze to the first-row bench, a long rectangular seat.

She used to be a cheerleading mainstay. Every game, the center spot was reserved for her. Ji Mingzhu didn’t like to refuse, so she just took it. After all, it was for watching the game; the seat itself wasn’t that important.

Of course, some girls who didn’t like this tried to cause trouble behind her back, but before anything started, Ji Mingzhu blocked them.

“You want this spot? Sure, take it.”

She genuinely suggested it. As soon as she said this, those girls shrank back, pushing the responsibility onto each other, no one daring to sit.

The boys, however, were happy to watch her. Every time Ji Mingzhu appeared, the crowd both on and off the court would respond, creating waves of excitement.

Just like now, Xiao Yi perfectly sank a three-pointer—

His lips curved as he looked over here.

“Xiao Ba, Lian Tang, cheer for your brother?”

Lian Tang, hearing this, made a gagging gesture. “Do you have any shame? Brother? Your so-called ‘good sister’ could wrap around the Earth three times!”

Xiao Yi pretended to walk over. “So, are you cheering or not?”

Ji Mingzhu replied perfunctorily, waving him off. “You play, keep going. Go, go.”

Satisfied with the response, Xiao Yi immediately turned, proudly looking at Jiang Ji beside him.

Jiang Ji looked like pure white snow under the sky, his gaze calm. Tiny strands of black hair fell over his forehead, just barely shading his sharp brows.

Receiving Xiao Yi’s deliberately provocative energy, Jiang Ji said nothing, only raising a brow.

Seeing Jiang Ji like that, Xiao Yi pushed further, raising his voice several degrees. “Xiao Ba, wasn’t I just handsome? Totally awesome, right?”

The next second, Jiang Ji threw the ball to the ground.

The ball landed between Xiao Yi and Jiang Ji. The force bounced it upward, straight toward Xiao Yi’s shoulder, just missing his face.

The basketball fell from Xiao Yi, then precisely landed at Jiang Ji’s feet.

Everything happened so fast that Xiao Yi couldn’t even react.

Then he heard Jiang Ji speak in a voice only the two of them could hear—

“Handsome my ass.”

“............”

Still calling him bro???

Shocked physically and mentally, Xiao Yi covered his face and almost his feet, staring at Jiang Ji in disbelief.

Damn.

Seems like it’s the first time he’d heard Jiang Ji say something like that.

Author’s Note: 【Mini Scene】:

Jiji: Jealous king, can’t be appeased.

Zhu Zhu: Then how can I appease you? tvt

Jiji: Come to my room tonight.

Zhu Zhu: … : )

【Second Update】Here it comes—speeding up the plot, so there will be big updates from now on. Same as always, twenty-five-character comments get a red envelope, muah! Tomorrow’s update will be late, but it will definitely be up before noon!

Thanks to the little angels who voted for me with Overlord votes or watered me with nutrient liquid between 2020-02-14 07:09:24~2020-02-14 22:58:46~

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I am very grateful for everyone’s support, and I will continue to work hard!