05

She deeply despises this version of herself, defeated in an instant before him, lacking any fighting capability

Jiang Huai paused for a moment, his voice sounding as if it came from a desolate land, so unreal: "I am sorry"

What does she want to say Silence is the most effective comfort

Xia Chan opened her mouth, forcing out an awkward smile, and after hesitating for a long time, she said: "I like you, of course I like you. You tutor me, wait for me to go to school together, hold an umbrella for me, help me buy breakfast, bring me medicine when I catch a cold, and during holidays, you even bring things to visit me and my mom. In the past, when I was bullied, you always protected me..."

He mentioned a completely unfamiliar name, and a look of confusion and surprise appeared in Xia Chan's eyes

Jianghuai Nan seemed enchanted as he said: "That is a deep water lake in the suburbs, the water is very clear, and the scenery is beautiful. Huaibei wanted to swim. I couldn't dissuade him from swimming, and he jumped in without regard for my warnings. I anxiously watched the time on my watch from the shore, hoping he would return once he had enough fun."

I am well aware of what I am saying she could not help but retort a hint of stubbornness appeared on her face

I tell you, it is for your own good

Winning or losing has never been related to her

He looked at her calmly and smiled: "There is an age difference of one year and four months between us, yet our personalities are completely different. He has liked to follow me since he was little, looking for me in the rain without an umbrella, sticking to me at school, and causing a ruckus after school. He is very smart, but he does not apply his intelligence practically; he is well-known as a troublemaker at school. My mother forces me to tutor him, and he pulls out a big bag of snacks from the cupboard, closing the door and wanting me to play games with him."

For the first time, he cruelly peeled away the memories, his tone as calm as if he were recounting someone else's story, yet the suppressed sobs and pain were undeniably real

His sighing tone was heart-wrenching, and the things she feared to confront made her feel as if she were on the edge of a precipice, as if a mere gentle touch would send her plummeting into an abyss from which there was no return

In fact, the result was entirely expected

Later, he played joyfully, swimming further and further away. By the time I realized something was wrong, it was already too late. In the middle of the lake, I was cramping and shouting for help. I knew that if I rashly jumped in, I would also die. I frantically called for someone to help, but by the time the rescuers arrived, it was already too late

I do not know for how long, with a hint of sorrow in his eyes, he said: "Asha, you are very much like Huaibei, the essence of you is too similar. You draw me closer, our encounter is a debt. I am like a debt-ridden addict, transferring all my guilt, self-blame, and sense of sin regarding Huaibei onto you. I treat you well, care for you, regard you as a sister, and pour all my efforts into atoning for my sins. Only in this way does my heart feel a little better. I only care about my own feelings, yet I have overlooked the impact this has on you." Only in this way does my heart feel a little better. I only care about my own feelings, yet I have overlooked the impact this has on you.

Jiang Huainan's face bore a heavy expression as if it had solidified. He looked up at her, scrutinizing her intently, his eyes unblinking, and after a long while, he slowly asked: "Do you like me?"

Xia Chan asked: "What happened?"

However, if everything had deviated from the correct path from the very beginning, in this game of chess with a significant disparity in strength, Jiang Huainan regarded her merely as a spectator holding the box, solely because she possessed the pieces he needed

It is truly cruel

Xia Chan laughed coldly in her heart, wanting to refute but lacking any strength to do so

He淡淡地继续开口: "It has been exactly one year since my younger brother Jiang Huaibei passed away."

The sushi restaurant 'Sakura Blossom' not far from here is quite good. How about we go there for sushi? Their mango milkshake is also very delicious. Of course, if you don't want sushi, that's fine too; there are many other options...

Perhaps she will write a very long confession letter, buy a book that he has been searching for a long time, and casually give it to him with the book tucked inside. With beautiful prose and emotional phrases, she believes that Jiang Huainan will at least give it serious consideration

Perhaps she will choose a sunny and pleasant day, wear a beautiful dress, apply a delicate and elegant makeup, and tenderly express years of feelings to him

He paused

I am annoyed by him, yet he remains indifferent, and we continue to coexist in this manner. I asked him why he couldn't allow me some peace for a while. Guess what he said? He said, "Brother, your life is too dull. You are so well-behaved, obedient, understanding, with good grades and a good temper, everything is perfect, just like a beautiful doll cherished by mother, but you are too unhappy"

In Xia Chan's memory, this was the first time Jiang Huainan spoke so much. Perhaps it was his expression of deep pain that brought to her mind the rebellious and unrestrained figure of Jiang Huai Bei

Asha... after a long while, Jiang Huainan's gentle voice finally reached her ears, "Do you still remember how we met?"

I don't want to listen! I don't want to listen! At this moment, she does not want to hear any of his words at all

I am indeed not happy, Huai Bei understands me. From then on, no matter what my mother said or required of me, he would go against it. My mother had no choice but to often ask me to enlighten him and take good care of him, which precisely achieved his purpose. Huai Bei made me learn to indulge in exchange for something; if I accompanied him to play street basketball once, he would return me with an improvement in my grades; if I went to an internet café with him once, the next time my mother scolded him, he would not retort... It was through these repeated instances that Huai Bei taught me what freedom and play truly meant. He had a smile at the corner of his mouth, as if reminiscing about something beautiful.

"Asha," he interrupted her softly, the gentle light in his eyes seemingly extinguished. "You know exactly what I am asking."

He forced a smile and said: "Then, Huaibei ran away from home, and we couldn't find him anywhere. Three days later, he asked a classmate to send me a message, wanting me to meet him alone. He was still the same, never thinking he was in the wrong. I urged him to go back, but he wanted me to accompany him to a place before returning home. We went together, but he... never came back again..." I urged him to go back, but he wanted me to accompany him to a place before returning home. We went together, but he... never came back again..."

Everything is wrong; this should not be the opening statement, nor should it be at this time and place

Although the air conditioning was on in the store, she felt cold all over, filled with a deep sense of sorrow. She looked at Jiang Huainan in disbelief, gazing for a long time, from his brows and eyes to his thin lips, from his past to his present

Jianghuai Nan's expression remained unchanged as he persistently repeated, "Do you like me?"

"Asha," he called her.

Jiang Huainan used his chopsticks to block her long chopsticks, refusing her

She was so close to him that she could see the mist in his eyes

His fragmented words weighed heavily on her chest

However, a paper cannot cover a fire; gradually, my grades declined, and my instances of tardiness increased. My mother was called in by the teacher to inquire about what was happening with me, and then she learned that this year I had been influenced negatively by Huaibei. She was extremely angry and gave Huaibei a beating. Jianghuainan's face bore soft lines, and his countenance appeared somewhat sorrowful amidst the rising mist

His voice, like that of an aged elder, was ethereal and distant. "He is the same age as me, yet his words are those of a little adult, making one both laugh and cry. However... he spoke words that pierced my heart..."

Listening to him recount the wounds of yesterday in detail, he also spoke of the present difficulties. Her nails dug tightly into her palm as she murmured in a somewhat dazed manner: "So it turns out I am the younger sister..."

What is it that shatters completely in the invisible darkness, piece by piece, accompanied by a bitter sobbing sound, echoing for a long time? Is it her heart? No, no, her heart cannot be so fragile

What, what? Xia Chan retracted her hand in confusion, belatedly realizing that her skin felt as if it had been scalded by hot oil

In fact, it is still early now, she answered in her heart

She found that this person, who had once felt incredibly familiar and close to her, suddenly seemed a bit unclear for some reason

The long chopsticks, which had lost their grip, fell, and one of them rolled into the pot, splashing hot soup.

She nodded numbly

The Jianghuai Nan before him seemed utterly unconcerned about the impact of this statement on her; his questioning gaze sought only a cold and serious answer

She suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face

Xia Chan hurriedly used long chopsticks to stir the meatballs in the pot, picked up a slice of beef, and handed it to Jiang Huainan's bowl, saying: "The meat slices cook easily, just a quick roll will do"

Bang

A chilling sweat crawled down her back, and years of emotions surged to the forefront of her mind. Her heart was as tumultuous as the tide after dusk, rising and falling, without certainty

Xia Chan slowly exhaled and said, "What happened next?"

I should have said this earlier he frowned, appearing both frustrated and self-reproachful

Listen to me

Perhaps

For her own good

She can wait for him, she can change for him, even if love comes a little late, as long as it is genuine, it does not matter

"Disdainful, huh? I won't give you anything to eat." Xia Chan shot him a glance and secretly stole a look at him from the corner of her eye

Emotions that come too easily are indeed false, and Jiang Huainan's simple "I'm sorry" has already erased everything

Every move and every stance, every advance and every retreat, he is sparring with himself; what can she expect from the outcome

Too many uncertainties; in summary, it was not in her complete unpreparedness that he, having seemingly seen through her thoughts, waited for an opportunity to force her to admit it in a straightforward manner within the shop.

Jianghuai Nan's expression became extremely complex

Xia Chan was taken aback by his sudden exclamation, looking at him in confusion, and then asked, "Hmm?"

Let me tell you something

Xia Chan jokingly said, "Is it that you don't like this store? Then shall we change to another one, alright?"