Chapter 26: So Obedient?
Jiang Qiao didn’t understand basketball, but was dragged along by Luo Xing to watch. She had a lollipop in her mouth as she watched the group of boys playing on the court.
“Qiao Qiao, look at Xu Si, he’s so handsome!” Luo Xing tugged at Jiang Qiao’s arm.
Xu Si usually looked fierce and unapproachable. But undeniably, he was truly handsome, with a bit of a rebellious and wild air about him. He looked slim, but showed explosive power when playing basketball. Earlier when he casually lifted his shirt, she thought she glimpsed his abs.
Jiang Qiao responded, following Luo Xing’s pointing finger to look at Xu Si. Though he wore the same school uniform, something was different. But what exactly? She couldn’t quite tell.
Two players tried to block him from both sides, but Xu Si faked them out with a move, then threw the ball. It landed smoothly in the basket. Xu Si high-fived his teammate and smiled. The girls watching burst into excited cheers.
Jiang Qiao finally realized – the usually laid-back Xu Si, who always looked half-asleep, was radiating energy on the basketball court. The young man was undoubtedly the most eye-catching on the court, both in looks and skill.
Shen Mo suddenly appeared beside them, holding a bottle of water. She leaned close to Jiang Qiao: “Is the candy good?”
Jiang Qiao nodded seriously, then took one out: “Would you like one?”
Shen Mo shook her head and smiled: “I don’t eat candy. Could you help me with something?”
“What is it?”
Shen Mo held the water bottle and smiled: “Could you help me give this water to Xu Si?”
Jiang Qiao asked with confusion: “Why don’t you give it to him yourself?”
Shen Mo recalled the times she tried giving Xu Si water – he hadn’t even looked at her, just walked right past. The only time he’d responded was when she’d almost pushed the water in his face, and he’d coldly told her: “I don’t drink it.”
Later she discovered Xu Si didn’t just reject her water, but everyone’s, which made her feel better. People didn’t give him water because he was too intimidating – many wanted to, few dared to try, so naturally there weren’t many rejections to speak of.
She smiled at Jiang Qiao: “He won’t take it if I give it to him. Could you try for me?”
Jiang Qiao stared at the water bottle in her hand for a while without speaking, then finally said: “He won’t take it from me either.”
“You’re his desk mate, he’ll definitely take it from you. Please?”
“You’re desk mates, but not that close.”
“Please? Help me out?”
Jiang Qiao finally agreed and took the water bottle.
Xu Si saw the outstretched hand and was about to refuse, but then met Jiang Qiao’s clear almond eyes. He was surprised – his well-behaved desk mate actually came to watch basketball? That was unexpected.
“For me?” Yang Shikun looked between Xu Si and Jiang Qiao, unable to suppress his smile. He bet Brother Si would definitely accept it.
Jiang Qiao faced Xu Si’s fierce expression, still somewhat scared. She swallowed and gripped the water bottle: “No, Shen Mo asked me to give this to you.”
Xu Si suddenly lowered his head and smiled. Because they were so close, he could see the fine down on Jiang Qiao’s face. Her skin looked even better up close, with long eyelashes like dense little brushes. When she spoke just now, there was still a faint candy sweetness.
She really likes candy, he thought.
Faced with his sudden closeness, Jiang Qiao froze. The young man had just finished playing, his face still slightly sweaty, drops trailing down his prominent Adam’s apple into his collar.
“Like running errands for people that much, little classmate?”
Jiang Qiao met his gaze but pressed her lips together without speaking.
Xu Si stared at her for a moment, then said: “I don’t want her water. Give it back to her.”
Jiang Qiao made an “mm” sound, then heard him say: “I want water that you buy.”
Before she could react, she saw Xu Si walking away with the ball.
Yang Shikun followed Xu Si but looked back at Jiang Qiao. He couldn’t understand why Brother Si hadn’t accepted it.
No one knew what Xu Si had said to Jiang Qiao, but seeing such a bad-tempered person suddenly lean close to Jiang Qiao and smile was certainly surprising.
Jiang Qiao handed the water back to Shen Mo: “He didn’t take it.”
Shen Mo said: “Oh well, thank you anyway.” Xu Si not accepting was within her expectations.
When Xu Si came back from outside, he saw a bottle of water on his desk, while Jiang Qiao was bent over writing something.
He sat down and picked up the water bottle, almost laughing: “You actually bought it?”
Jiang Qiao found him truly strange: “Didn’t you say you wanted me to buy water?”
Xu Si was amused by her serious manner: “I tell you to buy it and you just do it? Are you that obedient?”
Jiang Qiao blinked at him without speaking, which somehow made Xu Si feel like he was bullying her.
“I meant I didn’t want you delivering things for others, that’s why I said I wanted water from you. Understand?”
He didn’t know why he was explaining, perhaps because she made him feel like he’d bullied her.
“I understand,” Jiang Qiao said, then turned back to her homework.
Xu Si wasn’t sure if she really understood or not. But why should he care whether she understood?
Xu Si took out his phone and opened his game.
“Brother Si, want to play? Let’s do a five-person team in King of Glory,” Yang Shikun turned to ask Xu Si.
“Not playing.”
“Alright, Brother Si.”
Yang Shikun’s sharp eyes noticed the water on Xu Si’s desk. They hadn’t bought water when they went out with Xu Si earlier, so this water… Could it be from Brother Si’s sweetheart? Brother Si had rejected Jiang’s water earlier today. Was the ship he just started shipping already sinking?
“Jiang Qiao.”
Jiang Qiao stopped writing and looked at Xu Si: “What is it?”
“The water today – Shen Mo didn’t force you to deliver it, did she?”
Jiang Qiao shook her head and answered seriously: “She didn’t force me. She said you definitely wouldn’t accept if she gave it herself, so she asked for my help. I wanted to say you definitely wouldn’t accept from me either, but since she asked, I agreed.”
Xu Si watched her answer so precisely, like an elementary school student. He found it amusing. Really obedient. Just agrees when someone asks.
Jiang Qiao looked at him and suddenly asked: “You don’t like Shen Mo?”
Xu Si made an “mm” sound.
Jiang Qiao said: “Oh, okay.”
Xu Si somehow heard a hint of regret in her “okay.”
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