Chapter 45: Good Night, Little Traditionalist
Jiang Qiao stared at the pink cup on her desk for a while, then saw another message from him.
Xu Si: It looks good, suits you.
She studied these words for a long time, unsure of his meaning, when another message came.
Xu Si: Don’t bring me books, I don’t like reading.
Jiang Qiao remembered how he’d said he wouldn’t read with her, yet they ended up reading together for so long. She packed up the book to bring to him tomorrow.
Jiang Qiao: Was that kitten you sent last time yours?
Xu Si quickly sent a photo.
Xu Si: You mean this one?
The black kitten had bright eyes and looked docile in the young man’s arms. Xu Si appeared to have just showered, wearing only a white t-shirt, his arms long and attractive.
Jiang Qiao: Yes, it’s cute.
Xu Si: It’s well-behaved. It followed me home, so I kept it.
Jiang Qiao remembered her previous cat, which she hadn’t kept for long before Jiang Zhien and Tian Ling returned and gave it away.
She hadn’t cried or made a fuss, only asked Tian Ling: “Why did you give away my cat?”
Tian Ling had replied: “Who knows where that cat came from? Even after bathing it, who knows what diseases it carried? It was filthy, shedding everywhere, such a nuisance. So I got rid of it.”
After a silence, Jiang Qiao asked: “Where did you send it?”
“Abandoned it.”
“Where?”
Tian Ling told her a location, then watched Jiang Qiao push open the door to leave.
“Where are you going?”
“To find the cat.”
Jiang Qiao searched that place for a very long time but never found her cat. She couldn’t understand why her mother, who was rarely home, had to give away her beloved cat when she did return.
Later, Tian Ling tried to cheer her up by buying her another pet cat, but Jiang Qiao refused it.
Snapping back to the present, Jiang Qiao replied:
Jiang Qiao: I had a cat before, my mom threw it away.
Xu Si: Poor thing.
Xu Si: My dad doesn’t like animals because that woman didn’t like them before.
Jiang Qiao: Then you…
Xu Si: I live alone.
Xu Si: I can keep whatever pets I want.
Xu Si: Jealous, little classmate?
Xu Si: If you get the chance, I might let you pet my cat.
Jiang Qiao: Well, thank you so much.
Xu Si: You don’t sound very thankful.
Jiang Qiao: You’re mistaken.
Jiang Qiao found herself amused by his messages. She saved the photo as their chat background.
Remembering the cup from today, she prepared to transfer him money.
Jiang Qiao: How much was today’s cup? I’ll transfer you the money.
Xu Si: Don’t worry about it, just buy me a drink sometime.
Jiang Qiao didn’t say more, planning to read a bit before sleep. She had just opened “The Little Prince” when another message came from Xu Si.
Xu Si: Still planning to study?
Jiang Qiao: Not studying, just reading a book.
Jiang Qiao put her phone aside and returned to “The Little Prince.” Before she knew it, it was past midnight.
Rubbing her eyes, she put the book aside and saw Xu Si’s message. She drowsily sent a voice message before falling asleep.
Xu Si paused at seeing the voice message, then played it. He heard Jiang Qiao’s sleepy “good night” – her voice was naturally soft, even more so with drowsiness.
Xu Si found himself playing it again.
He looked at his earlier message.
Xu Si: Good night, sleep early, little traditionalist.
Yuan Yuan heard the voice message and meowed several times. Xu Si looked up at it: “What are you meowing for? The good night wasn’t for you.”
Yuan Yuan jumped onto the bed and curled up in Xu Si’s arms.
Xu Si laughed: “You’re quite good at finding comfortable spots.”
The next morning, Jiang Qiao was woken by Liu Ma knocking on her door.
“I’m getting up,” she responded.
After brushing her teeth and getting ready, she packed two bottles of milk and headed to school.
She had just sat down in class when the bell rang.
Xu Si looked at her with amusement: “Well, little classmate almost arrived late today. That’s not like you.”
Jiang Qiao glanced at him without responding, then took out her books.
“Now you’re giving me the silent treatment, little classmate?”
Jiang Qiao turned to him: “You could try memorizing some classical Chinese, it’s quite interesting.”
“Like what?”
Jiang Qiao pulled out his books from his drawer, opened them, flipped through, and pointed to one: “This one is quite good.”
Xu Si looked at the classical Chinese text’s title and smiled: “Little traditionalist is trying to encourage studying again.”
Jiang Qiao ignored him and returned to her own studies.
Xu Si looked at the classical text but encountered unfamiliar characters after just a few lines. Boring.
After morning self-study, Jiang Qiao took out “The Little Prince” from her bag and placed it on Xu Si’s desk, along with a bottle of milk.
Xu Si stared at the milk for a moment, then said with sudden realization: “Changed tactics? Now using food to encourage studying?”
Jiang Qiao explained: “Didn’t you say to buy you a drink?”
Xu Si remembered his words from yesterday, picked up the milk, and smiled: “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Jiang Qiao took out another bottle of milk for herself.
Hao Ming brought breakfast: “Brother Si, breakfast.”
Xu Si took it: “I’ll transfer you money later.”
“This is from my family’s shop, no need to pay.”
Hao Ming then handed another portion to Yang Shikun: “Want some, Dog Yang?”
Yang Shikun grabbed the breakfast: “Of course I want some!”
Hao Ming: “Ten yuan.”
Yang Shikun: “What, did I go deaf just now?”
Hao Ming: “Ten yuan.”
Yang Shikun: “Now I’m deaf.”
Hao Ming: “Get lost, Dog Yang, I’m leaving.”
After taking a bite of the steamed bun, Yang Shikun couldn’t help praising to Xu Si: “Brother Si, this is pretty good.”
Xu Si responded with a “Mm.”
Yang Shikun casually asked Jiang Qiao: “Have you eaten breakfast, Jiang?”
“I ate at home.”
Yang Shikun grinned, then his sharp eyes noticed that both their milk bottles were identical strawberry flavor.
Before his brain could process this information, his mouth spoke: “Brother Si, Jiang, you have the same milk.”
“I brought them,” Jiang Qiao replied.
Yang Shikun said “Oh,” turned around, then felt he’d discovered something remarkable. He couldn’t help turning back to look at them several times.
Xu Si looked up at him: “Keep turning around and I’ll break your neck.”
“Yes, Brother Si.” Yang Shikun immediately turned back around.
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