Chapter 126
The little river shimmered faintly under crescent-shaped streetlamps, not total darkness.
Qu Xiaoya rose to her feet as Feng Siruo approached.
She smiled warmly. “Feng, you came?”
“Mm…”
Qu Xiaoya walked toward her, tone gentle and polite. “You know, even though we’ve been classmates, we haven’t talked much.”
Feng Siruo nodded, but her hands clenched tightly.
She knew this was “courtesy before force” — a polite front before getting difficult.
Her nerves only worsened.
“I asked you out because I wanted to talk.”
Feng Siruo looked at her. “It’s about Jiang Zhou…”
Qu Xiaoya blinked. “You know what I want to say?”
“Mm.”
“Alright then, I won’t beat around the bush. I really like Jiang Zhou.”
She declared it firmly, while Feng Siruo simply nodded to herself.
“From the moment I entered school, I found him interesting.
“Later, as he became more and more well-known, I started to like him secretly.
“I’ve hidden this really well, so no one has ever known.
“I’ve never been in a relationship, and I don’t even know how to confess.
“Sometimes I thought… maybe it’s fine to just keep liking him secretly.
“But later, when you started showing up with him all the time, hand in hand, I started feeling uncomfortable. Because he’s the boy I like.
“I called you out because I hope you’ll leave him. Stop bothering with him.
“I know Jiang Zhou forced you. You’re just bad at rejecting people, aren’t you?
“That’s what everyone told me. They said when you first got with him, you were very scared.
If I’m with him, I promise he won’t bother you anymore. Okay?”
After Qu Xiaoya’s long speech, Feng Siruo lowered her head, falling silent.
In the moonlight, she looked fragile and helpless. She was like an angel fallen into the mortal world.
Not far away, Jiang Zhou had also stopped in the shadows.
He didn’t step forward, just quietly observed.
He wanted to know how this girl would respond when faced with such a question.
Qu Xiaoya wasn’t in a rush either.
She knew Feng Siruo’s personality. No matter what, the girl would always hesitate, as if making a choice might cost her life.
In the end, she always said yes.
That’s what everyone said: Feng Siruo always agreed to everything.
“No.” Feng Siruo suddenly lifted her head, her lips parting.
The word was crisp and firm. There was not even a stutter.
In that moment, she felt she was finally a little fierce, at least one percent as fierce as Huang Qi.
Qu Xiaoya froze.
She realized then that she had been rejected.
“You… what did you just say?”
“I said no. I… I like him,” After saying this, Feng Siruo took a deep breath.
Those few words had drained her of all her strength.
This was the first time she had ever rejected someone, but this time, she had no choice.
“Impossible. Don’t you agree to everything? That’s what everyone says!”
“Mm… except this.”
Qu Xiaoya grew anxious. “But didn’t he force you? You kept rejecting him, right?”
Feng Siruo’s cheeks flushed pink. “He said I was his wife…”
“You can’t just get used to submitting because of his nonsense! I’ll help you leave him!”
“None…”
“None…”
“None…”
Qu Xiaoya frowned, confused.
None? None what?
“None of your damn business…” Feng Siruo wrinkled her delicate nose and spat out these shocking words.
She had learned them from Jiang Zhou.
He always said them to Ding Yue, leaving her speechless.
“…???” Qu Xiaoya was dumbfounded.
This wasn’t the timid, cowardly Feng Siruo everyone described.
How could such words come from her mouth?
But what surprised her even more was what Feng Siruo said next, “I like him… more than any of you.”
Qu Xiaoya immediately pushed back. “What gives you the right to say that?”
Feng Siruo thought carefully, organizing her words.
“You all have so many friends. I don’t.
“You go out and play everywhere. I don’t.
“You go shopping. I don’t dare.
“You watch movies. I don’t dare.
“You go sing karaoke. I don’t even dare to open my mouth.
“You like celebrities. I don’t like anyone.”
Qu Xiaoya frowned. “What are you even saying?”
Feng Siruo took another deep breath. “You all like many things. But I only like him. So… so I like him more than you do.”
Qu Xiaoya froze. “You…”
Feng Siruo nodded firmly. “My world only has him. He’s the one I like most.”
…
The air froze for three and a third seconds.
Qu Xiaoya’s mind spun, finally understanding.
Normal people liked many things: shopping, karaoke, movies, parties, chatting with friends. Romance wasn’t the only joy in their lives.
But Feng Siruo was different. She didn’t like any of that. She had never even tried.
The only thing she liked was Jiang Zhou.
Her world was simple. It was only him.
That was her one and only.
How could anyone else claim they liked him more than she did?
Realizing this, Qu Xiaoya was speechless.
She felt utterly defeated.
She had called Feng Siruo out with a lofty “confession,” only to be crushed completely.
There was no chance to even speak a second time.
“…I… I understand now.”
“Goodbye, class monitor.”
Feng Siruo turned, took a deep breath, and walked up the slope. It was an achievement unlocked: bold little lady.
She happily scrunched her nose and kept climbing.
—
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhou quickly backed away, then returned to the bonfire as if nothing had happened.
When the dorm boys saw him suddenly return, they were puzzled.
“Jiang Zhou, what, you went to pee yourself?”
He gritted his teeth. “The fire was too strong. It smoked me out!”
Xu Haodong smirked. “Guess everyone’s got their little problems.”
“Problems, your sister! Pissing blood is a big problem!”
—
The bonfire crackled on.
Most of the food was gone, and the beer was either empty cans or half-drunk, abandoned by their owners.
Everyone grew idle, sitting in a circle.
At that moment, Feng Siruo came back.
She sat down beside Jiang Zhou and bit into the corn he held out.
“All done in the bathroom?”
“Mm!”
“Then be my wife, okay?”
Her eyes widened in confusion.
What did going to the bathroom have to do with becoming his wife? There was no connection at all!
So she shook her head firmly.
“Being my wife is that bad?”
“Uh…”
“Sigh, should I try chasing someone else instead?”
“No way!”
Jiang Zhou chuckled and didn’t press further.
This was why he had backed away earlier.
Feng Siruo hadn’t rejected him because she didn’t like him.
She was just worried about her family’s opinion.
If he had barged in and exposed her confession, she would never be able to face him again. She couldn’t openly be his girlfriend, yet she still wanted to be with him.
Rather than push her into pressure and dilemmas, he was content with being “rejected” by her.
“What are you laughing at?”
He ruffled her hair. “I’m happy.”
She tilted her head, puzzled.
“From now on, let’s see who dares call you mute.”
“I’m not mute.”
“Mm, yes. Not mute. You’re a silver-tongued little girl.”