Serenade

Xu Chaoyang was pinned down on the bed and brutally ravaged by Bo Yan. His hands were twisted behind his back, his face was pressed hard against the wall, and his waist was bent at a ninety degree angle by Bo Yan with a crackling sound.

"Damn it, Jing Chi, come over and help me out!"

Leaning lazily against the bookshelf flipping through a book, Jing Chi laughed and said, "You brought this on yourself with that loose mouth. Trying to hook up with a girl, you'd say anything, even making up stories about Boss Bo. It serves you right to get beaten up."

"I didn't think she was the gossipy type. I had no idea she'd actually repeat what I said."

"You think..." Jing Chi put down the book with a cold snort. "What do you know about her? You just met her briefly. How could you sell out your brothers like that?"

Just as Xu Chaoyang was about to explain, Bo Yan wedged his knees into his back and shoved hard, making him shriek in pain again. "Boss, I'm wrong, I'm wrong! I'll never talk nonsense again! Have mercy on me!"

After pinning Xu Chaoyang on the bed and putting his joints through a round of cracking, almost taking half his life, Bo Yan finally stopped, satisfied. He casually grabbed a towel and went into the bathroom to shower.

Lying limply on the bed and staring at the ceiling, Xu Chaoyang lazily said, "I haven't heard from Sister Xuanxuan in so many days. I probably don't stand a chance."

Jing Chi asked him, "How did you confess to her that night?"

"I just told her I liked her."

"You just told her you liked her empty-handed?"

"Of course not. I bought a small cake and roses."

"Did she accept them?"

"She did, but said she needed to think about it."

Sitting down, Jing Chi scoffed impatiently, "If you like someone, you like them. If you don't, you don't. What's there to think about?"

Xu Chaoyang laughed. "Girls probably think more. I went in fully expecting her to reject me outright. I didn't expect to still have a chance."

"That Xuanxuan is no simple girl. A silly kid like you, don't take it personally that I'm discouraging your efforts to chase her. You really can't hold onto her."

Xu Chaoyang frowned in distaste. "You and your devious mind make everything so complicated. Sister Xuanxuan is the most pure and kind girl I've ever met. She's nothing like what you described. When I confessed to her, she was so touched she almost cried."

Jing Chi's eyes nearly rolled to the heavens. "So touched she was about to cry, yet she's kept you hanging for so many days without a reply? She's clearly stringing you along as a backup while toying with you."

"A dog can't spit out ivory!"

Xu Chaoyang pounced to hit Jing Chi, but just then he suddenly received a WeChat message and froze.

"What's the matter, cat got your tongue?"

After a long pause, he looked dazedly at Jing Chi by the desk.

"Jing Chi, Sister agreed."

Jing Chi shuddered. "Agreed to what?"

Xu Chaoyang suddenly sprang up from the bed and grabbed his phone excitedly. "Sister Xuanxuan agreed. She agreed to be my girlfriend!"

Jing Chi smirked skeptically. "You're kidding, right?"

Xu Chaoyang had already jumped down from the bed and opened the wardrobe looking for clothes. "Sister asked me to meet her downstairs in half an hour. I've got to dress up nicely."

He tried several outfits but found none satisfactory. Remembering Bo Yan had some decent shirts, he decided to go open his wardrobe. Jing Chi laughed and said, "Go ahead if you're looking to die."

Xu Chaoyang paused, then gave up the idea.

Bo Yan was fully capable of rushing over and stripping him naked if he caught Xu Chaoyang going through his stuff when he had a date.

Xu Chaoyang picked an Adidas T-shirt to wear and wanted to spray on some of Xia You's cologne.

"What cologne for a date in the woods?" Xia You tossed him a bottle of floral water. "Use this. Spray plenty. I guarantee your sister will stick to you like glue."

As a typical straight man, Xu Chaoyang gave himself a few liberal spritzes of floral water, then merrily ran downstairs.

Jing Chi and Xia You exchanged a knowing look and got up together to follow and watch the fun.

At that moment, it was dusk and the area around the dorm building was lively with people coming and going.

Jin Xi and Chu Zhao were just returning from a stroll and happened to run into Xu Chaoyang and Qu Xuanxuan talking in front of the dorm.

Jin Xi reassuringly took Chu Zhao's hand.

"It's okay, let's go back."

"Okay." She held Jin Xi's hand and the two headed toward the dorm building with their heads lowered.

Before they reached the door, Qu Xuanxuan's voice called out behind them, "Juniors Jin Xi and Zhao Zhao."

Since she had addressed them by name, further pretending not to see or hear would seem deliberate.

Jin Xi looked up and smiled politely at them. "Sister, hello. We've got something to do, so..."

Before she finished speaking, Qu Xuanxuan suddenly took Xu Chaoyang's hand and snuggled up to him coquettishly. "Chaoyang and I were just discussing going for dinner. Would you like to join us?"

Xu Chaoyang blushed. This was progressing too swiftly!

They were holding hands already?

Jin Xi's gaze lowered to see Qu Xuanxuan holding Xu Chaoyang's hand, clearly deliberately flaunting to Chu Zhao.

Oblivious to the girls' thoughts, Xu Chaoyang scratched his head awkwardly and explained to the two, "I haven't told you yet. Xuanxuan and I are together now."

After a long pause, Chu Zhao managed to squeeze out the word "Congratulations" with difficulty.

"Thanks. Want to have dinner together? My treat." He smiled foolishly.

Jin Xi held Chu Zhao's hand tightly. "We won't be lightbulbs. You two go ahead."

The couple turned and left. To Qu Xuanxuan's eyes, it certainly looked like they fled. But there was no helping it now.

At the dorm entrance, Chu Zhao suddenly stopped.

Jin Xi looked at her, puzzled.

"Why does she get to be happy when she's up to no good?" Chu Zhao's lips were dry, her voice low.

Pulling at her sleeve, Jin Xi said softly, "But what can you do?"

Chu Zhao looked up at Jin Xi, her dark eyes swirling with unwillingness. "She doesn't even like him. She's deceiving him."

Jin Xi felt very helpless. "But they're already together."

Chu Zhao pondered briefly before turning and striding toward Xu Chaoyang and the others.

Jin Xi wanted to stop her but it was too late. Chu Zhao charged forward—

"Xu Chaoyang!"

The two ahead stopped and looked back puzzled.

Chu Zhao ran up to Xu Chaoyang, agitated. Pointing at Qu Xuanxuan, she said, "Do you know what she did? She deliberately provoked a fight between Jin Xi and Bo Yan, and threatened Jin Xi that if she didn't break up, she would...she would..."

Xu Chaoyang frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Chu Zhao uh-ed for a long time but couldn't get the rest of the words out.

Her face was flushed and she was breathing rapidly.

At this moment, laying bare the bloody truth before everyone would make everything become unsightly.

Her crush, Qu Xuanxuan's motives, and Xu Chaoyang's silly infatuation...

It was all shrouded in an ugly veil in the face of underhanded schemes.

After a long hesitation, Chu Zhao still didn't say anything.

Xu Chaoyang's pure eyes showed incomprehension and curiosity...

In the end, Chu Zhao couldn't bear to see his beautiful dreams shattered, even if they were only illusory bubbles.

Qu Xuanxuan knew Chu Zhao wouldn't be able to say it. She laughed easily, "Junior, I know you like Teacher Xu, but he's with me now. Don't pester him anymore in the future, okay?"

Chu Zhao's breath hitched.

Her deepest secret was just blurted out so heartlessly before so many people!

Xu Chaoyang was rather at a loss. "Hey, don't, don't talk nonsense."

"Everyone knows Chu Zhao likes you." Qu Xuanxuan coquettishly complained in a girly tone, "You're my boyfriend now. I don't want you to have anything more to do with her."

"I don't have anything with her... We never did." Xu Chaoyang the clueless monk couldn't make heads or tails of it. "What play are you two acting out today?"

Chu Zhao stood frozen, her whole body icy cold. In this sweltering summer dusk, she hugged herself and shuddered.

He knew.

All the secrets buried deep in her heart, all the beautiful fantasies, the little thrills after every meeting and conversation, every seemingly coincidental "encounter"...were all laid bare, in such a cruel, ugly manner, with nowhere to hide.

The people around were gossiping and chatting. Qu Xuanxuan directly labeled Chu Zhaooyang as the "third party" who destroyed their relationship, even though they had just announced they were together.

She mocked Chu Zhao's loss with the air of a victor. Jin Xi couldn't stand to see this. She rushed over furiously and shielded Chu Zhao behind her back, yelling angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about? Who likes Xu Chaoyang? I'm her roommate and even I don't know. How do you know about it?"

Qu Xuanxuan feigned innocence: "Jin Xi, I know you're trying to protect her reputation. Let it go, I won't make a fuss about the past. I just hope she keeps her distance from Xu Chaoyang in the future and doesn't ruin our relationship."

Jin Xi turned to Xu Chaoyang and said solemnly: "Chu Zhao has never said she likes you, don't get any ideas."

"I didn't, I didn't get any ideas! Come on, why are you guys arguing?" Xu Chaoyang had never encountered girls arguing before and didn't know how to handle it. "Weren't you two on good terms?"

"We're not friends! Xu Chaoyang, you idiot!"

It was the first time Xu Chaoyang had seen Jin Xi so furious. "What did I do?"

"You're blind. Qu Xuanxuan doesn't like you at all, she's just using you, using you to bully Chu Zhao. And you're even helping her! You..."

Chu Zhao suddenly grabbed Jin Xi's sleeve, stopping her words.

She looked back and saw Chu Zhao with her head lowered, her bangs slightly covering her eyes. Tears were flowing down her cheeks and she was biting her lip tightly, turning the flesh pale pink.

Qu Xuanxuan sneered, "Chu Zhao is jealous that Xu Chaoyang likes me. She's had a bad attitude towards me ever since the poetry meeting and outing. How did it become me bullying her? You really know how to distort right and wrong."

Chu Zhao clenched her fists tightly. Her whole body trembled as she faced the contemptuous gazes of the crowd. She felt as if she had been stripped naked, ugly, jealous, unworthy, humiliated...

Just then, a warm palm suddenly grabbed her clenched fist and held it tightly in its grasp.

"What's so great about your Xu Chaoyang that everyone loves him?"

A low, mocking voice came from behind.

Chu Zhao looked back and saw Jing Chi.

In the dusk, his pitch-black eyes were like a calm, deep abyss, giving people a sense of security.

Seeing Jing Chi come over, Qu Xuanxuan's face darkened. "Did you all come out as a group?"

Xu Chaoyang said, "Jing Chi, why do you always come out to stir up trouble?"

Jing Chi smiled coldly, looking at Qu Xuanxuan. "I just can't stand seeing your girlfriend's two-faced, arrogant and overbearing attitude. She kept saying Chu Zhao was jealous of her."

Jing Chi raised his hand holding Chu Zhao's: "Now take a good look at who's holding her hand - it's me."

Chu Zhao lifted her wet eyes. Her gaze fell upon their clasped hands. The back of his hand was a healthy wheat color, the joints long and powerful, the knuckles protruding whitely where they connected to his fingers.

He held her hand very tightly.

The shocks just kept coming today. Jin Xi felt her heart couldn't take it anymore.

Xu Chaoyang asked in bewilderment, "How come I didn't know about this? When did you get together?"

"You think everyone's like you, wanting the whole world to know who they like and hate." Jing Chi looked coldly at Qu Xuanxuan. "Just because you found a boyfriend, you delude yourself that every woman is your romantic rival. Aren't you overestimating yourself."

The onlookers stirred again, all casting looks of disdain at Qu Xuanxuan.

Qu Xuanxuan's face was extremely ugly. "You, you're lying!"

"I'm not lying." As if empowered by his strength, Chu Zhao said hoarsely, "He's not lying." Then she stood on her tiptoes and swiftly kissed Jing Chi on the cheek.

Jing Chi's eyes widened in shock, his mind blank. He touched his cheek in a daze, still feeling the lingering warmth from the girl's lip print. His usually quick-witted self now felt like he couldn't breathe—

"Um, ah..."

Wait, what was he about to say?

Qu Xuanxuan had thrown a rock at her own feet. Her usual graceful and magnanimous image was shattered. Facing the contemptuous gazes of the crowd, she had never been so humiliated before. She shook off Xu Chaoyang's hand and ran off.

Xu Chaoyang looked at Qu Xuanxuan, then at Jin Xi. "Should I, should I chase after her?"

Jin Xi rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively before leaving.

...

Dusk shrouded the empty rooftop.

The girl sat at the edge of the high terrace, gazing at the setting sun sinking in the distance. Her nose was a little red, and teardrops glistened on her lashes.

She wept silently, tears falling one by one.

Jing Chi's heart ached a little. He trudged over heavily and sat down next to her, his height aligned with where she sat.

"Still upset?"

Chu Zhao turned her face away. Her slender shoulders heaved as she sobbed.

Jing Chi stretched out a hand, wanting to wipe away her tears, but hesitated and pulled it back.

"What are you crying for? You did great just now." Leaning against the rough wall of the terrace, he turned his head to look at her and said lightly, "The two of us joined forces and showed Qu Xuanxuan's true colors. You should've seen her face - ashen white..."

Chu Zhao cried even harder, gasping for breath.

"It's not yours, no matter what. Let it go." He frowned, trying to comfort her.

"Now that things have come to this, I can only let it go." She bit her lower lip tightly, her cheeks flushed with agitation. "Qu Xuanxuan was right, I'm jealous. Every time I see her, I feel awful. I'm so jealous of her."

"What's there to be jealous of? She doesn't compare to you at all."

Her voice was slightly hoarse with tears. "You don't understand how that feels. You don't understand anything."

Jing Chi took a deep breath. How could he not understand the feeling of jealousy? He was jealous of that fool too.

"Don't cry anymore, it's annoying."

Chu Zhao sobbed, "Who asked you to come up? I'm, I'm crying by myself. How am I bothering you!"

Jing Chi looked at her tear-streaked, pear blossom face and threatened fiercely, "Keep crying and see what happens."

"Why are you being fierce with me? Can't you let me cry by myself for a while? The one I like has a girlfriend now. Can't I even cry?"

Before she finished speaking, Jing Chi suddenly pressed his hand against the back of her head and pulled her heavily into his embrace.

Chu Zhao's eyes widened in shock. Her face and ears started burning. His hard chest pressed painfully against her nose bridge.

His powerful hand still pressed against the back of her head as he looked awkwardly to the side. "Go ahead and cry now. I'm lending you my warm embrace."

Through the thin clothing, Chu Zhao could clearly feel his scorching body temperature and the frenzied beating of his heart.

Stunned speechless, how could she still cry?

Her gaze lowered to his shirt. It was a simple white tee. The color of the letters on the chest had faded after washing, smelling fresh and soapy - a very clean scent, like sunlight.

Sensing her stiffened posture, Jing Chi let her go. "Not crying anymore?"

Chu Zhao's dark pupils were still moist and clear, tinged with panic.

Jing Chi casually looked up at the sky. "There's not just that one Xu Chaoyang in this world."

"Oh!"

The night breeze was slightly cool. The two stood wordlessly for a while.

Jing Chi couldn't help...reaching up to touch his left cheek again, the corners of his mouth quirking up in a smile that was spotted by Chu Zhao. He immediately dropped his hand and cleared his throat, maintaining his solemnity.

Chu Zhao lowered her eyes, unconsciously picking at her fingernails. She mumbled, "I wanted to have a good cry, but you ruined my mood."

Seeing her spirits lift, Jing Chi also breathed a sigh of relief. "I was trying to be a good warm man, and you don't appreciate it. This opportunity won't come again. Next time you want to rely on your senior brother Jing, it'll cost you."

"Who wants to rely on you."

"So what's the plan going forward? Other than stealing my buddy's girl, which I won't do, just say the word if you need me to go through fire and water."

Chu Zhao heaved a deep sigh. "He already has a girlfriend. I've decided to give up."

"Just let it go, besides Xu Chaoyang, whoever else you want to like won't come easily," said Bo Yan, his pitch-black eyelashes still speckled with dewdrops.

"But I'm so great!" Chu Zhao asked puzzledly.

Jing Chi mumbled an "umm" and blushed a little.

Chu Zhao lightly placed her hand on Jing Chi's shoulder, like a feather, light as air, but to Jing Chi it felt like a thousand pounds of weight.

"I mean...there are a lot of guys at our school, I didn't mean anything else."

Chu Zhao withdrew her hand again and sighed softly, "I almost said it just now, just a little more and I would have, but in the end...I still needed Qu Xuan Xuan's help to say it out loud, I'm so useless."

Jing Chi took a deep breath: "A smart man doesn't need the girl to take the initiative to say it out loud, Xu Chaoyang is just stupid."

"You're the stupid one!"

Jing Chi laughed: "If you say I'm stupid, then I'm stupid."

"Let's go back, Jin Xi is probably worried about me."

Chu Zhao turned to leave, but Jing Chi suddenly grabbed her. His hand slipped and didn't get a grip, only catching her sleeve and tugging it a bit, exposing half her shoulder.

Her fair, beautiful shoulder was like an exquisite peak, with a black bra strap flashing by. 𝔣𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔴𝔢𝖇𝖓𝔬𝖛𝔢𝔩.𝖈𝔬𝖒

Chu Zhao quickly took two steps back and pulled her clothes back up.

A girl's summer clothes were just like that, thin and lightweight, delicate fabrics that were easily torn, and he just had to be a guy who didn't know his own strength.

Jing Chi pretended to be calm: "What kind of shoddy clothes are these that get damaged so easily? Can you even go out wearing them?"

"No one grabs at my clothes when I go out!" Chu Zhao glared at him resentfully. "What did you want to say?"

"Summer vacation is almost here."

"Yeah."

"During the vacation we'll be going into the mountains for military training, over forty days. During this time, try your best."

"Try my best? At what?"

A gust of wind blew away the flush on Jing Chi's face. He put his hands in his pockets and looked to the side: "Try your best to forget about Xu Chaoyang."

She was even more confused, her wet almond eyes staring at him.

The wind rose, blowing the soft strands of the girl's hair.

His breathing grew ragged, his dry Adam's apple bobbing up and down—

"Only when you forget him will I have a chance."