Ah, the joy of OCD is back online again.
Ten minutes later—
Two bowls of wontons: Xie Dingyuan’s was the large bowl, Jiang Fuyue’s was the small one.
They didn’t eat at the dining table but huddled around the living room coffee table, chatting as they ate.
On the TV, the news they had watched that morning was being rebroadcast, yet somehow the two of them didn’t find it boring.
“The greens seem to have a sweet taste?”
Xie Dingyuan: “They’re grown by Aunt Liu in the backyard, all natural, no fertilizer.”
“No wonder…”
“If you like them, eat more.” As he spoke, he picked the greens out of his own bowl and placed them in Jiang Fuyue’s.
Suddenly, the man’s movement paused. He realized he had already eaten two bites of them. Somewhat embarrassed, he asked, “…do you mind?”
Before, it was always others asking Professor Xie whether he minded. When had he ever taken others’ feelings into account?
So, karma—
It’s here!
“I don’t mind.” When Jiang Fuyue shook her head, Xie Dingyuan let out a sudden breath of relief. Then, cheerfully, he dumped all the greens from his bowl into hers, not leaving a single stalk.
Jiang Fuyue: “?” I suspect you just don’t want to eat the greens!
Xie Dingyuan: “……” Busted? No way, right? She didn’t even say anything.
After eating, the man voluntarily cleared the bowls and chopsticks and took them into the kitchen to wash.
While tidying the coffee table, Jiang Fuyue discovered that under a stack of SCIENCE journals, there was a newspaper pressed beneath.
She pulled it out and found her own photo on the front page.
It was a screenshot from an interview video she had done some time ago.
She and the host sat face-to-face, and when the camera captured her head-on, that shot was cut out. Because the resolution wasn’t very high, plus newspapers distort images naturally, the picture looked a bit blurry.
The article revolved around the topic of her applying to Qiming University despite her perfect exam scores, laying out a few viewpoints in a seemingly neutral manner.
Finally, it asked the readers what they thought.
At first glance, nothing seemed wrong—the author’s tone was properly balanced, the perspective objective.
But a closer read revealed that when listing opinions, only one or two were supportive, while half a page was filled with opposing voices.
Things like: she looked down on B University and Q University, and that the country’s top schools should blacklist her.
Some criticized her for being arrogant, daring to compare a “chicken feather” school like Ming University with the nation’s top universities.
The most exaggerated said she was possessed, or mentally unstable. They even cited examples of Einstein’s descendants being mostly fools.
The conclusion: an excessively high IQ isn’t necessarily a good thing, because madness and genius are often just one step apart.
Jiang Fuyue almost couldn’t stop herself from laughing when she read that part.
Mainstream media these days—are they always this superstitious and melodramatic?
“Don’t bother with them.” Xie Dingyuan walked over, snatched the paper from her hand, scrunched it into a ball, and tossed it into the trash.
Jiang Fuyue raised a brow: “Aren’t you curious?”
He had long known she applied to Ming University, yet in all their time together had never mentioned it once.
The man sat down beside her. “Want to hear the truth?”
“Of course.”
“Of course I was curious…” If it were anyone else, he’d be curious. He was no exception.
“Then why not ask?”
“You don’t say, I don’t ask. When you want to say it, even if I don’t ask, you’ll still say it—like now.”
Jiang Fuyue couldn’t help laughing: “You sound like you really know what you’re talking about. You’ve got your lines all set.”
The man scratched his head and chuckled as well.
“Actually, Ming University isn’t bad.”
Xie Dingyuan: “……”
“Why does everyone think it’s terrible?”
Uh…
That question he couldn’t answer.
Later, Jiang Fuyue would realize this was called the “biological mother’s filter.”
The child you gave birth to—no matter how ugly, you still think is adorable.
…
That afternoon, Xie Dingyuan answered a call, the other party speaking in Arabic. He casually pulled over a blank sheet of paper. “Go ahead.”
Then, as he listened, he jotted down a string of chemical reaction equations.
When it was over, he glanced at Jiang Fuyue, a bit reluctant. “I need to deal with something in the study…”
“Mm, go get busy.”
“And you…” Because it was confidential, he couldn’t take her into the study.
“I’ll just read some magazines here.” She pointed to the stack of journals.
“Alright.”
…
After solving the problem as fast as possible and sending feedback to the Sufang base, he rushed downstairs impatiently.
But searching the living room, she wasn’t there. He checked the dining room, the kitchen, even the bathroom…
Everywhere was quiet and empty.
A heavy disappointment welled up, his eyes gradually dimming.
She left…
Suddenly, a breeze stirred the curtains. Behind the white gauze, a graceful figure faintly showed.
Xie Dingyuan stepped forward, lifted the fabric lightly, and saw—
The girl leaned against a lounge chair, legs together and slightly bent, a magazine open in her hands, head bowed slightly, gaze intent.
The wind passed through the trees, bringing a cool touch. Strands of hair brushed down onto the page, and she gently tucked them aside with her fingertips.
Xie Dingyuan froze, watching, not knowing how long.
He felt like an intruder, hardly daring to breathe lest he disturb this quiet and peaceful moment, destroy the completeness and beauty of the scene.
It was Jiang Fuyue who first noticed: “…What are you doing standing behind the curtain? Finished?”
She closed the journal, set down her legs, and walked over. “Was it urgent?”
The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “…All handled.”
“Then can I go to your study to look for a book?” Earlier while reading a paper, she’d discovered something interesting she wanted to verify.
“Of course. What book?”
She gave the title—since it involved technical terms, she said it directly in Latin.
“…Do you have it?”
Xie Dingyuan: “Not the original, only a translation. Is that alright?”
“What language?”
“Russian.”
“That’s fine.”
The two went upstairs.
Afterward, Jiang Fuyue curled up on the sofa with the book, while Xie Dingyuan opened his computer to work.
Between them was a desk and a display shelf—not too near, not too far.
Yet the atmosphere was perfectly harmonious.
Time passed, the sun set. Jiang Fuyue flipped the last page, still unsatisfied.
Looking out the floor-to-ceiling window, she realized an entire afternoon had flown by.
Xie Dingyuan closed his computer, stood, and walked over.
Jiang Fuyue naturally handed him the book, and he smoothly took it, then returned it to the shelf.
No words needed—an innate tacit understanding.
“What to eat?”
Jiang Fuyue shook her head. “Don’t know. You decide.”
“Eat out?”
“Sure, then I’ll go change clothes first.”
A quarter hour later—
Jiang Fuyue emerged in a red long dress, cotton-linen texture with embroidered patterns, flowing down to her ankles.
Her black hair cascaded down her back, contrasting vividly with the red dress, making her skin look even fairer.
When she stepped out, Xie Dingyuan had already parked the car at the villa entrance.
Through the half-lowered window, a deep and vivid amazement flashed across his eyes.
Jiang Fuyue walked to the passenger seat, opened the door, and sat down.
Just as she was about to fasten her seat belt, Xie Dingyuan suddenly reached out to stop her.
He said: “Let me.”
Jiang Fuyue: “I know how.” Implied meaning: I can do it myself.
“I know, but I want to fasten it for you.”
“?”
The man coughed lightly, mumbling, “That’s how it’s done in TV dramas…”
The corner of Jiang Fuyue’s mouth twitched, but she let him.
So what if he’s a professor?
When men act childish, it has nothing to do with profession or IQ.
…
Without Jiang Fuyue saying, Xie Dingyuan directly drove them to a hot pot restaurant.
“How did you know I wanted this?!” Smelling the spicy aroma, her eyes lit up.
Xie Dingyuan’s brow twitched: “Other than this, what else have you ever eaten with me?”
“….”
Aside from one private home-cooked meal, everything else had indeed been hot pot.
“Doesn’t matter what we eat—as long as you like it.”
Jiang Fuyue: “……” Tsk!
Sometimes he seems clueless, sometimes he seems too smooth.
After finishing the meal, they came out an hour later.
The night was pleasant, summer breeze cool.
“Want to walk?”
Her long hair swayed, smile bright. “Sure.”
The last time they strolled like this was half a year ago, when Xie Dingyuan’s feelings had just become clear, but Jiang Fuyue was still unaware.
Separated by half a mountain, he had been tormented, while she remained completely unaffected.
Now—they were officially a couple.
Thinking of this, his lips curved upward unconsciously.
Bit by bit, he moved closer, finally seizing the girl’s hand, fingers interlocked.
From the corner of her eye, Jiang Fuyue caught him sidling nearer like a thief, then sneakily catching her hand.
Amusement flashed in her eyes, but she said nothing.
When he applied a little pressure, she responded with a gentle squeeze back.
Xie Dingyuan’s eyes lit up instantly, the streetlight reflecting the joy within.
They walked hand in hand quietly, no words needed.
…
Unknowingly, they reached the gates of No.1 High School and stopped before the iron gate.
The security guard dozed in the air-conditioned booth, nodding off.
Xie Dingyuan: “Want to go in and have a look?”
Though classes had ended for the year, the campus wasn’t closed.
The gym was often rented to government offices or community groups for events.
With ID registration, outsiders could enter freely.
The guard, awakened, handed them the logbook and pen. After they signed, he barely glanced before waving them through.
Every night this season, young couples came to the track. He saw so many, it was nothing unusual.
But that girl just now…
The guard smacked his lips—she seemed familiar somehow.
“Where have I seen her?”
Forget it, can’t recall, not worth thinking.
…
They went to the track, walked two laps, then sat in the stands.
Not far off, boys played basketball. Every shot that went in was met with cheers.
Sweat, energy—youth at its best.
Seeing Jiang Fuyue watching intently, Xie Dingyuan’s lips tightened. Suddenly he blurted: “I can do that too.”
After a pause, he added, more emphatically: “Better than them.”
Jiang Fuyue: “……”
Why does the peacock spread its tail?
To show the female it’s prettier, stronger.
In the animal kingdom, that’s called the instinct to court.
In human terms—it’s the drive to reproduce.
Xie Dingyuan: “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Jiang Fuyue: “Wondering just how pretty your tail is.”
“?”
At that moment, a basketball flew toward the stands.
Jiang Fuyue stood, leapt, and caught it firmly.
Xie Dingyuan, a step late, saw her action and stopped his own reach, grabbing only air.
The boys immediately crowded over, whistling—
“Beauty! Over here!”
“Nice catch!”
“Hey—can you play? Come join us!”
“Your boyfriend doesn’t seem great, want to switch?”
At that, a chill emanated from her side.
“Give me the ball.” Xie Dingyuan’s voice was low.
Jiang Fuyue obediently handed it over. “They’re joking, you—”
Before she finished, the man hurled the ball hard at the boy who’d spoken.
The boy didn’t dodge, eyes sparking with challenge, wanting to catch it head-on.
Bang—
The ball slammed into his palms, but the force was overwhelming. His arms recoiled, hitting his chest. Even then, the impact wasn’t softened—his chest thudded painfully beneath his hands before he finally steadied the ball.
The price: a heavy blow to his chest, twisted expression, nearly falling on his butt.
He was stunned, shocked, and in pain.
His buddies stopped jeering, their eyes darting between Xie Dingyuan and him.
One stood above on the bleachers, not even deigning to look at them, only showing an arrogant jawline. The other clutched his chest, pale, utterly humiliated.
The comparison made it clear who was “capable” and who wasn’t.
“S-sorry, man, my buddy was joking. He just has a foul mouth. Don’t take it to heart.”
One boy was smart—knowing they couldn’t afford to provoke him, he quickly surrendered.
But Xie Dingyuan’s expression didn’t soften.
“Really, we meant no harm. He just mouths off out of habit,” he even smacked his own mouth.
“We’re truly sorry, bro! Your girlfriend’s gorgeous, and you’re super handsome—you two are made for each other, a perfect couple!”
“…Why stop? Keep going.”
“Uh? Oh! May you love each other deeply, stay united forever, grow old together till death do you part!”
Only then did Xie Dingyuan wave them off, satisfied.
The peacemaker exhaled in relief, dragging away his pale, unwilling buddy.
“What are you doing? We can’t just leave like this—I haven’t reclaimed my pride!”
“Don’t be stupid. Look at reality! How would you win it back? Stronger than him? Better at ball? Better at getting girls?”
“….” No answer.
“That throw alone—anyone can see he’s a pro! As the saying goes, if you can’t afford to provoke someone, then don’t. What are you fussing for? Idiot!”
“But… we’re just letting it go? I…”
“Enough ‘I, I, I.’ Let’s get out of here.”
“….” Sob sob! I just made one cheeky comment, why did it have to end like this?
On the bleachers—
Xie Dingyuan sat calmly, smug yet restrained, like a rooster who’d just won a fight. If he had feathers, he’d be shaking them proudly.
“Happy now?” Jiang Fuyue laughed.
“Not bad.” Oddly haughty.
“A bunch of kids, and you still bothered?”
“…A man can be killed but not humiliated.” Who told them to say I was “not good” in front of you?
Didn’t they know the two words men hate most are “not good”?
Jiang Fuyue vaguely understood what set him off.
Heh, men.
When one group left, another took over the court.
Jiang Fuyue checked the time. “Let’s go?”
“Mm.” He stood.
As they descended, he quietly took her hand again, fingers tight.
A man and woman, hand in hand, leaving together.
The night breeze lifted her hair and skirt hem, brushing against him. From afar, they looked perfectly harmonious.
“Brother Ci! Over here—ball! Quick!”
“D*mn! Stolen!”
Two minutes later, the opponents scored.
“Not playing. Let’s rest two minutes!”
The boys gathered. Yici still looked distracted.
“Brother Ci, water.”
“…Thanks.”
“If you’d passed to me just now, I’d have scored! Even if not, we wouldn’t have let them score. Such a waste.”
“Brother Ci, you spacing out? That wasn’t your normal level at all!”
“Sorry, I thought I saw an acquaintance, so I looked a few times and let them slip one in.” He glanced toward the direction where the couple had left.
They were gone now.
That woman—red dress, black hair, tall and slim. From behind, she looked exactly like Jiang Fuyue.
The man beside her also seemed faintly familiar, but he couldn’t place him.
But then again—how could Jiang Fuyue possibly be out walking late at night with some man?
Impossible!
Yici relaxed. “We fought hard to get this court, let’s play a few more games and win back double.”
“That’s what we were waiting for, Brother Ci!”
“Let’s go—kill them!”
In the second half, Yici regained his form, unstoppable, crushing the other team.
Yes—Jiang Fuyue had rejected him, Zhong Ziang, and Ling Xuan. There was no way she’d be dating anyone anytime soon.
Thinking that, his game got even fiercer.
“D*mn! Did he take steroids?”
“No, just drank a Red Bull.”
“Why does it feel like he’s playing like a heartbroken brute? That’s not basketball, that’s stress ball!”
…
Completely unaware her romance had almost been exposed, Jiang Fuyue was already dozing off in the car.
The man kept his eyes on the road, but from the corner of his eye, he watched her constantly. Seeing her, he reminded gently: “Cover with the blanket, don’t catch a cold.”
“…Oh.”
By the time they drove into the community, she was asleep, head tilted, blanket over her, peaceful as could be.
Xie Dingyuan parked the car and just looked at her quietly, as if he could never look enough.
Then, the closer he looked, the smaller the distance between them became.
He simply unbuckled the seatbelt that was in the way, put his hand on the passenger seat headrest, bent his upper body, then leaned forward slightly, and slowly lowered his head…
The girl’s rosy lips were close at hand, just a little bit away, just a little bit, and he could touch them. The man’s breathing stagnated, his heartbeat was like thunder, as if he had made up his mind, he closed his eyes, and suddenly leaned forward…
Can Xie 99 successfully kiss Sister Yue? (He really failed many times)
- Yes; B. No
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