18 Pinch Back

That night, Jiang Ci had a dream, recalling the first time she met Zhang Heyu that summer.

Upon waking, her heart suddenly raced.

By the time Jiang Ci returned to school, Zhang Heyu was already in the classroom.

She set down her backpack and sat down, but before she could greet him, Zhang Heyu was called away by students from another class.

Her gaze flicked briefly to the exquisite package placed on her desk.

Carefully picking it up, she heard Huo Chensi laughing behind her, “That’s breakfast brought to you by Brother Yu. Eat it while it’s warm.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ci looked out the window. The young boy stood leisurely in the corridor, perhaps sensing the intense gaze, he tilted his head to glance inside.

Their eyes met.

Jiang Ci blinked, suddenly realizing something, and instinctively averted her eyes.

Someone beside Zhang Heyu was speaking to him, and he nodded in response.

Shortly after, Zhang Heyu returned to his seat. The little girl was quietly reviewing vocabulary.

“Why aren’t you eating?” he asked casually.

Clearing her throat, Jiang Ci turned slightly to face him, her expression serious. “You actually don’t have to bring me breakfast every time…”

Every time he brought her breakfast, Zhang Heyu looked tired in the morning, clearly lacking sleep.

The more this was so, the more Jiang Ci felt a pang of sympathy.

Zhang Heyu fell silent for a few seconds, his tone heavy, “If I want to bring it, I will. Don’t worry about it.”

“You’re really mean,” Jiang Ci muttered quietly.

“Mean, huh?” Zhang Heyu’s eyes drooped slightly, a teasing smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Such a delicate little girl, can’t even be 'mean' to.”

His teasing words made Jiang Ci blush deeply in an instant.

Zhang Heyu watched as the girl’s porcelain-white cheeks flushed pink, her delicate skin so fine even the tiny peach fuzz was visible. His gaze drifted lower to her lips, glistening with moisture.

Like a shiny, luscious strawberry.

It was irresistible.

The sinful thought popped into Zhang Heyu’s mind, and his Adam’s apple bobbed awkwardly.

Damn it.

Then, he quickly looked away first.

Zhang Heyu didn’t dare meet Jiang Ci’s gaze again. His voice hoarse, as if restraining something, he said, “Wasting food is shameful.”

Hearing the familiar words, Jiang Ci couldn’t help but smile. After thanking him, she slowly began to eat.

After the first three morning classes ended, the bell for recess rang, and Zhang Heyu left the classroom.

Huo Chensi sighed, muttering to himself, “Brother Yu’s been pretty busy with the broadcasting station recently.”

Fan Mian replied, “This week he has to hand over work to the juniors, plus he’s the station chief, so being busy is normal.”

Jiang Ci overheard their conversation.

Seeing Zhang Heyu rushing out after almost every class made it obvious.

Looking at the schedule, the next class was math, so Zhang Heyu would return to class.

She thought for a moment and opened the candy she had bought with Yu Xijin earlier that morning, placing two pieces on his desk.

After school, Jiang Ci planned to go to the library with Zhi Jiangwen to do homework.

Senior year hadn’t yet started evening study sessions, so many students came to the library after school.

Rumors said evening study would officially start after the National Day holiday.

Whether true or not, Jiang Ci guessed it would be around that time.

In the library.

Yesterday, Zhi Jiangwen said his physics quiz results weren’t good and wanted to ask Jiang Ci about some questions since she had helped him before. She didn’t refuse.

“Class monitor, show me the questions you don’t understand,” Jiang Ci said, pulling out an English workbook from her bag and looking up at him.

Zhi Jiangwen handed her the quiz paper from their class.

Jiang Ci glanced at it; the test seemed to be made by their teacher, moderate in difficulty, mostly basic questions for the experimental class.

“Class monitor, the questions you got wrong are all the same type,” Jiang Ci said, pointing twice at the wrong problems.

Zhi Jiangwen watched Jiang Ci zoning out and nodded, “...I don’t really understand this topic.”

“Then let me explain it simply,” Jiang Ci paused, “If you still don’t get it, it’s better to ask the teacher.”

Zhi Jiangwen gave a hesitant “Hmm,” avoiding her gaze, “I know.”

Inside the broadcast room.

“Ah Yu, this strawberry bear pendant of yours is quite eye-catching,” Fan Mian said, pulling it from the side pocket of Zhang Heyu’s backpack. “Which girl gave it to you?”

Strawberry bear?

Zhang Heyu suddenly remembered that Cheng Yaoyao had asked him yesterday to give this pendant to Jiang Ci.

The busy handover at the broadcast station had made him forget.

If he didn’t deliver this little thing to Jiang Ci today, Cheng Yaoyao would definitely make a fuss when he got home.

“Don’t touch it,” Zhang Heyu snatched it back from Fan Mian. “It’s Yaoyao’s. If it gets broken, she’ll kill me.”

Fan Mian quickly wiped his hands, startled, “Whoa, it’s Yaoyao’s treasure!”

Knowing Zhang Heyu liked Jiang Ci, Huo Chensi teased, “Brother Yu, do you know what I just saw?”

Zhang Heyu, annoyed by the noise, said, “Shut up.”

“Come on, I saw Ci and that guy who came to see her yesterday going to the library together!” Huo Chensi exaggerated, “They looked so sweet~”

Fan Mian looked puzzled and scolded, “What nonsense are you talking about? Their sweetness isn’t your business.”

“Of course, it’s none of my business. Just saying,” Huo Chensi said, then glanced at Zhang Heyu’s increasingly twisted expression, a triumphant smile spreading.

Zhang Heyu checked the time, grabbed his backpack, and hurried out.

His steps were urgent.

When Zhang Heyu arrived at the library, Jiang Ci was walking out side by side with Zhi Jiangwen.

Zhi Jiangwen noticed the person standing not far away, frowned, and a look of disdain flashed in his eyes.

Jiang Ci didn’t see Zhang Heyu. She looked down at her vocabulary notebook and suddenly heard Zhi Jiangwen’s question.

“Are you close with Zhang Heyu?”

Jiang Ci thought for a moment and replied, “Pretty good.”

“Don’t forget what I told you,” Zhi Jiangwen said, clearly disliking Zhang Heyu, “We’re not the same kind of people.”

His words sounded particularly harsh to Jiang Ci.

“Why do you think that?”

“I just don’t like him. Although his family background is good and his grades are top-notch, living under everyone’s spotlight, if one day he falls into the mud, he’s nothing.”

Jiang Ci looked up at him, disagreeing. “We’re all ordinary people. There’s no high or low, noble or base, only those who share the same ideals.”

She smiled gently. “So, I don’t think I’m not the same kind of person you mean.”

She wanted to be someone like him.

Besides, Zhang Heyu was proud and always stood at the top. Even if he fell, he had the ability to rise again.

Zhi Jiangwen pursed his lips and said no more.

“Jiang Ci, I’m leaving now.” He clenched his fists at his sides, then walked in the opposite direction.

Seeing this, Jiang Ci hesitated briefly, then looked after him with a helpless sigh.

“So young, and already sighing?”

Jiang Ci paused, hearing the voice, and turned to see Zhang Heyu standing there calmly.

“What are you doing here?”

“How else could I see you laughing so happily with another guy?”

Jiang Ci: “...”

Had she been laughing just now?

She didn’t remember.

Seeing her dazed expression, Zhang Heyu’s thin lips curved into a smile. He took a couple of steps closer, bending slightly to reduce the distance.

He reached up and pinched her cheek.

The soft touch made Zhang Heyu’s heart race suddenly.

Jiang Ci was stunned too, her cheeks flushing pink.

“Consider it a punishment.”

He withdrew his hand; she turned her head, blushing.

The warmth left on the pinched side of her face felt like it had been burned.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, why punish me?” Jiang Ci pouted, sulking.

Zhang Heyu chuckled in good spirits, as if the jealousy had dissipated, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Not convinced? Want me to pinch you back?”

Jiang Ci was stunned; her fingers hanging by her side twitched awkwardly, heartbeat pounding. “I don’t want to be like you…”

“What’s wrong with me?” Zhang Heyu dragged out the tone, teasing her.

“…A rogue,” she said.

Zhang Heyu’s gaze dropped to her flushed earlobe. He smiled approvingly, “Well done, it’s the first time someone’s called me a rogue.”

“That makes me quite honored,” Jiang Ci’s long lashes fluttered, her eyes curved into a sweet smile.

Zhang Heyu responded, “Teacher Jiang Ci, just enjoy it secretly.”

“Don’t call me that. I’m not your teacher,” Jiang Ci turned her head, avoiding his eyes.

“You’re Cheng Yaoyao’s teacher, and she’s my sister. So calling you teacher makes sense,” Zhang Heyu explained to himself, thinking he was quite logical.

Jiang Ci couldn’t help but laugh, “That’s not logical.”

Suddenly remembering something, Zhang Heyu clipped the strawberry bear pendant onto the zipper of her backpack.

Jiang Ci stared at his action for a few seconds. “Why are you putting it on my backpack?”

“Cheng Yaoyao asked me to give it to you,” Zhang Heyu said, patting the strawberry bear dangling from the zipper. “If I don’t give it to you today, she’ll fuss at me tonight.”

“…Thank you,” Jiang Ci said softly.

Zhang Heyu safely saw Jiang Ci home before taking a taxi back.

Jiang Ci placed her backpack on the chair, picked up the strawberry bear pendant hanging from it, and smiled gently.

She sat at her desk, turned on a lamp, the soft yellow light casting a glow on her face. Her black lashes were long and naturally curled, casting shadows.

Jiang Ci took a notebook from the drawer and wrote a sentence on the blank page.

“I like Z, and I hope Z likes me too.”

Time passed, and September was nearing its end.

Jiang Ci came out of the office holding a large stack of papers, heading toward the classroom.

Many students had heard rumors that the first monthly exam of senior year’s first semester would start this Thursday.

The science experimental class students were testing the waters. When they saw Jiang Ci return, they swarmed around her.

“Class monitor, did Lao Mo say anything?”

“Is the exam really this Thursday?”

“...”

After distributing the papers, Jiang Ci stood at the podium and announced the exam details. The exam seating chart would be released the night before.

Feeling she was in good shape lately, she wasn’t too worried.

“Ci, why do you always bring bad news back from the office?” Huo Chensi groaned, laying his head on the desk as if awaiting death.

Jiang Ci smiled wryly. “I don’t want to either. Lao Mo ordered it, so I have to carry out the mission. But it’s okay, after the exam, we have the National Day holiday.”

Thinking of this, Huo Chensi instantly felt better.

Suddenly recalling something, he added, “How about we go out to play? Invite Yu Xijin too.”

Jiang Ci hesitated, “Us?”

“Yes. Me and Brother Yu, you and Xijin — the four of us together,” Huo Chensi said. “Fan Mian can’t come, he has family matters.”

Jiang Ci thought for a moment. Her original National Day plan was to teach Cheng Yaoyao, stay home for three days, then return to school.

“I’m fine with that. I’ll ask Xijin at noon.”

Huo Chensi gave her an OK sign. Soon after, Zhang Heyu returned.

“Brother Yu, let’s go out for National Day!” Huo Chensi flirted with him, signaling with his eyes. Worried he might refuse, he added, “Jiang Ci already agreed!”

Zhang Heyu sat down, body tense, and turned his head toward the girl, his voice hoarse, “You want to go?”

“Yeah, after teaching Yaoyao, I don’t have much to do. I don’t really want to study during the holiday either.”

Zhang Heyu tilted his head toward her, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, as long as you want to go, I’ll go with you.”

Jiang Ci lowered her head, cheeks flushed.