Chapter 1721: That Girl: Quick to Refuse, Quicker to Run

Guantang Villa

Inside the room, a certain little rascal is clutching a pen, scratching his head as he stares at a chemistry problem in front of him. Out of the corner of his eye, he glances at the person sitting beside him, who is holding a phone, looking calm...

Perhaps noticing his attention, he raises his brows and lifts his gaze to look at him. His gaze shifts, and the frames reflect a cold point of light.

Silent, yet carrying a strong sense of pressure.

"Have you finished your homework?"

"No, not yet." That little rascal felt dizzy almost.

"Then hurry up and finish." Jiang Mutang raised his hand and lightly tapped him on the head.

Remembering when he was young, his daily routine was sitting on a small stool at the door, waiting for his brother to get home from school. He would buy him delicious food, take him out to play, and when others bullied him, he would stand up for himself. But now...

No one dares to bully him outside!

The one who bullies him the most has become his brother.

Things can never go back to how they were, sigh—

At this moment, Jiang Mutang was sitting on one side, texting the girl who took away his book. However, she was faster than him:

[I’m really sorry for bothering you. I’m Xu Ni. I accidentally took your book today. Let me know when you’re free, and I’ll return it to you.]

Xu Ni held her phone, anxious, but quickly received a reply.

[I’m free anytime.]

[So should I bring it to school for you on Monday, or... you pick a place, and I’ll deliver it.] Xu Ni had a naturally excellent attitude, very obedient.

Jiang Mutang contemplated that the school might not be suitable, too many eyes, so he picked a location that was not far from either home. Xu Ni agreed.

Tang Wan walked in at this moment, bringing some food for the brothers, "Tonight, your dad and I have things to do, so you two settle dinner yourselves."

Upon hearing they’d settle dinner themselves, the little rascal was elated, meaning he could eat outside.

Elated, yet suppressing his laughter, "I understand."

"Don’t eat just any random thing outside," Tang Wan warned.

Jiang Mutang nodded in agreement, glancing sideways at someone whose excited heart and trembling hands were hard to hide. Suddenly, he smiled, "Don’t worry, I won’t let him eat anything random. After dinner, I’ll take him to his evening study class."

After the weekend passes, there’s self-study class arranged at school on Sunday nights.

Upon hearing this, the little rascal instantly wilted, "..."

And because he had to accompany his brother for dinner and send him to the evening class, Jiang Mutang arranged to return the book at a later time with Xu Ni.

**

Xu Ni arrived at the agreed location more than 30 minutes early, feeling it was inappropriate to make him wait after taking his book.

Today, she had been clumsy, helped on the subway, and still troubled others, glancing around, thinking it was about time, she bought two drinks from a nearby bubble tea shop.

When Jiang Mutang arrived at the location, he didn’t see her. He looked down at his watch.

She...

Was late again?

Just as he raised his head to scan the surroundings, he saw the young girl hustling over, carrying a bag with his book in one hand and two drinks in the other.

Unlike her morning outfit, she wore a light-colored long dress, which hugged her body as she moved quickly, outlining a graceful curve...

The setting sun dipped low, casting a soft glow over her skirt, lining the edges in gold.

The autumn breeze was cool, ruffling her hair gently.

The young girl soon came before him, her smile forming a gentle curve with her graceful eyebrows, "You’re here."

"Mm."

"I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to take your book today..." Xu Ni quickly walked up, nearly running, trying hard to calm her breath but blushing half her face.

Just as she was about to hand over the book, unexpectedly—

The person in front of her lowered his head slightly, slowly closing in on her.

Xu Ni always feels somewhat tense facing him. He is tall, always giving a sense of invisible pressure, exuding an aura of keeping others at bay, yet...

Silently and suddenly so close, Xu Ni’s breath caught, instinctively leaning back.

"Your hair is stuck here." Jiang Mutang pointed to the edge of his lips.

Xu Ni froze, but with both hands carrying things, she had no free hand to arrange her hair.

It was as if by some strange instinct...

Jiang Mutang is not the type to be overly meddlesome or perform unnecessary actions. But seeing her embarrassed expression, he reached out...

Xu Ni momentarily forgot to dodge, watching in surprise as his fingers approached.

His fingertips brushed her hair, inadvertently grazing her skin lightly.

The strands near his lips were gently moved aside, sliding softly over his lips...

For a moment!

Her face was burning, her lips were hot.

Xu Ni’s mind went blank, and she hazily recalled the incident earlier today when she was squeezed into his arms on the subway. Instantly, her face turned even redder. The warm orange sunset falling on her face deepened the color.

"Um... your book, take a look." Xu Ni handed him the bag with the book.

Jiang Mutang took the bag, but didn’t bother to check it. There was no need. He just noticed the scratch on the back of her hand and asked, "How’s your hand?"

"It’s nothing now." Xu Ni didn’t dare to look him in the eye, not knowing why, but she felt a bit guilty. She handed over the drinks she just bought, "Fruit tea and green tea, which one would you like?"

Jiang Mutang seldom drank these, but since she bought them, he took a cup of green tea.

The two of them weren’t familiar with each other, and had bumped into each other due to a misunderstanding, so there really wasn’t much to talk about.

"Well, um... I’ll head home first." Xu Ni awkwardly pointed in a direction.

"Do you need me to give you a ride?" Jiang Mutang had driven today, after all, he had to take someone to evening classes.

"No need, goodbye."

After Xu Ni spoke, she turned and quickly left.

Jiang Mutang watched her walk away so quickly that he couldn’t help but chuckle softly...

Actually, they weren’t familiar with each other. Saying he would give her a ride was just being polite, but...

It was the second time!

She rejected quickly and ran away even faster.

He could even feel that maybe she was a bit afraid of him. Was he really that intimidating?

**

After driving home, Jiang Mutang opened the bag with the book and found a brand new bookmark inside, besides his book. He was sure it wasn’t from the library, so it had to be hers.

The placement was obvious, evidently not left unintentionally. It was probably meant as an apology.

He took a few glances at the bookmark; it was exquisite. Just then, his phone vibrated. Jiang Ruan was calling, and he answered with a "hello."

"Brother, I’m going back to school in a few days. How about hanging out tonight?"

"Where?"

Jiang Ruan asking him to hang out was an excuse, she really wanted to get some information.

She was curious as to why he’d randomly ask for a girl’s contact information—did he fancy her?

She tried to win him over: "Brother, the other day you called asking for that girl’s contact info, were you going to..."

"Did your parents find out about last night?" Jiang Mutang immediately threw out an unrelated question.

Jiang Ruan instantly wilted.

After years of being siblings, if she wasn’t perceptive enough by now, it’d be a waste.

This was already a threat.

After all, she had something at stake here.

As expected...

Not all gossip can be probed into.

...

When Jiang Mutang got home, someone little had just finished evening classes. When he pushed the door open, he found that someone wasn’t in their own room but was crouching in his, examining that bookmark.

"What are you doing in my room?"

"I’m here to find some reference books." Jiang Mutang hadn’t thrown away most of his school books, and there were also some notes. "Bro, did a girl give you this bookmark?"

"I saw some girls in our class use something similar, no boy would buy this kind of thing."

"Bro, are you dating someone?" This person’s curiosity was through the roof.

"Tell me, I promise I won’t tell mom and dad or anyone else. I swear..."

Jiang Mutang remained silent, pulled the bookmark out of his hand.

Tweaked the little one’s neck and kicked him out.

After closing the door, he rubbed his fingers, recalling the sensation of helping her with her hair today. Her hair was soft, and compared to his brother’s, he suddenly thought...

Was his brother a hedgehog in a past life? His hair was so prickly!

He didn’t trust that one’s mouth, always bragging. If he learned a secret, it wouldn’t even last the night; even their grandpa in Pingjiang would know about it by then.

In the days before Jiang Ruan returned to school, she worked hard, trying to catch some clue of Jiang Mutang’s romance.

But even until she left, she couldn’t pry open his mouth, which left her a bit frustrated. Yet only after returning to school did she truly understand what "when it rains, it pours" meant.

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