[Real World] - 03

 Before Ji Hanfei and Jiang Nian got together in the original world, Ji Hanfei was always sarcastic and manipulative. Ye Wenwen was petty and easily jealous. But after Ji Hanfei and Jiang Nian got together, Ji Hanfei became even more jealous than Ye Wenwen.

He and Jiang Nian didn't go to the same school; in fact, his university was in a neighboring provincial capital.

Tang Zhengxin's university was even further away, spanning several provinces, requiring a full day by high-speed rail.

To keep Jiang Nian's feelings for him from fading, Ji Hanfei would take the high-speed rail to the music academy whenever he had free time to show off their affection. He was so angry when he heard that a rich second-generation was blocking Jiang Nian's path to confess her love that he would go and fight with him.

Moreover, he somehow managed to buy a music academy student account to post love stories about himself and Jiang Nian on the campus network, only to have the account reported and banned within minutes.

However, long-distance relationships are still tough, and even Ji Hanfei's insistence couldn't stop Jiang Nian from breaking up with him. Jiang Nian didn't get back together with Ye Wenwen, who was still in contact with him and often came to visit, nor did she get together with Yuan Junyu, who seemed to have no school and came to cling to her every day.

Jiang Nian started dating Wang Zi, the most famous violinist at the music academy.

However, what Jiang Nian didn't say was that among his suitors, the one who troubled him the most was actually Tang Zhengxin. Before starting university, Tang Zhengxin disappeared to work, keeping only a little for travel and living expenses, and sending the rest to Jiang Nian.

Tang: My salary came in, 12,000 yuan. 800 for travel and living expenses, and I'll transfer the remaining 11,200 yuan to you to buy milk tea. Tang

: Transferring 11,200 yuan (Note: Voluntary gift)

Nian Nian: Keep it for yourself, I don't need it.

Tang: I wanted to spend money on you myself, don't worry about me, accept it!

Niannian: No, it's enough that my boyfriend treats me well. You and I have nothing to do with each other. Why would I take your money?

Tang: ...

Tang: Transfer 800 (Note: Voluntary gift)

Tang: Here, please, just consider it as hooking me.

Jiang Nian read but did not reply.

Interspersed in the middle were a bunch of cheesy pick-up lines from Tang Zhengxin. The second month, he transferred money on time again.

Later, he transferred more and more. It seemed that Tang Zhengxin started developing his own project and started a business with others. Jiang Nian glanced at it but did not pay attention. He was busy dating the school heartthrob.

In addition, there were too many people sending private messages to Jiang Nian. Apart from the few people pinned to the top, the dating messages from others could be scrolled down seven or eight times a second. Tang Zhengxin was really inconspicuous when he was buried in the middle.

Jiang Nian did not forget her studies while dating. With hard work and her own talent, Jiang Nian quickly shone. She was taken by her teacher to participate in various activities and competitions. Occasionally, videos of her were filmed and posted on short video apps, and they received more than a million likes in just one hour.

In the video, Jiang Nian, dressed in a bespoke suit, stood center stage like a prince. The lights shone on him, highlighting his straight back and refined features. His voice was steady and beautiful, captivating the audience, drawing them into a state of tranquility, where only he and his voice mattered.

At the end, Jiang Nian smiled confidently, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes sparkling with self-assurance.

The comment section exploded. Photos of Jiang Nian taken without his consent were flooded with likes and comments, becoming many people's screensavers.

More people confessed their love to him privately, and countless talent scouts wanted to sign him, but Jiang Nian refused them all; he had no intention of entering the entertainment industry.

What no one knew was that Jiang Nian actually planned to return home after graduation to inherit the family business. Music was a hobby, but his parents still hoped he would return home to help manage the company.

During this time, Tang Zhengxin seemed unable to bear Jiang Nian's neglect any longer. At first, he at least read messages without replying, but later he stopped even reading them altogether. He feared that if things continued this way, Jiang Nian would forget what he looked like.

He was right.

He took a two-day, two-night train journey to Jiang Nian's city. Tang Zhengxin was reluctant to spend money; he planned to save it for Jiang Nian later, as train tickets were cheaper.

Then, like a clumsy giant, he stood downstairs at Jiang Nian's building carrying a huge bouquet of red roses, unable to even enter the dormitory. He ended up squatting on the steps, picking rose petals.

"Nian Nian likes me, Nian Nian likes me so much, Nian Nian likes me the most..."

Before he could finish,

Jiang Nian was dropped off at her dormitory by her new boyfriend. The boyfriend, tall and strong, picked her up, cradling the back of her head and holding her slender waist so tightly that her toes couldn't touch the ground. The two kissed passionately under the lamplight.

Tang Zhengxin watched silently, then expressionlessly took out his phone, avoiding Jiang Nian's boyfriend, and snapped a few pictures of Jiang Nian alone.

He set the image of Jiang Nian, with her misty eyes and blushing cheeks, as his phone wallpaper.

Even though Tang Zhengxin was well-prepared, he wasn't the first to rush up and confess; it was a boy who had been waiting even earlier. Both the boy and Tang Zhengxin were rejected by Jiang Nian.

Looking at the unfamiliar look in Jiang Nian's eyes, Tang Zhengxin understood perfectly well: Jiang Nian had truly forgotten him!

It wasn't Jiang Nian's fault; if she were to remember every single person who pursued her, there would be too many. Besides, Tang Zhengxin hadn't shown his face much in high school, so Jiang Nian had no idea what he looked like. Now, Tang Zhengxin had even cut his hair, revealing a handsome, taciturn face, completely different from his previous gloomy appearance.

"Nian Nian, it's me, Tang Zhengxin!" Tang Zhengxin tried to awaken Jiang Nian's memory of him.

Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment, then said in surprise, "Wow, you've changed so much."

"Do you like it?" Having come to see Jiang Nian, Tang Zhengxin, even if he was reluctant to spend money on himself, had dressed up carefully.

"Hmm, quite handsome," Jiang Nian objectively commented.

Jiang Nian's boyfriend wasn't happy that she was chatting with Tang Zhengxin. He coaxed her a bit and took her upstairs. Before going up, Jiang Nian said to Tang Zhengxin shyly, "Let's get together again sometime? It's too late today, I need to sleep."

This was just a polite remark. Tang Zhengxin's emotional intelligence, usually reserved for dealing with seasoned businessmen, completely vanished at this moment. He was like a clueless fool, oblivious to Jiang Nian's boyfriend's murderous glare, and happily said, "Okay! I'll come find you tomorrow."

"...Okay."

Jiang Nian's agreement excited Tang Zhengxin until dawn. While it was still barely light, he canceled his 50-yuan-a-night hotel reservation, packed his clothes, rode a shared bicycle, and waited downstairs at Jiang Nian's building until nine o'clock before messaging her. At

ten o'clock, he saw Jiang Nian coming downstairs for class.

Jiang Nian also saw Tang Zhengxin, who had bought a new bouquet of flowers. She hadn't accepted the roses from yesterday; Tang Zhengxin didn't want to give her wilted flowers, so he ordered new ones early in the morning.

It's early winter now, and the first snow has already fallen.

Jiang Nian, wearing a blue checkered scarf and a black wool coat, holding a book, looked gentle and sweet. Looking at Tang Zhengxin, who was only wearing a thin suit jacket for the sake of looking handsome and seemed unsure if he was cold, she said, "I have to go to class. Do you want to come with me? It's an open class."

Jiang Nian's boyfriend had even more classes; today was a full day. They had originally planned to have lunch together, but that was canceled because of Tang Zhengxin's sudden arrival.

Tang Zhengxin didn't know about this, and when he heard Jiang Nian's invitation, he naturally agreed. He sat down next to her, feeling not just cold, but practically sweltering.

He was so hot his brain couldn't function, and for hours he stared blankly at Jiang Nian's profile, enduring envious glances from others.

"Hey? Tang Zhengxin?"

"You really are like a fool. Snap out of it, let's find a restaurant to eat." Jiang Nian waved her hand in front of Tang Zhengxin's cheek, her good temper shining through.

Tang Zhengxin stood up stiffly, stupidly echoing, "Yeah, yeah, I'm a fool."

They didn't talk much, mostly Tang Zhengxin's strange flirtatious remarks. Jiang Nian thought he was telling corny jokes and laughed uncontrollably. Actually, if Tang Zhengxin weren't handsome, this behavior would have been nothing short of sexual harassment.

Before leaving, after paying the bill, Tang Zhengxin secretly slipped his savings card into Jiang Nian's pocket, along with a note with the PIN written on it.

For the next few years, Tang Zhengxin would take the train to see Jiang Nian, then take the train back to school the next day. He didn't want to choose a school so far away for Jiang Nian, but the school had promised him a scholarship and tuition waiver, which Tang Zhengxin then transferred to Jiang Nian.

Yuan Junyu was even more outrageous than Tang Zhengxin. He had already convinced his entire family to accept Jiang Nian and pleaded on her behalf, which terrified Jiang Nian.

Yuan Junyu even secretly tricked Jiang Nian into signing a contract voluntarily gifting him all his assets.

Yuan Junyu came from a wealthy family and had been involved in company affairs since he was an adult. He had been mentored and trained by his father and had amassed considerable power and wealth.

"...I thought you wanted me to sign your name."

At the time, Jiang Nian had released an original song on a music app, which became quite popular. Yuan Junyu had it made into a vinyl record, saying he really liked it and wanted Jiang Nian to sign it so he could show it off to his classmates.

Yuan Junyu carefully put away the contract papers, saying without looking up, "They're all the same. My classmates will definitely be very envious of me when they see this."

"...I don't think so." Jiang Nian pressed his forehead in distress. Having spent so much time with Yuan Junyu, he felt an urge to sigh. "Brother, be normal."

Hearing this, Yuan Junyu was silent for a moment, then suddenly his eyes turned red, bloodshot, and he said seriously, "Nian Nian, this is the most normal I've ever been."

"If I didn't do this, I would have gone crazy long ago."

Jiang Nian knew Yuan Junyu loved him. Jiang Nian wasn't a jerk; he would part amicably with each relationship, maintain a normal distance from anyone other than his boyfriend, and clearly explain his feelings to anyone who confessed to him without any feelings for him.

Therefore, because of this, Yuan Junyu could better understand the stark difference between how Jiang Nian treated his boyfriend and his friends.

Having witnessed Jiang Nian's dependence, affection, and endless displays of affection towards his boyfriend, how could he be content to remain just a friend or a stranger to Jiang Nian?

This contrast was also the reason why Jiang Nian's ex-boyfriend went crazy.

However, they had at least shared something. Yuan Junyu got nothing, and Jiang Nian relied on him somewhat, but only in a way that was purely platonic, like childhood sweethearts. This left him yearning for more, and his heart ached even more.

But Yuan Junyu firmly believed that even after being rejected so many times, Jiang Nian would eventually settle down and want to settle down, and then he would be the best choice.

He had made many unspoken promises and actions to Jiang Nian's parents.

Jiang Nian was silent for a moment, then lowered her eyelashes, her long, thick lashes obscuring all her thoughts.

She sighed, puzzled, and said, "Why bother, brother?"

Yuan Junyu didn't answer.

After the red tea in front of them had cooled completely, looking at the tea leaves swirling at the bottom of the porcelain cup, Yuan Junyu stubbornly said, "You don't understand."

His voice was low and deep; if the private room hadn't been so quiet, Jiang Nian might not have heard him.

"You don't understand, Nian Nian." Love is something that

cannot be changed or hidden.

← Previous Chapter Next Chapter →