Jiang Yuekai rested her chin on her hand, thinking seriously. When she thought of the boy she liked, her expression and eyes softened, and a sweetness radiated from her. Lan Lan sighed inwardly, realizing her plan to bring them closer might fail. However, this was just her own idea and she couldn't force it on Jiang Yuekai.
At this moment, Jiang Yuekai also gave her answer. She smiled and said, "He's very gentle, respects me greatly, is highly intelligent, and I feel very comfortable around him. He's more mature than people his age, and I think he's someone I can rely on. He's a bit like Dad."
Lan Lan: "..."
It is often said that a father influences a daughter's choice of partner. If the father is not outstanding enough, the daughter's choice will be "absolutely not like Dad." But if the father is too outstanding, the daughter's choice will become "I must find someone like Dad in the future." Clearly, Jiang Yuekai fell into the latter category.
This statement pleased Liang Yufeng. He smiled. Although he didn't believe the boy Jiang Yuekai liked was truly that mature, her description suggested he was a responsible person.
Liang Yufeng didn't doubt Jiang Yuekai's judgment. He had raised his daughter himself and shouldn't lack confidence. However, seeing his precious daughter's first bloom of love, the old father's heart felt complicated.
Lan Lan didn't offer much more opinion on the matter. She naturally favored Lin Jingchu. Over the years, Lin Jingchu had always been very concerned about Jiang Yuekai. Now that he was in his second year of university, he hadn't dated anyone, and the elders knew the reason.
They had originally thought that once Jiang Yuekai went to university, Lin Jingchu would confess his feelings, and the two children would naturally get together. But unexpectedly, while the prince was willing, the princess was not. Jiang Yuekai had fallen for someone else, and they didn't know how Lin Jingchu would react.
Lan Lan discussed the matter with Liang Yufeng, and they eventually decided not to say anything, leaving the children to handle their own affairs.
Not long after, Lin Jingchu also learned about Jiang Yuekai and Gu Jiang from others.
Lin Jingchu had originally received an offer from Columbia University, but he ultimately participated in the regular college entrance examination and stayed in China to attend Nanjiang University. Although he never stated the reason, those who knew him well understood that he was waiting for Jiang Yuekai.
As long as he wished, he could have applied to the same university as Jiang Yuekai when she graduated from high school and went abroad.
Lin Jingchu's best friend in university, Chen Ao, had a younger brother who happened to be in the same class as Jiang Yuekai.
Chen Ao and Lin Jingchu had become friends in their first year of university. After more than a semester, Chen Ao learned that Lin Jingchu had a childhood sweetheart, a sisterly figure. Lin Jingchu rarely smiled, but when he spoke of her, he was incredibly gentle.
Later, Chen Ao discovered that the childhood sweetheart sisterly figure of Lin Jingchu was in the same class as his younger brother.
Therefore, Chen Ao often inquired about Jiang Yuekai for Lin Jingchu.
One day, Lin Jingchu was in the library reviewing materials for an exam. Chen Ao rushed in, looking solemn, and sat beside him.
Lin Jingchu glanced at him, his gaze still fixed on the materials, his long fingers holding a pen to take notes.
"Stop writing, something big has happened," Chen Ao said.
Lin Jingchu: "What?"
"My brother told me Jiang Yuekai is dating a top student from their class."
Chen Ao's words made Lin Jingchu stop taking notes.
Lin Jingchu put down his pen and finally looked at Chen Ao, his face ashen, "Are you sure?"
Lin Jingchu rarely lost his temper, but seeing his cold expression, even as a friend, Chen Ao was startled. "I'm not sure if they're dating, but they like each other. That guy is named Gu Jiang, he's also a good student, and my brother says he's very handsome."
Lin Jingchu grunted and then remained silent. Apart from his increasingly cold expression, there was no other visible change.
But his lack of reaction made Chen Ao even more uneasy. "If you're uncomfortable, just let it out. This is quite scary."
Lin Jingchu still didn't speak. He packed up his study materials and left the library.
Chen Ao wanted to follow him, but Lin Jingchu refused. Chen Ao could only watch his retreating back and lament, "If you don't explode in silence, you'll perish in silence."
Lin Jingchu didn't live in the dormitory during university. He had an apartment near the school and drove back there after leaving the library, heading straight to his room.
The bedroom was decorated in gray and white tones. The curtains were gray, the walls were gray, and even the bedsheets were a muted gray. However, the StellaLou toy placed on the bed was out of place with the room's aesthetic.
Lin Jingchu sat down by the bed and casually picked up the toy. StellaLou was quite large, but compared to his one-meter-ninety height, it seemed insignificant. He leaned down to look at the doll and pinched its ear.
StellaLou looked slightly worn, as it had been over ten years.
This StellaLou was a gift from Jiang Yuekai on his eighth birthday.
She was only five years old then, obsessed with Disney dolls, and naturally assumed everyone would like them. So, for his birthday, Jiang Yuekai gave him a giant doll.
Lin Jingchu still remembered that day vividly.
The doll was bigger than her, but she stubbornly refused help from anyone, dragging and pulling StellaLou to him. She even told him, "I bought this with my own money! With my New Year's gift money!"
Lin Jingchu didn't like dolls, but he still took it from her and said, "Thank you." When Jiang Yuekai asked if he liked it, he said yes. Jiang Yuekai then said, "Then you must hug it every night when you sleep."
Jiang Yuekai had said it casually as a child, but Lin Jingchu had actually kept the doll with him. When he moved out of his parents' home for university, he didn't forget to bring it along.
Later, Jiang Yuekai rarely gave him gifts. Even when she did, she had Lan Lan and Liang Yufeng act as intermediaries. They were all standard gifts, not personally chosen by her.
Thinking of this, Lin Jingchu chuckled self-mockingly.
In fact, he had been mentally prepared for a long time that Jiang Yuekai might not like him.
They were indeed childhood sweethearts, their parents had a very good relationship, and they played together since they were young. However, Jiang Yuekai had always called him "brother," and her attitude towards him was almost the same as towards her parents.
He had initially told himself that she was young and her feelings were bound to be slow. When she went to university, he would confess his feelings to her.
But before she even reached university, she had already found someone she liked.
Lin Jingchu held the StellaLou doll and looked at it for a long time. After some hesitation, he finally picked up his phone and sent Jiang Yuekai a WeChat message.
[How's your studying lately?]
It seemed that every time he cared for her, it had to start with studies, like a guise for himself. He was afraid his feelings would scare her, so he had been restraining himself all along.
Restraining himself until she fell for someone else.
A few minutes later, Jiang Yuekai's reply arrived. [It's going well. How about you, are you busy lately?]
Lin Jingchu hesitated for a long time before he finally couldn't help but ask her, [Not busy. Shall we have dinner together this weekend?]