Seeing that Wen Wan was about to become a puffed-up pufferfish, Jiang Li asked in confusion, “Why are you so mad?”
Wen Wan looked at her. “If you liked someone, but he kept treating you like a child and trying to manage you, wouldn’t you be angry?”
Jiang Li shook her head. “I don’t have anyone I like right now.”
“I said if! Suppose you liked someone like that—wouldn’t you be mad if he treated you that way?” Wen Wan pressed.
Jiang Li imagined the scenario and shook her head again. “I don’t think I’d be mad. My grandpa and uncle are always managing me. Even my Third Brother meddles in my personal affairs. I’ve never felt angry about it.”
“That’s different!” Wen Wan growled softly. “That’s family! I’m talking about romantic love. Boyfriends and family are completely different things, do you get it?”
“Nope. But I’m sure I’ll get it when I fall in love,” Jiang Li replied bluntly.
Wen Wan was fuming in frustration: ‘You’ve probably already fallen in love—you just haven’t realized it yet!’
She decided to try a different approach. “If Tong Yi treated you like a kid and tried to manage you, wouldn’t you be mad?”
Jiang Li raised an eyebrow. “He’s the childish one—how could he possibly treat me like a kid? You’re overthinking it.”
Wen Wan: “…” ‘Trying to have a conversation with someone this dense is too exhausting. I give up!’
“Anyway, I’m just super mad right now.” She sighed. “I don’t like it when Lin Zhao treats me like a kid. I’m almost seventeen already—almost an adult.”
“Then wait till you’re officially an adult,” Jiang Li said. “Besides, when Lin Zhao wrapped you in that towel earlier, maybe it wasn’t because he saw you as a kid—maybe he just didn’t want others seeing you in a bikini.”
Wen Wan’s eyes lit up. “Right! Why didn’t I think of that? But… he could’ve just said so.”
“With what identity?” Jiang Li asked.
“…” Wen Wan fell silent. Right, if he said that as a big brother figure, she’d still be upset. But if he said it as a boyfriend… well, Lin Zhao wasn’t her boyfriend right now, so he didn’t really have that right!
“Don’t overthink it.” Jiang Li reached out and patted her arm comfortingly. “Once you’re officially an adult, he won’t treat you like a kid anymore.”
Though that was mostly an empty reassurance. She herself had been an adult for almost a year, and everyone at home still treated her like a kid—especially her third uncle, who was the most obvious about it.
A boyfriend might not be the same as a family, but they weren’t that different either. Once people got used to interacting a certain way, it wasn’t easy to suddenly switch gears into something new.
…
After soaking to their heart’s content, Jiang Li and Wen Wan changed and went to the lounge to meet up with Tong Yi and Lin Zhao. The four of them then headed to the buffet together.
When Lin Zhao saw Wen Wan had changed back into her usual clothes, he finally looked visibly relieved. He smiled and said, “Wanwan, that outfit looks really nice on you.”
Wen Wan gave him an icy stare. “I bought this outfit last year. I’ve worn it several times already. You’re just now realizing it looks good?”
Lin Zhao didn’t dare say another word. He quietly followed Tong Yi to pick up food. When he noticed Tong Yi seemed to be in a great mood, he couldn’t help asking, “Have you noticed that Wanwan’s gotten a lot better at snapping back since hanging out with Jiang Li?”
Just now, the way she clapped back at him—the expression, the tone—was a perfect copy of how Jiang Li treated Tong Yi.
Tong Yi looked back at him. “How would I know what Wen Wan used to be like?”
Lin Zhao quickly said, “Didn’t you think she was really shy when you first met her?”
Tong Yi shook his head. “I didn’t really pay attention. But Jiang Xiao Li does seem to have changed quite a bit.”
He’d liked Jiang Xiao Li for so long and never imagined that she could blush. Just thinking about the look on her face earlier made the corners of his mouth lift uncontrollably.
Lin Zhao: “…”
‘Talking to Tong Yi is simply asking to get annoyed!’
While eating, Jiang Li noticed that Tong Yi kept looking after her, so she picked out some of his favorite dishes and put them on his plate. “You should eat too.”
Tong Yi was pleasantly surprised. “Jiang Xiao Li, you actually picked food for me?”
Jiang Li smiled. “Don’t get too touched. It’s a buffet. If you eat too little, we won’t get our money’s worth.”
Tong Yi: “…”
Must be because he didn’t show his abs today—Jiang Xiao Li wasn’t even blushing anymore, and had fully transformed back into her sassier self. Still, whether it was the blushing Jiang Xiao Li or the sharp-tongued Jiang Xiao Li, he liked them all the same.
After they were full and satisfied, the four of them packed up and took the cable car down the mountain. Once they reached the base, Jiang Li went to retrieve the car, planning to drive the other three back to school. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that Tong Yi and Wen Wan had reached some kind of secret agreement—like they were planning something behind her back.
Tong Yi was acting like a sly old fox, but Wen Wan was simply terrible at hiding things. One glance from Jiang Li, and she immediately showed a guilty expression.
Jiang Li confronted her. “When I went to get the car just now, were you two plotting something?”
Wen Wan shook her head like a rattledrum. “No, no, absolutely not. That’s just your imagination.”
Jiang Li narrowed her eyes. “Wen Wan, next time you need help with your homework, I might just be too busy.”
Tong Yi chuckled. “Jiang Xiao Li, what are you threatening this kid for?”
Jiang Li shot him a glance. “Do you want me to threaten you instead?”
Tong Yi smiled. “Of course not. Actually, we were just planning your birthday and discussing what gift to get you. If we tell you now, there won’t be any surprise.”
Jiang Li turned to Wen Wan. “Really just that?”
Wen Wan nodded immediately, “That’s really all it is, I swore!”
Lin Zhao quickly chimed in, “It’s true. I can vouch for it.”
Seeing that they didn’t seem to be lying, Jiang Li nodded. “Alright then. I’ll just wait and see what kind of surprise you’ve got for me.”
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Translator’s Note:
Extra chapter on Sunday