"Why are you grinning like that? You don’t look very smart." Miss Yu Hui leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, shaking her head in disbelief at him.
Upon hearing Miss Yu Hui’s voice, Jiang Baizhou’s smile instantly vanished. He removed the arm covering his eyes and glanced sideways at the door, reverting immediately to his usual aloof and indifferent demeanor. He sat up on the bed, his lips forming a straight line, his tone detached: "Mom, what are you doing here?"
"What’s with the attitude? Can’t I come here?" Miss Yu Hui’s expression soured upon hearing his tone and attitude, and she walked into the room, scolding him.
Jiang Baizhou withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes, and didn’t respond to Miss Yu Hui.
Seeing him not speaking, Miss Yu Hui sat beside him and nudged him: "Tell me, what’s going on with you and Cen Jin now? When did you get together?"
"We’re not together."
"Not together?" Upon hearing this, Miss Yu Hui’s smile froze again. She mercilessly slapped him on the back: "Not together? Just now, you two were... were like that... You brat, when did you learn to be so frivolous with others?" As she described their kissing, Miss Yu Hui gestured with her hands.
Jiang Baizhou gasped at her slap, furrowed his brow: "That was an accident."
"Accident? You looked like you were enjoying it. Who was glaring at me earlier as if I came at the wrong time?"
"So what do you really think? Do you like Cen Jin or not?"
"I like her." Jiang Baizhou pressed his lips together and answered without hesitation.
Miss Yu Hui hadn’t expected such a straightforward answer from him, without any intention of denying it, and was indeed surprised. After she recovered, she asked again: "Then why don’t you pursue her? You act like a repressed bottle all the time. How will Cen Jin know you like her? Besides, Cen Jin is so outstanding and beautiful. If someone else snatches her away, you’ll only be left crying. As the saying goes, proximity to water precedes the moon, and you’re wasting this good opportunity. It’s been years, and you haven’t made any progress. I, as your mom, am worried for you."
"You know? You know there’s no progress now?"
"I’m tired, mom, please leave." Jiang Baizhou furrowed his brow, collapsed onto the pillow, and turned his back to her, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter further.
However, he felt that certain plans in his mind should indeed be moved forward. Even if he wasn’t sure, he ought to take that step.
Miss Yu Hui rolled her eyes at him, got up from the edge of the bed, and reminded him again: "Okay, I won’t say more. Just keep it in mind, and it’s time to hurry up. You take care and rest!" After finishing, she walked towards the door, and just as she was about to close it, she remembered something and turned her head: "By the way, I received a call from your dad today. He said he’ll be coming back in a few days."
"When?" Jiang Baizhou didn’t turn around but asked sullenly.
"I don’t know yet. I didn’t have time to ask before the signal on his end cut off. He’ll naturally come back once he’s out."
"And I need to remind you again: pay attention to Cen Jin’s matter!"
"Don’t just say it without taking action."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Baizhou simply closed his eyes, pretending not to hear anything, while his mind gradually drifted away, planning the next steps.