After lunch, Su Qingqing went back to the dormitory for an afternoon nap, while Chen Nan decided to go to the classroom to ask Huo Xinya for help with English tutoring.
However, just as he entered the teaching building, he heard hurried footsteps. The scent of perfume hit him as Han Yuting came running down from upstairs in a panic, almost crashing into Chen Nan’s arms.
"Why the rush? Where are you going?" Chen Nan asked.
Han Yuting’s eyes still showed traces of moisture as she quickly said it was nothing, then dashed out of the teaching building and ran towards the school gate.
Had she just been crying?
Watching Han Yuting’s retreating figure, Chen Nan scratched his head, puzzled. The campus belle was fine yesterday, so why was she acting so strangely today?
"Maybe she’s got her period!"
Chen Nan sighed. Although this reason didn’t sound reliable, it was the only possibility he could think of at the moment.
"Nan brother, I finally found you, I’ve missed you so much!"
Jiang Xiaomi’s voice suddenly rang out, startling Chen Nan so much that he shuddered and had the impulse to bolt, but it was too late. Jiang Xiaomi spread her arms and threw herself at him.
"Have a little decency, would it kill you?"
Chen Nan dodged to the side, avoiding Jiang Xiaomi’s embrace.
Jiang Xiaomi scratched her head and said with a giggly smile, "I just missed you so much."
"Enough, enough. Stop pretending to be gentle. Your real nature is all ’old mother’ this and that. Don’t I know you?" Chen Nan said somewhat speechlessly. "You’re such a tomboy, trying to act tender is just awkward to watch."
Jiang Xiaomi’s face lit up with surprise, "Really?"
Jiang Xiaomi then excitedly jumped up, hugged Chen Nan by the neck, and nearly hung herself on him as she shouted, "Nan, you’re so understanding, I absolutely adore you!"
Hearing these three words made Chen Nan shake his head in despair.
Pushing the clinging Jiang Xiaomi away, Chen Nan pointed upwards and said, "Follow me to the rooftop. I’ve got something to tell you."
Jiang Xiaomi looked at Chen Nan with a curious face, thinking to herself that this guy must have fallen for her and was about to confess his love formally!
"You’ll know when you get there."
Chen Nan said indifferently, walking up the stairs with long strides.
With a smug smile on her face, Jiang Xiaomi touched her pretty cheek and couldn’t help praising herself, "Mimi, you’re so beautiful, so charming. You’ve even managed to snag a guy as great as him." Then she quickly followed Chen Nan’s steps upstairs.
Once the two reached the rooftop, Jiang Xiaomi, overcome with excitement, rushed up and kissed Chen Nan.
Chen Nan was startled and quickly pushed her away, "What are you doing? Are you out of your mind? Can’t you be a little more normal?"
At these words, Jiang Xiaomi was stunned.
She scratched her head and looked at Chen Nan with a sulky face. "Why are you yelling at me? Weren’t you about to confess to me? What’s wrong with giving you a kiss to set a romantic mood?"
One moment he’s ’Nan guy,’ the next ’dead guy.’ Chen Nan felt helpless.
"Who said I was going to confess to you?" Chen Nan retorted. "How come I don’t know about this?"
"I guessed!" Jiang Xiaomi’s face showed disappointment. "Aren’t you going to confess?"
"Confess my ass, I don’t even like you. Confess what?"
"Then why the hell did you ask me up here!?"
As she was no longer pretending to be gentle, Jiang Xiaomi’s fiery temper surfaced, and she yelled at Chen Nan.
Chen Nan lit a cigarette and sat down on the ground. "Sit down. Let’s talk this over properly."
"It’s not about love, so what’s there to talk about?"
Jiang Xiaomi rolled her eyes but eventually sat down beside Chen Nan.
Chen Nan took a puff of his cigarette and said, "Mimi, you’re actually a good girl, pretty and kind-hearted. You’ve got a fiery temper, but that’s a distinctive trait, and it means you won’t easily be bullied, right?"
"What are you trying to say?"
Jiang Xiaomi glared at him, a premonition of what was coming making her face turn sour.
After a moment of silence, Chen Nan said, "If I didn’t have someone in my heart, I would definitely have a proper relationship with you. But my junior sister and I grew up together, even though we haven’t seen each other for several years. Yet, every little memory is deeply etched in my heart. I’ve suffered from headaches since I was a child, and she lived alone in the Ice Mountain for two years just to gather herbs to help me. In the end, she almost lost her life picking those herbs. I can’t let her down. Do you understand?"
Jiang Xiaomi stared blankly at Chen Nan, unable to say a word.
Chen Nan took another puff of his cigarette. "I know you really like me, but I have to tell you that you’re not in my heart. If we keep this up, you’ll only be hurt even more in the end. I really don’t want to hurt you. Do you understand?"
"I don’t understand!"
Jiang Xiaomi shouted, her eyes beginning to moisten for the first time, "Do you think you won’t hurt me this way? Well, let me tell you, you’ve already hurt me!"
Chen Nan nodded. "I know."
"You know, but you still want to break up with me, right?"
Chen Nan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Honestly, I kind of like your personality. We don’t necessarily have to be a couple. Wouldn’t it be nice to just be buddies?"
"As if you like me!" Jiang Xiaomi glared at him and said. "Chen, you’re just a jerk. I am even willing to be your mistress, and you’re still rejecting me. Am I not even good enough to be your mistress?"