Chapter 39: A 35-Year-Old Man Doesn’t Buy This
After the song finished transferring, Feng Siruo tucked her phone back into her pocket, then suddenly froze for a second.
She reached into her pocket and felt a piece of White Rabbit milk candy.
It must’ve come from earlier. When the cashier couldn’t make proper change, the supermarket staff gave her some candies instead of coins.
That was pretty common back then, when mobile payments weren’t widespread.
Supermarkets often gave candies or tissues when they couldn’t break a larger bill.
She looked up at Jiang Zhou.
Jiang Zhou was also looking at her. “What’s wrong? Admiring my stunning face?”
Feng Siruo took out the White Rabbit candy from her pocket and handed it to him.
Jiang Zhou raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. “You giving this to me as a hint that the Big Bad Wolf should eat the Little White Rabbit?”
“I’m not a little white rabbit…”
“Of course not. You’re my wife.”
As Jiang Zhou casually said that, he reached out to take the candy.
But Feng Siruo, annoyed, pulled it back.
“What? You take back gifts after giving them?”
“Oh, don’t like that title? Then how about ‘darling’?”
Feng Siruo’s eyes widened. She now had a much clearer idea of what “shameless” really meant.
Jiang Zhou grabbed her hand, forcibly snatched the candy, and popped it into his mouth.
“Mmm, pretty sweet. Tastes just like you.”
Feng Siruo was stunned. “You didn’t… unwrap it!”
“Nope. I wanted to taste the flavor of your hand.”
Totally straight-faced, Jiang Zhou continued, “Tastes like laundry detergent. Must’ve been in your pocket too long.”
Feng Siruo’s cheeks flushed, her teeth clenched in embarrassment.
But seeing her put Jiang Zhou in a good mood.
Compared to when they first met, she was clearly more at ease now. Less nervous, less reserved.
After all, if she was giving him candy… could calling her his wife be that far off?
By now, the sky had darkened.
Night had gradually fallen.
Jiang Zhou checked the time. It was already past 7 p.m.
Ding Yue had been spamming him on QQ, reminding him over and over to bring Feng Siruo back safely.
She was nosy, sure. But she really cared about her friends.
In fact, in his past life, Ding Yue had even been his bridesmaid.
So even if she was bossing him around now, Jiang Zhou didn’t mind.
“You still wanna walk around? If not, I’ll take you back.”
Putting his phone away, Jiang Zhou looked at Feng Siruo.
In truth, she loved going on little walks — as long as she was alone, with no need to talk or socialize.
But she was timid, too scared to go out by herself.
Lately, it had always been Ding Yue accompanying her on these little strolls.
Ding Yue was thoughtful, a chatterbox too. All Siruo had to do was listen.
There was no pressure to speak.
Still, she often worried about running into people or feeling judged.
But being with Jiang Zhou… was different.
She didn’t even have time to be afraid of others.
She only needed to worry about him being shameless.
Strangely, she realized… she wanted to keep walking with him a little longer.
Finally, at exactly 8 p.m., Jiang Zhou brought Feng Siruo safely back.
Then he returned to the dorm and found his phone packed with unread messages.
Most of them were from Chu Yuwei.
“You were so cool at the food street today! My classmates were all praising you!”
“Jiang Zhou, where are you? Why aren’t you replying to me?”
He replied casually: “What else could a college student be doing? Obviously off in the woods dating.”
Next were messages from Guo Wei.
His updates were more entertaining.
“Dude, Zheng Yu’s been off lately, totally spaced out every day.”
“He even went out drinking and fell into the man-made lake. Got a serious demerit.”
What the hell? He fell into the lake?
Was the heartbreak that serious?
Jiang Zhou opened his contacts and called Guo Wei.
“Yo, Jiang! Finally replying?”
“Was out chasing girls. Just got back. So, what’s up with Zheng Yu?”
“A few days ago, he straight-up fell into the lake! Swam around while crying his eyes out!”
Jiang Zhou was confused. “It’s been a whole week. Why are you only sharing this joy now?”
“I just found out myself! He won’t say what happened. You know anything?”
“Yeah, he found out I bought sanitary pads for Chu Yuwei.”
Jiang Zhou stretched. “Close enough. Let’s just go with that.”
Guo Wei clicked his tongue. “Can’t believe you weren’t rejected. Chu Yuwei’s actually chasing you?”
“Cut the nonsense. How’s your college life?”
“Pretty good, just don’t know how to flirt. Came to get some tips from you.”
Jiang Zhou laughed. “Divorced single moms with kids okay?”
Guo Wei paused. “Damn bro, is that all I can hope for?”
“Not necessarily. But you don’t even have a target yet, right?”
“Well… actually, there is someone.”
“Not quite. She’s a senior, junior year. Local girl from Shangjing!”
“Going after an older girl? Look at you, moving up in the world.”
“Hehe, not bad, huh?”
Jiang Zhou lit a cigarette. “Bring her over sometime?”
“No way, I don’t even know her name yet.”
“You what? And you’re calling that a ‘target’?”
“Hey, every journey starts with the first step.”
Jiang Zhou blew out a smoke ring. “Shangjing locals aren’t easy, bro. Better be sure.”
“I know. Once I make progress, I’ll bring her to dinner with you.”
After hanging up, Jiang Zhou changed into slippers.
He was about to go wash up and then chill with his roommates for a bit.
But at that moment, his screen lit up again. Chu Yuwei had flooded him with messages.
“Jiang Zhou… are you really dating someone?”
He typed back: “Not yet. Working on it.”
Chu Yuwei didn’t know how to respond. She just sent a sad emoji.
“Don’t be sad, dear old classmate. Send me your blessings.”
“No. I won’t bless you.”
Lighting another smoke, Jiang Zhou typed: “You’re so heartless. You reject me, and now you won’t even wish me well when I like someone else?”
She paused a long time before replying: “I never really rejected you…”
“Bull. Did I hallucinate the whole thing?”
“Do you remember what I actually said back then?”
“I said I just wouldn’t date anyone before college graduation… couldn’t you have waited?”
After reading that, Jiang Zhou got literal goosebumps.
That’s exactly what girls say to guys they don’t like but still want chasing after them.
Don’t wanna accept, but don’t wanna say no either.
That way, the poor guy keeps thinking there’s hope.
This thirty-five-year-old ex-loser doesn’t fall for that crap anymore.