CH 80

They conversed about their consumption of spicy food at the barbecue restaurant, but they were also aware that they had to shield Deng Feng’s delicate stomach, so they also ordered a healthy soup at the barbecue restaurant.

Deng Feng and Miaomiao found Jingjing already sitting there when they arrived.

Jingjing caught sight of Miaomiao and Deng Feng, so she waved excitedly, “Miaomiao, Deng Feng! Here!”

Miaomiao glanced at Deng Feng, who stood next to her. He walked over with a serious expression on his face.

Deng Feng stuttered. Although he had stuttered since his childhood years, he still talked a lot.

But one day, Miaomiao discovered that Deng Feng didn’t talk a lot in front of Jingjing, and that was when she had found out that he liked Jingjing.

He wasn’t his usual chatterbox self when he was before Jingjing’s presence because Jingjing couldn’t make fun of his stuttering if he didn’t speak. Her mockery often aggrieved and angered him greatly.

Initially, Miaomiao surmised that it was just a normal argument between two people. Since they were young, they liked to cavil at everything and squabble over every single little thing. She didn’t interfere, and after two days of observation, Miaomiao noticed the signs.

Deng Feng sat opposite Jingjing, whereas Miaomiao sat beside Jingjing.

As soon as she sat down, they heard Jingjing say, “Is it possible that Zhao Mu likes me?”

Miaomiao raised her head and glanced at Deng Feng, who sat on the opposite side. He looked crestfallen and forlorn.

Miaomiao: “…”

Deng Feng remained taciturn. As he sat silently on the sideline, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Jingjing found the atmosphere strange, “What’s wrong with you two?”

Miaomiao scooped herself a bowl of healthy soup and said, “The midterm exam is coming soon, so I’m nervous.”

The situation between these two gave her a headache. It would alleviate her stress if their situation was as simple to handle as one’s midterm exams.

One could ace the midterm exams with hard work and preparation, but hard work and preparation would not be able to allay the awkward situation between Jingjing and Deng Feng.

Miaomiao did consider telling Jingjing about Deng Feng’s feelings for her, but both of them didn’t quite understand the concept of feelings. If she had said that, it wouldn’t change the situation; instead, it would only exacerbate and complicate it.

Therefore, Miaomiao didn’t say anything at all.

Jingjing suddenly remembered something else, “Miaomiao. Are you getting along well with Zhou Yuan now?”

“Deng Feng. Do you remember Zhou Yuan? He was the one who helped you when he angrily rebuked and reprimanded the Chinese teacher for making fun of your stuttering when you were a kid.”

Deng Feng recalled that incident and nodded, “He…he did…didn’t he…”

“I know you want to say that he disappeared to college, right? Well, he’s back now, and he’s in the same class as Miaomiao. They even sit at the same table.”

Miaomiao nodded, “He’s quite nice. Maybe I’ll make arrangements so that we can all go out together one day.”

Jingjing nodded.

After they finished eating their barbecue, Miaomiao returned to her dormitory by herself. After returning, she found a message from Zhou Yuan.

“Class president. I found a painting in my book. Is it yours?”

Miaomiao had borrowed Zhou Yuan’s book, so he asked her directly. Miaomiao remembered that she had placed the painting in his book, but he forgot to tell him.

She replied, “Yes, but to be more precise, it was something that I had wanted to give you when I was younger.”

Zhou Yuan mused for a long time before replying, “Hmm.”

It was just a single word.

Text messaging differed from face-to-face chatting since one couldn’t see the other person’s face, nor could they hear the other person’s tone of voice.

Miaomiao had no idea how to reply.

“I apologize for that one time,” the other party replied after a while.

Miaomiao was confused, “Huh?”

Immediately afterward, she realized that he apologized due to the fact that he had once said that she was childish and clingy.

“I’m very glad to see you doing well.”

As Miaomiao digested his message, a wave of effervescence washed over her. An older person’s tone of appreciation was very evident in his message.

“Thanks for the compliment, teacher.” she replied.

Zhou Yuan sat in a chair, looking at the messages on his phone. He still felt a little lost.

Immediately, he felt ashamed about being lost. As long as Miaomiao was able to take care of her own life and face all of life’s challenges alone, then she would be successful without his succor. This should be celebrated.

While he pressed his temple, he suddenly opined that if he didn’t leave, then Miaomiao would always remain the little girl who told him everything, who trusted him, and who hearkened to every word that came out of his mouth.

He stood up and lounged on the bed. He held a pillow in his arms as he thought about what Miaomiao had told him. She told him she would bring him home, and then immediately after she said goodbye, she went over to that person who ran around in the playground.

He buried his head in the pillow and closed his eyes.

There was nothing left in the room but cold silence and…the boredom that began to leak outside his house.

In his mind, he pondered if this boredom had something to do with losing a good friend, or if it had more to do with the feeling of being abandoned, or with her no longer being the girl who relied on him to communicate with the outside world for her?

Or is it something else…

Miaomiao also had trouble sleeping.

Since they didn’t have class tomorrow morning, her roommates were very excited.

I really shouldn’t have allowed them to watch those romance movies.

They all ran to Miaomiao’s bed and started chattering about people they liked.

“President, I can’t believe that you never liked anyone.”

Miaomiao forced herself up and helplessly said, “It’s not like that. I have been class president since my middle school years. I always had the mentality of a caretaker…I thought about you first.”

As Miaomiao sprawled on the bed, she was still thinking about Jingjing and Deng Feng. Honestly, Miaomiao thought that Deng Feng shouldn’t secretly fall in love with Jingjing. It would just complicate their lives.

The two had a good relationship since childhood, and they could be lifelong friends. Before, the two people’s comradeship was so good that they could discuss anything and everything. They were very close. They were not related in any way, but they acted far better than relatives. Due to his feelings for Jingjing, their relationship ended up in shambles.

Moreover, Miaomiao could sense that Jingjing really considered Deng Feng to be a little brother since they had grown up together. Deng Feng probably was aware of this also, which was why he had never confessed. He feared that it would strain their friendship.

Miaomiao heaved a sigh.

Love is way too complicated.

At that moment, she saw a message from Zhou Yuan. The message was very abrupt.

“Could we be good friends?”

Miaomiao quickly replied, “Of course.”

Within her heart, she had already considered Zhou Yuan to be a close friend.