"You, just say it, don't beat around the bush."
The onlookers watched with great interest, their faces beaming with excitement.
"Looks like there's a chance."
Lü Xiaoting pulled the person away.
"Let's go, let's go, stop watching, let them whisper to each other."
"Oh dear, I haven't finished watching it yet."
Gao Jian glanced back and, seeing that most of the people had left, pulled out a bouquet of roses from behind him and handed it to her.
"I asked Xiaoting to call you down. They've all left, so don't be shy."
"To be honest, ever since the first time I played with you, I've thought you played really well. Your skills are top-notch in the women's team."
"After that, I would watch every game you played when I had time. I think your personality off the court is also very cute and innocent. When we went out together that time, I got your phone number. I was so happy that I couldn't sleep all night."
"Although you have been avoiding me intentionally or unintentionally, I heard from Xiaoting that you... don't have anyone you like, so I mustered up the courage to confess and give it a try."
"Chang Nian, I like you. Can you give me a chance to be your boyfriend?"
Xie Shi'an parked the car and called her, but she didn't answer. He was about to go upstairs to find her when he realized he hadn't taken the chocolate. He went back to get it and then closed the car door with satisfaction.
However, before she even stepped into the apartment, she saw this scene, and it was as if all her strength had been drained away in an instant.
Xie Shi'an stood frozen in place, unable to move.
The boy's confession was passionate, sincere, and heartfelt.
But Jian Changnian's heart was filled with panic and helplessness, and she felt no sweetness or excitement at all.
She even felt somewhat offended and took a step back.
"No...no, no, I think you've misunderstood. Although I don't have anyone I like, I also..."
I don't like you.
Before she could finish speaking, Gao Jian stepped forward, stuffed the flowers into her hand, and held her hand earnestly.
“We can give it a try. Aren’t feelings cultivated slowly? Look, we’re about the same age, we both play for the national team, we have common topics, and even if we’re together, the coach won’t say anything. In all aspects, we’re a good match, aren’t we?”
Xie Shi'an has always been a person with a strong sense of boundaries. At that moment, she was unusually angry, feeling as if her things were being coveted by others. She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her flesh. After calming down, a chill ran through her heart.
It turns out that, without her even realizing it, she had already added two words before Jian Changnian's name: "mine".
The reason she was so resistant to Gao Jian getting close to her was because of jealousy.
Finally realizing what was happening, Xie Shi'an's lips moved as if in disbelief. He took two steps back, then lost all courage to stand there and could only flee in a disheveled state.
Jian Changnian pushed the person away, and the flowers hit him.
"Being compatible doesn't mean I like you! I think the stray cats and dogs at our training base are a perfect match! Stop bothering me, I really don't like you!"
Gao Jian's eyes also reddened, and he raised his voice.
"Then who do you like?! Xie Shi'an?!"
When that name came out of his mouth, Jian Changnian's head went blank.
Her face flushed red, and she backed away repeatedly, trying to find an excuse to refute, but she couldn't even find a reason why he didn't like her.
Jian Changnian was both angry and anxious, and more importantly, her heart was about to jump out of her chest. The person who had just been speaking so eloquently was speechless, and with red eyes, he turned and ran away.
"You...you're talking nonsense! How could I possibly like her! I don't want to be in a relationship, so don't bother me again!"
Xie Shi'an returned to the car, locked the doors, and rolled up all the windows.
The scene of Gao Jian holding her watch and pleasuring her was replaying in her mind repeatedly.
Yes, they are a perfect match. Not only are they of similar age and have the same profession, but their genders are also a match made in heaven.
She will never forget the time when she confessed everything to Qiao Yuchu and cursed herself for being "disgusting".
Jian Changnian is certainly not Qiao Yuchu, but if we're talking about friends, hasn't she known Qiao Yuchu for longer than Jian Changnian?
Not yet...
If... if she knew that he had inappropriate thoughts about her, wouldn't she feel disgusted?
After all, she had said it herself.
"Your friend is my friend too. The national team is all straight women. Where am I supposed to introduce you to someone? Besides, if you want to date, don't do it within the team. It's not a good thing."
Xie Shi'an is no longer the eighteen-year-old who would recklessly jump into a pond to prove that the person he liked also cared about him. Such recklessness is enough for a lifetime.
Now, Xie Shi'an only wants to hold onto the remaining beauty in her life, because she has lost too much in her life.
But why... why... of all people?
If it were someone else, she could try to compete, but Chang Nian, who liked her so much, admired her so much, followed her step by step to get here, treated her as a senior sister, treated her as family.
Xie Shi'an buried her head in the steering wheel, letting the layers of guilt surge up from the bottom of her heart and completely overwhelm her.
Xie Shi'an, you're a real scoundrel.
A single, glistening tear rolled down her cheek.
If only I could control myself when I'm attracted to someone.
I don't know how much time passed, but the phone I left on the passenger seat kept vibrating, turning on and off repeatedly.
Where are you? Why aren't you answering my calls? Is this over yet?
Back in his room, Jian Changnian was restless. He kept calling her, but she didn't answer, so he sent her a message.
She stared nervously at her phone, waiting for her reply.
"No, I was called back at the last minute for reshoots. We probably won't be able to finish tonight. You'll have to go see the movie yourself. Sorry."
Ding-dong—
The phone rang again.
Jian Changnian breathed a sigh of relief. Since he didn't come back, she probably didn't see Gao Jian confessing his feelings to her.
She's also very confused tonight, so it's probably better if she doesn't go.
"It's okay, work is more important. Let's watch it together next time."
When Xie Shi'an tossed her phone back onto the passenger seat, she inadvertently glanced at the box of chocolates again. She opened it and ate one, taking only one bite.
It's so bitter.
Chapter 118 Sunny Day
From that day on, she kept her distance from Jian Changnian.
Xie Shi'an's kindness to someone is subtle and unassuming, and his distancing from someone is also subtle and unassuming.
They trained together as usual, but when Jian Changnian went to visit her in private, she always made excuses that she was busy with classes, homework, shooting commercials, or recording TV programs.
When she had questions about her studies, she would go to Xie Shi'an for help. Xie Shi'an no longer stayed up all night to teach her like before. Instead, she gave her all her notes and review materials.
"These are all the frequently tested knowledge points that I summarized before. I've also written down the questions that are easy to get wrong. If you memorize them and do a few more practice tests, you shouldn't have any major problems."
As Xie Shi'an spoke, he handed her another business card.
"This is the contact information of the teacher who tutored me before. Although the place where the class was held was a bit far away, the teacher was very good and the class was not expensive. You can try it when you have time."
Her attitude, her actions, and her statements are all impeccable and flawless.
But precisely because of this, Jian Changnian felt increasingly distressed. That question continued to haunt her, like a nightmare that wouldn't go away.
From the moment she asked Lü Xiaoting and the other teammates who witnessed Gao Jian confessing to her that night to help keep it a secret from Xie Shi'an, Jian Changnian suddenly realized that there was a secret between her and Xie Shi'an. She could no longer be as honest as before, crying when she cried, laughing when she laughed, and saying whatever was on her mind.
Jian Changnian, carrying the thick stack of books, turned and took a couple of steps, but then turned back and tentatively asked a question.
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, do you... want to come home with me for the New Year?"
"No, I have to write my thesis. It would be really inconvenient to go back without internet. Please give my regards to Grandma."
Even she herself found the reason somewhat far-fetched, but Jian Changnian left without saying anything.
This was the first time the two of them hadn't come back for the New Year together. Her grandmother went to the station in town to pick her up and was stunned to see her getting off the bus alone.
"Where's Shi'an? Didn't she come back with you?"
Jian Changnian smiled.
"No, she has work in Beijing, so she's not coming back."
Back home, her grandmother tidied up her things, made the bed, and folded the blankets while muttering to herself.
“What job is so important that we can’t skip the New Year? We only get a few days off all year round, so we should at least let people come back for a reunion dinner.”
Jian Changnian knew that her grandmother doted on Xie Shi'an and treated her like a granddaughter. Not wanting to upset her, she could only comfort her.
"Although Shi'an didn't come back, she still asked me to bring you something. This is a shoulder and neck massager. Don't you often have shoulder pain? A massage with this will make you feel much better."
"And this, a memory foam pillow, it's good for sleep. This is an eye patch, this is tea, and this is the down jacket I bought for you."
When her grandmother saw how many things she had taken out, a smile finally appeared on her face, but she still complained that Xie Shi'an was wasting money.
“Why spend that money? You send back so many clothes that we can’t even wear them all. Why didn’t you try to stop her from buying them? This child.”
"How could I possibly persuade her otherwise?"
Jian Changnian smiled and agreed, recalling how Xie Shian always made the house lively when they came back together in previous years. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she almost shed one. While her grandmother was tidying up, she quickly turned away and wiped away her tears.
Although Xie Shi'an didn't come back this year, Zhou Mu was fortunate enough to spend the New Year with his parents at the old house.
Jian Changnian at least has someone she can talk to.
On New Year's Eve.
The two of them sat under the grape trellis, admiring the moon and keeping vigil for the New Year.
Zhou Mu watched her drink one cup after another, her face full of sorrow, the word "disappointment" written all over her face.
"Hey, did you and Shi'an have a fight?"
Jian Changnian was startled and stammered as she spoke.