Chapter 32

Yang Jingxing looked at Tao Meng and said, "If you want to cry, just have a little cry; I haven't seen you do it yet."

Tao Meng didn't cry, but two streams of tears fell. Yang Jingxing fished in his pocket, pulled out a tissue, and handed one to her. Tao Meng took it, unfolded it, and then folded it again, holding it in her hand, ready to use. She might have liked the feeling of tears, silently experiencing it for two minutes before raising her hand to wipe her eyes.

Yang Jingxing said, "I've decided to make you cry from now on."

Tao Meng smiled, but the tears continued. She said, "You won't have the chance in the future."

Yang Jingxing said, "That's not necessarily true."

Tao Meng lowered her head and said, "Your family must be very happy."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Do you think you're not happy?"

Tao Meng shook her head, "I don't know... Actually, I don't dislike you because you can make me laugh. At home, even when my dad tells jokes, they're not funny."

Yang Jingxing said, "I think there's one thing you can do but haven't."

"What?" Tao Meng asked.

Yang Jingxing feigned profundity, "Forgive and bless your parents. You are definitely the most important person to them, so your forgiveness is very important for you and your parents."

Tao Meng felt wronged, tears streaming down her face, "No matter what I do, I can't change the facts!"

"But there are things you can change!" Yang Jingxing didn't care about her feelings, "Even if they divorce, you can still be their beautiful and well-behaved daughter and bless them to have new and happy relationships..."

"How can you say it so easily!" Tao Meng almost shouted, then started sobbing.

Yang Jingxing gently flattered her, "Because I believe you can do it. Just like how you are responsible and serious in class, you also have responsibilities at home; children have their own responsibilities too!"

Tao Meng lost control, "Not you, of course you can say it easily! Being responsible and serious, do you know how tired I am? I don't want to end up like my mom!"

Yang Jingxing got angry, "Why do you deny your mom's life? Just because she divorced and made you feel wronged? Can you not be so selfish!"

Tao Meng glared at Yang Jingxing, couldn't hold back, and burst into tears.

Yang Jingxing was startled and quickly pulled out a tissue. But Tao Meng didn't take it, just half-facing Yang Jingxing, "Wah... wah..."

Yang Jingxing had no choice but to reach out and touch Tao Meng's face, but she turned her head away. Yang Jingxing waited for two minutes, seeing that Tao Meng had no intention of stopping, and moved closer, holding her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I was too harsh."

Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing, still crying.

Yang Jingxing's other hand also held Tao Meng's other shoulder. A fragile woman really needs support; as soon as Yang Jingxing patted her back, she unconsciously leaned over, resting her head on Yang Jingxing's shoulder, and continued to cry.

Yang Jingxing, perhaps satisfied, didn't comfort her but just held her shoulders, letting her cry it out.

Actually, there wasn't much physical contact; Tao Meng just rested her left forehead on Yang Jingxing's left shoulder. Yang Jingxing could still glance around, lifting his left hand to extend a tissue to Tao Meng. Tao Meng took it with her right hand, wiping her tears while continuing to cry.

A few minutes later, a male student's imitation of a crying sound came from a distance. Tao Meng was startled, straightened her posture, and stopped crying.

Yang Jingxing stood up and shouted, "Who?"

No response. Tao Meng said softly, "Forget it, ignore it."

Yang Jingxing sat down, very angry, "He doesn't know how beautiful you look when you cry."

Tao Meng giggled, "It hasn't been an hour yet!"

Yang Jingxing apologized, "Sorry, it's a habit."

Tao Meng didn't know whether she was crying or laughing, so she just tried to be silent for a while, then asked, "Were you serious just now?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yes."

Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing, "At the parent-teacher meeting, I thought your mom looked very young."

Yang Jingxing said, "She is my biological mother; she likes to show off."

Tao Meng felt embarrassed, "I think what you said makes sense... I'm actually afraid of parent-teacher meetings."

Yang Jingxing said, "Your parents will definitely like it; they'll be so proud."

Tao Meng carefully wiped her face and eyes, looking at Yang Jingxing, "You're the same; Mr. Jiang has praised you many times behind your back... Can I ask you a question?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Sure, anything."

"Do you ever feel tired?"

Yang Jingxing thought for a moment, "Not really."

Tao Meng continued, "Do you ever feel sad?"

"Everyone does."

Tao Meng was interested, "When?"

Yang Jingxing said, "In junior high, I had a girlfriend. During the summer, we were at her house, and I took off her clothes. Her mom saw us, and then her parents came to my house, demanding compensation from my parents... She was just crying, but I couldn't say a word. That was the saddest time for me."

Yang Jingxing spoke calmly, but Tao Meng was shocked. After a long time, she said sympathetically, angrily, and sadly, "How could this happen!?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Because I was powerless."

You were in junior high and dared to take off a girl's clothes, and you call yourself powerless! Tao Meng didn't know what to say, but her curiosity couldn't be suppressed, "What happened after that?"

Yang Jingxing smiled, "We became like strangers, and then I came to Shangpu."

Tao Meng couldn't help but ask, "Did they get compensation?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "No."

Tao Meng asked again, "Did you love each other?"

Yang Jingxing said, "We didn't understand love back then."

Tao Meng thought for a while and asked, "Do you feel guilty towards her?"

Yang Jingxing slowly nodded.

Tao Meng asked, "Do you still love her?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head.

Tao Meng asked in quick succession, "Do you hate her parents?"

Yang Jingxing said, "At first, I was full of hatred and anger. Later, I let it go; I bless them and hope they are happy and content."

After a long silence, Tao Meng suddenly said, "How can you be like that, you were just in junior high!"

Another long silence, Tao Meng asked, "Do you regret it?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Let the past be the past; don't let unhappy things become shadows in the present."

Tao Meng still wanted to clarify, "Then... did you bully her, or just take off her clothes?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Just took off her outer clothes, nothing more."

Tao Meng felt embarrassed, looked down at her own clothes as if in defense, and asked, "Do you still think about her now?"

Yang Jingxing was very cold, "Not really."

Tao Meng was worried, "Will you have a girlfriend in the future?"

"Of course..."

"Was she your first love?" Tao Meng suddenly got to the point.

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Do you feel sorry for me? Actually, that wasn't the worst. The worst was when I secretly went to see her, and she insulted my parents, saying they were stingy and bullied others."

"Ah..." Tao Meng couldn't believe it.

Yang Jingxing feigned helplessness, "Come on, lend me your shoulder."

Tao Meng carefully observed Yang Jingxing, trying to see if he was really sad or just indifferent.

Yang Jingxing changed the subject, "Okay, tell me about your first love."

Tao Meng was taken aback, "I won't date until I graduate... I really think women must have their own abilities; they shouldn't depend on men, whether in relationships or careers."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Would you let a man depend on you?"

Tao Meng thought for a moment, looking at Yang Jingxing warily, "No."

Yang Jingxing said, "I actually like the feeling of being dependent."

Tao Meng didn't care what Yang Jingxing liked and said, "I have another question for you."

Yang Jingxing was annoyed, "No need to ask for permission."

Tao Meng hesitated, "The photos in your wallet, are those girls your friends?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "We've known each other since we were young; they're like my sisters."

Tao Meng explained, "I didn't mean to look, and I didn't see clearly."

Yang Jingxing generously took out his wallet and showed it to Tao Meng. Tao Meng turned on her phone's flashlight to see clearly and exclaimed, "So beautiful!"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "They're beautified; compare them to me, and you'll see."

Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing, smiled in acknowledgment, and asked, "Didn't you say you have many male friends?"

Yang Jingxing was puzzled, "Do you think I would stick photos of my brothers in my wallet!"

Tao Meng said, "But I think it's a bit gross for a man to have any photos in his wallet, except for family."

Yang Jingxing deflected, "I was forced to."

Tao Meng smiled and asked, "What are their names?"

Yang Jingxing introduced them, "This is Liu Miao, and this is Xia Xue."

"Are they relatives?"

"No, we lived in the same courtyard when we were young."

Tao Meng said, "Oh, who do you think is prettier?"

Yang Jingxing said, "They're both equally beautiful."

Tao Meng chuckled, "Compared to Ren Chuyu?"

Yang Jingxing glared at Tao Meng, "You were just crying, and now you're being mean!"

Tao Meng felt embarrassed, "But you just made yourself sound so pitiful, and now you have two sisters!"

Yang Jingxing was helpless, "Treasure, treasure."

Tao Meng moved her butt away from Yang Jingxing.

After returning the wallet to Yang Jingxing, Tao Meng asked, "Do you feel better when you talk about some things with someone?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yes."

Tao Meng asked, "Have you ever talked about it with anyone before? At our school?"

Yang Jingxing said, "No, I haven't talked to anyone."

Tao Meng said, "Me neither... If you have any troubles in the future, you can come talk to me."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Then I'll probably be a regular at Fudan University."

Tao Meng also laughed, "I'm under a lot of pressure, afraid of not doing well... When we were desk partners, I hesitated for a while, but I think I made the right choice."

Yang Jingxing said, "You made the right choice, but I got scolded by Tan Dong."

Tao Meng retaliated, "Do you like Ren Chuyu?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yes."

Tao Meng was surprised, "That kind of like?"

"Ordinary like."

Tao Meng realized, "No wonder you wrote songs for her."

Yang Jingxing was angry, "I've written a lot for you too... What are you hinting at!"

Tao Meng was serious, "That's completely different! The ones for me were adapted! Hey, did you decide to apply to the music college from the beginning, or did you think of it in senior year?"

Yang Jingxing admitted, "It was a sudden idea."

Tao Meng was a bit impressed, "I really admire your courage and perseverance. At first, I thought you had no hope... I didn't know you well back then, and I still don't know you well now."

Yang Jingxing huffed, "You didn't try to get to know me!"

Tao Meng said, "Anyway, you don't care."

Yang Jingxing said, "You're just making excuses for yourself."

Tao Meng was dissatisfied, "That's true, you didn't tell me about the exam, and you didn't tell me about your birthday." She really held a grudge.

Yang Jingxing threatened, "I'll bother you to death in the future!"

Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing seriously, "Yang Jingxing, are we friends?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yes."

"Then, let's wish our friendship lasts forever." Tao Meng extended her hand.

Yang Jingxing slapped her hand away, "Friends don't do that."

"Then what should we do?"

Yang Jingxing said, "A warm hug."

Tao Meng was very sincere, stood up, and stood straight.

Yang Jingxing quickly stood up, they made eye contact, and Yang Jingxing lifted his hand, giving Tao Meng a light hug around her shoulders. Tao Meng leaned her face on Yang Jingxing's shoulder, her hand lightly touching his lower back, and said, "I really want to be friends with you."

This hug was not warm at all and ended quickly. Tao Meng said, "I've been sitting for too long, let's walk for a bit." So the two slowly walked to the playground and then strolled around it.

Tao Meng asked, "What are your plans for the summer?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Play."

Tao Meng said, "I'm going to Canada to stay with my mom for a while, get a driver's license, and learn to paint. What do you do for fun?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Swimming, playing ball, computer games, eating, singing..."

Tao Meng was curious, "Are your friends all childhood friends?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Since we were in diapers."

Tao Meng laughed, "Then I'm far behind."

Yang Jingxing was proud, "Not really, my brothers have known each other for over ten years and have never hugged each other."

Tao Meng mocked, "Do you really think I believe you... Do your brothers all have girlfriends?"

Yang Jingxing said, "They're all brothers, how could they leave the group."

Tao Meng teased, "Then you're prepared to stay single until I graduate."

Yang Jingxing was flustered, "Come on, I'll give you the hug back."

Tao Meng laughed, "Just kidding. What kind of girlfriend do you want?"

Yang Jingxing asked, "Today or in high school?"

Tao Meng was puzzled, "Today, tomorrow is the same."

Yang Jingxing said, "Then you're still the class monitor."

Tao Meng wasn't angry, "You're mocking me again!"

"Your question is too hard."

"What's so hard about it."

"Then what about your ideal boyfriend..."

Tao Meng said hastily, "I haven't thought about it."

Yang Jingxing was hurt, "You're lying to your friend!"

Tao Meng defended herself, "I really don't feel comfortable suddenly talking about these things with you."

Yang Jingxing was puzzled, "You started it."

Tao Meng was very feminine, "I was asking you!"

Yang Jingxing said, "I think every girl has her own charm; it's just a matter of who has the right chemistry. You can't plan out love and then try to make it happen."

Tao Meng asked again, "Have you ever thought about marriage? You'll have to live with someone for the rest of your life."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "I think the legal age for marriage is meaningful; it's too early for us to think about it now."

Tao Meng felt sad again, "I think love and marriage should be sacred, but people are not."

Yang Jingxing said, "I hope you always think this way."

The two continued their idle chatter, walking around the playground circle after circle until eleven. Yang Jingxing then took Tao Meng to the dormitory building.

Tao Meng said, "Thank you, go to bed early, good night."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Friends don't do that."

Tao Meng was alert, "What do you want?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Go to sleep quickly, clean up, and have a good dream!"

Tao Meng didn't understand, "I don't like that!"

Yang Jingxing changed his tone, "Dear friend, good night."

Tao Meng was flustered, "You're not being serious again."

Yang Jingxing was impatient, "Just go to sleep, you have too many requirements."

"See you tomorrow." Tao Meng seemed to have no experience in making friends.

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