Chapter Fifty-Two: The Thoughts of Two Little Beauties

Reliving 1993 Without Barriers

Zhang Ya noticed Jiang Xiwen lost in deep thought again and asked, “Hey, what are you thinking about?”

“I was just thinking about earlier—you seemed pretty nervous about me,” Jiang Xiwen chuckled softly, then frowned. “It’s strange, the class monitor’s attitude toward us mere mortals has changed a lot over the past month. I told you before, it must be because you have feelings for me, but you stubbornly refused to admit it. Now… sigh…”

“You—what nonsense are you talking about…” Zhang Ya’s face flushed with embarrassment.

Jiang Xiwen laughed heartily. “Oh, you’re blushing! Come on, give me a smile.” He made a frame with his hands as if holding a camera. “Say cheese.” Then he muttered to himself, “I need to keep evidence. Later, I can use it as proof, put it in an album, and brag a little—‘The beautiful class monitor once liked me.’”

“Jiang Xiwen, you’re impossible. Who would like you? I’m just angry…” Zhang Ya, less shy now, hurried to defend herself.

Looking at Zhang Ya’s current expression, Jiang Xiwen saw a hint of the grace she’d have as she grew older, and his gaze changed ever so slightly. Zhang Ya noticed Jiang Xiwen staring at her, and her heartbeat quickened. She quickly looked away and focused on her textbook, silently repeating to herself, “How could this happen? There’s no way I like him.”

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiwen was reflecting: such a beautiful girl—he hoped she wouldn’t repeat the past, lively and outgoing on stage, but proud and aloof off it.

Should I smile? Why can’t I smile? Last time when I fought those bullies, I think I smiled. But why didn’t he react at all then, and afterwards he said those things to me? In the corner of the classroom, Ning Yan’s mind was full of thoughts. After Jiang Xiwen left her behind to greet Zhang Ya with a smile last time, she hadn’t approached him since. Knowing Jiang Xiwen would return to class today, Ning Yan had spent the previous night practicing her smile in front of the mirror—a rare departure from her usual self.

But seeing Jiang Xiwen today, she didn’t know how to greet him. Ning Yan, who feared no one, became a turtle for the first time.

All this stemmed from Jiang Xiwen’s English sentence. She finally understood its meaning: “Why do you always keep a cold face? You’re no different from a robot. If you learn to smile, you’ll find so much joy—you’ll be the most beautiful girl in the world.”

No one had ever called Ning Yan beautiful. Through elementary and middle school, her mother dressed her plainly, sometimes even like a boy. Her father rarely came home, but whenever he did, he educated her as if she were a boy, saying things she never forgot: “Endure hardship, live simply, train hard. Make your fists harder than steel to defeat evil.”

Her skills came from her father. Although he’d been in prison, she believed he was a good man. Such a family made Ning Yan mature and dutiful from a young age, shaping her current character.

To her, none of her classmates were truly on her level. They enjoyed themselves, played around—such lives, her father said, were meaningless. But after Jiang Xiwen’s playful act in class, she thought perhaps he was worth befriending. Later, his flirtatious remarks disappointed her, but didn’t make her uncomfortable. In fact, she liked talking to Jiang Xiwen more and more.

When Jiang Xiwen beat up those bullies last time, Ning Yan saw him in a new light. After translating the message he left for her, she felt something strange for the first time, as if bewitched, and began to learn how to smile.

No, Dad said—I can’t be an ordinary person, can’t think like this. I’m still young. No, I just consider him a friend. But is he really worth befriending? He’s not the good person Dad thinks, maybe even a bit of a hooligan.

Thinking this, Ning Yan glanced at Jiang Xiwen, just as she saw him staring intently at Zhang Ya, whose cheeks were bright red.

Damn! He really isn’t a good person, even tricking a girl like Zhang Ya. Now I don’t need to learn to smile, don’t need to care about him. Ning Yan thought seeing this would bring relief, but the more she thought, the more annoyed she became. She wanted to drag Jiang Xiwen out of his seat, wanted to talk to him, even wished he was looking at her instead.

Jiang Xiwen, of course, had no idea what Ning Yan was thinking. Throughout the morning, he continued as usual, paying no attention in class. Zhang Ya didn’t say a word, afraid that if she spoke, Jiang Xiwen would say something she couldn’t respond to. After a long time, she thought, Jiang Xiwen, since you always make me blush, I’ll make you pay later.

After school, she finally spoke. “Jiang Xiwen, didn’t you say you’d treat me to a meal last time? I’m free now.”

“Oh?” Jiang Xiwen was surprised by Zhang Ya’s sudden invitation, but since he had nothing to do at lunchtime, he nodded in agreement. Zhang Ya packed her bag and said coldly, “Let’s go.”

What’s with this girl? Just now she asked to have a meal together, but now she’s acting cold again. After learning about Zhang Ya’s family background, Jiang Xiwen no longer minded her aloofness. He swaggered behind her as they walked toward a restaurant outside the school.

“I wouldn’t go to such a low-class place. Can we eat wherever we want?” Zhang Ya looked at Jiang Xiwen with a half-smile.

“Hm?!” Jiang Xiwen grinned, “Of course, as long as the class monitor isn’t worried about missing afternoon classes, wherever you like.”

Zhang Ya felt secretly triumphant at his reply. She hailed a taxi and took Jiang Xiwen to the Yangjiang River Fresh Restaurant. She remembered her father had once entertained his best friend, Uncle Tian, there, spending a lot of money.

Jiang Xiwen had no idea what Zhang Ya was planning—if she simply wanted to treat him to a meal, it didn’t make much sense. Along the way, Zhang Ya remained aloof, which puzzled Jiang Xiwen.

Once they arrived at the restaurant and sat down, Zhang Ya began ordering, choosing only the most expensive dishes. Jiang Xiwen saw her mischievous smile and realized this wasn’t a place most students could afford. Apparently, Zhang Ya wanted to watch him eat without paying—a clever trap. Well, if that’s what she wanted, he’d play along, give her the satisfaction, and let her see him eat like a king.