The day the admission letters arrived.
Ji Jinnian was just about to knock when he heard something shocking from inside.
“Xiaoyi, you like Ji Jinnian. You’re going to have an even harder time than I did,” Gu Qianqian said, looking at her sympathetically.
Zhai Jinyi froze, her voice trembling. “How did you know?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,” Gu Qianqian reassured her.
Ji Jinnian stood outside the door, staring at it in disbelief, as if he could see Zhai Jinyi through the wood.
He lowered his head in a panic, thinking back over everything that had happened between them. Had he gone too far somewhere, giving her the wrong idea? But he liked her the way an older brother liked his younger sister. He didn’t have those kinds of feelings.
She was probably still too young to understand that romantic love between a man and a woman was different from the love between siblings.
He clung to that thought as if to avoid facing reality.
From downstairs came the happy voices of his parents, Aunt Song, Uncle Zhai, and the others. He couldn’t help feeling guilty.
He decided to gradually distance himself from her. Once she grew up, she would understand.
Years later, she still loved him, but there was already someone even more outstanding by his side. She didn’t want to disturb them anymore.
By the time Ji Jinnian finally understood his own feelings, he felt a sudden ache for her.
Then he realized the girl was about to give up. He began flirting with her in subtle ways, little by little, finally returning her feelings.
After they got married:
“Wife, I was wrong. I’ll never do that again.” Ji Jinnian rubbed her sore lower back, full of remorse.
“Hah! As if I believe a word you say. You’re sleeping in the study tonight.” Zhai Jinyi didn’t even want to look at him. It was the same every time, and he never changed. She didn’t believe a word he said anymore.
Later, they had a lovely boy and girl, twins.
