Chapter 29: Kiss Me. In Front of Him

“Mm.”

Wen Qi let out a soft sigh. “Other than using ‘I need to spend time with my boyfriend’ as an excuse, I can’t think of any reason that would make him agree to reduce the number of times we meet.”

She had experienced firsthand just how clingy Wei Qingxuan could be, if she took one step, he would follow right behind.

Under those circumstances, trying to complete the exchange application without him noticing was practically a fantasy.

Although the probability of Wei Qingxuan agreeing to her condition was close to zero, she still had to try.

“Does your family know you want to go abroad?” Jiang Tinghao asked.

When it came to her family, Wen Qi didn’t want to go into detail. She only brushed it off lightly. “They don’t really interfere with me. As long as I make my own decisions properly, that’s enough.”

Even with just that sentence, Jiang Tinghao could roughly understand her relationship with her parents. Being perceptive, he didn’t press further.

Instead, he turned his thoughts to Wei Qingxuan.

Though he had never met him in person, last night’s post had exploded. Among the flood of replies were quite a few photos of Wei Qingxuan.

No matter the angle, he always carried an air of aloofness that warned strangers to keep their distance. In the rare photo where he faced the camera directly, there was still a cold, assessing look in his eyes.

His temperament was distinct, so distinct that even with a mask on, he could be recognized at a glance.

From the impression given by the photos alone, he seemed like someone seated high on a throne, hard to approach, even harder to move. It was difficult to imagine such a distant man relentlessly chasing after someone.

Wen Qi’s purpose in coming today, aside from clarifying things with Jiang Tinghao, was to find out exactly what her rushed promise would entail.

But after sitting here for so long without Jiang Tinghao bringing up any conditions, though she pressed her lips together anxiously, she still held back from blurting out the question. She silently rehearsed what to say later.

Her idea had come in a sudden flash, and her actions had been rushed. As a result, she had completely handed over the initiative. The only thing she could rely on now seemed to be Jiang Tinghao’s character.

After two months of interaction, Wen Qi believed that aside from misjudging Wei Qingxuan, she was fairly good at reading people.

The key was that Wei Qingxuan had once disguised himself too perfectly. After long-term contact, she had almost concluded he was gentle and easygoing. She had never imagined he possessed such a absurd, forceful side.

Once bitten by a snake, one fears ropes for ten years.

Wen Qi began to harbor subtle doubts about her own judgment again.

Could Jiang Tinghao be like Wei Qingxuan too?

At that thought, her heart tightened.

Jiang Tinghao had always appeared warm and kind in front of her. Even after being dragged into this mess, he showed no signs of anger.

Wen Qi made up her mind to gamble once, to bet that Jiang Tinghao wouldn’t make excessive demands.

“I know you were the most innocent one in last night’s post. And Wei Qingxuan… he’s somewhat dangerous. I don’t know what would truly make up for this.”

“But I’ll do my best.”

“The promise I mentioned before, have you thought about it?”

Jiang Tinghao’s motion of drinking coffee noticeably slowed, making Wen Qi tense as well. She could only sip her coffee repeatedly.

But because of the caffeine, the more she drank, the more nervous she felt. She simply set the cup down.

“Have you thought of anything?”

Jiang Tinghao shook his head. “No.”

“Then why are you helping me?” Wen Qi held back and held back, but in the end, she still asked.

“Maybe I’m just that warm-hearted. I can’t stand seeing someone blink their eyes and ask for help,” Jiang Tinghao’s tone was gentle, without a trace of obvious abnormality. “Some people are born with a sense of chivalry.”

But Wen Qi’s intuition told her he was lying.

Regardless, he had agreed to help her.

For a moment, the atmosphere between them fell quiet. Wen Qi took out her phone and checked the time. Wei Qingxuan would be here in ten minutes.

“About Ethan, I think you can still try for it,” she suddenly said.

Hearing her bring it up, Jiang Tinghao lowered his eyes. A faint trace of disappointment flickered across his face.

An opportunity to study under a giant in the industry, anyone forced to give that up would feel regret.

“My younger brother can’t manage without someone taking care of him,” he said lightly, as if already resigned.

“What about your family? Can’t they take care of him?”

“My brother only has me.”

The words stuck in Wen Qi’s throat. After a long moment, she said, “I can help you.”

Last night, she had searched extensively for information about Jiang Tinghao. Most of it came from the school’s official account, academic achievements, student union roles, nothing that gave her deeper insight into him.

But before sleeping, she had seen an old rural outreach report from several years ago. It mentioned Jiang Tinghao.

At first she thought it was just someone with the same name. But there was a photo. Compared to the Jiang Tinghao now, the boy in the picture looked youthful and immature, but she knew it was him.

Single-parent family. His younger brother was ill. Their father, though physically healthy, was a chronic alcoholic who paid them no attention.

“You can help me?” Jiang Tinghao clearly didn’t believe her. Even his tone barely changed. “You probably don’t fully understand my brother’s condition.”

“I have a friend who can invite a specialist to treat your brother. I don’t know if he can be cured completely, but it will definitely be better than now.”

Finally, Jiang Tinghao’s expression shifted slightly. “How do you know about my family?”

He had forgotten he’d ever given that interview years ago.

“I’m serious.” Wen Qi didn’t want to waste time explaining. She followed her own train of thought. “If your brother has someone to care for him, you can go abroad with peace of mind.”

A flicker of excitement appeared in Jiang Tinghao’s suspicious expression. Even though he hid it well, his hand trembled repeatedly when he set the coffee cup down.

The cup clinked crisply against the saucer.

“But not this year. Today I spoke with Professor Wu-”

“Ethan isn’t planning to take students this year. I’m guessing Professor Wu really values you, that’s why he offered to write a recommendation letter.”

“But next year is different. There will be an international competition collaborating with Huai University. First place can be recommended to work at NEOVIA.”

NEOVIA was the magazine where Ethan served as editor-in-chief.

“Plus Professor Wu’s recommendation letter, staying with-”

“You’re sure this information is true?” Jiang Tinghao interrupted.

“Yes. Professor Wu told me.”

She added, “But next year, it’s not certain you’ll succeed.”

Jiang Tinghao looked startled. “Didn’t you say you’d help my brother-?”

“That won’t change at all. I’ll still help you. But I’m participating in next year’s competition too. And Professor Wu promised me that if I rank first in the major, he’ll write me a recommendation letter as well.”

“There’s only one first place in the competition. And only one chance to stay by Ethan’s side to work.” Wen Qi smiled slightly. “So I said, it might not be you.”

Realization dawned on Jiang Tinghao. “So we’re competitors?”

“You could say that.”

He gulped down his coffee as if it were water, trying to calm himself, only to realize it was impossible.

When Professor Wu had offered to write him a recommendation letter, he had struggled, hesitated. But in the end, his brother, who had no one else, had taken priority.

Now his brother would soon receive treatment and care. And he would have a chance to fight for the opportunity to stay with Ethan.

These waves of exhilarating news came all at once, nearly making it impossible for him to remain composed.

Wen Qi didn’t disturb him.

He gave her an opportunity; she gave him one.

A fair exchange.

Wei Qingxuan would arrive in about three minutes.

Wen Qi packed her bag. “I’ll go first.”

“The lights in the alley are broken today. I’ll walk you,” Jiang Tinghao quickly pulled himself out of that excited state and returned to his usual warm, gentle demeanor.

She refused, afraid of being secretly photographed again. It was strange, so many chance encounters were one thing, but why did people always take pictures?

Maybe because both Jiang Tinghao and Wei Qingxuan were too eye-catching. In public, she should stay a little further from both of them.

But Jiang Tinghao was leaving at this time too, and there was only one exit from the alley. In the end, they still walked out together.

Thankfully, it was far from the school gate.

The alley was dark. Wen Qi stepped out first, turning on her phone’s flashlight to illuminate the ground.

The weather had turned bad. Wind in the morning, a temperature drop at noon, and while they’d been in the café, it had started raining again.

Wen Qi didn’t have a habit of carrying an umbrella. In middle school, Wei Qingxuan used to hold one for her. In high school, she would just pull her uniform jacket over her head and go wherever she wanted.

The rain now was heavy. Raindrops splashed off the ground nearly half a finger high. Yet she had no intention of waiting it out. At most, she’d take a hot shower when she got back.

She steadied her phone, zipped her bag, and stepped directly into the rain.

The beam of light bobbed along with her steps.

Behind her, Jiang Tinghao quickly chased out. “Wen Qi, don’t get soaked. I have an umbrella.”

Hearing that, she ran even faster. Compared to squeezing under a small umbrella in damp air with someone else, she would rather get drenched.

But Jiang Tinghao had long legs and wide strides. With the umbrella shielding him, his vision wasn’t affected much. He quickly caught up and held the umbrella over her head.

“Getting rained on isn’t good. It’s easy to catch a cold. Especially in winter—just a bit of cold wind and you’ll get a fever.”

“No need.” She lowered her head, focusing on the road ahead.

He probably understood why she was running so fast. He pushed the umbrella into her hands. “Then you take it. My home is nearby. I’ll be there in a few steps.”

She truly didn’t need it. Her hat was waterproof. Her coat fabric dried easily. If she took his umbrella, she’d have to return it later. Too troublesome.

She didn’t reach out. “Someone’s coming to pick me up. I don’t need it.”

“Really?” He assumed it might be one of her roommates, but still thought the umbrella could help. “Who’s picking you up?”

Almost instantly, a male voice answered.

“I am.”

Light. Calm. Yet not drowned out by the rain in the slightest. It threaded through the damp air straight into Wen Qi’s ears.

She turned her head in disbelief.

At the alley entrance stood a man in a dark trench coat. The hem fluttered in the night wind. He held a black umbrella, only the hand gripping the handle visible.

Rain streamed off the edge of the umbrella in lines, splashing into puddles at his feet. Yet not a drop touched the hem of his trousers.

His face was entirely hidden in shadow beneath the umbrella. His expression unreadable. But the heavy gloom around him spread like mist.

The meeting of the three was so sudden that Wen Qi froze, swallowing before she could find words.

Jiang Tinghao could roughly guess who he was, but wasn’t sure if this was the moment he was meant to act as Wen Qi’s boyfriend.

For a moment, all three stood still. No one moved.

Until Wei Qingxuan sighed. “Qiqi, come here.”

In her heart, Wen Qi scoffed, why should she go just because he called? If he had the guts, he could walk over himself.

Yet her feet disobeyed, stepping toward him. The flashlight beam moved closer and closer.

Standing under his umbrella, she glanced up quietly and saw Wei Qingxuan narrowing his eyes at Jiang Tinghao.

His grip on the umbrella handle tightened, faint creaking sounds barely audible.

She knew this was the prelude to him losing his temper and possibly throwing a punch. She quickly grabbed his sleeve.

“It’s raining so hard. Let’s go back.”

He didn’t move. Still staring at Jiang Tinghao. She suspected that if she hadn’t stood beside him, he might have already rushed forward.

After all, in the animal world he liked to talk about, fighting over resources was normal.

She decided she would go home and rewatch Animal Planet from start to finish. Without understanding animal habits, she couldn’t tame Wei Qingxuan.

But for now, she had found one useful method.

She stepped closer and looped her arm through his, her voice low. “I got soaked just now. I’m freezing. I want to go back and shower.”

Jiang Tinghao’s eyelashes trembled.

Were they living together?

His breathing stalled for a second.

Wei Qingxuan finally moved, but only curled his lips slightly. “Wen Qi, your boyfriend is standing over there. Are you sure you’re coming back with me?”

Acting. So good at acting.

She refused to indulge him and let go of his arm. “Then I’ll go back to the dorm.”

She stepped forward immediately.

Wei Qingxuan grabbed her back in one swift motion. “Are you going back to the dorm? Or turning the corner to go with him?”

Jealous again.

Wen Qi wondered if in his past life he’d owned a vinegar factory, he had endless jealousy to consume.

“Going with him,” she answered without hesitation.

If he wanted to be jealous, he could choke on it.

And she truly started walking toward Jiang Tinghao.

Just as she was about to step out from under Wei Qingxuan’s umbrella, he pulled her back again.

“Wen Qi!” He frowned at her. After a long moment, seeing she wouldn’t retract her words, he took a deep breath. “Then don’t go.”

She instantly knew he was about to resort to force and hurried to soothe him.

“Going with you is fine too.”

“…”

Of course she should go with him. His brows lifted slightly.

“And then?” Wei Qingxuan stroked her head, his hand sliding slowly to her chin, lifting it so she faced Jiang Tinghao.

He bent down and murmured, “Qiqi, tell him. What are we going back to do?”

This lunatic.

She wanted to bite him, but if she bit once, he’d probably bite back ten times tonight.

Given a little more time, she might even wake up from sleep to find him biting her, that damp warmth against her chest, marks visible in the mirror the next morning.

“Wei Qingxuan, I’ll-”

The threat died unfinished.

“Shh.”

Wei Qingxuan laughed softly by her ear.

“Kiss me, Wen Qi. We’ll ‘deal with me’ after we go back. Right now. In front of him. Kiss me.”