This year’s moon was very large and very bright, and it had already risen.
Ye Jiawen was just about to ask Ling Hang if he could stay with her to look at the moon for a while before going back. She was feeling a bit homesick, missing her parents.
“Oh, and can you come with me to see my younger brother later? This is his first Mid-Autumn Festival not being with family. I’m worried.”
Ye Jiawen felt a bit guilty bringing this up. Logically, she should be spending the festival with Xiao Wu, but it just so happened that she had to go see Ling Hang today. She had chosen Ling Hang between the two.
Ling Hang put his arm around Ye Jiawen. “Let’s go over, pick up Xiao Wu, and take him to admire the moon together. I have mooncakes and drinks in the car.”
“When did you prepare all this?” Ye Jiawen was a bit surprised. Hadn’t he been with her the whole time?
“Mingyuan helped me get it ready. I didn’t think it through this thoroughly,” Ling Hang said, habitually rubbing the back of his neck.
Ye Jiawen looked at him and laughed. “Did you know that you have this little habit whenever you feel awkward?”
Ling Hang was stunned for a moment, then laughed along. “Yeah, I know. But I only do this around you. I wouldn’t feel embarrassed or awkward with other people.”
“Do you know what nickname the others on my team gave me?”
“How would I know that? What is it?”
“Dunlop.”
“Dunlop?”
“Dunlop is a tire brand. They say my skin is thicker than Dunlop tires.”
Ye Jiawen burst out laughing. “What did you do to earn a nickname like that?”
“Nothing much. When we go to get supplies, if it’s ours, I take it. If it’s not ours, I snatch it.”
“Supplies are very important to us, especially…”
Ling Hang started to explain to Ye Jiawen, but noticing people around, he turned his head and whispered in her ear, “Weapons.”
But this scene, witnessed by Wen Liang and Guo Jia who were following behind them, was misinterpreted as flirtation.
“Jiawen’s guy must have said something funny to make Jiawen laugh like that. They’re even whispering to each other. They have such a good relationship.”
As Guo Jia spoke, she looked at Wen Liang, wondering when he might ever be like this with her, instead of always being so distant and cold, treating her no differently than any other girl.
Wen Liang let out a cold laugh. “Guo Jia, where do you think they’re going?”
Guo Jia was momentarily dazed by Wen Liang’s smile and answered absentmindedly, “Jiawen’s guy must be leaving, so Jiawen is seeing him off.”
“No, Jiawen is going to leave with him.”
Wen Liang suddenly turned his head to look at Guo Jia, giving her a sly smile. “Want to make a bet?”
“A bet? Bet on what?” Guo Jia’s interest was piqued.
Wen Liang sounded a bit impatient. “Just tell me, are we betting or not?”
“Bet!”
Seeing that Wen Liang was unhappy, Guo Jia immediately hugged his arm and tried to appease him. “Wen Liang, don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad.” Wen Liang pulled his arm free. “Alright, since you agreed to bet, let’s follow them and see.”
The two followed Ye Jiawen and Ling Hang out of the school gate, and sure enough, they saw Ye Jiawen get into the car.
“It’s already so late. Why is Jiawen leaving? Is she… not planning to come back tonight?” Guo Jia deliberately said this.
No matter how much Wen Liang liked Ye Jiawen, seeing this scene, he wouldn’t like her anymore, right? After all, no man can accept a woman who isn’t pure anymore.
“You lost.”
Wen Liang didn’t look away until Ling Hang’s car was completely out of sight, then turned his gaze to Guo Jia.
Guo Jia puffed out her chest. “A bet is a bet. Go on, what’s the wager?”
“Our Poetry Club wants to have a dinner gathering with your Law Club. You’re responsible for helping me get Ye Jiawen to come. Remember, you must make sure she comes.”
Guo Jia felt hurt. “Wen Liang, you saw her. Ye Jiawen has a boyfriend.”
“I know. I don’t want anything romantic with her. I just want to smooth things over between us.”
Wen Liang patted Guo Jia on the shoulder, reminding her, “Who was it that just talked about a bet being a bet? Forgot already?”
“Wen Liang, I…”
“Guo Jia, I remember all the kindness you’ve shown me. Can you just help me with this one last time?”
How could Guo Jia resist when Wen Liang spoke to her in that tone? She agreed immediately. “Alright.”
“Since it’s Mid-Autumn Festival, want to go check out the night market? Didn’t you say you guys were planning to go earlier but saw Ye Jiawen and didn’t go?”
Without waiting for Guo Jia’s answer, Wen Liang walked straight ahead. He knew Guo Jia wouldn’t refuse. In fact, she’d be thrilled to be alone with him like this.
Just as Wen Liang thought, Guo Jia was stunned for a moment, then joyfully caught up with him in excitement.
The night market near them wasn’t very big, not as large as the one by the University of Industry and Commerce, but the things they sold were quite comprehensive.
“Miss, how much is this?”
Wen Liang stopped at a stall selling hair clips, picked up a red one, and asked the vendor.
“Twenty cents.”
“And this one?” Wen Liang picked up another.
“This one is more expensive, fifty cents.”
“I’ll take both.” After paying, Wen Liang handed the twenty-cent hair clip to Guo Jia. “Guo Jia, this one is for you.”
After taking it, Guo Jia looked at the fifty-cent one Wen Liang had put in his pocket. She actually preferred that one.
But receiving a gift from Wen Liang still made Guo Jia very happy. “Thank you, Wen Liang.”
“I should be thanking you. You’ve helped me a lot before.”
“Oh, Wen Liang.”
They browsed for a while longer and ran into someone from Wen Liang’s dorm. The guy glanced at Guo Jia, then made faces at Wen Liang.
Wen Liang nudged him. “Don’t get any ideas. She’s my little sister.”
“Oh, little sister.”
Guo Jia often came to find Wen Liang, so they all recognized her and knew Wen Liang wasn’t interested in her. They didn’t keep teasing.
After these people left, Wen Liang turned to look at Guo Jia, only to see tears glistening in her eyes. “Since when am I your little sister?”
“Guo Jia, I’ve always thought of you as my little sister. I don’t have a sister. Will you be my little sister from now on?”
“Don’t worry. With me around, no one will dare bully you.”
“You know how I feel about you.” Guo Jia shook her head, crying as she spoke. “I don’t want to be your little sister.”
Seeing people looking at them, Wen Liang pulled Guo Jia to a quieter spot. “Guo Jia, I know you like me. But I don’t have those feelings for you. Even if I stop liking Ye Jiawen, I still wouldn’t like you. You can’t force these things.”
“I know you’re a good girl, and I don’t want to lead you on. Be my little sister, and I’ll take good care of you in the future.”
Guo Jia couldn’t stop her tears. Wen Liang sighed and gently wiped them away with his handkerchief. “Guo Jia, it’s my fault. But I already made myself very clear to you a long time ago.”
“I… I don’t want to be your little sister. I just want to be with you.” Guo Jia bit her lip, mustered her courage, and threw herself forward, hugging Wen Liang.
Wen Liang tried to pull Guo Jia away, but she just held on tighter.
Not only that, Guo Jia stood on her tiptoes and clumsily kissed Wen Liang on the lips.
“Guo Jia, even if I don’t like you, you still want to be with me?”
