Chapter Eighty-Three A Clear Past

  When the two are together, every time Xia Xian gets sick, Jiang Liche becomes her spokesperson. He describes her condition without missing a single detail, even Yī Shēng is impressed. Everyone envies Xia Xian for having such an understanding boyfriend.

  "It seems that even if I become mute in the future, it doesn't matter! You understand me so well! With just a stretch of your hand, you know I'm thirsty; with just an open mouth, you know I'm hungry. I'm so blessed!" Xia Xuan gave Jiang Lian a big bear hug and wouldn't let go for a long time.

  "Ha ha, now that I'm mute, I can get a disability certificate and participate in the Paralympics!" Jiang Jie said heartlessly.

  "Your dog's mouth can't spit out ivory!" Xia Xian bit Jiang Jie's hand fiercely, with neat tooth marks lined up on the tiger's mouth.

  "You! A phoenix head won't grow on a donkey's head!" Jiang Jie was getting more and more fierce now! He patted Xia Xian's little head, smiling and counterattacking.

  Seems like someone's in trouble! Xia Xian's pouting face is especially adorable, and Jiang Tiange doesn't seem to plan on comforting her, instead lowering his head to leave a row of teeth marks on Xia Xian's neck.

  "Hey! You're a dog!" Xia Xian pulled the zipper up a bit, trying to cover up the marks as much as possible, and looked around nervously, wondering if anyone had seen his embarrassing situation.

  "What's this supposed to be?" Jiang Tiande asked, showing off his red hand that had been bitten by Xia Xian in front of her.

  "A cornered rabbit will still bite!" Xia Xuan was furious, her face puffed up, and she turned her head away, not wanting to talk to Jiang Zhe anymore.

  Little girl, I'm not scaring you, it's still early! Jiang Jieche walked forward with his hands in his pockets, whistling from time to time, as if nothing was wrong.

  "Hey! You rascal!" Xia Xuan hastily caught up, hugging Jiang Jie's arm, acting cute and making him laugh and cry at the same time.

  ……

  Everything was arranged, and it was already past two o'clock in the morning. Lu Lingfeng prepared to stay here with Xia Xuan, telling others to go back first.

  "Brother, you go back first! I have some words to say to Xiao Zhe." Wu Jiajia had been forcing a smile all night, holding back a bellyful of words that she now naturally wanted to express.

  "Alright, let's talk it out properly and head back early." Han Yueming patted Wu Jiajia's shoulder, signaling her not to get angry and calm down.

  "I know." Wu Jiajia nodded vigorously, but tears welled up in her eyes.

  Han Yueming looked at Jiang Jie with concern, Jiang Jie nodded to reassure him that he would take good care of her.

  Two people walked shoulder to shoulder to the riverbank, and the cool night wind blew over, Wu Jiajia couldn't help but shiver. Jiang Ze took off his coat and wrapped it around her, and Wu Jiajia tightly hugged him, tears soaking through his shirt.

  "Don't leave me, okay?" Wu Jiajia begged.

  "Jia Jia, I couldn't let go of Xuan Xuan, it's not fair to you." Jiang Ze said calmly as he gently stroked Wu Jia Jia's hair.

  Wu Jiajia shook her head vigorously, as long as he didn't leave, she wouldn't feel it was unfair. All she wanted was him, his heart, something she could never attain in this lifetime, nor did she dare to hope for.

  There lived Xia Xuan inside, who could never come out, and others couldn't get in either.

  "Jiajia, at first my momentary soft-heartedness harmed both of you, I'm sorry."

  One sentence made Wu Jiajia suddenly afraid, soft-hearted? Did he know something? How is that possible? What did he know?

  That day was Xia Xuan's birthday, he promised to spend her birthday with her, but was texted by someone to meet at the small woods, and it rained that day too.

  "Jiajia, don't wait any longer! It's raining, let's go back!" It was Tang Ling's voice, she pulled Wu Jiajia to return to the dormitory, but Wu Jiajia refused to leave.

  The message was sent by Tang Ling.

  "I've loved him for so many years, why won't he give me a chance?! We grew up together, wherever he went, I followed. He moved houses and I moved with him, he transferred schools and I transferred too, he studied medicine and I followed suit, why can't he see my heart after all these years?!"

  Do you know the feeling of seeing your loved one being intimate with another girl? Do you know the awkwardness of having your secrets exposed and ridiculed? You don't, you won't, because you've never loved someone for five years, devotedly.

  I know he has a girlfriend, I know he and Xiaoxian are deeply in love, I know I'm only suited to loving him silently. But what I don't understand is why my endurance, concession, and silence still can't let them leave me alone! Xiaoxian is the winner, but her happiness, her smile are all built on my pain, how can she be so oblivious to my wounds, and even rub salt in them?!

  Wu Jiajia cried out loudly, her voice hoarse, finally exhausted and in pain, she fainted in the rain. Jiang Tuoze hurriedly took her to the hospital, missing his appointment with Xia Xian.

  Jiang Jie knew that Xia Xian had waited in vain for a whole night, and finally left in disappointment. He also knew that she didn't scold him at all, but instead buried her sorrow deep in her heart, and then let it disappear with time. She wasn't one to hold grudges, especially against the people she loved.

  "Jia Jia, I know that night you intentionally let me hear all of this. Beforehand, I also had a feeling that you liked me. If Xuan Xuan hadn't appeared, maybe I would have been with you. Perhaps it's because of your words that made me feel guilty towards you, so I want to take care of you. Even if I knew that the slap Xuan Xuan gave you that day was intentional on your part, I would still side with you; even if you were pretending to be pitiful on Qi Ze's birthday, I would still help you; even if I clearly know that Xuan Xuan was wronged by you, I would still scold her. Because I want to make it up to you, because I know that the misunderstandings between me and Xuan Xuan can be cleared up."

  But I never thought that Xuanxuan would get into a car accident, and I would cause her family to break apart. I don't dare ask for her forgiveness again. I just want to make up for my guilt towards her. Jiajia, if I hadn't seen the scars on Xuanxuan's body, maybe I wouldn't have known how heavy the wounds in her heart were. Maybe I would have been at peace with you and married you.

  "But now, sorry, I can't do it. I don't want to hurt her again, even if I can't be with her, at least I'll protect her. Lu Lingfeng is not her boyfriend and cannot be her boyfriend. For her, I understand more than anyone else." Jiang Jie said calmly.

  "Since you knew so much, why did you agree to be with me in the first place?!" Wu Jiajia shouted like a madwoman, she couldn't believe it was true, absolutely didn't believe it.

  "What's the difference between Xinxin's current attitude towards Mo Xiao and your past behavior? I don't want to let Xuanxuan get hurt, especially because of me. She doesn't have any ulterior motives, she can't compete with you. What scares me is not just this, you made Lin Xueyin unable to stand in school, unable to stand in the country."

  "Jiang Shikang can't graduate smoothly, Jiajia, your means are too despicable. I went abroad back then to give myself some time to accept you, to tell myself that what you did wasn't intentional." Jiang Liche tightly grasped Wu Jiajia's arm, stopping her from going crazy.

  "What about now? Can't you still accept me? Is it because Xia Xuan appeared again?! Didn't you say that after the new year, we would prepare for our wedding?! Didn't you say that everything should be planned for the long term?!" Wu Jiajia's eyes were red from crying.

  "The ink-like hospital stay made me realize that any love obtained by any means will not last long. I couldn't love Xuanxuan, but at the same time, I also couldn't love you. Towards Xuanxuan, I'm filled with guilt; towards you, I'm filled with fear." Jiang Pianpian released Wu Jiajia's arm and turned to look out at the river.