DXXZL - 4

Jiang Tu lowered his eyes and didn’t answer her.

Since childhood, Lin Jiayu had always interacted with Jiang Tu this way. If he didn’t respond, no matter how much she pressed him, she wouldn’t get an answer. He was a reserved person, keeping everything to himself. He was the perfect person to confide in or share secrets with because one didn’t have to worry about him spilling anything.

Lin Jiayu suddenly remembered Zhu Xingyao. There were 18 classes in the first year of high school, and she was in Class 18. Her classroom was on a different floor from Class 7. Even though it had been so long since the start of the school year, today was the first time she had seen her up close.

Moreover, it seemed like Zhu Xingyao had been talking to Jiang Tu. Unable to resist her curiosity, she asked: “What did Zhu Xingyao say to you earlier?”

Jiang Tu’s hand rested on the chair leg as he continued hammering the nail. “Nothing.”

Lin Jiayu kept chattering: “She’s so pretty, and her demeanor is amazing too. Even that ugly school uniform looks good on her. I often hear others talk about her. The boys in our class all call her a goddess, which makes Xia Jin so mad. Oh, right... Xia Jin is the class beauty in our class. I’ve mentioned her before—her family is extremely wealthy, but she has a bit of a spoiled temper. But then again, she really is a rich girl.” She sighed and said somewhat gloomily, “Why are there girls like Zhu Xingyao and Xia Jin who are beautiful, come from good families, and also excel academically? It’s as if God gave them everything. It’s so unfair…”

Jiang Tu set down the hammer and emotionlessly said: “The world is inherently unfair.”

Lin Jiayu didn’t want the conversation to become too heavy, so she turned to look at him: “What about you?”

“What?” He stood up.

“Do you think Zhu Xingyao is pretty? A lot of boys like her.”

From childhood to now, Lin Jiayu had never heard Jiang Tu compliment any girl on her looks. He wasn’t like other boys who would gather to discuss which girls were pretty or cute, or what type they liked… He was an anomaly.

Jiang Tu picked up the chair, preparing to go back inside. Suddenly energized, Lin Jiayu stood up and blocked his way. At 158 cm tall, it was quite a strain to look up at him: “Hey, what kind of person are you? You never answer any questions! Can’t you act a little like a typical teenage boy?”

What does a typical teenage boy act like?

Like Zhang Sheng, who obviously can’t catch up with Zhu Xingyao but still blindly confident? Or like Ding Xiang, who talks about goddesses all day long? Or someone who must gather with other boys to discuss who is pretty and who is pursuing whom?

Jiang Tu lowered his eyes and looked at Lin Jiayu, forcing a smile: “At least prettier than you.”

He walked past her and went into the house.

Lin Jiayu paused for a moment before realizing that Jiang Tu had actually answered her question.

If he answered, why did he have to insult her? Too despicable! She angrily turned around and glared at him.

Pitter-patter , large raindrops suddenly fell. A small boy with a backpack rushed under the eaves. He curiously peeked into the house: “Sister Jiayu, who did my brother just say was prettier than you?”

Lin Jiayu replied irritably: “Our school’s goddess, the prettiest one.”

Jiang Lu, though young, often hung out in internet cafes and knew more than the average kid. He asked: “Prettier than the female stars on TV?”

“I don’t know how to put it…” Lin Jiayu thought for a moment, feeling that there was still a big difference between teenage girls and the glamorous female stars on TV. “Anyway, she’s very pretty.”

“It doesn’t matter; I think you’re pretty too.”

“You sure know how to talk. Your brother is the type who can’t find a girlfriend, hahaha!”

“I think so too.” Jiang Lu very cooperatively made Lin Jiayu burst into laughter.

The interior of the house was dimly lit. Jiang Tu stood by the window, gazing at the gradually muddy intersection, somewhat lost in thought. How does Zhu Xingyao’s beauty matter? She’s like a star hanging in the sky—he couldn’t reach her anyway.

________________________________________

On the second day, Jiang Tu didn’t go to get new glasses.

On the third day, Jiang Tu didn’t go to get new glasses.

On the fourth day, Jiang Tu still didn’t go to get new glasses.

On the fifth day, Jiang Tu…

…

“It’s already the fifth day, Friday!” Li Xixi forcibly removed Zhu Xingyao’s headphones and counted on her fingers: “Why hasn’t Jiang Tu gone to get new glasses yet? Is he so poor that he can’t even afford glasses? Stars, I won’t mention you, but even I want to give him money to buy glasses.”

Zhu Xingyao was listening to a musical piece and turned to look at her, forcing a smile: “Then you go give it to him.”

Li Xixi backed off: “I don’t dare… I’m afraid he’ll throw the money in my face and tell me to get lost.”

Zhu Xingyao: “….”

To be honest, she was afraid too. Otherwise, she would have given him money herself.

That day, after seeing the expression on his face when he answered the phone, she realized something when she got home. For a guy like Jiang Tu, his self-esteem was probably stronger than anything else, and his backbone harder than iron. If she insisted on compensating him with money or glasses, he might really throw it back in her face.

She touched her cheek.

Jiang Tu probably wasn’t someone who cared about looks. Beauty had no effect on him…

After some thought, she said: “Let’s wait until Monday. He might not have had time these past few days.”

Zhou Qian also chimed in: “Ding Xiang told me earlier that Jiang Tu, perhaps because he doesn’t have glasses, rarely looks at the blackboard during class recently. He often sleeps with his head on the desk…”

Zhu Xingyao turned to look at the back row.

Jiang Tu was indeed sleeping with his head on the desk. He seemed perpetually sleep-deprived.

Just a pair of glasses, but because Zhu Xingyao had stepped on them and due to Jiang Tu’s impoverished family, it suddenly garnered a lot of attention.

Zhang Sheng sneered: “What’s wrong with them? I don’t understand why these girls keep focusing on that poor guy. Are they overflowing with maternal love or is it because he’s somewhat good-looking?”

“He’s special, that’s all. There’s not much sympathy here; maybe they’re just waiting to see the show?” Cao Ming played with his phone, not looking up as he spoke, “Why do you care so much?”

“I just don’t like him.”

“Give it a rest.” Cao Ming glanced at Zhang Sheng and couldn’t help but advise, “Although Jiang Tu is always alone, wild grass grows wildly. Look at him; he doesn’t look like an easy pushover.”

Zhang Sheng saw Zhu Xingyao glance at Jiang Tu again.

This was the eighth time she had turned to look at him today! She didn’t even give him a proper glance.

Zhang Sheng felt a bit frustrated and disdainfully said: “What’s there to be afraid of with someone like him?”

…

Jiang Tu had indeed been very busy these days. The employee who had requested leave hadn’t returned, likely planning to quit. Every evening after school, he went straight to work. He genuinely didn’t have time to go get new glasses.

At 6:30, he arrived at the shop on time. Above the shop entrance was a large red sign that read “Brother Liang’s BBQ Shop.”

The shop had just opened during the summer vacation and was located on the street between Hexi Lane and Central Square. Although not in the prime area, it still attracted a decent flow of customers, and the rent wasn’t too high. When it first opened, Lin Jiayu had worked part-time handing out flyers and got to know the owner, Brother Liang.

The BBQ restaurant operated from noon at 12 until 5 in the morning, serving lunch through late-night snacks. Usually, closing time stretched until nearly 6 in the morning.

As soon as he arrived at the shop, a man in his early thirties holding a cigarette approached him. He flicked the ash off his cigarette and said: “Huh? I sent Jiayu a text message telling her you didn’t need to come today. Working so many nights, aren’t you tired?”

The man’s name was Liang Cheng, also known as Brother Liang.

Jiang Tu frowned: “She might not have noticed or her phone could be dead.”

“Tsk, you still haven’t bought a phone yet?”

“No.” Jiang Tu turned around, preparing to first go buy a phone at the second-hand night market. “If the shop isn’t short-handed tonight, then I’ll head back.”

“Wait.”

Brother Liang stopped him.

Jiang Tu turned around, and an unknown object was tossed at him. He caught it with his hand—it was an old Nokia phone.

He looked up at the somewhat rugged, unkempt man in front of him.

Liang Cheng raised his chin: “It’s not free. Stay and help out tonight; the weekend might get busy.” He understood this kid Jiang Tu well enough—anything given freely he would definitely refuse, as his pride was very strong.

Jiang Tu looked down at the phone, then looked up and said: “Alright, thank you.”

He turned and went into the shop, changed out of his school uniform, put on the shop’s clothes, and headed into the kitchen.

At a table by the window, several students wearing the No. 1 High School uniform, both boys and girls, sat. One girl said: “That guy earlier is from our school? He’s quite handsome, how come he’s not on the list?”

“Is he really that handsome? Is he as good-looking as Lu Ji?”

“Uh… I didn’t see clearly, just a side profile, but it felt like he was handsome.”

“That boy is Jiang Tu, don’t you know?” A boy smiled. “He does look a bit different without his glasses—I almost didn’t recognize him. That black-rimmed pair must have been quite ugly.”

“Eh???”

The two girls looked at each other, surprised. Despite having gone to check out Class 7, they hadn’t recognized him.

…

On Sunday afternoon, Zhu Xingyao was dragged out of the practice room by Li Xixi to go shopping for autumn clothes.

When they came out of the mall, it was already 6 o’clock. Zhu Xingyao hadn’t found anything she liked, while Li Xixi carried several shopping bags. She nudged Zhu Xingyao’s head with hers: “Hey, are we really not going to eat dinner?!”

Zhu Xingyao pushed her fluffy head away: “No, we’ve been shopping and snacking all afternoon. I really can’t eat anymore. I need to go back and get my cello. You should go home and eat.”

Her cello was still left in the practice room. If she returned now, she could still practice for two hours.

Li Xixi pouted: “Alright, then next time I’ll treat you to BBQ.”

Zhu Xingyao: “Mm.”

The two parted ways at the intersection. Li Xixi hailed a taxi and went home, while Zhu Xingyao walked forward with her head down. Suddenly, a flyer blocked her path.

She looked up to see the girl who had a close relationship with Jiang Tu smiling at her.

Lin Jiayu felt a bit embarrassed: “What a coincidence, classmate, take one.”

Zhu Xingyao took the flyer and glanced at the thick stack of undistributed flyers in her arms. After some thought, she asked: “How long will it take you to distribute all these?”

Lin Jiayu didn’t expect her to ask this and softly replied: “About two hours.”

“Hmm…” Zhu Xingyao asked again, “Do you know how much Jiang Tu’s prescription is?”

“Huh?” Lin Jiayu looked at her in surprise.

“I broke his glasses, and he said I don’t need to compensate, that he’d get a new pair himself, but he hasn’t gone yet. These past few days, he hasn’t been able to see the blackboard in class. I feel really bad about it.” Zhu Xingyao quickly explained, fearing any misunderstanding, “I just want to give him a new pair of glasses. Don’t misunderstand.”

Misunderstand what?

Lin Jiayu was shocked. She hadn’t expected that Zhu Xingyao had broken Jiang Tu’s glasses. Before she could process it, her phone rang. Struggling with the flyers, she fumbled to retrieve her phone. Seeing her difficulties, Zhu Xingyao took the stack of flyers from her arms. “Let me hold them for you.”

“Thank you,” Lin Jiayu quickly said, taking out her phone.

Seeing it was Jiang Tu calling, she glanced at Zhu Xingyao, who was reading the flyer content, seemingly curious about what was written on it.

Turning her back, she lowered her voice into the phone and asked: “Jiang Tu, what’s your prescription again?”

Jiang Tu stood at the entrance of the café restroom, slightly frowning: “Why are you asking this?”

“Uh…” Lin Jiayu saw Zhu Xingyao finish reading the flyer content and even start helping her distribute a few. She was momentarily stunned, feeling as if she were dreaming. She tapped her toes on the cement bricks, lowered her head, and whispered, “Zhu Xingyao asked me. She said she broke your glasses and wants to give you a new pair.”

The café was close to the square.

It only took Jiang Tu five minutes to run over.

The sky had just darkened, and the streetlights weren’t fully lit yet. The lights from shops on both sides crisscrossed on the streets. He stood at the street corner, squinting as he looked toward the bustling crowd on the square. The girl stood there, holding a stack of flyers and casually distributing them to passersby, looking lazy yet charming.

She was different from how she appeared in school.

She was different from when she played the cello.

After handing out a flyer, she would smile and say: “Thank you.”

Even when distributing flyers, she resembled a beautiful hostess. Passersby couldn’t help but steal a few more glances after receiving a flyer from her.

He tightened his lips, watching her walk along, unconsciously slowing his pace.

Zhu Xingyao picked up a flyer and, out of the corner of her eye, saw someone approaching. Instinctively raising her head, she simultaneously extended the flyer: “Hello, please take a look…”

Upon seeing Jiang Tu’s face, her words faltered.