DXXZL - 5

The young man wore a black long-sleeved T-shirt and black sweatpants. His hair was slightly messy, and though it was almost November, Zhu Xingyao had already donned a thick sweater. Her pale face was half-hidden in the warm, fluffy high collar of her sweater, while he stood there without even a jacket, his figure lean and tall like a pine tree.

Without a word, he took the flyer she offered and glanced at it before lowering his gaze to look at her: “Why are you handing out flyers here?”

Zhu Xingyao stared at him blankly.

Lin Jiayu hadn’t told her that Jiang Tu would come by! She had said she would do her best to drag him to get new glasses tonight. It was already past six o’clock; the eyewear shop closed at ten at the latest. By the time she finished distributing the flyers, it would probably be nine o’clock—far too late.

Zhu Xingyao had taken the initiative to help distribute flyers both as a way of thanking Lin Jiayu and to allow her to go home earlier.

She couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Lin Jiayu standing not far away. Lin Jiayu’s back was turned, and she clearly hadn’t noticed Jiang Tu’s arrival.

Holding onto a glimmer of hope, Zhu Xingyao asked him: “You… just happened to pass by, right?”

“No.”

Jiang Tu’s brows furrowed slightly as he silently gazed at her face. His dark eyes were like a deep pool of water, unreadable. The only thing she could sense was that he wasn’t happy—not one bit.

Zhu Xingyao roughly understood why he wasn’t happy. She tilted her face up slightly, biting her lip with some unease.

Jiang Tu suddenly realized his tone had been too cold and hard. Subtly averting his eyes, he took the flyers from her hand and murmured: “Wait for me here.”

“Hey—”

She called out, turning to look at him.

With his back facing her, Jiang Tu strode towards Lin Jiayu. From behind, he shoved the stack of flyers back into her arms, his tone indifferent: “Why did you let her help you hand out flyers? Do your own work.”

Lin Jiayu was startled and looked up at him: “Why are you here?”

Just minutes ago, after saying, “I met her while handing out flyers near the square,” he had hung up the phone. She had assumed he was busy at the café…

After asking that question, Lin Jiayu remembered what he had just asked and added: “I didn’t ask her to help. I said tonight I’d drag you to get glasses, and she just started helping on her own.” Knowing since childhood that Jiang Tu’s temper wasn’t the best, she didn’t take it too seriously and even tried to persuade him: “Since she broke your glasses, let her compensate you. I saw how guilty she seemed. After all, everyone in school knows you’re poor…”

Jiang Tu turned around expressionlessly and threw out a line: “I’m leaving first.”

Lin Jiayu called after him, but Jiang Tu ignored her. He looked up and saw that Zhu Xingyao was still standing where she was, seemingly waiting for him. A strange feeling stirred in his heart, and he quickened his steps, stopping in front of her.

At 165 cm tall, she was more than ten centimeters shorter than him. She looked up, her face straightforward and calm, as if waiting for him to say something.

Jiang Tu stared at her, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness and compromise: “Let’s go.”

He turned and walked toward the street corner, his strides long. Zhu Xingyao hesitated for a moment, then hurried after him: “Where are we going?”

The youth suddenly paused, and the tip of her shoe bumped into his heel. She nearly crashed into his back but quickly stepped back. Jiang Tu slightly turned his body, looking down at her: “To get glasses. Didn’t you want to compensate me for my glasses?”

A wave of joy washed over Zhu Xingyao, but she also felt something was off. She glanced in Lin Jiayu’s direction: “What about her? Aren’t we waiting for her to come along?”

Jiang Tu continued walking, his tone flat: “No need.”

Zhu Xingyao hesitated for a moment, then quickly caught up to ask: “But won’t she misunderstand something if you just leave with me like this?”

Was Lin Jiayu being too generous? Or was she too confident in Jiang Tu?

“Misunderstand…”

Before the words “what” could leave his mouth, Jiang Tu abruptly stopped. Zhu Xingyao, caught off guard, truly collided with his back this time. The youth’s back was firm with muscles and bones, leaving her dizzy and her vision blurred.

Jiang Tu’s expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly asked: “Are you alright?”

Zhu Xingyao rubbed her forehead to ease the pain, muttering: “I’m fine. Why do you walk so erratically…”

He looked at her slightly red-rimmed eyes, fell silent for a few seconds, then turned and walked forward: “It’s fine as long as you’re okay. Don’t worry about Lin Jiayu. Let’s go.”

Zhu Xingyao pouted, noticing his pace had slowed. Only then did her mood improve somewhat.

Passing through the square intersection and continuing forward was the training room where Zhu Xingyao usually practiced. Turning another corner and walking a few hundred meters further, they could see the old houses of Hexi Lane and the row of dilapidated shops ahead.

The two walked in silence for a while. Zhu Xingyao pointed to the only eyewear shop across the street and turned to Jiang Tu, “Are we going there?”

Jiang Tu paused briefly, then said, “Mm.”

As they approached the steps in front of the shop, Jiang Tu casually glanced at the old Hexi Lane: “Lin Jiayu and I live opposite each other; we grew up together.”

Zhu Xingyao was taken aback by Jiang Tu’s sudden explanation and stood rooted to the spot.

After saying that, Jiang Tu walked down the steps and entered the eyewear shop. Zhu Xingyao felt a bit embarrassed but was relieved that she hadn’t gossiped with Li Xixi earlier. She had genuinely thought that Jiang Tu and Lin Jiayu might be a couple. After all, Jiang Tu was so aloof and cold. For him to be close to a girl, especially one in the same grade, it was easy to misunderstand…

However, even if they were childhood friends now, what about the future?

The eyewear shop wasn’t large, and only the owner was inside.

When Zhu Xingyao walked in, Jiang Tu was already talking to the owner: “Both eyes are 300 degrees, astigmatism less than 75 degrees. I want those lenses that cost 120 yuan.” He turned to look at the glass counter and pointed to a pair of black-rimmed glasses, “And this frame.”

Zhu Xingyao: “….”

She was utterly astonished by his quick decision-making.

“Wait!”

She couldn’t help but call out. Wasn’t he being too casual? Could this harm his eyes? She looked at Jiang Tu’s eyes—they were beautiful. When he wasn’t wearing glasses, the girls in class would say how handsome he was. Unlike the sunny charm of Lu Ji from the neighboring class, Jiang Tu had a cold and reserved demeanor, not easy to approach.

Zhu Xingyao glanced at the rough black-rimmed glasses that were similar to his old ones, then turned to look at Jiang Tu. She felt that wearing these glasses was almost a waste.

“How about changing the frame? Something lighter and more stylish?”

As she spoke, she leaned forward and half-lay on the counter, carefully selecting.

The owner, a middle-aged man, had never had such a pretty and elegant young girl in his shop before. Just as he was about to take out the frame Jiang Tu had specified, he withdrew his hand and smiled at Jiang Tu: “A pretty girl like this must have good taste. Let her pick one?”

Jiang Tu didn’t respond, staring at Zhu Xingyao’s profile. Her nose was delicate, with a small mole on her wing—a unique touch that added an extra layer of refinement to her already beautiful face. Her eyelashes were thick, long, and curled downward. He found himself somewhat entranced.

Suddenly, she turned around and pointed to a frame, earnestly asking him: “How about this one?”

He walked over and took a look—it was a pair of black semi-rim glasses, much simpler and better-looking than the previous choice, though nearly 100 yuan more expensive.

“This is much better than the previous one, and the material is very light,” the owner enthusiastically recommended, looking at Jiang Tu, “Would you like to try them on?”

“No need,” Jiang Tu said, “Just this one.”

The owner happily took out the glasses frame. Suddenly, Zhu Xingyao looked at him with hopeful eyes, smiling brightly: “Boss, can you give us a discount?”

Jiang Tu: “….”

He abruptly turned to look at her.

Zhu Xingyao innocently blinked, meaning for him to let her handle it—she’d use her charm!

He quietly averted his head.

The owner awkwardly smiled, wanting to tell her to check the store sign outside—Affordable Eyewear Shop.

In the end, because of Zhu Xingyao’s beauty, the boss gave them a discount. The lenses plus the frame came to exactly 250 yuan. As Zhu Xingyao paid, she felt a bit conflicted, suspecting the boss did it on purpose.

By the time they walked out of the shop, it was completely dark.

The autumn night wind was strong, and the temperature was much lower than during the day. Zhu Xingyao hugged her arms and turned to urge Jiang Tu: “Hurry up and try on your new glasses.”

Jiang Tu put on the new glasses, and Zhu Xingyao smiled at him: “This looks much better.”

He faintly tugged at the corner of his mouth, reaching into his pants pocket, “That’s 60 yuan more. I’ll pay you back.” His hand suddenly paused—his pocket was empty. His money was in his jacket pocket, but he hadn’t worn a jacket when he rushed out earlier.