Chapter 12 Don't be a Lazy Toad Wanting to Eat Swan Meat

Su Nian spent the day in somewhat of a daze.

After dinner, Su Nian changed into her running gear as usual, ready to head out for a night run...

However, as she was leaving the apartment building, her steps suddenly faltered.

At the entrance, under the streetlight, a black sedan's front end was accompanied by a figure Su Nian knew all too well—Jiang Jingxing.

The streetlight behind him made the car roof gleam; he stood against the light, shielding a lighter's flame with one hand to light his cigarette, the dim yellow light outlining Jiang Jingxing's profile, tinged with a touch of melancholy.

Memories rushed into Su Nian's mind... the laughter, the happy moments, the heartbreaking eye contact, the painful goodbyes, the indifferent turnaround...

It felt like some sour liquid had exploded inside her, assaulting her heart.

In Su Nian's memory, Jiang Jingxing didn't smoke...

After Jiang Jingxing learned that Gu Wanqiao had her mother, Dong Qinghua, look for Su Nian, he became restless, traced Su Nian's address, and drove over.

But... upon arriving downstairs, Jiang Jingxing smoked one cigarette after another, yet couldn't muster the courage to go upstairs and knock on Su Nian's door.

Jiang Jingxing was dressed in a fitted decorative shirt and trousers, the shirt collar crisp... a few buttons undone. He held a cigarette in one hand and pocketed the lighter with the other.

At the moment he looked up... their eyes met; Jiang Jingxing, leaning against the car, straightened up... letting the cigarette smoke drift from his fingertips, motionless.

Time had undoubtedly been kind to Jiang Jingxing; over the years, his features had become even more chiseled.

"Su Nian..."

It was still that familiar gentle voice, but now it sounded like shattered glass, piercing Su Nian's body and soul.

Su Nian felt a tightness in her chest, her lips pressed together coldly, her complexion as pale as paper.

This time, Su Nian didn't run away, nor was there anywhere to escape; after all... Jiang Jingxing had found her residence.

Jiang Jingxing took a step towards her and explained, "It wasn't me who asked Gu Wanqiao's mother to find you."

Clutching her earphones in her palm, Su Nian's voice was calm, "I know..."

After this, it seemed Jiang Jingxing could find no other topic to discuss with Su Nian, and the two stood there... awkward and uncomfortable.

"If there's nothing else..."

"Are you preparing for a night run?" Jiang Jingxing interrupted with a look of concern, "It's unsafe for a girl to run alone at night, and... your heart..."

"Jingxing, we've been broken up for so long, such concern for me... isn't appropriate."

Su Nian's voice remained soft, just as Jingxing used to like...

She called him Jingxing, but the taste was different now.

In the past, Su Nian's tone was coquettish and sweet, like that of a young maiden; now he only felt her politeness towards him, a politeness so distant, he understood.

"Regarding my wedding with Gu Wanqiao, you better not attend!" Jiang Jingxing finally voiced the sentence he most wanted to say; the thought was too cruel for Su Nian.

"Okay..."

A single word, much like when Jiang Jingxing said goodbye to Su Nian, her response was the same—no fuss, no noise, calmly accepting everything.

Those eyes were clear as spring water, black and white distinct... just like the ones Jiang Jingxing fell in love with at the beginning.

Jiang Jingxing opened his mouth to say something more when a penetrating and clear female voice full of anger came through.