Zhang Jing was standing on the lawn, with the boy opposite her. Her expression was unnatural, and she didn't know what she was thinking. Was she remembering the milk he had heated up and placed on the table during class, or the time when they chatted on the bus on the way home? Occasionally, she would think of how many people were watching them at that time. Now, it seems that was just envy.
When the man and his family came through the gate, Zhang Jing's mother waved to Zhang Songnian, "Old Li and his family are here..."
Zhang Songnian and Zhang Chenzu signaled to Cheng Ran, then walked down the stairs to greet their acquaintances. Cheng Ran was standing on the second floor and saw Zhang Jing in a daze facing the boy named Li.
Zhang Jing's cousins, who were leaning against the railing outside the teahouse, had obviously been "waiting" for him for a long time. Zhang Jing's cousin Zhang Han turned around and asked, "How did you get to know my sister? You picked her up!"
Cheng Ran wondered how the term "picking up girls" got its start. It sounded really bad, so he said, "We're just friends."
Zhang Han looked at me with contempt, "Friends mean you haven't succeeded yet. You're really unlucky today. My sister's ex-boyfriend is here too. Brother Li's dad and my uncle have known each other for a long time. They were friends in high school. But don't tell anyone, and don't tell my sister what I told you."
Cheng Ran was speechless.
Zhang Jing's cousin Zhang Qiao said with a hint of sarcasm, "Is your campus full of students wearing thick glasses and doing scientific research projects? Are they all science and engineering men, dinosaurs as numerous as cow hairs? Is my sister a unique flower in the University of Science and Technology? She must be very popular. Do you feel honored to have a good relationship with her?"
This... what is the connection...
Cheng Ran asked, "So what do you think of my university of science?"
Zhang Qiao pretended to look him over and said, "It's obvious that he's a poor student in HKUST!"
It turns out that at HKUST one has to wear thick-bottomed glasses and dress sloppily in order to fit in with the image of a top student at HKUST.
Cheng Ran said, "Stereotypes won't work."
"Tsk!" Zhang Qiao curled her lips. She looked about 50% like Zhang Jing, but she had her own characteristics and wore light makeup. She looked like an avant-garde girl.
"When Brother Li was in Nanzhou Jingju No. 1 Middle School, he was always ranked first in the grade, and my sister was always ranked tenth. It goes without saying that Brother Li was very popular in the school. Later, he and my sister dated for a period of time. In Jingju No. 1 Middle School at that time, they were legends! Last year, their former class teacher was still asking about them. The two of them were very well-known among their classmates."
"That's really good." Cheng Ran nodded. He probably understood where the hostility between Zhang Qiao and Zhang Han came from. Perhaps they had witnessed Zhang Jing's experience. They were a perfect match, but in the end they were separated because of separation. However, as Zhang Jing's younger brother or sister, they must still have a good impression of this ex-boyfriend, immersed in that glory, and may even vaguely hope that they will get back together. So they naturally feel repulsive to this "outsider" brought to the scene today.
Zhang Qiao was even more nonchalant on purpose, "Besides, you are only from HKUST... Brother Li Jiaqian is from Tsinghua University! Sister Jing was almost admitted to Tsinghua University, otherwise how could you be admitted now?"
Cheng Ran smiled without responding, showing his white teeth.
Zhang Qiao and Zhang Han both felt an inexplicable chill, which only appeared for a moment and then disappeared suddenly. However, this strange feeling probably made Zhang Qiao feel that he had said too much. He didn't feel guilty, but at most a little embarrassed, after all, he was talking about people's shortcomings.
And seeing as Cheng Ran didn't respond, it's possible that he was being vague about the key points.
Zhang Han also put on a mature attitude, "Okay, stop talking..." Then he said to Cheng Ran, "I know my sister, she is a very strong person, she may miss her at most, but the past is the past, I think if you try hard, it is possible. Anyway, my attitude is still very clear, you just need to be good to her... As a younger brother, I won't make things difficult for you."
They usually have too much pressure from Zhang Jing, the benchmark, and they have been holding it in. Today, Zhang Jing brought a boyfriend from the University of Science and Technology who seemed to be in the family. In Zhang Han's view, this was a character who was weaker than himself. You know, in the big family, his position was already at the bottom of the oppression, and now there was someone who was even lower in the sequence. Of course, the serfs who had risen up and gained power overnight had to use this power well, and they should show off. Who made the Zhang family members in front of you stronger than you!
Cheng Ran: “…”
The elders below were calling out to Zhang Han and Zhang Qiao to take the guests to the private room for dinner.
The three of them walked down the stairs. Over there, Zhang Jing's family greeted the family of a man named Li Jiaqian. Zhang Jing asked them, "Why are you in Nanzhou?"
Li Jiaqian said, "I went to Nanzhou with my mentor to participate in an event. I was just helping out. There was nothing to do there, and my senior brother was there to take care of it, so I went home to take a look. I happened to hear that you were there today, so I followed you here."
Zhang Jing's mother Liu Yun praised her, "Oh, you are a top student... You are really a good-looking person now... Tsk tsk, when she was a kid, she competed with our Jingjing in climbing the iron ladder, but she couldn't climb higher than our Jingjing!"
A group of people are laughing.
"Let's eat."
"Come on, come on, the food is served. Serve it."
"Lao Zhang... Let's have a few drinks today..."
The crowd moved forward, and the two young men seemed not to have moved.
Li Jiaqian smiled at Zhang Jing as he walked, "Long time no see, you've changed. I said before that you look better with long hair, and it's true, your hair is really long and flowing now."
Zhang Jing said "Oh".
After Li Jiaqian took a step forward, he realized that Zhang Jing didn't seem to intend to move.
Then he stopped, and Zhang Jing said, "You go over there with your parents first. I'll wait for my friend."
Li Jiaqian was stunned at first, then glanced at Zhang Han and the other two who were coming over, glanced at Cheng Ran, then smiled, nodded, and walked forward.
Thus, such an eye-catching scene appeared instantly: family members, friends, relatives, elders, and seniors were all talking and laughing as they went to the restaurant.
Zhang Jing, however, did not follow the main group in front of everyone, but turned back to look in the direction of Cheng Ran.
Everyone knew that she was waiting for him to be together.
Zhang Han and Zhang Qiao, who were beside Cheng Ran, felt their scalps tingling in an instant under the gazes of the adults at home with multiple expressions, and hurriedly followed their parents, leaving Cheng Ran to walk forward and stand shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Jing.
Cheng Ran looked at the other end, turned around and asked, "Ex-boyfriend?"
Zhang Jingwei could only nod without denying it.
Cheng Ran said, "Very energetic and handsome."
Zhang Jing glanced at him and said, "I don't want to hear you say that."
Cheng Ran blinked and said, "He's wronged you? Do you want me to stand up for you and make him feel that you're doing better than he thought. Isn't that what happens on TV?"
Zhang Jing smiled, "No need. He didn't do anything wrong. It's just that two people who were not suitable for each other thought they were suitable for each other when they were not suitable, but finally found out that they were not suitable for each other. Besides, you are my friend. If I ask you to do this, what does it mean?"
She glanced over mischievously, and said meaningfully, "…it's not true."