Chapter 8 Traces from the Past
With so many exposés about me online right now, I naturally overlooked the one at the bottom.
#Jiang Shuo, Pursuit Diary#
Jiang Shuo knocked on my door at dinner time. I had stayed in my room too long.
He had clearly seen the Trending Search too.
His first words came with a frown. "Sorry, that photo was probably taken by my friend. I will handle it."
Then the second. "If you feel sad, I will stay with you."
After we stayed silent for a while, he said the third. "So we actually met that early."
Jiang Shuo did not remember me.
I smiled. It was expected, but I still felt a strange sense of loss.
Yes, someone like Jiang Shuo was born at the top.
He was the bright moon hanging high, with everyone flocking to him. Love, family, friendship—all within easy reach.
The kindness he showed me back then was just a casual sprinkle when the mood struck him.
People like me were countless. He would not remember. His world was full of color, and I was easy to forget.
So when Zhan Qianqian asked if Jiang Shuo had feelings for me, I just smiled and did not answer.
I knew people like Jiang Shuo lived boldly and freely. They lacked nothing—money, suitors, or so-called love.
Maybe he sought novelty for a moment. Or maybe he really liked me. But even if he did, how much space could liking take in his heart?
A boundary line separated us. A chasm.
Love was just a beautiful scenery in his world. It added color when present, but it was no loss if gone. It did not matter.
But for me, it was the only thing left. I no longer had the courage to risk it.
I wanted to speak, but Jiang Shuo coughed lightly and turned away, not daring to look at me. "So, what did I look like back then? Was I handsome?"
I opened my mouth, then stayed silent.
I felt his focus was a bit strange.
Jiang Shuo persisted. "I dyed my hair and got a few extra piercings back then, but everyone has a rebellious phase."
Seeing I did not answer, he grew anxious. "Really, I skipped classes and fought, but I never did anything else excessive."
When I still said nothing, he fell quiet for a moment. His tone struggled. "You did not get a worse impression of me, right?"
I sighed and compromised. "No."
Jiang Shuo smiled at me.
Only then did I realize he was not seeking an answer. It seemed he changed the subject to comfort me.
Something stirred faintly in my heart.
I looked at Jiang Shuo and asked, "Want to go for a walk?"