Two people walked downstairs.
At this moment, it was already dark.
Xu Xiuwen turned to Jiang Ruoyu and said, "Xiao Yu, you should head back quickly."
Jiang Ruoyu suddenly said to him, "Brother Xiuwen, can you walk with me for a while? I have something I want to tell you."
Xu Xiuwen was taken aback.
"Sure," Xu Xiuwen agreed without refusing, "Where do you want to go?"
Jiang Ruoyu whispered, "Let's take a walk in the nearby park."
"Okay."
So, the two abandoned the car and walked towards the park near the neighborhood.
In the park near the neighborhood.
On a path of goose-warming stones by the lake, Xu Xiuwen and Jiang Ruoyu walked side by side.
The bright moonlight was reflected on the lake, making the surface shimmer, mirroring the figures of Xu Xiuwen and Jiang Ruoyu.
The ginkgo and sycamore trees planted along the path rustled softly in the evening breeze.
The surroundings were quiet, which made the mood relax as well.
Jiang Ruoyu walked forward, her pace slightly slow.
A gust of wind lifted her smooth hair.
"Xiao Yu, if you want to tell me something, you can say it now."
"Mm."
Jiang Ruoyu replied with a soft "mm" but said no more.
Xu Xiuwen glanced at her.
Jiang Ruoyu kept her head down, as if contemplating something.
Xu Xiuwen did not press her further and walked silently alongside the girl on the path.
After a few minutes of walking, Xu Xiuwen said to her, "Xiao Yu, let's take a break."
There happened to be a long stone bench nearby.
Jiang Ruoyu responded with another "mm."
As they reached the stone bench, Xu Xiuwen was about to sit down.
Jiang Ruoyu hurriedly said, "Brother Xiuwen, wait a moment."
"Mm?"
The bench had a thick layer of dust on it, probably because it wasn't used often.
Jiang Ruoyu took out a handkerchief from her pocket, crouched down, blew on the bench to remove some dust, and then wiped it with the handkerchief.
After finishing this, Jiang Ruoyu said, "Brother Xiuwen, you can sit now."
"Thanks, Xiao Yu." Xu Xiuwen was a bit surprised.
Jiang Ruoyu smiled brightly, "It's nothing, Brother Xiuwen."
She neatly folded the handkerchief into a square and put it away, then sat down as well.
After she sat down, the girl's legs stretched out in front of Xu Xiuwen.
He inevitably looked at her delicate and fair long legs.
"Brother Xiuwen…"
"Mm?"
Xu Xiuwen came back to his senses.
"Yes, I'm listening."
"Brother Xiuwen, why did you do something to hurt Sister Youran?"
Xu Xiuwen was stunned by Jiang Ruoyu's question.
"Wh-What do you mean?"
Jiang Ruoyu glanced up at Xu Xiuwen and continued, "I already know about your situation with two women. You don't need to hide it from me."
Xu Xiuwen's eyes widened in shock.
"Xiao Yu, you're mistaken. How could I be involved with two people?"
Jiang Ruoyu shook her head, "Brother Xiuwen, don't lie to me. I saw some of the sisters we met in the cafeteria today. One of them, although I don't know her name, she must also be your girlfriend, right?"
Xu Xiuwen was once again shocked.
He had never told Jiang Ruoyu about this, and Xiao Youran would not have told her either.
The only explanation was that she had seen him today and discovered his relationship with either Cheng Lu or An Shishi.
For now, he wasn't sure which one Jiang Ruoyu had discovered.
He thought back carefully; neither Cheng Lu nor An Shishi seemed to have shown any particularly intimate behavior during lunch today.
Did Jiang Ruoyu notice something?
Xu Xiuwen's changing expression did not escape the girl's notice.
She became even more convinced of her guess.
She felt a tinge of disappointment but also a glimmer of hope.
"Brother Xiuwen, even though you're with Sister Youran, why are you still involved with her roommate? If Sister Youran finds out about this, how heartbroken she would be."
Xu Xiuwen considered denying it, as Jiang Ruoyu had no concrete evidence.
However, considering that the girl was taking her college entrance exams the next day, he worried that his denial might affect her mood and, consequently, her exam performance.
He couldn't bear to face Aunt Gu if that happened.
Additionally, if he denied it and Jiang Ruoyu went to find Xiao Youran, that wouldn't be right either.
Most importantly, Xu Xiuwen couldn't yet be certain whether Jiang Ruoyu had discovered Cheng Lu or An Shishi.
If it was Cheng Lu, it would be manageable; Xiao Youran would know, but it wouldn't be a big deal.
However, if it was An Shishi, things would be much worse.
Xu Xiuwen recalled the situation and thought An Shishi was more likely.
After all, during lunch today, An Shishi had spoken to him more and mentioned going to Jinling University of Political Science and Law together.
Jiang Ruoyu might have noticed her tone.
This An Shishi was causing him trouble.
After thinking it through, Xu Xiuwen decided it was better to admit the truth.
"Xiao Yu, since you've discovered it, I won't hide it from you. I am indeed involved with two people."
Hearing Xu Xiuwen's admission, Jiang Ruoyu couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.
"Brother Xiuwen, why did you have to do this? This hurts Sister Youran so much."
Seeing the agitated girl, Xu Xiuwen quickly said, "Xiao Yu, calm down. I have my reasons."
Jiang Ruoyu quieted down for a moment before saying, "Then tell me."
Xu Xiuwen explained the general situation.
Jiang Ruoyu listened in silence.
After a while, Jiang Ruoyu couldn't help but ask, "Brother Xiuwen, even if you think Sister Youran doesn't like you, you shouldn't be with other women. You still have me."
"Xiao Yu, what do you mean by that?"
Jiang Ruoyu's emotions were out of sorts.
She was angry, sad, and also jealous.
Yes, she was jealous of that girl named Cheng Lu, who managed to step in while there was a misunderstanding between Xu Xiuwen and Xiao Youran.
She felt that even if not Xiao Youran, Xu Xiuwen's girlfriend should be her.
Now that someone else had gotten there first, her feelings were complicated.
If Xu Xiuwen didn't like her and only liked Xiao Youran, she would be unwilling but would still wish him well.
But now that someone else had gotten ahead of her, she couldn't accept it.
In her agitation, she couldn't help but reveal her feelings.
"Brother Xiuwen, I like you. Even if Sister Youran doesn't like you anymore, I will always like you."
Hearing Jiang Ruoyu confess her feelings, Xu Xiuwen was stunned.
After a long pause, he nervously asked, "Xiao Yu… are you serious?"
"I'm not joking, Brother Xiuwen. I've liked you since we were kids. Can't you really feel it at all?"
Jiang Ruoyu's question, "Can't you really feel it at all?" left Xu Xiuwen at a loss for words.
The book of memories symbolically flipped through the pages in his mind.
Each yellowed page recorded past events.
His thoughts suddenly drifted back to junior high.
In the first year of junior high.
During a soccer game, Xu Xiuwen was injured by a senior who was two grades older.
Injuries on the field were quite normal, so Xu Xiuwen did not pursue the matter.
However, a few days later, the senior personally came to his house to apologize.
After returning to school, Xu Xiuwen heard that a girl had gone to the senior's classroom and, in front of everyone, demanded that the senior apologize in person.
The senior, unable to withstand the pressure and classmates' gossip, complied.
This incident had always troubled Xu Xiuwen.
He thought it was Xiao Youran who did it, but Xiao Youran said it wasn't her.
Xu Xiuwen then assumed the rumors were false.
At this moment, he suddenly recalled this incident.
Could it be true?
Was it really Jiang Ruoyu who went to the senior's classroom and demanded an apology?
Xu Xiuwen found it hard to believe.
After all, Jiang Ruoyu was only in sixth grade at the time, still a primary school student.
Did she really have the courage to confront a senior in junior high and demand an apology?
Moreover, if it was her, why didn't she tell him?
Next, he remembered the second year of junior high.
Still playing soccer, but this time he injured someone else.
During a physical education class, Xu Xiuwen accidentally kicked the ball out of the field and hit a passing female student.
The girl wasn't seriously injured but was frightened and fell.
The incident was reported to the teacher.
He still remembered the teacher's words.
Either get the girl's forgiveness or sweep the playground for a week.
The playground was large and covered with falling sycamore leaves, making it a tough job.
The girl, having been frightened, refused to forgive him.
Xu Xiuwen thought he would have to sweep the playground for a week.
However, the next day, the girl came to him and said she forgave him.
He thus avoided the punishment of sweeping the playground.
He had asked the girl why she suddenly forgave him.
The girl said, "You should thank someone who spoke up for you, otherwise I wouldn't have forgiven you."
Xu Xiuwen always thought it was Xiao Youran who spoke up for him.
He asked Xiao Youran, who said it wasn't her.
When he was young, he assumed Xiao Youran was too shy to admit it.
Now, with this memory resurfacing, Xu Xiuwen realized something was off.
Could it be that Jiang Ruoyu was the one who spoke up for him?
And there was the third thing.
During the high school entrance exams in the third year.
His mother, Ning Wanqiu, did not accompany him.
Yet Jiang Ruoyu appeared every morning at his doorstep, accompanying him to the exam site.
After each exam, she was also the first to be at the school gate.
As these memories surfaced one by one, Xu Xiuwen finally realized something.
He had been so focused on Xiao Youran that he completely overlooked Jiang Ruoyu.
Now, on reflection, it seemed Jiang Ruoyu had done many things for him.
Xu Xiuwen didn't think a simple childhood friendship would lead a girl to do so much.
So the answer was simple.
The girl might really have feelings for him.
Watching Xu Xiuwen's expression shift from disbelief to surprise, then hesitation, and finally to stunned realization.
Jiang Ruoyu asked softly, "Brother Xiuwen, do you believe me now?"
Xu Xiuwen had no choice but to believe her.
He couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Yu, do you really like me? What exactly do you like about me?"
Jiang Ruoyu looked into Xu Xiuwen's eyes and said seriously, "Brother Xiuwen, no matter how many times you ask, I will always tell you that I like you. As for what I like, I can't really explain, but I just like you."
Hearing the girl's heartfelt words, Xu Xiuwen's heart was in turmoil.
"Xiao Yu, could it be that you're mistaken? Maybe your feelings for me are more like those of a younger sister for an older brother, not romantic feelings."
Jiang Ruoyu frowned and replied, "Brother Xiuwen, do you think I'm that naive? I know it's not the affection of a younger sister for an older brother. I've never seen you as a brother. If possible, I'd like you to be with me and ignore all other girls, even if that girl is Sister Youran."
Xu Xiuwen didn't know how to respond and chose to evade the topic.
"Xiao Yu, let's discuss this later. You have your college entrance exams tomorrow. Don't let other things affect your mood."
"Brother Xiuwen, do you think I'll be in the right mood for the exam if we don't clear this up?"
The girl's words left Xu Xiuwen at a loss.
Indeed, avoiding the issue didn't seem appropriate.
Xu Xiuwen truly didn't want his actions to affect Jiang Ruoyu's exam.
"What should we do then?"
"Brother Xiuwen, you still haven't answered my question," Jiang Ruoyu said calmly.
"What question? Ah—" Xu Xiuwen hesitated, "How should I put it? Cheng Lu just happened to be around at that time, so I ended up with her."
"Since you're with her, why are you still involved with Sister Youran? How could you do that to her? It must be so hard for her to know."
Xu Xiuwen sighed, "Your Sister Youran knows about my relationship with Cheng Lu."
"What?"
"Don't look at me like that. I'm telling the truth."
Jiang Ruoyu's eyes widened in disbelief.
Seeing that the girl wasn't responding, Xu Xiuwen asked, "Xiao Yu? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Jiang Ruoyu replied, "Brother Xiuwen."
"Hmm."
"You're saying that Sister Youran knows about your relationship with that Cheng Lu?"
"Yes."
Jiang Ruoyu found it extremely hard to believe.
She considered herself to know Xiao Youran well, having grown up together.
Xiao Youran wasn't someone who liked to share.
How could Sister Youran accept Xu Xiuwen having two girlfriends at once?
And not have conflicts?
Jiang Ruoyu felt her worldview was being overturned.
After a moment of silence.
"Even if Sister Youran knows about your relationship with Cheng Lu, you shouldn't have pressured her to accept it. It's too unfair to her."
"Xiao Yu, you misunderstand me. I didn't pressure Youran. She agreed on her own."
"No way! How could Sister Youran agree? You must have taken advantage of the fact that she likes you to make her agree."
Xu Xiuwen was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
He was telling the truth, but no one believed him.
"Xiao Yu, I know it's hard to accept, but that's the reality."
As Jiang Ruoyu looked at Xu Xiuwen's expression and reaction, her skepticism slowly turned into hesitation and eventually into belief.
"Now that you've seen my true colors, I'm just a scumbag. Xiao Yu, you're young and so beautiful and talented. You'll meet many more outstanding and suitable men in the future. Don't waste your time and energy on me."