A Marshmallow: Chapter 21
Chapter 21: Don't think about young love.
Gu An had imagined this day countless times during the moments when she couldn't keep going.
She imagined herself joyfully running out of school, not wanting to spend a single minute more in that purgatory. She imagined not having to race against the clock for studying anymore and being able to spend the summer holidays freely. She also imagined making a perfect plan to turn her crush into her boyfriend.
But when this moment actually arrived, she knew rationally that high school had ended, yet subconsciously, it still felt like an ordinary exam.
She had to go back to school for classes; the homeroom teacher would stand at the podium with a stack of papers to evaluate, and classmates would compare scores and guess their rankings. Some would be happy, while others would be disappointed.
She and Jiang Ning rode the school bus back to the school together.
There was a leave of absence note on the blackboard for Class 7:
Reason for Leave: Graduation, return date uncertain.
The homeroom teacher's signature was in the bottom right corner.
Gu An clutched the strap of her backpack, walking the familiar path she had taken for two years, back and forth between home and school.
Her older brother wasn't home, and Jiang Yan had something to do in the evening. She lay on her own small attic bed.
It wasn't until she silenced all her alarms on her phone that the reality of the college entrance examination being over finally sank in.
She couldn't sleep and gazed at the starry sky outside. The moon was cool and gentle, distant and unattainable, just like the person she liked.
Gu An sat up and opened her Weibo:
【@Mu An Mu An: I'm done with the college entrance exam! How do I pursue the guy I like? Waiting online, it's kind of urgent!!!】
【Sobs, Grandma! The one you like is done with the exam! Quick update!】
【Is An An going to pursue Officer J????】
【Ahhh, the female goose is chasing after the male duck!】
【I ship this couple so much QAQ】
【Advice from someone with experience: To attract him, you need to flirt and make him chase after you.】
At this moment, her phone notification sounded, indicating that someone had sent her a direct message.
【An An, hello, I hope it's not too forward to send you a private message.
I'm a medical student, and the person I have a crush on is also a police officer. I really like your comics ^_^
As an older sister a few years older than you, I want to offer some thoughts about pursuing Officer J. They may not be completely correct.
This is something that needs careful consideration, especially if the other person has already graduated from college or has been a police officer for many years.
The first thing you should do is take care of yourself.
If the roles were reversed, and you had already graduated for four years, having seen the world's dangers that most people never encounter in a lifetime.
A high school graduate younger brother suddenly starts pursuing you and confesses his feelings, what would you do?
You believe the person you like is very gentle and understanding.
"I wouldn't attempt to pluck the moon; I want the moon to come to me."
Best wishes! ^_^】
If she were Jiang Yan, what would she do?
The younger sister of a friend she had always taken care of suddenly confesses her feelings.
Setting aside whether she likes him or not, accepting such a significant age and experience gap would be irresponsible.
Gu An tightly gripped her phone as she typed her response, her emotions taking a long time to settle. She couldn't help but screenshot and send it to Jiang Ning:
"Look, roommate!!! This girl is so gentle and sweet!!!"
Several kilometers away, in the Jiang family's private courtyard, the lights were on as they gathered for a family dinner. The atmosphere was not as serious as usual, as it was a celebration of Jiang Ning finishing her college entrance exams.
Jiang Ning sat on the couch, munching on fruit while typing away: "Really! Gentleness to the core! Cultured!"
Following the words of this gentle online friend, she thought about what this age gap really meant.
It meant that Gu An and her cold-faced little uncle would be put together!
If Gu An saw Jiang Yan, she'd have to call him "Uncle"!
This would mean they were in different generations!
However, on second thought...
One is 187 centimeters tall; the other is 166 centimeters tall.
One is cold; the other is cute.
Their height difference is adorable, and their personalities complement each other.
It's like having no brain and being unhappy.
I'm guilty. Jiang Ning silently thought in her heart, Gu An, I'm sorry, how did I even think that a middle-aged man's obsession with Lolita was somewhat alluring?!!
There are plenty of people in the Jing City Public Security System whose names start with "J," and she never imagined that her sweet and cute desk mate, who constantly daydreamed about being her little sister-in-law, would turn out to be her niece.
"How did you do on the college entrance exam?"
The emotionless, cold voice echoed in her ears, and memories of being verbally dominated by someone in the past rushed back to her. Jiang Ning visibly shivered.
Why is the devil here in my thoughts?
Jiang Yan, with his long legs and tall stature, stood before her, looking down at her. His pale skin was as cold as snow under the light. Although he was handsome like a marble statue, he exuded a chill, as if he had built-in air conditioning...
Jiang Ning touched the fresh goosebumps on her arm. "Pretty good, all thanks to my little uncle's good teaching, hehehe."
Jiang Yan lightly chuckled and sat down beside her, casually picking up a military magazine to flip through.
Leaning against the sofa with his long eyelashes lowered, he truly seemed like an aristocratic young master looking down from a great height.
Gu An didn't send any more messages, probably in the process of rethinking her pursuit of her crush. Jiang Ning casually opened a luxury brand's website that featured fairy dresses.
University is just around the corner!
I should buy myself a gift!
Wow! The new items look so good!
"Mom, I want to buy a little dress, a beautiful little dress!" Jiang Ning's teenage heart was burning with desire, but her mother, Zhao Ru, glanced at her phone interface and gave a cold smile, "Dresses with five digits, you can buy them when you can afford it."
Jiang Ning's father is a soldier, her mother is a university professor, and her grandparents are in business. Their family is well-off, but they have strict upbringing.
Originally, she had no interest in luxury items, but she couldn't resist the allure of these beautiful dresses.
"Such beautiful dresses, wearing them makes you look like a fairy. Any girl would be thrilled. I'm already in college, but I don't even have a pretty little girl's dress..."
Jiang Yan closed the magazine he was holding and placed it back in its original place.
Suddenly, someone's slender figure flashed through his mind.
Jiang Ning could playfully ask her parents to buy her a dress with five digits, but he had never seen her ask Gu Zhen for new clothes, nor had he seen her buy them.
And the most common thing Gu Zhen said to her was, "Don't worry about the money."
"I'll buy it for you."
Jiang Ning's eyes almost popped out. She could hardly believe that this sentence came from her little uncle's mouth.
The next moment, she put on a big smile, full of disbelief, and said, "Really?"
No wonder they say men look their most handsome when they're swiping their cards!
Not to mention that the man swiping the card had an absolutely flawless face!
Although he was icy and cold, his looks were truly impeccable!
Jiang Yan's expression was indifferent, but his words carried an imperceptible softness:
"Pick two."
"I'll give the other one as a gift."
-
During the last summer vacation in high school, Gu An found a part-time tutoring job and, like her older brother and Jiang Yan, started a life of coming home late.
When the two of them found out about this, they independently voiced their opposition, but both were ruthlessly rejected by her with a cold face: opposition was ineffective.
She was eager to earn her own money, eager to lighten Gu Zhen's burden.
By the time Gu An earned a semester's tuition, her vacation was coming to an end, and the university was just around the corner.
On the evening before leaving home, Gu An was packing her luggage in the small attic. As she packed, her nose started to tingle with a hint of tears.
It was at this moment that the door was knocked.
She quickly put on her slippers and ran to open the door.
Jiang Yan stood at the door, a handsome guy in a loose white long-sleeved T-shirt and black sporty pants, exuding youthful charm. As she got closer, the scent of mint shower gel on him became clear.
He handed her the white gift box and said softly, "Congratulations."
Gu An, mesmerized, reached out to take it. The gift box was so delicate, tied with a shiny ribbon in the form of an intricate flower. It had a substantial weight in her hands, and she held it close, looking up at him and asking, "What's this?"
Jiang Yan, who was over twenty centimeters taller than her, always looked down at her. He shoved his hands into his pockets, seeming nonchalant, and said, "Back-to-school gift."
The girl in front of him, with her round eyes turned into crescent moons, brimming with stars, looked so pure and bright. The corners of her mouth formed a sweet, playful smile, revealing cute little fangs.
He had faced numerous dangerous criminals, apprehended countless fugitives, and even in the moment of loading a bullet and pulling the trigger, he hadn't felt as nervous as he did now, facing this small, shoulder-height human cub.
She would like it, right...
Jiang Ning said no girl wouldn't like it.
The warm light from the wall lamp fell softly from above, accentuating his originally gentle and refined appearance. His thick eyelashes caught the light and shimmered slightly.
Gu An's usually restless heart became erratic when she saw him, and her hands trembled as she opened the box. When she saw the exquisitely embroidered dress inside, her breath caught, and her previous chattering skills were instantly reset.
"Do you like it?" Jiang Yan's voice was cold, devoid of emotion.
"Yes!" Gu An's eyes widened, like a kindergarten child unexpectedly given a pile of candy. "It's so beautiful! I've never seen a dress this beautiful!"
"Why did you suddenly give this to me?" She carefully closed the box as if it were a precious treasure, tilting her head as she looked at him.
Jiang Yan's lips curved slightly, a rare smile.
Those eyes gazed calmly at the young girl in front of him.
He didn't know why.
He just felt that if someone had something she didn't, he wanted to give it to her.
-
On September 10th, Gu An enrolled in college.
She had applied to University A, a comprehensive university, and Jiang Ning had scored among the top in the city. She applied for the Mathematics Department and had gone with her parents a few days earlier to complete the enrollment process and enjoy a few days there.
Since Gu Zhen hadn't returned from his business trip even on the last day of enrollment, she had to ask Jiang Yan to drive her.
He drove, and she sat in the passenger seat.
From her perspective, Jiang Yan had long and soft eyelashes, but his lip line was cold and straight without any curvature. Downward, his Adam's apple and neck had a restrained coldness as they disappeared into the light-colored shirt collar.
His fingers on the steering wheel were slender and his joints well-defined. It was the kind of attractive hand that you'd call a "hand fetish." His shirt sleeves were rolled up twice, revealing long, pale arms.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
"Hmm?"
At a traffic light, he turned to look at her, his beautiful eyes bright and calm. "Why have you been staring at me?"
"Um, no...," Gu An shook her head like a rattle drum, clutching the small book bag in her arms, and the warmth in her ears was hard to ignore.
Even when caught by the person in question, her gaze still had a mind of its own, uncontrollably drifting toward the person on the left.
One glance here, one less there... and he still won't let her see.
She wanted to say, "Even if I don't come home often, you're not allowed to forget me. You're not allowed to get a girlfriend after I go to college. It's best if you just wait for me to grow up..."
But she could only think of these things in her heart. After all, among the many people who had obvious or hidden crushes on him, she was an inconspicuous one, so what right did she have to impose such domineering terms on him?
Jiang Yan... I'll miss you a lot.
But will you miss me?
If not, can you, for just a moment, suddenly think of me?
An hour later, Jiang Yan's black Land Cruiser parked in the University A parking lot.
It was the annual back-to-school season, and the university campus was bustling like no other.
Gu An's small sense of disappointment from earlier had been temporarily swept away. This was the place she would spend the next four years!
She walked with a light step, her small book bag on her back, her mood elated. She was almost skipping. In the end, Jiang Yan grabbed the strap of her bag, pulling her back, and said, "Let's go register first."
Gu An nodded, and the registration venue was at the school's sports field. She found the sign for the School of Fine Arts and hurried over, her voice crisp and clear, "Hello, seniors!"
The people welcoming newcomers looked up. The little girl in front of them wasn't stunningly beautiful, but she had fair and delicate skin like a sticky rice dumpling. With her slightly curled bangs and short hair, she looked just like an innocent porcelain doll, the kind that easily stirred up protective instincts.
Yet Gu An was oblivious to the attention from those around her. She was focused on finding her name and student ID in the freshman registration book, carefully signing her name character by character.
When she straightened up, she suddenly found herself surrounded by a group of senior students, but she didn't know when they had appeared.
"Junior, where's your luggage? The dormitory building is quite far. Let the senior take you!"
"Did you get your student card? It's quite a hassle to get it. I happen to be going that way..."
Gu An obediently tilted her head, listening to them chatter about dining, military training, and accommodation. Her level of seriousness wasn't any less than that of a primary school student on their first day of school. She was just short of taking out a little notebook to jot down notes.
She wore a cream-colored doll-collar dress, with traces of baby fat still present on her cheeks. She looked like a little rabbit about to fall into an enemy trap, a bit innocent, and her face clearly bore the words "I'm easy to fool."
Looking at her, she was still a child, one who hadn't grown up yet.
So, could she be easily deceived by those smooth-talking boys?
At that moment, Jiang Yan suddenly understood Gu Zhen's previous mood.
Why his classmates had said they'd wait for Gu An to grow up, and he had mercilessly beaten them up.
He could read the intentions beyond the politeness of those boys and understood what they had in their eyes when they looked at Gu An.
Back in his student days, he used to find fights and brawls very shameful, considering them childish and a waste of time.
Now, however, he felt a similar impulse to Gu Zhen's.
Gu An politely thanked the senior and senior sister and said she had someone coming to pick her up, not wanting to trouble them.
At this moment, a few senior sisters cast their gazes beyond her.
"Who's that boy... from our school?"
"Which one? Wow! He's so handsome!"
Gu An followed their gaze and saw Jiang Yan standing under the tree. He was wearing a light-colored shirt and jeans, impressively tall and slender.
He glanced at anyone with a detached, emotionless look, leaving people's hearts in turmoil for a long time.
Gu An nodded seriously with her doll-like face, "He's really handsome!"
She pursed her lips, feeling extremely proud.
Isn't he good-looking?
But maybe one day he'll be mine!
If he becomes hers in the future, she must hide him in a golden house.
Except for when working, don't let anyone see him!
This idea... is really naughty.
"Is the paperwork done?" the group's focus shifted to her.
Gu An nodded, "Yes!"
"Gu An, how old are you this year?"
"Hmm?"
Gu An didn't know why Jiang Yan was asking like this, but just looking at him made her happy. She couldn't help but tilt her small face, showing a bright smile with her small white teeth, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. "I'm eighteen! What's up?"
Jiang Yan nodded, his face expressionless like an iceberg, his voice calm as if summarizing a case, "Eighteen years old, still a kid."
As Gu An talked with Jiang Yan, she was also busy collecting various back-to-school gift packages. She quietly said, "Thank you, senior."
The male student blushed slightly and fumbled to display his WeChat QR code. "Don't mention it, junior. Let's exchange WeChat, and if you need any help..."
And at that moment, someone pulled her back a step, and her back suddenly bumped into his chest.
The scent of Jiang Yan enveloped her like a blast of cold air on a hot summer day.
Gu An's heart skipped a beat, and without warning, Jiang Yan leaned down, lowered his voice, and whispered in her ear, "Dare to date early."
"Break your legs."
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