The healthy cycling event officially came to a close. As they were leaving, Yi Ming and Jiang Wei were about to depart when someone suddenly called out Jiang Wei's name from behind, stopping them in their tracks.
Yi Ming was the first to turn around. Hearing a man call Jiang Wei's name, his brow furrowed ever so slightly.
Seeing it was him, Jiang Wei said with some hesitation, "It's you... you haven't left yet?"
After a pause, Jiang Wei raised her head towards Yi Ming by her side and said, "This is the senior from the Chinese Literature department that I mentioned earlier, a graduate student."
"I... I was waiting for you."
Looking through his thick glasses at the two people before him, the girl was gentle and beautiful, the young man tall and handsome - they truly seemed like a match made in heaven.
This weighed on Shen Yuzhe's heart like a heavy stone, making him feel stuffy and indescribable.
"Waiting for me?"
Jiang Wei was stunned for a moment, pointing at herself. "Senior... is there anything you need help with?"
"What's your name?"
Shen Yuzhe suddenly raised his voice, startling Jiang Wei. "Huh?"
"My name is Jiang Wei."
Out of politeness, Jiang Wei thought for a moment and still answered him.
"Yes, her name is Jiang Wei, the 'jiang' from scallions, garlic, and the 'wei' from rose."
Yi Ming had a faint smile on his face. Although he wasn't happy about Shen Yuzhe's "flirtation," he remained calm and even took the initiative to introduce Jiang Wei's name, because he wasn't afraid or worried.
His little Jiang Wei belonged to him, and him alone.
He had an unyielding character ingrained in his bones, treating people and situations in such a manner, and guarding the girl he loved, likewise.
"What's your relationship?"
"Senior."
Although Yi Ming wasn't angry yet, Jiang Wei was already somewhat displeased with Shen Yuzhe's "probing." She lowered her eyes slightly and said coolly, "If you have something to..."
Before Jiang Wei could finish, Yi Ming's strong, fair fingers suddenly gripped her wrist.
He shook his head with a smile, signaling her to calm down first.
"She, ah, is my child bride. Her mother married her off to me when she was three years old."
Yi Ming curled his lips and raised his eyebrows as he answered the question for her.
Jiang Wei was almost angry enough to explode.
What era is this, still joking around? She sighed and pinched his waist. "Yi Ming, be serious."
"Okay, wife." Yi Ming smiled brightly, then switched to a serious tone as he continued, "Did you hear that? My wife told me to be serious, so let me rephrase my earlier statement seriously: My wife was married into my family at the tender age of three, you shouldn't have any illusions, do you understand, good sir?"
Jiang Wei: "..."
Shen Yuzhe realized that the earlier farce was likely because Yi Ming had already figured out his intentions. His current tone was actually mocking him...
Shen Yuzhe pressed his lips tightly, his face flushed red like fire. "I understand."
"Good," Yi Ming breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
"So... she's not with you because she likes you, but because her mother forced her."
Suddenly, Shen Yuzhe drew this cold conclusion.
Yi Ming almost lost his footing after hearing those words.
The ability of a Chinese Literature student to summarize the entire text was indeed... extraordinary!
"Brother, may I ask where you saw that my little Jiang Wei doesn't like me?" Yi Ming sighed helplessly.
"I don't see it."
"Then that's settled."
"But I also don't see where she likes you."
Yi Ming was so infuriated by Shen Yuzhe's stubbornness that he almost had a heart attack. "Does she have to show you that she likes me for it to be true? She took the initiative to hug me when she was in kindergarten, what about you?"
Before Jiang Wei could cover Yi Ming's mouth to stop him from mentioning this, Shen Yuzhe had also become excited. He raised his voice, "She... she also grabbed me, just now, she grabbed my hand when she saved me."
As soon as Shen Yuzhe finished speaking, Yi Ming's body stiffened.
A pair of deep eyes turned towards him, Yi Ming glared at Jiang Wei as if he was angry. "Jiang Xiaowei, you actually touched him?"
"I didn't, I just grabbed his sleeve."
Jiang Wei sighed helplessly, reaching out to grab Yi Ming's sleeve. "Through the clothes, calm down."
Shen Yuzhe silently watched the scene unfold before him.
His heart twinged slightly. Jiang Wei was very indulgent towards this young man. Even though she clearly knew he was just "acting spoiled" to seek her attention, she willingly fell into his "trap."
This felt like a thousand needles piercing his heart, and he could no longer bear to stay any longer.
