"No wonder I've been feeling uncomfortable in my spine lately—turns out I've been carrying such a huge black pot on my back." Wen Li gnawed on a cucumber as she complained to Jiang Zao and Fu Qin. "Tell me, when exactly did I go around adding people on WeChat?"
Fu Qin, however, picked up on something else from her words: "Are you saying this might be him getting jealous?"
"Impossible," Wen Li shuddered. "How could someone like him, who has no feelings, possibly get jealous?"
Jiang Zao somewhat agreed with Fu Qin's view: "But would Xiao Jinyu say something like that?"
Fu Qin chimed in: "Right? That kind of remark is very un-Xiao-Jinyu."
Jiang Zao: "Sigh, Lili, what if he's a hidden yandere with terrifying possessiveness? You better be careful, Lili."
Wen Li: "…"
Then what's with that excited look on your face?
Fu Qin: "Did you really ask for someone's WeChat right in front of him?"
Wen Li: "I didn't do it in front of him—he happened to see it. And the person I added was my physical training teacher. What's wrong with that?"
"You're not in the wrong," Fu Qin said. "But I think what your male god said makes some sense. You really do love adding people on WeChat."
"I do not." Wen Li refused to accept this accusation. "I only ever add people I know."
"Come on, let me lay it out for you," Fu Qin said, counting on her fingers. "What about that unfamiliar junior in the cafeteria last time who forgot his card and asked you to buy him a meal?"
"Adding him on WeChat made it convenient to pay me back."
"What about the guy sitting across from you in the library the time before that?"
"Adding him on WeChat so he could save me a seat in the future. Besides, we're all classmates—he's not a stranger."
"Fine, fine, those don't count. Then what about the guy handing out flyers at the school gate? And the security guard uncle? The new doctor at the campus clinic? Why did you add them?"
"…"
God, she'd actually added that many people and had no memory of it at all.
Fu Qin sighed: "Li, at this rate, half the school is probably in your WeChat contacts."
Wen Li gave an awkward laugh: "Mainly because I'm just well-liked."
"I personally don't see a problem—you could add the whole school for all I care," Fu Qin shrugged. "I just don't know if your aloof male god would be willing."
"Ooh, aloof male god transforms into dark and crazy, initiating forced love." Jiang Zao tilted her chin up. "Woman, from now on, your WeChat can only have me in it."
Wen Li: "…"
What on earth is this nonsense?
Wen Li, somewhat headache-ridden, rolled herself up in her blanket and flopped onto the bed.
Wen Li: "Well, I can't just stop adding friends because of him. It's not like I'm his bootlicker."
Cheng Xiling passed by and left a comment: "Aren't you?"
Wen Li: "…"
She was not!
At least she wouldn't admit it.
How could there be such a petty man in this world! She just liked making friends—what was wrong with that? She wasn't like him, with his "no this" and "don't do that" all the time. Did he only hang out with aliens or something?
Besides, she hadn't even managed to become his friend yet. What right did he have to have such strong opinions about her social habits!
Wen Li swore she wouldn't like him anymore.
There were so many handsome guys out there—she refused to believe she couldn't find one more handsome than him.
For the next few days, Wen Li stubbornly didn't send him any messages. After all, they'd parted on bad terms that day, and if she went crawling back to him, what would that look like? It would be like using her own face to shine his shoes.
She decided she wouldn't talk to him for a whole month. Then, thinking that was a bit long, she settled on one week.
Being a simp was nowhere near as good as being a hardworking ox!
She trained hard every day, and time passed quickly. Soon, it was time for her follow-up appointment again.
Wen Li felt a bit nervous. She didn't really want to go to the hospital, afraid she'd run into Xiao Jinyu.
She knew her own willpower. If she didn't see him, she'd be fine. But if she actually ran into him, she definitely wouldn't be able to resist the temptation—she'd be lured over again, only to have her warm face slapped by his cold attitude.
Wen Li had her pride too. Besides, she was very popular at the sports academy—plenty of people were chasing after her. She couldn't be so spineless. If she said she wouldn't talk to him for a week, then she wouldn't talk to him for a week.
So she decided to cut off the possibility at the source, deliberately choosing a day when Xiao Jinyu wouldn't be at the hospital.
But fate didn't cooperate. It was exactly the case of "fear what you will, and it shall come." She had just walked out of the consultation room when she looked up and saw Xiao Jinyu walking toward her from the other end of the hallway.
Wen Li's heart skipped a beat. Her feet felt like they were on fire-wheels as she turned and bolted.
"Wen Li."
The low voice came from behind her—not loud, yet it drilled precisely into her ears.
Wen Li's ears tingled.
Damn it. How could this man's voice be so nice too?
Which window did God actually close for him?
She closed her eyes and started brainwashing herself. He was the one who called out to her—she wasn't the one chasing him. He was the one bothering her, clearly.
She turned around with an air of noble aloofness, chin slightly raised: "What?"
"You dropped something." He bent down and picked up a stack of printed paper from the ground.
It was her examination report. Wen Li strode over and snatched it from him. Her movements were too fast and too forceful, and the top sheet—her rehabilitation training form—was still glimpsed by him. The form was covered in densely packed examination items, marked with checkmarks and crosses.
Xiao Jinyu's gaze lingered on it for two seconds, his brow furrowing slightly. "Your arm still hasn't healed?"
As an orthopedic doctor, he knew very well that a simple fracture recovery wouldn't require such frequent trips back to the hospital. He had previously assumed that her repeated appearances here were all to see Ji Cheng, but the moment he saw the rehabilitation form, he began to doubt—could she actually be here for treatment?
Wen Li let out a hum, stuffing the examination form into her backpack and zipping it shut with a sharp "shhk." "None of your business."
With that, she turned around, leaving him with a cold view of the back of her head.
Stepping out of the hospital entrance.
Wen Li could finally hold it in no longer, the corners of her mouth curling up wildly.
Wen Li, you were just way too cool.
It's just being aloof—who can't do that?
She walked along the sidewalk toward school with light, brisk steps. She hadn't gone far when a voice suddenly came from behind.
"Excuse me, miss."
Wen Li turned around and saw a woman—around forty-something, with long wavy hair draped over her shoulders, wearing an elegant dress, with a gentle, soft-featured face.
Wen Li confirmed she didn't know this person, assumed she was a passerby in need of help, and asked politely, "Ma'am, do you need help?"
The woman smiled, her eyes curving into arcs. "There's actually something I'd like to ask you."
"Go ahead." Wen Li walked over.
"I just saw you talking to A-Yu at the hospital. Are you his classmate?"
Wen Li was momentarily confused. A-Yu? Who was that?
The woman noticed her confusion and chuckled softly. "Let me introduce myself first. My surname is Jin—the Jin from Xiao Jinyu."
She emphasized the "Jin" and continued smiling at her. "I'm his mother."
Xiao Jinyu's mother!
Holy crap, this sudden?
Wen Li tensed up instantly, her previously slouched posture snapping straight, her hands not knowing where to go. "A-Auntie, hello. My name is Wen Li."
Seeing her flustered, Jin Mo's smile deepened. "Don't be nervous."
But she couldn't help it—meeting the parents out of nowhere, how could she not be nervous?
"Can I treat you to a meal?" Her tone was soft and gentle, like coaxing a child. "Auntie has something she'd like to ask you."
Wen Li's mind went blank, her head bobbing up and down like a chick pecking at rice.
Jin Mo smiled. "Get in the car."
It wasn't until she sat in that low-key but obviously expensive car that Wen Li belatedly realized something was off.
Why would Xiao Jinyu's mother be looking for her? Could this be a "take this five million and leave my son" scenario?
Wen Li thought with great integrity—how could her crush be compared to five million? She wasn't someone who'd be swayed by money. No matter what, in the end, she would choose…
The five million.
She wondered if the five million would be a check or cash.
If it were cash, it'd weigh over a hundred pounds.
She pondered how she'd carry it back—the bag she had on her definitely couldn't hold it.
Wen Li was so lost in her fantasy of five million that she didn't even notice when the car stopped.
"We're here." Jin Mo's voice pulled her back to reality.
This was an upscale Chinese restaurant, several thousand per person. She'd only ever seen it on public accounts, always swiping past quickly whenever it came up, never imagining she'd one day eat here.
Though she wasn't surprised—Xiao Jinyu's face did look like it belonged to someone from a wealthy family.
Xiao Jinyu's mother was clearly a regular; even the staff recognized her. "President Jin, you're here. This way, please."
Wen Li listened quietly.
President Jin, huh—that alone sounded rich. Maybe even more than five million.
The private room was elegantly decorated, with exquisite tableware and warm moist towelettes set on the table.
Jin Mo ordered the dishes, handed the menu back to the server, then propped her chin on her hand and looked at Wen Li with a soft gaze that made Wen Li nervous all over again.
The dishes arrived one by one, and Jin Mo used the serving chopsticks to place a piece of fish in her bowl. "Try it—this place makes an excellent squirrel-shaped mandarin fish."
Wen Li lowered her head and took a bite. The flavor was indeed wonderful, but she still felt a bit uneasy.
"Auntie," she set down her chopsticks, "please just say what you need to say."
Jin Mo let out a soft sigh.
Wen Li's heart tightened.
Here it comes, here it comes—the five million is coming.
She sat up properly, her posture becoming noticeably more composed.
"It's nothing major, really. It's just that my son has been in a sulk with me lately—won't talk to me, won't answer calls, won't reply to messages. I'm pretty down about it."
"Xiao Jinyu?"
"Mhm."
"He won't even talk to you?"
"Right."
Wen Li could relate to this all too well. "Auntie, I get it. I completely understand you. What was WeChat even invented for? To chat and connect with people, right? But him? He's like a file-transfer assistant—you send something over and there's not even a sound back. I've never met anyone so hard to deal with."
Jin Mo laughed. "Why are you even angrier than I am?"
Wen Li sighed. "Because he ignores me too."
Jin Mo: "Don't be too upset. He's been like this since he was little."
The aggrieved victim Wen Li let out a pitiful "Mhm." "I'm not going to stoop to his level anyway."
Jin Mo said, "But I can see he's not that cold toward you. When I came over today, I even saw him initiate a conversation with you. That's so rare—he usually won't say a single extra word to girls."
"I dropped something, and he helped me pick it up."
"That's not what it looked like to me," Jin Mo said, studying her. Then she suddenly asked, "Do you like him?"
Wen Li froze for a second, and her cheeks flushed visibly, the heat spreading from her neck all the way to the tips of her ears.
"I—I don't."
"Oh dear, you're a grown girl now. There's no shame in admitting you like someone. It's better for a girl to be open and straightforward."
Wen Li pressed her lips into a thin line, feeling a little embarrassed.
His mother was really gentle—so much gentler than her own mother, Wen Tao. She spoke in such a soft, quiet voice. Wen Li couldn't help but feel curious: how could such a gentle mother have raised a son with Xiao Jinyu's personality?
"Want me to help you?" Jin Mo said.
"Huh?"
"Help you win him over," Jin Mo said. "You probably don't know this, but A-yu's father was someone I pursued actively myself. I'm quite good at chasing people."
Wen Li was completely stunned.
Jin Mo pulled out her phone as she spoke. "Want to add each other on WeChat?"
"Oh, okay." Wen Li fumbled through her bag and dug out her phone.
After adding the contact, Wen Li stared at the profile picture labeled "Jasmine" and felt a wave of unreality wash over her.
Xiao Jinyu's mother was going to help her pursue Xiao Jinyu? This wasn't how she'd imagined things going at all—what about her five million?
During the meal, Jin Mo also told her many stories about Xiao Jinyu's childhood—how he'd once adopted a stray cat when he was little, but the cat didn't like him and ran away from home, and he'd been sad about it for a long time afterward.
Before she knew it, two hours had passed.
After the meal, Jin Mo drove her back to school. "Auntie really likes you. Let's keep in touch from now on."
"Okay." Wen Li waved at her. "Goodbye, Auntie."
_
Wen Li practically floated back to her dormitory, and it wasn't until she sat down on her chair that the feeling of unreality gradually faded.
Jiang Zao, who had just finished brushing her teeth, saw her dazed expression and couldn't help asking, "Did you win the lottery?"
"No," Wen Li said. "I met Xiao Jinyu's mother today. She's so beautiful and so gentle. She treated me to a meal and said she'd help me pursue him."
"Wait, hold on," Jiang Zao set down her toothpaste cup and dug at her ear before leaning in again. "What did you say? Xiao Jinyu's mother is going to help you pursue who—Xiao Jinyu?"
"Yeah."
"How do you even know his mom?"
"Why are you cursing at me?"
Jiang Zao rephrased: "I mean, how did you come to know Xiao Jinyu's mother?"
Wen Li recounted the whole story in detail, leaving Jiang Zao utterly bewildered. What kind of development was this? She couldn't understand the world anymore.
Afraid she wouldn't believe it, Wen Li even showed her phone: "I added her on WeChat too. See, this 'Jasmine' is his mother."
Jiang Zao was practically in awe. "Girl, you're terrifyingly impressive. You actually managed to win over even the god of your dreams' mom!"
Wen Li gave an awkward smile.
To be honest, she had no idea how things had turned out this way either.
Beside them, Cheng Xiling was reading a book.
The chattering voices of Wen Li and Jiang Zao drifted into her ears, making it impossible for her to read a single word. Her fingers clenched tighter and tighter beneath the table, her fingertips turning white.
"His mother also told me a lot of stories about him when he was little."
"Tell me, tell me—I want to hear the secret history of the untouchable flower on the peak."
Cheng Xiling turned back to look at the two of them, opening her mouth as if to say something, then stopping.
"In third grade, a classmate lost fifty yuan and suspected he took it. He didn't bother explaining—he just took out fifty yuan and gave it to the classmate."
"Ah, so wouldn't everyone think he was the thief?"
"Exactly. His mother thought so too. To clear his name, she went to the school, checked the surveillance footage, and talked to the teachers. In the end, they found out the classmate had accidentally tucked the money into a book. That finally proved his innocence."
"Your god was so weird even as a kid."
Cheng Xiling held it in for a long while, but in the end she couldn't contain herself. She called out softly, "Lili."
"Hm?" Wen Li looked over, the smile still on her face. "Did we get too loud and disturb your reading?"
"No, it's just—I think maybe you should delete his mother."
"Why?"
Cheng Xiling's expression was complicated—hesitant, as if she had something difficult to say. "Actually, Xiao Jinyu's relationship with his mother is a bit complicated. You shouldn't get involved. I'm saying this for your own good."
Jiang Zao: "How do you know that?"
"I—I heard it somewhere."
"Heard it from who?"
"From…" Cheng Xiling's shoulders stiffened, and she forced an unnatural smile. "Forget it. Believe it or not, it's up to you."
She stood up, set her book down on the desk, and walked out.
The door closed behind her.
Wen Li and Jiang Zao exchanged a look.
"What does she mean by that?" Wen Li asked.
"Who knows. She's been acting weird lately."
"……"
After adding Xiao Jinyu's mother on WeChat, Jin Mo found herself chatting with her almost every day. The conversations were simple—just asking if she'd seen Xiao Jinyu recently, what he was up to, and so on.
Wen Li had been busy with training lately, and given their awkward parting not long ago, she honestly hadn't seen him, so she told her the truth.
Jasmine: 【Girl, how are you supposed to build a connection if you never meet? I made tomato-braised beef brisket and had a courier deliver it to your school. Bring it to him tonight.】
Jasmine: 【Don't tell him I made it—just say you made it yourself.】
Jasmine: 【Auntie believes in you. Go get him.jpg】
Wen Li stared at the screen, caught between laughter and tears. It felt like Auntie was even more eager than she was. Was she worried her son's personality would keep him from ever finding a wife?
The courier arrived quickly.
After receiving the insulated container, Wen Li headed straight to the affiliated hospital.
Halfway there, she started having second thoughts. They'd just had a falling out a few days ago—would showing up with food now make her look desperate? What if he said again, "We're not that close—why are you bringing me food?"
The more she thought about it, the more conflicted she became. Her pace slowed unconsciously, until she was barely shuffling forward. But shuffle as she might, she still ended up standing outside Xiao Jinyu's office door.
Whatever. She was already here—she couldn't let Auntie's effort go to waste. Worst case, she'd just drop it off and leave.
She stood outside the door for a moment, psyching herself up, before knocking.
The room was silent, and the door was locked.
Was he not at the hospital today?
She stopped a nurse to ask, and the nurse told her, "Dr. Xiao is in a meeting."
Wen Li thanked her and sat down on a bench in the hallway to wait.
By the time the meeting ended, it was already nine in the evening.
Xiao Jinyu emerged from the conference room. The meeting had dragged on longer than expected.
The patient was an active athlete from the provincial team—a seventeen-year-old girl with an ACL tear. Three months post-surgery, she'd developed knee instability during return-to-training.
Imaging showed good bony healing, but dynamic ultrasound revealed abnormal joint tracking. It was a cross-disciplinary case that required consultation with the sports rehabilitation department.
During the meeting, Dean Wu had raised many questions. Her coach complained that the rehabilitation period was too long and would interfere with training, hoping they could provide a clear timeline for returning to competition.
Xiao Jinyu couldn't understand it. This girl was only seventeen—her bones hadn't even fully healed—and they were this eager to send her back to training. What could possibly be more important than her body?
Spread out in front of Xiao Jinyu were three documents: the orthopedic CT, the rehabilitation department's movement data, and the team doctor's handwritten training log. Some of the terms were jargon used only within the team, and he couldn't make sense of them.
He flipped through them for a long time, then finally wrote a single line in the blank space of the medical record: Not recommended for return to training.
Dean Wu glanced at him, said nothing, and slid the paper out from under him, tucking it at the very bottom of the stack.
After the meeting adjourned, Xiao Jinyu clicked his pen cap shut.
As he left the conference room, he heard the coaches discussing behind him.
Still asking when she could go back to training. There was a major competition at the end of the year, and the kid was talented—they couldn't hold her back.
Xiao Jinyu didn't understand. What did "hold her back" even mean? Was the rehabilitation period just a waste of time in their eyes?
He ignored them and walked toward his office. As he turned the corner of the corridor, he spotted a girl curled up on the bench in the distance.
Her head was tilted to one side, knees drawn up, clutching a pink rabbit-shaped lunchbox to her chest. The hallway lighting was dim, casting a warm orange glow that outlined her hair in a soft, fuzzy halo.
His gaze lingered on her face for two seconds, then dropped to the pink rabbit insulated bag in her arms. His expression shifted subtly.
A colleague passed by: "Here to see you?"
Xiao Jinyu didn't answer.
"Alright, we'll touch base tomorrow." The other doctor patted his shoulder and walked off with the rest.
Wen Li wasn't sleeping deeply. She sensed his presence as he approached, furrowed her brow, and slowly opened her eyes.
A tall figure in a white coat stood before her, backlit so she couldn't make out his expression—but she knew that silhouette all too well.
She rubbed her eyes and sat up. "Your meeting's over?"
"Yeah," Xiao Jinyu said. "What are you doing here?"
"Bringing you dinner." Her voice was hoarse, thick with the nasal quality of just waking up. "You probably haven't eaten, right? It's still warm. Here."
Xiao Jinyu looked at the lunchbox she held out but didn't take it immediately. "Look at me first. Do you know who I am?"
Wen Li blinked groggily. "Xiao Jinyu. Why?"
Xiao Jinyu was a little taken aback. "You brought me food?"
Wen Li let out an "oh" and said, with a hint of defiance, "A man who eats well can't talk tough. Let's see if you still dare to say we're not that close after this."
Xiao Jinyu: "…"
The air went quiet. Neither of them spoke.
Wen Li's arm was getting tired from holding it up. "Just take it—I need to get going."
"Come in first." He unlocked the office door.
Wen Li followed him in with the insulated container, walking over to his desk with practiced ease and setting it down.
Xiao Jinyu took off his white coat and hung it on the rack, revealing a black shirt underneath. He pulled a chair over and placed it behind her, then opened the food container and casually handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Wen Li finally understood that he wanted to eat with her.
Wen Li didn't take it: "I'll eat when I get back to school."
"It's already nine o'clock. Where are you going to eat at school?"
Wen Li wanted to say "instant noodles," but that sounded too pitiful. She had run all the way over to bring him a meal, only to go back and eat instant noodles herself—that just didn't seem right.
Nothing matters more than a good meal.
Wen Li silently took the chopsticks, opened the insulated lunchbox, and arranged the layers of compartments neatly in front of her.
Jin Mo had prepared an abundant meal—braised beef brisket with tomatoes, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, tomato and egg drop soup, and a small box of cut fruit. The rice was still steaming inside the insulated container.
Xiao Jinyu was rather surprised. "You made all this?"
Wen Li nodded guiltily and quickly said, "Hurry up and eat."
Xiao Jinyu picked up a piece of beef brisket and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly. The flavor was rich and hearty—not like something from a restaurant outside.
Wen Li watched him nervously. "Is it good?"
Xiao Jinyu swallowed. "Mm."
"Then eat more!" Her eyes curved into crescent moons again.
He lowered his head and ate quietly.
Taking advantage of the gaps between bites, Wen Li stole several glances at him. He ate unhurriedly, his long lashes lowered, his expression focused.
If he was willing to sit here and eat with her, then he probably didn't dislike her that much, right? Then what was with that cold, sarcastic attitude from the past few days?
She poked at her rice with her chopsticks a couple of times. Wen Li wanted to ask, but asking directly would make it seem like she cared too much.
But she did care.
She cared a lot.
Noticing her fidgeting, Xiao Jinyu looked up. "What's wrong?"
Wen Li still had a knot of frustration in her chest. "Why did you ignore me the past few days?"
Xiao Jinyu's chopsticks paused.
"I'm sorry," he said.
Wen Li was stunned too.
She had only been venting casually—she never expected him to admit fault so readily. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. "Y-you think one 'sorry' is enough?"
Xiao Jinyu: "…"
"I sent you so many messages, and you didn't reply to a single one. If you hate me, just say so. It's not like I'm going to cling to you no matter what."
By the end, her voice had grown softer, her confidence waning.
Xiao Jinyu kept looking at her. His gaze was complicated—like he was probing, like he was struggling, and there was something else she couldn't quite read.
"I don't hate you," he finally said.
Wen Li's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Mm."
"Then can you not ignore my messages from now on? If you're busy, you can just tell me. I won't bother you."
Xiao Jinyu looked at her for a long time without speaking.
Wen Li had already braced herself. If he refused, she would throw down her chopsticks and walk out, sealing her heart shut from now on, never liking him again.
The next second, she heard his low voice in reply.
"Okay."
He truly had no way out.
He knew he should stop here. His rationality was warning him—she had a boyfriend, and her approaches and efforts to please him might just be a passing whim. He should steel his heart and make things clear, tell her not to come anymore, and nip every possibility in the bud before it could sprout.
But why.
Why couldn't he bring himself to refuse her?