12 – He Secretly Longs for the Rose, Unwilling to Look Back
The diary had been bought long ago, its edges already showing signs of yellowing.
Upon opening it, every page was filled with dense records. Even the smallest, most trivial matters had been carefully noted down by him.
Though each entry recorded different events, they all consistently revolved around that “her.”
2010.6.12
Today she happily told me that my name contains both “Jiang” and “Yu,” and she happens to have them too. We’re practically a match made in heaven.
Even though her words don’t seem to have much scientific basis, I still hope they’re true.
2012.9.26
Today she tried out many hairstyles I didn’t recognize and insisted I pick the prettiest one.
How do I tell her that no matter what she does, I think she’s absolutely, incredibly beautiful?
2019.11.19
Today she kissed me while we were playing a game. Even though I didn’t show any expression at the time, I was actually really happy! Truly happy!
……
Every page of the diary clearly recorded the little moments shared with her.
The handwriting gradually matured from childish scribbles to the sharp, refined strokes of today.
Every word carried his unspoken, surging, and fervent emotions.
Jiang Yubai turned to a fresh page, gripped his pen, and slowly wrote:
2022.10.19
Today she told me that if I teach her how to study, she’ll teach me how to fall in love.
She always loves to say irresponsible things, but even though I know she’s like this, I can’t help but eagerly listen to her.
It’s like my instinct—aside from liking her, all that’s left is indulging her.
After writing, Jiang Yubai carefully placed a reddish-brown strand of hair on the page and closed the diary.
He tucked the diary back into his backpack and turned his gaze to the girl beside him.
He secretly yearned for the rose.
He wanted to foolishly claim this dazzling star as his own.
They say that craving too much is a sin.
But he was already deep in the abyss.
Unable to break free.
And unwilling to turn back.
During afternoon P.E. class.
Jiang Yuxing, who had always been exceptionally athletic, had already finished her lap with ease.
Now she was leisurely jogging alongside her best friend, who was panting like a dog before even finishing one lap.
“So… you spent the entire lunch break… just eating together… then he did his test papers, and you slept… and that was it?”
Meng Ling frowned, “Little Star, is it possible… that your way of pursuing someone… is wrong?”
She hesitated for a moment but couldn’t hold back her complaints, “Maybe he doesn’t like… shameless people?”
“What’s wrong with being shameless?”
Jiang Yuxing continued jogging unhurriedly, “My dad managed to win over my mom precisely because he was shameless.”
Meng Ling: “…”
Does your dad know his little cotton-padded jacket is full of holes?
She couldn’t help but stop, “No, what I mean is, since Jiang Yubai is a more reserved person, and you’re so outgoing, I’m afraid you might scare him off.”
“And I remember his family situation isn’t great—it’s different from ours.”
Meng Ling sighed, “So have you ever considered that maybe he’s rejecting you not because he doesn’t like you, but because he feels he’s not good enough for you?”
Jiang Yuxing froze.
Everything her best friend said was completely outside the realm of her thoughts.
Her perspective was simple.Since you like this person, just go for it and pursue them. Why overthink it so much?
Jiang Yuxing shrugged, “I don’t care at all about his family background—whether he’s rich or poor. I just simply like him for who he is.”
“You just like his face,” Meng Ling corrected her.
She knew this little sister all too well.
Since childhood, she had always been obsessed with looks, completely unable to resist anything beautiful.
But once she got her hands on it, she quickly lost interest.
Perhaps, aside from worrying about their different family backgrounds, Jiang Yubai might also be concerned about this point?
“Wait a minute!”
Just as Meng Ling was thinking, Jiang Yuxing suddenly slammed on the brakes, widening her eyes to look at her, “Aren’t you just like me—never been in a relationship your whole life? How did you suddenly become so knowledgeable? Could it be that—”
She took a deep breath, unable to believe it, “You’ve been secretly dating my brother behind my back!!?”
Meng Ling: ???
What kind of ghost story is this in broad daylight!!!
“You don’t get it.”
Meng Ling shook her head and uttered a famous line, “Single people like me with no relationship experience love giving advice to others everywhere.”
“Anyway, I don’t know how to explain it to make you understand.”
Meng Ling thought for a moment, “But once you truly fall for him, you’ll definitely realize it.”
Jiang Yuxing: ?
Huh?
Why couldn’t she understand a single word?
With a whistle from the PE teacher, the group disbanded, and free activity time began.
“Sister Xing, come play ball!”
Xiong Ge, already on the basketball court, threw the ball in his hand toward her.
“Watch out—” someone nearby instinctively shouted.
The girl looked completely at ease, skillfully and smoothly hooking the incoming basketball with one hand, slapping it down to the ground at her feet.
Then, dribbling expertly, she walked toward the basketball court ahead.
As soon as she reached the three-point line, she stopped, held the ball with both hands, gave a light jump, and tossed it high into the air.
The ball flew from her hands, tracing a beautiful, smooth arc through the air before landing with a “swish.”
The ball went in.
“Awesome! Truly our Heroine!”
“Brothers, shout our slogan, on the count of three! Sister Xing is mighty, Sister Xing is amazing, Sister Xing is the best!”
The chuunibyou teens around her clapped their hands, one after another acting like they were experiencing a collective ancestral regression.
“Alright, stop shouting,” Jiang Yuxing laughed as she threw the ball back to them, “Let’s start.”
The basketball court was bustling with activity.
Jiang Yubai preferred quiet. During free activities like this, he always sat alone on a public bench.
His calm gaze was fixed on the bright figure on the basketball court not far away, following her every move.
“Well, if it isn’t the student council that made us write self-criticisms for a whole week?”
Suddenly, a few boys from another class walked over, laughing and joking, stopping right in front of him.
His view abruptly blocked, Jiang Yubai coldly lifted his eyes, his tone devoid of any emotion, “Move.”
The boys exchanged glances and immediately surrounded him.
They had long held a grudge against Jiang Yubai.
Now that they finally had a chance, they weren’t about to let it slip.
“So what if you’re the student council president here? Out in the real world, you’re just another worker who has to suck up to others.”The boy standing in the center sneered coldly, his voice booming, “No wonder your grades are so impressive! Someone from a poor family like you has no way out unless you work hard, right? Hahaha!”
Thud—
Just as he threw his head back laughing, a basketball suddenly flew toward him from behind, hitting him squarely on the calf.
“Damn! That hurts!”
The struck boy immediately jumped up like a startled rooster, cursing as he spun around, “Who the hell threw that?!”
“Your dad, me.”
Jiang Yuxing strode over on slender legs, her 1.7-meter height towering half a head over the boy in front of her. Crossing her arms, she cast a cold, domineering glare at them, her protective aura erupting fiercely. “Are you blind? Don’t you know he’s under my wing?”