The boy’s voice carried a hint of shyness, his ears slightly red.
Jiang Jingye’s brows immediately furrowed, becoming alert.
Su Nuo paused for a moment and instinctively assumed he was doing some kind of sales promotion. She quickly waved her hand.
“No need, no need. I do not scan QR codes for gifts, and I am not interested in gym memberships, swimming classes, or yoga…”
Her words made the boy laugh out loud. His gaze toward her grew even warmer.
He quickly explained, “No, no, I am a third year math student at Huaying College of Jiang University. I noticed you while we were in line. I think you are really pretty and wanted to add your contact information.”
Jiang University Huaying College, a top tier university.
And mathematics, one of the most elite majors in that top institution.
If Jiang Jingye had been merely disliking him earlier,
now it had turned into outright dislike.
Su Nuo was still chewing her rice, her cheeks puffed up, unable to speak.
Jiang Jingye spoke first.
“Sorry, she already has a boyfriend.”
At that, the boy’s shyness instantly faded.
Disappointment quickly filled his eyes, but he was still unwilling to give up. He looked at Su Nuo expectantly, clearly hoping she would deny it.
Instead, Su Nuo cooperated very smoothly. She hooked her arm around Jiang Jingye’s and looked up at the boy with a bright smile.
“Yeah, I already have a boyfriend. Sorry about that.”
The boy forced a bitter smile, said “sorry for bothering you,” and left reluctantly.
After he left, Jiang Jingye vaguely heard his friend mutter, “That guy looks way too cold. They do not look like a couple at all.”
Cold?
Did he look that cold toward Su Nuo?
So others thought they had a chance?
After finishing their fried rice, they prepared to go to the supermarket.
Just as they left the snack street, Su Nuo’s eyes drifted toward a milk tea shop at the alley entrance.
Posters of various drinks were displayed on the glass door.
Everywhere gave off the words “refreshing and digestive relief.”
Su Nuo unconsciously licked her lower lip.
Her steps paused for half a second, but she said nothing.
She continued walking straight toward the supermarket.
Jiang Jingye caught that small movement from the corner of his eye.
He followed her gaze and spoke.
“Do you want one? I will go buy it.”
Su Nuo quickly shook her head.
“No, it is too expensive. One cup costs thirty yuan. That is enough to buy a whole box of milk. Not worth it.”
Jiang Jingye pressed his lips together and said nothing more, silently following her.
A faint thought passed through his mind.
So life was constrained by money like this.
Even a thirty yuan cup of milk tea could not be bought freely.
They crossed the road and entered the large supermarket.
Su Nuo pushed the cart, and Jiang Jingye naturally took over.
Wherever she went, he followed without a single step missing.
The early spring air still carried a lingering chill.
In the past, when they lived in the mansion, central heating kept the temperature constant all year round. Light home clothes were enough in every season, and a thin silk blanket was sufficient for sleeping.
But the rental apartment was different. Without thick bedding, one would easily catch a cold at night.
When choosing bedding, she first checked the thickness, then looked at the price.
Her brows stayed tightly furrowed as she kept muttering, “Why is this so expensive?”
After comparing options, Su Nuo finally chose the most cost effective cotton quilt.
One 1.8 meter mattress cover and two 1.2 meter quilts.
The three large bundles of bedding were so heavy that Su Nuo could barely lift them.
Once placed in the cart, they formed a small mountain.
After solving sleeping arrangements, they moved on to daily necessities.
Laundry detergent and body wash, all chosen from discounted bulk packs.
Slippers, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, all basic and affordable options.
Simple, but sufficient.
Considering the bathroom had a transparent glass door, she even picked up a roll of frosted glass film.
When they reached the underwear section, she squatted in front of the women’s shelf and carefully calculated for a while.
In the end, she picked a box of women’s underwear and a plain cotton bra at an affordable price.
Passing the men’s underwear shelf, she paused and turned to Jiang Jingye.
“You should also buy a couple pairs. You need to rotate them.”
Jiang Jingye replied calmly, “Mm.”
Su Nuo glanced at the prices, asked for his size, and picked a slightly more expensive option before placing it in the cart.
When choosing the men’s underwear, her breathing felt slightly tight. The box even felt a little prickly in her hands. It was the first time she had ever bought underwear for a man.
After selecting everything, they checked out. Su Nuo even asked for the receipt and carefully verified every item line by line, making sure nothing was overcharged or missing before finally leaving satisfied.
Outside the supermarket, Jiang Jingye carried three quilts and pillows in front.
Su Nuo followed behind with two large shopping bags.
They walked back slowly to the urban village rental apartment.
Back in the room, Su Nuo first took out the frosted glass film.
Jiang Jingye immediately came over to help. One of them aligned the edges while the other smoothed out the bubbles with a scraper. Soon it was done, and the bathroom view was properly blocked.
They also worked together to make the bed and arrange the bedding.
By the time they finished, Su Nuo was exhausted.
She collapsed onto the bed and let out a long breath.
Glancing at her phone, it was almost midnight.
“I will go shower first.”
She picked up her sleepwear and toiletries and went into the bathroom.
The sound of running water came from inside.
Jiang Jingye looked around the small room. He did not feel hardship or exhaustion. Instead, he felt a strange sense of stability, as if he was finally living a grounded life.
Life was about experience.
He had grown used to wealth.
This kind of poor life felt strangely novel.
Even if he could not freely buy a cup of milk tea anymore, or even needed help from the woman beside him to prepare bedding, he did not feel resistance.
After finishing her shower, Su Nuo casually washed her underwear, including the newly bought ones, and hung them on the small bathroom window.
When she was about to leave, she suddenly realized something.
She was no longer living alone. Outside the glass door was Jiang Jingye.
But there was no other option now.
She wrapped herself tightly in her sleepwear and walked out stiffly, shoulders hunched and neck缩ed, clearly uncomfortable.
Jiang Jingye, sitting on the edge of the bed, noticed her awkward state from the corner of his eye.
He did not ask or look too closely. Instead, he quietly stood up and entered the bathroom, gently closing the glass door behind him.
Only then did Su Nuo relax.
Inside the bathroom, Jiang Jingye immediately saw the underwear hanging on the small window, still dripping water.
Plain white cotton, simple basic style, no decoration at all.
His mind unconsciously drifted back to the times when he used to accompany Su Nuo shopping.
Back then, she would always drag him to pick underwear costing thousands per piece, with smooth fabrics and delicate designs, completely different from what he saw now.
He turned on the shower. Hot water poured down as his fingers subtly curled.
On one hand, he enjoyed this rare peace.
No scheming, no manipulation, no intrigue.
But on the other hand, he was unsure whether Su Nuo could accept such a life of poverty.
In the supermarket earlier, she had seen a box of milk for thirty yuan and still chose not to buy it.