Memories, sometimes, only need a spark to ignite the flames and blast through the accumulated mud, creating a small gap, then tracing back to the source along the clear stream.

Yang Yue briefly described the situation, and after serious contemplation, Jing Tian gradually recalled many fragments, piecing together the general situation.

The whole story wasn’t particularly fresh.

In the past, he did indeed admire Chu Chen Tao for a while.

As an introverted, insecure, and inconspicuous character, being exceptionally cared for by a senior who was recognized as excellent and known throughout high school couldn’t help but stir up ripples in his heart.

Now looking back, the so-called “exceptional care” might have been just his unilateral psychological suggestion, embellishing the entire process. For Chu Chen Tao, it was just a chance encounter in the corridor with a junior, chatting casually, and then casually passing on some study materials for the senior year that he couldn’t be bothered with.

But for the former Jing Tian, it was a great honor.

He mustered up the courage to exchange contact information with Chu Chen Tao, but then didn’t dare to contact him. It wasn’t until they both got into A University that he first messaged Chu Chen Tao, expressing his gratitude for his encouragement.

Chu Chen Tao congratulated him and emphasized the fate of becoming schoolmates again, promising to take care of him more.

After that, they only met twice. Once was during summer vacation when Chu Chen Tao returned to his hometown, and Jing Tian treated him to a meal. The other time was when Jing Tian had just arrived at A University, and Chu Chen Tao treated him.

Their interactions were scarce, polite, and couldn’t even be considered acquaintances.

But Chu Chen Tao, who had a halo in Jing Tian’s mind, was indeed the person who made him aware of his own orientation for the first time.

He had never thought of confessing. After all, in his eyes, Chu Chen Tao was outstanding, while he was ordinary and insignificant, and the two were simply incompatible. Just silently admiring him was satisfying enough for him.

Yang Yue said that Chu Chen Tao dumped him, but it wasn’t entirely true.

Chu Chen Tao just saw through his feelings, deliberately teased him, tempted him to confess, and used it as a tool to show off.

Encouraged by Chu Chen Tao’s words, he gathered the courage to admit his feelings in messages, and then he made the bravest decision of his life.

He took the initiative to go to Chu Chen Tao’s dormitory, wanting to convey his feelings again face to face. Even if not accepted, he hoped to express his feelings solemnly and completely.

After that, outside Chu Chen Tao’s dormitory, he heard the gentle and kind senior he had in mind mock him disrespectfully.

Rustic, foolish, delusional, dull and boring.

Chu Chen Tao’s roommate teased, saying there were still advantages to such a person, clean and disease-free, and since guys couldn’t get pregnant, there were no worries about the future, a blank canvas that could be slowly taught.

Chu Chen Tao said, “Joking aside, can you get hard for a mop lying in the corner of the hallway? He looks about the same as that thing.”

As these memories gradually awakened in his mind, Jing Tian realized that he wasn’t as calm as he had originally thought, and there was still some sadness in his heart.

Of course, there was more anger.

Chu Chen Tao’s rhetoric in front of him was so grand and noble, as if his deep affection had been betrayed by him. Perhaps Chu Chen Tao still didn’t know that Jing Tian had overheard that conversation back then.

During the recent unpleasantness when they severed ties, Jing Tian occasionally felt guilty. If they were truly in a romantic relationship back then, denying it like that was indeed too heartless.

Looking back now, he was simply too polite that day.

Recalling his past self, who apologized sincerely out of shame, he regretted it and wished he could go to Chu Chen Tao immediately and curse him out.

“…What a jerk!” he muttered, hugging himself and frowning.

“Look at the bright side,” Yang Yue comforted him, “thanks to this idiot, you’ve become who you are now. Although he’s not worthy of gratitude.”

Jing Tian felt more complicated upon hearing this. “But, it seems like I’ve gone back to how I was before.”

After losing his memory, he had become the introverted, timid, lack of confidence, dull, and uninteresting person again.

“How could that be,” Yang Yue said, “you’ve become much more cheerful recently, and your emotions are more expressive, haven’t you realized it yourself?”

Jing Tian blinked.

“Of course, there are still some differences compared to before,” Yang Yue smiled, “you were a bit… too extreme back then. Clearly, you’re a very soft-hearted person, but you insisted on acting so strong and assertive. It was exhausting to watch. Do you remember what you were like back then?”

He remembered some.

Recalling his various miraculous actions in front of Zheng Xunqian, his face turned red.

Thinking of Zheng Xunqian, his mood turned sour again.

Was it that he had a problem with his judgment, or was he really not worth being taken seriously?

Seeing his melancholic expression, Yang Yue misunderstood and said again, “Forget about it, you’re overthinking. You always blame yourself, which makes you tired and uptight.”

“Wasn’t I carefree before I lost my memory?” Jing Tian asked. “Why am I uptight now?”

Yang Yue pondered for a moment and replied, “It’s only been two years, not twenty. People’s personalities don’t change overnight, especially such drastic changes.”

Jing Tian fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

From those fragments of memories, he could somewhat sense it. During that time, he didn’t really become cheerful; rather, he firmly believed that “being cheerful is good” and demanded himself to “be cheerful no matter what”.

He tried to break away from his past failures in a forced manner, using a very strained approach.

The old him was rustic and inconspicuous, so he spent a lot of time and energy on dressing up; the old him only focused on studying, so he deliberately acted carefree and ignorant everywhere; the old him was introverted and shy, so he insisted on speaking loudly, even pretending to be bold.

He succeeded to some extent, made friends, gained happiness and satisfaction, and indeed became much more positive and optimistic.

Jing Tian thought, except for being too childish by not studying, there was nothing wrong with the other parts.

“…It’s just my judgment that’s still not right,” he murmured softly.

“Oh, by the way,” Yang Yue remembered something and immediately frowned, becoming serious. “Why did you suddenly ask about that guy surnamed Chu? Did he come looking for you again?”

“No!” Jing Tian waved his hands quickly. “I haven’t contacted him at all!”

Yang Yue squinted her eyes, looking skeptical.

“I swear!” Jing Tian quickly raised his hand in a gesture of swearing to the heavens. “This guy is so… annoying. How could I possibly have any dealings with him again?”

“Who knows what you’re thinking? You used to hang out with him all the time,” Yang Yue said unhappily. “And you kept it from me.”

Jing Tian was stunned for a moment, but soon remembered that Yang Yue had complained about this before.

Chu Chen Tao claimed that they had a close relationship before, often going out on dates, which seemed to be true.

“It’s so weird,” Jing Tian tilted his head. “It shouldn’t be like that.”

“Yeah!” Yang Yue exclaimed, “I was so angry with you during that time!”

Jing Tian maintained his previous posture, furrowing his eyebrows, seriously recalling. Some extremely faint fragments came to mind, but unfortunately they were unclear and ambiguous.

Zheng Xunqian’s words just now made him ponder a question involuntarily: Did Chu Chen Tao lie subjectively about their romantic relationship?

Before he could figure it out, the phone on the nearby table vibrated.

Jing Tian quickly picked it up, but felt secretly disappointed when he saw the sender’s name.

Shu Ziqin, who had just experienced a mental catastrophe today, sent him a message, apologizing for his previous rudeness.

Jing Tian naturally couldn’t blame this poor child and told him it’s okay.

Soon, he realized that the apology was just a side note, and Shu Ziqin was actually concerned about something else.

—”Did Senior Yang Yue say anything later?”

Staring at the words Jing Tian chuckled.

Seeing this, Yang Yue asked, “Who is it? What’s so funny?”

Jing Tian decided to tell the truth. “It’s Shu Ziqin.”

Yang Yue suddenly felt guilty and blinked his eyes twice. “What did he say?”

“He apologized to me, saying he didn’t greet me properly before leaving in a hurry,” Jing Tian said.

Yang Yue felt embarrassed, frowned, and thought for a while before saying, “Tell him for me that I was a bit out of line today, I’m really sorry, and if he’s willing, I’ll treat him to a meal when I have time.”

Jing Tian nodded, “Okay.”

“But nothing too expensive!” Yang Yue reminded, “I’m really poor.”

“Got it,” Jing Tian nodded again, “I’ll tell him.”

After conveying Yang Yue’s message, Shu Ziqin was pleasantly surprised, first sending three exclamation marks, then saying it wasn’t necessary because he was the one at fault, and finally changing his mind and saying he was willing to accept but Yang Yue didn’t need to pay.

In short, he didn’t need an apology from Yang Yue, but he really wanted to have a meal with him.

Jing Tian replied with a smile.

—Why don’t you tell him yourself?

There was no lack of contact information, so why rely on others to pass the message?

Soon, Yang Yue picked up his phone and started chatting with Shu Ziqin. From their expressions, the atmosphere seemed quite pleasant.

“He told me he’s been promoted to Silver,” Yang Yue said with a smile, “just one more effort and he’ll successfully complete the mission.”

“Shu Ziqin is really hardworking, he even takes notes,” Jing Tian said.

“Yeah, he showed me,” Yang Yue said, “he’s so earnest.”

Jing Tian chuckled.

Love is indeed beautiful. Even in unrequited love, one can capture its charm from the perspective of an observer.

Now he felt like helping Shu Ziqin a bit. If Yang Yue didn’t mind, being with such a sincere and adorable guy should bring a lot of joy, right?

As Yang Yue’s friend, watching from the sidelines, he would surely be happy too.

The innocent growth of love is truly adorable.

Jing Tian leaned on the table, silently watching Yang Yue using his phone, and suddenly felt a wave of bitterness in his heart.

No one in this world treated him with such sincerity after all.

Zheng Xunqian still hadn’t contacted him.