Yang Yue looked shocked, “So, you two… used to date?”

The tangled thoughts that now greatly embarrassed Jing Tian were naturally something he couldn’t say out loud, so he only dared to give a rough account.

Ignoring all the mental activity, such a definition seemed reasonable.

“So, your initial disagreement was that you wanted some emotional exchange, but once he put on his pants, he acted like he didn’t know you?” Yang Yue asked.

With it being interpreted like this, it seemed even more awkward.

Jing Tian wanted to protest, but after opening his mouth for a while, he found he had nothing to argue back with.

Yang Yue pondered for a while with his head tilted to the side, then said, “First of all, I definitely stand on your side…”

Jing Tian frowned, “But there’s a ‘but’?”

“To be honest, I don’t quite understand why you’re so angry,” Yang Yue said, “If it’s because he didn’t accept you initially, now he clearly cares about you a lot, why dwell on the past?”

Jing Tian shook his head, “It’s not the same.”

If Zheng Xunqian simply didn’t like him and coldly rejected him, he would only feel sad and upset, maybe even blame himself, but he wouldn’t hold a grudge. Zheng Xunqian had no obligation to accept him, he understood that.

What he hated was Zheng Xunqian taking advantage of his affection, acting recklessly with him, coming and going as he pleased, causing him to be deeply humiliated.

“I’ve already lost someone once,” Jing Tian said softly, his gaze lowered, “Because of that experience, I wanted to change myself. I’ve put in so much effort over these two years, but there’s been no change. He makes me feel like a failure.”

“How could that be,” Yang Yue hurriedly comforted him, “You’re very successful, and he clearly likes you a lot now!”

Jing Tian’s expression remained unchanged at his words.

Zheng Xunqian indeed seemed to like him. He cared for him, helped and accompanied him, held hands, hugged, kissed, and even went further with him. But he refused to admit it verbally.

He had said “You like me” so many times, but had never said “I like you” even once.

Those memories from the past, which made Jing Tian feel sad, surged into his mind, pushing aside what had happened just recently.

He still remembered those beautiful experiences, but they didn’t feel as genuine anymore.

How could he prove that Zheng Xunqian’s recent actions weren’t just a more extreme version of what happened before? Between the time of losing his memory and regaining it, in just a few short hours, what gave Zheng Xunqian the right to change his mind?

Jing Tian’s instinct was naturally to be afraid. His subconscious had been reminding him all along, “Run away, getting close to this man will only make you sad.”

“You still can’t swallow this?” Yang Yue asked.

Jing Tian sighed, “Actually, I’m quite vengeful.”

“Huh?” Yang Yue was surprised, “Is it already at the point of seeking revenge?”

It might have been. If he hadn’t lost his memory, after blocking Zheng Xunqian, he would definitely have done something out of resentment. Maybe just something foolish.

But now, things were different.

All those scenes he thought would only appear in his dreams had actually happened. What happened last night was a thousand times better than the sudden rush of memories into his brain.

Zheng Xunqian’s kindness towards him, it wasn’t just last night.

Those were all real, they couldn’t be erased with a stroke of a pen.

“…At the very least, he should seriously explain it to me, right?” Jing Tian said.

Yang Yue raised an eyebrow.

“Hiding it from me on purpose, he must know he was excessive back then,” Jing Tian muttered with a furrowed brow, “If he likes me, he should take some action now!”

“Alright, alright, I get it,” Yang Yue said helplessly, “This is just a lovers’ spat, you’re worrying too much.”

“No!” Jing Tian immediately denied, “I’m serious. If he can’t give me a satisfactory response, I’m done with him.”

Yang Yue looked at him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, nodding, “Looks like everything’s really coming back to you, you’re becoming… “

“Forceful?” Jing Tian asked.

“Just as pretentious as ever,” Yang Yue said.

Jing Tian turned his head without saying anything.

Yang Yue was right. Those deep-seated insecurities, he couldn’t bring himself to say them out loud.

Jing Tian knew he was never a strong person. No matter how he disguised it, those close to him could always see through it.

With the recovery of his memories, he picked up again those habits he had forced upon himself in the past. Speaking louder, expressing feelings bravely, and considering himself more important.

These subjective changes did bring him some positive effects. He gradually gained confidence, became more cheerful, no longer meek, and dared to make friends.

But it also made him increasingly deny his past self. In order to completely separate himself from his past failures, he would occasionally force himself to do things against his will. After realizing the inner resistance, he often had to struggle with himself.

But even after putting in so much effort, becoming the so-called “better person,” when he invested his emotions again, there was still no good result.

It felt like all the effort was worthless.

Jing Tian lay in bed at night, repeatedly thinking about those sad things, unable to sleep.

He told himself that his worth didn’t need to be proven by those rotten people who played with emotions. If Zheng Xunqian couldn’t reasonably explain his past actions, or show enough sincerity, he would leave without a trace.

Then he picked up his phone, looked at the empty message list, feeling annoyed that Zheng Xunqian hadn’t contacted him.

Zheng Xunqian pretended to be dead all day, but the next afternoon in class, he sat next to Jing Tian as usual, as if nothing had happened.

Jing Tian deliberately avoided looking at him and didn’t initiate any conversation. He neatly arranged his books and stationery on the desk, then lowered his head to fiddle with his phone, appearing calm and composed.

Half a minute later, his phone vibrated. He hastily picked it up, but the message was from Yang Yue, who was sitting on his other side.

“What’s the situation between you two now?????”

Jing Tian thought, “I have no idea!”

He put down his phone, closed his books, and took advantage of the fact that the class bell hadn’t rung yet to stand up.

“Let’s change seats,” he said, turning to Yang Yue.

Yang Yue looked embarrassed, his gaze quickly shifting between him and Zheng Xunqian. “Uh…”

Without waiting for Yang Yue’s consent, Jing Tian gathered his things, picked up his bag, and left. The teacher for this class was quite strict, and attendance was high. The classroom was already packed. After scanning around, he found only one empty seat in the corner of the first row.

After he sat down there, Yang Yue soon sighed and followed suit.

“But this is still three seats, he can still come over,” he said to Jing Tian.

Jing Tian remained silent, glanced at the seat still empty on the other side.

Unfortunately, until the class bell rang, that seat remained vacant. Jing Tian stole a glance back at his original seat after more than ten minutes.

Zheng Xunqian was lying on the desk, apparently asleep.

“What’s the point?” Yang Yue said.

“I’m done with him,” Jing Tian said. “Don’t try to convince me, no one can.”

Yang Yue shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

Unexpectedly, after class, Zheng Xunqian, who had just behaved unsatisfactorily, became proactive again.

He had already packed up before class ended and quickly came to Jing Tian’s seat after the bell rang, standing quietly.

“Hey,” Yang Yue greeted him awkwardly. “Do you have any plans for later?”

“…Do you want to have dinner together?” Zheng Xunqian asked.

“When you say ‘together,’ does that include me?” Yang Yue asked.

Zheng Xunqian didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on Jing Tian’s face.

Jing Tian roughly stuffed his things into his bag without a word, then looked at Zheng Xunqian who was still standing there.

“I suddenly remembered that I have plans with someone else,” Yang Yue said, forcing a smile. “I’ll leave first, bye!”

With that, without waiting for Jing Tian’s reaction, he grabbed his things and ran off.

Jing Tian sighed, packed his things haphazardly into his bag, and ignored Zheng Xunqian, walking out silently. When he reached the door, he ran into Zhao Qinqing.

“Wow, you two are always together,” she said with a smile to Jing Tian. “So envious.”

Jing Tian had nothing to say.

Zheng Xunqian, who was following behind him, surprisingly spoke up: “Um, let’s go eat.”

His unusually friendly behavior startled Zhao Qinqing. She widened her eyes, then shook her head and chuckled before walking away.

Jing Tian turned to look at Zheng Xunqian. “Why are you following me?”

Zheng Xunqian acted as if it were a matter of course. “Let’s have dinner together.”

“I never agreed to that!” Jing Tian said.

Zheng Xunqian looked at him pitifully. “Please.”

Jing Tian didn’t know what else to say, so he ignored him and continued walking.

“Aren’t you curious why we were both at the hotel again?” Zheng Xunqian asked from behind him.

Jing Tian ignored him.

“Aren’t you surprised?” Zheng Xunqian continued. “Why we were together again?”

“I don’t care,” Jing Tian said, blushing. “I-I don’t care.”

As soon as he said that, his face turned even redder.

Thankfully, Zheng Xunqian was walking slightly behind him and couldn’t see.

“We went on a date,” Zheng Xunqian said.

Jing Tian thought, “I didn’t ask you.”

“We went to the aquarium and bought souvenirs,” Zheng Xunqian said, extending his hand. “Here, the one you gave me.”

He still had the seashell bracelet on his wrist. Jing Tian’s bracelet, he had taken off and left in the drawer after returning to the dorm yesterday.

Seeing Jing Tian remain silent, Zheng Xunqian couldn’t help but sigh. “Why am I so miserable?”

Jing Tian couldn’t help but turn around and glare at him. “How dare you?”

Zheng Xunqian looked at his face, answering a different question, “Why is your face so red?”

“…”

Oh no, he’s been found out. Jing Tian turned away and continued walking briskly.

“We’ve spent almost every day together recently,” Zheng Xunqian said from behind him.

All of this was nonsense; Jing Tian remembered it all very clearly, and he didn’t need Zheng Xunqian to repeat it. There were clearly more important things Zheng Xunqian should be saying.

The two walked for a while like this, one in front of the other, until they were nearing the cafeteria.

Zheng Xunqian sighed softly and said, “You’ve never treated me like this before.”

Jing Tian suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around.

“The Jing Tian who used to follow you around like a puppy doesn’t exist anymore,” he said.

Zheng Xunqian looked at him quietly.

“Is there anything else you want to say?” Jing Tian asked, chin held high.

“…I’m not looking for that Jing Tian,” Zheng Xunqian said. “I want to find the Jing Tian who walks hand in hand with me.”

“…”

Zheng Xunqian looked into his eyes. “I miss him a lot.”