NOVEL NEXT Chapter 35
By the time Jiang Shiyu realized that his relationship with Shen Li had changed, they were already inseparable.
That afternoon, he and Li Muzi were practicing piano in the classroom. Noticing that the teacher had left, Li Muzi scooted his chair closer to him, who was engrossed in studying the sheet music. Sensing someone near, he turned to see Li Muzi looking mischievous.
“Shiyu, I found a new fried chicken place online. Let’s go after class.”
Jiang Shiyu, due to his illness, had a strict diet. He usually ate breakfast and lunch with Shen Li at the cafeteria, and a housekeeper prepared their dinner—delicious but bland. After a while, his taste buds nearly forgot the flavor of junk food.
Hearing Li Muzi describe the delicious fried chicken, cheese balls, and garlic chicken wings, he was tempted. After thinking it over, he said, “I’ll let Shen Li know so he doesn’t come to get me after class.”
Li Muzi rested his head on his back, sneaking a glance at his WeChat conversation with Shen Li.
“Are you done with class? I’ll come to pick you up.”
“What do you want for lunch? You can rest in the dorm while I get it.”
“The housekeeper asked what you’d like for dinner tomorrow.”
“Don’t forget to take your medicine. I put a thermos in your bag; be careful it’s hot.”
The messages from Shen Li were numerous, while Jiang Shiyu’s replies were mostly short: “Okay,” “Mm-hmm,” “Can do.”
He told Shen Li that he would be having fried chicken with Li Muzi after class and that Shen Li didn’t need to come to the music room.
Shen Li replied quickly, “Where are you going?”
“Zhengtai Plaza.”
“It’s rush hour on the subway after class, and it will be crowded. I brought the car; I’ll take you.”
Jiang Shiyu showed the message to Li Muzi, asking for his opinion. He had no objections; he was happy to have a free ride.
Jiang Shiyu nodded and continued texting. Li Muzi watched his cheeks dimple with a relaxed expression. As his good friend, Li Muzi noticed the recent changes in his mood.
Despite having lost weight from his illness, he looked healthier and more spirited. He smiled often, his eyes bright, unlike earlier when he seemed trapped in his world, always downcast. Now, he seemed genuinely happy.
“Shiyu, you seem really happy lately.”
Jiang Shiyu looked up from his phone, puzzled by Li Muzi’s sudden remark.
“At the start of the semester, you always seemed out of it, slow to respond, lost in your thoughts. You were like a wilted plant, closed off from the world, only occasionally looking up at Shen Li. Now, you’re like a rose touched by spring, growing vibrant and colorful.
I know you were deeply hurt when Shen Li had his accident, lost his memory, and rejected you. It was a huge blow, and it pained me to see you like that. I even thought it might be better to forget him; he wasn’t worth your sorrow.
But seeing you happy again now, I realize only he can draw you out of your shell. Even after losing his memory, he cherishes and protects you, and you’re still the one he loves.”
Li Muzi clenched his fists, a bit resentful. “Why does Shen Li deserve your devotion? What a jerk.”
Jiang Shiyu placed his phone on his lap and patted his golden head. They were quite different—one introverted and sensitive, the other outgoing and warm. Jiang Shiyu, who had few friends growing up due to his health, cherished Li Muzi as his first real friend.
“Muzi, thank you for supporting me through everything, always being there for me.”
The campus looked desolate in the late autumn, with fallen leaves and a chill in the air.
After class, Jiang Shiyu and Li Muzi walked down the stairs together and saw Shen Li sitting in the car, talking on the phone. He was dressed casually, his hair cut short, with sharp features and an air of aloofness that kept people at a distance.
He seemed to notice them, ending his call and lowering the car window as they approached. Jiang Shiyu got into the front seat while Li Muzi sat in the back.
“Buckle up,” he reminded.
Before starting the car, he glanced at Jiang Shiyu, asking, “Did you take your medicine today?”
Jiang Shiyu hesitated, his body stiffening. He had forgotten to take his medicine, a habit Shen Li had instilled by constantly reminding him.
Feeling guilty, he avoided his gaze, took out the medicine from his bag, and swallowed it with water from his thermos, grimacing at the bitter taste. He glanced at Shen Li, who sighed deeply and drove off, muttering, “You’re going to be the death of me.”
Li Muzi, observing from the back, thought Jiang Shiyu might be in trouble with Shen Li, but it seemed more like he was the one wrapped around Jiang Shiyu’s finger.
They arrived at the restaurant, where Jiang Shiyu and Li Muzi went in to feast while Shen Li acted as their chauffeur. Feeling a bit guilty, he invited him to join them, but he declined, saying he had other matters to attend to and reminded him to avoid spicy foods.
Jiang Shiyu didn’t press the issue, waved goodbye to him, and entered the fried chicken restaurant with Li Muzi.
Shen Li then visited a nearby electronics store. He dressed like a young professional or student, blending in with the typical window-shoppers who seldom made purchases. The store owner barely acknowledged him, engrossed in his phone.
After browsing, he approached the counter, tapping on it to get the owner’s attention.
The owner looked up, somewhat uninterested.
“Do you have this camera?” He showed a picture on his phone.
The owner glanced at it, “Yes, but it requires a reservation—about a month.”
“Fine, how much? I’ll pay with card.”
Surprised by his decisiveness, the owner quickly switched to a more attentive demeanor, processing the payment with a newfound eagerness.
After completing his purchase, he checked the time, estimating that Jiang Shiyu and Li Muzi would still be eating, so he wandered around the area.
Inside the restaurant, Jiang Shiyu and Li Muzi had ordered an overwhelming amount of food. Despite his initial bravado, Li Muzi found himself struggling to finish, eventually slumping back, declaring he couldn’t eat another bite.
Jiang Shiyu, though tempted, had a small appetite and found the rich flavors too much, especially after a period of bland food. He looked at the untouched portions on the table, feeling troubled. “There’s so much left. It seems such a waste to throw it away.”
As they considered what to do, they noticed a poorly dressed woman with a little girl looking into the restaurant longingly. The woman tried to comfort the girl, who began to cry silently.
Moved, Jiang Shiyu gathered the untouched food and had it packed. Despite Li Muzi’s concerns about the gesture being misunderstood, he approached the pair, offering them the food. After a brief hesitation, the woman accepted the gift, thanking him profusely.
He returned to the table, ignoring Li Muzi’s protests, and paid the bill. As they left, a store employee delivered two cups of milk tea to the woman and child, explaining they were from the same young man, suggesting they would help with the dryness from the fried chicken. The woman accepted, deeply moved, but Jiang Shiyu was already out of sight.
Shen Li received a message from him saying they were ready to head back and asking where he was.
“Where are you?”
He replied they were at the subway station, preparing to take the train.
“Wait there; I’ll pick you up.”
Jiang Shiyu showed Li Muzi the message, who jokingly called them a clingy couple.
He teased back, “Well, then don’t ride back with us.”
Li Muzi retaliated playfully, but as they arrived at the subway station, Shen Li called out to them. Jiang Shiyu broke free from Li Muzi, his face flushed, eyes sparkling.
Li Muzi started to follow but was stopped by Shen Li, who informed him that Chen Xu was nearby and would give him a ride. Li Muzi checked his phone and saw a message from Chen Xu confirming this, missing the brief smirk of triumph on Shen Li’s face.
Realizing he had to take a different route, he waved goodbye to Jiang Shiyu, who climbed into Shen Li’s car. As they drove off, Jiang Shiyu leaned out of the window to wave, while the car’s exhaust left Li Muzi coughing in their wake.