Chapter 588: Unresolved Feelings
Chapter 588: Unresolved Feelings
Jiang Xia returned to Q University. After finishing her major classes, she tidied up her notes, packed her textbooks, and checked her seat to ensure nothing was left behind before leaving the classroom.
She planned to head to the library to borrow some professional books, as well as some economics books that Zhao Cheng Lei wanted to read.
She had no classes in the afternoon, but there was an opening ceremony.
Jiang Xia could go home for lunch, spend some time with her siblings, and then return for the ceremony.
Principal Zhou was waiting outside the classroom, timing his arrival. As soon as Jiang Xia emerged, he waved to her enthusiastically, "Comrade Xia."
Jiang Xia paused in her steps.
The other students in the class looked over.
They glanced at Jiang Xia and then at Principal Zhou.
Jiang Xia walked over to him.
Principal Zhou smiled, "Come, let's go to my office. If you have any difficulties with the issues we discussed, feel free to talk to me. The school will help you resolve them."
Jiang Xia followed Principal Zhou to his office.
The students watched their backs as they walked away.
Some recognized Principal Zhou, while others did not.
Zeng Jing, of course, recognized him.
She gave a cursory glance at their retreating figures, wondering why Principal Zhou would wait outside the classroom for Jiang Xia and offer to help her with any problems.
Zeng Yuan had come to school to find her younger sister and glanced at Jiang Xia before turning her attention back to Zeng Jing, calling out, "Jing."
Zeng Jing heard her and hurried over, "Why are you here?"
"I forgot my house key when I left this morning."
Zeng Jing quickly handed her the key, "Have you eaten?"
"No."
"Let's go to the school cafeteria and eat together. We can go home after that."
"Sure", Zeng Yuan didn't refuse. No one was home, and no one was cooking.
The two of them walked toward the cafeteria.
Zeng Jing mentioned, "That girl seems to be on good terms with Principal Zhou. He even offered to help her with any problems."
Zeng Yuan only responded with a "Hmm."
She didn't want to talk about Jiang Xia. Given Zhao Cheng Lei's extensive network, it was likely that he had asked someone to have Principal Zhou take care of Jiang Xia.
She envied Zhao Cheng Lei's favor and special treatment of Jiang Xia.
Zeng Jing asked again, "Is it true that Jiang Xia was the top scorer in the national college entrance exam for Chinese and English?"
Zeng Yuan replied, "I don't know, I haven't been paying attention to her."
At the time, she was disheartened and focused on preparing for her job transfer.
Jiang Xia's exam scores and her connections didn't matter to her.
She only ever cared about Zhao Cheng Lei.
Zeng Yuan harbored unresolved feelings for Zhao Cheng Lei.
She had been a step too late, a step behind Jiang Xia's father in seeking Elder Zhang's help, and thus missed her chance with Zhao Cheng Lei.
When she heard about Zhao Cheng Lei's engagement, she went to Zhang Rui to confirm if it was true. She overheard Zhang Rui asking Zhao Cheng Lei, "Have you been eyeing Comrade Xia for a long time? To propose after just one meeting?"
Zhao Cheng Lei had replied, "I didn't pay much attention to her before."
Zhang Rui chuckled and pressed, "So, did you fall in love at first sight with Sister-in-law's beauty?"
Zhao Cheng Lei didn't respond to that.
Zhang Zheng interjected, "He just can't say no to the old man and Jiang's father."
Zhao Cheng Lei didn't deny it.
Zhang Rui laughed, "That's true. Such a great favor, he couldn't refuse even if he wanted to."
Everyone laughed.
Zhao Cheng Lei remained silent.
The others chimed in, "Sister-in-law is so beautiful, it's worth it to offer himself in marriage."
"If it were me, I'd pack my things and move in right away!"
...
Zeng Yuan knew that Zhao Cheng Lei wasn't someone who cared much about appearance, and a first sight romance was unlikely for him.
Jiang Xia was beautiful, but there were many others who were more beautiful, smarter, more capable, and from better families who had been around Zhao Cheng Lei, and he had ignored them all.
So, his engagement to Jiang Xia was really hard to refuse, given the influence of Elder Zhang and Jiang Xia's father.
Later, she learned from Zhang Rui that both of them had done her a favor.
So Zeng Yuan was really upset!
She had liked him for six years!
They could have had a future together, but she had been a step too slow.
Zeng Jing watched as Jiang Xia and Principal Zhou chatted all the way, muttering to herself, "I wonder what Principal Zhou is saying to her."
Zeng Yuan snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at her little sister, "Why are you so interested in her?"
"Just happened to be in the same class", Zeng Jing certainly wouldn't tell her sister that she was helping her get back at Jiang Xia!
She couldn't stand Jiang Xia and was targeting her to avenge her sister!
Her sister had liked Zhao Chenglei for many years, almost seven.
Much longer than Jiang Xia!
It was Jiang Xia who had come between her sister and Zhao Chenglei.
Her sister had planned to wait until Zhao Chenglei became a brigade commander and then ask her father to ask Elder Zhang to arrange their marriage.
But then Jiang Xia's father suddenly approached Elder Zhang, cutting in and taking him away!
If Jiang Xia hadn't suddenly appeared, her sister and Zhao Chenglei would probably have gotten married by now.
Her sister wouldn't still be single at twenty-six, unwilling to date anyone, and even changing jobs to chase after a married man in another city.
Now, with her heart broken, her sister had returned to Capital City, only to have this couple follow her there, making her sister even more reluctant to date.
It had even landed their grandfather in the hospital!
People in the compound were whispering behind her sister's back, calling her an old maid who couldn't find a husband.
Zeng Jing had to stand up for her sister.
Her sister had always been the one who loved her the most.
She would make their happy life miserable by flaunting her affection with Zhao Chenglei in front of her sister.
If her sister couldn't be happy, neither would they!
Zeng Jing asked, "Sis, how was the match grandma introduced you to?"
Zeng Yuan had gone out today for a blind date, "Not bad."
In reality, he was far inferior to Zhao Cheng Lei.
When the young and pretty waitress served the dishes, he reached out to take them, accidentally brushing against her hand. On the street, someone riding a bicycle accidentally hit him with their luggage, and he yelped!
Zhao Cheng Lei would never do that.
When she graduated and started working at the hospital at twenty, her first patient was Zhao Cheng Lei.
She stitched his wounds and bandaged him. He was severely injured but insisted on not using anesthesia.
She was clumsy and nervous, and she couldn't handle the wound well, but he didn't frown or blame her the entire time.
From that moment on, she fell in love with him. She began to pay attention to him, and it spiraled from there.
He often received commendations and went on missions, and every time he was injured, she was the one who bandaged him.
He had excellent habits and was very self-disciplined. Many women liked him and confessed to him, but he ignored them, not even giving them a glance, let alone speaking to them.
Over the years, she was the only woman who could have a conversation with him, sometimes even joining Zhang Rui and his brother for meals and laughs.
If only she hadn't been a step too slow...
Zeng Jing said, "Don't rush, take your time. Find someone better than Zhao Cheng Lei! I think Brother Zhang Rui is better than Zhao Cheng Lei! Why don't you have grandma talk to Grandma Zhang? Grandma Zhang is also looking for a match for Zhang Rui."
Zeng Yuan replied, "Don't talk nonsense! He knows about my past with Zhao Cheng Lei, he won't be interested in me, and I don't like him. We're too familiar, having grown up together, it feels like he's just a brother."
Zeng Jing said, "Sis, if you don't like Brother Zhang Rui, can I pursue him?"
Zeng Yuan was taken aback.
She had never known her little sister had these thoughts.
Was she the one who had delayed her little sister's marriage?
She quickly said, "Of course you can!"
*
On the other side, Jiang Xia and Principal Zhou arrived at the office.
(End of Chapter)
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