TEDAWSCCP Chapter 3

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By all logic, Tong Yao and Jiang Jinyue should have nothing to do with each other. The more perfect Jiang Jinyue was, the more invisible Tong Yao became. Yet, thanks to a few matching outfits, their lives had become intertwined.

Tong Yao had wanted to ask Jiang Jinyue many times why he kept wearing those shirts, but he never had the courage. He was afraid of being looked down on by Jiang Jinyue’s cold, indifferent gaze.

Jiang Jinyue always walked with his chin tilted slightly upward, making him seem unapproachable. And yet, people still flocked to him. Even the basketball he had casually touched during a game would get snatched up by his admirers.

Most boys didn’t like him—they were jealous, of course. Having such an outstanding peer naturally invited resentment. The phrase "like poles repel" made sense in their case.

But it didn’t apply to Tong Yao.

He was different from the other boys.

Because he liked Jiang Jinyue.

Just like the girls did.

Unfortunately, after almost three years of being classmates, he had never once worked up the courage to talk to Jiang Jinyue voluntarily. He didn’t even dare look at him directly.

The only time they had spoken was during their first year of high school, right before summer break, when their homeroom teacher, Old Tian, asked Tong Yao to call Jiang Jinyue to the office.

The moment he agreed, he broke into a nervous sweat.

This was a rare chance to talk to Jiang Jinyue—he should seize it. But why was his heart pounding so hard? His hurried steps slowed into an agonizing crawl.

Finally, he had no choice but to approach Jiang Jinyue’s desk.

He still remembered the scene vividly.

Jiang Jinyue had been working on math problems from a 5·3 workbook, black-framed glasses perched on his straight nose bridge. According to Tong Yao’s observations, Jiang Jinyue had mild myopia and usually wore glasses in class. His back was straight, fingers effortlessly spinning a pen, his left hand propping up his chin as he thought through a problem.

Tong Yao mustered his courage. "Jiang… Jiang… Jiang Jinyue!"

Clatter!

The pen slipped from Jiang Jinyue’s fingers, rolling off the desk and landing just behind his foot.

"S-Sorry!" Tong Yao instinctively bent down to retrieve it, but the angle was tricky.

"Jiang… Jiang Jinyue, could you move your foot a little?" He stretched his hand, but the pen remained just out of reach. Jiang Jinyue didn’t move an inch.

Maybe he didn’t hear me? Tong Yao thought. He looked up. "Can you—"

His words died in his throat.

Jiang Jinyue’s face was mere inches away, so close that their breaths mingled.

Minty. Jiang Jinyue’s breath smelled like mint.

"I’ll get it myself."

A two-second pause, then Jiang Jinyue bent down and picked up the pen himself.

Tong Yao scrambled to his feet, mumbling a hurried "Office… Old Tian… wants you," before fleeing the scene in embarrassment.

It was only after running a good distance that he realized he had completely jumbled his words.

Since then, he had never dared talk to Jiang Jinyue again.

The only time he could say his name out loud was when reciting his favorite poem, Pipa Song.

"别时茫茫江浸月。" (At parting, the vast river reflects the moon.)

Everyone else’s tone dropped on the last three words, but his voice always lifted.

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