Chapter 197: Confessions Under the Stars

Jiang Cheng Xin didn’t quite get it: “But the class monitor already has a girlfriend, so why are you still going to confess to him?”

Fan Mo Mo replied: “Why not? I just like the class monitor so much. I even think about him when I’m alone at night! He’s so handsome.”

Jiang Cheng Xin was stunned. He knew Fan Mo Mo had a lively personality and often talked to herself, but he never expected her to blurt out something like that—who she was thinking about.

Lin Zheng Ran ran into Jiang Cheng Xin again after the graduation ceremony ended. He was with Fang Meng and Jiang Qian, tidying up the venue.

Lin Zheng Ran saw him approaching with two wilted roses, looking defeated.

“Jiang Cheng Xin?” Lin Zheng Ran asked curiously.

“Class monitor… I…” He held the flowers, looking utterly deflated: “I failed. Fan Mo Mo doesn’t like me. She just sees me as a regular friend.”

Jiang Qian walked over too: “You failed, Jiang Cheng Xin?”

Jiang Cheng Xin nodded helplessly.

Jiang Qian wasn’t surprised: “So, what’s your plan now? Keep chasing her or give up?”

Jiang Cheng Xin thought for a moment, glanced at Jiang Qian, and asked indirectly: “I’ll give up. Oh, and class monitor, I want to ask you something—are you into pure romance?” He directed the question at Lin Zheng Ran.

Jiang Qian hadn’t expected Jiang Cheng Xin to ask Lin Zheng Ran that. She was a bit curious herself.

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t hesitate and answered openly: “Of course I am.” At least, that’s how he saw himself.

Jiang Qian thought he looked incredibly handsome saying that.

Jiang Cheng Xin sighed at the answer:

“I get it. Looks like Fan Mo Mo and I are the same—we both like people we’ll never have. Some feelings just aren’t meant to be from the start.”

Jiang Qian asked curiously: “Fan Mo Mo has a crush on some guy?”

Jiang Cheng Xin sighed, thinking that with the deputy class monitor here, he couldn’t say it was the class monitor she liked.

He looked at Lin Zheng Ran: “She does, but I can’t say who.”

Lin Zheng Ran patted his shoulder: “Don’t lose heart. One day, you’ll find someone who likes you back.”

Jiang Cheng Xin looked up at Lin Zheng Ran, staring into his confident eyes.

Because his charm far exceeded the norm, in that moment, Jiang Cheng Xin suddenly blushed: “Class monitor, you’re really handsome. If I were a girl in my next life, I’d want to be your woman, have your kids—even a bunch of them.”

Fang Meng, sipping water nearby, nearly spat it out.

A hidden glint of menace flashed in Jiang Qian’s eyes: “What did you say?”

Lin Zheng Ran stayed completely serious: “Then in your next life, just stay a guy. If you became a girl, we’d better not know each other.”

Jiang Cheng Xin blushed and lowered his head slightly. He took a deep breath, inspired by Lin Zheng Ran’s gaze:

“But you’re right, class monitor. One day, I’ll find a girl who likes me! I’ll work hard after university!”

With that, Jiang Cheng Xin left, saying goodbye to Lin Zheng Ran and Jiang Qian. Before going, he wished them eternal love.

It made Jiang Qian blush again.

She said: “That guy has such a girlish personality—shy and all when he talks.”

Lin Zheng Ran replied: “He does, but some girls like that type. He’s shy yet brave enough to handle rejection—it’s pretty admirable.” He turned to Jiang Qian: “Shall we keep cleaning up? The sooner we finish, the better.”

Jiang Qian nodded.

A few minutes later.

As Lin Zheng Ran carried trash out to throw away, he suddenly spotted a girl in a short skirt from their class—lively and now looking shy—approaching him.

It was Fan Mo Mo, Jiang Cheng Xin’s recent crush.

Lin Zheng Ran was puzzled: “Fan Mo Mo?”

Fan Mo Mo reached him, a bit hesitant: “Class monitor… do you have a minute? I want to say a few words to you.”

“I have a couple of minutes. Just say it.”

Fan Mo Mo thought it was fine since no one was around—or at least, she didn’t notice Jiang Qian stepping out from the distant doorway and seeing them.

Fan Mo Mo took a deep breath and looked at Lin Zheng Ran, speaking as if to herself: “Class monitor, I like you! I’ve liked you for so long. I want to be your girlfriend! Would you say yes?”

Jiang Qian, watching from afar, was shocked, her eyes widening.

But Lin Zheng Ran seemed to have suspected as much—Jiang Cheng Xin’s earlier cryptic words had hinted at it. Still, he hadn’t expected it to be true: “Sorry, I don’t like you.”

“Why? Am I not pretty? Is my figure not good?” She was taken aback by the flat rejection; Lin Zheng Ran’s face didn’t even flicker.

“There’s no reason. Whether you’re pretty or not, if I don’t like you, I don’t like you.”

Tears welled in Fan Mo Mo’s eyes. She clutched her chest, feeling utterly lost, and blurted out desperately:

“Is it… is it because I’m not a virgin? Why don’t you like me?”

Before he could respond, Jiang Qian suddenly appeared:

“What’s with all this clinging? Confessions can fail, and when they do, just leave. What’s the point of saying all that?”

Fan Mo Mo looked at Jiang Qian, confused.

“Deputy class monitor…”

Jiang Qian moved to Lin Zheng Ran’s side:

“Begging like that only makes guys care less about you. If a girl wants the guy she likes, it’s the same as when guys chase girls—you have to improve yourself. That’s the only way. Now, go.”

Fan Mo Mo frowned: “But…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Qian stood on her toes, held Lin Zheng Ran’s arm, and gently kissed his cheek.

After the kiss, Jiang Qian’s expression stayed cool and composed, while Fan Mo Mo stared in wide-eyed shock, and even Lin Zheng Ran was surprised.

Jiang Qian looked at Fan Mo Mo and said:

“I told you, the only way to get someone you like is to become better yourself, not by begging. That just makes you worth less. I don’t know if you’ll listen.”

Fan Mo Mo stepped back twice, overwhelmed by Jiang Qian’s strong presence. She realized what kind of girls stood by the class monitor and turned, crying as she ran away.

Jiang Qian watched her go, then muttered to herself, recalling Lin Zheng Ran’s earlier comments about Jiang Cheng Xin:

“I kind of see why girls might like Jiang Cheng Xin in the future. He has a bit of that manly vibe.” Though, compared to the amazing Lin Zheng Ran, he was worlds apart.

Outside the sports field, silence settled in once more.

Jiang Qian turned back to Lin Zheng Ran, and he was staring at her.

Jiang Qian blinked, her face flushing but trying to stay aloof: “I just couldn’t stand seeing Fan Mo Mo act so desperate. Girls shouldn’t seek love through pity. That’s all.”

She pulled a tissue from her pocket, wiped his cheek, and said: “I’m heading back to the gym to finish up. There’s still a lot to do. See you.”

With that, Jiang Qian hurried away.

The moment she turned, the second miss’s face reddened like a ripe peach.

She bit her lower lip hard, her heart pounding as if it might leap from her throat.

His cheek is so soft… Kissing felt like that—amazing. I want to do it again. My face is burning; I need to splash some cold water on it.