Chapter 153: She Would Never Wrong the One She Loves

Lin Jingyue withdrew her gaze, and as she turned to face Li Chengxi, her smile softened in a way she didn't even realize.

The tenderness, warmth, and affection in her eyes were reserved for only one person.

Before this, he had never seen how she looked at Jiang Xun. He had assumed she was always like this—bright, open-minded, composed, indifferent to the opinions of others, spontaneous, and detached. But after seeing her with Jiang Xun, he realized he had been wrong. She was indeed composed and spontaneous, but she had someone she cared about deeply. She was open-minded and detached, yet her gaze would linger for the person who held her heart.

He could not deny that he had feelings for Lin Jingyue. It was only natural to like such a beautiful, exceptional, and spirited girl. But he also understood that he had met her too late. The threads of fate that brought them together were too thin, the time too short, and he... he had fallen behind by more than just a step.

Lin Jingyue was unaware of the turmoil Li Chengxi had just experienced. She continued to speak to him with her usual grace. She knew the man before her had feelings for her, but what of it? She had made her stance clear. If he knew how to maintain boundaries, they could remain acquaintances; if he failed to keep his distance, she would never allow Jiang Xun to feel slighted. In a relationship, men and women were the same; Jiang Xun also needed a sense of security. She would never cause the person she loved to suffer. Therefore, if things crossed a line, Li Chengxi would—at any moment—become someone she could no longer associate with.

"I have some matters to attend to, so I won't stay for dinner. When you visit the capital in the future, I will host you and Jiang Xun." Seeing the expression in Lin Jingyue's eyes, Li Chengxi suddenly felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. However, as an adult capable of maintaining proper decorum, he stood up steadily, his demeanor toward her showing no sign of his inner struggle.

"Very well, it's a deal," Lin Jingyue said with a bright smile. She walked him to the door.

Jiang Xun approached. "Not staying for dinner?" He showed no hostility toward Li Chengxi. It was perfectly natural for an exceptional person to attract the attention of others, let alone his girl. He had confidence in himself and, even more so, complete trust in the person he loved. He believed Li Chengxi would surely know when to retreat. And if, by some slim chance, he didn't, Jiang Xun would not hesitate to take matters into his own hands.

Facing Jiang Xun's gentle smile, Li Chengxi felt a pang in his heart. Such composure and self-assurance were gifts from Lin Jingyue. He... he had no chance. A bitter taste spread through Li Chengxi's heart, though he did not show it on his face. He chuckled softly. "I have urgent matters to handle, so I must go. I owe you this meal; we’ll settle it when we’re in the capital."

"I'll treat you both then."

Adults, for the most part, can control their feelings and emotions. Jiang Xun understood what Li Chengxi meant. As long as he was willing to step back, that was fine. He smiled. "Alright, then I wish you a safe journey."

"Goodbye." Li Chengxi nodded to them both and turned to leave. His tall silhouette carried a subtle, hard-to-detect sense of melancholy, and more than that... a sense of letting go.

It was fine to take a step back and keep his distance from the person he loved. However, he never imagined that the girl he had fallen for—the one he could not have—would linger in his heart for so long.

"Tsk, what was that fellow Li Chengxi doing here?" As soon as Jiang Xun and Lin Jingyue turned around, they heard Xie Yunzheng’s cynical voice.

"That fellow?" Lin Jingyue’s mouth twitched. "You ran into him?"

"Yeah, we crossed paths at the gate just now." Xie Yunzheng clearly didn't have much time for Li Chengxi.

"Brother, when did you get involved with him?" Weren't they like oil and water? Li Chengxi had always stayed in the military, and like Song Shiyun, he was never well-received by the others. They were the typical "other people's children," used by families since childhood as benchmarks to lecture their own kids. None of the children in the compound liked them. Oh, right—they didn't like Jiang Xun either. But Jiang Xun was different; while the other two were quietly treacherous, he was blatantly so. Which kid in the compound hadn't been taught a lesson by Jiang Xun? Men and women alike! Jiang Xun was a troublemaker, while Li Chengxi and Song Shiyun were cunning foxes.

"Met him by chance. Why are you here?" Jiang Xun didn't offer any further explanation. It wasn't important.

Xie Yunzheng clearly found Li Chengxi unimportant as well and pushed the thought aside. "I was bored to death, so I came over to hang out with you guys."

"Hang out?" Lin Jingyue was speechless. "Spring plowing is over, but there’s still plenty of other work. Aren't you supposed to be in the fields?" The commune never let anyone stay idle.

"Heh, it’s too boring over there," Xie Yunzheng replied with a dry laugh.

Lin Jingyue and Jiang Xun exchanged a look. This guy... was something going on?

"Tell us the truth," Jiang Xun said, watching him calmly.

Xie Yunzheng choked, his handsome face falling instantly. "Fine. The brigade leader's daughter is too annoying." She followed him everywhere he went and even asked the scorekeeper to assign them to the same work group. It was maddening. "I can't exactly beat her up, so if I can't afford to provoke her, I can at least avoid her, right?" Xie Yunzheng spread his hands. The girls here were different from those in the compound. The ones back home had been tempered by his brother’s antics; they were tough, and if they didn't like each other, they’d just settle it with a fight. But he didn't dare provoke the girls here. If he got stuck with one, he’d be finished. His mother had warned him repeatedly: if he found a partner here, she’d break his legs. Besides, none of them were as exceptional as Lin Jingyue.

Xie Yunzheng cast a regretful glance at Lin Jingyue, then a fearful one at his brother. If only she weren't with his brother, that bully! Hmph.

"Do you still want your eyes?" Jiang Xun asked coldly.

Xie Yunzheng shivered instantly and flashed a fawning smile. "I do, I do! Oh, right, I have some news for you."

"Speak." Jiang Xun began to steam the rice, watching him calmly.

"The commune has confirmed they are building an elementary school in the Qingshan Brigade."

This announcement drew the attention of everyone in the courtyard, except for Yang Ming, who knew the brigade would never let him or Wang Xueping be teachers at the primary school.

"It's confirmed?" Zhou Yan, Sun Jiabao, and Li Tongchui had just returned from fishing and happened to hear the news.

"Of course, why else would I say it?" Xie Yunzheng replied. "You interested too?"

"No." He knew that if he dared to compete with Lin Jingyue, Jiang Xun would throw him into the mountains to feed the wolves.

After the workday ended, the listless educated youths were all excited when they heard the news. Xie Yunzheng had shared it because it wasn't a secret; everyone would know soon enough. Once the commune confirmed the school was being built, they would openly recruit teachers.

Sure enough, that evening, the brigade leader called everyone to the threshing floor for a meeting and announced the news. The requirements for teachers were a junior high school diploma, and it was open to both men and women. The school principal was sent by the commune, and they were looking to hire five teachers.

Five! The educated youths had a great chance! Everyone was buzzing with excitement.

"You need to be careful," Chen Chunlan said, suppressing her excitement as she whispered to Lin Jingyue.

"Why?" Lin Jingyue was puzzled. Shouldn't she be the one others were worried about?

"Li Cuihua also has a junior high diploma; she will definitely apply for the school," Chen Chunlan said meaningfully.

"That woman is nothing but a piece of rat dung."

PS: Li Chengxi: Jiang Xun, let's have a duel. Whoever loses, backs out.
Jiang Xun lifted his eyelids to look at him: A duel? You don't have the qualifications. Does my girl even like you?
Li Chengxi: "..." That was heart-wrenching.