The day after they found out they were all going to the same university, Zhao Ming woke up and sent a message in the group chat at 7:12 AM.
Zhao Ming:
University students should wake up early and be productive.
Su Ran:
It is 7 AM. Go back to sleep.
Jiang Chen:
Why are you awake?
Zhao Ming:
I don't know. My future woke me up.
Su Ran:
Your future should let you sleep.
---
Meeting Without Su Ran
Later that afternoon, Jiang Chen messaged Zhao Ming privately.
Jiang Chen:
Are you free? Come outside.
Zhao Ming:
This sounds serious. Are you going to borrow money?
Jiang Chen:
No.
Zhao Ming:
Then I will come.
They met near the basketball court at their old school. The gate was closed, but they could still see the court through the fence.
Zhao Ming leaned on the fence and said,
"We graduated but you still bring me to school. You are very nostalgic."
Jiang Chen didn't reply immediately.
Zhao Ming looked at him and narrowed his eyes.
"You look serious. This is suspicious."
"I need to tell you something," Jiang Chen said.
Zhao Ming immediately stepped back dramatically.
"You really are going to borrow money."
"I'm not," Jiang Chen said.
"Then why are you so serious? Did you fail university? Did I fail university? Did Su Ran fail university? Are we moving countries? Are we—"
"I confessed to Su Ran," Jiang Chen said.
Zhao Ming froze.
Completely froze.
Like someone pressed pause on his entire body.
"You… what?" he said slowly.
"I confessed. On graduation day."
Zhao Ming blinked several times.
"You mean… like… confessed confessed?"
"Yes."
"You mean not like 'you are a good friend' confessed?"
"Yes."
"You mean like drama confession?"
Jiang Chen looked at him.
"Yes."
Zhao Ming grabbed the fence and looked at the sky.
"I knew it," he said.
"I KNEW IT. I AM A GENIUS."
"You were very obvious," Zhao Ming continued.
"The notebook, the amusement park, the way you give her things, the way you look at her like she is the answer sheet to life."
Jiang Chen sighed slightly.
"Can you not describe it like that?"
"No," Zhao Ming said.
"I will describe it exactly like that."
---
The Important Question
Zhao Ming suddenly turned serious and looked at Jiang Chen.
"So," he said,
"What did she say?"
Jiang Chen was quiet for a moment.
"She said she doesn't want graduation to be the end of our story," he said.
Zhao Ming stared at him.
"That is basically a yes," he said.
"She didn't say yes directly," Jiang Chen replied.
"She didn't say no," Zhao Ming said immediately.
Jiang Chen didn't reply.
Zhao Ming suddenly started smiling slowly.
"This is unbelievable," he said.
"My two best friends are becoming a drama."
"We are not a drama," Jiang Chen said.
"You confessed on graduation day. That is literally drama," Zhao Ming replied.
---
Zhao Ming's Threat
Zhao Ming pointed at Jiang Chen seriously.
"Listen carefully," he said.
"If you make Su Ran sad, I will not forgive you."
Jiang Chen looked at him and said calmly,
"I know."
Zhao Ming nodded.
"Good," he said.
"Because she is my friend first."
"I know that too," Jiang Chen replied.
Zhao Ming looked at him for a few seconds, then smiled.
"Okay," he said.
"Then I approve."
"You are not her father," Jiang Chen said.
"I am the friendship manager," Zhao Ming replied.
---
The Biggest Problem
Zhao Ming suddenly gasped.
"Wait."
"What?" Jiang Chen asked.
"I am going to be the third wheel for the rest of my life."
"You already were," Jiang Chen said.
"This is very sad," Zhao Ming replied.
"I need new friends."
"You won't find better ones," Jiang Chen said.
Zhao Ming thought for a moment.
"That is true," he said.
---
The Walk Home
They started walking away from the school slowly.
"So," Zhao Ming said,
"Does Su Ran know that I know?"
"No," Jiang Chen replied.
Zhao Ming smiled.
"This information is very powerful," he said.
"Do not say anything," Jiang Chen said immediately.
"I will not," Zhao Ming replied.
They walked a few more steps.
Then Zhao Ming added,
"But I will observe everything."
"Please don't," Jiang Chen said.
"I definitely will," Zhao Ming replied.
---
Meanwhile…
That evening, Su Ran was at home when she suddenly received a message from Zhao Ming.
Zhao Ming:
Random question.
Su Ran:
What.
Zhao Ming:
Do you like someone?
She stared at the message for a long time.
Then she replied:
Su Ran:
Why are you asking?
Zhao Ming:
No reason. Just asking.
She thought for a moment, then typed:
Su Ran:
Maybe.
Zhao Ming stared at his phone and slowly smiled.
Zhao Ming:
I knew it.
Su Ran:
You know nothing.
Zhao Ming:
I know everything.
He put his phone down and said to himself,
"University is going to be very interesting."