Chapter 212: Chapter 211: A Jar of Aged Vinegar
Ever since Shi Yang returned from the provincial capital, no matter how busy he was, he would always find time to come to the tutoring class to pick Zhao Meimei up, even though it was just a building away, Shi Yang still couldn’t feel at ease.
That evening, Shi Yang arrived early at the entrance of the tutoring class, stretching his neck along with a bunch of parents waiting. Every time, Zhao Meimei was one of the first to rush out, but this time she was the last to leave, accompanied by a tall, thin, very good-looking male classmate beside her. They were walking shoulder to shoulder, talking closely and intimately.
Ever since Zhao Meimei found out Zhang Zhao’s secret, their relationship had skyrocketed, leaping into a whole new realm, and they instantly became best buddies.
Zhao Meimei earnestly advised Zhang Zhao, "The city-wide joint exam is coming up soon, don’t daydream all the time, whatever it is, let’s talk about it after the exam."
Zhang Zhao pouted, "You’re such a nag, doesn’t your guy mind your nagging?"
Zhao Meimei kicked him and said, "Get lost! Who’s nagging? I’m just concerned about you!"
Zhang Zhao jumped back to dodge and chuckled, cursing, "Damn! You’re so violent, you’re more suited for me. I just like girls who are as manly as you!"
Zhao Meimei’s face turned green, "Even if you like me, I have to like you too, right? You’re just not my type!"
Zhang Zhao muttered, "Oh, right, you’re just saying you like your guy, really tasteless... I’m so handsome, and rich too..."
Zhao Meimei swung her arm, planning to give him a hard hit, but then saw Zhang Zhao looking surprised behind her, quickly putting away his teasing expression, and greeting, "Meimei, your brother."
Zhao Meimei turned her head in confusion, only to see Shi Yang standing right behind her, with a calm and expressionless face looking at them.
Zhao Meimei: "Brother... I, I was just messing around with him."
Shi Yang said coldly, "Why aren’t you heading home right after class, messing around with what?"
Zhao Meimei said, "No, I just kicked him during a conversation."
Shi Yang’s eyes were dark, his gaze fixed on Zhao Meimei’s face, then he turned and asked Zhang Zhao, "You’re Zhang Zhao, right? Zhang Xin’s brother? Are you close with my Meimei?"
Zhang Zhao was scrutinizing Shi Yang, and at the mention of Zhang Xin’s name, his whole body flinched slightly. He swung the backpack he held in his hand onto his back, "No, no, I’m not that close with her, it’s just her always pestering me to hang out. I was about to leave, and she insisted on messing around with me. Well, brother, goodbye."
Zhao Meimei was furious, "Damn! Zhang Zhao, do you want to die?"
Shi Yang nodded at Zhang Zhao, "It’s late, go home early, and be careful on the road."
Zhang Zhao quickly scampered off, ran a few steps, then looked back to see Shi Yang holding Zhao Meimei by the back of the neck, her head hanging low, looking as if she was defenseless. His eyes revealed a trace of envy.
Shi Yang put his arm around Zhao Meimei, his thumb and forefinger accurately pinching the hollow of her neck, gripping her neck. To outsiders, it looked like an extremely affectionate gesture. Only Zhao Meimei, who was pinched, knew that Shi Yang was not being tender. She could tell from his grip that Shi Yang wasn’t pinching her neck out of love, but was angry and wanted to vent by squeezing someone.
With a stern face, Shi Yang took large steps, leading Zhao Meimei home, who obediently hung her head, trying to explain as she walked along, "Brother, I really have nothing going on with Zhang Zhao, we were just joking around. He teased me, and I hit him."
Shi Yang loosened his grip, pulling Zhao Meimei into the shadows of the hallways, then suddenly hugged her tightly, venting all his bottled-up grievances on her.
He used his powerful arms to pin Zhao Meimei against his chest, and the sudden increase in restraint made Zhao Meimei’s face rush with blood, breathing heavily.
Shi Yang lowered his head, pressing his forehead against Zhao Meimei’s, questioning in a low voice, "Nothing going on, but you were laughing and joking with him. You’re even horsing around with him! Do you think he’s pretty handsome, especially appealing to look at, huh?"
Zhao Meimei rolled her long, thin eyes in circles, half-crying and half-laughing, explaining, "I was just playing around with him, we’re just bros, pure friendship. Brother, are you jealous? Geez, you’re so petty, getting jealous so easily."
Shi Yang’s eyes ached from her words, he moved his head aside, feeling both angry and embarrassed but also wanting to laugh, and couldn’t help but pinch Zhao Meimei’s face, pulling it apart to force her mouth open, revealing her neat white teeth, "Why don’t you joke around with me? You can fool around with others, but not with me?"
Zhao Meimei saw that Shi Yang was genuinely angry, his emotions unstable, with a hint of a wounded beast in his eyes, appearing aggrieved and unwilling.
In a hurry, Zhao Meimei struggled to throw her arms around Shi Yang, softly cooing, "Brother, why wouldn’t I mess around with you? I adore you the most and love to mess around with you, you misunderstood."
A flash of complex emotion crossed Shi Yang’s eyes, as he huffed, "How come I didn’t see you adore me?"
Zhao Meimei blushed, honestly admitting, "Zhang Zhao knows I have a boyfriend, I told him, and he also has someone he likes, and it’s not me. We’re purely bros, and I only have eyes for you. Besides you, I don’t fancy anyone."
Shi Yang said nothing, staring at Zhao Meimei with his eyes.
Of course, Shi Yang knew that Zhao Meimei and Zhang Zhao had nothing going on. When he approached earlier, he heard their conversation and understood that these two kids were just good friends. He wasn’t truly jealous of Zhang Zhao; if he had really misunderstood, he wouldn’t be merely holding Zhao Meimei innocently and listening to her confess right now. He would’ve taken her home directly and handled it thoroughly.
Zhang Zhao’s decent looks, when paired with his Meimei, fooling around and joking, sharing the same youth and vibrancy, deeply pricked Shi Yang’s heart, making him extremely upset.
He never used to think that the age gap between him and Zhao Meimei was a big deal. He thought since he’s more mature and experienced than Zhao Meimei, he could always lead the way for her, let her admire and follow him, and he could guide her throughout her life as her mentor, partner, and close friend.
However, since hearing that unintentional, factual comment from Meimei’s mother last time, he suddenly realized that it’s precisely because he has always been one step ahead of Zhao Meimei in experiences, that he could never truly share in Zhao Meimei’s growth process as childhood sweethearts, truly growing up together and growing old together.
This regret, as Shi Yang’s feelings for Zhao Meimei deepened, began to entangle him more bitterly, making him feel aggrieved and suffocated.