Chapter 6: You Were Actually Studying with Another Girl

Although most of the time Liang Jiyong stood up for her, did he have to resort to fists every single time? Su Wanqing disliked handling things that way.

“Hey, Wanqing, this guy is trying to take advantage again!” Su Wanqing’s hand was pulled back by Di Yutong, who looked indignant.

Su Wanqing smiled faintly—she could clearly tell that Di Yutong liked Liang Jiyong. However, Liang Jiyong wasn’t interested in Di Yutong, just as she herself wasn’t interested in him.

Still, she didn’t dislike Liang Jiyong because they were friends. Besides, he was genuinely protecting her, and being protected felt quite comforting.

But that was all—they were just good friends. Liang Jiyong wasn’t the kind of boy she imagined dating, especially since she had never thought about early romance before university.

“A handshake and you say I’m taking advantage? Di Yutong, let me take advantage of you then—no charge, no need to be polite!” Liang Jiyong laughed as he extended his hand to Di Yutong.

Di Yutong didn’t expect Liang Jiyong to become even more slick and smooth-talking. Though she had longed countless times to hold his hand, she definitely didn’t want to do it in front of so many people, in such a way.

But if she didn’t shake, would it mean she was afraid of him?

“Smack!”

“Thinking you can take advantage of me? Dream on!” Di Yutong slapped Liang Jiyong’s hand away.

Liang Jiyong chuckled.

“By the way, you’re about to be a college student, probably pretty free. How about tutoring me? I’m clueless about English grammar!”

Di Yutong almost agreed immediately, but then changed her mind, “With Sister Shao Ping around, do you really need me?”

Liang Shao Ping, their second sister, was a professional English Level 8 expert—well known in Yunzhou No.1 High School. Even the foreign language teachers there didn’t reach her level.

But who would have thought that an English Level 8 expert was actually a Chinese language teacher?

“Teacher Liang charges too much, I’m broke right now, so you’re just right!” Liang Jiyong said.

He knew that his second sister would soon leave Yunzhou, whether to Lingnan or Shanghai, she wouldn’t stay to teach.

Having her stay just to tutor him would be a waste of talent.

“I charge pretty high too, I scored 135 on foreign languages!” Di Yutong said proudly.

“Heh, how about one ice cream cone?” Liang Jiyong asked, referring to the crispy ice cream, which was the newest kind and a nostalgic favorite of his, once considered the most delicious cold treat in the world.

“Dream on, at least two!” she retorted.

“Alright, deal!” Liang Jiyong held out his hand, and this time Di Yutong shook it.

Her hand was a bit bigger and paler than Su Wanqing’s, not as delicate, but warm and comfortable to hold.

Liang Jiyong thought to himself that Su Wanqing’s hand suited summer, while Di Yutong’s hand would be nice to hold in winter.

What was he thinking?

The Xinhua Bookstore was close to Yunzhou No.1 High School. Su Kui had other business, so the others all got out of the car together.

After getting out, Di Yutong grabbed Liang Jiyong’s arm to make him honor his promise of two ice cream cones.

So, at a nearby shop, Liang Jiyong bought four cones.

They cost fifty cents each now, while ice pops were ten cents, triple what they were ten years ago when ten cents could buy three. Prices had soared!

Liang Shao Ping told Su Wanqing and Di Yutong to go ahead to the bookstore while she stayed to chat with her brother.

“That little girl Di Yutong has always liked you, remember, don’t get distracted this year!” she warned.

Liang Jiyong chuckled and nodded, “I’m the dashing guy everyone loves. Plenty of girls like me. Don’t worry, I can withstand the test!”

“You’re impossible. Are you really going to let that little girl tutor your foreign language?”

He nodded directly, “Why not? Di Yutong’s foreign language skills are pretty good. Of course, she’s not on your level, but she’s more than enough to be my teacher. You’re sure to leave Yunzhou, and I can’t afford other teachers. Two ice cream cones for a year’s lessons—that’s a bargain!”

“I think you have other intentions. Are you trying to keep both boats afloat?”

“What nonsense, no way. We’re purely friends. You go to class and don’t let me keep you from making money!”

Liang Jiyong waved and headed toward Xinhua Bookstore.

But his visit to Yunzhou wasn’t just to buy reference books. That was just an excuse when he spoke.

He was here to seek business opportunities, to find a way to make money—something that required no capital, was highly profitable, quick to yield results, and could be done with empty hands.

Besides helping his older brother with tuition, he also needed to raise some capital for himself.

Liang Jiyong didn’t want to keep asking the Chao family for money in the future.

But he wasn’t the type to engage in robbery or theft either.

How could the information in his mind be monetized?

He looked around but couldn’t come up with a practical plan.

The Yunzhou Xinhua Bookstore was three stories, and the reference materials he needed were on the third floor.

Yet, Liang Jiyong didn’t rush upstairs but started browsing on the first floor. He felt a bit out of touch with the times.

After all, he had memories of the next thirty years, so some of his thinking was too advanced, not necessarily useful now.

He had to find a connection point that would let him establish himself in this era while leveraging his lifelong advantage.

Some familiar books gradually helped him return to this time.

Perhaps influenced by his family, he grew to love reading after joining the army, since there was little other entertainment.

He had read some of these books before, or at least was familiar with them—covering nature, history, society, economy, and famous domestic and foreign works.

Liang Jiyong only skimmed through them, not picking up others to read yet.

“Jane Eyre” and “The Count of Monte Cristo”!

These were Liang Jiyong’s two favorite foreign classics.

Jane Eyre’s strength and courage, and the Count’s clear sense of justice and revenge—he had read both multiple times and loved them deeply.

Though he had no time for leisurely reading now, he still liked having these two books on his desk.

Reaching out for “Jane Eyre,” his fingers unexpectedly touched another hand aiming for the same book.

Both paused and glanced sideways at each other.

The girl was quiet and elegant, definitely beautiful but not strikingly so.

A phrase came to Liang Jiyong’s mind: “A refined spirit exudes its own fragrance.”

Perhaps this was the unique aura of a woman from a scholarly family.

Her shoulder-length hair framed a slightly apologetic smile.

Liang Jiyong smiled back and gestured politely, “Ladies first.”

There was only one copy of “Jane Eyre” here.

The girl hesitated, and Liang Jiyong, standing beside her, picked up “The Count of Monte Cristo” instead.

Only then did she thank him and take “Jane Eyre.”

Though the girl gave off a refreshing impression, Liang Jiyong didn’t pay her much attention—that would be rude.

His mindset wasn’t immature or reckless, though not quite that of a middle-aged man either.

How old should he be considered now?

Holding “The Count of Monte Cristo,” he pondered this strange question.

By psychological age, he had thirty years of life experience, but his body was still that of a young man under twenty.

This youthful, vigorous body also pulled his psychological age downward.

Yet, he couldn’t clearly define his own psychological age.

Liang Jiyong smiled wryly and shook his head before opening the book’s front page.

The familiar front page, the familiar content.

But rereading “The Count of Monte Cristo” gave him a different feeling.

There was a saying that a hundred people reading Hamlet would see a hundred different Hamlets.

So, if one person read “The Count of Monte Cristo” a hundred times, would there be a hundred versions of the Count?

At least, Liang Jiyong felt that each time he read it, his understanding grew clearer.

Time flowed like water, and at that moment, he didn’t want to leave.

He leaned against the bookshelf behind him, leisurely flipping through the book.

Perhaps he truly intended to give himself a break, letting soul and body slowly merge.

Though not focusing on her, the girl with “Jane Eyre” beside him began reading as well.

At some point, perhaps tired of standing, she sat in the corridor, legs curled up, reading attentively.

She was a true lover of books.

Liang Jiyong’s peripheral vision caught her profile, and he thought to himself she looked about seventeen or eighteen—budding and fresh.

Gradually, Liang Jiyong’s mind freed itself from the book, and a strange thought arose.

He found himself unconsciously comparing this girl to Su Wanqing and Di Yutong.

Though she shared many traits with Su Wanqing, there were differences.

Her appearance rivaled Su Wanqing’s, and their temperaments were similar but distinct.

Su Wanqing was ethereal and otherworldly; this girl was scholarly and gentle.

As for Di Yutong, she had a different style—fiery and passionate.

Liang Jiyong admired all three girls without any disrespect.

Perhaps because he had truly experienced too much, at that moment, he felt little emotional stir or romantic entanglement.

Closing the book, he decided it was time to leave.

He straightened up and glanced at the girl, who seemed to notice the sound and looked up briefly, then gave a shy smile.

“Goodbye!” Liang Jiyong said casually as he prepared to leave.

“Goodbye!” The girl replied softly, her voice elegant, like fragrant tea before her.

“Liang Jiyong!”

A voice called out.

Liang Jiyong turned to see Su Wanqing and Di Yutong standing at the other end of the corridor.

Di Yutong called to him—not loudly, but loud enough for him to hear.

He had originally planned to exit on the other side, but since Di Yutong and Su Wanqing were there, he hesitated.

Already, the fresh, scholarly girl stood up quickly—she had been sitting in the corridor, and for Liang Jiyong to pass, he would have to step over her legs, which would be impolite.

The corridor was narrow, but there was just enough room for two people to pass side by side.

The girl stood with her back against the bookshelf; Liang Jiyong turned sideways and passed in front of her.

In that fleeting moment, he caught a strange scent—not perfume, but a hint of book fragrance. Yes, it must be the scent of books.

Liang Jiyong walked over, and Di Yutong’s eyes gleamed with suspicion.

“We waited for you upstairs for ages, and you were here reading with another girl? Wanqing is really angry; the consequences will be serious!”

“I wasn’t!” Su Wanqing quickly denied.

Liang Jiyong smiled, “Your imagination is quite vivid. I don’t even know her. There are hundreds of people reading here. What you said makes no sense.”

“Hmph, don’t deny it. I saw you talking just now. Be honest—were you flirting with that beauty behind Wanqing’s back?”

Liang Jiyong chuckled and glanced at Su Wanqing, who looked away toward the bookshelf, as if to make clear she had nothing to do with it.

“Fine, let’s say I was flirting and failed. Now I’m heading to the third floor to get some basic materials!”

“Here, see if these are suitable!” Di Yutong handed him a stack of books and exercise books.

Two basic supplementary books on math and English, with the English one focused on grammar—just what Liang Jiyong needed.

“Thanks!” Liang Jiyong thanked Di Yutong.

“Wanqing picked these with me. You owe us dinner—how about hot pot?”

Liang Jiyong smiled resignedly, “Alright, you really got me there!”

A hot pot meal for the three would cost at least ten yuan.

Thirty years later, ten yuan might only buy a meat bun, but now, an ice pop cost two or three yuan. Ten yuan’s purchasing power was equivalent to about three hundred yuan in the future.

“Di Yutong wouldn’t dream of ripping you off. My dad’s paying; you just need to bring your appetite!” Su Wanqing laughed.

Su Wanqing knew well that Di Yutong liked Liang Jiyong and seemed to want to play matchmaker.

But unfortunately, Liang Jiyong hadn’t been interested in Di Yutong before, just as she wasn’t interested in him.

Yet just now, seeing Liang Jiyong talking with that quiet, pretty girl, she inexplicably felt a twinge of discomfort.

Though she was very clear they were just friends, with no emotional entanglement, and even when matchmaking Di Yutong, she felt no jealousy.

Why then, did seeing Liang Jiyong with that girl cause her unease?

Perhaps because she liked being protected by Liang Jiyong, and when a girl somewhat similar to herself appeared, she instinctively regarded Liang Jiyong as her exclusive guardian again.

Yes, that must be it.

Su Wanqing bought two reference books, while Di Yutong left empty-handed.

She had already been admitted to university—the Foreign Language Department of Yunzhou University.

Studying foreign languages now seemed quite fashionable, at least for the next two or three decades it would be highly valued.