Chapter 41: Two Scarves, He Was Jealous

In the boys’ WeChat contact lists, there were almost nothing but college classmates. Photos posted in their social circles soon made their way into Ji Xian’s friends’ hands.
In the early hours, they immediately forwarded them to Ji Xian.
The photos were clearly taken at a KTV; under the shifting lights, the girl’s smile was as sweet as honey. Dressed in a cream-colored long dress, she looked gentle and innocent, exuding a pure allure.
She sat almost in the very center, surrounded by a group of boys.
What’s more, she and the boy next to her sat so close they were pressed together, as if they fit perfectly, unusually intimate.
The girl’s bright, sincere smile was like a sharp blade, stabbing straight into his eyes.
Ji Xian’s fingers, clutching his phone, suddenly stiffened. His expression froze in an instant, his face as cold as ice, and his light brown eyes grew sharper.
The group chat was abuzz:
[Heard it’s Qin Yichi’s birthday party. All boys, except for Qiao Zhen, the only girl there.]
[She wouldn’t come to Ji Xian’s birthday, but for some other guy’s birthday, she’s so attentive~]
Then, a more rational boy suddenly spoke up: [I think she’s probably really given up. Last time we went to KTV, she sat at the very edge and you guys even cropped her out of the photos. If it were me, I’d have been angry long ago. She’s just got a good temper...]
As soon as this message appeared, the group fell silent. No one replied.
Ji Xian narrowed his eyes, his fingers clenching tightly, even his breath suddenly felt constricted.
Given up?
Outside the window, the night was thick and silent, a bitter wind howling, the temperature dropping quietly.
A thunderclap split the evening—
A sudden gale and downpour battered the world, thunder rolling, rain pelting the windows with merciless force.
Another WeChat notification popped up.
Yuwen Jian deliberately fanned the flames: [Shut up. If she didn’t like you, would she really have given you a scarf she knit herself?]
[She’s obviously putting on a show for us this time.]
Ji Xian pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a slow breath.
Yes, Qiao Zhen was playing a game with him, trying to make him admit defeat first.
It had to be that.
Ji Xian was absolutely certain.
The next morning.

Late autumn. The heavy rain last night had brought a sudden chill, and the students all pulled out their thick clothes.
It was rare to see Ji Xian wearing a scarf, and the moment he did, a wave of infatuation swept through the girls.
He was already strikingly handsome, with a cold, distant air and porcelain skin; with the light brown scarf around his neck, he looked even more noble and aloof.
Photos quickly appeared on the campus forum: [God, how can someone look this good in a scarf?]
1st comment: [Isn’t this the first time Ji Xian’s worn a scarf to school? Good-looking people can pull off anything, even a burlap sack.]
2nd comment: [I just saw Qin Yichi from the Information Science department next door also wearing a scarf for the first time ever. Did they coordinate or something?]
3rd comment: [But QYC still looks cooler. I’m going to try and get the link to buy that scarf.]
At that moment, a short-haired girl stood in place, rubbing her eyes in disbelief as she stared at her phone screen.
A girl next to her was shocked. “Wait, isn’t that the scarf you gave to Ji Xian before?”
The short-haired girl nodded. “Yeah, I think I forgot to sign my name. It was only 9.9 yuan, shipping included. I just stuffed it in with his stuff, figured he’d definitely toss it…”
She had liked Ji Xian’s looks, but now her affections had shifted elsewhere. She decided to pretend she hadn’t seen it.
Maybe people who are used to luxury want to try something cheap and rough for a change?
Meanwhile, the boys gathered around Ji Xian stared in disbelief, their expressions stunned.
None of them had expected Ji Xian would actually wear the scarf Qiao Zhen had given him.
He’d lost his mind!
Anyone could tell it was low-quality, probably bought for 9.9 yuan with free shipping. They wouldn’t even use it to wipe down tables!
They had countless questions, but as soon as they met Ji Xian’s frosty gaze, they snapped their mouths shut, not daring to utter a word.
Yuwen Jian silently clenched his fist. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure outside the door.
His eyes flashed, and he suddenly spoke up, raising his voice with a laugh:
“Ahem, Ji Xian, that scarf Qiao Zhen knit for you herself isn’t bad at all. I wonder how much effort she put into it, especially giving it to you on your birthday, just to make you happy~”
Ji Xian looked up coolly, as if hearing something he wanted, and responded with a faint, indifferent sound.
Just then, outside the restroom—
Qin Yichi’s footsteps faltered, his whole body suddenly rigid.
—“The scarf Qiao Zhen knit for you herself…”
—“And she gave it to you on your birthday…”

Every word was like a sharp blade, stabbing his heart again and again, leaving it bloody and raw, pain searing through him.
Bitterness spread inch by inch within him.
Qin Yichi stood frozen, silently lowering his head to look at his own dark gray scarf, saying nothing.
He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the sour ache rolling through his chest, but he couldn’t.
Outside, the rain suddenly strengthened, the whole school shrouded in a dense downpour, the cold water splashing and chilling him to the core.
He knew, of course, that Qiao Zhen only thought of him as the older brother she’d grown up with.
He knew, too, how much she used to like Ji Xian.
Before, Qiao Zhen would often rest her chin on her hands and sneak glances at Ji Xian, would go out of her way to ask him for help with math, would bring him strawberry yogurt and all sorts of snacks, would follow him everywhere, eyes sparkling with hope and happiness…
He remembered it all, every detail crystal clear.
But what good did it do? He had no right to ask, no right to be jealous.
Qin Yichi’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice. Eyes full of dejection, he turned to leave.
Images from yesterday afternoon flashed unbidden through his mind.
On hillsides blanketed with wildflowers, a gentle breeze danced, butterflies fluttering in the air.
The girl smiled as she put a scarf around his neck, her eyes shining like stars.
He also remembered that rainy day, when Qiao Zhen hung her head, eyes red with tears, muttering aggrievedly,
“I don’t like Ji Xian anymore.”
Every scene replayed vividly in his mind.
Qin Yichi closed his eyes and took a deep breath, gradually calming himself.
Qiao Zhen might seem gentle and soft, but deep down, she was steadfast—a rare, radiant pearl.
With her temperament, she would never give Ji Xian anything again.
There had to be a misunderstanding here; he would find a way to ask discreetly and get to the truth.
Because he understood her,
he could believe in her.