I was born and listened to my neighbor's older sister talk about her family of origin.

Chapter 28 She's Leaving

Throughout his four years of primary school, Jiang Ye worked diligently, only taking advantage of Ji Xiaoxiao, and never offended anyone else.

How could someone come to ambush such a kind person like him?

Three boys stood under the shade of a tree. The one in the lead was more than half a head taller than Jiang Ye. He had dark skin, a strong build, and stood upright. He wore a sixth-grade name tag on his khaki school uniform.

The two men behind him were clearly his henchmen, one on his left and one on his right, looking just like guardians.

The tall man lowered his head slightly, looking down at him with disdain.

"You're Jiang Ye?"

Jiang Ye stopped and looked the man over.

Thick eyebrows, square face, and handsome appearance.

He searched his memory but couldn't find a matching one.

Who the hell is this?

Jiang Ye adjusted his backpack straps to his shoulder.

"It's me. What's up?"

The other person took a deep breath, as if they had done a lot of mental preparation.

"The milk I bring to Xu Zhiyu every day—is it all for you, right?"

The air was silent for a full two seconds.

Jiang Ye blinked.

His mind raced through the milk cartons Xu Zhiyu had given him during that time.

They offer a wide variety of flavors, including strawberry, original, chocolate, banana, and pure milk, with a diverse selection.

I always thought they were all gifts from different suitors, but it turns out they all belong to this guy?

That's a great gift.

Thanks to his milk, he is taller in this life than in his previous life.

"Um, what's your name?"

Jiang Ye coughed awkwardly and asked.

"My name is Gao Qiang."

The tall person tried to make himself look imposing.

"From Class 2, Grade 6."

"Gao Qiang, classmate."

Jiang Ye looked completely sincere.

"Your milk is delicious, especially the new oat flavor from last week. I highly recommend it."

Gao Qiang's expression cracked.

His henchman, A, couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Brother Qiang, he seems quite grateful to you..."

"Shut up."

Gao Qiang gritted his teeth.

Jiang Ye took a step back: "So, you're here to cause me trouble?"

He had seen far too many of these childish ways of getting jealous and causing trouble for others.

There's nothing shameful about shouting "Teacher, help me!" when necessary.

Gao Qiang stared at Jiang Ye in silence for a long time. After a while, he... forced out an ugly smile.

"Hehe, don't get me wrong, I'm not here to cause you trouble. I know you're Xu Zhiyu's younger brother. You can drink the milk, that's fine. My sentiment is enough."

He looks like someone who bullies classmates, but I never expected him to be so generous.

At that moment, Jiang Ye felt a rare pang of guilt.

Just a trace.

But more than anything, I felt angry.

This guy doesn't even see me as a rival in love?

Is it because he doesn't seem to be a good match for Xu Zhiyu?!

Gao Qiang definitely didn't see him as a rival in love.

Jiang Ye, who was only in fourth grade and had not yet started to develop, looked no different from a little bean curd in his eyes. Standing next to Xu Zhiyu, the two of them were tall and short, like an older sister looking at her younger brother, and they were completely mismatched.

Jiang Ye felt a pang of unease for a moment, then said, "Then why are you stopping me now?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Qiang's voice was also muffled: "I came here today to ask for your help."

He paused for a moment, as if he was hesitating about what to say, his cheeks flushing slightly against his dark skin.

"Um...actually, I've liked Xu Zhiyu for a long time, since fourth grade."

That goes without saying, I know.

It would be strange if you didn't like Xu Zhiyu.

Jiang Ye even gave him a score in his mind—eight points for courage, six points for emotional intelligence, and one point deducted for the way he delivered milk, because it was too easy for him to be intercepted.

"So what? What do you want me to do?"

Jiang Ye asked.

"I'd like to ask you to help me arrange a meeting with her. I want to confess my feelings to her in person before graduation."

Gao Qiang clenched his fist, his tone revealing the kind of desperate gamble that only a young man would have.

"Because... after graduation, I might not have another chance."

Jiang Ye noticed his choice of words.

It's not the generic graduation sentiment of "we might never see each other again."

It means "there's no chance anymore".

He frowned slightly: "No chance... What do you mean?"

These students who were admitted to the No. 1 Primary School can all directly enter the junior high school in the same district after graduation, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

We'll still be classmates for the next three years, so how could we not have a chance?

Gao Qiang glanced at him, seemingly surprised that he didn't know.

"You didn't know? Xu Zhiyu is transferring schools and won't be attending junior high in Jiangcheng anymore. Her mother is leaving Jiangcheng and will take her with her. It seems like the paperwork is almost done."

She left as soon as graduation was over.

It was very quiet in the grove.

The wind blew through the gaps in the sycamore leaves, casting dappled sunlight on the ground, which distorted with the swaying of the branches.

Jiang Ye stood there, stunned, and remained silent for a long time.

Leaving Jiangcheng?

Are all the formalities almost done?

One message after another hit him with the precision of bullets.

Why?

In her previous life, Xu Zhiyu had never left Jiangcheng at this time.

Did his rebirth cause the butterfly effect?

Jiang Ye suddenly remembered what the two students on duty had said earlier.

Could it be... that Cheng Jinglan has found a wealthy suitor and wants to leave with Xu Zhiyu?

Gao Qiang seemed to misunderstand his silence, scratching his head and saying, "I only heard about it the day before yesterday. It seems that Xu Zhiyu told the homeroom teacher herself, and everyone in Class 6-3 has spread the word."

Looking at Jiang Ye's expression, he added, "You really don't know?"

Jiang Ye withdrew his gaze and looked at Gao Qiang.

When are you planning to confess your feelings?

Gao Qiang was taken aback; he hadn't expected him to ask that.

"Uh...the day of the graduation party?"

"Don't."

Jiang Ye's tone was very flat, and Gao Qiang, looking at his expression, was inexplicably hesitant to refute him.

"She has important things to do on the day of the party, so don't put extra pressure on her."

Jiang Ye paused for a moment.

"If you're going to say something, say it in advance, either by letter or in person, but not on the day of the party."

Gao Qiang opened his mouth as if to say something, but finally nodded.

He turned to leave, then looked back at Jiang Ye and hesitated for a moment.

"Eno."

"Um?"

"Do you think she... will say yes to me?"

Jiang Ye leaned against the sycamore tree, looking at the boy who was two years older and half a head taller than him. He suddenly realized that the boy's eyes were the same as those of all twelve-year-old boys: clean, apprehensive, and with a bit of reckless courage.

"have no idea."

Jiang Ye told the truth.

"But you said it, so at least you don't regret it."

Gao Qiang took a deep breath, gave a heavy "hmm," and left with his two henchmen.

After the footsteps faded away, the grove fell silent again.

Jiang Ye looked up at the sky peeking through the treetops and remained motionless for a long time.

Xu Zhiyu is leaving.

Leaving Jiangcheng.

Go to a place he doesn't know.

She never mentioned it to him.

He took his phone out of his pocket and scrolled to his chat history with Xu Zhiyu.

The last line ends with her saying, "I agree."