The Unfathomable Heart

As a perpetually proud and aloof individual, Ning Ran narrowed her eyes in displeasure, watching Jiang Zhe beckon her over as if calling a kitten. She felt a strong reluctance to simply obey and follow him.

To go just because he commanded it? Where was her dignity in that?

However, a flicker of curiosity sparked within Ning Ran as she recalled the wager they had made before the basketball game.

What could Jiang Zhe possibly want from her?

Could it be because she had mentioned him during her morning live stream? Was he intending to leverage their bet, forcing her to restart her broadcast and clarify their relationship before the entire student body, perhaps even demanding an apology?

To restore his pristine reputation?

Pah!

Dream on!

At this thought, Ning Ran’s fury ignited instantly. She gritted her teeth, wishing she could sink them into Jiang Zhe. Her chest heaved with indignation, and her agitated rage burned like an inextinguishable fire.

In that moment, her usual haughtiness was forgotten. She immediately puffed out her chest, ignoring the queries from the girls around her, and strode out of the gymnasium without a word.

Simultaneously, she cast a warning glance at her followers, who had started to trail behind her. Her lingering anger lent her gaze a sharp, icy edge, causing the newer members of her entourage to instantly cower. They huddled together like timid chicks, afraid to utter a sound.

They feared provoking the formidable young lady.

****

“Come on, it’s too crowded here. Let’s find somewhere quiet to talk.”

Once Ning Ran had exited the gymnasium, Jiang Zhe, who had been waiting for her, smiled. A gentle smile graced his handsome face, and his eyes held a sincere warmth, utterly belying the image of a scoundrel threatening a girl into apologizing.

Though Ning Ran had initially been captivated by the gloomy, silent Jiang Zhe’s radiant smile, now, seeing it, her teeth itched with pure annoyance.

Standing several paces away from Jiang Zhe, Ning Ran remained rooted to the spot, her expression frigid. She stared at him with cold indifference, refusing to move.

Go somewhere quiet to talk?

Never!

She would stand right here, and no one could make her leave. Anyone who dared to try would face her wrath!

“Just say what you need to say. My time is precious, and I don’t wish to waste it. You and I are merely strangers; there’s no need for secrecy.”

Already picturing Jiang Zhe demanding her apology in front of the entire school, Ning Ran’s attitude was extremely hostile. She spoke with an unpleasant tone, deliberately averting her gaze to look elsewhere, causing Jiang Zhe to raise an eyebrow. He couldn’t fathom what had angered this ‘frazzled cat’.

He recalled how, after he had won the basketball game with every shot, Ning Ran’s cheeks had flushed with excitement. Her lips had curved upward, revealing her cute little canine teeth, displaying that adorable, ‘I’m very happy, but I won’t say it’ type of tsundere expression. It had been utterly charming.

Yet now, in a mere second, her face had completely changed. Truly, a woman’s heart is as unfathomable as the ocean’s depths!

He couldn’t guess her thoughts.

However, Jiang Zhe was not a truly naive young man, and he understood Ning Ran’s peculiar personality to some extent. Naturally, he wasn’t intimidated by her. Instead, he smiled with amused interest, a mischievous glint flashing in his dark eyes.

“Since you wish to discuss it here, that’s fine. You still remember the bet we made, don’t you?”

Jiang Zhe adopted the demeanor of a perfect gentleman, showing no anger, as soft and pliable as dough. This unexpected display made Ning Ran unable to resist stealing a glance at him.

Catching Ning Ran’s furtive look, Jiang Zhe said nothing, maintaining a serious, businesslike expression.

With a matter-of-fact tone, he continued, “Originally, I thought we were already friends, and this bet could be dismissed as a joke. But after hearing what you just said, I realize I was presumptuous. You don’t consider me a friend at all. I am simply unworthy.”

He spoke earnestly, retreating to advance, seizing the moral high ground and leaving Ning Ran unable to refute him.

Jiang Zhe watched Ning Ran’s bewildered expression, her peach blossom eyes wide with shock, seemingly completely unprepared for his words. He quickly and discreetly pinched his thigh, suppressing his laughter to avoid giving himself away.

Due to the pain, Jiang Zhe’s face twisted into a sorrowful yet mockingly cheerful smile, his eyes reddening. This display utterly stunned Ning Ran.

She hadn’t expected to upset Jiang Zhe to the point of tears. Ning Ran stood there, flustered and at a loss, nervously tugging at her hair. She felt terrible for having condemned Jiang Zhe without even asking, especially realizing that he likely didn’t care about the live stream incident at all.

He only wanted to be her friend.

Yet, her harsh refusal earlier had clearly broken his heart. Ning Ran felt like a heartless woman who toyed with emotions.

Knowing she had to atone for her own misdeeds, Ning Ran took a deep breath and said, “I apologize. My attitude earlier was terrible and hurt you. If you wish to be friends, it’s not impossible.”

In that moment, Ning Ran completely forgot her stance from yesterday, when she had righteously told Jiang Zhe not to harbor any foolish hopes and to stay away from her. Overwhelmed by guilt, she acted impulsively.

Besides, Jiang Zhe’s gentle, somewhat delicate appearance was far more appealing than other boys. Becoming friends with him wouldn’t be an unbearable prospect.

Girls, to varying degrees, possess an appreciation for beauty. Ning Ran was no immortal who had ascended to godhood; as a mortal with excellent looks herself, she naturally admired beautiful things, be it people or objects.

“Ning Ran, you so firmly refused to be friends, yet now you’ve changed your mind so quickly. Is it perhaps because you don’t want to fulfill our bet that you’re going back on your word? If so, there’s no need. If you don’t want to, I won’t force…”

“That’s not it at all! I, Ning Ran, am a woman of my word, and my promises are as swift as a team of four horses! I genuinely want to be your friend; there’s absolutely no pretense involved!”

Before Jiang Zhe could finish his manipulative words, Ning Ran anxiously interrupted him. The tables had instantly turned, with Ning Ran now eagerly pursuing a friendship with Jiang Zhe, practically ready to swear an oath to the heavens.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhe looked hesitant and unconvinced, his moist eyes gleaming with a clear, startled light, like a fawn in the forest. This only deepened Ning Ran’s guilt.

Ning Ran, as the eldest daughter of a prominent family, was unlike Lin Moshu’s family, which was rife with schemes and infighting. Nor was she like other families, who maintained superficial harmony while harboring malicious intent. As the only child of the Ning family patriarch, she had been pampered since childhood.

However, despite being a large family, the Ning family wasn’t solely dictated by Ning Ran’s parents; other relatives also held influence. The proposed marriage alliance with Lin Moshu was a result of their interference, otherwise, Ning Ran would have been used as a pawn to oust her parents, forcing her to reluctantly accept it.

She only awaited graduation, planning to flee abroad with a plane ticket, becoming untouchable as a threat to her parents and leaving those parasitic relatives with no recourse.

Thus, Ning Ran was very intelligent, sometimes seeing through issues with pinpoint accuracy.

Yet, she actually lacked extensive social experience; she was still just a young girl. When confronted with Jiang Zhe, a smooth operator who could speak to anyone in their own language and was skilled at acting, she was completely outmatched.

Of course, if Jiang Zhe’s tactics had been even slightly more obvious, Ning Ran wouldn’t have been blind to them.

The problem was that Jiang Zhe preferred a layered approach. For unimportant people or matters, he would strike directly and forcefully. But for precious prey, he would weave an intricate web of subtle maneuvers, twisting himself into a ‘mosquito coil’ of complexity, hoping to go unnoticed.

“Then I’ll trust you one more time. Regarding our bet…”

“Just tell me! Whatever it is, I promise to do it!”