Chapter 26: Collision

"Yueyue, let's go this way," Liu Xiao said, pulling Jiang Qianyue along.

Jiang Qianyue looked toward the sports field. "Let's not go this way, it's crowded. We should take the longer route."

Liu Xiao wanted to drag Jiang Qianyue across the field. Crossing it would be a shortcut; otherwise, they'd have to walk around, which wasn't much farther, just a few extra steps. Jiang Qianyue didn't see the need to cut through the field.

"It's closer this way, come on," Liu Xiao insisted.

Seeing Liu Xiao's eagerness, Jiang Qianyue was helpless. Was it really so urgent? Even this little distance needed a shortcut.

Before Jiang Qianyue could protest, Liu Xiao had already dragged her across the field.

As they walked, Liu Xiao was anxious and paid little attention to the path, heading straight ahead. Suddenly, Jiang Qianyue felt someone collide with her, the force knocking her to the ground.

Instinctively, Jiang Qianyue cried out.

Hearing her, Liu Xiao turned, only to see Jiang Qianyue lying on the ground and a bewildered young man standing nearby.

"How do you walk? Didn't you see someone ahead? Are you blind or what?" Liu Xiao began to scold.

Jiang Zheng stared blankly at Jiang Qianyue, who he had just knocked over. For a moment, he was completely at a loss.

Normally, he would never be like this; he would have immediately helped her up. But today, his thoughts seemed muddled, and he just stood there, unsure what to do.

Liu Xiao rattled off her reprimands, then, seeing Jiang Zheng still standing there, snapped, "What are you staring at? Come help her up!"

"Oh, right," Jiang Zheng replied hurriedly, only now realizing he should help the girl off the ground.

Liu Xiao asked anxiously, "Yueyue, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Jiang Qianyue glanced at Jiang Zheng. She hadn't expected him to be the one who collided with her, and she frowned slightly.

She replied, "I'm fine."

Jiang Zheng crouched down, offering to help her up. Jiang Qianyue said, "It's okay, I don't need help."

She tried to get up on her own, but as soon as she rose, pain shot through her, making her frown deeply.

"Yueyue, what's wrong? Where does it hurt?" Liu Xiao asked.

"I think I twisted my ankle," Jiang Qianyue replied.

She had no other injuries, but her ankle was sprained, and it hurt whenever she moved.

Liu Xiao said, "What should we do? Maybe you should go to the infirmary."

Jiang Qianyue thought for a moment and nodded. The pain was intense, and she wasn't sure what was wrong; a checkup would be best.

Liu Xiao tried to help Jiang Qianyue up, but she was petite, while Jiang Qianyue was taller, making it difficult for her to support her friend.

At that moment, Jiang Zheng was still crouching, watching them.

"Stop staring and come help!" Liu Xiao said with irritation.

Now Liu Xiao recognized Jiang Zheng. When she first saw him, she thought he looked familiar, but with Jiang Qianyue on the ground, she had no time to think. Jiang Zheng's singing that day had left a deep impression on her.

Jiang Qianyue wanted to refuse, but seeing Liu Xiao struggling and unable to walk herself, she said nothing.

Jiang Zheng stood and helped Jiang Qianyue, her ears flushing red—this was the first time she'd been so close to a boy her own age.

Jiang Zheng supported the limping Jiang Qianyue to the infirmary. Soon, they arrived, and the doctor examined her, saying, "It's nothing serious. Apply the medicine for a few days, but be careful not to put too much weight on your right foot during this time."

Jiang Zheng paid for the medicine and helped Jiang Qianyue out.

"Be more careful next time. Luckily, you ran into Yueyue, or else someone else might have tried to extort you," Liu Xiao scolded Jiang Zheng.

Jiang Zheng nodded silently. He couldn't think straight, his mind unfocused. Whatever Liu Xiao said, he accepted without protest.

Besides, it really was his fault this time. He had been jogging, thinking the field was empty, but hadn't expected to collide with someone.

Jiang Qianyue shook her head, signaling Liu Xiao to stop, but Liu Xiao huffed, expressing her displeasure.

Liu Xiao checked her phone and, seeing the time, exclaimed in alarm, "Oh no! We're going to be late! Yueyue, I can't talk, I need to hurry or he'll be waiting impatiently."

She paused, then said, "Yueyue, you're not going, right? Let Jiang Zheng take you to the dorm, I'll call Nana to help you upstairs and rest."

If it had been before, Jiang Qianyue would have agreed without hesitation; she hadn't wanted to go anyway. But after hearing Liu Xiao talk about the person she was meeting, Jiang Qianyue felt uneasy.

"Xiao Xiao, let's go with you. Didn't you ask me to help you judge him? I'm curious about the boy who could captivate you so," Jiang Qianyue said.

"But how will you go like this?" Liu Xiao asked, worriedly looking at her injured foot.

"It's alright, Jiang Zheng can help me," Jiang Qianyue replied.

Jiang Zheng stood quietly nearby, not paying attention to their conversation. In that brief moment, his mind had wandered again.

"Jiang Zheng, are you free?" Jiang Qianyue asked.

Jiang Zheng didn't respond, still lost in thought.

"Jiang Zheng!" Liu Xiao called sternly.

He snapped out of it, eyes confused. "What is it?"

Liu Xiao was exasperated by his absentmindedness.

Jiang Qianyue said softly, "Xiao Xiao is going to meet a friend. If you're free, could you come with us?"

"Why should I go?" Jiang Zheng asked.

Liu Xiao protested, "Yueyue's injured, can't you help her?"

Jiang Zheng was silent for a moment, then replied, "Alright."

So Jiang Zheng accompanied Jiang Qianyue to meet Liu Xiao's boyfriend, whom she hadn't met before.

Liu Xiao had arranged to meet him at a coffee shop, one with stylish decor and an air of sophistication.

Inside, Liu Xiao ushered Jiang Qianyue and Jiang Zheng to a seat.

"Xiao Xiao, maybe we should just sit nearby and watch," Jiang Qianyue suggested.

She wasn't there to meet the guy herself and didn't want to share a table. Watching from afar would suffice and she wouldn't disturb them.

"It's fine, sit with us. You need to observe him up close to help me," Liu Xiao insisted.

Jiang Qianyue, seeing no way out, agreed.

Liu Xiao scanned the surroundings, frowning. "It's past the agreed time—why isn't he here yet?"

Jiang Qianyue pursed her lips, saying nothing.

Jiang Zheng sat in his chair, lost in thought once more.

The coffee on the table remained untouched.

Jiang Qianyue and Liu Xiao chatted quietly as they waited for Liu Xiao's online boyfriend to arrive.