I Like You So Much - Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Class 1, Li Jiao’s class was also saying their final farewell.
Their class was special because they had experienced two instructors. Each instructor had led them for half a month.
They had deep feelings for each instructor.
“Instructor, can’t you stay?”
“We don’t want you to leave, instructor.”
“Instructor, let’s train together for a few more days. Really, I suddenly don’t feel tired at all from military training.”
“Take care, instructor. We will definitely see each other again in the future!”
“………”
Dozens of students surrounded the nearly six-feet-three Wang Haonan, pleading with sad faces.
Wang Haonan had never experienced such a situation before and felt quite helpless. The tall man, almost six- feet three, seemed weak and pitiful in the circle.
“Alright, alright, stop crying. I don’t have anything in my pockets.”
“If you cry, all I can do is clap my hands and cheer you on.”
“Pttf—”
“Hahaha—”
“Ah~ instructor, you’re so annoying, we’re still sad.”
Wang Haonan suddenly relaxed and laughed.
“Hey, that’s more like it. What’s there to cry about? It’s not like I’m going to heaven.”
“Come on, wipe your tears.”
“………”
On the high platform, the usually stern chief instructor made an exception and allowed the instructors to stay a few more minutes to properly say goodbye to the students.
Li Jiao stood outside the crowd, watching the group surrounding Wang Haonan. Although she was reluctant to part with the current instructor, the person she really wanted to say goodbye to was not there.
Everyone was thinking about the current instructor. Did anyone still remember the previous one?
Although he is very strict, he is actually a very gentle instructor.
“Hey, Huang Yuan, where are you going?”
A boy jogged to catch up with the chubby boy in front, slightly out of breath.
“Huang Yuan, everyone is saying goodbye to the instructor. Where are you going?”
Huang Yuan, chubby and the boy who was previously punished by Zhang Jiuling for trampling on flowers, glanced at the crowd, lowered his eyes, and looked dejected.
“Why didn’t the former instructor come? Today is the end of military training.”
“I wanted to show him the military boxing I’ve learned.”
Hearing this, Li Jiao smiled slightly. It turned out someone else was thinking about the instructor too.
However, Li Jiao slightly lifted her head, looking at the gray sky. Fine, misty rain fell on her face, feeling moist and comfortable. She blinked her crystal-clear eyes, her long eyelashes catching some rain, making her vision blurry.
That drop of rain, mixed with her bitterness, slid down from the corner of her eye.
Instructor, why didn’t you come…
“Alright, alright, everyone quiet down,” Wang Haonan waved his hand, and the group quieted down to listen to him.
Seeing this, he smiled mysteriously.
“Do you miss the previous instructor?”
As soon as he spoke, the previously quiet crowd fell silent.
Of course, they missed him. Although Zhang Jiuling was strict, after spending time together, they realized he wasn’t a cold-hearted person.
They remembered once when another class’s instructor treated them to watermelon. Seeing their envy, Zhang Jiuling had ice cream brought in the next day, right after they finished standing in the hot sun, exhausted.
Turning around, there were several large boxes of ice cream, a cool breeze greeting them.
Zhang Jiuling stood sideways, his posture straight, slightly turning his head to look at them with his cold, clear eyes.
He spoke, his voice clear.
“Help yourselves. After eating, get energized and train well.”
Everyone looked at each other, then unanimously turned their heads and shouted loudly.
“Yes!!”
Just now, while saying goodbye to Wang Haonan, they were actually missing the strict instructor they called the “Cold-faced Yama” but who had a warm heart.
They didn’t mention it because they were afraid the current instructor, Wang Haonan, would feel bad.
Actually, they really, really missed that “Cold-faced Yama”!
“Yes!”
“Yes, yes, I miss the instructor so much. Where is he?”
In the distance, Huang Yuan, hearing this, ran quickly. Holding up his hand, he sprinted to Wang Haonan, looking at him with great expectation.
“Instructor, is the former instructor coming? Where is he?”
“Where is he?”
Wang Haonan looked at the others. Although they didn’t speak, their bright eyes were all fixed on him.
As if saying, “Instructor, please tell us.”
He shook his head and smiled helplessly, pulling out his phone to make a call.
“Boss, you better come over.”
“These little bunnies are looking for their ‘bunny mama’.”
“………”
The call ended, and a few minutes later…
Under the longing gazes of everyone in Class 1, the man with a cold appearance finally appeared on the military training ground. He wore a blue work uniform with a white T-shirt underneath and black trousers wrapped around his long legs, enhancing his cold demeanor.
His black leather boots approached at a steady, unhurried pace.
Amid the hazy drizzle, his figure seemed blurred yet carried a unique charm.
It was as if he were a figure from an ink wash painting, outlined with a few strokes, exuding elegance and grace. He walked towards them, embodying refinement and sophistication.
“Ahhhhhh—”
“Instructor, ahhhhh—”
Some screamed excitedly like marmots, others stared wide-eyed in disbelief, while some couldn’t wait and ran over.
A group of people surrounded Zhang Jiuling, jumping and shouting in excitement.
“Instructor, we missed you so much!”
“Wow—Instructor, why did you come back so late?”
“Instructor, it’s been so long, and you’re still so handsome!”
“Instructor, look at me! Instructor, look at me!”
“………”
Zhang Jiuling was back, and Zhang Yue and Su Linlin were naturally excited, partly because of Zhang Jiuling and partly because of Li Jiao.
Great, the instructor is back!
The melancholic girl could finally stop being melancholic!
Su Linlin turned her head joyfully, “Jiao Jiao!”
“Jiao Jiao!”
Zhang Yue wondered, “Where is she? She was just here.”
“Yes, where did she go in such a short time?”
“The instructor she’s been thinking about is back; where did this girl go?”
The two looked around for a long time but couldn’t find Li Jiao.
“Instructor, look at me! Instructor, look at me!”
The chubby Huang Yuan squeezed into the circle, his face beaming with excitement.
“Instructor, look at me, look at me. Look at my military boxing now. Look, look, can I go save the world now?”
“………”
A group of people surrounded Zhang Jiuling, extremely excited and enthusiastic. He was clearly not used to it; in his memory, these little brats had never been so affectionate with him before.
During previous training, they didn’t even dare ask him for a bathroom break.
Dozens of people surrounded him noisily, everyone talking at once, chirping like a bustling market.
Zhang Jiuling felt a headache coming on. His dark brows furrowed slightly, and he spoke in a cool voice.
“Whoever speaks next is a pig.”
“………”
As soon as he said that, the group of little sparrows instantly fell silent. Everyone shut up and stood obediently.
Wang Haonan, who arrived later, laughed teasingly.
“Well, it seems the’mother bunny’ had to come back to handle them.”
Zhang Jiuling’s eyes, deep as a pool, glanced at him calmly. Wang Haonan immediately begged for mercy.
“Alright, boss, I was wrong. I’m the’mother bunny,’ I am, I am.”
“You’re an old bastard.”
“Hahahaha—”
The group burst into laughter.
Zhang Jiuling slightly turned his head, his long, narrow phoenix eyes scanning the crowd, not seeing the petite figure he remembered. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly, hinting at something intriguing.
Not here?
………
Meanwhile, outside the training ground, on a tree-lined path, the willow trees on both sides of the street were drenched, their branches swaying adorably in the wind.
The rain was like mist, entwining around the green willow branches, adding a layer of mysterious veil, as if playfully playing hide-and-seek.
Li Jiao walked slowly, enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the path alone, wandering aimlessly.
*Sigh*
Unexpectedly, one day, she finally understood what it meant to be fated but not destined.
*Sigh*
As she walked, she suddenly bumped into someone.
*Bang—*
She didn’t have time to dodge and directly bumped into the person’s chest, hard like an iron board.
Li Jiao didn’t have time to care about herself, quickly lowering her head to apologize, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“………”
The person didn’t speak, but Li Jiao could feel a gaze falling on her, silently scrutinizing her.
She could feel the person quietly examining her with a very serious look, not giving a single extra glance to anyone else. Silent, like a wolf watching its prey, quietly observing, waiting for the right moment, seemingly ready to act at any time.
Li Jiao’s body stiffened slightly, her head lowered, looking at the person’s shoes, a pair of new, shiny Martin boots. The toe pointed at her, exuding an imposing aura, appearing to be a men’s style.
Like a pea shooter, she frantically shot peas in her mind.
Why isn’t this person speaking? Is he angry? Did I hurt him? Surely he’s not that petty, right? What should I do, what should I say…
Suddenly, a clear voice with a slight chill sounded in her ear, as if delicate fingers gently brushed over soft, cool silk, feeling pleasant.
“Who taught you to walk while looking at the ground?”
That familiar voice!?
Li Jiao suddenly looked up, directly into those sharp, long phoenix eyes, the corners of which were slightly tilted, the cold, deep black pupils looking down at her.
“Instructor?!”
She called out joyfully, her fine eyebrows arching, her eyes as bright as watery grapes, visibly brightening from dim to bright.
Like colorful fireworks suddenly blooming in the dark night sky, dazzling and splendid.
“Mm.”
Zhang Jiuling responded softly, his voice deep and warm. Upon closer inspection, the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, seemingly in a good mood.
Just one word, yet it had a tremendous power, instantly smoothing out the sadness and sorrow Li Jiao had felt for the past half month.
The little girl looked at him, smiling with crescent moon-like eyes, her eyes clear and clean, filled with him. The curve of her mouth was like a beautiful crescent moon, the familiar dimples appearing, radiating contagious joy.
“Instructor, you came.”
When she said this, her tone unconsciously carried a hint of affection and coquettishness, soft and sweet. It was like a mischievous cat’s tail dipped in honey, coming to tickle your heart, feeling both itchy and sweet.
Upon hearing this, the coldness in Zhang Jiuling’s eyes slowly melted, gaining warmth.
“Where did you just go?”
Knowing today was the last day of military training, Zhang Jiuling had planned to come by. Wang Haonan had called, saying it was the last day, and, although the group of little brats didn’t say it, it was clear they missed him and wanted him to come see them.
Unexpectedly, when he came and scanned the crowd two or three times, he couldn’t see the familiar little girl.
Luckily, she hadn’t gone far; otherwise, it would have been hard to find her.
Upon hearing this, Li Jiao honestly replied.
“Today is the last day of military training. I didn’t see you before, so I thought you weren’t coming.”
The last sentence, soft and timid, sounded like a spoiled complaint.
Zhang Jiuling heard the grievance in the little girl’s words, and his heart inexplicably felt a bit happier.
He spoke, his tone gentle, “I would come.”
This sentence didn’t sound like a simple reply but felt more like a promise.
Moreover, when Zhang Jiuling said this, he looked at her very seriously. It seemed like he was making a very important promise to her.
It was as if he was saying, “I would come.”
“For you, I would come.”
Suddenly, Li Jiao’s heart skipped a beat. Was that what he meant? Was it, was it, was it?
Van Gogh, tell me, is it or isn’t it?
Ahhhhh, it doesn’t matter; it is. It is. I think it is, ahhhhh…
