I Like You So Much - Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Since Father Li was working overtime and not coming home, the three of them ate dinner early. After dinner, the aunt next door invited Mother Li for a chat, so she went out.
At home, only Li Jiao and Li Hang were left.
As soon as Li Hang, a teenager addicted to the internet, saw that Mother Li had left, he immediately went to his parents’ room to steal back his phone.
Humming a little tune-out song, with his freshly washed hair still dripping, wearing a loose white T-shirt and black shorts, he looked leisurely like an old man walking his dog.
“Li Hang, have you done your homework, or are you playing games again?”
Leaning against the door frame, Li Jiao looked at the person walking into the room with a helpless expression.
Hearing this, Li Hang looked up and saw the pajamas in her hand. He made a face at her.
“Little dwarf, go take a bath and wash your pig skin thoroughly.”
“You!”
Li Jiao immediately wanted to go hit him, but Li Hang took a big step, slipped into the room first, and shut the door with a “bang.”
Behind the door, Li Hang laughed hysterically.
“Hahahahahahahahaha, the little dwarf has short legs, and she can’t catch up with me, hahahahahaha—”
“You can’t hit me; there’s nothing you can do; I’m just that strong, la la la la la——”
“……”
Li Jiao angrily kicked the door and shouted furiously.
“Li Hang, if you have the guts, come out!”
“When you come out, I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
“……”
“Hmph!”
Turning around, Li Jiao stormed into the bathroom with her clothes. Looking at herself in the mirror, her cheeks were flushed, clearly from anger.
Li Hang, that trashy brother!
After a long time, Li Jiao took a comfortable hot shower and came out of the bathroom. The air outside was cool, even a bit cold.
She shivered, quickly turned around, and dashed into her room.
On the floor was a big suitcase, its zipper open, lying wide open for all to see.
Inside the suitcase were only a few clothes. Li Jiao walked over, squatted down, and started to pack.
As soon as she picked up a piece of clothing, she saw a military cap with a hard brim, the color of pine needles, steady and cool.
Just like its owner.
“This… military cap…”
Li Jiao thought for a moment.
Isn’t this the cap the instructor lent her during the lake training?
That afternoon she came back, and she fainted during the night training. Later, she washed the cap clean, intending to return it to him, but she forgot. The cap had been with her ever since.
The instructor…
Li Jiao took the cap, walked to the bed, and lay down, sinking into the soft bed.
Right, the instructor gave her his phone number!
Li Jiao’s eyes instantly brightened. She got up, grabbed her phone from the desk, and sat back on the bed.
Finding that name, her slender finger hesitated in the air. She bit her lip in indecision.
Should she call or send a message?
Would calling be too abrupt?
Maybe a message would be better.
Li Jiao hesitated for a long time, carefully choosing her words, deleting and rewriting the message several times.
Finally, with trembling hands, she clicked “send.”
“Ah~”
After sending the message, Li Jiao flopped back onto the bed, burying her face in the covers. Her face quickly heated up, turning red like a tempting apple.
In her mind, the scene from that afternoon replayed.
“This is not a task; it’s my request.”
Ahhhhh——
Instructor, ahhhhh——
Did the instructor say that to make her remember his name and number? Right?
The instructor didn’t give his number to anyone else, didn’t tell anyone his name, only told her.
Doesn’t that mean the instructor might like her a bit?
Isn’t it, isn’t it?
Just thinking about it made Li Jiao’s smile uncontrollable, blooming like a sunflower.
…
In a luxuriously decorated private room, the lotus-shaped chandelier on the ceiling casts a warm orange light. It shone on the two large round tables below, laden with delicious food.
Both tables were full of people. At a glance, all one could see were people. Most of them were big men in black clothes, each exuding an extraordinary aura and carrying an air of authority. At first glance, they looked like members of some mysterious organization.
Just as the waiter came in to serve the dishes, dozens of eyes turned to look. In an instant, their gazes were stern, each pair of eyes sharp, emitting a cold light, like wolves opening their eyes in the night upon seeing their prey, causing fear and a chill to run down one’s spine.
Waiter: …………
What did I do wrong for the manager to make me deliver the food here?
Seeing that the newcomer was just a waiter, the group of big men immediately retracted their imposing auras and resumed their casual chatting and laughing.
A muscular man walked over and explained with a smile, “Sorry about that; it’s just a reflex.”
The waiter nodded awkwardly, “It’s fine, it’s fine.”
She hadn’t adjusted at first, but now that she could see clearly, she realized that although everyone in the room was dressed in black and looked intimidating, there was an undeniable sense of righteousness and dignity in their expressions.
Their temperament is so easy to recognize; they are a group of soldiers!
In that instant, the waiter was filled with respect.
Oh my god, soldier brother!
The waiter was so excited that her pace quickened while serving the dishes.
With the military training at Nanjing University over, the instructors finally had a few days off, and tonight, a large group of them had come for a gathering.
Dozens of men, eating, chatting, and making a ruckus, creating a lively atmosphere.
“Hey, Liuzi, tell me, is this true?”
“Chen Jie, pass me a glass of water.”
“Ah, you’re not doing it right.”
“………”
“Ding dong.”
Suddenly, a phone chimed.
Zhang Jiuling, who had been lounging in his chair with his long legs crossed casually, lazily watching the group, heard the notification.
He sat up slightly, picked up his phone from the table, unlocked it, and glanced at the screen.
It was a message from an unknown number: “Instructor, I’m Li Jiao. I still haven’t returned your hat (?ò?ó?) When do you have time? Can I come find you (≧ω≦)… um, to return your hat (～￣▽￣)→))*￣▽￣*)o”
The girl had used several emoticons, and Zhang Jiuling frowned, staring at them for a while, unable to decipher their meanings.
He read the text again and then typed out a reply.
“Tomorrow. Where will you be? I’ll come find you.”
On the other side, Li Jiao was still buried in her covers, wearing a yellow Pikachu nightgown that was lifted up to her thighs due to her prone position, revealing two slender, white legs, which were well-proportioned and beautiful, as white as jade.
Her room was hot, making her face as red as a steamed little crab. Her slightly curly, shoulder-length hair was disheveled, and her cheeks were a soft pink, her big almond eyes wet and bright.
Sitting cross-legged, she rested her head on her hand, pondering.
Would the instructor reply to her? Would he, would he, would he…
“Ding dong—”
Her phone suddenly chimed, the screen lighting up.
Li Jiao quickly picked it up and unlocked it. Seeing the message, her smile gradually widened, revealing a row of white teeth and two sweet dimples, her eyes curving into joyful crescents, and her smile was as sweet as honey.
She bit her lip unconsciously, then slowly typed out a reply, checking it over.
No problem, send!
“Instructor, can I meet you at 9 AM on Shangnan Road tomorrow??(???????)??”
In the private room, despite the military discipline preventing them from drinking, the group of big men didn’t hold back, engaging in various arm-wrestling games, making the atmosphere lively.
“Hey, Liuzi, you’re not doing well.”
“Come on, Haonan, beat him, beat him!”
“Haonan, I bet a duck leg on you winning.”
“………”
Whoever said three women create a scene?
In his opinion, this group of burly men could make just as much noise, if not more, than any group of women.
Shouting loudly and speaking in rough voices, they sounded like dozens of loudspeakers playing in surround sound.
“Ding dong—”
A message came in. Zhang Jiuling glanced at it, picked up his phone, and stood up, his long legs striding toward the door.
“Hey, boss, where are you going?”
At another table, Wang Haonan, who had just won an arm-wrestling match, was grinning with satisfaction, looking proud like a larger version of Wangzai. Noticing Zhang Jiuling heading toward the door, he asked.
(T/N: “Wangzai” is a popular mascot from the Wangzai brand of snacks in Taiwan. Wangzai is often depicted as a cheerful and slightly chubby character, sometimes used to represent a kind of playful, childlike exuberance.)
“To make a phone call.”
“Hey, why go outside? Just call here. It’s a good opportunity for you to watch me show off my skills and kill everyone.”
Hearing this, Zhang Jiuling shifted his gaze from the phone screen, his dark eyes cold as night, giving Wang Haonan a brief glance.
In a clear, string-like voice, he said, “You’re a reincarnated loudspeaker with a broken gong’s voice. You should go into comedy.”
Wang Haonan: “………”
Boss, you could just say I’m too noisy.
……….
Zhang Jiuling walked out of the private room, casually closing the door behind him, shutting out the noise inside.
The hallway was quiet. Around the corner, there was a large floor-to-ceiling window with a large leafy plant beside it. Outside the window, colorful neon lights from the distant cityscape were clearly visible.
Zhang Jiuling dialed the number from the message. After two rings, it was answered.
A soft, uncertain voice came through, “Hello, is this the instructor?”
“It’s me.”
These two simple words carried a kind of calm warmth.
Li Jiao’s originally excited mood was strangely calmed. She felt like a brainless flower lover—his voice was so nice too!
“………”
After his response, Li Jiao fell silent. She had so much to say but didn’t know where to start.
After about three seconds of silence, a clear voice with a slightly cold tone, mingling with the dark night outside the window, spoke slowly, cool as water.
“What time tomorrow? I’ll come get you.”
“Ah,” Li Jiao quickly responded, “nine, nine o’clock. I’ll wait for you on Shangnan Road.”
Hearing this, Zhang Jiuling paused, then asked, “It’s your day off tomorrow. Don’t you want to rest a bit more?”
Oh no, oh no, the instructor is concerned about me, right?
Ah, the instructor is so considerate. Ah, I’m dying!
This unintentional kindness is so murderous!
Li Jiao gripped her phone tighter, smiling.
“No, no need. I usually get up early. Besides, I want to see you sooner…”
Her last sentence was so soft it was barely audible.
If she wasn’t worried it would be inconvenient for the instructor, she would have gone at eight.
The night was quiet; outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the skyscrapers across the river shone with giant, colorful screens. The bustling, bright lights reflected in the still river, twinkling like countless colorful stones glowing.
On the river, a luxurious cruise ship was leisurely drifting by.
The bright lights reflected on the window glass couldn’t compare to the light in Zhang Jiuling’s eyes, bright as the stars. Like a calm, blue lake at night with a falling star, glowing softly.
He smiled slightly and replied softly, “Okay.”
……….
After the call ended, Li Jiao sat on her bed, dazed for a long time.
This isn’t a dream, right? The instructor really told me his name, gave me his number, and I can see him tomorrow?
This isn’t a dream, right?
She raised her hand and pinched her wrist. Ouch!
It’s real!
She really gets to see the instructor tomorrow!
“Ah ah ah ah ah ah—”
Li Jiao jumped up, excitedly bouncing on the bed, grabbing the blue Squirtle plushie beside her pillow, hugging and kissing it.
“Ah ah ah ah ah ah—”
Her love, her love is here!!
Yue Lao, please, tie the red string tighter! Steel wire is fine! I’ll pay for the materials!
(T/N: Yue Lao is a god of marriage and love in Chinese mythology)
Tie a dead knot, a super dead knot!
Van Gogh, please bless your faithful closed-door disciple! I’ve had it so tough; tell Cupid to shoot a few more arrows; I don’t mind turning into a hedgehog!
“Ah—”
“Bang!”
The door to her room burst open.
Li Hang, holding his phone with one slipper hanging off his ankle, rushed in, looking around frantically.
“Where, where’s the tough guy?”
“Let your uncle Hang beat him to death!!”
“Where, where’s the tough guy?”
“………”
