Agreed to Just Once - Chapter 13: Helping Out Again

Chapter 13: Helping Out Again

During class break.

Jiang Yinian fished his Bluetooth earphones from his bag, preparing to listen to some music.

Jiang Yinian.

A classmate from the front of the classroom called out to him across two rows.

Jiang Yinian looked up: Yeah?

The classmate said excitedly: Do you like mnjok too? I saw you asking about concert tickets in the group chat yesterday.

Yeah.

Jiang Yinian temporarily set aside his earphones and asked, Do you know what channels are still selling tickets now?

With only one ticket, he couldn’t really let He Wenshuo wait outside the venue with him. Fortunately, there was still some time before the concert, so he could try to figure something out.

Not for now. The classmate shook his head and sighed, I really like him too, but his tickets are so hard to get and so expensive.

Jiang Yinian: Price isn’t an issue. If it’s convenient, could you help me ask around?

Classmate: Alright, got it. I’ll keep an eye out for you.

Just then, several classmates entered through the front door and overheard their entire conversation.

Qin Tu was among them and looked at Jiang Yinian curiously: You want to buy concert tickets?

Yes. Jiang Yinian said, If you know any channels, please keep an eye out for me. I’ll treat you to a meal later.

Qin Tu nodded thoughtfully: Okay.

After a full day of classes, Jiang Yinian leisurely rode his bike home. He Wenshuo had more classes today and would finish later, so he definitely wouldn’t be back earlier than him.

When he opened the door, the house was empty and silent.

Without Grandma who was usually always puttering around at home, the living room had unconsciously become less tidy.

Since he was back early anyway.

Jiang Yinian efficiently gave the house a thorough cleaning – sweeping, mopping, and wiping tables, one task after another. Finally, he gathered the trash bags and went downstairs to throw them out.

Just as he reached the ground floor, he happened to see He Wenshuo pedaling back on his bicycle.

Niannian.

He Wenshuo called out from afar.

Jiang Yinian threw away the trash and stood waiting. After He Wenshuo parked his bike, the two went upstairs together. The elevator was still on a higher floor, and He Wenshuo’s dejected handsome face was reflected in the clean, shiny elevator doors.

It was clear that he didn’t seem very happy today.

As for the reason.

Jiang Yinian silently shifted his gaze away. Wontons for dinner?

They had so many stored in the fridge at home, they needed to use them up appropriately. Making breakfast was too troublesome, and they might not come home for lunch, so dinner was the most suitable time.

He Wenshuo remained dejected: I’m fine with anything, up to you.

Just then the elevator arrived.

Jiang Yinian decided on dinner: Then it’s wontons.

In the kitchen.

The medium flame on the stove was strong, and the broth in the pot gradually emitted a warm aroma. He Wenshuo covered the pot and complained to Jiang Yinian while holding a ladle.

He really went back and started talking nonsense to others.

Saying I don’t have a girlfriend, that I must have been dumped.

The thought made him worried. After watching the movie the day before yesterday, Guo Jian had overheard something out of context and immediately went back to school to gossip about him with others.

Jiang Yinian took the wontons out of the refrigerator and placed them on the counter for later use: Why don’t you just tell him he misheard?

Back at the cinema, he had thought both Guo Jian and Tao Hao had gone to the front rows to watch the excitement, which was why they hadn’t paid attention. Who knew that Guo Jian hadn’t been watching the movie at all but dozing off in the back, and had just happened to overhear that part.

He Wenshuo said in a melancholy tone, It would be strange if they actually believed it.

Guo Jian’s ears were naturally sharper than others’, and much of the gossip he gathered turned out to be true, so there were quite a few people who actually believed his nonsense.

Jiang Yinian didn’t respond to the topic. Although he hadn’t intentionally exposed He Wenshuo, he noticed that He Wenshuo had become too immersed in his role-playing lately—it seemed he genuinely didn’t realize his girlfriend was fake.

He Wenshuo looked dejectedly at Jiang Yinian for help: What else can I do?

These past few days had been the most relaxed and comfortable time for him. By establishing the persona of being in a relationship at school, he was completely free from disturbances. He could spare plenty of energy and time every day to hang out with Jiang Yinian.

But if this persona were to be shattered now, this peaceful period might come to an end.

He really didn’t want this comfortable phase to end at all.

Face reality.

Jiang Yinian’s gaze fell on the pot as he reached out to remind him: The water’s boiling.

The frozen wontons were dropped into the pot, quickly changing color and floating to the surface—each one translucent, plump, and round, filling the air with a rich aroma.

Each of them got a large bowl of wontons, then moved from the kitchen to the dining table, sitting across from each other to eat.

Jiang Yinian ate heartily, scooping up one spoonful after another.

He Wenshuo took one spoonful but hesitated to take the next, eating with visible worry.

So he continued pestering Jiang Yinian to talk.

I think, at noon today—just when I was eating in the cafeteria—a lot of people were secretly discussing me.

Who knows how many people Guo Jian had spread his false rumors to? He really wanted to seal that guy’s mouth shut with tape.

Jiang Yinian: It must be all in your head.

He Wenshuo:
He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but he really wanted to return to that comfort zone—when Jiang Yinian was acting as his partner, it felt truly wonderful.

Dinner was simple and didn’t take much time. After cleaning up the kitchen, it was still early.

Jiang Yinian washed his hands, returned to the sofa, and leisurely opened a match-three game. It required no skill—just mindlessly matching tiles was quite fun.

He Wenshuo sat next to Jiang Yinian on the sofa, silently watching him pass the time with the game.

Half an hour later, Jiang Yinian shifted slightly to the side, putting about a foot’s distance between him and He Wenshuo.

Because He Wenshuo’s intense, dark eyes were too distracting, affecting his ability to play the game mindlessly.

But as soon as he moved, He Wenshuo shifted right back next to him.

Jiang Yinian politely offered, Want to play? I’ll let you clear a couple levels.

He Wenshuo shook his head: No.

He didn’t want to play games. He was just worried thinking that the relationship persona he’d carefully built at school might soon collapse.

However, this situation wasn’t beyond saving.

The key lay in whether Jiang Yinian was willing to help him again.

But if he brought it up, Jiang Yinian would definitely refuse—last time, he’d said it was the final time.

So, unconsciously, his gaze toward Jiang Yinian grew a bit more intense and pleading.

Jiang Yinian closed the game, stood up, and headed back to his room with his slippers: I’m going to lie down. Maybe you should go back and sleep too.

It’s still early.

He Wenshuo followed Jiang Yinian like a shadow as he moved to the bedroom. I wouldn’t be able to sleep even if I went back.

He couldn’t sleep from overthinking, couldn’t sleep from worrying—but strangely, as long as he stayed near Jiang Yinian, he could temporarily set those troubles aside.

Suit yourself.

Jiang Yinian paid him no mind. He wasn’t tired now, but he would be eventually. He lay straight on the bed, holding his phone with both hands in a position that risked dropping it on his face.

This time, he didn’t play games but scrolled through social media updates instead.

His parents loved sharing beautiful life photos and recording short videos on social platforms, posting at least one every day.

From their updates, he could see what their daily life was like—simple, ordinary, and warm.

Recently, since Grandma had gone to visit them, her figure appeared more frequently in their shared photos and videos.

Though they were in a different country with time zones apart, seeing familiar faces in those photos and videos made the distance feel less vast.

Jiang Yinian lay in bed cheerfully scrolling through updates, while He Wenshuo sat silently at the desk, watching him scroll with an unwavering gaze.

After finishing his scroll, Jiang Yinian left a comment on his parents’ latest video before turning his attention to He Wenshuo.

Still not tired?

Not tired.

He Wenshuo shook his head. He wasn’t tired at all—he was just troubled, trying to figure out what approach would persuade Jiang Yinian to help him again.

Buy delicious treats? Get fun gadgets? What else could he do?

But none of those felt fresh anymore.

He Wenshuo was still wrestling fiercely with his thoughts.

Jiang Yinian turned over, facing away from He Wenshuo. I’m tired and going to sleep. Remember to close the doors when you leave—both the main door and the bedroom door.

He Wenshuo:
Suddenly, he didn’t feel like leaving.

The morning alarm rang at the usual time.

The curtains weren’t fully drawn, and the room was already bright with daylight.

Jiang Yinian habitually sat up in bed, rubbed his eyes, and then noticed an extra figure at the edge of the mattress.

Using a cushion as a pillow, He Wenshuo—tall as he was—occupied only the tiniest strip at the very edge of the bed, where even a slight movement might send him tumbling off.

Jiang Yinian rubbed his face again, but when he opened his eyes, the scene remained unchanged. He reached out and shook He Wenshuo awake. Why are you still here? Why didn’t you go home yesterday?

He Wenshuo was awake, but after a couple of seconds, he pulled the cushion from under his head and covered his face with it, mumbling, Didn’t want to go back.

It had been too late last night, and even if he had gone home, he knew he wouldn’t have slept. So he’d stayed—after all, it wasn’t his first time sleeping here.

Jiang Yinian:
Instead of sleeping in his own spacious bed at home, he’d chosen to pitifully squeeze onto the edge of this one. It was a wonder someone his size could manage to sleep like that.

Alright, time to get up. Do you have class? If not, go back to your place and catch up on sleep.

I don’t need to. I slept pretty well last night. He Wenshuo really had slept decently. Though the space wasn’t spacious, it was oddly more comforting than sleeping at home—deep, dreamless rest. I think I might have insomnia if I sleep at home. Can I stay here again tonight?

Jiang Yinian said, Then go sleep on the sofa. What did sleeping by his bed even mean?

He Wenshuo insisted, No, I get so worried I can’t sleep if I go anywhere else.

Jiang Yinian was out of ideas. He climbed over He Wenshuo to get out of bed and said, Fine, but you should at least tell me what’s on your mind again.

He Wenshuo’s mind suddenly cleared. He sat up in bed, his dark bright eyes fixed on Jiang Yinian: