Agreed to Just Once - Chapter 17: It's Fine

Chapter 17: It’s Fine

Jiang Yinian slept fairly well during the latter half of the night.

He was awakened by his alarm clock in the morning, but after sitting up in bed, he heard faint noises coming from the kitchen.

Grandma hadn’t returned yet, so there was no need to guess who was making those sounds.

A few years ago, after He Wenshuo’s family moved to their new home, He Wenshuo had been living alone. His kitchen hadn’t been used for cooking since then – all the expired seasonings and ingredients had long been thrown away. He usually ate at school, at restaurants, or came over to Jiang Yinian’s place for meals. Occasionally cooking in this kitchen had become a habit.

He Wenshuo in the kitchen had just finished cooking. He transferred the irregularly shaped fried eggs from the pan to a plate, and as he carried them to the dining table, he passed by Jiang Yinian who had just emerged from his room. Come have breakfast, he said casually.

Mm.

Jiang Yinian responded instinctively, changing direction to head to the bathroom first to wash up. Picking up his toothbrush, he looked at his reflection in the mirror – his eyes were completely calm.

Indeed, he must have been too tired yesterday to have been overthinking things.

By the time he finished washing up, He Wenshuo was already seated at the dining table, having polished off half a fried egg in one bite. He looked up at Jiang Yinian but didn’t say anything.

Jiang Yinian sat down at the table and quietly began eating. Two fried eggs, two slices of bread, plus a large glass of milk – he ate until he was full, simultaneously casting out all the confusion that had been in his head yesterday.

This was just how their relationship had always been – nothing worth overthinking.

After finishing his breakfast, He Wenshuo glanced at Jiang Yinian again. When he left yesterday, Jiang Yinian had seemed listless for some reason, but fortunately, there was no sign of that now, and his appetite was quite good.

Seemed like he really had just been too tired yesterday.

Good that he was fine now.

Suddenly remembering something exciting, He Wenshuo said, I heard concerts have replays! Do you think we can watch the parts where the camera caught us in the replay?

Cough.

Jiang Yinian choked on his milk, raising his eyes. You really want to see that?

Of course. He Wenshuo said frankly, full of anticipation. Best if everyone gets to see it, then they’ll know we’re the best pair.

Jiang Yinian: ……

He should have known – he really had been overthinking things.

Time always passed quickly at school. Amidst many people’s anticipation and lack thereof, the semester hurriedly drew to a close – final exams were approaching.

As the saying goes, sharpening your spear right before battle might not make it sharp, but at least it’ll shine. Thus, the usually sparse study rooms were now packed full, impossible to squeeze into.

The boys, unable to secure spots, gritted their teeth and decided to temporarily convert their dorm rooms into study halls. To improve study efficiency, they even established strict rules.

Dorm study hall hours: 8 AM to 8 PM. No phones or computers allowed. No playing music out loud. No activities that disrupt studying. Violators must voluntarily relocate to the hallway to fend for themselves.

However, they miscalculated – even without phones and computers, with a group of friends sitting together, study efficiency remained quite low.

Because they still had mouths that could start chatting at any moment.

Today’s study session had only lasted an hour when Guo Jian was the first to break, happily announcing some news: Everyone must be tired from studying! It’s my birthday this weekend – how about everyone comes to my place to hang out?

Someone asked in confusion, You’re celebrating your birthday again? Didn’t you just have one last month?

Guo Jian replied, This is my lunar calendar birthday. Last time I couldn’t treat you all to a meal because something came up, so I’m making up for it now. Don’t worry, I’m not asking for gifts – just your presence is enough.

What’s fun about going to your house? The boys were quickly distracted from their studies. We’d rather just go to a KTV or billiards hall near the school to sing and play pool to relax.

Exactly.

Having elders around at home would inevitably make everyone feel restrained while having fun.

This is a rare opportunity!

Guo Jian immediately stood up to complain about their ingratitude: For this birthday, my uncle promised he’d specially come back to cook a whole feast for me!

My uncle’s cooking is State banquet standard, okay? Most people don’t even get to taste it. I guarantee you’ll remember the flavor long after you’ve tried it.

Really?

The boys became interested. What can he make?

Guo Jian declared confidently, There’s nothing he can’t make!

Hearing about the delicious food, He Wenshuo also looked up from his review materials. He’d been too busy with recent studies – both he and Jiang Yinian had been too occupied to specifically go out looking for good food.

Impressive, then we definitely have to go taste it, the boys chimed in. But won’t we eat up all your family’s food stores?

At their age, every one of them had a formidable appetite.

You couldn’t finish it even if you tried, Guo Jian said with full confidence. His family ran an Agritainment business in the suburbs – even if the whole class came, they wouldn’t eat him out of house and home. He noticed He Wenshuo hadn’t responded yet among the group. He Wenshuo, why so quiet? Are you coming or not?

He Wenshuo: Not sure.

He silently calculated – it had been two weeks since he last went out for a proper meal with Jiang Yinian.

For some reason, Guo Jian thought about the birthday gift He Wenshuo had given him last month and relaxed his requirements: Come on, it’ll be such a pity if everyone comes except you. I’ll allow you to bring family along.

He Wenshuo: Then I’ll ask Jiang Yinian if he wants to come.

Guo Jian had already met Jiang Yianian during the free movie outing last time. He thought Jiang Yinian was perfectly fine, but he thought there was something wrong with He Wenshuo: Hey, I meant you could bring your girlfriend, not your buddy!

He Wenshuo: Then I’ll think about it some more.

Guo Jian: ……

Meanwhile, Jiang Yinian was also busy preparing for his exams. With classes scattered throughout the day, going home to study was too troublesome. He didn’t live in the dorms nor did he have close friends who did, so he had no dorm room to use. The library remained his best option.

The library was equally crowded. While looking for a seat, he saw a classmate waving at him.

Jiang Yinian, over here! There’s an empty spot.

Jiang Yinian sat down at the long study table and noticed Qin Tu sitting across from him. However, Qin Tu seemed to have finished reviewing already, as he silently packed his textbooks and left

As Jiang Yinian spread out his books, he glanced at Qin Tu’s retreating figure and suddenly realized that ever since he bought those two concert tickets from Qin Tu last time, they hadn’t spoken to each other since.

Although he had given the ticket He Wenshuo bought to Qin Tu for free, to be fair, Qin Tu’s two tickets were indeed in better seats.

He had originally wanted to invite Qin Tu for a meal together with He Wenshuo, but since they hadn’t really spoken much in class, the plan was put on hold.

Maybe the other person didn’t care anyway.

Jiang Yinian didn’t dwell on it further and continued studying. His final exams were three days earlier than He Wenshuo’s—time was tight, the workload heavy, and he really had no mental space to consider other matters.

Precisely because of his revision schedule, his return home each evening had been much later than usual recently.

Jiang Yinian opened the door to find the living room lights on. The coffee table in front of the sofa was covered with snack wrappers—biscuits, potato chips, chocolate, hawthorn strips, and a bag of fragrant sugar-fried chestnuts.

He scanned the room and found He Wenshuo busy hanging clothes on the balcony.

He Wenshuo looked as calm as ever: You’re back.Jiang Yinian walked to the balcony sliding door, staring in shock at the numerous garments hanging on the lifting clothes rack. Unless he was mistaken, all the clothes he’d accumulated in the laundry basket had been washed—even his underwear.

Jiang Yinian couldn’t control his tone, sounding slightly irritated: Why did you wash my clothes?

He Wenshuo looked confused for a moment before explaining: What’s wrong? Everyone was chatting instead of studying properly today, so I came back early. I didn’t have much to do, saw the clothes sitting there, and just washed them.

Noticing Jiang Yinian’s gaze lingering on the underwear, he specifically emphasized: Don’t worry, I didn’t put the underwear in the washing machine. I hand-washed them.

Jiang Yinian: ……

Now the underwear swaying in the breeze on the balcony seemed even more irritating.

Jiang Yinian clenched his fist. He was rarely one to lose his temper. He swallowed the frustration that had been lodged in his throat and calmly negotiated with He Wenshuo: It’s too much trouble for you. You don’t need to help me with this next time.

He Wenshuo froze, his heart sinking as he immediately responded: I never thought you were troublesome.

Suddenly it dawned on him—he finally recognized the slightly odd feeling that had occasionally surfaced during his recent interactions with Jiang Yinian.

It was politeness.

These past few days, Jiang Yinian had been deliberately or unconsciously keeping him at arm’s length—no longer letting him make breakfast, asking for fewer favors, saying thank you more frequently.

Why was this happening?

He Wenshuo looked seriously at Jiang Yinian: Niannian, I truly don’t find anything about you troublesome. Not even a little bit. Really, I’m happy to help you.

……

Jiang Yinian also felt his reaction had been excessive and softened his tone: I’m sorry.

He Wenshuo instantly grew more panicked, placing both hands on Jiang Yinian’s shoulders: Don’t you dare apologize to me!

Jiang Yinian couldn’t quite handle the intensity of He Wenshuo’s gaze and slowly nodded: Okay.

He Wenshuo:

Back in the living room, He Wenshuo arranged all the snacks in front of Jiang Yinian: Have something to eat first. I also ordered takeout—it should arrive in about twenty minutes.

Mm.

Jiang Yinian sat at the edge of the sofa, quietly peeling sugar-fried chestnuts, eating each one as he peeled it.

Once again, He Wenshuo didn’t know what to say. He just quietly watched Jiang Yinian eat.

Jiang Yinian rarely got into a bad mood, with only one exception—when he was overly hungry. But as long as he filled his stomach, his mood would improve along with it.

He Wenshuo discussed with Jiang Yinian, It’s been a while since we’ve eaten out. How about we go for some good food this weekend? I’ll make a reservation.

Jiang Yinian wavered for only a moment at the suggestion. Let’s go another time. I need to study over the weekend—exams are next week.

He Wenshuo insisted, It’s just one meal.

Truthfully, he had his own motives: using the meal as an excuse to casually go out with Jiang Yinian. It had been some time since they had last wandered around freely without a care in the world.

Jiang Yinian shook his head again. Even a meal wastes too much time. Let’s wait until after finals.

Making reservations, planning the schedule, traveling there and back—it all consumed precious time. Trying to relax under such circumstances wouldn’t truly be relaxing anyway.

But, He Wenshuo couldn’t help adding, once exams are over, it’ll be break. And as soon as break starts, you’ll be off to stay with your parents.

It was the same every semester: the moment finals ended, within half a day or a day at most, Jiang Yinian would fly abroad, leaving him alone until the break was nearly over.

Jiang Yinian replied, We’ll still have time for a meal after exams.

He Wenshuo countered, But your finals end earlier than mine. He could already picture it: in a week or two, Jiang Yinian would finish his exams, pack up, and prepare to fly abroad, while he would still be bogged down by his last few specialized exams.

Skipping finals wasn’t an option. If he failed, his parents would undoubtedly team up to give him trouble.

That reminder struck Jiang Yinian. Right—once the semester ended, he would be spending the summer abroad. There would be a long stretch of time for him to dwell on all these messy, unnecessary thoughts alone, unlike now, when he never knew what to say upon seeing He Wenshuo.

Otherwise… He Wenshuo still wanted to go out with Jiang Yinian, anywhere would do. A thought occurred to him—Guo Jian’s words from earlier that day.

Guo Jian had mentioned that his family ran an Agritainment business. If they went in the evening, not only would they get to enjoy State banquet-level dishes cooked personally by his uncle, but after the meal, they could also set off fireworks and watch them. He promised it would be lively and fun, and perhaps Jiang Yinian’s mood would lift a little.

He Wenshuo glanced at Jiang Yinian, hesitating briefly before speaking. Guo Jian said he’s celebrating his birthday this weekend and invited us to join. Do you want to go?

Jiang Yinian instinctively responded, How is it his birthday again?

It hadn’t been long—just last month, He Wenshuo had rushed to buy a gift, and Jiang Yinian had accompanied him.

He Wenshuo explained, He said it’s his lunar calendar birthday. He didn’t host last time, so he’s treating everyone to a meal now.

Jiang Yinian questioned, I’m not that close to him. Would he really invite me?

He Wenshuo slowly replied, He said I could bring my girlfriend.

A wave of irritation surged in Jiang Yinian. So you just want me to pretend to be your girlfriend again, is that it?

No!

No, He Wenshuo hurriedly clarified. I just thought you’ve been really stressed with studying lately and wanted to take you out somewhere—anywhere, really. Guo Jian happened to mention there would be good food and fun, so I thought I’d ask if you wanted to go.

Jiang Yinian stated firmly, I’m not going.

He Wenshuo didn’t hesitate: Alright, alright, we won’t go.

Jiang Yinian: ……

Neither spoke, and the living room fell into silence.

After a long while.

He Wenshuo still couldn’t resist speaking up: What’s been going on with you lately? Is your review not going well? Or is there something happening that you haven’t told me about?

Jiang Yinian let out a breath and continued eating chestnuts: No.

He Wenshuo didn’t believe him, reaching out to help peel chestnuts: You definitely do. You’ve been acting strange lately.

Jiang Yinian: No.

He Wenshuo’s mood gradually calmed: It’s fine if you don’t want to tell me. I’ll figure it out sooner or later.

Jiang Yinian paused in peeling chestnuts and looked at He Wenshuo again. I said no. What exactly do you want?

He Wenshuo: I just want to take you out for a walk.

What good would a walk do? Jiang Yinian wordlessly bit into a chestnut and nodded: Fine, let’s go. Don’t you want to celebrate Guo Jian’s birthday? I’ll go with you.

Author’s note: