I'm A Math Idiot, So What? - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: No Nostalgia (3)

The day after that, I was running a high fever and about to delete my Weibo post when I saw a private message from Xu Zheng.

He said he hadn’t thought things through properly. Breaking up so quickly would only give people reason to gossip about me.

The Weibo post didn’t need to be deleted.

I replied, “Zhang Hui will misunderstand.”

He left a one-line reply: “Only someone who cares would misunderstand.”

Ugh, he’s the one who got dumped! Why am I the innocent bystander getting caught in the crossfire?

“It’s okay, I’ll just delete it,” I said.

“Absolutely not,” he replied. “I already feel terrible for putting you in this position. Don’t let people laugh at you.

Just wait a while, or until you have a new boyfriend. Then you can delete it.”

“Fine,” I agreed.

For the rest of the summer vacation, I avoided any gatherings where Xu Zheng might be present, utterly embarrassed by the situation.

But I heard that whenever others teased him about us, he always responded with a cheerful smile.

I knew Xu Zheng was just trying to protect me from becoming the laughingstock. He meant well.

But this only made things more awkward between us.

If I didn’t explain, Xu Zheng would have to keep up the charade. If I tried to explain, I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.

It was suffocatingly embarrassing.

That’s why I couldn’t wait to get to Changning University.

There, I immediately clicked with Wang Ziqi. One night, during a late-night heart-to-heart around a warm stove, I confessed the whole embarrassing story to her and asked for advice on how to resolve the situation.

She scoffed, “Everyone’s got the memory of a goldfish. Who really cares if you two are together or not? Just forget about it quietly. Why would you need a whole breakup ceremony for everyone to attend?”

I thought for a moment and replied, “You have a point. But what if Xu Zheng likes someone new now? Would he hold back or hesitate because of me? Or what if some girl likes him, secretly checks us out, and then quietly walks away without him even knowing we’re dating?”

Wang Ziqi rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you overthinking this a bit? He brought this on himself, didn’t he? Why did he have to make his confession so ambiguous? Why couldn’t he just be straightforward? He had to be all poetic and vague, putting on a show for who?”

“Actually, he’s the one being wronged,” I argued. “It’s like if I jaywalk and he accidentally hits and kills me. He’d be the at-fault driver, facing fines and jail time. None of it would be his fault, yet he’d still carry the psychological burden. That’s not fair.”

Wang Ziqi rolled her eyes again. “If you want to ease his guilt, just tell him you have a boyfriend.”

“So, to get rid of a fake boyfriend, I need to hire another fake boyfriend?” I retorted.

Wang Ziqi stroked her chin thoughtfully. “No need to overcomplicate it. Just upload a few couple photos on Weibo. Problem solved.”

The next day, Wang Ziqi took me to the mall and had me try on several outfits, striking cute scissor-hand poses against different male mannequins. She snapped photos while shouting, “Head down a bit! Eyes over here! Smile! Perfect!”

The mall staff stared at us like we were a pair of lunatics.

After the photoshoot, Wang Ziqi worked her magic on her phone.

Soon enough, the final shots were ready. I leaned against the mannequin with a blurred face, looking every bit the “bird clinging to its master.”

“That should keep your ‘boyfriend’ inventory stocked for a while,” she said. “Post one every other day. After a few times, people will get the hint.”

“Honestly,” I sighed, “I think you’re reading too much into this. He probably doesn’t even care.”

Still, I kept posting sporadically for over two months, until he commented with a hugging emoji that only he and I understood.

That’s the end of that, I thought.

Until the end of the semester, when Xu Zheng shamelessly came to our school begging for food. He let slip that he had been shopping nearby when Wang Ziqi and I were staging the photos. Only then did I realize how thoroughly I had humiliated myself with that relentless charade.

To hide my mortification, I kicked Xu Zheng with all my might.

Perhaps my kick had some chiropractic effect, because Xu Zheng shattered his “shamelessness barrier” and started dropping by for meals regularly.

As we spent more time together, these old memories gradually sank into the fertile humus of my mind.

Maybe Xu Zheng had already forgotten all about it.

But I’ve never forgotten any of it.

It taught me this: If you think someone likes you, remember, that’s just you thinking.

Don’t foolishly entertain “what ifs.”

Because there are no “what ifs.”

After grinding these old memories to dust against my heart several times, the sky finally began to lighten.

Later, I drifted off to sleep, but it was fitful. Through the haze, I heard my phone ping. I checked it and saw a WeChat message from Fang Congxin: Do you maybe like me a little now?

I immediately snapped awake and shot back: You’re full of it!

Fang Congxin: Then why did you tell me to like you last night?

Cold sweat broke out on my skin. That was just an example. Don’t you understand metaphors?

Fang Congxin: Oh.

I put down my phone and was about to close my eyes again when he called. Since you’re awake, let’s go for a run. I’ll be downstairs in ten minutes.

Then he hung up with a rude click.

Whoever runs is the loser.

I was so tired I was about to ascend to heaven.

Ten minutes later, I found myself squatting at the bottom of his apartment building, dutifully awaiting Fang Congxin’s grand arrival.

He greeted me with a scolding the moment he saw me. “Didn’t we agree to go running tonight? And stop hanging up on people like a domineering CEO. It’s so rude!” Fang Congxin pulled a potted plant from behind his back, cutting me off mid-rant. “Here, this is for you.”

I stared at it. What? Still that Mimosa? Is this ever going to end?

Fang Congxin touched the Mimosa’s leaves, and instantly a row of leaflets folded inward. “See? This one’s got some dignity. Don’t let it die on your watch.”

I took the Mimosa, my stubborn side kicking in. “That’s easier said than done. I can barely keep myself alive these days. Nemo just passed away a few days ago—his bones are still warm.”

“If you can’t keep it alive, just give it back.”

I dodged. “You can’t just take back a gift. Right, Shy Shy?” I stroked the Mimosa’s leaves again.

Fang Congxin smiled. “Is your nose feeling better?”

“If it wasn’t, why would you call me down to run?”

“Then go back upstairs.”

“Not running anymore?”

“Are you crazy? Making me come downstairs at dawn to pick up a potted plant?”

“If you feel you’re being shortchanged, why not just run away?”

“No thanks. Goodbye!”

I dashed upstairs, placed the Mimosa by the dining table, and slowly strolled to the balcony.

Peering through the railings, I watched Fang Congxin slowly walk out of the residential complex. The hem of his white T-shirt billowed gently in the morning breeze.

I had corrected my foolish tendency to read too much into things, eliminating even the remotest possibility. Yet, I still found myself secretly harboring feelings for someone.

After sleeping in all morning, I woke up hungry.

Sitting up in bed, I pondered seriously: When did my crush begin?

Yesterday morning, I had been wholeheartedly focused on delivering meals to Fang Congxin and Tong Xiao. So, to be precise, my feelings had only started last night.

Then again, Fang Congxin had descended from the heavens to rescue us from danger, offering both manpower and financial support. He embodied the image of a heroic savior—righteous and magnanimous. Who wouldn’t feel a flutter of girlish admiration for such a valiant protector?

“Don’t you have Heaven’s Eye? See for yourself.” I tossed a pen to the floor, and as I bent to pick it up, I stole a glance at Tong Xiao. She was looking our way, her gaze probing. Gripping the pen, I turned to Fang Congxin and said, “Why don’t you make a move on Tong Xiao?”

Fang Congxin didn’t even lift his eyelids. “Did you take a spy training course or something?”

“No, but after watching all the James Bond movies, you’d be just as smooth as me. Enough fooling around—go strike up a conversation with Tong Xiao already. Our scriptwriting rule is: after delivering the dagger, always offer the sugar.”

“How do I start?”

“Just say her necklace looks beautiful today.”

“Oh.” Fang Congxin stood up, walked to the door, and casually called out, “Tong Xiao, your necklace is really nice. I want to get one for Lin Meng—can you tell me where you bought it?”

I’m speechless… Is this guy just a walking, talking dagger-grinder like Fei Wo Si Cun?

Then Tong Xiao replied, “It’s a sapphire from Tiffany’s.”

I hopped over and chimed in, “He’s just joking, ha ha! Fang Congxin was just saying how he noticed your necklace the moment he walked in today—it really suits your style.”

“I’m serious,” Fang Congxin said innocently to me. “If you like it, I’ll buy it for you.”

Buy it, my ass! You won’t even waive my tuition fee of a thousand yuan, yet you’re talking about a necklace that costs over ten thousand?

Tong Xiao said, “You two have such a good relationship.” She turned and patted my shoulder. “Senior Lin Meng, you should cherish it.” Then she shook her head, hugged her stack of materials, and left.

I chased after her, calling out, “Have you eaten yet? I’ll bring you lunch next time. What do you like?”

Tong Xiao waved coolly without turning around.