Chapter 14
After lunch, Jiang Mi sent Liang Jinyi back to the Liang house, then went to his grandmother’s place.
It was still early, only four o’clock, so Jiang Mi first pressed little Liu Peipei into two hours of tutoring.
After dinner, he pressed her into another two hours of studying. Only when he saw that Liu Peipei would be overwhelmed if she studied any longer did Jiang Mi temporarily let her go, even though in his eyes, this small amount of study was hardly worth mentioning.
His grandmother’s house wasn’t far from Qiuxin Garden, so Jiang Mi went home to sleep that night. The moment he entered, he saw the photo of him and Yunduo stuck on the entryway wall, and the motion of changing his shoes paused.
After changing out of his sneakers, Jiang Mi walked a few steps into the brightly lit living room, but he didn’t see his parents. He called out a few times before confirming that his parents weren’t home.
So Jiang Mi simply went upstairs to play games.
He hadn’t been playing for long when the faint sound of the door opening came from downstairs. Jiang Mi went down and asked, “Dad, Mom, hasn’t the factory been lately…”
His voice abruptly stopped when he saw how his parents were dressed.
His mother, Ms. Liu Qin, was beautiful and had always liked dressing up. But the mechanical parts factory was full of smoke and dust, so most of the time, his mother only wore simple clothes that were easy to take care of.
But today, his mother was wearing a rose-red backless dress. Her hair had been carefully curled into waves and scattered down her back. Around her neck was an exquisite, beautiful diamond necklace, and she was holding a large bouquet of bright red roses.
He wasn’t surprised that his mother had dressed up carefully.
What surprised him was his father.
Mr. Jiang Aiyu had always dressed simply and plainly, yet today, he was wearing a well-tailored suit. He had even put hair wax in his hair.
“Dad, Mom, what are you…”
Jiang Aiyu coughed and said, “Today is the twenty-fourth anniversary of the day your mother and I met.”
Jiang Mi’s parents were deeply in love. The two of them had married for love. In particular, his mother’s family background was much better than his father’s. When his maternal grandfather was young, he had been a chef at a state-run restaurant. Later, after the reform and opening up, his grandfather had also been hired as the head chef of a certain large hotel. His mother had graduated from a junior college in the eighties and had a respectable clerical job at the time.
As for his father, he came from a small city in the southwest. He had gone out to make a living after graduating from elementary school. For his mother, marrying his father had been marrying down.
Ever since Jiang Mi had memories, although his parents also had disagreements and would sometimes quarrel until the sky seemed to collapse, they would always reconcile after a while.
Jiang Mi raised his eyes and looked at his parents. Seeing his father go look for a vase to arrange the flowers for his mother, while his mother’s face still carried a girlish smile, Jiang Mi decided not to disturb his parents’ anniversary and prepared to return to his room.
At that moment, Liu Qin suddenly lifted her head and said, “Little Mi, do you have a girlfriend?”
Jiang Mi stopped on his way upstairs and shook his head. “No.”
Jiang’s mother reminded him, “You’re already in university. If there’s an outstanding, pretty girl, you can date.”
“Your mother is right,” Jiang’s father chimed in. “Young people should fall in love a little. Once you start working, you’ll be even busier. Maybe you won’t even have time to find a girlfriend.”
When it came to dating, Jiang Mi had always let nature take its course. “Okay, okay, I know. If I have a girl I like, I’ll pursue her.”
“I’m going upstairs first. I’m a little tired.”
Afraid his parents would continue asking about his love life, Jiang Mi hurried upstairs after saying that.
**
Early the next morning, Jiang Mi went to his grandmother’s house again and tutored Liu Peipei in math for the entire morning. After lunch, he returned to school.
There was a paper from last week that he hadn’t finished. After returning to the dorm, Jiang Mi took out the half-written paper and the materials he had collected over the past few days, lowered his head, and began writing furiously.
But after writing two pages, his attention couldn’t help drifting behind him. His roommate, Lu Tianyun, was on the phone with his girlfriend, and this call had started half an hour ago, when Jiang Mi began writing his paper.
Jiang Mi focused and listened for two minutes, only to discover that it was all pointless content. Things like how the sweet-and-sour pork ribs at lunch today were a little sour, and how the weather tomorrow wouldn’t be good, so they wouldn’t be able to air out their blankets—useless things like that.
Jiang Mi lowered his head and continued writing his paper.
After writing for more than another hour, Jiang Mi finally finished this assignment. He put down his pen and moved his wrist, noticing that Lu Tianyun was still on the phone with his girlfriend.
He turned his head and looked at Lu Tianyun.
Lu Tianyun ended his long phone call with his girlfriend and was about to pour himself a glass of water. When he turned around, he saw Jiang Mi looking at him thoughtfully. He touched his own face in confusion. “Jiang Mi, why are you staring at me like that?”
Jiang Mi said, “I just saw you smiling so sweetly the whole time.”
Lu Tianyun rubbed his face embarrassedly and said, “I was talking to Weiwei. I didn’t hold back, didn’t hold back. I’ll restrain myself a little next time.” Weiwei was Lu Tianyun’s girlfriend.
The corners of Jiang Mi’s lips curved. “No need to restrain yourself. It’s quite nice.”
On the first day of registration last year, when Lu Tianyun had seen Jiang Mi, he had been amazed. For no other reason than that Jiang Mi was truly handsome. He had a pair of affectionate peach-blossom eyes, yet the corners of his eyes were sharp, giving him a few traces of aloof indifference amid his refined elegance.
Apart from his eyes, his nose and mouth were also very good-looking, carrying the firmness of a boy while not losing a bit of gentleness.
In short, Jiang Mi was an elegant, coolly handsome guy.
But after nearly a year of contact, Lu Tianyun discovered that Jiang Mi’s advantages weren’t only his appearance. He had a gentle personality and stable emotions. Although he was somewhat proud and competitive, held himself to high standards, and had a bit of perfectionism, deep down, he was considerate and modest, and also quite harmonious and friendly.
Lu Tianyun pulled a chair over and sat beside Jiang Mi.
At that moment, Jiang Mi opened the document the senior had just sent him. He had joined the Student Union’s External Relations Department, and the Student Union was holding an event next month. This week, he had to visit several companies to seek sponsorship. This document contained information on those companies.
Seeing Lu Tianyun come over, Jiang Mi spared him a bit of attention. “Hm?”
“It’s like this, Jiang Mi. Do you have any plans to date or anything?”
Jiang Mi stopped scrolling through the document and said helplessly to Lu Tianyun, “Dating isn’t something I can do just because I plan to. First, I’d need to have someone I like, right?”
Lu Tianyun’s eyes lit up. “So you mean you’re not against dating, right?”
“Of course I’m not against it. It’s just that this kind of thing depends on fate.”
After saying that, seeing Lu Tianyun grow even more excited, Jiang Mi looked at him in puzzlement. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
“It’s like this. Weiwei has a friend who wants to get to know you.” Lu Tianyun smiled. “Why don’t I introduce you two? You say you don’t have someone you like, but the person you like can’t just fall from the sky. First, you have to expand your circle.”
Zhan Peng was gaming on his bed. Hearing this, he couldn’t be bothered with the fierce battle still going on in his game. He climbed down from the bed in a few quick movements, pulled a chair over, and sat on Jiang Mi’s other side.
“Jiang Mi, how is one girl enough to expand your social circle? Actually, Chenchen also has a friend who wants to get to know you. The girls in their School of Literature are each more graceful than the last. See when you have time…”
Before Jiang Mi had time to respond, the last roommate, Zhang Dameng, opened the dorm door and walked in. Seeing his two roommates surrounding Jiang Mi and chattering nonstop, Zhang Dameng locked the door behind him and casually asked, “What are you guys talking about?”
Zhan Peng had a more enthusiastic personality and answered, “Didn’t Jiang Mi say he plans to date? We’re introducing girlfriends to him.”
After saying that, he took out his phone, wanting to show Jiang Mi a photo of Chenchen’s friend.
Zhang Dameng froze for a moment, then said excitedly, “Jiang Mi, why let them introduce girlfriends to you? On Wednesday night, our Law School and the School of Foreign Languages have a mixer. There will be dozens of girls. Come to the mixer with me.”
He even made a grand vow. “Let’s get everyone in 4-09 out of singlehood this year.”
Jiang Mi: “…”
Lu Tianyun was more practical. He patted Jiang Mi’s shoulder and said, “Jiang Mi, arrange your schedule.”
Jiang Mi fell silent for two seconds. “Forget it.”
“Forget it?” Zhan Peng was impatient and raised his voice. “What do you mean, forget it?”
Jiang Mi said, “I’m quite busy next. This week, I have to seek sponsorships, and I still have another paper to write. There’s also a debate competition on Saturday afternoon. I don’t have time to meet girls.”
Zhan Peng said, “Then next week. Next week!”
Jiang Mi’s gaze fell back on the computer screen as he continued handling Student Union matters. “Then we’ll talk about it next week or the week after.”
Lu Tianyun stared at Jiang Mi, who was focused on handling his work, and sighed. “Jiang Mi, just admit it.”
“Admit what?” Jiang Mi’s attention was still on the computer screen.
Zhang Dameng said, “Admit that you’re a Qidian-style ambitious male protagonist, single-mindedly building your career and being an overachiever, with no heart for romance.”
Jiang Mi neither confirmed nor denied it.
He wasn’t a career madman with no interest in love. Watching his friends fall in love, he also had some expectations. But at the current stage, a near-perfect GPA, handling every task perfectly and comprehensively, and winning every competition he participated in gave him more satisfaction and happiness than romance.
**
Jiang Mi truly was quite busy that week. During the extracurricular time in the first few days, he ran around negotiating sponsorships. When he had a little free time, he still had to discuss the debate competition on Saturday afternoon with his clubmates from the Debate Society.
Jiang Mi had joined the Debate Society when he started his freshman year. At the beginning of this semester, there was a Bei City university student debate competition. They had already gone through six rounds, and today was the final round, also the championship match.
It was Jing University versus Hua University.
The debate was held in one of Jing University’s small auditoriums.
Perhaps because today was Saturday and students didn’t have classes, even though the debate competition officially began at three-thirty in the afternoon, by just three o’clock, the small auditorium that could seat eight hundred people was already packed.
At three-fifteen, the debate teams from Jing University and Hua University, as well as the chairperson and several commenting teachers, took their seats.
Today’s debate topic was: “Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets their mind to it.”
Jiang Mi’s luck was somewhat better, because a week earlier, Jing University had drawn the opposing side.
After the chairperson’s opening remarks, and after the debaters from both sides greeted the opposing debaters and everyone present, the debate officially began.
First, the first speakers from both sides presented their opening arguments, explaining the reasonableness and correctness of their respective positions.
The topic “Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets their mind to it” naturally gave the opposing side an advantage. So from the beginning, Hua University’s first speaker launched a battle over definitions, redefining the terms “difficult things” and “one who sets their mind to it” in the phrase, attempting to find a new breakthrough point.
Then Jiang Mi’s teammate, the first speaker, spoke.
After that, the second and third speakers from both sides entered the cross-examination stage. Hua University’s debaters were clear, organized, and sharp in their arguments. As Jing University’s third speaker, Jiang Mi had both strengths and weaknesses compared to them in this round.
Twenty minutes passed, and the free debate segment began.
Jiang Mi caught a loophole in the opposing debater’s argument. The small auditorium was somewhat stuffy and hot. After the opposing side’s second speaker finished speaking, Jiang Mi raised a hand and tugged at his tie, then stood and questioned, “So, opposing debater, since the goals that can be achieved after undergoing hardship are what you define as ‘difficult things,’ and people who possess a certain amount of talent and strive for those goals are what you call ‘ones who set their mind to it’…”
“Then I’d like to ask: when the Qin Empire collapsed, why was it Emperor Gaozu of Han who unified the realm, while the Hegemon-King Xiang Yu cut his own throat by the Wu River? Was Xiang Yu not hardworking enough, or did he lack the talent to command troops in battle? When the Three Kingdoms stood in a tripartite balance, Master Zhuge devoted himself to pacifying the Central Plains and restoring the old capital, yet in the end, it was the Sima clan who reunited the realm. So was Master Zhuge lacking in ability? Was he not exhausting his mind and laboring to the utmost?”
Hearing this, the opposing side’s second speaker immediately stood to strike back.
Jiang Mi remained calm. Only after the opposing second speaker finished attacking did he smile and pursue the question. “So the opposing debater admits that opportunity is also very important. Since opportunity can play a decisive role in whether one succeeds, then an individual’s efforts toward difficult matters in fact do not play a decisive role.”
Hua University’s first speaker immediately stood and refuted, “The opposing debater is distorting our debater’s statement. Our debater was merely emphasizing the importance of opportunity and did not say it is the deciding factor.”
Jiang Mi’s voice remained unhurried, yet his cultured appearance failed to conceal his aggressive momentum. “Then may I ask the opposing debater this: I have a high school classmate. Before a student I will call A transferred to his school, he had always ranked first in the entire grade. But after A enrolled, he still studied with the diligence of one who hangs his hair from a beam and pricks his thigh with an awl, studying by lamplight reflected from reeds, yet he never again ranked first in the grade. May I ask, was he not hardworking enough? Was he not smart enough? Wasn’t it simply that his luck was poor, and he encountered a classmate who was even smarter?”
“In Chinese culture, where we believe man can conquer nature, we have always liked to attribute failure to ourselves not being hardworking enough or not setting our minds firmly enough. But many times, failure is not because we lacked resolve, nor because we did not work hard enough.”
“Individual effort only accounts for a small part of the result.”
“For instance, without Duke Xiao of Qin’s support and trust, Shang Yang would not have realized his ambition of reforming the state and making it powerful. Without Emperor Wu of Han’s appreciation and employment, Wei Qing would not have become a renowned general. And without Emperor Gaozong of Tang’s affection and indulgence, Wu Zetian would not have become the first female emperor.”
The opposing debaters were still arguing back, but the outcome was basically decided. In the position “Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets their mind to it,” the affirmative side originally needed to seize on one loophole, one flaw in the opposing side and attack it fiercely. They didn’t necessarily have to win—debate itself had no absolute victory or defeat. Unfortunately, in the end, Hua University’s debaters were attacked by Jiang Mi until they were left battered and bruised.
After both sides’ fourth speakers gave their summary statements, the judges scored the round. Sure enough, the side slightly superior was Jing University’s Debate Society.
After the debate ended, the debaters from both sides shook hands amicably. Although they had engaged in a sharp battle of words onstage, debate wasn’t quarreling. It was a collision of thought. Besides, everyone present was a smart and rational adult. Once the heated emotions ended, they could appreciate their opponents.
Hua University’s second speaker was a girl who studied mathematics. Looking at the boy in front of her, she couldn’t help sighing. “Jiang Mi, you law students who also do debate really are wolves with sharp teeth, no matter how refined you look.”
The corners of Jiang Mi’s lips curved slightly. He said politely and modestly, “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the Hua University students said goodbye and left. Jiang Mi also went backstage. He was very famous at Jing University. If he didn’t leave the front area, many girls wouldn’t leave the small auditorium.
Backstage was even more airtight than the small auditorium. Jiang Mi had always dressed for comfort in this life, and he hadn’t worn formal, restrictive suits many times. It was very uncomfortable. After reaching backstage, he directly took off his suit jacket.
At that moment, a familiar milky voice sounded.
Before Jiang Mi had time to respond to Liang Jinyi’s call of “Brother,” Liang Jinyi eagerly ran over and threw himself into his arms, excitedly saying, “Brother, you were so handsome today.”
It was the weekend, and Liang Jinyi didn’t have class. Knowing that Brother had a debate competition today, he had begged his biological brother to bring him along.
Jiang Mi teased him, “Is Brother only handsome today?”
“Of course not.” Liang Jinyi hugged Jiang Mi’s thigh with both hands, his eyes shining brightly. “Brother is handsome every day!”
The corners of Jiang Mi’s lips curved lightly.
At that moment, one of Jiang Mi’s Debate Society clubmates walked over and reminded him, “Jiang Mi, Xuejie said that since we won, we’re eating together tonight to celebrate.”
Xuejie referred to the Debate Society president, Hu Liru.
In this Bei City university student debate competition, Jing University had participated in seven rounds in total. However, their Debate Society had sixteen members. Although a few third- and fourth-year seniors had not gone onstage, Jiang Mi himself had only participated in three rounds altogether. So this victory was actually the effort of the entire society.
“Okay, sure,” Jiang Mi answered.
Seeing that Brother was going to eat with other people, Liang Jinyi hurriedly acted spoiled. “Brother, I want to go with you too.”
After a pause, he frowned and said like a little adult, “I haven’t eaten with you in a really, really long time.”
To Liang Jinyi, not eating with Brother for a week was, of course, a very, very long time.
Before Jiang Mi could answer, the senior who had come to inform Jiang Mi about the celebration meal smiled. “Your little brother wants to come so much, so just bring him.”
Liang Jinyi’s mouth immediately became very sweet. “Thank you, pretty jiejie.”
The senior smiled, then went to notify the other club members.
Liang Jinyi had been brought by Liang Xuping. Jiang Mi’s schoolmates had just defeated Liang Xuping’s schoolmates, so Liang Xuping was currently not in the mood to eat with Jing University’s Debate Society students. He felt assured leaving Liang Jinyi with Jiang Mi. After greeting Jiang Mi, he returned to Hua University next door.
White shirts weren’t as comfortable as T-shirts either. Since there was still some time before the dinner gathering, Jiang Mi first took Liang Jinyi back to his dorm to change into a loose short-sleeved T-shirt. After that, he brought Liang Jinyi to the place where the club was gathering.
There were several people from the southwest in the club, and they all liked eating hot pot. Their gathering was also at a hot pot restaurant. Jiang Mi’s table wasn’t good with spice, so they ordered a split pot. The server brought over the soup bases and added hot water, and everyone waited for the soup to boil.
Jiang Mi and the others used this time to talk about today’s debate competition. Jiang Mi was the best debater in today’s round, so the conversation inevitably revolved around him. For a moment, as he spoke with his classmates, he slightly neglected Liang Jinyi, who was sitting beside him.
“Brother.” Liang Jinyi suddenly tugged at his sleeve.
Jiang Mi stopped talking with his senior and looked over.
Liang Jinyi hunched his shoulder blades back, his little brows furrowing slightly. “Brother, my back is a little itchy. Scratch it for me.”
It was already May, and the temperature in Bei City had risen. Liang Jinyi was only wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt today.
Hearing him say his back itched, Jiang Mi slipped his hand in from the hem of Liang Jinyi’s shirt and scratched him for quite a while. Only after Liang Jinyi said it was better did he withdraw his hand.
At that moment, seeing Jiang Mi about to talk to his classmates again, Liang Jinyi hurriedly pointed at his own mouth. “Brother, I’m thirsty.”
Jiang Mi glanced at Liang Jinyi’s water cup. “Isn’t there water inside?”
Liang Jinyi pressed half his body against Jiang Mi’s arm and acted spoiled. “I want to drink Wangzai milk.”
“All right.”
Jiang Mi had always had a very good temper. He called the server over and asked for a can of Wangzai milk for his little brother. After receiving the milk, Jiang Mi pulled open the can’s tab, inserted the straw, and only then handed the milk to Liang Jinyi.
The hot pot table was a large square table made by pushing three tables together. There was another person beside Liang Jinyi, a boy named Xu Yang.
Seeing Liang Jinyi obediently holding the milk and drinking it, looking both well-behaved and pretty, Xu Yang felt the urge to tease him. “You’re little Liang Jinyi, right? How old are you this year?”
Liang Jinyi was clinging to his brother tonight, so he was in a very good mood. He answered Xu Yang in a milky voice, “Eight.”
“What grade?” Xu Yang asked again.
Xu Yang had been one of the debaters who went onstage today. Unlike Jiang Mi, who had changed into a short-sleeved T-shirt, he had only taken off his black suit jacket and was still wearing the same style of shirt as Jiang Mi.
Liang Jinyi answered, “Second grade.”
“Are your grades good?”
Liang Jinyi glanced at Jiang Mi and said proudly, “My brother’s grades… are very good. My grades… are of course… as good as Brother’s.”
Xu Yang wasn’t someone who liked children very much, but Liang Jinyi was prettier than many child stars on television. The way he lifted his head slightly, full of pride, was truly adorable.
Xu Yang smiled and discussed with Jiang Mi, “Jiang Mi, your little brother is so cute. Give him to me as a little brother, won’t you?”
Jiang Mi was talking to his senior about Debate Society matters and didn’t pay much attention to what Xu Yang had asked. He casually answered, “Sure.”
The moment his voice fell, the sound of a can slamming heavily onto the square table came from beside him. Jiang Mi instantly recalled what Xu Yang’s question had been.
He turned his eyes toward Liang Jinyi and saw Liang Jinyi looking at him with anger and hurt.
Jiang Mi hurriedly coaxed him, “Sorry, Little Jinyi. Brother didn’t hear clearly what he asked just now. How could Brother bear to give you to someone else as a little brother?”
He lowered his head and pinched Liang Jinyi’s baby-fat cheeks. “After all, Brother likes you so much.”
Liang Jinyi’s tense little face loosened slightly. He picked up the Wangzai milk and took a fierce suck through the straw, then puffed up his round cheeks and issued a harsh warning.
“Brother, you’d better not be lying to me!”
“Brother is certainly not lying to you.”
Jiang Mi had quite a bit of experience coaxing children. Some children liked snacks, some children liked toys, while Liang Jinyi was indifferent to both of the first two.
He liked sweet talk.
