Chen Er sipped the congee listlessly for two or three mouthfuls before pushing the bowl away.
Qiang Zi didn't force her. Chen Er always meant what she said. Once she made a decision, no one could easily change it.
“This is the medicine. Take it once now and once again before you go to bed tonight,” Qiang Zi instructed. He couldn't help but worry that Chen Er might oversleep.
Chen Er nodded and without hesitation, poured the medicine into her mouth.
Qiang Zi hesitated, but couldn't hold back his curiosity. Summoning up his courage, he asked, “Boss Chen, did something happen to you? How come you fainted on the street alone? Was it because of someone?”
Chen Er's expression remained unchanged as she replied calmly, “It's nothing. An old acquaintance passed away. I went to see him off, but I was too late.”
After hearing this, Qiang Zi felt an even stronger sense of unease. He always felt that there was something different about Chen Er compared to before.
But if he was asked to say exactly what it was, he couldn't put his finger on it.
“That's good…” Qiang Zi stammered out these words after a long while.
Chen Er didn't want to explain further. After taking the medicine, she closed her eyes and pretended to doze off.
Qiang Zi clenched and unclenched his fists. Finally, he decided to say what had been weighing on his mind for a long time. “Chen… Chen Er…”
This was the first time Qiang Zi had called Chen Er by her name directly.
In the past, he always joked and called her “Boss Chen”. Some people had asked him why he was so willing to follow this little girl around.
Qiang Zi just smiled and never revealed the real reason.
He still remembered that it was the beginning of senior high school.
At that time, they hadn't chosen their majors yet. Qiang Zi and Chen Er were in the same class. The young girl looked delicate, but she wasn't at all coquettish. While all the other girls in the class were dressing up in various ways.
Chen Er still did things her own way. Her little face was free of makeup, but she could easily capture people's attention.
Chen Er didn't like false friendships. Some girls disliked her way of doing things and tried to isolate her. They even deliberately found someone to play tricks on her.
Just when everyone thought Chen Er would rather avoid trouble, she directly slapped that girl several times in public and warned her fiercely, “I'm not someone you can mess with! If it happens again, I'll strip you naked and make you lose all your face!”
That girl didn't expect Chen Er to be so tough. She always bullied the weak and feared the strong. Seeing Chen Er always alone, she thought she was easy to bully, so she took action.
Now that she had met a tough nut to crack, no matter how reluctant she was, she had to accept what Chen Er said.
It was from that time on that Qiang Zi really noticed that unassuming young girl who was like a little hot pepper.
He deliberately got close to Chen Er and followed her around whenever he had the time.
Chen Er wasn't shy. She hooked her arm around Qiang Zi's neck and said with a cheeky smile, “What? Do you want to follow me?”
Qiang Zi nodded eagerly and became even more obsequious. “If I could gain your favor, Boss Chen, I'd consider myself extremely lucky.”
It had to be said that Qiang Zi's personality really suited Chen Er's taste.
So, Chen Er and Qiang Zi hung out together and lived a carefree life.
Later, in the second year of senior high school when they chose their majors, Chen Er was good at science and stayed in the original class. Qiang Zi had initially chosen liberal arts, but then begged the class teacher to change back to the science class.
He wanted to be by her side, no matter in what capacity.
Qiang Zi clearly knew that Chen Er only regarded him as a brother.
Qiang Zi had also seen Ji Pei's feelings for Chen Er. He had once been afraid that Ji Pei and Chen Er would get together.
But fortunately, he never saw any romantic feelings for Ji Pei from Chen Er.
Qiang Zi thought he and Chen Er were kindred spirits, but the appearance of Jiang Cong gave Qiang Zi an unprecedented sense of crisis.
When Jiang Cong came to the school to investigate Sheng Qingqiu's case, Qiang Zi hid far away and watched Chen Er talking to Jiang Cong.
Even though Qiang Zi knew they were just discussing the case, the sourness in his heart welled up wave after wave.
Jiang Cong was outstanding. He had a handsome appearance, was extremely photogenic with just a casual pose, had a tall and straight figure like a model, a gilded resume, and a wealthy family background.
No matter which aspect it was, it was something Qiang Zi could only dream of.
Qiang Zi secretly comforted himself, saying that there was a six - year age gap between Jiang Cong and Chen Er, so they couldn't be together.
But if they really wanted to be together, the age gap was just a trivial obstacle that could be easily overcome.
When he heard that Sheng Qingqiu's case was closed, Qiang Zi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He thought that now Jiang Cong and Chen Er would have no reason or opportunity to contact each other.
He once followed Jiang Cong and Chen Er, but he was discovered by Jiang Cong after only walking a few steps.
Knowing he was in the wrong, Qiang Zi had no choice but to give up dejectedly.
Finally, after a long period of suffering, Jiang Cong had to go to Beijing due to urgent matters.
Although his return date was uncertain, Qiang Zi was still genuinely happy. He thought that after Jiang Cong left, Chen Er would gradually forget about him as time passed.
But Qiang Zi was wrong.
He underestimated the position Jiang Cong had occupied in Chen Er's heart over time.
Qiang Zi didn't understand why someone who had only been around for two months seemed to have a deeper relationship with Chen Er than he, who had accompanied her for more than two years.
Today, Qiang Zi also followed Chen Er from a distance, afraid that something might happen to her.
However, the thing he was worried about still happened. Chen Er fainted on the roadside because of getting caught in the rain.
It was the first time Qiang Zi was so scared. He rushed to take Chen Er to the clinic. He only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that she just had a simple fever and cold.
He thought that maybe this was the chance to talk clearly with Chen Er.
Maybe Chen Er would agree to him out of sympathy.
Qiang Zi admitted that he was despicable, but for Chen Er, he was willing to do anything.
Even if he failed in the end, he was willing to watch her from afar.
“Chen Er… I have something to tell you…” Qiang Zi steeled himself. His teeth were slightly trembling as he tried to keep his voice steady.
Chen Er gave a faint “hmm” to signal Qiang Zi to continue.
“I've liked you for a long time. Can you be my girlfriend?” Qiang Zi closed his eyes tightly and blurted out all his heartfelt words in one breath.
Then he felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
Chen Er opened her eyes. Her clear eyes clearly showed that she didn't feel any fluttery feelings towards Qiang Zi's confession just now.
Qiang Zi could hardly maintain his smile, but he still forced himself to say, “You don't have to give me an answer now. I can wait for you… You don't have to…”
Chen Er's voice, neither too loud nor too soft, interrupted Qiang Zi. “Qiang Zi, you're my best friend. I don't want to lose you.”
Qiang Zi immediately understood. The light in his eyes dimmed involuntarily.