How come you're also my ex-girlfriend?

Chapter 71 Cats and Dogs (Third update, please subscribe!)

"Yaoyao, aren't you going to sing?"

In a crowded KTV room, Xiao Lili asked softly to the girl next to her who had been looking at her phone all day and seemed uninvolved.

The swaying figures and the sounds of conversation all belonged to classmates from the same class.

However, Jiang Yiyao seemed uninterested in this, and didn't take the initiative to talk to anyone, let alone actively participate. It was more like... killing time?

"There's nothing good to sing."

Jiang Yiyao gave a calm reply.

"That's so boring... You don't seem very energetic today."

Xiao Lili sang several songs, and still seemed a little unsatisfied.

Jiang Yiyao smiled and said, "It's okay. I'm just like that. I automatically disappear when there are a lot of people around. Don't worry about me. I might leave at any time."

Jiang Yiyao didn't say what would happen at this time.

However, Xiao Lili noticed that the other person kept holding their phone tightly and occasionally glanced at the screen, which seemed to be unintentionally hinting at something.

"Yiyao, would you like something to drink?"

While the two were talking, a decent-looking young man dressed in a respectable manner walked over with a beer.

Although he seemed to be mindful of his distance from Jiang Yiyao, the moment he sat down, Jiang Yiyao immediately moved closer to Xiao Lili.

This little gesture made Zheng Xiangyang a little embarrassed.

But Jiang Yiyao seemed to have no explanation for this, and her expression showed no sign of panic.

"I don't drink, thank you."

Being overly polite and courteous seems a bit forced.

This left Zheng Xiangyang somewhat at a loss for words, but given the girl's looks and appearance, it seemed perfectly acceptable. After all, it's common knowledge that the prettier the girl, the harder she is to deal with.

To be honest, before this girl appeared, Zheng Xiangyang really didn't have any desire to fall in love before the college entrance examination.

However, some people seem to appear just to shatter all your expectations of life, so some feelings can't help but stir.

Perhaps youth should be filled with more adventure and impulsiveness? The regret of missed opportunities may far outweigh the fear of failure.

"Ah...how about singing?" Zheng Xiangyang continued to ask cautiously.

Jiang Yiyao simply maintained a polite smile and said, "You guys have fun, I can't sing."

When I said that, I inexplicably thought of another face, and I could still remember how I sang in front of that person that night.

Face to face... I can feel their breathing.

For a moment, the scene became somewhat chaotic, and Zheng Xiangyang, standing to the side, had no idea what the other person was spacing out about, nor did he know what to say.

At that moment, someone suddenly pushed the door open and entered. Before the others could understand what was happening, Zheng Xiangyang stood up.

Everyone looked towards the doorway.

A waiter pushed a cart carrying goods in, and the students initially thought it was a snack or treat ordered by someone. However, they soon realized that something was amiss; it turned out to be a three-tiered cake with candles on it.

For a moment, everyone was stunned, not understanding what was happening.

Zheng Xiangyang had already walked over to the song request station and paused a song that no one was singing. Under everyone's strange gazes, he looked at Jiang Yiyao and said...

"Jiang Yiyao's birthday is in a few days. We'll be in class then, so I guess we won't have time to celebrate with you. Since we have the day off today, I'm taking the liberty of celebrating your birthday in advance, and also welcoming you to the Experimental Class 3 family!"

Although this behavior seemed a bit abrupt, the classmates present couldn't say anything awkward about it. After all, Zheng Xiangyang had always been popular in the class, and he had paid the majority of the bill for this gathering, so no one would object to him doing something that seemed...strange.

The person in question has changed somewhat, becoming this beautiful young woman sitting in her seat, her brows slightly furrowed.

Jiang Yiyao glanced at Xiao Lili beside her.

Xiao Lili covered her lips and shook her head slightly, indicating that she did not know what was going on and had not been involved.

That means Zheng Xiangyang somehow found out his birthday and planned all of this in advance. Why would he do this? Was it to welcome a new classmate?

As a beautiful and self-aware girl who clearly understands her own charm, Jiang Yiyao can instantly come to the answer.

As some whispers arose, Jiang Yiyao had already instantly devised a solution.

She stood up and said to everyone, "Thank you all for your kind wishes. Although I don't usually celebrate my birthday... but since the cake is ready, let's all eat together."

She made no mention of Zheng Xiangyang, who made these arrangements.

But it instantly normalized the somewhat strange atmosphere.

She lit the candles, blew them out, and then cut and divided the cake as usual. The whole process went very quickly, giving Zheng Xiangyang almost no chance to interfere, not to mention that Xiao Lili quickly rushed to Jiang Yiyao's side to help with the process.

He has even less chance of enhancing his sense of presence and participation.

After doing all this, Jiang Yiyao didn't eat more than a few bites of cake before leaving it aside.

After thinking for a moment, Zheng Xiangyang finally mustered up the courage to say to Jiang Yiyao, "Happy birthday! I hope you don't mind if I celebrate your birthday for you..."

"Actually, I do mind it."

The boy, who thought he had spoken very politely and thoughtfully, was stunned on the spot, even though few people heard what he said.

"Huh...?" Zheng Xiangyang stood there, stunned.

Jiang Yiyao looked at him calmly and spoke, her tone even somewhat cold, "We're just classmates, I hope you can understand."

This statement leaves no room for retreat or leniency, and even eliminates any possible excuses for Zheng Xiangyang, leaving him with no chance to refute or salvage the situation.

"I just..."

"Although I mind this, thank you for the cake anyway. Tell me how much it cost, and I'll transfer the money to Lili later so she can pay you back."

"No need for that, consider it..."

"It must be repaid."

Her voice was somewhat cold.

Even though he wanted to appear generous and indifferent to these things, Jiang Yiyao's gaze rendered him speechless. He never knew that someone could express disinterest so vividly.

It's like taking a knife and personally cutting off all possible relationships.

Before Zheng Xiangyang could react, Jiang Yiyao glanced at her phone and said, "Alright, I have something to do, so I'll leave first. Have fun."

Turning around, she could smile and greet all her classmates as if she hadn't been affected at all, except that she had really encountered something that needed to be dealt with...

Only Zheng Xiangyang watched, utterly dejected, as the other person left the private room so easily, without a trace of lingering affection or hesitation.

He felt he hadn't done anything wrong; maybe... he just didn't like it.

Some things end completely before they even begin. Is this a tragedy, or can it be seen as a consolation? Young, vibrant teenagers won't understand the significance of this moment.

Jiang Yiyao had already left the KTV. She didn't go too far, but just looked at the message that had just been sent on her phone and tapped the screen to reply.

Then the young and pretty girl squatted down by the roadside, watching the endless stream of vehicles, the streetlights, and the neon lights flashing in the distance.

To be honest, today wasn't really boring. After all, it was a group of young people gathered together, so there were always some topics to talk about.

But Jiang Yiyao always felt that something was missing.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but it seems like something's missing that allows me to give it my all.

This uncertainty is just like my current mood. I don't know what I'm waiting for. The cool breeze blowing by the roadside should help clear my muddled mind.

Do you really dislike celebrating your birthday? If so, when did you start disliking it?

It's probably when parents are always arguing over trivial matters.

But why did I think of that annoying face the moment I cut the cake?

Jiang Yiyao, who was initially quite certain about certain things, is now wavering. Does he really not know... or is he pretending not to know?

I'm thinking a lot, and it's all very chaotic. It's even making me a little irritable.

They even wanted to get up immediately and go home to sleep.

But it was precisely in this chaotic and complex moment, when the world seemed to be in turmoil, that things came to a head.

"Squatting here, you really look like a stray cat."

Jiang Yiyao turned around instantly and saw a boy with one hand in his pocket and a bag on his back smiling at her.

He still had that same carefree and unrestrained smile.

Behind him were bright streetlights, illuminating his figure and making every strand of his hair seem to glow.

It seemed like there had never been a time when he had shone so brightly.

Is it true that people tend to overlook things because they are too familiar with them?

Jiang Yiyao slowly stood up and gritted her teeth.

"I'm a stray cat, and you're a stray dog."

Instead of responding with vicious words, the boy simply shrugged and smiled.

"The dog is taking the cat home, are you coming or not?"

A simple, understated smile, devoid of any greasy embellishment.

There was clearly no further action taken.

Jiang Yiyao seemed to be hallucinating that he was reaching out his hand to her.