Reincarnation: Trying to pretend to be ordinary, but it turns out it's really impossible.

Ji Chongyan didn't say anything, but raised his hand to summon the waiter and calmly ordered his food.

Lin Jiajia, who was standing next to her, also tried to remain calm and ordered what she wanted to eat.

After the food was ordered and the waiter left, Ji Chongyan's deep voice slowly began to ring out:

"I heard that you got lost in the woods in the middle of the night during your study trip."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiajia abruptly looked up, her eyes filled with unexpected surprise: "How did you know about this?"

Ji Chongyan paused for two seconds, his fingertips lightly touching the temple of his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone devoid of any emotion: "I found out by accident."

Then, he said calmly, "Your actions were too rash."

One sentence instantly ignited Lin Jiajia's anger.

She was already holding back her anger because of what had happened before, and now being criticized by an "outsider" she hadn't contacted in a long time made her even angrier.

After her father found out about this, he gave her a severe scolding. She was already feeling wronged, and now she had to be lectured by Ji Chongyan.

Why should I?!

Lin Jiajia clenched her fists tightly, glared at him, and spoke with a tone full of resentment:

"It's none of your business! My affairs are none of your concern. Mind your own business!"

Ji Chongyan looked at her flustered appearance, his eyes flickered slightly, and his originally calm eyes dimmed a little.

He paused for a moment, then slowly said, "You seem to...dislike me?"

"Didn't you used to like me a lot? You always liked to follow me around, didn't you?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiajia became even angrier, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"You said that's all in the past! I'm all grown up now, I'm not that little kid following you around anymore!"

Ji Chongyan looked at Lin Jiajia, whose face was full of anger, and parted his lips slightly, as if he wanted to say something more.

But Lin Jiajia had completely lost interest in listening.

She looked up at Ji Chongyan and said, "I have no appetite and want to go back."

After saying that, he made a move to get up, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

Upon seeing this, Ji Chongyan paused, then slowly put down the cutlery in his hand and said in a deep voice, "I'll take you."

"No need, I can go back by myself." Lin Jiajia refused without even thinking, her tone stiff.

Ji Chongyan frowned almost imperceptibly: "It's getting dark, it's not safe for a girl to go home alone, I'll take you."

Lin Jiajia looked up at him and met his eyes. In a daze, she caught a glimpse of concern and worry in his calm expression.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly dismissed her misconception.

You must have misread it, or maybe he's just polite to everyone.

After all, he already has a girlfriend, so how could he treat her any differently?

She subconsciously turned her head and glanced at her roommates in the next booth, who were still eating heartily without any regard for their image.

His lips twitched slightly, and he was momentarily speechless.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally relented, stood up, and said to Ji Chongyan, "Let's go."

A faint smile flickered in Ji Chongyan's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, got up, and followed her out of the restaurant.

The atmosphere inside the car was so quiet it was almost oppressive, with only a faint engine sound echoing in the cramped space.

Lin Jiajia turned her head to look at the night view rushing past the window, remaining silent the whole time and deliberately avoiding any interaction with him.

Ji Chongyan gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed straight ahead, carefully considering his words before speaking.

They brought up old stories from their childhood, trying to break the silence.

But each time, Lin Jiajia coldly interrupted him.

"Can we please stop talking about the past?" Lin Jiajia finally couldn't hold back any longer and turned her gaze away from the window.

His tone was clearly impatient: "That was a long time ago, it's all in the past."

Ji Chongyan tightened his grip on the steering wheel slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of inquiry:

Are you angry because I left back then?

Lin Jiajia gently shook her head, her tone flat, revealing little emotion:

"No. You were going abroad to study at university back then, leaving was a normal thing, there's nothing to be angry about."

What angered her was never Ji Chongyan going abroad, but that after he left the country, he completely cut off contact with her and never heard from him again.

She could accept his departure, but she couldn't let go of his sudden disappearance without warning.

The little girl who once followed behind him eventually withdrew all her dependence during the long wait.

The car slowly came to a stop on the side of the road.

Ji Chongyan turned his head, his deep gaze fixed on Lin Jiajia: "You...do you hate me now?"

Lin Jiajia didn't look at him, but stared at her reflection in the car window, her tone indifferent: "Yes. I hate it."

Ji Chongyan seemed to be stung by this blunt answer, his brows furrowing slightly, and he then offered several "possibilities" that he considered possible:

"Why? Is it because I'm not good-looking? Or because I'm not capable? Or is it for some other reason?"

Lin Jiajia's mind raced for a moment. She looked up at him, feigning disdain, and said, "You're too old. You're a full five years older than me."

Ji Chongyan was completely stunned.

He racked his brains and considered countless possibilities, but he never expected this reason.

He paused for a moment, then retorted in a complicated tone, even with a hint of grievance:

"But back in junior high, you clearly liked me the most. You even said back then that I was pretty and that you would marry me when you grew up."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiajia's tone lightly overshadowed his words:

"Those are all old stories from junior high! Everyone has to grow up, and women's hearts are inherently fickle, you know?"

Ji Chongyan was speechless for a moment, his face visibly darkened, and the atmosphere around him instantly became less intense.

Seeing his discomfiture, Lin Jiajia felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

Sure enough, when others are unhappy, I can be happy.

The car drove a little further, and Ji Chongyan pulled over again.

Lin Jiajia was getting impatient and immediately said with a sullen face, "What is it now? If you don't want to take me, fine, I'll just take a taxi home myself."

"Wait for me in the car." Ji Chongyan ignored her angry words, opened the car door, and quickly got out.

Lin Jiajia had no choice but to stay in the car. Bored, she picked up her phone and sent messages to Su Ningning and the others.

[Don't bother me]: Have you finished eating yet?

[Dry Rice First Person]: Mama, why didn't you tell us you were going back?

【Don't bother me】: Look at you all, you're such gluttons, your faces are buried in your food. Who even remembers what we came here for today?

[The Number One Person in Dry Rice]: We remember!

[Orange Soda]: I remember, I checked it for you. This man is very handsome. You didn't lose out.

【I'm sleepy today too】: That's right, I'm only a little bit worse than Shen Xingbai, which is already pretty good.

[Orange Soda]: Shuyao, when you mentioned Shen Xingbai, I felt like this man looked a bit like Shen Xingbai.

[The Number One Person in Dry Rice]: Does it look like him?

【I'm also very sleepy today】: It really does look a bit like it, maybe three or four parts similar.

[Don't bother me]: Maybe all handsome guys look alike.

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After chatting with her roommates for a bit, Lin Jiajia's mood improved slightly when the car door opened and Ji Chongyan sat back down.