March was also the season when peach blossoms bloomed.

He Junming and his friends stopped playing basketball and agreed to visit the peach forest on the weekend. The peach forest was called “Peach Blossom Spring.”

That year, the “Peach Blossom Spring” had great advertising, and coupled with the famous essay “The Peach Blossom Spring” from their textbooks, it made the students eager to visit.

The peach forest was not far from the school.

In the vast grove, peach blossoms were in full bloom, with petals carpeting the ground.

Impressively, to attract tourists, the owner had even developed a greenhouse area to cultivate artificial peaches.

While March was normally the season for flowers to bloom, that greenhouse area had peaches bearing fruit. One could only marvel at human ingenuity, capable of simulating the four seasons. Tickets for “Peach Blossom Spring” were hard to come by, costing as much as 200 yuan each.

He Junming and the others asked Jiang Ren if he wanted to go, but Jiang Ren didn’t even look up: “Not going. Don’t bother me.”

He Junming held back his laughter. Brother Ren had been reading for several days but was still stuck on the first chapter.

He Junming thought it must be incredibly difficult for someone who hadn’t attended classes since middle school to suddenly start studying high school textbooks.

Since Brother Ren wasn’t going, they went without him.

As it turned out, they ran into Teacher Song Lijuan at “Peach Blossom Spring.” Teacher Song was there with her son to enjoy the flowers.

He Junming greeted her with a grin: “Hello, Teacher.”

Teacher Song smiled and nodded: “Hello, everyone.”

However, the group of young troublemakers couldn’t help but glance at Xu Jia.

Xu Jia wore a simple white shirt, exuding a clean aura. His appearance was striking, somewhat reminiscent of the popular gentle cream boys of a few years later. Despite so many people looking at him, he remained expressionless.

Teacher Song introduced him: “This is my son, Xu Jia. He’s the same age as you all.”

Xu Jia was holding a peach in his hand.

Upon hearing this, he paused for a moment, then nodded.

He Han smiled meaningfully: “We’ve heard about him. Xu Jia is quite impressive, isn’t he?”

Song Lijuan didn’t understand what they meant. Her son’s grades were good, but he wasn’t in the same school as them. How had they heard he was impressive?

Xu Jia lowered his eyes and smiled: “Mom, let’s go wash our hands and head over. Dad’s still waiting.”

With this interruption, Song Lijuan left with him.

After they were out of earshot, He Han clicked his tongue: “That kid kept his cool. He’s very stable.”

Fang Tan nodded in agreement: “He’s got guts.”

He Junming, however, noticed the peach in his hand, just that one. He immediately got excited: “Want to make a bet? Guess who that peach in his hand is for?”

Fang Tan raised an eyebrow: “For Meng Ting?”

He Han also thought so, but it was just one peach. Giving it might seem shabby, so it was more likely he was keeping it for himself. He would rather believe Xu Jia would pick peach blossoms to give someone.

However, once they entered the garden, they found out that the owner didn’t allow picking peaches. If you wanted to pick one, it cost 50 yuan each. He Junming couldn’t help but exclaim: “Damn, why don’t you just rob us?”

Being quite loyal, he told Jiang Ren about the peach and Xu Jia’s situation.

Jiang Ren, who had been “studying hard” in the apartment, finally left with a cold face. He bought a basket of peaches, practically stripping a rare peach tree bare. Without bothering to appreciate the flowers, he drove to Meng Ting’s residential area.

He arrived before Xu Jia and waited in the stairwell on the third floor.

He hadn’t smoked recently. He was already on her bad side, so there was no need to do more things she disliked.

Not long after Xu Jia returned, he went downstairs and knocked on Meng Ting’s door. Jiang Ren, standing at the corner of the third floor, curved his lips in a smile, his eyes showing a hint of malice as he watched them talk from the shadows.

She had just washed her hair when she heard the knock and went to open the door.

Afraid of getting her shoes wet, Meng Ting wasn’t wearing socks. Her delicate feet were only in slippers. Her feet were exceptionally beautiful, slender, and soft, not even as long as a man’s palm, with a hint of cherry pink on her toes.

It was spring now, so she didn’t need to wear her school uniform at home. Nor did she need to bundle up as in winter.

Her wet hair hung down her back, and even her eyelashes carried a hint of misty dampness.

She wore a pink floral blouse with short sleeves. It was an old shirt from two years ago, likely chosen to avoid getting her good clothes wet.

However, because the shirt was a bit small now, the seventeen-year-old girl’s chest was prominent, while her waist remained slender and soft, creating a startlingly alluring curve. Jiang Ren, with his hands in his pockets, cursed under his breath and looked away.

Yet a moment later, he stared back, feeling an anger he couldn’t quite explain.

When she was with him, she never dressed so “openly”? Why couldn’t he bear to see it? Jiang Ren couldn’t hear what they were saying, he could only see Xu Jia’s smile, which looked damned dazzling in his eyes.

Xu Jia smiled gently: “We went to Peach Blossom Spring today. My mom picked some peaches and asked me to give you one.”

Meng Ting didn’t accept it. She shook her head: “Please thank Auntie Song for me.” She knew peaches were quite rare this season, and she wouldn’t accept his gift without reason.

Xu Jia said calmly: “You can give it to Uncle Shu. Aren’t they researching fruit genetics? It might be helpful to him. Just take it. A peach isn’t worth much, and my mom would be unhappy if you don’t accept it.”

Meng Ting nodded and said: “Then wait a moment.”

She ran back inside and brought back a pomegranate that Shu’s father had brought. Under the brilliant March sunlight, she curved her lips, the air seeming to sweeten: “I’ll trade you this. It’s a genetically modified pomegranate that Shu’s dad brought back.”

Xu Jia couldn’t help but smile, his gaze resting on her: “Alright, I’ll head back then.”

Jiang Ren let out a cold snort.

After Xu Jia went upstairs, Meng Ting closed the door. She put the peach on the table, waiting for Shu’s father to return to see if it would be useful.

However, not long after, there was another knock on the door. Thinking Xu Jia might have something else to say, she wiped her hands and went to open it.

As soon as she opened the door: “…”

The dark-haired youth looked down at her expressionlessly, and she instinctively tried to close the door.

Jiang Ren blocked the door with his hand: “Try closing it, I dare you.”

The Shu household wasn’t empty now; Shu Lan and Shu Yang were in their rooms. Although Meng Ting didn’t hold grudges, she still remembered their unpleasant encounter last time. She was utterly embarrassed and angry: “My brother and sister are home!” There were people at home, why wouldn’t this scoundrel just leave?

Jiang Ren smiled: “Oh, then let them come out and call me brother-in-law.”

Meng Ting’s eyes widened. She was almost infuriated to death by him. How could he be so shameless?

She bit her lip and tried to close the door. Even using all her strength, she couldn’t manage it.

Jiang Ren was also angry. She could chat and laugh with others, but she didn’t even want to look at him.

He grabbed her slender arm and pulled her out, closing the door with his other hand.

Meng Ting watched helplessly as her front door closed before her eyes.

Jiang Ren dragged her to the corner of the stairwell, his eyes full of fire.

He let go of her and shoved the exquisite basket on the ground into her arms, his voice cold and hard: “For you.”

There were over ten plump peaches, nearly ten jin in weight.

Meng Ting was stuffed with an armful, so heavy she almost couldn’t hold it.

Jiang Ren lifted her face, his tone hard: “Don’t accept his.”

What was wrong with him?

Meng Ting put the basket on the ground and rubbed her wrist, intending to go back.

Jiang Ren gripped her shoulders, frowning as he looked at her.

Her exposed wrist had a small red mark. His hand trembled as if burned, not daring to use any more force. How could she be so delicate? He had only pulled her a little.

Jiang Ren asked in a low voice: “Does it hurt?”

Meng Ting was truly angry now.

He had never changed, always obsessive, domineering, and unreasonable. He wanted to give without caring whether others wanted it or not.

She didn’t smile, her eyes full of unfamiliar anger.

Jiang Ren’s hand slowly dropped.

Then he looked into her eyes and said dryly: “I’m sorry.”

He said very seriously: “You can hit me back if you want.”

Meng Ting shook her head: “I don’t have violent tendencies.”

He was stunned for a moment, feeling a bit cold inside. He did. When his emotions were out of control, he was a devil, a madman in others’ eyes.

His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he seemed unmoved. After a while, he smiled lightly: “I didn’t mean anything by it. The peaches aren’t expensive. He Junming and the others brought them back while they were out playing.”

Jiang Ren bent down to pick up the basket and held it out to her: “Even if you don’t like them, just take them.” He remembered how Meng Ting had given Xu Jia a pomegranate, even smiling at him.

Jiang Ren said softly: “Can I trade you for a pomegranate too?”

Meng Ting was still angry with him.

He wanted a pomegranate? This bad egg who didn’t care about others’ feelings wouldn’t even get a stone.

Her tea-colored eyes were moist: “No.”

Jiang Ren curved his lips: “Then smile for me.”

Only then did Meng Ting realize this bad egg had been eavesdropping on their conversation earlier. She kept her face straight, her rosy cheeks trying hard to stay serious. Far from smiling, her whole person seemed to have turned into a little wooden doll.

He smiled.

She was cute like this too.

She smelled sweet and soft all over. That spring, the outside world was full of beautiful colors. She carried a clear, floral scent.

Lingering and entangling, it burrowed into his heart.

“Meng Ting,” he said with a smile, “I haven’t smoked this time.”

She looked up at him.

His tone was gentle: “I’ll study hard. When I score 538 points, I’ll come to study in your class.”

Meng Ting was stunned.

The average score was something she had mentioned casually. She never thought Jiang Ren would take it seriously. But… how was that possible? In her previous life, she had never heard of Jiang Ren becoming a top student.

Jiang Ren said seriously: “I won’t fight anymore. My illness…” His tone became obscure, “The doctor said it will get better in the future.”

I really won’t hurt you.

He placed the basket in her small hands, this time very gently. His dark eyes held a solemn smile: “I will become very, very good.”

Spring suddenly gained an extra touch of restlessness.

She held the basket in her hands, dazed. The peaches inside still had fresh green leaves. She suddenly remembered that morning when he had arrived with a chill all over him, mud on his feet, giving her a basket of small strawberries.

Meng Ting let out a soft sigh.

All her fear and disgust towards him was because he had killed someone later.

A murderer… anyone would be afraid. He was indeed very dangerous.

But even out of politeness, she had been too harsh on him. She had also directly rejected Xu Jia, but she didn’t have such deep prejudice against Xu Jia.

Meng Ting returned the basket to him and took out three peaches from inside.

Then, without looking at him: “Wait a moment.”

She opened the door and went back to her room, put the remaining three pomegranates in a bag, and returned to the hallway.

His tall, handsome figure stood in the cramped hallway, not moving at all. He just stared at her intently.

Meng Ting felt a bit regretful.

Although she didn’t have such deep prejudice against Xu Jia, Xu Jia also didn’t get physical with her!

She put the pomegranates in the basket and said formally: “I’ll trade with you.”

Then she looked up and saw the youth’s eyes. His dark eyes were full of endless joy, his lips curved high, looking at her face.

It was the first time Jiang Ren had been so happy.

Although she didn’t know what he was happy about. Was trading peaches for pomegranates that joyful?

She didn’t politely smile at him either. He was a bad egg who would take a mile if given an inch. There was no need for that: “I’m going back home.”

Jiang Ren: “Mm.”

As she was about to open the door, Jiang Ren took a few steps over, his tone serious: “Don’t dress like this when you see Xu Jia in the future.”

Meng Ting looked at herself in confusion. Her clothes were old and worn. These old clothes were only for cleaning and washing her hair.

Jiang Ren’s gaze flicked to her prominent chest: “Men will have thoughts.”

This time, Meng Ting was stunned for several seconds, then her face turned bright red. She was so embarrassed she wanted to hide, her voice trembling with anger: “Other people don’t have those kinds of thoughts. Only you do, you lecher! You see lewdness because you’re lewd!”

He was scolded but only smiled, his eyes gentle, indulging her embarrassment as if coaxing a child: “Mm, I’m the lecher.”

No matter how lecherous he was, he wouldn’t let Xu Jia take any advantage.

“So, don’t dress like this anymore in the future.”

Meng Ting opened the door and slammed it shut.

She found a jacket to put on, the heat in her cheeks still not subsiding. She was both embarrassed and angry. Her view of him wasn’t prejudiced at all; he was just so annoying! The young girl’s heart was pounding, vexed.

She shouldn’t have given him pomegranates at all!

He could go trade with ghosts for all she cared!