Chapter 50

"Don't talk nonsense. I can't understand what you're saying. You just finished your match and still have an interview to do. This isn't where you should be."

Ruan Ning's head shot up at that, frozen in place, her face drained of color. What a joke—Jiang Yihao, the football prodigy the whole world was talking about, had ditched his team and his match at dawn to come confess to her in some remote country courtyard. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she'd have thought it was some AI-generated short drama.

Ruan Ning was so stunned she wanted to bolt back inside, but Jiang Yihao had her locked firmly in his arms, leaving her to stammer out a rapid-fire string of questions.

"Why?"

"Are you serious? Why would you like me?"

"Why?! If I knew why, do you think I'd have waited until now to come?"

Jiang Yihao roared in frustration, turning his face away. He'd mustered up every ounce of courage for his first confession, and all he got back was a look of baffled confusion. Shame and irritation churned inside him.

"There's no why. I just took a liking to you. I want you by my side, at every match I ever play... No matter how hard or tiring it gets, one look at you and it all stops hurting."

His lips twitched up, then faltered, a faint blush creeping up his neck.

Jiang Yihao had always looked down on people who went around spouting lovey-dovey nonsense, figuring they had nothing better to do than get all sentimental. Today, he'd been forced to pour out a lifetime's worth of shameless confessions in one go.

"But—but..." Ruan Ning's brain hadn't caught up yet, still whirring at full speed.

She could barely breathe, squeezed so tight, her eyes fixed on the ground, fingers twisting together.

"No buts. You've got exactly one choice, and that's to be my girlfriend." Jiang Yihao cut off her hesitation with sheer dominance, his voice booming so loud Ruan Ning's ears rang, though her cheeks flushed pink. "I came here today to tell you I like you. You're the only girl who's ever made my heart race."

"I want to be with you openly, let the whole world know you're my girlfriend."

"The whole world?" Ruan Ning finally caught an opening, pressing her lips together, amusement lurking in her eyes. "Do you have any idea what you're saying? You just became a top idol, and now you run over here to confess to me? Aren't you trying to ruin my life?"

"Besides, your career's just getting off the ground. How can you date at a time like this?"

Jiang Yihao was in the middle of drafting his next confession when Ruan Ning doused him with cold water, which put him in a foul mood. "You know my name's all over the trending topics, right? There's a swarm of reporters chasing me out there, and I still hauled myself out to this godforsaken place just to confess to you. You should be grateful."

"Who're you calling godforsaken?" Ruan Ning arched an eyebrow.

"Me—fine, it's me." Jiang Yihao's mouth drooped, sulking.

Despite his naivety and recklessness, Jiang Yihao picked up on the gentle rejection woven through their exchange. A little deflated, he hugged the girl in his arms tighter. "Why won't you say yes? Is Bu Chen that bastard forcing you?"

He asked, flustered: "He hasn't done anything to you, has he?"

"No, it's got nothing to do with him." Ruan Ning let out a soft sigh, a tangle of emotions surging through her chest.

She laughed lightly. "And you still say you're not trying to ruin me? Let me ask you—don't you want to play in the World Cup and win the Golden Ball? You've barely gotten started. Did you finish this season? Did you win the championship?"

"So you mean, once I win the championship, you'll agree to be my girlfriend?"

Jiang Yihao's eyes suddenly lit up, gleaming bright as a puppy spotting a favorite bone, ready to latch on at any gap.

"Uh, that's not what I meant." Ruan Ning had intended to use the match as a way out, but Jiang Yihao had flipped it right back on her.

"That's exactly what you meant. Once I win the championship, you'll be my girlfriend." Jiang Yihao shouted at her with a grin, equal parts possessive and sly.

Ruan Ning thought to herself—she'd underestimated Jiang Yihao. He was part dog, part clingy, always pushing his luck the moment he caught an inch.

"Jiang Yihao, why do you like me?"

Ruan Ning's gaze dropped, and she asked the question that hit like a thunderclap.

Jiang Yihao was stunned for a long moment, then broke into a sunny laugh. "Like is like. There's no why. I just fell for you. Put anyone else in the world in front of me, and I wouldn't take them. I only want you."

Ruan Ning watched him quietly, her glistening eyes steeped in melancholy, like a lone lotus in the morning dew, bearing its solitude alone.

"You don't believe me? I'll prove it to you."

"No, I believe you."

"I know you're wonderful. But I've been through depression, and my perception of emotions is a bit different from other people's. I don't want to waste your feelings, so I'm being upfront with you. I'm sorry, but I can't return your expectations."

"Don't think I'm making up excuses to fool you. That's just how it is. My heart's a mess right now. I just want to live my life quietly, without any storms crashing into my peace."

Jiang Yihao's pupils constricted. A thousand words surged to his throat, but he bit them back and asked in a low voice, "How did you get depression?"

"I asked you how you got it." He spoke each word slowly, his eyes blazing with fiery intensity, as if any concealment would be burned away and laid bare.

"It's just... I didn't get along with people at school before..."

Ruan Ning trailed off hesitantly, then saw Jiang Yihao's expression darken. She hurriedly stopped him. "It's fine. It was a long time ago. Please, don't do anything rash."

Ruan Ning knew that with Jiang Yihao's fiery temper, he'd surely go after the bullies to settle the score for her—which would go against everything she'd tried so hard to hide.

She loathed bullying, and she wanted even less to use Jiang Yihao's power to retaliate against those who'd wronged her. What would that make her, if not a bully herself? The world was already full of violence, cruelty, and humiliation. She didn't want to add another sin to the ledger of human grudges.

A cold smile tugged at the corner of Jiang Yihao's mouth. He nodded. "Alright. I've got it."

He couldn't stand the thought of the one he loved suffering even the slightest grievance. Ruan Ning was too soft-hearted to pursue it, but that didn't mean he could swallow this. He was already planning to handle it privately behind her back.

"Jiang Yihao, stop pushing me, okay?" Ruan Ning cut him off urgently, her voice cracking with emotion, and she coughed a few times from the intensity.

Jiang Yihao panicked instantly, hurriedly patting her back. "Okay, okay. Forget everything I just said."

His brows drooped, like a scolded puppy, his nose twitching slightly. "You only dare to be this fierce with me. All bark, no bite."

Ruan Ning's taut face suddenly twitched, and she couldn't help but laugh. "Fine, I'm a coward, happy? Thank you for the kindness, but I have my reasons. Please respect my decision, alright?"

"Fine. Then how are you doing now? Do you need to see a doctor?"

"No need. And honestly, I'd rather overcome it on my own. I don't want to rely on medical intervention all the time."

"You're amazing."

Jiang Yihao's admiration was sincere. He'd always felt that beneath Ruan Ning's delicate exterior lay a fearless, resolute spirit, as if nothing in the world truly fazed her.

No matter how impatient Jiang Yihao was, he knew enough to understand that depression patients couldn't be provoked. Now that he'd calmed down, he realized he was already half a public figure. Forcing Ruan Ning into his world, exposing her to the media and public scrutiny—that really would be unfair to her.

Reluctantly, he breathed in the scent of Ruan Ning's neck. She was like a faint, elusive breeze—intoxicating, mesmerizing, impossible to pin down. To have stumbled upon her in this lifetime, he was done for.

"Then let me at least get in line early, right? Whenever you feel like having a boyfriend, just remember there's one ready-made right here."

"Okay." Ruan Ning patted his shoulder, the weight finally lifting from her chest. "I'll save you the first spot. Happy?"

Jiang Yihao smiled. "And no one else gets in after me."

She was soft and kind by nature. If someone pressed her with force or coercion, it would only spark the unyielding defiance buried deep in her bones. But if someone treated her with respect and sincerity, she'd respond with the same warmth and thoughtfulness, putting herself in their shoes.

Enough time had passed. The assistant stepped in to remind them at the right moment. "Young Master, it's getting late. We should head back."

The assistant had been waiting on the path by the gate after dropping Jiang Yihao off, giving the two some privacy. Now time was up—any later, and it'd be risky.

"Go on, the team's still waiting for you. It won't look good if you're late." Ruan Ning urged him gently, and as she noticed the little scar on his lip from yesterday's match, a pang of sympathy hit her. "Does it still hurt?"

Jiang Yihao caught her hand and pressed it greedily to his cheek, his eyes filled with an indescribable tenderness and lingering affection.

"It stopped hurting a long time ago. If only you'd been there."

Ruan Ning's face flushed, and she lowered her head guiltily.

Jiang Yihao was strict about time, so he could only put on his hat and mask and bid her a reluctant farewell. Ruan Ning walked him to the car. Just as he was about to leave, he remembered something, pulled a huge Mei'ang gift box out of the car, and pressed it into her hands mysteriously, triumph gleaming in his eyes.

"This is Mei'ang's latest bag. I wanted to get you something after winning the match, but the time was too tight. Make do with this for now—once I have a free moment, I'll pick out a proper gift for you."

Ruan Ning was stunned. Since when was a Mei'ang bag considered "making do" in rich people's eyes? She didn't know luxury brands well, but she knew enough to recognize this was a prestigious designer bag—one of these would cost tens of thousands at least. Last year, her dad had given her mom a classic Mei'ang model, and her mom had been thrilled for a whole month, showing it off to everyone she met.

"No, no. I can't accept this." Ruan Ning pushed it back with both hands.

Jiang Yihao's face fell. "Then agree to be my girlfriend right now."

"..." Ruan Ning glared at him.

The assistant silently took the gift from the young master and carried it into the house.

As the two of them were going back and forth, an impatient blare of car horns rang out from the gravel path at the front door.

Uh oh. Her aunt's family lived on a small hillside, the road so narrow only one car could pass at a time. Jiang Yihao had driven in and blocked the way, so no one else could get through.

Her cousin poked his head out the car window and shouted, "Who the hell blocks my front door in broad daylight? Move it, move it."

Jiang Yihao was about to snap back, but Ruan Ning frantically stuffed him back into the car, spinning in a panic, shocked that her cousin and cousin sister had come back so quickly.

There'd been nothing worth browsing at the market today. Her cousin sister only wanted to come back and binge-watch Jiang Yihao anyway, so they'd done two laps and turned right around. She hopped out in a flash to direct traffic, then spotted Ruan Ning in a tussle with some handsome, stylish man at the front door. She yelled in surprise, "Ningning, who are you talking to?"

Ruan Ning snapped around with a jolt, her smile stiff and twitching. "Hahaha, cousin sister, why are you two back so soon?"

"They're your family?" Jiang Yihao excitedly poked his head out of the car, patting Ruan Ning's shoulder, already reaching for his mask to greet them. "Hello, I'm Jiang—"

Ruan Ning shot him a killer glare. "If you say even one word out of line, I'll never talk to you again."

Jiang Yihao obediently shut his mouth and slid back into the car, scooting further inside.

Her cousin sister had been born with a sharp eye for spotting handsome men. In the blink of an eye, she'd darted to the car door and peered inside. "Weird... this guy looks kind of familiar."

"No one, you're seeing things." Beads of sweat formed on Ruan Ning's forehead as she blocked her cousin sister, waving for the assistant to reverse quickly.

Jiang Yihao sat upright inside, showing off his impeccable profile—tall, long-legged, sharply handsome, like a superstar dropped into a remote mountain village. Everything about it felt out of place.

Her cousin sister cheerfully waved at the car. "Hey, hello. Who are you? Came looking for Ningning special?"

Ruan Ning immediately pulled her cousin sister aside. "He's just passing through asking for directions. You—"

Her cousin sister blushed a little, but her obsession with handsome men made her shove past Ruan Ning to keep peeking. "What's the big deal? Don't you think he looks like someone? Let me get another look."

"No, no, you're definitely seeing things." Ruan Ning waved both hands, signaling the assistant, who also feared the young master's identity being exposed and sped up.

Her cousin backed off to let Jiang Yihao's car through first, and Ruan Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey, why'd he leave so fast?"

Her cousin sister complained, still trying to match the face in the car to one in her memory, and asked casually, "Who is he? Your boyfriend?"

"No." Ruan Ning watched Jiang Yihao's car vanish down the hillside, then darted into the house.

Her cousin sister watched her flee and smirked. "Ooh, ooh, I hit the nail on the head."

Ruan Ning slipped into her room, pressed her back against the door, her breathing rising and falling in waves. She saw the white Mei'ang gift box sitting quietly on the table.

She propped a hand against her forehead. Whatever. She suddenly felt like opening a phone game to unwind.

She picked up her phone and saw texts from both Bu Chen and Jiang Yihao, all sent days ago.

Bu Chen: [Heard your birthday's coming up?]

Jiang Yihao: [How are you planning to celebrate your birthday? I don't have a match that day]