The Confused Heart

The timeline rewinds to over ten days ago.

Returning home from Chu Miaomiao's neighborhood, Jiang Yunlu felt somewhat lost.

What exactly was she trying to do?

Truth or Dare—why hadn't she been able to ask her question?

Or perhaps, should she be grateful for the man who barged in and interrupted her?

Before even entering her room, Jiang Yunlu noticed her door slightly ajar, light spilling out from within.

Was someone inside?

She pushed the door open and saw a figure in pajamas, her curvaceous silhouette lounging on the bed.

Hearing the door, Jiang Chengyue turned her head—a white sheet mask plastered on her face.

"Auntie, what are you doing here?"

Jiang Chengyue turned back to the international news on her phone. "You’re the one who said you had something to talk to me about, remember?"

Oh, right.

Jiang Yunlu suddenly felt embarrassed.

"Go take a shower first. Your auntie here is very eager to hear about little Yunlu’s love life."

Jiang Yunlu’s face flushed instantly.

But she obediently went to shower.

When she returned, Jiang Chengyue had somehow produced a plate of fruit and was eyeing her expectantly.

Jiang Yunlu, now in her cat-print pajamas, sat on the bed and instinctively grabbed the black cat plushie, hugging it tightly.

"That big black cat—it’s from that boy, isn’t it?" Jiang Chengyue popped a seedless grape into her mouth.

"Mhm~ But there are two other girls around him. One’s his childhood neighbor, the other his current landlady. He even gave his landlady a big fox plushie."

"What about the other one?" Jiang Chengyue pressed.

Jiang Yunlu recalled the girl whose beauty rivaled her own, with an enviable figure yet timid demeanor.

She could tell Lin Mo treated her with extra care.

Was it because they were neighbors?

"That girl got one too."

"So they both like him, huh?"

Jiang Yunlu nodded firmly.

She could sense Chu Miaomiao and Xie Yuling’s feelings for Lin Mo—just like her own.

"And... what about the boy?" Jiang Chengyue frowned.

Three girls all smitten with this Lin Mo guy.

What was so special about an orphaned boy?

She’d actually looked into him after their meeting.

But he didn’t seem particularly remarkable. Why was her niece so infatuated?

"So, what do you like about him?"

Jiang Chengyue asked the question weighing heaviest on her mind.

Jiang Yunlu froze, as if she wanted to answer but couldn’t quite articulate it.

"I... I don’t know. But there’s just something about him. Maybe it’s how good he is at studying, or sports—oh, he’s amazing at badminton! But he said he can’t compete because of some national rule since he’s trained in martial arts."

"That’s nonsense. I’ve never heard of such a rule."

Jiang Chengyue was a journalist—a legitimate one, not the kind who twisted narratives or sensationalized headlines.

She’d never come across any regulation like that.

But Jiang Yunlu insisted, "But he’s really that good! He once took on a dozen thugs single-handedly. And he’s actually incredible at all sports—he just downplays it."

Hearing this, Jiang Chengyue understood.

Her niece was hooked because of curiosity.

The more you wondered about someone, the closer you drew—until those feelings blurred into something else.

Jiang Chengyue shot her a disapproving look.

"So, what did you want to ask me? Seems like you’ve already got it all figured out."

Jiang Yunlu flopped facedown onto the bed.

"I don’t know! I don’t know if I should keep liking him... or if I should even ask whether he likes me back."

She wasn’t naive—she knew what love was. Sheltered, yes, but not clueless.

The real issue was that Jiang Yunlu’s life had always been smooth sailing.

By middle school, the confessions and love letters she’d received could’ve formed a platoon.

But Lin Mo was different.

Jiang Chengyue sighed, gently stroking her niece’s hair.

"You’re overthinking this. Have you forgotten you’re only fifteen?

There’s so much time ahead. Why not let these feelings simmer? More importantly, use them to understand your own heart.

Is it real love? Or just curiosity?

Time will give you the answer."

Jiang Yunlu considered her aunt’s words. They made sense.

Maybe she was rushing things—she and Lin Mo had only known each other for a little over a month.

Then Jiang Chengyue’s tone shifted.

"Still, that boy’s no saint either. He knows you all like him, right? Yet he does nothing—doesn’t distance himself, doesn’t commit. What’s his game?!"

As she spoke, her anger flared. She snatched the helpless cat plushie and started whacking it.

"Hey—Auntie!!"

......

Mixed Doubles Preliminaries.

Again, a best-of-one match—one game to decide victory.

Again, a crushing win: 21–5.

Lin Mo handed the racket back to Jiang Yunlu.

"Seriously, you’re not joining the men’s singles?" she asked, tucking the racket into its case.

"If I did, I’d instantly go viral. Then I’d get hauled in for a stern lecture."

Lin Mo had crafted this illusion—that while school activities were fine, official competitions would invite trouble.

Jiang Yunlu accepted the explanation.

After packing up, they returned to class.

Evening self-study wasn’t over yet.

The classroom was emptier—some had left for the basketball preliminaries.

Top-tier schools even had dedicated basketball courts.

Though most preferred playing outdoors.

Back at his seat, Lin Jiajun set down his pen and turned to Lin Mo.

"How’d it go? Advance?"

"Easy win." Lin Mo pulled out his homework, attacking the assignments with his thick marker.

"Lucky you. Wish I had that kind of athletic talent."

Lin Jiajun envied him but never pressed about Lin Mo’s apparent lack of ambition.

His father had taught him that everyone chased different things—what mattered to one might mean nothing to another.

Just then, someone rushed into the classroom.

"Mo! Ma Li got ankle-jumped!"

Lin Mo frowned.

Ankle-jumping?

He didn’t recall this happening in his past life.

But back then, he’d played for the class team. Was this the butterfly effect of his absence?

Without him, had Ma Li become a target?

It sounded far-fetched, but not impossible.

Lin Mo capped his marker. "Take me to him. Let’s see how bad it is."

Ma Li was a student-athlete. If the injury was severe, his career could be over.

If not, a few months’ rest might suffice.