They all want to control me!

Chapter 38 I'm not pretending anymore, I'll be honest.

During lunch, Lin Ran noticed that Jiang Qiaoqiao was acting strangely.

"Unhappy?"

"I'm fine, don't get distracted, don't worry about me."

Jiang Qiaoqiao's words stopped Lin Ran from asking any further questions.

After regaining control of his body, Lin Ran focused on "Coral Sea" and planned to use the welcome party to create buzz and promote the book.

In the afternoon, the two went to find an empty classroom to practice singing.

Tao Zhiyao has a good learning ability. After working with Lin Ran for the past few days, she has made great progress in learning the new song.

They practiced at noon and after school until their voices became hoarse.

"Cough...cough cough."

Tao Zhiyao sat on a chair in the activity room, covered her throat, and coughed twice.

Lin Ran handed her two throat lozenges and a bottle of mineral water, and Tao Zhiyao said "thank you".

"I told you to rest a long time ago, but you insisted on training like this."

"After all, I'm going on stage tomorrow, so I'm not confident and want to practice more."

Tao Zhiyao's fingers unconsciously tapped the seal on the mineral water bottle.

She has always been a girl who lacks confidence and wants to do her best.

"Have worried about everything you need to worry about, and think through all the possible consequences. Then don't think about it tomorrow."

"Um……"

Tao Zhiyao smiled and lowered her head to process her emotions.

When Lin Ran saw that her expression wasn't so tense anymore, he asked:

"Yesterday, when you heard me sing 'Coral Sea' for the first time, you seemed hesitant to speak. What did you want to ask then?"

Tao Zhiyao's shoulders trembled.

"It's nothing important." She interlaced her fingers on her thighs, her two fair legs swinging back and forth. "'Coral Sea' is a breakup song. You wrote this song...were you that deeply in love with Jiang Qiaoqiao?"

I still asked it.

Lin Ran's head was buzzing. He felt that Jiang Qiaoqiao was such a troublesome person. How many problems had she left for him to solve?

He turned to the side, placed his hand on the girl's shoulder, stared into her trembling eyes, and said earnestly:

Tao Zhiyao.

"Ah, I'm here!" she replied comically, as nervously as a primary school student.

"Lin Ran and Jiang Qiaoqiao are no longer related." Lin Ran took a deep breath. "Come on, repeat after me."

"Lin Ran and... Jiang Qiaoqiao have nothing to do with each other anymore."

"From now on, whenever you have a question, repeat this sentence in your mind."

Lin Ran wants to seize this opportunity to clarify the previous misunderstanding. It would be heartbreaking for anyone to be inexplicably burdened with the burden of an ex-girlfriend.

"Uh-huh!"

Tao Zhiyao's trembling eyes gradually hardened, and she nodded emphatically.

That finally makes things clear.

"It's 5:30, it's getting late. Let me treat you to dinner to reward your voice."

"No, no need. Lin Ran, you earned your money through working, I can't just spend it like that..."

"See, you're being too formal. Stop nagging, just order whatever you like, that's all."

Lin Ran slung his guitar over his shoulder, took Tao Zhiyao's soft little hand, and led her away from the classroom.

Tao Zhiyao swallowed hard.

To be honest, my stomach started growling as soon as I heard Lin Ran was treating me to dinner.

No, no, how can I take advantage of Lin Ran just for a little food!

Boys don't like girls who like to take advantage of others, and I can't be that kind of person!

Tao Zhiyao had prepared a polite way to refuse, but what came out of her mouth was:

"Wang Hui said a cold noodle shop just opened near the school gate, and their meat and egg sandwiches are huge portions—one is enough to fill you up! I want to try it!"

Ugh, Tao Zhiyao, just go to hell! You hopeless glutton!

Tao Zhiyao almost lost her composure, inwardly cursing herself.

Lin Ran is going to hate me.

"I had their cold noodles yesterday, and they were pretty good. You should try them."

"Huh?"

Tao Zhiyao paused for a moment, then smiled:

"Okay! Let's go eat together!"

It's so great that I wasn't disliked!

It's a cloudy day today, and a salty, damp wind is blowing from the sea off Jiangning City. Autumn is just around the corner.

Even on a cloudy day, Tao Zhiyao's mood was not bad at all, because she was holding the hand of someone who could bring her warmth.

That's enough for her.

…………

Controlling the body's time ends.

Jiang Qiaoqiao woke up in bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

She had never understood why Lin Ran's words and actions could affect her emotions.

Now I understand a little better.

Her experience of life outside the home was entirely dependent on controlling Lin Ran's body, and her interpersonal relationships with others were also based on Lin Ran's identity.

Because it wasn't his own, he was afraid that Lin Ran would hate him, that he would lose control of his body, and that he would lose the chance to regain his health.

Fear and anxiety can create dependency.

Dissecting emotions feels really unpleasant; ultimately, it's all for oneself.

Everyone is selfish.

"How disgusting, I'd better not go in this state..."

Just as Jiang Qiaoqiao was overwhelmed by negative emotions and began to consider giving up on meeting him, another emotion welled up inside her, telling her, "I want to see him!"

Coming to my senses, I realized I had already sat up from excitement.

Looking down at her hands, Jiang Qiaoqiao smiled helplessly.

I really don't know what's wrong with me lately. Was my mood always this unstable?

Is it true that getting involved with Lin Ran will bring nothing good?

"Lin Ran: Qiaozi, I am your wall-breaker!" — The scene in Jiang Qiaoqiao's mind.

I guess I've really made a mistake by being stuck with him in this life.

Aside from feeling disappointed at first, Jiang Qiaoqiao later felt surprisingly lighthearted.

Because she can twist all her strange behavior up to the point of being "afraid of losing control because Lin Ran dislikes her".

Is this escapism? It doesn't matter anymore.

Jiang Qiaoqiao got out of bed, sat in her wheelchair, and went to the wardrobe.

She really liked one of Lin Ran's quotes: "You can only process your own emotions. Once you've processed them, you can go do whatever you need to do."

Now I'm getting ready to go out tomorrow.

I opened the wardrobe, and it was full of clothes.

I haven't gone out much, and I've hardly ever worn these clothes.

Now we need to choose carefully.

Jiang Qiaoqiao tried on clothes one by one in front of the mirror.

dong dong~

knocking.

Jiang Qiaoqiao's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly composed herself and let Aunt Zhao in.

"Qiaoqiao has been sleeping for a lot of time lately, sometimes more than twelve hours a day."

When Aunt Zhao came in, she saw Jiang Qiaoqiao sitting in a wheelchair, picking out clothes in front of the wardrobe.

Huh?

Even if I have some business to attend to at Jiangning University of Science and Technology tomorrow, do I really need to choose clothes specifically?

Before, you just wore a simple dress when you went out, why are you taking it so seriously today?

This forty-year-old man racked his brains, wondering why he would be so serious about choosing clothes if he were that age.

She values ​​her outward appearance because appearance is for others to see, and Qiaoqiao wants to show someone how she looks in beautiful clothes.

I'm going to Jiangning University of Science and Technology tomorrow. It's located in the university town, and nearby is...

Therefore, the answer is clear and obvious.

Aunt Zhao walked over with a smile.

"Aunt Zhao, I'm getting ready to take a bath, you... ah!"

Before Jiang Qiaoqiao could finish speaking, she suddenly felt a warm breath near her ear. Turning her head, she saw Aunt Zhao's gossipy eyes right in front of her.

"Tomorrow I'm not just going back to school to take care of some things, am I?"

"..."

"I won't reveal anything, Qiaoqiao can tell me."

"...I'll go see Lin Ran tomorrow."

Jiang Qiaoqiao stopped pretending and confessed to Aunt Zhao.