107: Chapter 107 Jiang Ning likes you, so do you like Jiang Ning?

This one sentence caused Jiang Che's expression to change drastically, and his hand, which was pouring water for Chen Xuanni, froze in mid-air.

Seeing his reaction, Chen Xuanni's expression also shifted slightly. "Aren't you Jiang Ning's older brother?"

"How am I not?"

"You were waiting for her downstairs at the girls' dormitory that night, and then… how could you possibly be?"

Jiang Che felt his scalp tingle from the question. How was he supposed to explain this? If he didn't explain, Teacher Chen in front of him would misunderstand; if he did explain… it would be even harder to clear up!

Seeing Jiang Che hesitate, Chen Xuanni's first reaction was that she had been deceived by Jiang Ning.

Seeing her stand up to leave without saying anything, Jiang Che immediately guessed her thoughts. If she left now, who knew how much more Stinky Girl would be misunderstood by Chen Xuanni in the future!

"Teacher Chen!"

Jiang Che also stood up and grabbed Chen Xuanni's arm.

"You, you let go of me!"

After Chen Xuanni reacted, her face turned red instantly.

Jiang Che was slightly stunned. Was this Teacher Chen… always this prone to blushing?

Regaining his composure, Jiang Che hurriedly let go and explained, "Teacher Chen, I really am Jiang Ning's older brother. My name is Jiang Che. Jiang Ning didn't lie to you, and neither did I."

Chen Xuanni stood in place, looking at him with a furrowed brow, her expression somewhat skeptical.

"The food has already been ordered; why don't you sit down first, and we can talk slowly?"

Seeing that Jiang Che's attitude was fairly sincere, Chen Xuanni immediately began to wonder if she had misunderstood.

Once Chen Xuanni sat back down, Jiang Che took out his phone, searched for a moment, and then pushed it in front of Chen Xuanni.

"These are old photos, of me and that girl Jiang Ning when we were little, along with our parents. You can flip through them."

Chen Xuanni hesitated for two seconds before picking up the phone.

"This was taken when I was in high school. Stinky Girl, oh, that is, Jiang Ning, was in her second year of middle school then."

"The next one was taken when I graduated from middle school; our parents took us together, and Jiang Ning was still in elementary school."

"There are others further on; feel free to look."

Chen Xuanni looked at the photos carefully. It was indeed that girl Jiang Ning when she was young, looking… just as cute and likable as she is now.

Chen Xuanni looked up again and studied Jiang Che; he had changed a lot since then, but it was still possible to tell it was the same person.

Soon, Chen Xuanni returned the phone to Jiang Che, but the doubt between her brows deepened.

"You are siblings, so why, that night…"

Jiang Che hesitated for a moment, first asking a question he cared about more: "How many people in school know about what happened that night?"

The incident where a girl forcibly kissed a boy had caused quite a stir throughout the school. The people Jiang Che was asking about were, naturally, those who knew the identities of the two main parties involved.

Chen Xuanni shook her head. "As far as I can tell, only me. I asked to see you today precisely because of this matter."

Hearing this answer, the heavy stone that had been hanging in Jiang Che's heart these past few days finally fell to the ground.

"Teacher Chen, I hope you will keep what happened that night a secret. And the same goes for our conversation today."

Seeing Jiang Che's serious expression, Chen Xuanni immediately felt that this matter was likely not so simple.

"I am Jiang Ning's teacher; naturally, I wouldn't do anything to harm her, otherwise I wouldn't have asked to speak with you privately. I won't say a single word about today's events."

Jiang Che nodded, then poured a cup of tea for Chen Xuanni and slowly pushed it toward her.

"Jiang Ning… is actually not my younger sister."

This short sentence left Chen Xuanni stunned in place.

Seeing her look of astonishment, Jiang Che said slowly, "You heard that right. She isn't my sister. There is no blood relation, we aren't on the same household registration; she was adopted and raised by my parents."

Chen Xuanni's brows furrowed tightly. After hesitating for a long time, three words popped out.

"Child bride?!"

Looking at the gentle and quiet woman opposite him, Jiang Che felt speechless. You're a teacher, how can your head be filled with such strange terms?

"No, Jiang Ning really was raised as a younger sister in our home, and she has called me 'older brother' for so many years."

"Then why did she…"

Jiang Che felt a slight headache. "I was very surprised too. A few days ago, this girl suddenly told me that she liked me."

Hearing this, Chen Xuanni was completely shocked, her eyes widening as she looked at Jiang Che in disbelief.

"Jiang Ning, she… she confessed to you and said she liked you?!"

"Very surprising, right?" Jiang Che smiled helplessly. "I was very surprised too. After that confession that night, Stinky Girl kept avoiding me. I was afraid she would overthink things and let it affect her life and studies, so I went to the school. What happened after that, you already know. When I was by the lake with Jiang Ning, I accidentally said something that hurt her, and then, this girl was triggered and pounced on me…"

As Chen Xuanni listened to Jiang Che recount the entire sequence of events word by word, her face flushed slightly, and her hands clenched together unconsciously.

"That is what happened. I am her older brother, but… Stinky Girl did indeed do those things."

"Then… before, when she wasn't in the dormitory and went back to live at your place…"

"Don't overthink it. At first, I didn't know anything, and Stinky Girl hid it very well; she didn't show it. Moreover, between Stinky Girl and me, other than that forced kiss, nothing happened."

Chen Xuanni breathed a slight sigh of relief. Afterward, she watched Jiang Che quietly, and after a long while, she asked softly, "What do you intend to do?"

"I've been asking myself that question for several days, but I can't find an answer. Teacher Chen, standing from the perspective of an observer, what is your opinion?"

Hearing Jiang Che throw this question back to her, Chen Xuanni frowned slightly, then said softly, "Either find a girlfriend and make Jiang Ning give up on this, or be with her!"

The first half was normal enough, but the second half surprised Jiang Che.

"Be with her? Teacher Chen, your answer is a bit surprising to me."

"You said it yourself: there is no blood relation, and you aren't on the same household registration. It's purely that your parents raised her. It's just like raising a girl from the neighborhood."

"Aren't you afraid of how others will look at it? Especially for Jiang Ning, as a girl."

Chen Xuanni paused, then said seriously, "Jiang Ning is not a child; she is already an adult. And she is not the type of girl to be impulsive; to dare to make such a move, she must have already considered it many times."

After saying this, Chen Xuanni hesitated for two seconds, then asked a question she herself was very curious about:

"Jiang Ning likes you, so, what about you? Do you like Jiang Ning?"

Hearing this question, Jiang Che's expression shifted slightly. Looking at the serious gaze of Chen Xuanni opposite him, he fell silent for a moment.