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墨書 Inktalez
Her figure was slender, and her arms had a fair, smooth complexion—exactly the type of pretty but brainless girl he liked.
Xi Gaoyuan had recently started dating a new girlfriend, and they were in the sweet phase of their relationship, completely oblivious to the others around them.
Jiang Wen casually glanced over before shifting his gaze away.
"Young Master Jiang, what do you think?" Zhao Binlin pressed for an answer.
Jiang Wen lazily replied with a soft "It's fine." He recalled the scene from just moments ago.
—She was calling his name.
*
Shuang Yao yanked Feng Ning aside, pulling her to a quieter spot, and said maliciously, "On the first day of school, everyone else is being serious, and you're over there acting all flirty."
"I’m not!"
"Do you like him?"
Feng Ning pretended not to understand. "What?"
"The one from just now."
Feng Ning turned back and winked at her playfully, half-seriously. "I don't like him."
Shuang Yao scolded her, "You little brat, you always act like this when you want to mess with someone."
"Let's go, it's time to eat. I'm so hungry."
The lunch break had just ended, and it was the height of summer; the sun outside was still scorching. Feng Ning woke up to find the dormitory empty; she wasn't sure if her roommates hadn't returned or if they had all left.
Yawning continuously, she sleepily walked to the classroom and saw a group of boys and girls huddled together, taking pictures with their phones at her desk.
After observing for three or four seconds, Feng Ning finally realized that the person in the middle was Meng Taoyu.
She took out her phone as well, adjusted her angle, and snapped a few pictures of them. Then she made her way to her seat, squeezing herself into the group.
Amidst the sarcastic laughter, Meng Taoyu picked up a piece of paper and bent down to wipe off the milk stain that had splattered onto Feng Ning's chair.
"What happened?" Feng Ning frowned and pulled her hand away. "You’re being rough; did you offend someone?"
Meng Taoyu had a split on her lip and looked rather dazed, as if stuck. She shook her head at Feng Ning, forcing a smile.
Ignoring the subtle glances from those around them, Feng Ning bent down to help Meng Taoyu pick up the scattered books and stationery from the floor, brushing off the dust before pulling her to sit down together.
The onlookers hadn’t left yet and were sharing the "trophies" they had just taken pictures of. However, with another person joining in, the atmosphere became a bit cooler.
Feng Ning didn’t mind being watched at all; she felt completely at ease despite the pointing fingers. Feeling a bit thirsty, she took a sip from her water cup and then glanced over at them, genuinely puzzled as she asked, "Why is everyone standing here looking at me?"
For a moment, expressions varied among the crowd until someone couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?"
"I'm Feng Ning," she replied. "Feng as in 'meeting by chance,' Ning..." She capped her cup and paused for a moment. "Ning as in 'chaos.'” She licked the water droplets off her lips and said half-seriously, "Nice to meet you."
The person choked on their words and burst into laughter.
It seemed that someone nearby said, "Don't do this, the teacher is coming soon." The few people finally dispersed, some walking out while others returned to their seats.
After a moment of silence, Meng Taoyu quietly said while leaning against the wall, "I'm sorry, your desk got dirty too."
Feng Ning didn't ask anything and reached out to pat her arm lightly, offering a bit of comfort.
A girl from the back row stood up and tossed a note onto her desk. It was torn from a notebook, and it read, "How did you offend this group? Go apologize; they won't keep bothering you."
The class bell rang, and the teacher entered the classroom. Meng Taoyu silently tucked the note away, resting her head on her arms on the desk.
After a little over half a class, the teacher came by to ask what was going on. Feng Ning sat outside and quietly explained that she was feeling a bit unwell. The teacher didn't ask much more.
By the end of the afternoon class, most of the students had left. After a while, Meng Taoyu lifted her head from her arms.
Outside, the sunset painted the sky with fiery clouds, casting a warm red hue in the classroom. Feng Ning was focused on solving problems.
"You... haven't left yet?"
Feng Ning tilted her head, with strands of hair behind her ear illuminated by the setting sun, giving off a gentle vibe. While writing, she replied, "The cafeteria is crowded now; I'll go later."
Meng Taoyu was still in a daze when Feng Ning reached into her drawer and rummaged for a while before pulling out a bottle of AD Calcium Milk and handing it to her. "Here, just as I promised."
Meng Taoyu was a bit taken aback, lost in thought for a few seconds before softly saying, "Thank you."
Feng Ning glanced at her watch and started packing up her things on the desk. "Shall we go eat together?"
"If you walk with me, they'll see us," Meng Taoyu said, hunching her shoulders and lowering her head. Before she could finish her sentence, someone suddenly lifted her chin.
Feng Ning tore open a band-aid, leaned in, and carefully placed it on her scraped skin, smirking, "Who saw? I'm not afraid of anything."
At this time, there wasn't much food left in the cafeteria. Meng Taoyu, who was from Qide Junior High School, was familiar with the area. She led Feng Ning out through a side door. This place wasn't a bustling street but had two lively snack streets filled with the aroma of food, where many students would come to grab a bite.
The summer evening still held some warmth as they strolled along. Feng Ning casually pulled a blade of grass from a small flowerbed and began to weave it in her hands, sharing stories from their time at Junior High School. Meng Taoyu followed closely beside her, gradually relaxing.
"Feng Ning, do you... know Jiang Wen?"
"Hmm?" Feng Ning recalled and responded, "What's up?"
"This morning, I saw you greet him," Meng Taoyu mustered her courage and glanced at her. "I mean... you should probably not get too close to Jiang Wen."
Seeing that Feng Ning remained silent, she thought she was upset and hurried to explain, "I didn't mean anything by it, because... because..."
"It's okay, take your time," Feng Ning said as she pinched the woven grass, flattened it, and once it held its shape, happily handed it to her. "Here, a rose for you."
Meng Taoyu took a few seconds to process before accepting it, feeling a bit flustered. She moved her lips but quickly lowered her head, not wanting Feng Ning to see the tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank you."
Her eyes drooped slightly at the corners, and her cheeks were puffy, fragile like a flower bud that bloomed too early. There was something both adorable and pitiable about her that made one want to tease and protect her at the same time.
Feng Ning sighed and used her fingers to wipe away Meng Taoyu's tears before pinching her cheek seriously. "Meng classmate, you've said ten things to me, nine of which are thank you. Let's set a rule: you can only say it once a day from now on."
Meng Taoyu's face turned bright red as she finally broke into a smile. Since the third year of junior high, she hadn't felt such warmth for a long time. After a moment of silence, she stared at the grass-woven rose and slowly said, "I wasn't bullied for no reason."
Feng Ning listened attentively without interrupting.
"In my second year of junior high, I accidentally bumped into someone while eating in the cafeteria. A few days later, that person confessed to me in class, but I rejected him. Later... I ended up getting into trouble with the girl who liked him."
The speed of gossip is incredibly fast, and gradually the people in the class began to enjoy discussing her. After being bullied for so long, Meng Taoyu became numb to it.
What she didn't expect was that her lack of resistance and complaints, her consistently submissive demeanor, turned into a different kind of provocation in the eyes of her tormentors. For a long time after that boy stopped pursuing her, she, who had become increasingly timid and reclusive, had become a source of amusement for that group.
Feng Ning found it quite amusing and frowned, "The person who confessed to you is Jiang Wen?"
"No, no, how could that be? You misunderstood," Meng Taoyu said cautiously, feeling a moment of embarrassment. "He... should have a good relationship with Jiang Wen. They are in the same class and often play basketball together. They are quite popular at our school."
"I'm popular too!" Feng Ning suddenly laughed mischievously, deliberately changing the subject. "I get it now; you're afraid I'll pursue Jiang Wen and cause trouble for you, right?"
Meng Taoyu's face turned pale with shock as she looked up, "Are you really going to pursue Jiang Wen?!"
"Hahahahaha, I'm just teasing you! Hurry and look in the mirror; see how you look like it's the end of the world."
Feng Ning had her ponytail tied high, and when she smiled, she looked beautiful with a unique charm. She always reminded people of climbing vines on a trellis; whether it was a sunny afternoon or a summer night, they bloomed abundantly. A succession of vibrant and sweet flowers filled the window, bringing comfort and satisfaction.
"Oh..." Meng Taoyu stared at her, suddenly forgetting what she wanted to say, standing there like a monk in meditation.
Feng Ning grabbed her arm, "Come on, let's go eat. After we finish, I have some things to do in the classroom."
"Ah, what things? Is it self-study?" Meng Taoyu asked slowly. "Can I accompany you?"
The way to the restaurant was filled with food options—porridge shops, barbecue places, Western restaurants. Feng Ning focused on choosing where to eat and casually said, "I'm helping someone copy notes to earn a little extra money. If you're free, just come along."
Life should always have a bit of ritual; with the new semester comes new beginnings. Frugal as Feng Ning was, after consulting Meng Taoyu's opinion, she decided to treat herself to a nice meal at a small restaurant that looked appealing.
She was still thinking as she pushed the door open, relieved that it wasn't Shuang Yao who came to eat with her; otherwise, she would definitely be in for a rough time today.
Inside, most of the patrons were students, and the place was bustling with activity. Meng Taoyu felt uneasy and nearly tripped over someone. Fortunately, Feng Ning was quick to react and steadied her.
The person who had been stepped on first noticed Meng Taoyu and then saw Feng Ning behind her, slightly suppressing their displeasure. "Watch where you're walking, girl."
The boy followed their figures for a moment before asking Zhao Binlin, "Do you know that person from earlier?"
"Who?"
"The taller one."
"I'm not very familiar with her. I've seen her a few times when hanging out with friends. She was the school beauty at our old Junior High School."
Zhao Binlin responded with an "Oh," then asked, "Which school did you go to?"
"Oh, just an old rundown Junior High School in the urban village; you've probably never heard of it." Wang Shao noticed his curiosity and continued, "But she was quite famous at our school. We weren't in the same class, but I knew about her."
Among their group of wealthy kids, Wang Shao was the only one from a "commoner" background. They didn't usually hang out together much, but because he had some connections with Xi Gaoyuan from elementary school, they occasionally played games or called him when they needed an extra player for basketball.
Jiang Wen leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees while wearing one earbud and watching an NBA game, completely detached from the surrounding conversation.
"What happened with her? Tell me more," Zhao Binlin seemed genuinely interested, and the other two at the table turned to listen as well.
"Well," Wang Shao said, seizing the rare opportunity to discuss something interesting. He thought for a few seconds before continuing, "A buddy of mine was in the same class as her in Junior High. One time he was playing with a lighter and accidentally burned her hair. Pretty messed up, right? Most girls would cry and run to the teacher. But what did this girl do? She went to the educational supermarket by the school gate, bought a pair of big scissors, and came back to cut off the burnt ends right in front of the whole class."
"Wow, that's so fierce!"
"Well, really, everyone was stunned, just watching her toss her cut hair onto the table. Damn. My buddy is a head taller than her, and yet she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close, laughing while slapping his face, saying, 'If you like to play, I'll give you this. Take it home and burn it slowly.'"
Wang Shao described it vividly, while Zhao Binlin looked as if he had been struck by lightning and asked, "And then what?"
"Then my buddy chased her for three years," Wang Shao said with a complex tone, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "This guy was seriously lovesick; for a while, he secretly followed her home every day after school, as if he were possessed."
After hearing the story, Xi Gaoyuan felt a bit curious and laughed, "The young man is crazy for love; quite the infatuated fool. So did he win her over?"
Wang Shao shrugged. "Of course not."
"This girl really has personality; she's interesting," Zhao Binlin said with a mischievous smile, stroking his chin. "By the way, what's her name?"
"Ah, it's Feng Ning." Anyone who had interacted with her could remember her name clearly.
Jiang Wen, who was drinking water, suddenly choked. He dropped his phone and grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth. After coughing for a while and calming down, he turned to ask, "What did you say her name was?"
"—Feng Ning."
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