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墨書 Inktalez
Jiang Wen glanced for a couple of seconds and shook his head.
Feng Ning, slightly impatient, said, "Straighten your knee." She squatted down in front of him.
After observing for two seconds, she began to act. Having treated Meng Hanmo's wounds multiple times, she had become increasingly skilled.
The moment the antiseptic touched his skin, Jiang Wen instinctively flinched.
Feng Ning paused for a moment, her gaze sweeping over him. "Does it hurt?"
"Not really."
She slowed her pace. "It might sting a bit; just bear with it."
Jiang Wen watched her as she carefully applied the iodine, feeling a bit distracted.
A lamp hung overhead, barely illuminating the area around them. Further away, everything was blurred by the night and rain. Feng Ning squinted her eyes, her face cast in shadows and light, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
It reminded him of the first time they met; she had smiled like that, teasingly close yet distant. He had been bewitched, tricked into giving away his clothes.
When he snapped back to reality, he realized he had already fallen into her trap.
Jiang Wen's heart raced faster and faster, fragments of thoughts flashing through his mind along with Xi Gaoyuan's words.
He could no longer discern whether there was an element of seduction in her actions towards him.
If she was indeed playing hard to get, then what about him?
Was he willingly sinking into this?
The blonde struggled to get up from the ground, and without saying a word, the two instantly got into a scuffle.
Duan Yuwei felt her hair stand on end in fright, letting out a couple of startled cries as she quickly cleared the area.
In just a few minutes, the situation had completely spiraled out of control, leaving Feng Ning momentarily speechless.
As expected, the scene of a hero saving a damsel in distress from a drama did not unfold smoothly.
The handsome moment lasted only a few seconds before the blonde's accomplices rushed in. Jiang Wen and his friends, only three in number, quickly found themselves outnumbered and gradually began to lose ground.
The young masters who grew up in the city had been overly protected since childhood. They were naive and had never faced even a hint of society's harshness, thinking they were invincible everywhere. In reality, their fighting abilities were no match for the local thugs.
The group of ruffians targeted them, swinging their fists brutally at their midsections. As it seemed that the hero was about to be beaten like a stuffed bear, Duan Yuwei wanted to step in and mediate but felt weak-kneed at the sight and dared not move.
"Stop fighting! What's going on over there?" A few patrolling security guards approached from a distance.
Seeing that things were turning against them, the thugs cursed and quickly retreated in the opposite direction.
The security guards were called by Meng Taoyu. Upon arrival, they recognized that everyone present were students from Qide and asked what was happening.
Meng Taoyu's eyes were still red; she mustered her courage and trembled as she pointed at Duan Yuwei. "It's her... it's her."
Duan Yuwei shot her a glare, feeling weak and knowing that things had escalated. She lowered her head and didn't dare to speak.
On the other side, Zhao Binlin and Xi Gaoyuan also got up from the ground, cursing as they did so. They were relatively fine, having only sustained some internal injuries without any visible blood.
Jiang Wen had attracted most of the firepower during his brawl with the blonde. His brow was scraped open, blood seeping from the wound.
He remained silent, wiping it off casually.
After a while, both the homeroom teacher and the grade supervisor arrived and took away those involved in the fight.
After bringing them back to the school for questioning and taking a long time to clarify the situation, it turned out they had acted bravely. Thus, Duan Yuwei and Meng Taoyu stayed behind while Zhao Binlin and the others were released from the Academic Affairs Office.
Outside, the sky had darkened, and a light rain began to fall. The group looked dirty and somewhat fatigued.
Xi Gaoyuan hooked his arm around Jiang Wen's neck. "Who would have thought, our top fighter is so wild when it comes to a brawl."
Jiang Wen appeared lazy, his hair slightly disheveled as he casually brushed it aside.
Zhao Binlin raised his hand and playfully punched Jiang Wen. "Did you forget? Back when we were kids, he was the fiercest in fights. He's just reformed now."
Jiang Wen hissed, "Take it easy."
Zhao Binlin's mischievous instincts kicked in as he teased, "Come on, honestly, what kind of charm did Feng Ning put on you?"
The one being teased remained unfazed.
Xi Gaoyuan, aware of Jiang Wen's recent bad mood, couldn't help but ask, "So what's going on with you now?"
"Nothing much, just hanging in limbo," Jiang Wen replied, then added quickly, "And it's not just that; I'm stubborn too. I refuse to admit it—it's all so confusing."
Jiang Wen's expression shifted slightly.
"Honestly, this woman has quite the strategy—playing hard to get, casting a long line to catch a big fish. Is she planning to ensnare you?"
Hearing the negative tone in Zhao Binlin's voice, he quickly reassured him, "No, no! Feng Ning isn't that kind of person; I was just joking."
Xi Gaoyuan still found it absurd. "Damn it, being so handsome and getting played by a woman? That’s ridiculous!"
Finally losing his patience, Jiang Wen interrupted them. "Can you guys stop? It's really annoying."
Xi Gaoyuan pressed him, "So do you like her or not?"
"...... I don't know."
"Just think about it a bit. What's the big deal about dating and pursuing women? It's not embarrassing, and sooner or later, you have to take that step."
Just as he was about to continue, Zhao Binlin's sharp eyes caught sight of Feng Ning.
She stood up from the stone bench, brushed off her pants, and said, "Come on, heroes, let me treat you to a meal."
*
Feng Ning didn't ask for their opinions and took the initiative to choose a restaurant. Although the sign was worn out, the hygiene inside was acceptable, and the young gentlemen reluctantly accepted.
Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't even spare a glance at such a shabby place.
After quickly ordering the dishes, Feng Ning stepped out for a while. When she returned, she was carrying a plastic bag.
The food arrived quickly: stir-fried pork intestines in a vibrant green, richly flavored braised meat, and fragrant lamb chops steaming on the table. Xi Gaoyuan picked up his chopsticks and critically poked at the food before tasting it. His eyes lit up; he found the flavors surprisingly good. The others were hungry too and ate with great enthusiasm.
After a while, Feng Ning put down her chopsticks and silently observed the few people across from her who were eating. Clearing her throat, she said, "I have to admit, you all looked pretty cool when you were cursing just now."
The others were still chewing their food in silence when they heard Feng Ning's sarcastic remark: "Though it was quite embarrassing when you got beaten up afterward."
"Damn it." Her words reminded Xi Gaoyuan of the humiliating scene from earlier, making him furious. "Next time I'll find someone to beat those idiots up; they better not get caught by me."
Feng Ning crossed her arms. "If your teacher hadn't come today, there's a good chance you three would be lying in a hospital right now."
Zhao Binlin rubbed his nose and shouted energetically, "Do you know what youthful recklessness means? What's wrong with lying in a hospital? It’s just another life experience."
“Lying in the hospital is lucky; what if you end up in the morgue instead?”
Zhao Binlin was momentarily speechless.
Feng Ning, when educating others, transformed completely from her usual playful self, her voice turning stern: “I know you don’t want my criticism. But I still want to say, those who know how to adapt are the true talents. Showing off for a moment is not wise; do what you are capable of.”
Taking advantage of the other three still being stunned, she shifted back to her relaxed demeanor. “Lowering your head is a necessary lesson. If you can’t learn it now, that’s fine. It just means you haven’t fallen hard enough or gotten hurt badly enough. Sooner or later, when the pain is deep and unforgettable, you will learn.”
After her serious words, there was a long silence at the table. Jiang Wen raised his eyes and locked gazes with Feng Ning.
Zhao Binlin couldn’t argue back and clapped his hands, “The nightlife is intoxicating; listen to my sister Ning talk about society.”
Xi Gaoyuan had a strange expression: “Feng Ning, why do you look so much like a disciplinary head?”
Feng Ning shot him a glance and replied earnestly, “You’re not mistaken; this is one of my dreams.”
Zhao Binlin couldn’t help but laugh at her.
Several bottles of beer were placed on the table. Feng Ning opened each cap and handed them to Zhao Binlin and Xi Gaoyuan. She took another cup, poured a little out, and set it in front of Jiang Wen.
She took a big gulp herself, raised the bottle, and said to them, “But today I still want to thank you all.”
After a moment of disbelief, Xi Gaoyuan took a swig as well. “It’s my first time meeting a girl like you; it’s really refreshing.”
Zhao Binlin got excited too. “How about switching to white wine?”
“Forget it; we have school tomorrow. Just a little taste will do. I’ll treat you all to Jian Tang another day for a proper drink.”
Jiang Wen looked at the cup in front of him, estimating it held no more than two sips of alcohol. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke up: “What do you mean?”
"Those who can't handle their liquor should drink less to avoid trouble," Feng Ning said with a low laugh, hinting at something.
As they were halfway through their meal, Zhao Binlin suddenly said, "Ah, I need to use the restroom."
After a while, he returned and leaned in close to Feng Ning, asking, "Weren't you just out buying something? Did you settle the bill?"
Feng Ning's expression remained calm. "I said I'm treating you all. Just enjoy your meal."
Zhao Binlin grew anxious. "If others find out that we three went out to eat and the girl had to pay, it would be so embarrassing."
Feng Ning smiled mischievously. "How about I teach you a trick?"
"What trick?"
Feng Ning lowered his voice and whispered something into Zhao Binlin's ear.
Not long after, Xi Gaoyuan suddenly stood up from his seat, repeating the exact same line, "I need to use the restroom."
Feng Ning waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, sit down. Don't sneak off to settle the bill. I said I'm treating today."
Xi Gaoyuan frowned. "That won't do."
"Then how about this," Feng Ning declared as he slapped the table with one hand. "None of us will pay today; we're having a free meal!"
The other two exchanged glances.
Feng Ning pointed at himself. "I'll run first." Then he pointed at Xi Gaoyuan. "You run next."
Finally, he pointed at Zhao Binlin. "You follow behind, and Jiang Wen brings up the rear."
Feng Ning laughed joyfully, her eyebrows dancing as she clapped her hands. "Everyone, remember to be clever and run fast! Don't let them catch up!"
Xi Gaoyuan glanced at Zhao Binlin and instantly understood, bursting into laughter. "Alright, let's play! If you don't run, you're a coward."
"Okay." Feng Ning mischievously winked and lowered her voice. "Are you ready?"
Zhao Binlin and Xi Gaoyuan nodded, bracing themselves.
"3, 2, 1—run!"
With her command, she darted out like a gust of wind.
The waiter stood frozen in place, startled. Before she could regain her composure, two more gusts rushed past her. She touched her chest to calm her racing heart and shook her head, struggling to comprehend the performance art of these high school students.
Jiang Wen sat alone, waiting for them to run out before slowly standing up and heading to the front desk to settle the bill.
Just as he opened Alipay, someone tugged at his arm. He turned around to see Feng Ning panting, a look of exasperation on her face. "I finished paying ages ago, you silly fool."
*
Once outside, he realized it was drizzling lightly.
Xi Gaoyuan and Zhao Binlin had long vanished from sight.
Feng Ning looked around. "You have an injury; you can't get it wet. Come on, let's go hide under that pavilion."
Jiang Wen didn't object and silently followed her to sit on the bench beside Feng Ning.
She lowered her head, opened a plastic bag that crinkled noisily, and pulled out hydrogen peroxide, iodine, band-aids, and cotton swabs.
"Do you know how to use these?" she asked as she handed them to him.
Feng Ning looked up and met Jiang Wen's unwavering gaze.
The two exchanged a silent stare, his emotions laid bare in his eyes, which Feng Ning understood immediately.
He asked, "Are you this nice to everyone? Does your boyfriend mind?"
With the distance so close, Feng Ning lightly curled her lips and smiled at him. "Jiang Wen, I've told you before, right?"
He was momentarily confused. "What?"
"Whether you think I'm self-righteous or overly sentimental, I'll say it again."
Feng Ning looked at him steadily, her tone firm. "Don't fall for me."
Jiang Wen didn't respond.
He knew she had a boyfriend. He clearly understood that after being rejected so directly multiple times, someone with a bit of sense and shame would have taken the hint and left.
The rain outside the bus stop hadn't stopped; amidst the flickering lights, it seemed to be pouring even harder.
Time stretched slowly.
At a certain moment, Jiang Wen felt utterly disappointed in himself. Because he heard himself say,
"—I think I have."
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