Meng Taoyu had just watched Feng Ning drawing on sticky notes in the classroom: first sketching with pencil, then tracing the outline with a water-based pen, completing it in one go in less than ten minutes. She asked curiously, “Feng Ning, how are you so good at drawing?”
They stood at the edge of the field. Feng Ning watched others playing badminton as she recalled, “Around fifth grade in elementary school, I joined an art interest class. The old teacher really liked me, but I stopped going later.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought those little kids in class were too amateur, not worthy of having such an excellent classmate as me.” Feng Ning counted on her fingers, “Then in middle school, I started making money by helping people paint murals, like for small restaurants or game shops, and sometimes outdoors too. Though outdoor ones were more troublesome because security guards or city management might chase you, and if they caught you, you’d have to pay fines or do community service.”
She kept talking, then seemed to notice something and stopped, tilting her head to look behind her. Not too far away, several girls stood with their arms crossed, pointing and whispering in their direction, with a hint of hostility.
Among them was a girl with short hair who looked somewhat familiar to Feng Ning. Just as she was trying to remember who it was, that person walked over.
She was quite arrogant, “Do you know who I am?”
Feng Ning pondered thoughtfully, looking at her for a moment, “Not really.”
“You!” The short-haired girl showed an expression of disbelief, “Stop pretending.”
Feng Ning made an “oh” sound, finally recognizing her, “You’re that one, that one with the pear-shaped haircut?”
Duan Yuwei sneered, “Good that you remember me. Weren’t you quite arrogant before? Like standing up for Meng Taoyu?” Then she said something surprising, “Don’t leave after school this afternoon, I’ll be waiting at the school gate.”
Feng Ning almost burst out laughing at her lines, feeling like she’d been transported into some middle school action manga. She slowly said “Oh,” with a half-smile, “Okay, what time?”
“I said after school! Are you deaf?” The short-haired girl issued her challenge, gave her a contemptuous glare, then left arm in arm with her friends.
Meng Taoyu was full of worry, anxiously saying: “What should we do? Should we tell the teachers? Or call the police? It’s all my fault for getting you involved. I, I’ll go with you.”
“Pfft, no need. What’s there to worry about? What kind of people would your Qide’s good kids know? They probably just found some thugs to intimidate us.”
Without guessing, she knew that rich young ladies like the short-haired girl, who grew up pampered, had never really been exposed to the truly dark parts of society. Their bullying tactics were limited to exclusion, tearing up books, or throwing away bags at most.
In the past couple of years, South City had increased its efforts to eliminate gang activity, many gang leaders had been imprisoned, and the East Street area had become much quieter, with fewer violent incidents.
Before Meng Hanmo “reformed,” Feng Ning had experienced territorial battles with him on East Street. The gangsters there fought with real weapons, having fights every few days. When Meng Hanmo led his people, they fought ruthlessly as if their lives didn’t matter, drawing blood each time, until few dared to provoke them.
Feng Ning remained calm, sighing, “This short-haired girl, she’s something else. Not knowing her own limits, I want to see what tricks she can pull.”
“No, really no, you can’t take this risk. It’s too dangerous, I can’t let you go alone, I’ll go with you.”
Though Meng Taoyu appeared fragile, she was actually quite stubborn. What she feared most was causing trouble for others, especially those who were kind to her. This made her feel even worse.
Seeing Meng Taoyu about to cry, Feng Ning found it both amusing and helpless, pinching her cheek, “Alright, don’t cry, I hate it when people cry. Are you acting in a melodrama with me?” Her voice trembled slightly, “No, I’m really worried about you.” Feng Ning was completely calm: “Then follow behind secretly later, if they really get serious, go find the patrolling teachers at the school gate, and I’ll run. How’s that?” Meng Taoyu nodded repeatedly.
Back in the classroom, the first thing. Feng Ning strolled to someone’s side, eyes curved, asking gently: “How is it, little prince, are you satisfied with my apology?”
Jiang Wen’s body stiffened, his temple throbbing, momentarily not reacting.
Due to her leaning forward, the girl’s ponytail fell down, lightly brushing his shoulder.
Her sudden closeness made Jiang Wen move away a bit, “What are you doing?”
“Checking if your face has healed.” Feng Ning bent slightly, hands behind her back, observing carefully. Jiang Wen’s skin was naturally delicate and fair, and after two days, marks were still faintly visible.
Too close, she could smell a slight lemony soap scent.
Jiang Wen still held a pen in his right hand, raising his other hand to block his face, not letting her look.
He suddenly glanced at Feng Ning, “What’s the meaning of drawing a peacock?”
“The king of birds, emphasizing your noble status.” Feng Ning said seriously, then straightened up, waving her hand, “By the way, where’s my drawing?”
His brows furrowed then relaxed, eyes lowered, his slightly long black lashes casting shadows over his eyelids, “Threw it away.”
Feng Ning chuckled, stepping back to sit at her desk, mercilessly exposing him, “Don’t tell me you’ve hidden it away to secretly look at when it’s quiet at night.”
Jiang Wen’s expression changed.
Her words made his mind wander for quite a while.
When his thoughts finally settled somewhat, he couldn’t help feeling irritated again.
He didn’t understand why whenever she appeared or came close, his chest would feel tight and uneasy. He subconsciously refused to think further about it.
The last period was self-study, and Feng Ning took a nice nap with her head on the desk. The bell that sounded like piano notes woke her from her sleep. Feng Ning stretched and headed downstairs with sleepy eyes to find the short-haired girl at the school gate.
The weather was gloomy, looking like it might rain.
Following behind the short-haired girl, just as they entered a small alley, several people seemed to surround them. Suddenly, someone grabbed her collar from behind, “So you’re the one bullying my little sister?” Feng Ning turned to look, seeing a muscular man in tight black clothes wearing a thick gold chain around his neck.
This gold chain uncle had the kind of face that looked like he could drag you into an alley and beat you up if you dared to talk back.
There was a stack of abandoned cardboard boxes against the wall. Feng Ning pulled her collar free. Under everyone’s gaze, she casually walked over, patted off the dust, sat down, and looked up with a gentle smile, “Uncle, you look like someone who knows the ways of the world. When you’re living in this world, you can’t ignore all reason, right?”
“Uncle?” The gold chain man, who had been looking fierce, laughed at her respectful address, “Oh, tell me what reason you have? And I’m only just past twenty, too young to be called uncle.”
Duan Yuwei stood watching impatiently, “What are you all chatting about? Hurry up and teach her a lesson.”
Feng Ning was naturally good at acting and had excellent psychological qualities. She remained completely composed, “Since you’re just past twenty, I should call you brother. It’s like this, don’t rush, you just said I bullied your sister. But in fact, she bullied others first. This brings up the philosophical question of whether the chicken or the egg came first. You bullied me, and I bullied you, so who really bullied whom?”
Several people burst out laughing, completely breaking the tense atmosphere. Duan Yuwei walked over in a few steps, jabbed her shoulder with a finger, and scolded, “What are you being pretentious about now? Playing the intellectual again? Haven’t you had enough speeches at the flag-raising ceremony? Who wants to hear your nonsensical talk? Weren’t you quite enthusiastic about insulting me back then? Now you’re acting like an innocent rabbit? Who the hell do you think you are?”
Feng Ning slightly lifted her chin, her expression suddenly turning fierce, “Who am I? I’m the messenger of justice, the representative of light, a fairy descended from heaven! How can you be so vicious at your age, not just bullying at school but even hiring gangsters to beat up classmates. Do you know what Article 234 of the Criminal Law says? Intentional injury is punishable by up to three years in prison, look above your head, don’t see it? Look carefully, the surveillance cameras are recording everything. Should I report you to the Education Bureau and Public Security Bureau right now? Want to test me?”
Duan Yuwei was clearly stunned by the scolding.
The gold chain gangster made a gesture to hit Feng Ning’s head, yelling, “What are you being so tough about!”
Duan Yuwei also recovered, realizing she had the advantage in numbers, and couldn’t lose face. She kicked Feng Ning hard, “Right, exactly, what are you being tough about? Who are you trying to scare? Go ahead and report if you dare.”
“I started by trying to reason calmly, but you didn’t want to listen, so I had to change my approach.” Feng Ning leaned against the wall behind her, pursed her lips, and continued negotiating: “Don’t doubt me, I actually have videos of you bullying Meng Taoyu, taken on the first day of school. And the surveillance cameras, didn’t you see them yourself, am I just bluffing? Anyway, I have nothing to lose, I can study anywhere, worst case we all stop studying together. I came today planning to resolve this matter. If you’re not willing, then let’s see how it goes.”
As they were speaking intently, suddenly a furious roar interrupted: “Stop!”
Feng Ning’s expression changed as she turned to search for the source of the commotion. Then her mouth formed an ‘O’.
Zhao Binlin charged in with a flying kick, hitting one of the outer thugs. Xi Gaoyuan followed closely behind, “Damn, Feng Ning, it really is you, are you okay?”
They were just about to go find a place to eat when they passed by and saw Meng Taoyu crouching at the alley entrance, crying anxiously. After asking a couple of questions, they learned that Feng Ning was in trouble.
The kicked thug rolled on the ground in pain. Suddenly a pair of sport shoes with hooks appeared in his vision, carelessly stepping over his hand, the figure somehow carrying an air of refined young master.
The gold chain brother raised his voice and shouted: “Which idiots came out of nowhere, want to die?”
Usually, Zhao Binlin was quite casual and didn’t put on any young master airs. But once angered, no one could hold him back, he became very fierce. Not to mention Xi Gaoyuan, who had a explosive temper that could ignite at the slightest spark.
Zhao Binlin: “You motherf***er, dare to curse your grandpa again?”
Xi Gaoyuan: “What are you looking at? Better watch those eyes of yours!”
Feng Ning: “……”
A yellow-haired thug stood in front of Jiang Wen.
Jiang Wen said, “Get lost.”
Provoked by his cold and disdainful expression, the yellow-hair spat his cigarette on the ground, “F*** you, are all you little b*stards so arrogant now?” Then he pushed Jiang Wen.
Jiang Wen steadied himself, “Dare to touch me again?” So the yellow-hair switched hands to push him, taunting, “What’s wrong with touching you, I’m touching you, just touching you.” But he was thrown off balance, and just as he was about to start a new round of cursing, “You f***—”
The next second, he was kicked to the ground. Jiang Wen took off his watch, tossing it aside on the ground. Then he followed up with a vicious kick to his stomach.
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