Tong Erdie opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything. She was so angry her head buzzed. Gritting her teeth secretly, she took a deep breath and forced out a smile.
After Feng Ning left, the girl next to her immediately said, “It’s so annoying, how can a girl be so foolish? What backwater place did this bumpkin come from?”
“I think she’s doing it on purpose.” Tong Erdie tried to hold back but couldn’t help it. “You don’t know how disgusting she was last night, deliberately acting silly in front of Jiang Wen. My goodness, she was so eager, I almost threw up yesterday’s dinner.”
The girl giggled and comforted her, “It’s fine, why bother with this kind of country bumpkin? These girls haven’t seen much of the world. After coming to Qide, they think they’re something special just because they’re a bit pretty. When they see someone handsome or wealthy, they just throw themselves at them. Don’t worry, she’ll get what’s coming to her. Cinderella? More like a complete fool.”
Although school had just started, some boys and girls who had been promoted from Qide’s junior high naturally formed their own cliques. Though unspoken, they all shared a sense of superiority. They looked down on those who paid school selection fees or scholarship students like Feng Ning from ordinary junior high schools.
Tong Erdie nodded, her face turning pale, “You’re right, but you haven’t seen how flirtatious she is, I’m worried…”
“Tch, there’s really nothing to worry about.” The girl said dismissively, her tone full of contempt. “Have you forgotten about Liu Bingqiao? If even she couldn’t win him over, what chance does this country bumpkin have?”
Whenever Feng Ning put on that familiar, simple yet mischievous expression, it was both irritating and amusing. People wanted to throw a slipper at her face, but the most frustrating part was that no one could do anything about it.
Even people who had seen it many times were caught off guard and left speechless, let alone these delicate young ladies. After they finished shopping at the school supermarket, Shuang Yao scolded her right away: “When will you ever change this provocative personality of yours?”
Feng Ning was eating an ice cream, biting and muttering, “That old gossip must have been kicked in the head by a donkey. She likes Jiang Wen but doesn’t dare say it, and instead comes to be passive-aggressive with me, so I might as well annoy her back!”
Only Meng Taoyu was still confused about the situation, her eyes wide, “Do you really like Cinderella?”
After a moment of silence, Shuang Yao said flatly, “She doesn’t like anyone.”
Feng Ning remained composed, “Let me tell you, I did this today for a reason. Usually, I wouldn’t bother with idiots like that, but today I’m giving Little Meng a lesson, you know?”
Meng Taoyu let out an “Ah.”
Both of them looked at her suspiciously. Feng Ning cleared her throat and said seriously, “When facing people who try to pick on you, what use is it to just endure and stay silent? Will they stop bullying you because of that? No, they won’t stop, they’ll only get worse and more domineering. Bullying the weak and fearing the strong is human nature, especially for these two-faced people who only know how to gossip. If they want to put on an act with you, just give them a clear slap in the face and see if they can keep acting.”
Shuang Yao bluntly exposed her: “But do you know how far theory is from reality? What’s their background, and what’s yours? You’re just a commoner. Talking about slapping faces – they could crush you like an ant.”
“That’s not entirely true. First, I’m targeting students who aren’t that ruthless yet. Second, if they play dirty and I really can’t win, my bottom line is that I have no bottom line. I can bow my head, I can apologize, I can even lose my dignity.”
Feng Ning was very calm, speaking each word clearly and firmly, “But I keep track of every single account. If they’re capable, they shouldn’t give me any chance at all. Otherwise, by this time next year, I’ll make them kneel and beg for mercy.”
Meng Taoyu was already dazed and star-struck.
Shuang Yao clapped and exclaimed, “Feng Ning, oh Feng Ning, you’re getting more and more eloquent each year. It would be a waste of your talent if you don’t become a public speaker. You’ve always liked lecturing me and Zhao Weichen, making us admire you. Every time you put your hands on your hips and make your grand speeches, we both stare at you in a daze, completely brainwashed and forgetting what we wanted to say. Now there’s Little Meng too. Well, we’re all going to become your fan club.”
Feng Ning took a big bite of ice cream and said with her mouth full, lifting her eyelids, “Cheering for me is your honor. Not everyone is lucky enough to be my fan, understand?”
Meng Taoyu eagerly chimed in, “I’m willing, I’m willing!” Her incoherent response made the other two burst into laughter.
“Wait, are you really going to pursue that guy, Jiang Wen?” Shuang Yao was very doubtful. “It’s not just to satisfy your vanity, right?”
“I’ve already talked big about it, how can I let others laugh at me?” Feng Ning was calm and collected, as if everything was under control. “Besides, there’s no man in this world that I can’t handle… Wait, help me with something.” She had a mischievous plan and leaned close to Shuang Yao, whispering in her ear.
After hearing the plan, Shuang Yao shook her head, “You little devil, aren’t you afraid you’ll end up falling for him yourself?”
Feng Ning raised her hand to block the bright sun, with some light filtering through to her eyelids, and asked carelessly, “Me fall? Does he have that ability?”
The bell rang marking the end of PE class.
Under the scorching sun after half an hour, Jiang Wen had worked up a sweat playing basketball, even his black hair was soaked through. Sweat ran down his eyes, cheeks, and jaw. He casually grabbed the loose hem of his basketball jersey to wipe it off.
Groups of two or three people were laughing and chatting together. He was walking up the stairs, just reaching the turn, when a dark shadow flashed before his eyes.
Jiang Wen was caught off guard.
— Feng Ning, bumped by someone, stumbled and practically fell onto him.
In the sweltering heat and crowded space, she was extremely close, her breath falling on his neck, mixing with his sweat in the humid heat.
He was bent over from the impact, his hands instinctively supporting her arms.
In front of everyone, Feng Ning leaned against his shoulder, her face against his chest, hissing in pain twice, feeling like she was about to die from the pain.
Her thin wrists were as white as porcelain, resting weakly on him. Jiang Wen’s breathing became slightly irregular, his thin lips pressed into a line. His whole body froze for a few seconds, and as soon as she seemed steady, he immediately let go.
“Thank you.” Feng Ning lowered her head to fix her hair, maintaining a shy expression while cursing internally: Damn, Shuang Yao that traitor pushed way too hard!
Feng Ning endured the pain, and at an angle where Jiang Wen couldn’t see, bit her lips until they turned bright red. She counted to ten in her head, then controlled her expression and slowly turned her head, deliberately exposing her delicate profile completely in his line of sight.
Jiang Wen wanted to say something but paused briefly, putting on a restrained expression, and said quietly: “Is falling onto others your hobby?”
“Others? Isn’t it just you? Besides, am I really that unrestrained?” Feng Ning’s eyes were full of innocence. “Last time was clearly an accident too.”
Jiang Wen slightly turned his face away and left with the group of boys waiting for him.
On the way back to the classroom, Meng Taoyu supported Feng Ning. Shuang Yao glared at her from the side, “Tell me honestly, did he offend you somehow?”
Feng Ning limped along, grimacing as she rubbed her numb thigh that had been hit, and snorted heavily, “I simply can’t stand his fake aloofness. The more he pretends, the more I want to tease him. Let’s see how long he can keep up the act!”
Shuang Yao sighed softly, “Beautiful women are all liars.”
Having just finished PE class, the classroom atmosphere was somewhat restless. The math teacher was lecturing at the front, but few were listening.
Feng Ning turned a page in her book, and her eraser accidentally fell to the ground. She bent down slightly, reaching for it.
She couldn’t reach it, still a bit short.
It wasn’t very clear underneath, so she had to crouch down. Her head against the corner of the desk, arms waving randomly, trying to feel for it.
The standing air conditioner in the classroom suddenly broke down and hadn’t been repaired yet. Although all the windows were open for ventilation and the floor fan was on high, it was still extremely stuffy. Jiang Wen’s bangs were wet, and his eye corners were red from the heat. Unable to bear it, he shook his collar to cool off.
The basketball jersey was already loose, and now it was lifted up halfway. Looking up from below, everything was clearly visible. Feng Ning mentally chanted “don’t look, don’t look,” but couldn’t help taking a few more glances.
She could see many things clearly, including the movement of his swallowing.
Jiang Wen leaned back in his chair, unconsciously looking at the blackboard, when he suddenly felt something touch his leg. He looked down to check and met Feng Ning’s mischievous gaze.
She was crouching, observing him in this strange position, who knows for how long.
He was startled and quickly pulled his shirt down, “What are you doing?”
Feng Ning was righteous, her eyes wide open, “I’m looking for something, my eraser fell.”
Jiang Wen’s brows furrowed, “Then look for it, why are you looking at me?”
Feng Ning made a thoughtful expression and said casually: “Well, I guess I was just captivated by you.”
Unlike these proper young ladies and gentlemen, she had grown up hanging around with Meng Hanmo’s gang of ruffians, and could say any outrageous thing without batting an eye.
Her voice wasn’t loud, but each word seemed to hit Jiang Wen’s heart. His heart suddenly started racing, and he felt blood rushing to his head, making it hard to breathe.
“You… you…” Jiang Wen stuttered for a while, unable to finish his sentence, his ears quickly turning pink.
Feng Ning saw this and laughed internally.
Serves you right for being so arrogant with me!
“I… I what?” Feng Ning deliberately imitated his stutter. Just then, the bell rang, and the teacher gathered her materials and left the classroom. She moved her fingers a bit and leisurely picked up the eraser.
Jiang Wen’s eyes were very dark, carrying undisguised annoyance. His eyes showed deliberate coldness, even mockery: “As a girl, don’t you know it’s shameful to stare at others like that?”
But he clearly underestimated Feng Ning’s thick skin. She didn’t care, “What’s wrong with looking?”
Feng Ning had a mischievous expression as she clicked her tongue, “That mole on your abs is quite attractive.”
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