"What's wrong?" Jiang Nian felt slightly surprised, then sat back down. "Are you sick?"
"No." Zhang Ningzhi thought for a mont and pulled him closer. "It's my mom's birthday tonight."
"Oh~! I see." Jiang Nian wasn't very interested, but didn't show it. "Happy birthday to Auntie."
Zhang Ningzhi rolled her eyes at him and then whispered quietly.
"Are you... unhappy?"
"Why?"
"Because... my mom ran into..." Zhang Ningzhi's voice got softer, lacking confidence.
"That's not it." Jiang Nian said, "Your mom was quite right; the fault was actually mine."
He stopped halfway, realizing that diving into this issue was really pointless.
No one wants to hear excuses; they only want to see results.
Winners are kings, losers are outcasts, that's all there is.
"How about this, at that ti..." Jiang Nian said, "I'll prepare a gift for you to give to Auntie."
"Huh?" Zhang Ningzhi was stunned, briefly delighted, but quickly suppressed it. "Wouldn't that take up your ti?"
Jiang Nian nodded, sowhat helplessly.
"Is ti really the issue? It's you... never mind, I'll talk about it when I get back; make-up lessons are quick."
Zhang Ningzhi was silent, unsure what to say.
....
Night fell.
Jiang Nian cleaned up a corner of the large conference hall, closed the dark liver-colored door, and hurried to catch the elevator.
"Teacher, you look great today."
"Really?" Zhu Yin was a bit happy, checking her reflection in the elevator's reflective surface. "Seems so."
Jiang Nian stood beside her, adding appropriately, "Maybe because you look quite intellectual today."
"Oh?" Zhu Yin was even happier and humd a tune all the way to her car, maintaining her good mood.
"Bye-bye."
"Mm, bye-bye." He continued to stand there until he watched the car's taillights disappear into the distance.
Although the make-up class was scheduled by the school, so quick tasks still need to be done.
"Ah!!"
"Are you really here?" Nie Qiqi appeared from the other side of the grove, with a sly grin.
Jiang Nian was dumbfounded, "Why are you here, where's Weiwei?"
"You're not allowed to call him that!!" Nie Qiqi roared like a tigress. "That nickna is only for !"
He wanted to curse but held back.
"Is the class president here?"
"No." Nie Qiqi said.
"Oh, what's with your attitude then?" Jiang Nian pinched her face, hitting her hand a few tis.
"Rember this next ti: when you see alone, be more reserved. Smacking you is child's play."
"Class President!! Caicai Zi!" Nie Qiqi wailed, rubbing her slightly flushed arm.
"You'll see, I'll get my revenge!"
"Whatever, I'll be waiting." Jiang Nian grinned. "I'm still here now, don't shout so recklessly."
Afraid of getting hit again, Nie Qiqi stopped shouting.
"You still want to hit ?"
"No interest." He stared with dead fish eyes. "Just behave yourself, don't sulk, give a smile."
Nie Qiqi forced a humiliated smile, still feeling down.
"I know, you like Weiwei!"
Jiang Nian's mouth twitched, unable to comprehend. Is this person's thinking a bit off?
"Like your sister."
Jiang Nian turned and left, leaving Nie Qiqi with a mocking silhouette, which is how she saw it.
Nie Qiqi, unwilling to accept it, took a picture of her slightly flushed arm and sent it to Cai Xiaoqing.
"Are you crazy?" Cai Xiaoqing replied with a speechless emoji. "Don't send these things if there's nothing wrong."
"Weiwei, you don't care about at all!" Nie Qiqi was furious and angry. "I got hit!"
A few monts later, Cai Xiaoqing replied with a bunch of question marks.
"Who?"
"Who else, Jiang Nian!!" Nie Qiqi sent a voice ssage complaining. "That pervert made my hand red."
Because Jiang Nian was eyeing the class president, she gave him this nickna, which she found very fitting.
Cai Xiaoqing: "....Serves you right."
"What!!!?" Nie Qiqi sent a bunch of crying emojis. "How can you be so heartless!"
Cai Xiaoqing didn't bother to reply any further, only sent back one word.
"Oh."
anwhile, Jiang Nian had already exited through the West Gate. He got a class off from Old Liu and drove to buy gifts.
Nothing special: wine, tea, health supplents. He gathered an even number to head to Nanjiang Bay.
This ti he was smart, parking a bit farther away. He called Zhang Ningzhi in advance to have her co out and get them.
Soon, Zhang Ningzhi ca downstairs and left the community.
She looked around before spotting Jiang Nian. "Why did you buy so much?"
"I bought them by chance." Jiang Nian replied. "You took ti off, this day must be important."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ningzhi felt warm inside.
"Thank you."
She thought to herself that Jiang Nian knew her parents had bad attitudes, yet he still went out of his way to buy expensive gifts for her.
And it's only a birthday.
"These must be expensive, right?"
"Not really."
"Mm, I'm so happy she is." Zhang Ningzhi didn't pick them up, instead, she hugged Jiang Nian's waist without care.
Thin and solid-feeling.
She didn't say anything yet but was already planning in her mind. She would estimate the price later and send a gift to his mom next ti.
"Got it, take them upstairs." Jiang Nian freed up one hand to pat Zhang Ningzhi's head.
Suddenly, she looked up slightly and asked.
"Aren't you coming up?"
Jiang Nian stared at her and showed a puzzled expression.
"What do you think?"
"Alright." Zhang Ningzhi rembered the prohibition and pouted. "I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize, like I said..." Jiang Nian didn't bother speaking further and pinched Zhang Ningzhi's arm.
"Go on up."
"Oh, fine." Zhang Ningzhi grabbed the items, hesitated with each step, reluctant to leave the community.
Jiang Nian stood there for a while before turning to leave.
.....
Upstairs, the atmosphere was a bit awkward.
Mrs. Zhang looked at the pile of gifts and frowned. Such expensive gifts seem like a challenge to her authority.
"He sent these?"
Zhang Ningzhi lowered her head, glancing at Zhang Wanhai.
"Yes."
"Didn't I ask you to break up with him last ti?" Mrs. Zhang's chest rose and fell, also glancing at Zhang Wanhai.
Mr. Zhang's back was almost drenched, swallowing nervously.
"Well, he ant well."
He thought this mother and daughter looked extrely similar when assessing people, yet both were stubborn and stood their ground.
"Zhang Wanhai, is this how you act as a father?"
Why, what does this have to do with ?
I'm an innocent bystander!
On the other side.
Jiang Nian had returned to the classroom, unaware that the gifts he had brought caused a dispute.
Once sothing is done, there's no need to dwell on it.
Due to Zhang Ningzhi's presence, both sides didn't speak decisively. A veil over the matter left room for maneuver.
He worked on questions for a while and then received a ssage from Zhang Ningzhi, an emoji of a smiling face.
"My mom is quite happy and wanted to thank you."
Jiang Nian: "Did they argue?"
"No." Zhang Ningzhi replied, "My dad diated, and my mom agreed."
Jiang Nian: "Agreed to what?"
"Nothing much, just wondering..." Zhang Ningzhi hesitated for a bit, typed and asked, "Are you free tomorrow?"
Tomorrow?
Tomorrow is Sunday; there's half a day off in the afternoon.
Jiang Nian: "???"
"My mom said she's inviting you over for lunch at our house tomorrow." Zhang Ningzhi typed each word individually.
Jiang Nian was confused, maybe it's a trap.
He instinctively wanted to refuse but typed a few words. After thinking, he deleted them and sent a 'Sure.'
"Alright, I'll co."
Zhang Ningzhi: "Great, thank you."
"It's actually who should thank you." Jiang Nian typed, then added, "Rest well, I'm working on questions."
"Oh, okay."
After the second study session.
Jiang Nian pulled out his phone from the drawer, planning to take a break, and found an unread ssage from Zhang Ningzhi.
"My mom is actually really nice, reasonable. Don't get upset tomorrow, just accommodate her a bit."
"Mua! I'll make it up to you."
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