Shit, I kind of want to take the day off.
He glanced at the clock; five minutes until school ended. So, he sent another ssage to Zhang Ningzhi.
"Are you coming tonight?"
In the Nanjiang Bay neighborhood, in a room with closed curtains and no lights on.
Zhang Ningzhi curled up on the bed, looking at the popped-up ssage, her mouth inadvertently turned up into a smile.
Just as she was thinking about how to respond, the screen went dark after five seconds of no action.
She caught a glimpse of her own smiling reflection in the phone screen.
Thinking that he might tease her if he saw it, she quickly pursed her lips and forced her smile straight.
"I don’t know, do you want to co?"
The ssage was sent, as though sinking into the sea.
Zhang Ningzhi scrutinized her sent ssage word by word, as if preparing it for publication the next day.
After looking it over, she pressed her thumb on the latest ssage.
With a buzz, several options popped up, including recalling the ssage.
She hesitated; recalling it now seed suspiciously like trying to hide sothing. But the ssage itself was like wild overgrown flora, bold yet lancholic.
The chat interface remained quiet for about a minute, then a ten-second voice ssage popped up.
Zhang Ningzhi’s eyes widened, feeling a sudden rush of embarrassnt. Her cheeks heated up in two seconds, and she turned from the left side to the right side of her bed, burying her face in the covers.
One second, two seconds, three seconds... almost half a minute passed before she dared to peek out from the blanket.
Cautiously, she clicked to play the voice ssage, holding her breath and concentrating.
Strangely, it wasn’t Jiang Nian talking in the voice ssage. At first, it was just a ss of classroom noise, probably during the afternoon self-study as school was about to end.
Then, the sound gradually beca clearer, and the class seed to quiet down.
It was the class monitor, Tao Ran’s voice that ca through.
"Um... we have a physics test during the first evening self-study, one evening session plus an extra ten minutes break, our class’ break ti will be postponed."
"Then, there’s one biology paper, two math papers. Two English, two chemistry, and two Chinese papers to be submitted on Sunday evening self-study."
The voice ssage ended, and Zhang Ningzhi’s face turned pale.
Oh no, I’ve got to go now.
....
After school, raindrops were still drizzling from the sky.
Huang Caicai, deep in thought, followed Yang Qiming out of the school gate. The rain was light, so there was no need for an umbrella. The cool raindrops on his face made the atmosphere feel especially bleak.
Yang Qiming’s face was all smiles, like a groom about to enter the bridal chamber, his voice sounding both near and far.
Huang Caicai didn’t catch a single word. In a daze, he asked.
"Bro, are we really acting today?"
Hearing this, Yang Qiming’s continuous chatter ca to a halt. He turned his head and asked.
"What’s up?"
"Nothing, just thinking that it’s raining today." Huang Caicai stamred, "Bro, in ancient tis, didn’t they also pick a good day to go to war?"
"I just think... today isn’t sis-in-law’s birthday, and it’s raining. Why not wait until tomorrow? It’s not like sis-in-law could run away."
Honestly, Yang Qiming was almost swayed by Huang Caicai’s first half of the statent.
But hearing the last sentence ["sis-in-law can’t run away"], he suddenly beca tense. This is tricky, after all, sophomore year still has plenty of ti.
"Cailang, are you too tired carrying stuff for ?"
"No, no!" Huang Caicai shook his head like a rattle, "Bro, you know . Nothing else, I’ve got strength to spare."
"This strength is just sitting there otherwise, I’m honored to help you out."
Yang Qiming felt awkward hearing this, "It’s not that serious, don’t worry, once I get this done, I’ll treat you to a big al."
Huang Caicai wanted to say sothing but was stopped by the ntion of a big al.
He dreamt last night of eating mini lobsters so vigorously that it woke him up to find his foot sticking out from under the thin blanket.
After covering himself up again and falling asleep, he dreamt of eating once more. Woke up, and his foot was still out, tossing and turning several tis but it remained the sa.
He realized back then, his blanket issues were hopelessly unchangeable.
Huang Caicai followed closely behind Yang Qiming as they left the school gate, heading towards the snack street plaza.
From afar, they saw a small stall ahead with seemingly soone in a dispute. Moving closer, it appeared to be Jiang Nian. Wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, holding a veggie roll, he was arguing with the stall owner.
"I’ve already told you this stuff is spoiled, and you’re still in denial."
The vendor was a middle-aged man, looking annoyed.
"It’s not spoiled, this is your own problem! If your taste buds are bad, don’t co out to eat. Move, move, if you’re not buying, don’t block others."
"Damn it, who’s buying?!" Jiang Nian chuckled angrily, "At least try to be honest while doing business, can’t you taste if it’s spoiled or not?"
There were quite a few passersby, and the vendor was starting to lose composure.
Probably not wanting to argue with Jiang Nian any longer, hoping to resolve it soon, he reached out.
"Hand it over."
Jiang Nian handed it over, "You grab a piece and taste it yourself."
The vendor sniffed it, then handed it back to Jiang Nian.
"Not spoiled, stop causing trouble."
"Damn, if it’s not spoiled, eat it then." Jiang Nian didn’t feel a bit embarrassed by the crowd, "If you finish this, I’ll buy two more."
"Looking for trouble, huh? No need for you to buy, now leave." The vendor beca even more impatient, "I’ve said everyone’s taste is different, this is just how it is."
"Either eat this or give my money back." Jiang Nian stood his ground, "C’mon, owner, do you find joy in bullying a student?"
The dim sky drizzled with rain, electric bikes tooting incessantly. Lights flaring left and right, puddles reflecting multicolored lights on the road.
The vendor frowned deeply, looking elsewhere but not at Jiang Nian.
Apparently thinking of ignoring this troubleso student, hoping he’d leave on his own soon.
However, this student stood there stubbornly like a bull.
The vendor’s frown deepened, the roll being slightly spoiled was normal. Maybe the fridge stopped working midway, is it worth being stubborn over three bucks?
Three bucks isn’t much, but if he refunded they’d be hard to sell afterwards.
Modern students lack tact, speaking so rudely like anyone would care. Doesn’t even acknowledge elders, obviously no social experience.
In the end, the vendor even started yelling out.
"Three buck veggie rolls! Add any potato shreds or seaweed strips you like!"
From a distance, Huang Caicai felt embarrassed for Jiang Nian, thinking to himself that he wouldn’t argue in such a scene. It’s just two or three bucks, too awkward.
Approaching, he heard Jiang Nian loudly ask the vendor.
"Hey you bastard, do you know ?"
The vendor remained impatient, glaring at Jiang Nian.
"Who the hell are you? I need to know you? How can you, as a student, behave like this? Want to find your teacher, huh?"
"Did your teacher teach you to stop others from doing business!"
The vendor shouted so loudly, attracting quite a few looks. Including Yang Qiming who finally noticed the little stall not far away.
"Hey, Cailang, isn’t that....."
Before he could finish, Huang Caicai saw Jiang Nian unscrew a bottle of mineral water, taking a swig.
Thunk!!!
Jiang Nian started spraying the vendor with water, directly on his face. Two mouthfuls, each more forceful than the last, right at the face.
The vendor was dumbfounded, gasping in the water spray, instinctively opening his mouth widely for air. Imdiately swallowed half of the second mouthful, involuntarily spitting it out.
Passing students were shocked, witnessing such a bizarre scene.
What the hell! What just happened?
Only to see that guy in a black hoodie spit water again and again, finishing off a bottle of mineral water, and then slamd the bottle on the vendor’s face.
He spat once more, cursing angrily.
"Damn you, selling spoiled food then acting all tough when you don’t even know !"
Finishing his rant, he sprinted a hundred ters in the direction of the school gate! Almost in a blink, he rged into the bustling crowd, vanishing completely.
The vendor wiped the water off his face, catching a last glimpse of Jiang Nian disappearing, couldn’t help but curse aloud.
"You son of a #!!"
Huang Caicai and Yang Qiming exchanged looks, speechless for a while, only thinking.
Aweso.
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