Chapter 303

On the way home, the three walked together.

Strange.

Song Xiuyun, the lone girl, wore an uneasy expression.

She walked closest to the curb, gripping Xu Qianqian's hand tightly. She didn't know why she was nervous, but she still felt awkward whenever she saw Jiang Nian.

Originally, she hadn't planned to sleep over at Xu Qianqian's place.

But… Xu Qianqian said she had a whole closet full of dresses she could try on anytime.

Plus, tomorrow was Saturday, and her mom left for work early. If she arrived too soon, she'd have to wait in the classroom until Xu Qianqian came to change clothes together.

But ultimately, it was still because of the closet full of dresses.

This temptation was simply too hard to resist.

Jiang Nian had been slightly surprised at first, but the two girls' plan had nothing to do with him, so he didn't care much.

He walked while fiddling with his phone, replied to two messages, then asked.

"Here's the question, bro."

"Go on." Xu Qianqian raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Nian asked, "Xu Shao, Song Shao, what do you want to eat?"

"Dunno. Whatever."

"Then I'll check the roadside trash bins for leftovers and dig something up for you to scarf down."

"Go die!" Xu Qianqian shoved him.

Song Xiuyun was momentarily stunned—did they talk like this every day?

Her mind felt foggy, unable to keep up with their pace. So she stayed silent while they talked, occasionally replying to a few of Xu Qianqian's remarks.

The night snack street lit up with flickering lights on both sides of the road.

"At first, there were only a few food carts here."

"Then how did so many appear?" Song Xiuyun asked softly.

"Good question. I don't know," Jiang Nian said.

He picked up a pair of disposable chopsticks, pressed them against the folding table, and the plastic film cracked open, revealing a pair of slender white bamboo chopsticks.

"Where there's money to be made, more and more gather—maybe because there's a newly relocated housing complex nearby, or maybe because of Gao San students."

The barbecue stall was crowded; the three sitting together drew glances from many students eating late-night snacks.

The two girls had fair skin and light-colored clothing. They chattered excitedly, their brows like distant mountains, eyes lively, so youthful they held attention effortlessly.

The boy was good-looking too—until he pulled out a test paper.

"What are you doing?" Xu Qianqian asked.

"Can't you tell?" Jiang Nian wrote his biology test while waiting for the skewers, turning to Xu Qianqian. "Does my hard work hurt you?"

"No. It hurts Xiuyun."

"Huh? What's this got to do with me?" Song Xiuyun bit her lip, unable to suppress a smile. "This biology test looks like it was printed by the school—is it a new one?"

For her, youth felt more like a continuous, gentle rain.

If it were just her and Xu Qianqian, they'd never stay out this late at a street stall, nor have so much to watch. Jiang Nian's presence filled this missing piece of the puzzle, adding a touch of color.

In a way, it was because of Jiang Nian that her first family crisis had passed, and she'd gained a new savings jar.

And Jiang Nian seemed to ask for nothing.

Whether it was the debt he'd firmly insisted on, or the empty "work" of copying English homework,

all eventually fizzled out for various reasons.

"Something like that. Teachers change questions," Jiang Nian mumbled, not mentioning it was an exclusive version—saying so wouldn't be appropriate. "If you're so determined to show it off now, then just do your problems." Xu Qianqian chuckled, ignored him, and started eating the skewers that arrived.

They ate and chatted; Jiang Nian kept his head down, working on his problems, saying little. Mostly, the two girls talked, discussing tomorrow's coming-of-age ceremony.

"Xiuyun, do you think anyone will wear weird costumes tomorrow?"

"Probably a lot… I heard last year a guy wore an Ultraman suit, and a senior wore a wine-red evening gown—super beautiful."

"Really?" Xu Qianqian's eyes lit up. "Was she an arts student? Did she go to Communication University later?"

"Repeating."

"Oh… that's pretty good too. Definitely aiming for Communication University."

Jiang Nian listened to them and couldn't help smiling.

So you're defining people's majors now?

He'd heard of that legendary red-dress senior. Rumor had it she had an amazing figure, failed the Gaokao, then came back to repeat in another campus.

But it didn't matter—"repeating" felt extremely distant to him.

Occasionally, he'd see repeaters at school—they were like exiles, studying in an old classroom building not far from the Gao San wing.

The corridors were shadowed; only one sunny corridor was sealed off with steel bars.

The second floor was a reading room, the third floor a counseling center. On the upper fourth and fifth floors, there were about twelve repeater classes.

Four humanities classes, eight science classes.

The humanities classes were on the deep, sunlit side of the corridor—probably because the administration feared depressed female humanities students and gave them the sunny corridor as a favor.

In Jiang Nian's building, a neighbor's son was repeating there.

He remembered the boy wore black-rimmed glasses and was quiet, fond of anime clothes—a delicate, reclusive otaku. When Jiang Nian was in Gao Yi, the boy had already taken the Gaokao. Now Jiang Nian was in Gao San, and the boy was preparing for his second repeat; barring accidents, they'd graduate together next year.

Li Hongmei had mentioned the graduation banquet once and joked they'd have to exchange gift money next year, so he remembered it clearly.

What does this have to do with repeating?

Because Lin Dong had sent Jiang Nian a photo: on the sixth floor of a rented apartment across from Dormitory Building Five, a girl didn't wear clothes after showering.

She liked to go naked, playing CrossFire in front of the boys' dorm, gambling on luck,

Over time, Jiang Nian developed a bold, vague impression of repeat students: true warriors are those who dare to face the abstract art of life.

The electric scooter's tires rolled over dry pavement, speeding toward the bustling night market.

"Fuck this dog! Don't let me find out which idiot plugged up my keyhole!" Zhang Xiaofan growled, his rage scattering into the night wind.

At that moment, the tall, muscular Gao San school team rider couldn't help turning back to advise Zhang Xiaofan on the backseat.

"Bro, there's no surveillance there."

Bam! Zhang Xiaofan slapped the back of the rider's head.

"Like I don't know that! Do I need you to tell me?!"

The big guy cried out in pain, hunched his neck, but dared not retort. The thousand-yuan sneakers on his feet were a birthday gift from Zhang Xiaofan.

Even this electric scooter was a red packet Zhang Xiaofan sent him when he was in a good mood. He'd saved up bit by bit, added his pocket money, and bought this dog of a rich kid—aside from being mean, moody, and prone to beating people, he had no other flaws.

After all... Rich Brother Fan really does give.

So he didn't mind being Zhang Xiaofan's dog; in fact, because he could both lick and fight, he stood out among the lackeys. The only one who could even hold his own against him was Dog Strategist Zeng Yunde, Zhang Xiaofan's top advisor.

"Bro, calm down."

"Calm down my ass!" Zhang Xiaofan grew angrier the more he thought about it, and couldn't help slapping the big guy's head again and again—each slap harder than the last.

The handlebars suddenly veered sharply, and the electric scooter began violent death wobbling.

"Shit!!" Zhang Xiaofan went pale.

The big guy was also terrified, his face turning red. He gripped the handlebars tightly, desperately controlling the scooter to avoid flipping, daring not to touch the brakes.

Boom—the scooter crashed into a tree.

Both of them tumbled to the roadside from inertia, but luckily the speed had dropped before impact, so neither was seriously injured. They quickly got up.

Zhang Xiaofan immediately checked his pants—his knees were already worn through.

The big guy scrambled up first, not even bothering to check himself or the scooter. Instead, he rushed to inspect the tree—the thing was more valuable than his own life.

"Damn, thank goodness, Tree Grandpa didn't even get a scratch."

"What the hell are you muttering about, you idiot?" Zhang Xiaofan snapped, though he didn't scold him further—he was the one who caused the accident.

He thought for a moment, then said:

"I'll transfer you money later to fix the bike. Repair everything that's broken."

Hearing this, the tall guy beamed. The scooter wasn't really damaged—he could fix it himself by watching videos online and figuring it out.

A little refurbishment would do; the remaining repair money would be pure profit.

His old man often called him a wastrel who only spent family money. But he had no idea that going to school not only cost him nothing—it actually earned him money.

Allowance? Whatever. As long as Brother Fan's around, he's covered.

Whether his old man spent all his earnings on that widow? None of his business. Once he graduated, he'd leave Zhennan.

Cao Yang grinned, bowing and scraping.

"Yes, Brother Fan."

Zhang Xiaofan didn't press the topic further, turning his gaze toward the distant food street.

"Pah!"

He spat on the ground, cursing under his breath.

"Fuck, tonight's been the worst. Must be some bastard cursing me. Don't let me find that son of a bitch—first, let's grab some late-night snacks."

Cao Yang immediately grabbed the scooter and followed, thinking: more late-night snacks.

"Totally right, bro—I've got your back."

The two turned down a side alley, heading straight for the busiest barbecue stall. From afar, they spotted an acquaintance among the many small tables.

"Bro Fan, isn't that Jiang Nian?" Cao Yang blurted out. "Shit, how's he eating late-night snacks with two hot girls?"

"Fuck! Bastard!" Zhang Xiaofan exploded in rage.

What people find hardest to accept is the contrast—he'd had nothing but bad luck tonight. First rejected by Zhou Yuting, then his keyhole blocked, then a crash.

And his archenemy? Eating late-night snacks with two gorgeous girls at the barbecue stall!

"Let's go check it out." Zhang Xiaofan couldn't swallow this insult—he still remembered tonight's shoe-stomping humiliation. Those were his favorite pair of AJs.

A nearly three-thousand-yuan pair of shoes, stomped on twice.

A man may die but not be humiliated—this debt must be settled!

Jiang Nian saw the barbecue was nearly finished and was about to ask the girls if they wanted to leave. He looked up—and saw Zhang Xiaofan approaching with a man, looking furious.

But... why does he look like he got beaten?