Chapter 401: You Got Scammed by This Too?

In the afternoon, Jiang Nian carried the groceries and walked a lap around the alley.

Mm, it's flat indeed.

It really has to be me; otherwise next time Old Xu will hack himself to death. If his foot gets twisted on this alley path, he might as well start over.

Planning ahead has always been his strong suit.

Knock knock knock!

A knocking sound rang out, and half a minute later, the door opened a crack.

Jiang Nian, carrying the groceries, squeezed his way in by force.

"Are you squatting at the door to knife me?"

"What?" Xu Qianqian suddenly felt a little guilty.

"Weren't you hiding behind the door the whole time?" Jiang Nian lowered his head to change his shoes, glancing left and right. "You walk without a sound—did you turn on silent steps?"

A careless slip—she had clearly heard Jiang Nian coming upstairs and, a few minutes beforehand, hidden that little stool away.

Xu Qianqian: "

,.

. You caught me. I was originally planning to knock you out with one stool hit."

"Holy crap, you're getting a bit yandere on me." Jiang Nian casually flipped on the light, grabbed an apron, and headed for the kitchen to start cooking.

"Oh right, Xiyun will be coming by in a bit too." Xu Qianqian called out from the living room, then went tap tap tap, hopping on one foot to the kitchen doorway.

"I've already started steaming the rice; it'll be done once you finish the dishes."

"Oh, let her come then." Jiang Nian didn't react much, gave her a wary glance. "Don't come in and make things worse, get out—" Xu Qianqian gritted her teeth, but still obediently went out.

"You'll regret this! Jiang Nian."

"Oh, watching Naruto this afternoon?" Jiang Nian didn't even turn his head, nimbly slicing across the grain of the beef, and casually turned on the stove.

Then he blanched the beef, threw in scallion, ginger, and garlic for a quick stir-fry. No time for a clay pot, so he just used a pressure cooker to braise it directly.

She didn't want to admit she'd gone out in the afternoon to patrol her territory, lest certain ministers who dared to defy her get cocky.

An Emperor must remain mysterious, never letting people easily guess his inner thoughts.

Just as a BOSS never reveals its health bar.

Xu Qianqian rolled back onto the sofa, hugged her phone and played for a while. She tried her foot again to see if she could walk, and felt it was okay.

But to be safe, she temporarily decided to keep being a—

After a while, Song Xiyun also arrived.

A fine sweat beaded on her nose tip; in her hands she carried a big bottle of drink and a little fruit.

The money from last time's scratch-off lottery went partly toward medical bills. The rest wasn't spent, so she had a bit more pocket money on hand.

If not for that, she probably wouldn't have come over with a third party present.

That's right, that third party is Jiang Nian.

"Qianqian, is your foot better?" Song Xiyun had barely finished speaking when she suddenly squatted down and poked Xu Qianqian's foot.

Xu Qianqian: "?"

In the kitchen, Jiang Nian heard the commotion outside. Taking a moment's break from his work, he glanced out and happened to meet Song Xiyun's gaze.

"You're here?"

"Mm." Song Xiyun immediately became reserved. She glanced at Xu Qianqian beside her. "Should I go in and help out?"

Xu Qianqian had already lain back down on the sofa, waving her hand.

"Go ahead, go ahead—if you're not afraid of him giving you a hard time. This guy's a dog—any kindness you show will still get snapped at—" Yet Song Xiyun went in. Five or six minutes passed, and she didn't get kicked out like Xu Qianqian said she would.

Xu Qianqian was first stunned, then gnashed her teeth. "Jiang Nian, you bastard!"

In the kitchen, Jiang Nian of course had no reason to refuse Song Xiyun. After all, she'd kindly offered to help, and she really could be useful.

If it were Xu Qianqian, well, that would be another story.

At the dining table.

Song Xiyun's arrival brought a bit more laughter and cheer into the house.

The two girls sat close together, whispering in each other's ears. They chatted about class gossip for a while, letting out crisp, silvery laughs from time to time.

Jiang Nian was happy to see it—saved him the trouble of having to liven up the atmosphere.

I'm gonna friggin' eat eat eat!!

"Oh right, didn't you go to evening self-study?" Jiang Nian looked at Song Xiyun and asked casually. "Skipped class to come out too?"

"Our class has a class match today!" Song Xiyun pressed her lips together. "Otherwise, with our homeroom teacher being that strict, I couldn't have slipped away."

Jiang Nian only asked that one question and didn't chat with Song Xiyun after that. He could tell the Miss was nervous.

Though he didn't know what she was nervous about, like some little red from Dongshan. But as long as she wasn't talking to him, she could laugh and chat just fine.

This made Jiang Nian feel a bit depressed—am I that fierce?

After the meal.

Song Xiyun took the initiative to wash the dishes, and a while later washed out a bunch of grapes too. Seeing the two of them sitting far apart, she split them into two portions.

Jiang Nian was pleased, thinking to himself that Little Song was quite thoughtful.

It was time to apply the medicine again, and this time it wasn't Jiang Nian's turn to do it. The two little girls were over there figuring it out, giggling and laughing as they pressed on the foot.

Geez, left out in the cold again.

Jiang Nian glanced at the time; it was almost six. Figuring they'd be leaving soon, he wasn't in any rush at all.

He rolled over on the sofa and began leisurely browsing a shopping app. Scrolling through, he spotted a VIP perk.

He sat up and called out to the two girls over there.

"Want some free milk tea?"

"Pick randomly?" Xu Qianqian hopped over on one leg, took the phone, glanced at it, and scoffed, "Nah, don't want it. Give it to someone else."

"You're so picky!" Jiang Nian was speechless.

He turned to Song Xiuyun; Song Xiuyun looked back at him.

Their gazes collided in midair, then quickly parted.

"There are exactly two vouchers. You can go exchange them together with Song Xiuyun."

Hearing this, Xu Qianqian glanced at Song Xiuyun. She didn't ask—she knew any question would be met with excuses—so she agreed instead.

"Alright then."

After dragging it out for a few minutes, it was time to leave.

Jiang Nian rose from the sofa but didn't ask if Song Xiuyun was coming—he simply gave the two girls a casual farewell.

"You two have fun. I'm heading to evening self-study."

Suddenly, Xu Qianqian called out to him.

"Hey, wait up."

"What?" Jiang Nian turned, glanced at her foot, and couldn't help smiling, "Xu Shao, you're going to evening self-study too?"

Xu Qianqian pouted. "I'll be fine tomorrow."

"Then...?"

"Song Xiuyun has to go back to school for evening self-study too. That alley's so dark and the path's terrible—you might as well walk her out. 'Take a leave,' you two can hang out together."

Jiang Nian didn't answer right away. "You'd have company. Less boring."

Hearing this, Xu Qianqian hesitated for an instant, then snapped back to her senses. Without any courtesy, she pointed a pale finger at him.

"Pfft, who takes leave every day like you?"

"I... I'll take a leave too," Song Xiuyun said, tempted—partly because she worried about the awkwardness of walking with Jiang Nian.

"Don't take leave," Xu Qianqian snapped, shoving her out. "Who's gonna collect my test papers if you do?"

Jiang Nian had already walked toward the stairs, yawning.

Song Xiuyun, uneasy about Xu Qianqian, looked back every few steps. She saw her standing at the doorway, waving, the dim, dilapidated stairwell behind her.

A tiny figure, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

Click—the door shut.

Night fell dark, lights flickered on.

Song Xiuyun walked through the alley, head down, trailing behind Jiang Nian. Since leaving the building, neither had spoken.

She pictured Xu Qianqian alone at home, and her brow unconsciously furrowed.

"Mm?" She looked up, realizing it was Jiang Nian talking to her. "Mm... yes, Qianqian seems a little unhappy."

"Huh?" She looked up, realizing Jiang Nian was speaking to her. "Uh... yeah. Qianqian seems a bit down."

"That's just how she is. Don't worry," Jiang Nian said, walking ahead of Song Xiuyun. "She can't sit still—gets anxious."

"It's fine. She'll be back to normal school tomorrow."

"Mm." Song Xiuyun nodded.

She didn't know what to say, so she looked down at the path. Suddenly, she noticed the pavement had been newly patched—she'd been in too much of a rush to notice on the way here.

Outside the alley, the streets near the school buzzed with activity.

In the night, shadows moved.

Suddenly, Jiang Nian stopped halfway.

Song Xiuyun frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Buy a bottle of milk. Wait here." Jiang Nian entered the convenience store, grabbed two small bottles, and shoved one into her hand.

"I'll grab a bottle of milk, wait for me a sec." Jiang Nian went into the convenience store, took out two small bottles of milk, and stuffed one into her hand.

"Thanks," Song Xiuyun said. She was too worn out to refuse, so she silently marked it on her mental ledger.

By the time they entered the school gate, evening self-study was about to begin.

Someone rushed down the stairs, nearly colliding with Song Xiuyun—Jiang Nian yanked her aside just in time.

Someone was hurrying past downstairs and almost bumped into Song Xiyun. Luckily Jiang Nian pulled her aside, sparing her from the collision.

"Mm, no need," Jiang Nian knew he gave her psychological pressure, so he simply spoke less unless necessary.

After parting on the third floor, Song Xiuyun took a few steps toward her classroom.

Suddenly, she couldn't help glancing back.

Jiang Nian climbed the stairs slowly, even pausing halfway to check his phone—as if replying to a message.

Jiang Nian went up from the third floor, taking it slow and easy. He even pulled out his phone to glance at it midway, seemingly replying to a message.

Jiang Nian slipped into the classroom right on time. When he returned to his seat, everyone else was already standing for evening reading. He yawned.

Today's intensity was slightly higher—he'd been on the move all day.

So he simply lay down.

Li Hua cleared his throat and addressed the group.

"Hey hey hey, guys—I bought some fruit. In the name of group unity, I'm contributing it."

Hearing this, Jiang Nian instantly lost his drowsiness.

He rarely ate fruit and never bought any himself—even when his body needed vitamin C, he preferred pills.

But if someone else bought it? That was different.

But if it was fruit bought by someone else, that was a different story.

Li Hua's shout instantly drew all five group members' eyes to his fruit platter.

Li Hua's shout drew the gazes of all five members of the group straight onto his... fruit platter.

"Guaranteed fresh — buy first, then have the owner cut it right in front of you."

He said this to put Zhang Ningzhi's mind at ease; he couldn't exactly serve the Young Lady of Nanjiang Bay a fruit platter made from rotten fruit.

"Stop bb-ing, I'll eat it even if it's rotten!" Jiang Nian moved first, snatched two toothpicks, turned and handed one to Zhang Ningzhi.

"Did the team leader pick up some money today?" Huang Fang delivered a heart-stabbing remark.

"I want that cantaloupe, wocao don't steal it." Ceng You stabbed at it with his toothpick, and even a few others — Ma Guojun included — came over.

"What's so good?" Liu Yang rushed over from the back row.

The second to arrive was Yao Bei Bei, who took Zhang Ningzhi's toothpick directly and started snatching fruit. Without even looking,

she stabbed at whatever was there.

"Ah!!!" Li Hua screamed.

"Who!"

"Who the hell stabbed my hand! byd!"

Yao Bei Bei pulled her toothpick back and saw only half of it remained. Feeling guilty, she snatched the toothpick right out of Jiang Nian's hand.

Jiang Nian: "???"

Hmm?

Li Hua turned his head, saw Jiang Nian's hand was empty, and flew into a rage on the spot.

"Holy crap!"

"No, wocao." Jiang Nian tried to explain, "Your mom, I was eating just fine, and Yao Bei Bei snatched my toothpick."

"Is that so?" Li Hua looked at Yao Bei Bei.

"Huh?" Huang Beibei wore a blank face, stabbed a piece of cantaloupe, "What?"

She thought for a moment, gave her little hand a twist, and the cantaloupe was right at Zhang Ningzhi's lips.

Zhang Ningzhi naturally knew this was the one Jiang Nian had used, and couldn't help blushing.

But Yao Bei Bei had already put the cantaloupe to her lips, so she could only open her mouth and eat it, her heartbeat instantly quickening.

As for Yao Bei Bei, her face didn't flush and her heart didn't skip a beat.

She speared a small piece of cantaloupe, swallowed it in one bite, and said with an utterly calm face.

"Li Hua, you actually fell for that?"