CHAPTER 487: CHAPTER 403: YOU FELL FOR THAT TOO?

In the afternoon, Jiang Nian strolled around the alley carrying groceries.

Hmm, it’s indeed smoother now.

I have to do this myself, otherwise Xu might kill me next time. If my foot twists in this alley, I’d basically have to restart.

Being prepared for the unforeseen has always been his strength.

Knock knock knock!

The knocking sounded, and after half a minute, the door opened just a crack.

Jiang Nian stuck his foot in, pushing his way inside with the groceries.

"Were you squatting by the door waiting to ambush me?"

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

"Weren’t you always hiding behind the door?" Jiang Nian looked down to change his shoes and glanced around, "You walk without a sound, did you activate stealth mode?"

She was careless; she had already hidden the small stool a few minutes earlier when she heard Jiang Nian coming upstairs.

Xu Qianqian: "....You found out, I was planning to knock you out with the stool."

"Damn, you’ve got a bit of a yandere streak." Jiang Nian casually turned on the light, grabbed an apron, and planned to start cooking in the kitchen.

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

"I’ve already steamed the rice, it’ll be done when you finish cooking."

"Oh, let her come then." Jiang Nian responded casually, glancing at her, "Don’t come in here and get in the way, out."

Xu Qianqian gritted her teeth but obediently went out.

"You’ll regret this! Jiang Nian."

"Yo, have you been watching Naruto this afternoon?" Jiang Nian didn’t even turn around, skillfully slicing the beef against the grain and setting the flame on high.

Then he parboiled the beef, stir-frying it with spring onions, ginger, and garlic. He didn’t have time for the clay pot, so he directly braised it with the pressure cooker.

She didn’t want to mention that she went out to patrol her territory in the afternoon, lest some minions get cocky.

The Emperor is invariably mysterious, never allowing people to easily guess his thoughts.

Just like how the BOSS doesn’t show its health bar.

Xu Qianqian rolled back onto the sofa, playing on her phone for a while. She tested her foot to see if she could walk; it seemed okay.

But to be safe, she decided to continue pretending to be lame for now.

After a while, Song Xiyun arrived.

Her nose was beaded with sweat, and she was carrying a large bottle of drink and some fruit.

The money from her last scratch-off ticket partially went to medical expenses. She still had some leftover, which made her not as tight on budget.

If not for this, she likely wouldn’t have come with a third party present.

Yes, that third party was Jiang Nian.

"Qianqian, is your foot feeling better?" As soon as Song Xiyun spoke, she suddenly squatted down and poked Xu Qianqian’s foot.

Xu Qianqian: "?"

In the kitchen, Jiang Nian heard the commotion outside. In a rare break from cooking, he peered outside, catching Song Xiyun’s gaze.

"You’re here?"

"Yes." Song Xiyun suddenly became nervous, looking toward Xu Qianqian, "Can I help out in the kitchen?"

Xu Qianqian had already reclined back on the sofa, waving her hand dismissively.

"Go on, if you’re not afraid of being scolded. This guy’s like a dog, even if you help, he’ll snap at you."

Nonetheless, Song Xiyun entered. After five or six minutes, she wasn’t sent out like Xu Qianqian claimed she would be.

Xu Qianqian was startled at first, then ground her teeth in frustration.

"Jiang Nian, you bastard!"

In the kitchen, Jiang Nian had no reason to lash out at Song Xiyun. After all, she was genuinely helping and indeed being helpful.

If it were Xu Qianqian, that’d be a different story.

At the dining table.

With Song Xiyun’s arrival, the house was filled with more laughter and joy.

The two girls sat next to each other, whispering and seemingly gossiping about class, occasionally letting out bell-like laughter.

Jiang Nian was happy, it meant he didn’t have to be the one to keep the conversation lively.

I’m just minding my own business, eating, eating!!

"By the way, didn’t you attend self-study?" Jiang Nian looked at Song Xiyun, casually asking, "Did you skip class to come out here?"

"Our class is having a tournament today!" Song Xiyun pursed her lips, "Otherwise, with our strict homeroom teacher, I couldn’t have snuck out."

Jiang Nian only asked that one question, not chatting much with Song Xiyun afterward. He could see she was nervous.

Though unsure of why she was so tense, like Higashiyama Kobeni when she’s around, it was fine as long as she wasn’t talking directly to him but could still chat and laugh.

It baffled Jiang Nian, was he that intimidating?

After the meal.

Song Xiyun volunteered to wash the dishes, and shortly after, cleaned a bunch of grapes. Seeing the two sitting apart, she divided them into two portions.

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

It was time to change Xu Qianqian’s bandage again, but this time it wasn’t Jiang Nian who did it. The two girls were now busy giggling and massaging her foot.

And so, he was sidelined once more.

Jiang Nian checked the time, realizing it was nearing six o’clock. He gauged it was about time to leave, yet he showed no sign of rush.

Lazily flipping on the sofa, he started browsing a shopping app. He came across a VIP offer.

Sitting up, he called out to the two girls.

"Want some free milk tea?"

"Do we get to choose freely?" Xu Qianqian hopped over on one leg, glanced at the phone, "Meh, I don’t feel like it, you can give it to someone else."

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

He glanced at Song Xiyun, and she looked back at him. Their eyes met in the air before quickly averting.

"There are exactly two vouchers, you can go redeem them with Song Xiyun."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qianqian looked at Song Xiyun. She didn’t ask, knowing she’d deflect if she did, so she changed her tune and agreed.

"Alright then."

Dragging out a few more minutes, it was finally time to leave.

Jiang Nian got up from the sofa but didn’t ask if Song Xiyun was leaving. Instead, he casually greeted the two girls.

"You guys hang out, I’m off to the evening self-study class."

Instantly, Xu Qianqian called out to him.

"Hey, wait a sec."

"What?" Jiang Nian turned his head, glanced at her foot, and couldn’t help but chuckle, "Xu Shao, are you going to evening self-study too?"

Xu Qianqian pouted, "I’ll be fine by tomorrow."

"Then...?"

"Xiyun also needs to go back to school for evening self-study. The alley is so dark and the road is not easy to walk, you should take her out."

"Just ask for leave, wouldn’t it be better to hang out together?" Jiang Nian didn’t immediately agree, "Besides, you’ll have company, won’t be boring."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qianqian hesitated for a moment and then snapped out of it. She rudely pointed a white finger at him.

"Pfft, who takes leave all the time, like you do!"

"I... should take leave too." Song Xiyun was also tempted, partly worried about the awkwardness of walking with Jiang Nian.

"Don’t ask for leave, if you do, who will help me collect the test papers?" Xu Qianqian pushed her out in a rush.

Jiang Nian was already walking towards the stairs, yawning.

Song Xiyun looked back at Xu Qianqian, worried, taking three steps with every look. She saw her waving at the doorway, behind her was the dim, dilapidated corridor.

Small as she was, it seemed a gust of wind could blow her away.

With a bang, the door closed.

Darkness fell, as evening lights began to glow.

Song Xiyun walked in the alley, head down, following behind Jiang Nian. Neither of them spoke since they came downstairs.

She thought about Xu Qianqian being home alone, and her brows unconsciously furrowed.

"Worried about her?"

"Hmm?" She looked up, realizing it was Jiang Nian talking to her, "Uh... yes, Qianqian seems a bit upset."

"That’s just how she is, don’t worry." Jiang Nian walked ahead of Song Xiyun, "She can’t sit still, she gets anxious."

"No worries, she’ll be able to go to school normally tomorrow."

"Okay." Song Xiyun nodded.

Not knowing what to say, she lowered her head to look at the road. Suddenly, she noticed the road seemed newly repaired, something she hadn’t paid attention to earlier in her hurry.

Coming out of the alley, the street near the school was lively and bustling.

In the night, shadowy figures were faintly visible.

Suddenly, Jiang Nian stopped in mid-stride.

Song Xiyun was a bit puzzled, "What’s wrong?"

"Buy a bottle of milk, wait for me a moment." Jiang Nian went into the convenience store, grabbed two small bottles of milk, and shoved one into her hand.

"Here."

"Uh, thanks." Song Xiyun, unable to refuse anymore, silently added another mark on the mental account book in her heart.

By the time they entered the school gate, it was almost time for evening self-study.

Downstairs, someone was rushing hurriedly, almost bumping into Song Xiyun. Fortunately, Jiang Nian pulled her aside, saving her from the collision.

"Thanks." She said, blushing.

"No need." Jiang Nian, aware that he might be putting psychological pressure on her, deliberately kept chatter to a minimum.

After reaching the third floor, they parted ways with Song Xiyun taking a few steps towards her classroom.

Suddenly, she couldn’t help but look back.

Jiang Nian went up from the third floor, leisurely. He even pulled out his phone in the middle, seemingly replying to a message.

Class Three.

Jiang Nian timed his entrance into the class, returning to his seat. The people around were already standing up for the evening reading, and he yawned.

The day’s intensity was somewhat high; he had been on the move almost all day.

So, he simply lay down.

Li Hua cleared his throat and addressed the group members.

"Hey, hey, hey, guys, I bought some fruit. It’s for group unity, offered specially."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nian was instantly wide awake.

Normally, he didn’t like eating fruit, nor bothered to buy it. Even if his body lacked vitamin C, he’d prefer to buy supplements directly.

But if someone else bought the fruit, that’s a different story.

Whoa! Freebies!

Li Hua’s announcement instantly drew the attention of five people in the group towards... his fruit platter.

"It’s fresh, I bought it and had the vendor cut it right there."

He said this to dispel Zhang Ningzhi’s worries; he couldn’t serve a platter cut from rotten fruit to the Lady of Nanjiang Bay.

"Stop whining, even if it’s rotten, I’ll eat!" Jiang Nian made the first move, snatching two toothpicks, and handing one to Zhang Ningzhi.

"Did the group leader find some money today?" Huang Fang said, hitting the mark.

"I want to eat that cantaloupe, damn it, don’t snatch it." Zeng You stabbed with a toothpick, and even Ma Guojun joined in.

"What’s tasty?" Liu Yang rushed over from the back row.

The second to arrive was Yao Beibei, who directly took Zhang Ningzhi’s toothpick and started grabbing fruit, not even looking at what she stabbed.

"Ah!!!" Li Hua screamed in agony.

"Who!"

"Who the hell stabbed my hand! Damn it!"

Yao Beibei quietly withdrew the toothpick, seeing only half of it left, she guiltily snatched the toothpick from Jiang Nian’s hand.

Jiang Nian: "???"

Hmm?

Li Hua turned around, seeing Jiang Nian’s empty hand, and was instantly enraged.

"What the hell!"

"No, damn." Jiang Nian wanted to explain, "Dude, I was just eating, Yao Beibei snatched my toothpick."

"Really?" Li Hua looked at Yao Beibei.

"Huh?" Yao Beibei displayed textbook acting skills, looking puzzled as she stabbed a piece of cantaloupe, "What?"

Then, she was about to eat the cantaloupe. After thinking for a moment, her little hand turned, and the cantaloupe was brought to Zhang Ningzhi’s lips.

Zhang Ningzhi naturally saw the whole process of Yao Beibei snatching the toothpick and knew it was used by Jiang Nian, blushing completely.

But Yao Beibei had already pressed the cantaloupe to her mouth, forcing her to eat it, her heartbeat instantly racing.

And Yao Beibei, face as steady as stone.

She skewered another small piece of cantaloupe, glanced at Li Hua, ate it in one bite, and then said calmly.

"Li Hua, how could you fall for that?"