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After hearing his counter-question, Chu Ning gave a very subtle smile.
The subtlety lay in its ambiguous meaning. Ying Jing couldn’t discern any clear implication.
Chu Ning’s hand turned into a gentle pat, like playing with a child, lightly tapping his cheek, “The girl is still waiting inside.”
She was referring to Zhang Huaiyu, who had just confessed.
Annoyance upon annoyance, anger upon anger, Ying Jing became explosive, then turned disheartened.
Unable to define this emotion clearly, but certain that he was on fire tonight.
By ten-thirty, everyone dispersed. Chu Ning found a designated driver and helped these youngsters call taxis. She said goodbye with a smile to everyone, several goodbyes, none of which were for Ying Jing.
He didn’t know what kind of temper he was sulking about, standing far away.
Chu Ning looked at him several times before leaving, thinking, this is showing off coolness.
She left.
On the way, no one mentioned Zhang Huaiyu’s incident anymore. She remained as cheerful as ever, chattering happily with everyone.
Peacefully passed through the night. The next day, Ying Jing called Zhang Huaiyu over in the lab, “Hey, I have something to tell you.”
Zhang Huaiyu put down her hands-on work, stood straight, “Go ahead, say it.”
“About last night,” Ying Jing paused briefly, originally intending to organize his words, but decided to be straightforward instead.
He said, “I’ve thought it over carefully. I have a project ongoing, and I can’t afford any distractions. Plus, I don’t want to be in a relationship right now. So, I’m sorry about last night.”
Zhang Huaiyu was surprisingly calm, “Is it because you don’t want distractions, or because you don’t like me?”
“...”
“This makes an essential difference.”
She was so direct that it made people take her seriously.
Girls nowadays not only have the courage to express themselves but also the courage to accept outcomes.
Ying Jing said, “Hmm, I see you as a good friend, without any romantic feelings.”
Zhang Huaiyu was very calm, nodding generously, “Alright, I understand. It’s okay, if you don’t like me, then you don’t like me. Actually, I guessed as much. But you know, until the Yellow River runs dry, one won’t change their mind. Hearing it from your mouth, I have no regrets.”
Ying Jing: “You memorized a script, huh.”
Zhang Huaiyu raised her chin, “I rewrote it several times.”
The two young people exchanged smiles after looking each other in the eye frankly.
“Maybe someday you’ll realize how great I am and fall in love with me again.” Zhang Huaiyu maintained her usual pride and confidence, “However, by then, whether I still like you or not, remains uncertain.”
Ying Jing nodded repeatedly like a little chick pecking rice, “Alright, I’ll remember that.”
“Ying Jing, I still thank you. Unlike some guys who play around ambiguously even though they don’t like a girl, you’re great.” Zhang Huaiyu gave him a thumbs-up, “I think my judgment is pretty good.”
She picked up her schoolbag, took a deep breath, shrugged, and turned to leave.
Ying Jing wandered around the lab a bit, then returned to the dormitory.
Only Qi Yu was in the dormitory, writing something, he asked without turning his head, “Did you settle it?”
Ying Jing hummed affirmatively, “We cleared things up.”
“Any issues?”
“It went well.”
Ying Jing took out dumbbells from under the cabinet, usually used for arm exercises, 15 kilograms, he lifted them effortlessly.
“We all think Zhang Huaiyu is really nice, cheerful personality, doesn’t fuss over small things, and our majors are aligned, so there’s plenty to talk about.” Qi Yu felt a bit regretful.
“There are many girls I find nice, does that mean they all have to be with me?”
“That’s true too.” Qi Yu didn’t interfere in emotional entanglements, suddenly changing the topic, “Hasn’t your absence rate been a bit high recently?”
Ying Jing was unaware, “Really?”
Qi Yu sat upright, turned his head, pointing at the desk with his pen, “This month, how many times did you attend Lao Mao’s class? And thermodynamics, you haven’t attended much either, right? Exams are coming up soon, do you think you can handle it?”
By the end, Qi Yu’s expression turned serious.
Ying Jing paused, “It shouldn’t be that bad, right?”
“Hopefully.” Qi Yu said, “Failing would be troublesome, you should pay more attention.”
What he said wasn’t wrong. During this period, Ying Jing devoted himself entirely to the project, being meticulous about every experimental data point. This was different from regular studies; doing a project was real combat. Such a state could ignite a person’s fighting spirit, but often, fighting spirit consumes one’s energy and sacrifices something.
Ying Jing hadn’t realized the tilt of the scales.
Once mixed with blindness, confidence turns into arrogance, and the key was, he hadn’t truly grasped it yet.
His mind was dizzy, confused for a long time.
Qi Yu hesitated for a while, but still asked, “Xiao Jing.”
“Huh?”
“Do you like President Ning?”
“...”
In an instant, Ying Jing felt like his blood vessels were about to explode.
“What are you saying?!” He slammed the dumbbell on the ground, “Thud!”, a loud muffled sound.
Qi Yu was speechless, “Why are you so agitated? I just asked.”
“How can you ask such a question?” Ying Jing pretended to be calm, “What makes you think that way?”
“I feel your gaze towards her is different. I noticed it several times.”
“If you weren’t looking at me, how would you know I was looking at her? Oh, according to your logic, do you like me too?” Ying Jing started reasoning cleverly, his brain extremely agile.
Qi Yu was baffled by his tongue-twister-like rebuttal, “Huh? Huh. Forget it, forget it, consider it nonsense.”
“You were talking nonsense anyway.”
Ying Jing turned to pour water, drinking a cup in one gulp, feeling panicky... Could it be that obvious?
Fortunately, Qi Yu didn’t dwell on this matter, likely just a random thought, irresponsibly asking casually.
He said, “Tomorrow evening, I’ll take a leave and won’t go to the lab. The linear unit test should be fine, you can check it.”
“Where are you going?”
“Jinjin’s birthday is tomorrow, I’m going to pick her up after work.”
Ying Jing put down the glass, “Let’s go together, I need to buy something there anyway.”
Qi Yu’s childhood sweetheart girlfriend, who had worked in Beijing for a year, changed jobs frequently, but her liquor promotion job lasted quite a while.
At seven o’clock on Friday evening, Ying Jing and Qi Yu took the subway over.
“How’s your girlfriend’s salary?”
“Not bad, she rented a single room last month, it should be decent.”
The carriage occasionally swayed, Ying Jing being tall, easily grabbed the middle rail.
He whispered a question softly.
“What?” Qi Yu didn’t hear clearly.
Ying Jing lowered the corner of his eye, licked his lips, leaning closer mischievously, “Have you two done it yet?”
Qi Yu was speechless, “Done what?”
Ying Jing rephrased it more elegantly, “Negative distance.”
“...” Okay, that was tacit approval.
The scene fell into silence for a while, only the clanging sounds of the train running.
Since they already started this shameless mode, Ying Jing might as well go all evil, asking, “Sometimes when you’re not in the dormitory on weekends, you go to her place, right?”
Qi Yu nodded, “Yeah.”
“Oh.”
After a while, Ying Jing said in an old-fashioned manner, “Then you better protect yourself, don’t let anything unexpected happen.”
Qi Yu laughed, kicking him, exchanging secrets, “Hey, have you done it?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Ying Jing waved his hand, “Let’s stop talking about it.”
“You’re quite pure-hearted, haha.”
“Shut up!”
Private conversations between boys were like a sudden breeze on a scorching summer day, refreshing and charming.
After getting off the subway, they scanned codes to unlock two yellow bikes and rode for fifteen minutes before finally reaching the entrance of the bar where Gu Jinjin worked. They didn’t wait long before seeing her come out with a few girls.
Qi Yu didn’t think much, happily pushing the bike and running over.
Ying Jing didn’t join in the fun, waiting in place.
A while later, the couple came over this way. However, their expressions weren’t good.
Ying Jing wondered inwardly, what happened?
Just as he wanted to wave to greet them, he heard Gu Jinjin’s angry voice, “Why did you just ride a bike over?”
Qi Yu said, “It’s far from the subway station to here, so I...”
“You could have waited somewhere else. After I finish work, I would come over. You pushed a bicycle, and my colleagues saw it.” Gu Jinjin’s voice grew louder.
Qi Yu fell silent.
Ying Jing also understood that this was out of dislike her boyfriend for riding a bike and losing face in front of others!
Oh my god, how terrifying.
Ying Jing’s worldview was shocked.
Qi Yu’s appearance as a doormat seemed to be habitual. He didn’t retort, just hung his head low.
However, more amazingly, Gu Jinjin’s fiery temperament came and went quickly. Not long after, she acted as if nothing happened, cheerfully holding Qi Yu’s hand again.
Ying Jing shuddered, pondering deeply. In comparison, Chu Ning’s personality wasn’t that weird.
It was Gu Jinjin’s birthday today, and she said she usually promoted alcoholic beverages but wanted to relax at the bar on her birthday. Since it was her special day, the three of them entered the bar.
Gu Jinjin was very excited, jumping around in the dance floor: “By the way, I met someone from your school today when I was selling alcohol.”
“Who?” Qi Yu wasn’t really the playful type, but he indulged his girlfriend, so he went along with her crazy antics.
“I sold it right before I got off work. Let me see, maybe they are still here.” Gu Jinjin identified directions under the dazzling lights and suddenly shouted loudly, “They are still here! Look!”
Ying Jing and Qi Yu followed her finger and saw a group of people sitting in the booth on the right side.
“No way,” Ying Jing frowned, “What a coincidence to meet them here?”
It was Luo Jia.
Luo Jia from the design department who had fought with him and competed for equipment.
Coincidentally, the other party also noticed Ying Jing.
Damn, what bad luck.
Luo Jia first said something to the person sitting next to him, and soon, the whole group looked over.
A tall man stood up. Wearing a black tank top with tattoos on his arms, he approached while smoking and patted Gu Jinjin on the shoulder, “Miss, do you remember me?”
Looking sleazy, tilting his head, full of arrogance.
Gu Jinjin was adept at handling such social interactions and enthusiastically replied, “Of course I remember, you’re the boss!”
Unfortunately, the other party didn’t buy it. The tall man said, “Sell me another case of liquor.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m already off work. Why don’t you come tomorrow? I’ll give you an extra bottle then.” Gu Jinjin utilized her feminine charm, speaking softly and sweetly.
“No. I want to buy today.”
As his voice rose, his companions gradually surrounded them.
Only Luo Jia stayed seated, watching the spectacle with enjoyment.
“You were selling earlier; why stop after one sale?” The tall man spoke extremely lewdly.
Gu Jinjin’s expression changed, but she still forced a smile, not wanting to offend anyone: “I’m off work now.”
“Can sell when working but can’t sell when off work? Or do you need extra money? I’ll pay more; will you add more quantity?”
“Hahaha.” His companions burst into laughter.
Gu Jinjin bit her lip, her face sinking, saying nothing.
Qi Yu stood by silently, his attitude unreadable.
Ying Jing had a headache. These two cowards! He rolled up his sleeves, quietly stepping forward a few steps, then punched the tall man in the face, shouting –
“Sell your damn mother!”
This punch was like thunder and lightning, tearing apart the previous peace of resignation.
Ying Jing struck first, being strong and gaining the advantage, directly pinning the man down and beating him. Companions pulled him from behind, while Qi Yu rushed over, hugging his waist and rolling on the ground.
Suddenly, shouts, screams, and the sound of fists hitting flesh intertwined into a terrifying symphony.
After a while, the bar manager’s shout rang out: “Stop! Everyone, stop fighting!!”
Ying Jing grew up in an army compound, trained by top North China Military Region soldiers. He hit hard, accurately, and swiftly. Children from military families naturally had a warrior spirit. If he hadn’t gone into research, there was a high chance he would have opened a martial arts gym.
He valued loyalty, recognizing Qi Yu as a brother.
He also held compassion, unable to tolerate insults towards women.
These combined made him truly beat the living hell out of the man.
But the opponents eventually outnumbered him. Not long after, Ying Jing fell into a disadvantage. He got hit several times on the face, making him scream, “Shit, shit, shit, don’t hit the face!!”
The tall man escaped from under him, spitting out blood. This type of person typically had no brains, and with anger clouding his judgment, he grabbed a beer bottle, smashed it forcefully, and charged toward Ying Jing furiously.
In the chaos, the screams intensified.
Finally, someone shouted, “Stop fighting!! The police are coming!!”
________________________________________
When Chu Ning received this unlucky phone call, she was at Yuebaowan.
It was a family gathering, with all the Zhao family members present, including Zhao Mingchuan. Not only did she have to attend, but Feng Ziyang, as her fiancé, couldn’t escape either.
During the event, the most frequently asked question was, “Is the good news near? You should hurry.”
Feng Ziyang was leisurely and pleasant to everyone, “Thanks to your blessings, we are preparing.”
He was generous, giving red envelopes to all the younger generations, winning hearts easily.
Chu Ning was picking fruits to eat. Seeing him approach, she couldn’t help but admire, “You’re really like a social butterfly.”
Feng Ziyang leaned closer, bent down, and took the apple slice from her hand with his mouth, chewing while saying, “What flavor is it? It’s too sweet.”
Chu Ning picked another slice for herself, asking, “Didn’t you say you had no time to come?”
“For your matters, I always find time.” Feng Ziyang swallowed the apple: “I’m here to back you up, so the Zhao family treats you better.”
Chu Ning didn’t respond.
“By the way, is your relationship with your older brother not good recently?”
“Hmm?”
Feng Ziyang glanced at the cold and stern Xiao Zhao not far away, stepped closer, and whispered in her ear, “He just sarcastically asked me a question.”
“What?”
“He asked me whether the scar on your body is on the left chest or the right chest.” Feng Ziyang was utterly baffled, “Fuck, how would I know. But your older brother is too scary, those piercing eyes, like a thousand-year-old eagle. How dare I not answer? So I randomly said the right side.”
“……” Chu Ning felt ominous.
“Guess what? He actually laughed! Laughed! Laughed!” Feng Ziyang was still immersed in terror, “He said, wrong, it’s on the left. Shit, he was testing me, right? Did he see through our fake relationship? Is he part of some truth-exposing team?”
Chu Ning lowered her head, massaging her temples.
Feng Ziyang suddenly froze, “Wait, how does he know it’s on the left?” Deeply alarmed, he turned his head to look at Chu Ning: “Could it be that he has seen?”
That was when the phone rang.
Chu Ning managed to escape, sweating profusely from Zhao Mingchuan, who wasn’t present but could still torment her to death.
Feeling greatly relieved, even though it was an unknown landline number, she quickly answered: “Hello?”
After a three-second pause,
“Say it again? Who are you? – Who?”
Chu Ning frowned: “Public Security Bureau?!”
Feng Ziyang continued chatting with people while eating apples. Chu Ning walked further away, listening to the entire story. Unconsciously, her hands clenched into fists, trembling with anger.
Fifty minutes later, she sped over.
She explained her purpose to the duty officer, who was used to such situations. Following procedure, he first led her to identify the person. They walked down a corridor, to the last two large rooms with iron doors. Inside, the area was divided by iron bars, where eight or nine people were detained.
Chu Ning immediately spotted Ying Jing squatting on the ground.
He wasn’t wearing a coat. One sleeve of his light gray cashmere sweater was torn off, and the collar was stretched wide. Looking up... Chu Ning gasped. The pretty boy was gone!
Ying Jing slowly raised his head, half of his face swollen. When their eyes met, he immediately became nervous.
Her anger flared up instantly. Chu Ning raised her hand, pointing her finger in the air.
Ying Jing cowered immediately, squatting back down.
Chu Ning calmed herself, “Excuse me, where do I handle the procedures?”
Officer: “Follow me. Although both parties reconciled, the bar’s facilities were damaged, and the owner demands compensation.”
Chu Ning nodded, “Alright, I’ll pay the fine.”
The process was completed an hour later.
Approaching midnight, Chu Ning was dizzy and exhausted. She walked ahead, followed by three tails. Though she didn’t speak or scold, her overly calm demeanor sent chills down their spines.
Qi Yu and Gu Jinjin could be ignored; they were returning to their rented apartment. They thanked Chu Ning humbly, almost kneeling and kowtowing.
After they left, only Ying Jing remained.
Chu Ning couldn’t take it anymore and finally turned around, sneering, “Are you planning to open a martial arts gym? Can I invest?”
“……” Ying Jing’s nose was swollen, and his right eye had a bruise.
Chu Ning stared at his injuries, inexplicably angry. But meeting his innocent gaze diffused her anger like a muffled fart, leaving her unable to vent anything.
She placed her hands on her waist, “I see, you’re born to torment me.”
After dropping this line, Chu Ning turned to leave.
Ying Jing called out, “Aren’t you going to deal with me?”
Chu Ning didn’t stop. Fuck him.
The sound of footsteps chasing from behind, Ying Jing pitifully whined, “I haven’t eaten yet.”
Eat your shit.
The sound of high heels tapping the ground was crisp and merciless.
His body ached severely. Ying Jing grimaced, waiting for the pain to subside. Then, an idea struck him. He walked into a room on the right. A water dispenser was plugged in, its hot water light indicating warmth. Ying Jing poured a cup of scalding hot water and, with the great determination of “a dead pig不怕 boiling water,” splashed it on his face.
Chu Ning had already walked out of the station. She left in a hurry without her coat, the cold wind wrapping around her, making her head spin even more.
Ying Jing limped after her from behind, “Wait for me, I can’t walk anymore.”
Chu Ning took out her car keys, and the Audi unlocked with a beep.
“The school gates are closed; I can’t go back.”
She opened the car door, emotionless.
“I didn’t mean to fight! Listen to my explanation.”
Chu Ning was already sitting in the driver’s seat, her hand on the door handle.
Ying Jing exerted all his strength – “I have a fever!”
The car door paused halfway through closing.
Chu Ning turned her head, looking at him from afar.
Ying Jing, looking like a beggar with broken clothes, stood pitifully in the cold wind.
Chu Ning shifted her gaze from him, staring emptily ahead.
Until this pile of scrap metal named Ying Jing shamelessly sat inside the car.
Chu Ning closed her eyes blankly, her heart filled with hatred: “...What a little brat...”
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