“Agh, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch! Wei Mu, hurry up and let go of my ear!” Kong Ning cried, looking like she was on the verge of tears.
How on earth did she cross paths with Wei Mu, this judge from hell? Without bothering to distinguish right from wrong, she executed punishment without giving a single reason.
Wei Mu knew that bar. Ning Qing had mentioned it to them before, it was hardly a quiet pub; it was a nightclub masquerading as a bar. Deep inside, there was a main hall specifically designed for customers to go wild and dance.
Naturally, plenty of people went there for romantic encounters and one-night stands, earning it the title of the “Pleasure Den for Huada and Jingda Students.”
Ning Qing had once suggested that everyone go hang out there at night, even if only to look at handsome guys and pretty girls, but Wei Mu had flatly vetoed the idea.
Kong Ning was… surprisingly bold.
She had actually learned how to fool around.
Perhaps, without her knowing, the other girl was already a seasoned regular?
If Kong Ning, whose ear was currently being yanked, knew what was going through Wei Mu’s mind, she would surely cry out in protest.
What she meant by seeking excitement was simply going to drink a glass of wine and listen to some music. Who could have known there was a nightclub hidden inside?
“Is our Weiwei… committing assault in the middle of the street?” Ning Qing stared at the scene before her, utterly unable to believe her eyes. She even rubbed her own eyes and pinched Guo Tong while she was at it.
“Hiss, are you looking for trouble, too?”
Feeling the pain, Guo Tong shot Ning Qing a glare. Even so, she kindly reminded her roommate, whose skill points were entirely invested in studying and gaming, with not a shred of emotional intelligence: “Stop rubbing them, and stop fidgeting and pinching people. It’s real.”
“Interesting.” Jiang Youyang crossed her arms, resting a hand on her chin as she watched Kong Ning and Wei Mu not far away.
They saw Wei Mu pulling Kong Ning by the ear until they reached the group. With a trace of apology, Wei Mu said, “Sorry, I have to take off first. I have some matters to take care of, so I won’t be able to join you for late-night snacks. It’s my treat, you guys have fun.”
As she spoke, Wei Mu sent a massive red packet into their dormitory group chat.
“Hello, beautiful ladies! How is… everyone?” Bending over, Kong Ning awkwardly offered a greeting to Wei Mu’s roommates, taking the chance to break free from her restraint.
“My name is Kong Ning. I’m from neighboring Huada, and, um… I’m Wei Mu’s friend.” After pondering for a few seconds, Kong Ning hesitantly uttered the relationship she believed existed between herself and Wei Mu.
She had wanted to say they were just very ordinary friends.
However, saying that in front of the other girl’s roommates seemed a bit inappropriate. She definitely wasn’t backing down on what she had told Le Xiu and the others, it was simply a matter of circumstances forcing her hand!
Though the situation was a bit embarrassing for a first meeting, she, Kong Ning, was a polite person.
At the very least, she inexplicably felt that she needed to leave a good impression in front of Wei Mu’s roommates.
“Hurry up.” Throwing down those two words, Wei Mu turned and walked away.
“Why are you walking so fast! You’re ignoring people now? I haven’t even given you the silent treatment yet!” Without lingering to say anything further, Kong Ning immediately gave chase.
Watching the two of them come and go like the wind, no one had quite figured out what was going on, especially Ning Qing.
“So that’s how it is.” Jiang Youyang let out a sigh of realization.
No wonder Wei Mu had hacked Huada’s forum and confession wall. That day, she had seen plenty of posts featuring the name and photos of “Kong Ning.” Having greeted her up close just now, she could clearly tell that was the exact person.
Their Miss Wei was actually jealous.
How generous!
Jiang Youyang felt no surprise regarding the fact that Wei Mu liked girls. Jingda, just like Huada, had an open-minded atmosphere that was exceptionally accepting and inclusive, with quite a few openly same-sex couples.
People who could get into Jingda and Huada knew how to pave the way for their own futures. They no longer feared the difficulties same-sex couples might face; after all, the economic foundation determines the superstructure, and graduates from the top universities wouldn’t starve to death.
As for those who couldn’t stand it, they wouldn’t dare say it out loud in public either. Their IQs weren’t low, so they wouldn’t do things that harmed others without benefiting themselves.
“So what is it? Do you know something?” Guo Tong seemed to notice that Jiang Youyang knew the inside story. After learning that Kong Ning was from Huada, Guo Tong had her own guesses, but she couldn’t be certain yet.
“It’s nothing, nothing at all. Hurry up and snatch the red packet!” Jiang Youyang quickly deflected the topic.
Client confidentiality, she wouldn’t dare leak a word. What if she got reported and her pay got docked? Even though there wasn’t an actual customer service department, this was about her professional reputation.
“Woah! Miss Wei sure is generous!” The simple-minded Ning Qing exclaimed in awe after tapping on the red packet.
In the end, led by Ning Qing, the three of them went to a barbecue stall for their late-night snack.
It was another charming night, with the buzzing of cicadas echoing from the trees along the roadside.
The two walking one after the other were unnaturally quiet.
Crunch, Kong Ning stepped on a dry twig, finally making a tentative sound.
“I say, Wei Mu, I just went to listen to music. I didn’t break the law, did I? Making a fool out of me in public like that is way too much.” Kong Ning muttered softly behind Wei Mu’s back.
She had originally intended to catch up to Wei Mu and demand justice for herself.
However, she just didn’t quite dare to raise her voice and pick a fight.
She couldn’t figure out why Wei Mu had gotten so furious either.
Right now, she was actually pretty terrifying.
“Listen to music? Don’t tell me you don’t know what kind of place that is?” Wei Mu finally turned her head to speak to her.
“What… what kind of place?” Forced back half a step by Wei Mu’s fierce gaze, Kong Ning stammered.
“A place specifically meant for getting people drunk and picking up unconscious targets. What, did you want to go experience a one-night stand? There’s a side door inside, if you go back now, it’s not too late.” As she spoke, Wei Mu got angry all over again.
If Kong Ning really turned back, she would give her a beating right here and now.
She’d do it on behalf of Auntie Qi.
To scare Kong Ning, Wei Mu deliberately made things sound much more severe. While many people simply went there to check out the commotion, like Ning Qing and the others, and the majority of those messing around inside were consenting scumbags of both genders, there were still plenty of genuine dregs of society.
“No way, I don’t want to!” Kong Ning thrust out her hand in refusal.
For her, taking a single sip of alcohol was already a massive thrill.
Having considered herself a model, law-abiding citizen for the past eighteen years, Kong Ning was a genuinely law-abiding, good person and an exemplary student.
Back then, to satisfy her Eighth-Grade Syndrome vanity, this wealthy second-generation kid refused to just lie flat. She learned musical instruments, martial arts, oil painting, studied hard, and went to tutoring classes! She didn’t dare miss a single thing.
She had no desire whatsoever to indulge in a debauched lifestyle with children from other wealthy families, nor could she afford to. She ended up becoming one of the rare single “peonies” in her circle, though fortunately, that fellow Wei Mu was one as well.
At the end of the day, Kong Ning didn’t think being single was anything sad or shameful. She could live just as wonderfully without a partner, and she had already thought of how to handle her parents urging her to marry in the future.
At worst, she’d just say, “Wei Mu hasn’t started dating yet either, why aren’t you nagging her?”
As for whether Wei Mu would find a partner, Kong Ning felt the other girl probably disliked people just as much as she did.
“Oh, so you don’t want to.” Wei Mu’s tone sounded deeply distrustful.
“I really don’t want to!!!” Kong Ning emphasized.
“Um… can you please not tell my mom?” Even though she hadn’t actually gone inside, what if Wei Mu added fuel to the fire? Her mom trusted Wei Mu so much, whereas Wei Mu didn’t even get along with her.
Kong Ning knew that her mom spoke to Wei Mu on the phone every few days, far more frequently than she spoke to her own daughter. It wasn’t about her own affairs, but purely out of care for Wei Mu. Even so, it was inevitable that Wei Mu might bring it up.
Her family was strictly disciplined. If her parents found out she went to a nightclub, she would be completely finished.
That was also why Kong Ning had quietly endured having her ear yanked by Wei Mu just now. Even if it was a quiet bar, her family wouldn’t really permit it, let alone a nightclub.
“What do you think? I promised Auntie Qi that I’d keep an eye on you. Breaking a promise wouldn’t be good, especially when a certain someone almost went off to fool around.”
Wei Mu raised an eyebrow with a smile. Seeing Kong Ning’s timid and shrinking behavior, she realized she had misunderstood her, and her mood instantly brightened.
“I think… you’re a good person.”
Kong Ning came to a halt and immediately handed Wei Mu a “good person card.”
A good person wouldn’t bully others.
“Is that so? Good in what way?” Wei Mu poked Kong Ning’s cheek.
Kong Ning’s cheeks were puffed up with annoyance, and she was still making up nonsense, which looked adorable. Especially considering how she usually acted all arrogant and distant, this contrasting cuteness was all the more apparent.
It had been a long time since Kong Ning tried to coax her to make her happy.
“Of course… good in every way! That’s right, good in every way!” Kong Ning felt deeply that she was truly “bearing humiliation for a greater cause,” to the point where she could utter such insincere words. Resisting the urge to swat away Wei Mu’s poking hand, she deliberately repeated the phrase to convince herself as well as Wei Mu.
Wei Mu wasn’t good at all.
Hmph, a fierce, overbearing housekeeper.
The very next second.
“Wei Mu, are you hungry? How about I take you out for a late-night snack? Weren’t you originally going to eat late-night snacks anyway?” Kong Ning said flatteringly. She found an excuse, intending to temporarily butter up Wei Mu and beg her to refrain from using her “golden words” to advise her mother.
Furthermore, she had just remembered that getting scolded was secondary, she was planning to buy a house soon! Property prices in the capital weren’t cheap, so if her mom froze her cards, she would have to rely entirely on her private savings.
Though her stash was quite rich, she was a miser who couldn’t bear to lose a single cent.
“It’s fine, I’m not hungry.” Wei Mu pulled back her mischievous hand, planning to temporarily stop teasing Kong Ning.
“Come on, let’s eat! Consider it a favor to me, I’m starving.” Making a prompt decision, Kong Ning grabbed Wei Mu’s hand and forcibly pulled her back toward the food street.
She didn’t know if Wei Mu had eaten dinner, but she certainly hadn’t. When she left the newly rented place, it was already past seven. She had wandered around for a bit, and after walking aimlessly with Wei Mu, it was already eight o’clock. She was starving to death.
“What are we eating?” Looking at her hand being tightly held, Wei Mu felt her face flush slightly, accompanied by a subtle sense of embarrassment.
“Crayfish! Our dorm has been to that place a few times; it’s delicious.” Kong Ning’s eyes were filled with thoughts of food. Harnessing the speed her dorm used to scramble for food, she pulled Wei Mu straight toward the shop.
“Boss, four jin of spicy crayfish, four jin of garlic crayfish, and two bottles of iced Coke, please!” Kong Ning placed the order with practiced ease.
“Eight jin?” Wei Mu wondered if the two of them could really finish all that.
“Yeah!” Kong Ning answered naturally.
Eight jin, what of it?
“Oh, are you finding it too much trouble and don’t want to peel them? I’ll peel them for you! You just get ready to eat.” To flatter someone, one naturally had to be thoughtful. Kong Ning was very self-aware that the task of peeling shrimp belonged to her.
“Here you go.” Kong Ning handed Wei Mu a pair of disposable chopsticks.
Before long, two flavors of crayfish were served, and Kong Ning began her grand peeling endeavor.
Wei Mu’s attention, however, was drawn to the family of three at the neighboring table. It was a couple and a little girl. The husband and wife acted lovingly toward each other, and the husband was helping his wife and daughter peel crayfish. “Daddy, you’re amazing! You peel them so fast!” The little girl clapped her hands, her laughter ringing like little silver bells, piercing through the ear straight into the heart. “Mengmeng, be a good girl. Come on, open wide, ah, ” The wife also looked at her husband and daughter with gentle affection.
What a harmonious and loving family of three.
Wei Mu felt her eyes sting slightly. Looking at Kong Ning who was diligently peeling crayfish, a wave of grievance suddenly swept over her.
“Kong Ning, during National Day, my dad is getting remarried.”
Kong Ning stopped her motion of peeling the crayfish. “Then just treat them both as rocks.”
That was their business; don’t let broken rocks ruin your mood.
“Here, ah.”
“Ah, mm.”
“So good! Wei Mumu is the best at eating!” Kong Ning gave Wei Mu a thumbs-up.
Feeling the food in her mouth, Wei Mu smiled, feeling a bit helpless as well.
Kong Ning was coaxing her like a kindergarten child.
Taking off her gloves, Kong Ning also started eating the crayfish meat dipped in sauce.
“I’m here, Wei Mumu. Don’t be afraid.”
And… don’t be sad.
Wei Mu, she must be so sad…
Kong Ning was too embarrassed to say those words out loud. She knew that no matter what, Wei Mu would be sad. When they were little, Wei Mu used to cry often because of her parents’ fighting. Back then, Kong Ning would drag her away, coax her to eat, and pull her outside to play.
Yet, the grown-up Kong Ning didn’t know how to make Wei Mu feel better, and she felt awkward about her own words.
Once upon a time, they seemed to be very close?
But that was in the past.
“Mm.” Wei Mu silently looked at Kong Ning’s lowered head.
Ultimately finding the atmosphere a bit suffocating, Kong Ning didn’t want to go on like this.
“Besides, I have to attend the wedding too! Ah, how outrageous, my mom didn’t even inform me about this! Are we still an inseparable mother and daughter or not?”
She lifted her head, becoming that amusing, funny Kong Ning who made people want to laugh once more.