After silently mocking her once, Song Qichen still did not move his head away, continuing to look at Jiang Mian’s face.
The girl’s complexion was very fair, her lips a light pink. Her curled lashes hung quietly as she slept.
How could someone be like that when awake, that kind of… that kind of temperament, yet look so… well-behaved once asleep…
“Smack!”
The sleeping Jiang Mian casually swung a fist, landing it squarely on Song Qichen’s chin. A sharp pain shot straight through him.
Song Qichen: “…Hiss.” Very well, he took back the word well-behaved.
This woman was truly consistent inside and out. Even sleeping was no exception!
Because he took a wrong turn midway, Yao Qi drove for a full forty minutes from the Banshan Club to Yanjing Film Academy.
By the time Song Qichen woke Jiang Mian, who was still bleary-eyed with sleep, she realized they had already arrived at the east gate of Yan Film.
After getting out of the car, Jiang Mian and Song Qichen stood face to face by the roadside.
“Since you’re this sleepy, hurry in and get some rest. Go to bed early tonight.”
“Mm-hm!”
Jiang Mian nodded, her eyes barely open. Yawning, she turned around, just about to wave goodbye to Song Qichen.
When she lifted her gaze, she saw right in front of her a young couple reluctantly parting, their affection thick in the air.
Their farewell seemed to be coming to an end. The girl was about to turn back when the boy suddenly raised a hand and pointed at the sky.
“Look, a shooting star!”
The girl hurriedly turned her head. Not seeing any shooting star, she turned back again. “Where? I don’t see any…”
Before she could finish speaking, her lips were pressed against the boy’s lips, which had clearly been ready and waiting.
“You’re so bad! You jerk!”
Wow~
The scene made Jiang Mian’s eyes fly wide open in an instant, all drowsiness gone. She subconsciously turned to look at Song Qichen beside her, only to see that the man was also watching the young couple ahead.
Seeing this, Jiang Mian directly nudged Song Qichen with her elbow.
Song Qichen lowered his head.
Jiang Mian raised her eyebrows.
Song Qichen frowned slightly.
“Tsk.”
“Aren’t you going to invite me to look at a shooting star?”
Jiang Mian blinked and gestured.
Song Qichen: “……” Goodbye.
Watching the man get into Yao Qi’s car at top speed, Jiang Mian, still standing outside, could not hold it in anymore and doubled over laughing.
“Hahahahaha…”
He laughed so hard that Song Qichen inside the car restrained himself again and again before finally rolling down the window. “Didn’t you say the lights go out at ten thirty? Are you going back or not?”
“Yes, yes.”
Still laughing, Jiang Mian waved at Song Qichen.
Teasing Song Qichen really was a lot of fun!
After stepping onto campus, Jiang Mian’s mood stayed great, until—
A hand suddenly reached out from behind a wall and yanked her over.
The owner of the hand then followed through, trying to pin Jiang Mian’s wrist against the wall behind her, clearly intending to give her a wall slam.
But who was Jiang Mian? The top combatant of the NO. 1 Base.
On the spot, she twisted her body, directly wrenching the attacker’s arm behind his back. With a sharp smack, she slammed him against the very wall he had meant to use on her. Then, with a deft kick of her toe into the bend of his knee, thump, the man crashed straight to the ground, and Jiang Mian smoothly dropped to one knee on his back.
“What kind of trash is this? With skills like that, you dare try to ambush me?”
Jiang Mian looked utterly disdainful.
“Ugh!”
The man let out a muffled groan under her knee.
After a long moment, a familiar voice finally sounded by Jiang Mian’s ear.
“…It’s me!”
The voice sounded like it was being forced out through clenched teeth.
“It’s you? What are you? Whatever you are, anyone who tries to ambush me is no good!”
Jiang Mian was utterly unconcerned.
“I’m… Xu Xingming! I didn’t ambush you…”
Xu Xingming?
After a brief pause, Jiang Mian loosened her hold. Under the dim yellow streetlight above, she took a closer look. Though dusty and disheveled, it really was the male lead, Xu Xingming.
“Running around at night not acting like a human but like a ghost. You deserve it!”
With that, Jiang Mian turned around and walked off.
“Wait…”
Seeing Jiang Mian about to leave, Xu Xingming hurried forward, reaching out to grab her arm.
But before he could even touch her, Jiang Mian had already turned back around, smiling faintly. “Didn’t you learn enough last time? Touch me even once, and I’ll twist your head right off.”
Those words successfully stopped Xu Xingming from moving any closer. He directly blocked Jiang Mian’s path.
“Jiang Mian…”
“The man who dropped you off at the east gate just now, who was he? And what’s going on with the clothes you’re wearing? Explain it to me clearly.”
Xu Xingming clenched his fists.
“Huh?”
Jiang Mian was full of question marks. “Explain it to you clearly? No, who do you think you are to me? What right do I have to explain anything to you? Move out of the way!”
After hearing Jiang Mian’s words, a complicated look immediately flashed through Xu Xingming’s eyes. “Jiang Mian… you’ve changed. You didn’t used to talk so crudely. You were always soft-spoken. You never looked at me like this, and you never lashed out and hit people at the slightest disagreement. What’s wrong with you? Did something happen to you? Or did your uncle and aunt call again to make things difficult for you? You never used to talk to me like this, and you definitely never laid a hand on me. You…”
“Stop. Stop right there. You remember pretty clearly how I used to be, huh? Looks like you weren’t unaware of Jiang Mian’s feelings after all. You knew, yet you deliberately kept her hanging. You look decent enough on the outside, but I really couldn’t tell you were such a scumbag. A man who already has a girlfriend, dragging another woman out late at night to reminisce about the past with her. What, the Qing dynasty’s been gone for this many years and you’re still dreaming of having multiple wives?”
Jiang Mian crossed her arms, her face full of mockery.
No sooner had Jiang Mian finished speaking than Xu Xingming did not even have time to retort. A female student clutching a stack of books suddenly wandered into the middle of their confrontation. When she caught sight of Xu Xingming’s slightly reddened eyes, she immediately shuddered. “S-sorry, sorry, I’ll leave right away!”
The girl hurriedly fled.
Even so, her brief appearance made Xu Xingming feel that this small path was no longer private enough. Just anyone could barge in. “It’s not convenient to talk here. Come with me…”
As he spoke, the man lifted his foot and walked forward. After only a couple of steps, not hearing any footsteps behind him, Xu Xingming immediately turned around. Only then did he realize in shock that Jiang Mian, who had gone in the opposite direction, was already nearly a hundred meters away.
Not a single word he had said had entered Jiang Mian’s ears.
Seeing this, Xu Xingming could not sort out what he was feeling at all. By the time he reacted, he had already run up beside Jiang Mian and grabbed her wrist tightly. “Did you even hear a word of what I said? Jiang Mian!”
Nearly pulled off balance by his tug, Jiang Mian turned back to look at Xu Xingming behind her, disbelief written all over her face.
“I said, come with me. I have something to talk to you about!”
With that, Xu Xingming dragged Jiang Mian along behind him.
Being pulled forward, Jiang Mian looked at the hand tightly gripping her arm. The surprise on her face slowly faded, replaced by a calm smile so composed it was almost eerie.
“You want to talk, right? Fine. Then let’s have a proper talk.”
*
At the same time, outside the First People’s Hospital, Song Qichen got out of the car. After transferring the taxi fare he and Jiang Mian owed to Yao Qi and saying thank you, he turned and walked into the hospital.
After receiving the transfer, Yao Qi stood there for a moment, somewhat dumbfounded, watching Song Qichen’s retreating figure, utterly confused.
What was he doing at the hospital so late at night?
The First People’s Hospital…
If he remembered correctly, didn’t Xiguang’s father, Old President Song, happen to be hospitalized here?
He had heard Xiguang mention it before.
At this hour, could Song Qichen be coming to visit Old President Song?
Then why had Xiguang said earlier that Song Qichen had never gone to see Old President Song even once?
Judging by how familiar and practiced Song Qichen looked, it really did not seem like someone who had never been here at all.
So why had Brother Xiguang said something like that?
And said it in front of so many people, no less?
Yao Qi could not quite figure it out for a moment. Yet even without fully understanding it, he still felt a faint sense of discomfort toward Song Xiguang’s behavior.
No, wait a second…
Brother Xiguang!!!
It suddenly hit him that he seemed to have left him behind at the Banshan Club!!!
At this moment, far away at the Banshan Club, after finishing checking the surveillance footage, Song Xiguang discovered that Yao Qi, who was supposed to be giving him a ride home, was actually captured on camera respectfully ushering Song Qichen and his little sweetheart into the car. His manner was so fawning it was downright infuriating.
Damn it, with how practiced that posture was, and he still dared say he was not a eunuch in his past life!
Song Xiguang maintained a polite smile toward the club staff while cursing furiously in his heart.
Unaware of what Song Xiguang was going through, Song Qichen, upon entering the inpatient building, followed his usual routine and went to ask the doctor about the patient’s condition.
After that, he moved with deliberate care and entered his father’s hospital room.
Unlike previous times, when he entered to find the other party already fast asleep, the moment he stepped through the door today, click, the light was switched on by someone.
Raising his head, Song Qichen met the gaze of the middle-aged man in striped hospital pajamas.
“You’re here.”
“Mhm.”
Song Qichen nodded.
“You seem to be a bit late today.”
The man on the hospital bed struggled to prop the pillow up behind his back.
Seeing this, Song Qichen hurried forward to support him and adjusted the pillow for him. Instead of answering, he asked, “Why are you still awake so late today? Didn’t the doctor say your condition requires proper rest?”
Song Qichen’s brows were knit tightly.
“I already slept for a while before you came. I’m not sleepy right now.”
The man replied, then gestured for Song Qichen to sit down beside him.
After Song Qichen settled into his seat, the man considered his words for a moment before speaking again. “I heard from Xiguang that you went to a gathering with him today. You’re not the type who enjoys joining in the fun. Why today… Don’t tell me the gathering was free, and there were even gifts afterward?”
A father knows his son best.
Even though they had not spent many years together, Song Hui had already figured out his son’s temperament inside and out.
As for his being obsessed with money, Song Hui had long since experienced that firsthand.
But whenever he thought about what Qichen had gone through in the past, he felt that this flaw came from deep within. He had even wanted him to see a psychologist, yet Qichen was unwilling to spend the money. Sigh.
Aside from that, there was really nothing about Qichen that dissatisfied him. On the contrary, he was immensely proud.
After all, not just anyone, without a good education or strong family support, could amass such a large fortune purely on their own like Qichen had.
He was truly proud of him.
“You know that too?”
Song Qichen casually poured a cup of water for Song Hui.
“I don’t just know that. I also know that you even brought a girl to the gathering tonight…”
“I have to say, your information network is really efficient. But from another angle, it also shows that Song Xiguang really is quite the blabbermouth.”
Song Qichen handed the water to Song Hui.
Song Hui took it and had a sip. “Don’t always talk about Xiguang like that. He may not be as smart as you. In fact, you could say no one in our Song family has ever been this dim. But at least he’s your older brother. Show him some respect. You are brothers, after all…”
“Alright, it’s getting late. Go get some proper rest. I’ll come earlier tomorrow. If there’s anything you want to eat, you can send me a message then and I’ll make it for you. Taking care of your health is what matters most. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”
“You child…”
Song Hui shook his head.
Just as Song Qichen was about to help him lie back down, the man suddenly grabbed his hand. “How did you get here? Don’t tell me you rode that electric scooter again. I’ve told you so many times, money is something you can’t take with you when you’re born, and you can’t take with you when you die. Forget it, talking to you is useless anyway. I’ll call Old Chen to come pick you up!”
As he spoke, the man reached for the phone.
While dialing, he realized that his son did not stop him like he usually did, nor did he start lecturing him again about the ten major benefits of riding an electric scooter. Song Hui felt a trace of surprise.
Involuntarily, he thought of what Song Xiguang had said earlier about the girl Qichen had brought to the gathering. Could it be that girl’s influence?
He wondered what kind of person she was.
Someone who could change that stubborn brat of his should probably be a gentle, soft-spoken, pretty girl, right?
It could be said that Father Song was being overly optimistic.
After settling his father and walking out of the inpatient building, Song Qichen stood by the roadside waiting for Old Chen to come pick him up. He lifted his head without warning and unexpectedly saw a shooting star streak across the sky. This made him involuntarily recall what Jiang Mian had said earlier.
‘You are not even going to invite me to watch a shooting star?’
Almost the moment that sentence surfaced in his mind, Song Qichen could not stop the corners of his mouth from lifting slightly.
What was she doing now? She was probably already asleep. After all, it was so late, and earlier there had been that intense and exhausting racing as well.
*
Yanjing Film Academy, girls’ dormitory building.
The female student who had earlier accidentally run into Jiang Mian and Xu Xingming hesitated again and again, but in the end still knocked on the door of Lin Qian’s dorm room.
Two minutes later, Lin Qian clenched her phone and dialed Xu Xingming’s number, but no one answered.
Looking a little flustered, she called six or seven times in a row. No answer still meant no answer.
This caused Lin Qian’s expression to twist slightly.
【Senior, I think I should still let you know. I just saw Senior Xu downstairs with Senior Jiang Mian. The two of them were facing each other, and it looked like they were arguing pretty fiercely. It’s also possible that I saw it wrong. Do you want to give him a call and ask clearly, so there will not be any misunderstandings between you?】
The junior’s words kept echoing in her ears.
‘Xu Xingming, what exactly are you doing with Jiang Mian? Why aren’t you answering my calls?’
‘Why!’
Yes. What exactly were the two of them doing?
A perfect dating spot for couples: the little grove.
One suppressed scream after another rang out. Even the feral cats that had been lounging on the wall were so startled that their fur stood on end.
“Jiang Mian, Jiang Mian, Jiang Mian, who the hell are you yelling for here, your dad? Damn it, you’re like a fly buzzing around all day long, yapping nonstop. I’m talking to you, talking to you, so why the hell aren’t you talking back?”
“Ah!”
“You bastard. Before you had a girlfriend, you kept Jiang Mian hanging. After you got a girlfriend, you still kept Jiang Mian hanging. What are you, reincarnated as a fishing rod? And you even told me not to get fooled by outsiders. So don’t get fooled by outsiders, but getting fooled by you is fine? What a piece of trash!”
“Ahh!”
“One side is the campus belle, the other is the understanding confidante. So you’re not here to go to university at all, you’re here to open a flower shop, is that it? Why don’t you piss and take a look at yourself. Keys are ten yuan for three[1]“Keys are ten yuan for three” (钥匙三把十块) is a colloquial Chinese saying used jokingly or sarcastically to imply that something—or someone—is cheap, common, or not particularly … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1735265_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1735265_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. Are you even worthy? Worthy of what, exactly?”
“Ahhh!”
In the pitch-dark corner, Jiang Mian, who had finally beaten the scumbag Xu Xingming to a pulp, felt utterly satisfied.
Looking at the man on the ground who was barely moving, Jiang Mian kicked him once more, took a deep breath, then turned and walked away.
After only a couple of steps, she actually turned back again and kicked Xu Xingming twice more. “Damn it, the more I think about it, the angrier I get. Ptui!”
After spitting, Jiang Mian finally left.
Not long after she was gone, two sets of footsteps slowly approached the small grove.
Male voice: “I’ve missed you so much I’m going crazy. Let me give you a kiss!”
Female voice: “You’re so bad. This is such a public place, it’s so embarrassing~”
Male voice: “There’s the grove ahead. No cameras there, and it’s dark. No one will see us. Let’s go!”
Female voice: “Nooo~”
Male voice: “Come on, come on, my little baby~”
Female voice: “Okay then~”
The two slipped into the grove.
In complete darkness.
The boy lowered his head and puckered his lips. The girl stood on tiptoe and puckered hers.
Just as their lips were about to touch, a pair of grimy hands suddenly grabbed their ankles.
The two of them looked down.
“S… s… save me…”
The person on the ground, whose face could not be seen clearly, spoke in a hoarse, gloomy voice.
“Ghost!!!!!!!!!”
References[+]