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墨書 Inktalez
"You know now."
Feng Ning nodded, thinking for a few seconds, yet remained unfazed as if a mountain had collapsed before her. "Yes, I know. So what now? Do you want me to break up with him and not hinder his bright future? Is that it?"
"Yes."
"And what is your relationship with Jiang Wen? Do you like him?"
"I’m his friend." Pei Shurou paused, emphasizing, "A good friend who grew up together."
"Okay, you’re his friend. Then what about our relationship?"
Pei Shurou was momentarily stunned.
"Do I know you?"
Feng Ning looked at her clearly. "Since you’re just his friend, what right do you have to meddle in my affairs? If you don’t want him to repeat a year, if you want to save him, if you hope he finds his way back, then go talk to him directly. What are you doing here with me?"
"......"
Pei Shurou was left speechless by her rebuttal.
"But since you came to see me, I'll give you two pieces of advice."
Feng Ning stood up, leaned closer to her, and raised one finger. "First, none of your business."
Then she raised a second finger. "Second, mind your own business."
Having said that, Feng Ning neatly picked up her belongings and stood up.
She went to the front desk to settle the bill. She glanced at the receipt, left enough money for her coffee, and walked out.
Feng Ning planned to return to school in September and directly enter her senior year. She took on part-time jobs both day and night. One reason was that Qilan was sick and owed some money, which she wanted to pay off quickly; the other was that she didn’t want to stop moving. As long as she kept busy, she wouldn’t have time to dwell on her thoughts. After all, pain would gradually numb and become a habit with the passage of time.
On Saturday night, Jian Tang was crowded with people. Feng Ning's phone, which she had set aside, rang several times without her answering. During a brief moment of busyness, she slipped away to a quieter spot and returned Jiang Wen's call.
His voice sounded a bit muffled. "I went to your house but didn’t see you."
Qide Senior Year only had one day off on Sundays, and most students returned home only once a month, so there were no curfews at school on Saturday nights.
Feng Ning replied, "I’m at work."
"Aren't you resting at home?"
"I’ve rested enough. If I don’t come out to work, am I just going to lie at home waiting to die?"
Jiang Wen fell silent for a moment before saying, "You could wait for me."
Feng Ning chuckled at his words. "Who taught you that? You’re cracking jokes now."
"Is it at that bar from before? When do you get off work? I’ll come find you."
"No need to come. You should hurry back to school."
Someone called out for Feng Ning loudly, and she held the phone a bit farther from her ear. "What’s up?"
"There are a few people at the front desk waiting to settle their bill."
"Okay, got it." Feng Ning hurriedly said goodbye to Jiang Wen. "Let’s leave it at that; I’m busy right now. We can talk tomorrow if there’s something important."
By two o'clock, the number of customers in the bar had dwindled significantly. Tongtong found some free time and came over to Feng Ning, speaking mysteriously. "There’s someone sitting outside who has been waiting for a long time. I wonder who they’re waiting for."
"Just sit if you want, what's so special about it?" Feng Ning was wiping a cup. "Another sad person in this city, that's all."
Tongtong was eager to gesture, "No, it seems like he's a high school student, super handsome. Xiao Xi and I have sneaked a peek at him many times. When we asked what he was doing, he said he was waiting for someone."
Feng Ning raised her eyes, pausing her movements. She set the items aside and said, "I'll go take a look."
This long street was lined with bars, bustling with voices at night, and the warm-colored lights of the signs outside created a lively atmosphere. Even though it was late, it didn't feel deserted.
Feng Ning walked over step by step and stood in front of him. "Hey, handsome."
Jiang Wen was wearing a white hoodie, staring at the wooden table in front of him without shifting his gaze to her.
Feng Ning reached out and lifted his chin with a finger. "Got quite the temper, huh? Ignoring me?"
With his chin forced upward, Jiang Wen met her gaze.
They locked eyes for a few seconds.
Feng Ning smiled lightly and said, "Why are you sitting here without saying a word? Waiting for me to finish work?"
Jiang Wen remained silent.
Feng Ning tilted his chin again and shook it lightly. "Cat got your tongue?"
Jiang Wen slightly lowered his head, sulking, and bit down on her finger.
Feng Ning felt her fingertip dampen; Jiang Wen's tongue was soft. She tried to pull her hand back, but he wouldn't let go.
"My hand is filthy."
His long eyelashes fluttered slightly downward.
Feng Ning had no choice but to pinch his chin with her other hand. "Alright, are you a dog? Stop biting."
After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Wen finally let go, still angry. "You never tell me anything."
"What, did you come all this way just to argue with me?" Feng Ning ruffled his hair. "Wait a moment, I'll go tell the boss and then come back to keep you company."
As she walked away, Feng Ning took off her apron.
At the entrance, Jian Tang had already gathered a few onlookers. Tongtong said enviously, "Wow, Ningzi, so that handsome guy was waiting for you?"
Seeing their excited expressions made Feng Ning chuckle. She casually tossed her clothes aside. "He's my friend. I'm going to talk to him for a bit. If he's busy, I'll come back to find you."
"Go on, go on! What could be more important than a date with a handsome guy?"
"Alright." Just as Feng Ning was about to leave, Tongtong grabbed her arm. "Hey, hey, hey! By the way, what kind of relationship do you have with this handsome guy?"
"It's... the kind of relationship you're thinking of."
*
Feng Ning brought out a glass of sparkling cocktail and plopped down beside him.
Jiang Wen said, "I don't drink."
"I made it myself; it's non-alcoholic. Please give it a try, young master."
Since it was rare for her to be so attentive, Jiang Wen reluctantly picked it up and took a sip.
"How does it taste?"
"It's alright." Jiang Wen set the glass down.
Feng Ning thought to herself, finally managing to smooth things over. Just as she felt relieved for a moment, she began to calculate, "If I hadn't called you, how long were you planning to keep this from me?"
Feng Ning chuckled awkwardly, "I wasn't hiding anything from you. The moment you called, I told you."
"Then why couldn't you just tell me first?"
She admitted her fault, "Alright, it's my lack of awareness."
With her response, Jiang Wen felt frustrated but couldn't express it. After a long pause, he said, "If you're short on money, I can help you apply for a scholarship."
Feng Ning's expression was flat; she didn't react much. "What, are you planning to have your family pull some strings for me?"
Jiang Wen noticed her teasing tone. "I'm serious."
Feng Ning rested her chin on her hand and looked at him. "Well then, let's talk."
"Talk about what?"
"A few days ago, a friend of yours contacted me. She said you were planning to repeat a year?"
Jiang Wen's expression changed slightly, and he didn't answer her immediately. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Who told you that?"
Feng Ning straightened up in surprise. "You actually have that plan?"
Jiang Wen remained silent.
Feng Ning reached out and held his head, shaking it back and forth.
He leaned away. "What are you doing?"
Feng Ning gritted her teeth. "I'm shaking your brain to see if there's any sense in there."
Jiang Wen didn't want to joke with her. "Do you want to stay in South City all by yourself?"
"What's wrong with being alone?" Feng Ning's expression turned serious. "Don't do this for me; you have your own things to take care of. Don't act on impulse; let's talk about everything after the college entrance exam."
He shrugged it off. "Even if I repeat a year, so what? The universities I can apply to this year will still be available next year."
"Then what's the point of doing this?"
He blurted out, "To keep you company."
"I told you, I don't need that." She sighed and looked at Jiang Wen steadily. "I don't want you to do this. I'm serious when I say I don't need anyone with me. Don't act on impulse, and for any similar situations in the future, you must discuss it with me in advance. If there's a next time, I'll really be angry."
From the very beginning, their relationship had been unequal. He liked her, but she didn't feel the same way. Jiang Wen had been teased by her too many times, leaving him with a fragile nerve that she could easily pinch. Whenever Feng Ning spoke harshly, his mood would instantly shift.
Jiang Wen's breathing grew heavier, as if he was suppressing something. "So you think I'm not mature enough? That I lack ambition, right?" Feng Ning restrained her temper and tried to soothe him. "I don't think that at all. I just want to have a serious conversation about this; I don't want to argue. Please calm down."
"Don't you worry that I'll forget you when I go to college?" His voice carried a hint of annoyance.
Feng Ning feigned melancholy. "I'll try my best to overcome that."
"I know you won't worry," Jiang Wen said with a self-deprecating tone. "But I will worry. I don't want a long-distance relationship; I'm afraid you'll forget me. Is that okay?"
Feng Ning raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"You make me feel insecure."
"......"
Feng Ning let out a light sigh, feeling powerless. "What do you want me to do for you to feel secure?"
"I don't know; just consider me spoiled."
"Being rebellious doesn't mean you can skip the college entrance exam. How old are you to still be playing this game?"
Jiang Wen remained silent.
Feng Ning seemed to ponder for a moment. Suddenly, she moved.
Seeing her lean closer, Jiang Wen instinctively tilted his head away.
Feng Ning placed her hands on either side of him, slightly lifting her face and squinting her eyes as she scrutinized Jiang Wen.
He pretended to be calm, his gaze wandering.
The dim blue light cast a glow on his face. His eyes were striking, his nose well-defined, and his lips thin yet captivating.
Just looking at this face could extinguish any raging fire.
Suddenly feeling warmth on his lips, Feng Ning kissed the corner of his mouth.
Jiang Wen's expression froze for a moment, still caught up in his anger.
She kissed him, and he dodged.
After several attempts, he grasped her chin with his hand, his voice hoarse. "What are you doing? Are you being inappropriate?"
Feng Ning's eyes curved slightly as she playfully replied, "I'm kissing you. What? Don't want it?"
"Forget it then." Just as she was about to straighten up, almost in the next second, Jiang Wen kissed her back.
His warm and soft tongue pushed against her lips, sliding between her teeth.
He closed his eyes, long black eyelashes fluttering rapidly, even his breathing became a bit hurried. Feng Ning kept her eyes wide open, staring at him.
She suddenly burst into laughter.
Jiang Wen stopped his movements, opening his eyes in irritation. His deep black irises glistened with a hint of moisture. "What are you laughing at?"
"Focus on your studies, okay? Don't make me worry."
Feng Ning leaned in closer, resting her arm on Jiang Wen's shoulder, wrapping her arm around the back of his neck. "Did you hear me?"
He turned his face away. "No."
Feng Ning kissed his earlobe. "How about now?"
"No."
The kiss moved to his chin. "What about this?"
"No."
The kiss landed on his eyelid. "And this?"
"No."
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