Chapter 156: Ancient Temple
Jiang Ning glared at him, reluctantly walking toward him: “Don’t order me around.”
Xie Jingyan chuckled lightly instead: “Sorry, next time you come order me, I’ll obey absolutely.”
Jiang Ning’s cheeks felt a bit hot. She pursed her lips and muttered softly: “Smooth talker, hurry up and go, we’re going to be late.”
Jiang Ning sat on the back seat of his bicycle.
Father Jiang happened to come out of the villa, preparing to go to the company for work.
Seeing Xie Jingyan, he quickly called out to him: “Xiao Xie, this stock you recommended has been surging lately. Should I invest a few more percentage points?”
Father Jiang looked eager. Thanks to Xie Jingyan’s recommended stock, he had made quite a bit, so he was tempted to invest more.
Xie Jingyan was silent for a few seconds before slowly saying: “Uncle, this stock’s market trend is done. I advise you to sell high now. Wait a few more days, and it’ll make you lose everything.”
Father Jiang blinked in slight stunned silence: “Ah??”
He was somewhat suspicious: “Really? Is it that exaggerated?”
Xie Jingyan said: “This is just a decision based on my speculation. As for whether to sell high or not, it depends on you, Uncle.”
“We’re going to school first; we’re going to be late.”
Father Jiang nodded with a grim expression.
Jiang Ning looked puzzled at Xie Jingyan’s back view: “What stock? Did you buy it too?”
Xie Jingyan’s hand tightened on the handlebars.
He took a deep breath, his voice steady: “I bought it and made some money. Because Xiao He needs healing, and you advanced three hundred thousand, I have to pay back all that money.”
Jiang Ning: “…”
“How much did you make?”
Xie Jingyan’s voice carried a laugh: “Why ask so clearly? Want to dig into my background?”
Jiang Ning let out a mocking laugh: “How much background could you have? Don’t I know your strength? I get a hundred thousand in pocket money a month!”
“Hmm, then you’re awesome. Can you support me in the future?”
Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow: “Depends on my mood. After all, I’m no philanthropist. If you make me happy, I’ll be nicer to you.”
Xie Jingyan laughed in exasperation: “Fine, Young Lady.”
The two arrived at school.
Xie Jingyan had just steadied the bike.
Wei Jin’s voice came over: “Jiang Ning! Look here.”
Jiang Ning turned her head and saw Wei Jin trotting over: “After you got back yesterday, you didn’t run into any more danger, right? Why didn’t you reply to my messages? I was very worried about you.”
His worry was unconcealed, all over his face.
Jiang Ning awkwardly touched her nose: “Sorry, I had guests at home yesterday and didn’t check my mobile phone much, so I didn’t see your messages.”
Hearing this, Wei Jin smiled carelessly: “No problem. Seeing you’re fine puts me at ease.”
Xie Jingyan sneered coldly, unable to hold back: “She just ignores you—what can you do about it?”
Wei Jin gave him a sidelong glance: “I’m talking to Jiang Ning. Why are you butting in?”
Xie Jingyan looked at Jiang Ning instead, his face tense: “Don’t talk to him.”
Jiang Ning: “…”
“Alright, you two, aren’t you bored? What’s there to argue about? We’re all friends.” Jiang Ning played peacemaker.
The two spoke at the same time, differently.
“Exactly.”
“Who wants to be friends with you?”
The first sentence was from Wei Jin, the second from Xie Jingyan.
He raised his brows, carrying a dangerous, unruly aura: “Jiang Ning, I won’t be friends with you.”
There were only two choices between them.
Lover or enemy.
Wei Jin rolled his eyes and muttered softly: “We won’t play with him. He really thinks he’s something. Jiang Ning, this weekend, want to go to the ancient temple next to Phoenix Mountain to pray? I feel like we’ve been really unlucky lately. How about we dispel some bad luck?”
“Seeking a peace talisman?” Jiang Ning asked.
Wei Jin nodded: “Sort of. I’ll draw a fortune slip. I heard this ancient temple is very efficacious—answers almost every request!”
Seeing how mysteriously he put it, Jiang Ning was skeptical: “Really?”
Wei Jin grinned: “True or not, we’ll know if we go together.”
Xie Jingyan frowned and said coldly: “Don’t go!”
Wei Jin glared at him coldly: “What right do you have to restrict Jiang Ning? She wants to go, so she’ll go!”
Xie Jingyan was about to speak.
Sui Tang’s curious voice rang out from behind: “Go where?”
Wei Jin turned his head. He knew Sui Tang, Jiang Ning’s cousin, so he enthusiastically invited: “To the famous ancient temple in Jin Cheng to seek a peace talisman. Want to come? It’s fun, like a day trip.”
Sui Tang’s eyes lit up: “To the ancient temple? I’ve only been once. The maple leaves there are all red this time of year; it should be beautiful. Cousin, let’s go together.”
She turned her head again, asking: “He Shang, are you going?”
He Shang had a stern face, looking unhappy.
But facing Sui Tang, he choked a bit and said grumpily: “Whatever.”
Sui Tang blinked: “Going means going, not going means not. What does ‘whatever’ mean? If you don’t go, I’ll ask josen to come.”
He Shang’s face darkened: “Sui Tang! That josen is obviously no good; don’t let him deceive you.”
Sui Tang frowned: “He Shang, how can you say that about him? Josen is a good person. If you say that again, I won’t talk to you. Yesterday I fell into the sea, and josen jumped in to rescue me.”
Jiang Ning instantly caught the key point in Sui Tang’s words: “You said you fell into the sea yesterday?”
Thinking of it, Sui Tang still felt lingering fear: “Yeah, yesterday for some reason the waves were huge, the boat rocked too much. I was seasick and leaning on the railing. I wasn’t paying attention and got flung off. Luckily josen saw me, or I’d be fish food in the sea.”
Jiang Ning pursed her lips: “What about Shen Jinhe?”
“Jin He saw me vomiting badly and went to find seasickness medicine for me. I wanted to rest by the railing but fell in without noticing, so josen is my benefactor. From now on, I’ll be his number one fan,” Sui Tang said excitedly.
She fell into the sea yesterday but could come to school normally today. It seemed she was just frightened with no serious injury, so Jiang Ning didn’t think much of it, treating it as an accident.
“Be careful next time; don’t go to unsafe places to play again,” Jiang Ning cautioned.
Sui Tang smiled and agreed: “Got it.”
He Shang was still unconvinced: “How is it such a coincidence? You fall into the sea, and he ‘happens’ to heroically rescue the beauty and save you.”
“Can’t you use your brain? That guy definitely has ulterior motives toward you.”
Sui Tang puffed up in anger, speaking without thinking: “He Shang, you’re too much. Even he wouldn’t have ulterior motives toward me!”
He Shang, whose sore spot was poked, fell silent, then stiffly tossed out: “Do whatever.”
Then he walked off without another word.
“Hey!”
Seeing him leave.
Sui Tang then realized she’d said the wrong thing.
But since it was said, she couldn’t bring herself to apologize.
She could only bite her lip unhappily: “He runs off after a couple words. Why didn’t I see him being so petty before!”
Her mood inexplicably irritated: “Why doesn’t he like josen?”
