Chapter 189: New Year’s Eve Gala
Xie Jingyan was silent for a few seconds.
He only chuckled lightly: “I wouldn’t commit suicide. I’ll live well.”
He couldn’t possibly abandon his loved ones for some illusory person.
Wei Jin leaned against the wall, looking at him carelessly: “You don’t like her anymore, right? Then I’ll step up my pursuit. I already regretted that she didn’t meet me first. Since you’re giving up, I won’t hold back.”
He smoothed his hair: “This young master has some appearance to boast about. Do you know about the talent show I joined recently? I was voted into the top twenty out of over a hundred people. Besides the imperial family in front, do I need to say anything about my strength?”
Xie Jingyan: “…”
He glanced at him indifferently: “That’s about it.”
Wei Jin: “…”
He glared at him: “Go ahead and be sour, kid. I can sing, dance, and rap. You just know how to study to death. Oh, now you have a new skill: smoking. What’s the use?”
Xie Jingyan turned his head, too lazy to pay him any attention.
Wei Jin gazed bored at the night sky: “I originally heard Jiang Ning had awakened and wanted to send a message to congratulate her, but found out she’d blocked me on WeChat. It scared me so much I quickly took leave to return to Jin Cheng. I thought I’d done something wrong. Later I found out her personality had greatly changed after she awakened.”
Wei Jin teasingly glanced at Xie Jingyan and saw that his face had old wounds unhealed and new ones added, sighing somewhat: “But looking at you, you seem much worse off than me. Jiang Ning has great fighting skills. Getting beaten by her should hurt for a few days, right?”
“The current Jiang Ning isn’t Jiang Ning.” Xie Jingyan only replied with that.
Wei Jin was somewhat baffled: “What?”
In his mind, Jiang Ning had probably suffered a brain concussion from the explosion or had amnesia.
He wouldn’t think too much, let alone try to understand Xie Jingyan’s crazy words.
What did he mean the current Jiang Ning wasn’t Jiang Ning?
Then who was she?
A ghost?
Wei Jin shook his head: “I have to report back to the Capital City tomorrow. If I take more leave, that variety show probably won’t want me. Next time we meet…” He paused, then smiled: “It’ll probably be next summer, because I signed with a management company. After going back today, there’ll be plenty of roadshow appearances for exposure. Xie Jingyan, I won’t lose to you. All my current effort is to one day be worthy of Jiang Ning.”
Xie Jingyan looked at him quietly: “Even the Jiang Ning you’re not familiar with?”
Wei Jin thought for a moment, then slowly said: “Though I don’t know what happened to her, the Jiang Ning I know is calm and collected, kind and brave. Those qualities won’t change.”
Long after Wei Jin left.
Xie Jingyan, blowing in the night wind, felt his whole body numb from the cold.
He felt his pocket; inside was only an empty cigarette pack left.
He tossed it into the trash can.
He exhaled a puff of white misty hot air.
There was no moon tonight.
He stayed outside until the New Year’s Eve Gala ended before leaving the school.
After New Year’s Day passed, there were fifteen days left until vacation, because the end of the month was New Year’s Eve.
Perhaps because winter vacation was approaching.
“Jiang Ning” didn’t trouble him again during that time, but instead stuck to Gu Lanli all day.
After Su Wanyuan came to Class 1, she began to study diligently.
In the school’s final monthly exam, Xie Jingyan’s grades slipped, but he barely held onto first in grade.
He used to be twenty points ahead of second place; now it was only two points.
This wasn’t because those behind had gotten stronger, but because Xie Jingyan’s grades had dropped during his period of depression.
A week later, the three-day final exam ended.
The entire Ninth Middle School was on vacation.
At Old Li’s request, Xie Jingyan inventoried the class items, cleaned the hygiene, and left last.
At this moment, he was mopping the floor with a mop.
He Shang came to the entrance to find him, reporting something every day.
For example, Sui Tang had fallen out with Jiang Ning.
For example, Shen Jinhe had also fallen out with Jiang Ning.
And for example, Xin Yang had also fallen out with Jiang Ning.
Hearing the end.
He Shang summarized speechlessly: “How is she so good at causing trouble and being pretentious? She used to be pretty good; how did she become so disgusting now?”
If not for the previous filter, He Shang absolutely wouldn’t give the current “Jiang Ning” any good facial expression.
Did she really think having money meant she could do whatever she wanted?
Not treating them as people.
Even clay figures have a bit of temper.
Xie Jingyan’s expression remained very indifferent: “I don’t know. Don’t ask me.”
He Shang: “…”
“But between us, you have the closest relationship with Jiang Ning!” He Shang said painfully: “You fucking dropped the mission for her, gave up fifty thousand, and offended the Huo Family. What did you get out of it?”
Xie Jingyan pushed him aside with his hand: “Move. You’re dirtying the spot I just mopped.”
He Shang: “…”
“You’re actually in the mood to mop the floor. Want me to wash your mop for you?”
He was provoked by Xie Jingyan’s indifferent attitude into talking nonsense.
Xie Jingyan tilted his head and asked: “Can you?”
He Shang: “…”
He wouldn’t go!
Washing the mop in the bathroom was exhausting.
So he pretended to inspect and checked the windows wiped clean of any dirt.
Knowing but still asking: “What did you use to wipe the windows? They’re so clean.”
Xie Jingyan glanced at the glaringly clean rag still on the windowsill and the bucket of soapy water on the floor, saying indifferently: “Didn’t wipe. I licked them with my tongue.”
He Shang: “…”
Turning to see him mopping with his head down, he circled the classroom once, making conversation: “You’ve mopped the floor so clean too. What did you use?”
Xie Jingyan, holding the mop: “…”
He suppressed his anger and said flatly: “Mopped with hair. Satisfied?”
He Shang: “…”
“Do you have some issue with me?”
Xie Jingyan: “Mm.”
He Shang: “???”
Xie Jingyan: “Talks too much.”
“…”
He looked hurt: “No more love.”
Xie Jingyan ignored him, took the mop to wash it clean, placed it at the back, and turned to see He Shang still in the classroom.
He spun the keys in his hand: “Leaving or not?”
He Shang stepped forward and slung an arm around Xie Jingyan’s shoulders: “Vacation starts tomorrow. Wanna go all-night at the internet cafe tonight?”
Xie Jingyan, with his bag slung over one shoulder, replied casually: “Did the Zhou Family approve you not coming home tonight?”
Mentioning this made He Shang depressed.
“You know? Zhou Yuchu is back! The Zhou Family saw the medical dispute incident had passed, so Mrs. Zhou brought her son back. Maybe after the new year, they’ll send Zhou Yuchu abroad, or arrange him at a nearby school.”
Xie Jingyan got annoyed hearing him talk about these things.
Still, he echoed: “And then?”
“He’s back. Won’t Sui Tang fall for him again when she sees him? Recently josen has been fawning in front of her too. Don’t know what that josen said, but she actually went with Sui Tang to meet Uncle Sui.”
On this point, He Shang was speechless.
Sui Tang, this sweet and naive girl, dared to bring anyone home to family. Though he could sense josen wasn’t a good person, he had no evidence.
