Outside the barbecue joint, smoke filled the air, with a large fan blowing the oil smoke skyward.
On the artificial grass, there were over a dozen wooden round tables surrounded by pink plastic chairs. Under the bright spotlights, eight or nine students clinked their beer glasses.
"Why didn't Jiang Nian come?" someone asked.
"Probably ran out of money, who knows about him," a boy said carelessly, while the hot pot on the table bubbled with steam. "He hasn't been talking to us these past few days."
Le Zhi sat in his seat, looking a bit awkward. He had a good relationship with Jiang Nian and knew the reason. Seeing the topic getting more and more off course, he couldn't help but explain.
"Hey, it's just about last time. It's not like everyone was joking around, and he overheard it. Jiang Nian might just be a bit upset, talk it out and it'll be fine."
"What's there to talk about? It's up to him if he wants to come or not," Zhou Yuting suddenly said.
"Ah?" Le Zhi didn't expect Zhou Yuting to speak up and felt awkward at once.
This group was originally centered around Zhou Yuting, and now that she spoke, the rest naturally became more aggressive and heavily criticized Jiang Nian.
"A poor guy is just a poor guy, what's wrong with saying a few words about him?"
"Exactly, what's with the fragile heart? People who can't even take a joke are no fun. It's up to him if he wants to come or not. Do we have to have the class monitor coax him?"
Zhou Yuting was the class monitor, always ranked in the top five in class. With a wealthy family, a clever mind, and a great figure, she was always popular among the opposite sex.
Le Zhi indeed liked Zhou Yuting, but hearing the group constantly belittle Jiang Nian, he originally thought it was just casual banter. Then he realized they even involved his family.
The insults continued nonstop, getting more intense and excessively rude.
"Ha... isn't this a bit much?"
"What's too much about it? Did we say something wrong? A poor guy is just a poor guy, born poor, with no big picture in life."
Even though Le Zhi and Jiang Nian's relationship was just so-so, he didn't want to contradict Zhou Yuting. However, upon hearing this, he couldn't control his temper.
With a bang, Le Zhi stood up abruptly, shouting angrily.
"Are you guys out of your fucking minds? Just because Jiang Nian isn't coming doesn't mean you have to involve his family. Those who don't know might think Jiang Nian killed your mothers."
"I really can't stand you bunch of idiots. Being friends with a dog is better than with you guys. Go drink your damn beer!"
Le Zhi cursed in one breath, slapped down three one-hundred-yuan bills, didn't even look at the crowd, and turned to leave.
The table fell into dead silence.
After a few seconds, someone reacted.
With a slap, grabbing a beer bottle, someone stood up, glaring at Le Zhi's departing back, shouting with reddened eyes.
"Idiot! Don't leave if you've got guts!"
"What are you doing!" Zhou Yuting said displeased, glaring at that person, "The person's already gone, what's the point of saying this!"
"Sit down!" Zhou Yuting crossed her arms, giving him a sideways glance, "Do you know who Le Zhi's dad is? You'd be detained for at least fifteen days if you make a move, don't you want to study anymore?"
Liu Feipeng was leisurely sipping his drink, listening to the conversation at the table, smiling but saying nothing. The raised corners of his mouth mocked not only Jiang Nian but also the other boys present.
A bunch of poor fools, thinking that ostracizing Jiang Nian would win the goddess's favor?
He saw it clearly, Le Zhi's dad was a leader at the county public security bureau. Although he seemed a bit effeminate usually, he had quite some backbone.
This made Liu Feipeng regard Le Zhi a bit higher, at least he wasn't one of those brainless sycophants, having the qualifications to compete with him.
Moreover, he knew that Zhou Yuting valued background greatly and wouldn't distance herself from Le Zhi over such a small incident. After the relations eased in a couple of days, she would surely persuade him back.
The cake of victory should be enjoyed by someone as stable and capable as himself.
"Ahem." Liu Feipeng smiled, breaking the sullen atmosphere, "Yuting, how did you do in this exam, do you think you have a chance to move up a class?"
With one sentence, the table returned to a normal atmosphere.
Zhou Yuting frowned, "It went okay, just not sure if there's a chance."
"No worries." Liu Feipeng chuckled, acting like a calm big brother, "I heard that this exam was quite hard overall, maybe even a 530 could get you to move up."
"Really?" Zhou Yuting's eyes lit up, "I estimate my score to be 510, if luck is on my side, I might have a chance to hit 530."
"Mhm, even if it's a little short it shouldn't matter." Liu Feipeng smiled, seemingly mentioning offhandedly, "My father is quite familiar with our grade's director."
"He might have said something today, if necessary, I can put in a word for you."
"Alright, then thank you in advance, Peng-ge," Zhou Yuting replied sweetly.
The educational resources of the Olympic class and parallel class were worlds apart, not because the teachers were biased, but because the foundational levels of the two class tiers were different.
Zhou Yuting maintained a top-five ranking in her class, and last week the class teacher even had a talk with her. She was encouraged to prepare well and strive to move up to the Olympic class for lessons.
If she could move up and establish herself in the Olympic class, she would be guaranteed a spot at a top university, with hopes for a top-tier university; she always wanted to study in the coastal city of Ludan University.
Under the lights, Jiang Nian opened a white box, taking out injury balm with a serious look.
Upon opening it, a strong medicinal aroma hit his face.
He turned around, shaking his head.
"Juvenile fantasies cause twisted ankles? Xu Qianqian, were you daydreaming while going upstairs?"
In Xu Family's living room, Xu Qianqian, sitting on the sofa, gritted her teeth and said!
"You're the one daydreaming! It was because... there was a mouse!"
"Mice are so cute, and you're afraid of them?" Jiang Nian kept sighing, walked over to her, and looked down, "Tsk tsk."
Xu Qianqian got upset by his disapproval click, threw a pillow at him.
"Get out! I can apply it myself!"
"No way, Old Xu isn't off work yet, I have to help you with the medicine," Jiang Nian sighed, "Besides, how can I let a good opportunity slip by?"
"Darling, I'll be... gentle!"
Xu Qianqian's face visibly whitened; no girl isn't afraid of pain.
"Leave it, I'll do it myself."
"Sprains need immediate treatment, if you don't have the strength, it will leave bruises." Jiang Nian pulled up a small stool, raising an eyebrow, "Hand over the stinky foot."
"You're the one with stinky feet! Smell it if you don't believe me!" Xu Qianqian reluctantly extended her pale foot.
Probably due to girls being keen on foot washing, the sole was free from calluses, instead, with a hint of pink amidst the white, the toes curled up like snowy white tangyuan.
Due to stretching her foot on the sofa, the edge of Xu Qianqian's pajamas tightened, outlining curvy mounds, appearing particularly enticing.
Jiang Nian only glanced once before averting his gaze, wondering since when they became this big.
He poured some injury oil onto his palm, concentrating on applying it around Xu Qianqian's swollen ankle, using some pressure and circular motions.