Chapter 198: A Simple Hand-Holding, Causing an Uproar
TL: Etude
As time passed, more and more boys gathered around the mutton soup stand to watch Feng Nanshu. Naturally, Jiang Qin received an increasing number of disdainful looks.
However, his soul had grown weary, and he had almost forgotten the names and faces of his high school classmates. He couldnt even recognize everyone in his own class, let alone someone from the class next door.
But Yang Shuan knew all about these people and rattled off their details. That one is the perpetual second-placer in class one, always scoring just behind my aunt in the monthly exams.
Thats Liu He, studying aviation. Many say hes the most handsome guy in school and has expressed his liking for my aunt more than once.
And that one, Sun Lei, a rich second generation. His family is quite wealthy, and he often accidentally bumps into my aunt at the stairwell.
Thats Cao Jian from class six. Nothing special about him, just like me and Old Guo, nothing at all.
As Yang Shuan handed a bowl of mutton soup to a customer, his casual remark nothing at all turned Guo Zihangs face dark with embarrassment.
Jiang Qin smiled faintly, thinking how childish and immature kids were. He then pulled the hood of the down jacket over the little rich ladys beautiful face, hiding it from view, not allowing anyone else to see.
Uncle, looking at their lip movements, they seem to be cursing you. Do you want to curse back?
Yang Shuan asked casually, covering the pot with a lid.
No need, Shuan. In life, one must learn to be low-key. Even if scolded, we should convince others with reason.
Jiang Qin looked at the boys with an air of calm indifference, but his mouth slowly curled into a more and more crooked smile.
Seeing this triumphantly smug expression, the boys across froze, as if struck by a ton of bricks, and immediately started cursing under their breath.
What was this? The mockery of the victor?
See, this is how you convince others with reason, Jiang Qin said coolly.
Yang Shuan felt a tingling in his scalp. So this is what they call convincing with reason Ive learned something new
Little rich lady, are you cold?
The wind was quite strong on Wuan Mountain, and their stall was only half-protected from the wind, with the rest shielded by felt, but often wind would blow through the gaps. Jiang Qin, feeling a bit cold himself, instinctively tightened his down jacket and was a bit worried about Feng Nanshu.
Jiang Qin, my hands are ice cold.
Saying this, the little rich lady slipped her hand into his pocket, her cold gaze turning warm and watery.
Doing this, Ill be very much hated.
?
Never mind, let them hate. In the end, its me, your good friend, whos unfairly bearing all this for you.
Jiang Qin took her other hand, rubbed it, and held it in his palm, warming his best friends hands.
Feng Nanshu puffed her cheeks, her icy hands gradually warmed, her eyes brimming with joy.
Jiang Qin, why are they all gritting their teeth at you?
Theyre probably envious of our pure and flawless friendship, without a hint of ambiguity.
Meanwhile, the boys opposite could no longer hold back. Shaking their heads, they wanted to leave, wishing they had never come to this temple fair. If they hadnt, they wouldnt have had to witness such a heart-wrenching scene.
Lets go, dont watch anymore. The more we watch, the more stifled we feel.
Maybe theyre just friends?
Damn friends, Feng Nanshu is letting him touch her hands so casually. Even Zhao Gao wouldnt dare say such nonsense with open eyes. (Zhao Gao = Ancient Chinese official who was traitorous, therefore is famous for lying)
What a lousy temple fair, not a single good thing. Wasted my time, damn.
Damn, why are these roasted chestnuts sour?
A group of boys retreated from the open space, only to encounter a few from class two not far away. Leading them was Qin Ziang, known as the Bully of Chengnan, famous for once declaring hed pick up the entire tab at the cafeteria. Despite being addressed respectfully as Young Master Qin by many, he wasnt well-liked.
Particularly by Sun Lei, a fellow rich second generation, who, due to his familys business being dependent on Qins real estate, couldnt stand up to Qin and often suffered his arrogance.
Knowing Qin Ziang and Jiang Qin had clashed in high school, Sun Lei saw this as an opportunity.
Master Qin, youre here for the temple fair?
Qin Ziang, dressed in the latest fashion, approached with an aloof stride, nodding arrogantly without uttering a word.
Jiang Qin is over there selling mutton soup. Why not go and let him serve you?
Sun Lei, gritting his teeth with a forced smile, thought to himself, let Jiang Qin embarrass you.
You, you.. Who did you say was ahead?
Jiang Qin, the one you dont get along with, is selling mutton soup.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Qin Ziangs face changed, recalling several painfully embarrassing memories involving Jiang Qin.
The first was a 300,000 yuan incident in a bar, the second involved Feng Nanshu under the cold moonlight, and the third was an encounter with Hong Yan outside their university.
Damn, theres a dog ahead; cant go this way, retreat!
With a wave of his hand and no hesitation, Qin Ziang turned and fled with his entourage.
Last summer, even Guo Zihang, Jiang Qins godson, had ridiculed him mercilessly. Facing Jiang Qin himself now, how could he stand a chance?
Go there? To be humiliated?
Qin Ziang was clear-headed. He might boast about being a rich second generation, but Jiang Qin dared to claim he was the first. That automatically put him at a disadvantage an unjust one at that.
The boys from the Chengnan, stunned by Qins abrupt departure, couldnt understand why the usually fearless bully was fleeing like this today.
Whats gotten into Qin Ziang?
I dont know; he seems like a mouse running from a cat.
Cant be, right? I remember him being really cocky. Whats happened to him now?
They pondered for a while but couldnt figure it out, unaware of the extent of Qin Ziangs past humiliation by Jiang Qin. They were just disappointed at missing out on a potentially dramatic scene.
But soon, another opportunity arose. The boys hadnt gone far when they ran into two other classmates from class two.
One was Chu Siqi, dressed in a long white down jacket, and her friend Wang Huiru.
Carrying bags in their hands, they seemed to have come for the temple fair too.
Chu Siqi was well-known in Chengnan High School for her beauty and brains. It was no secret that Jiang Qin had once pursued her and even confessed his feelings on the day of their high school final exams, only to be rejected. Enraged, he had snatched back his love letter in front of everyone, a move that had been the talk of the school.
The boys, nursing their own grudges against Jiang Qin, suddenly had an idea.
What if
What if Chu Siqi appeared before Jiang Qin? Would he still be able to smile as he did just now?
Chu, youre also here for the fair?
Yes, just joining in the fun.
Jiang Qin is over there selling mutton soup. Hes the one who confessed to you after the college entrance exams, remember?
Chu Siqis gaze faltered, dimming as her smile faded. Hes here too?
Shall we go over? Wang Huiru whispered.
Chu Siqi shook her head. Lets head back, Huiru.
Arent you craving roasted chestnuts? We can just pretend not to see Jiang Qin, its fine.
I dont want to go, I cant
After speaking, Chu Siqi, holding Wang Huirus hand, walked back the way they came, but not without stealing a glance back.
The crowd was too dense, and she couldnt see anything. She could only guess Jiang Qins location by the steam of the mutton soup, her mood turning desolate.
Did she regret it?
Of course, she regretted it deeply.
The more outstanding that man became, the more she despised her past self, who was busy basking in admiration and missed out on a good man.
Now, she couldnt even stand near him like a friend to bask in his brilliance.
Watching Chu Siqi walk away, the Chengnan High School boys exchanged glances, all expressing their confusion.
Qin Ziang fleeing was one thing, but why did Chu Siqi also run away?
Chu Siqi, the class belle of class two, was famously proud and temperamental. How could she be so rattled by a failed suitor?
And what was with that glance she cast back? Why did it carry so much regret and reluctance?
How do you see it, Sun?
I think its bizarre. Must have missed something in the almanac today.
Jiang Qin was completely unaware that he had inadvertently scared away two groups of people. By now, he had left Yang Shuans stall and was taking the little rich lady to enjoy the fair.
The mountainside was bustling with various stalls selling snacks, Spring Festival couplets, clay figurines, showcasing street performances, ring toss games, a dazzling array of attractions.
Little rich lady, want to play the ring toss?
Yes.
Feng Nanshu eagerly took the plastic rings handed over by the stall owner, ready to try her hand.
Ten minutes later, with only six rings left, she had securely ringed half of the toys and small porcelain cups on the stall.
Thats enough, lets stop. Look, the stall owner is about to cry. Lets not bully them.
Jiang Qin stopped Feng Nanshu, preventing her from continuing her ruthless conquest of the stall.
Okay, then I wont play anymore.
Feng Nanshu obediently put down the rings and put her hands back in Jiang Qins pocket.
Brother, we dont need the prizes we won. Its tough running a business. Just pick two as souvenirs and give us our money back.
Jiang Qins words breathed new life into the grateful stall owner.
In the end, they got their money back and also took away a little dog toy that the little rich lady liked.
What else do you want to do?
Jiang Qin, Im getting hungry. I want some bao kao ji ji and du chang zhao chi.
Feng Nanshus mouth watered a little.
Jiang Qin paused, confused by her violent-sounding request, then looked in the direction she pointed. Miss, youve read it wrong. Its pronounced vertically: bao du, kao chang, ji zhua, ji chi!
?
After a five-minute stroll in front of the snack stalls, they discovered all the snacks were overpriced by 20 to 30 percent above market rates.
With Jiang Qins temperament, he wouldnt usually indulge such overcharging vendors, but he ended up buying a bunch anyway.
He had no choice the little rich lady wanted those peculiar snacks. If he didnt buy them, she would call him big brother in a suddenly soft tone, appearing cold yet unexpectedly vulnerable, making it impossible for him to resist.
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