CHAPTER 748: CHAPTER 581

"Hey byd, stop struggling."

"You...!!"

Yao Beibei found this person’s demeanor awful, treating her like she wasn’t even a girl, casually pulling her forward.

"Why are you grabbing my chest?"

"Nonsense, it was your arm." Jiang Nian was speechless, turned his head, and pointed at her, "Shut up, we’ll talk outside."

As soon as he finished speaking, a firework shot towards Yao Beibei.

"Ah!!!"

Jiang Nian didn’t even look, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. He casually slapped it away, accurately knocking down the firework.

"Don’t scream, like a sissy."

"I am a woman."

"Huh?"

"Go to hell!"

The two made it to the shore, leaving the area under the bridge. Once out of the crowd, he finally let go of Yao Beibei.

Jiang Nian scanned the area below, noticing that the few spirited young men didn’t come up.

"The local people are fierce."

"These people are such idiots." Yao Beibei was still shaken, "Why would they shoot fireworks at people?"

"Just showing off." Jiang Nian grinned cheekily.

Yao Beibei was speechless, thinking he had a big heart. Suddenly, she remembered that he seemed to have blocked the firework with his hand.

"Is your hand okay?"

Jiang Nian opened his palm, slightly red and swollen.

"It’s alright."

Seeing this, Yao Beibei let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness."

"Thank goodness my ass, it hurts like hell." Jiang Nian shook his hand and walked with Yao Beibei towards the pickup truck.

"Are you guys alright?" Zhang Ningzhi got out of the car, looking anxious, "I saw so many people heading that way."

"We’re fine."

Not long after, Lin Dong came rushing over from a distance. Seeing that all three were unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Damn, scared the hell out of me."

"Why are those people so mean, and no one even called the police!" Zhang Ningzhi complained, glancing at Jiang Nian’s hand.

"Is there a pharmacy nearby? Let’s get some burn ointment."

"Yes, there is." Lin Dong was ready to lead the way.

"No need, I said it’s fine." Jiang Nian waved, then asked Lin Dong, "How late do you keep your stall open?"

"No worries, my uncle is here." Lin Dong said, "It’s getting late, come to my place for a while."

"Alright."

The walk wasn’t long, and the four arrived on foot.

As they were about to go upstairs, Jiang Nian checked his pockets.

"Crap, I lost my key."

"Car key?" Lin Dong froze, ready to turn back to look together, "I’ll help you find it."

"No, house key."

Jiang Nian looked at the two girls, "You guys go up and rest for a bit, Lin Dong and I will go back and find it."

"I want to go too." Zhang Ningzhi said.

"No need, Yao Beibei is also tired." Jiang Nian pointed at her, "The kid is worn out, don’t drag her along."

Yao Beibei: "?"

Just as she was about to deny it, her eyes met Jiang Nian’s. Remembering he blocked the firework for her, she changed her words.

"Indeed, I feel a bit dizzy."

Helpless, Zhang Ningzhi could only go upstairs with Yao Beibei.

.....

Jiang Nian and Lin Dong retraced their steps.

"I know a shortcut." Lin Dong said.

"Alright." Jiang Nian followed, cutting through alleys, picking up a black baseball cap from the ground, "Wait for me by the bridge."

Lin Dong: "???

"Bro, aren’t we looking for the key?"

"Sort of." Jiang Nian replied vaguely.

He got to the bridge but didn’t exit the alley. Gesturing for Lin Dong to wait, he saw a few people grouped together by the bridge.

Laughing and chatting, with several flashy electric scooters parked beside them.

"Wait for me here." Jiang Nian said, starting to take off his jacket.

Lin Dong, confused: "Huh?"

Before he could ask, the thick jacket was tossed onto him. Then he saw Jiang Nian putting on a mask.

"No, bro... what are you doing?"

Jiang Nian ignored him, blended into the crowd, and headed towards the bridge.

Getting close to them, he gauged their positions. Without warning, he threw a punch, knocking one down.

Quickly shifting, he kicked another’s knee, followed by a swift slap.

Three or four people, like sandbags, didn’t react in time. They cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground like falling rain.

Jiang Nian took their scooter keys, throwing them with force into the river on the other side of the bridge, which was waist-deep.

The entire process was crisp and smooth, without any hesitation.

The pedestrians on the bridge were initially stunned, not yet having processed, saw that young guy already running away.

Some informed bystanders pointed at these guys.

"Those are the ones who shot fireworks at people, probably got beaten because it hit someone."

"Serves them right, karma."

"They think the police station can’t catch them, really lawless."

"Indeed, serves them right."

From the alley, witnessing the whole process, Lin Dong was dumbfounded.

We were supposed to find keys, but it turned into payback?

Damn.

He looked around and couldn’t spot him, suddenly feeling a tap on his shoulder from behind.

"What are you looking at?"

"Brother Nian?"

"Found the key." Jiang Nian took the jacket back from him, "We’ll head back to Zhen Nan in a bit."

Lin Dong, mixed with emotions, didn’t know what to say.

"Cool."

Driving back to the county, Zhang Ningzhi and Yao Beibei sat in the backseat together.

"Did you find the key?"

"Yeah."

"Alright." Zhang Ningzhi thought about leaving Zhen Nan tomorrow and wasn’t happy again, "What are you up to tomorrow?"

"It’s New Year, what else can I do." Jiang Nian replied, "Maybe doing exercises and then going to the internet café with Li Hua and the others?"

"Oh."

The rest of the journey was silent.

Jiang Nian first sent Yao Beibei home, and while she was getting off the car, he casually asked,

"Everything good at home?"

Yao Beibei thought for a moment and nodded.

"Yeah, pretty good."

He didn’t drive off immediately but waited there for a while. Zhang Ningzhi took the opportunity to switch to the passenger seat.

Click, she fastened her seatbelt.

"Ah! Why did you touch my leg?" The girl exclaimed.

"Oh, sorry." Jiang Nian replied calmly, "I was reversing and accidentally touched your leg."

Zhang Ningzhi: "Hmph!"

The car slowly drove away, heading towards Nanjiang Bay.

"Bye bye, the best desk mate in the world." Jiang Nian got out of the car and waved to Zhang Ningzhi, "See you after New Year."

"Why do you look so happy?" Zhang Ningzhi glared at him.

"Not happy at all."

"You laughed out loud, stop pretending!" Zhang Ningzhi was feeling frustrated, thinking how annoying this person was!

Annoying, annoying, annoying!!!

"I’m really not happy, the New Year is coming up soon," he said with a smile, "After New Year’s, lying around for two days, then going back to school."

"Why go to school?" Zhang Ningzhi looked puzzled.

Jiang Nian explained, "The school opened a study room for seniors; it’s more efficient to do homework in the classroom than at home."

Zhang Ningzhi instantly showed no expression, unsure whether to praise or say something else.

"Oh, you’re so diligent."

"It’s alright."

Zhang Ningzhi: "...."

She lingered at the entrance of the community, unwilling to go back. Seeing someone she knew, she hurriedly pulled Jiang Nian aside to hide.

Jiang Nian chuckled, "Why don’t you go upstairs?"

"You heartless person!" Zhang Ningzhi put her hands on her hips, her fair and tender finger pointing at him with an imposing manner.

"I’m flying away tomorrow, don’t you have anything to say?"

"Safe travels?"

"What else?"

"Once you get to Qiong Province, remember to buy me some gifts," Jiang Nian said, "I’ll give you a present too when you come back after New Year."

"Oh, okay."

Zhang Ningzhi turned around and walked away, her pace rivaling that of a turtle, taking step after step while turning back to see someone waving goodbye.

She walked a bit further, then suddenly turned and ran back.

Jiang Nian: "Hmm?"

The girl rushed up to him without slowing down, jumped onto Jiang Nian, and hugged him tightly.

He was pushed back a few steps by this low-speed projectile and just managed to steady himself before being hugged tightly again.

"Wait..."

Before Jiang Nian could speak, the girl had already let go.

Thud thud thud, she turned and ran off.

Jiang Nian: "...."

As the saying goes, the hardest thing to endure is the kindness of a beauty.

He stood there without moving, watched Nanjiang Bay with its bright lights for a while, and then slowly turned away.

This moment in time.

Looks like Zhang Wanhai’s fate involves a tussle with blonde hair, destined not to escape from himself.

....

Back home, Jiang Nian took a shower and lay in bed.

He first closed his eyes to rest, then took out his phone to browse for a while. Replied to some messages and popped into the class group.

A few boys shared game screenshots, inviting girls to play games together.

Li Hua shared a picture posing with the computers at the internet café. Shortly after, he shared another picture of AD calcium milk.

"Got emotional and drank four bottles of white."

Ma Guojun: "Drink less."

"You’ll understand when you get to my age," Li Hua said pretentiously, "Still can’t forget the days of the past."

Jiang Nian @Li Hua, "Baby, don’t drink like that, your prostate can’t handle it."

"Chi Shi!!"

"When it’s severe, one strip a day. [Image]" Tao Ran shared a picture of milk calcium tablets.

"I’ve got this." Wang Yuhe sent a picture of little Wang Zai buns.

The group was lively, Jiang Nian watched for a bit and then exited. Rolling around twice on the bed, he soon went to sleep.

The next day.

Zhang Ningzhi was already in Qiong Province, and she sent many photos to Jiang Nian, bombarding him with twenty messages.

Jiang Nian stared at the phone for a while, deep in thought.

"Yesterday you....."

The message was sent, and Zhang Ningzhi quickly replied.

"I remember nothing from yesterday, you’d better not mention it either," Zhang Ningzhi sent a husky warning emoji.

Jiang Nian smiled slightly, thinking she sure is diligent in stealing emojis.

"Alright then."

"I’m going to register at the hospital later."

"Register?" Zhang Ningzhi replied, "Why?"

"My ribs got hit by the kiddie ride; it’s a bit painful," Jiang Nian typed, "Going to ask the doctor if I need to insert steel pins."

Zhang Ningzhi: "..."

He didn’t actually go to the hospital, just teasing his desk mate.

The day before New Year’s Eve, Empress Li wanted to go to Yongning Temple. She specially called Xu Qianqian and the others, the whole family going.

"Hurry up, what are you dawdling for?"

Outside, Li Hongmei’s impatient voice urged.

"Coming, coming." Jiang Nian put on a light jacket, but as soon as he stepped out the door, he was grabbed by Empress Li and given a lecture.

"It’s so cold outside, wearing something so thin, do you want to freeze?"

"Mom, I don’t feel cold."

"Wear one more layer!"

"Alright, look at Dad, he’s..." Jiang Nian pointed falsely, and as soon as Li Hongmei turned, he found a gap and slipped away.

"Mom, I’m going downstairs now!"

".....Really!"