CHAPTER 848: CHAPTER 499 SUSPICION_2

Now in September, compared to the sweltering daytime, the evening temperature has dropped, with a slight cool breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers and grass and the scent of soil.

The light at the door illuminated the nearby area, and if there were any drawbacks, it would probably be that there were too many mosquitoes biting fiercely.

Uncle Tang, Butcher Zhang, and Mr. Qian were gathered around a small table playing "Fight the Landlord", with two coils of mosquito repellent burning nearby to ensure the game could proceed smoothly.

The group asked Jiang Ning why he came home so early, and Jiang Ning said he skipped class.

Butcher Zhang sneered, "Xiao Jiang, what school are you attending? Skipping class? My son never skipped class and later got into a prestigious university!"

"I’m not bragging, but if you were my son and dared to skip class, I’d string you up and beat you!"

Butcher Zhang took this opportunity to showcase his superb parenting skills.

Jiang Ning smiled and said nothing.

Uncle Zhang, taking the role of an elder, lectured him a bit more, then squatted down and continued playing cards.

He held cards in one hand and an ice pop in the other.

After playing the cards, he took a bite of the ice pop, and then his hand dangled at the side.

Uncle Tang and Mr. Qian played slowly, so when it was Uncle Zhang’s turn again, he took another bite of the ice pop.

Jiang Ning activated the Divine Sense, summoning Uncle Zhang’s Black Back Wolf Dog to curl up behind him.

Uncle Zhang noticed and was pleased, thinking the dog knew to stick close, so he petted its head.

"Pair of Kings," Mr. Qian said, "your turn."

Uncle Zhang played, "Pair of Twos!"

After playing the cards, he shook his hand holding the ice pop.

The big wolf dog lay on the ground, sticking out its tongue to lick the ice pop.

Mr. Qian: "Pair of Jokers."

Uncle Zhang: "Play it, play it!"

He took another bite of the ice pop, then put it down, allowing the big wolf dog to have a turn licking.

Mr. Qian was still thinking, while Uncle Zhang said, "You don’t know how good my hand is this round, I think you can win this round!"

While they played cards, Xue Chuchu finished her meal and stepped out, her pace light. She didn’t sit like Jiang Ning, but chose to stand by the side.

When the big wolf dog licked the ice pop, Xue Chuchu was taken aback for a moment, then saw Uncle Zhang nibble on the ice pop afterward.

The scene was rather absurd, and she instinctively wanted to remind Uncle Zhang not to eat it.

Then, she exchanged a glance with Jiang Ning, both remaining silent, their tacit understanding speaking volumes.

Xue Chuchu pursed her lips, knowingly keeping quiet.

After all, Uncle Zhang was not a good person. When she first moved to the River Dam Bungalow, there was a time when the big wolf dog pounced on someone, and Uncle Zhang laughed nearby.

Luckily, Jiang Ning intervened and stopped it all.

Jiang Ning moved a stool to his side: "Sit down."

Being slightly close, she worried she might brush against his arm. Xue Chuchu hesitated for a moment but chose to sit down.

Previously, in many situations, she couldn’t handle things independently, but ever since Jiang Ning was around, everything became incredibly easy. After a few incidents, even though Xue Chuchu prided herself on being self-reliant, she couldn’t help but feel a slight closeness, not resisting these interactions.

She and Jiang Ning watched the fun together in silence, yet enjoyed themselves, relishing this brief moment.

Until Uncle Zhang and the big wolf dog finished the ice pop.

Tongtong ran out from inside.

...

Evening self-study.

During the break, Yang Sheng took off her headphones, intending to go out for a walk.

Just as she was about to stand up, Tang Jing, who was in the aisle, suddenly froze.

Tang Jing took a step forward, eyeing the headphones, and shrieked:

"Your headphones look just like the ones I lost today!"

As soon as those words were spoken, classmates around them turned their heads, their gazes shifting between the two.

If it were proven that Yang Sheng’s headphones were indeed Tang Jing’s lost ones, it would cause quite a stir, with consequences almost enough to ruin a high school student.

This kind of thing is not to be joked about.

The Flower Protector, Dong Qingfeng, immediately retorted, "I bought Yang Sheng’s headphones for her. I still have the purchase record on Taobao. Do you want to see it?"

He naturally wouldn’t let Tang Jing throw such baseless accusations at Yang Sheng.

Tang Jing: "Is a purchase record of any use? It only proves that she and I have the same model, but it doesn’t reveal the truth."

She spoke with confidence.

Huang Zhongfei furrowed his brows, unable to listen any longer. If Tang Jing’s nonsense continued, wouldn’t all the classmates in the future risk being similarly accused?

Yang Sheng didn’t bother to defend herself; instead, she asked, "Do you have any money on you?"

Tang Jing: "What do you mean?"

Yang Sheng: "I’m seriously suspicious that the money you have is from me because I’ve used the same currency before."

Tang Jing reacted, rebutting: "What are you talking about?"

Yang Sheng chuckled, grabbed the earphones, stuffed them in her pocket, eyebrows raised:

"I better keep my earphones safe, who knows, maybe after a few days, yours will be found and mine will be lost again."

After speaking, she ignored Tang Jing and turned to leave the classroom.

Meng Zi Yun nudged Tang Jing, indicating she should stop causing trouble.

The small conflict was thus resolved, Tang Jing walked to the podium, threatening:

"Let me make it clear, whoever stole my earphones, better return them quickly, or if I find out who’s suspect, you’re done!"

Wu Xiaoqi, Song Sheng, Guo Kunnan, found this scene familiar.

Dan Xiao chuckled honestly: "With the school year just starting, everyone should take their belongings home at night, don’t leave them behind."

Huang Zhongfei: "Dan Xiao is right, it was my oversight for not reminding everyone."

Liu Chuandao laughed: "I left mine here, who dares to steal my stuff?"

The words were full of disdain.

Dan Xiao kindly advised: "Classmate, no need to get angry!"

Liu Chuandao’s words attracted many female classmates to look back, his vanity greatly satisfied, displaying masculine confidence:

"I’m not afraid of him, let him try to steal?"

...

Last evening self-study class.

Back row, four together, Hu Jun: "Brother Quan, feeling good today, want to go out and grab something to eat?"

Dan Kaiquan, having been a substitute player during summer and breaking up with Bai Yuxia, was quite flush: "Sure, let’s get something."

"Let’s go to the food stalls, stir-fry some dishes, grab some cola."

Dan Kaiquan: "I know a good place, by the way, is Brother Ma coming?"

Ma Shicheng was gaming, "Sure."

Scout Wang Longlong quickly reminded: "Brother Ma, Brother Ma, opportunity!"

Ma Shicheng had already noticed, his fingers quickly tapping, instantly killing the opposing hero with a sliver of health.

Wang Longlong: "Awesome!"

The game was effortlessly won under Ma Shicheng’s direction.

After the game ended, the opponent added him as a friend to insult: "Playing a game while cheating, huh?"

"You’re trash, your whole life is like this!"

"I despise cheaters the most, worthless!"

Ma Shicheng let the opponent insult him in various ways.

Wang Longlong beside him clenched his fist, "Brother Ma, clearly you played yourself, yet he suspects you’re cheating and dares to insult you!"

"Brother Ma, insult back, tell him it was your amazing skills just now."

Ma Shicheng shook his head: "It’s useless, he won’t admit he’s bad, just suspect me of cheating."

The opponent continued: "Can’t play the game without cheating, huh?"

"All cheaters and their families should go ride the hearse!"

Wang Longlong: "What to do, the guy’s pissed after you beat him."

Ma Shicheng shared Xuanmai gum with Wang Longlong, Dan Kaiquan, and Hu Jun, and slowly replied:

"Do you want a cheat? I’ll send it to you."

The guy who was just furious quickly replied: "Bro, for real, is it free?"

...

The evening self-study class dismissal bell rang.

Most of class 8 hurriedly left, within minutes, only scattered few remained in the classroom.

Chen Qian stayed behind to self-study, after refilling water, he happened to bump into Dan Xiao packing up.

Chen Qian asked: "Aren’t you staying in the classroom to read?"

In his impression, throughout countless nights in sophomore year, Dan Xiao was one of the few who stayed late in the classroom, he worked hard, often studying till late before going home.

Dan Xiao scratched his head: "Today Tang Jing’s spreading rumors, claiming whoever stays the latest is suspected of stealing, I feel I shouldn’t stay."

Chen Qian didn’t mind: "Why care about her, studying is what’s most important."

He reassured: "Besides, you didn’t take her stuff, why worry about this."

Dan Xiao chuckled honestly: "I don’t like being misunderstood, better leave early."

Chen Qian felt quite helpless, he, standing strong and resilient, feared no shadows, but not everyone in the world is like him.

Chen Qian bid him farewell: "Alright then, you’re great in every aspect, just too honest!"

He buried himself in solving problems, thinking about how Xue Yuantong and Jiang Ning took leave today, Chen Qian was filled with motivation, they were falling behind while he was making progress!