Chapter 975: Chapter 564: Passing Time

A week passed quietly.

November 1st, Saturday.

The lunchtime bell rang, and the boys at the back dashed out like wild dogs, racing to the cafeteria to grab food.

When most of the classroom emptied, Jiang Ning leisurely left his seat and, with a sleepy Xue Yuantong in tow, headed for the cafeteria.

There was a rain last night, but today’s sun shone brightly, and the air was filled with the moist aroma of earth—a unique freshness after the rain.

The Fourth Middle School had been standing for quite a few years, and there were small puddles scattered on the cement ground. The water in those puddles was very clear, resembling small lakes that reflected the blue sky and white clouds above.

High school students up ahead were occasionally leaping over the puddles, showing off; laughter and playful noises echoed everywhere, filling the air with vitality and energy.

Xue Yuantong wore a pair of sneakers today. She stepped carefully into a puddle, deliberately walking through the water.

Not far away, Tang Fu saw and chose a wide puddle, stepped to the edge, her steps light and firm.

She planted her left foot firmly on the ground, her tracksuit fitting her tight and well-proportioned long legs.

Tang Fu suddenly leaped, her figure like a soaring swallow, her long hair lightly dancing in the wind, easily crossing the puddle. After landing, she bent her knees slightly and gently dashed forward, making the whole process smooth and natural, exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

Students nearby couldn’t help but turn their heads, stunned by her height and graceful demeanor.

After watching, Xue Yuantong pouted, “Jiang Ning, I want to jump too.”

“Okay, and after you jump, accompany me to buy some pumpkin seeds.”

“Hmm, why buy pumpkin seeds?” Xue Yuantong asked puzzled.

Jiang Ning said, “You’ll definitely splash mud all over yourself, and when Aunt Gu scolds you tonight, I’ll be at the side eating seeds.”

Xue Yuantong grumbled, “Such evilness, so mean!”

Yet she still picked a small puddle and jumped over it lightly.

After jumping, she asked Jiang Ning, “Am I awesome?”

“Awesome, awesome.”

Seeming to pick up on Jiang Ning’s perfunctory response, Xue Yuantong was slightly dissatisfied. She found a slightly broader puddle and jumped over it again.

Gradually, her confidence increased.

Jiang Ning lagged behind, watching Xue Yuantong’s lively and cheerful figure, a smile in his eyes.

The Xue Yuantong from his previous life had never been like this; during her first and second high school years back then, when she left the classroom to buy food, her little face was almost expressionless, giving him the feeling as if covered by a grey filter.

In comparison, he preferred the vibrant and colorful Tongtong before him.

Jiang Ning saw her choose a puddle beyond her ability and he quickened his pace, catching up to her side.

Xue Yuantong’s heart expanded as she cleared several puddles, targeting this wide puddle and jumping joyfully.

Only, she clearly overestimated herself. As she was about to step into the puddle, a look of horror surfaced on her face, images flickering before her eyes, as if predicting the scene of splashing mud staining her clothes and then getting scolded by her mom after returning home.

‘No! I, Xue Yuantong, definitely possess more skill than this!’

‘Fly for me!’

At the critical moment, Jiang Ning rushed in like an arrow, his right hand reaching out, grabbing her collar accurately the instant she was about to fall into the puddle, lifting her up like a puppet, suspended in mid-air.

Xue Yuantong’s collar tightened, strangling her slightly around the throat; her short legs kicked as if walking in the air, while her body moved forward along with her kicking feet.

If you ignored Jiang Ning, it was almost like a magical Qinggong!

A few seconds later, Jiang Ning set Tongtong down on the ground.

The suspended feeling disappeared, leaving Xue Yuantong slightly melancholy.

She turned her head, looking up at Jiang Ning, wanting to say something proud, but hesitated, finally turning her thoughts into a simple, “Timely rescue, huh?”

She then saw Jiang Ning smiling clearly, “Of course.”

Xue Yuantong tidied her collar, glanced around, noting students nearby casting looks of amazement.

Originally intending to play again, she now felt a bit embarrassed.

‘Next time then,’ she internally decided.

…

Twenty meters behind.

Surrounded by the Four Golden Flowers, Chai Wei looked absolutely despondent.

He once considered not eating the cafeteria meals, treating the money submitted to the school as wasted, but every time school ended, Pang Jiao, along with Zhang Yifei, would find and surround him, leading him to the cafeteria.

Carried like a moon among stars, like an ancient emperor traveling, majestic and grand.

Unfortunately, Chai Wei couldn’t be happy walking with such unattractive girls, enduring students’ curious stares around him, he was near his breaking point.

Jiang Ning’s moment of lifting Xue Yuantong happened to be seen by the Four Golden Flowers, Pang Jiao covered her mouth and said bashfully:

“Ah Wei, we want it too.”

Intense apprehension erupted, Chai Wei held his breath, not daring to answer.

Wang Yan Yan said, “Chai Wei, if you’re willing, as a reward, we’ll buy you snacks next week.”

Whether the snacks were worthy was inconsequential. The key was, if there were snacks, Pang Jiao wouldn’t give him homemade dishes anymore.

Chai Wei gritted his teeth, enduring humiliation, “Fine!”

…

Five minutes later.

Zhang Chi noticed three empty seats at their table and said impatiently, “Where’s Pang Jiao? If they’re not here soon, I’m eating these ribs!”

Yan Tianpeng urged beside him, “Hurry up, we’ve got big business at noon!”

Zhang Yifei, with his distinct square face, showed an expression of reluctance.

When Pang Jiao jumped into the puddle, Li Shengnan insisted on jumping too, so they ended up on either side, with Chai Wei in the middle.

The two girls carried Chai Wei, leaping into the air, Chai Wei tried to grab them both, but the inertia flung him off, tearing his knee pants, and now tending to his wounds in the infirmary.