Jiang Nian actually doesn’t care who is gossiping about him behind his back, he won’t get defensive, let alone reflect on himself.
After all, reputation is both good and bad, and you have to live out your own weirdness.
High school is just a small society, among three people there’s bound to be an idiot.
Mouths are on others, a single idiot can put you in a hat. Besides mentally cursing their mothers, there’s nothing you can do, might as well pretend you don’t know.
Instead of doubting yourself, blame others.
Zhang Ningzhi: "I can’t say, it feels wrong to betray others."
Jiang Nian was speechless, about to click the avatar to delete her.
If you don’t speak, then you’re an accomplice, how is it different from standing by and kicking me twice? Your kindness is nice, but mom hunting is my ultimate move.
Ding ding, the next second.
Zhang Ningzhi: "What I’m talking about now is something else, are you close with Yu Tongjie in class?"
Jiang Nian moved his finger away from the delete friend button, disliking her tone a moment ago. But he admired Zhizhi’s flexible boundaries.
A so-called friend is someone willing to give up some slight moral constraints to be together. Translated, it means, "Don’t be friends with a goody-goody."
Tolerance for friends: 1. Can’t betray the country, can’t break the law, 2. I need the right to know.
I may not support it, but I won’t condemn it.
"Yu Tongjie? Isn’t he the one who got promoted to our third class with us?" Jiang Nian replied quickly but found typing inconvenient, "Can you voice chat?"
Zhang Ningzhi: "I..."
Jiang Nian: "Your phone’s out of juice?"
Zhang Ningzhi weakly responds, "Then..... you call me."
The somewhat noisy ringtone rang for about five seconds, followed by rustling sounds. The sound of the night wind could faintly be heard, it seemed like the call was taken on the balcony.
"What did Yu Tongjie say about me?" he asked straightforwardly.
It’s time to test friendship.
On the other side of the call, Zhang Ningzhi swallowed, and in a low voice said, "He said... you got promoted by cheating on the exam, I already refuted him for you."
"Cheating?" Jiang Nian’s tone was slightly displeased.
Anger, trembling, how is it closed? What a judging hack!
Zhang Ningzhi listened to Jiang Nian’s tone, her heart pounding with nervousness, "Don’t be mad, I believe you, during the exam we were seated front and back....."
Jiang Nian wasn’t mad at all, it’s still the same, mouths are on others.
His hands itched, lacking a knife.
Listening to her ramble on with comforts, like "do better next time", "mid-term exams are coming", "distance tests capability", Jiang Nian just wanted to laugh.
"Don’t go fighting others, getting into fights will get you demoted." Zhang Ningzhi said anxiously, "What others say doesn’t matter, just be yourself."
"Mhm, got it." Jiang Nian may not be kind-hearted, but it doesn’t stop him from liking kind-hearted beautiful girls with big hearts.
Yu Tongjie, just damn things.
Finally, Zhang Ningzhi couldn’t hide it, and pretended to nonchalantly but actually quite conspicuously ask a question.
"Why didn’t you add me yesterday?"
"Uh... aren’t we seated front and back? Didn’t think of it in the classroom. Only thought about it during the break, was just about to add you when you added me first."
"Oh, alright, but you added the girl who blew a big bubble gum in the classroom." Zhang Ningzhi said faintly.
We’re just friends, does baby possess such a strong sense of ownership?
"Do you usually pay this much attention to me?"
"Huh?" Zhang Ningzhi was stunned, panicking instantly, "No... I didn’t, it was just a coincidence.....don’t overthink it, I.....am a bit sleepy now."
The voice chat ended hastily, Jiang Nian clicked his tongue, tossed the phone aside, and walked out of his room.
In the living room, Mom was still on the sofa replying to messages. Seeing Jiang Nian come out, her grin faded a little, but thinking of his grades, she couldn’t keep a straight face.
"A colleague of ours, her son Yu Tongjie seems to be in the same class as you, both got promoted. Do you remember? Want to get together for a visit another day?"
He never hides anything in his heart. "Yes, he just told someone I got promoted by cheating."
Hearing this, Li Hongmei’s expression changed.
"Then this person’s quite malicious, you should minimize contact with him. I was originally thinking of having the families have a meal together, but now there’s no need, it’s like feeding a dog."
Jiang Nian laughed, his temper undoubtedly inherited from his mom.
On the first day of National Day, Jiang Nian spent the day lying around at home.
Since last night Zhang Ningzhi hadn’t said a word, and Jiang Nian couldn’t be bothered. Not sure what changed, but ever since the divorce system came into being, his mindset changed too.
Life is like a piece of tofu, however broken down, it’s still tofu dregs.
Following the original life trajectory, the future self would end in divorce, can’t get promotions or raises even when exhausted. Extremely poor when young, work hard for a few years and you’re not young anymore.
Jiang Nian has already seen through it, happiness in life comes from one’s own efforts, deep blue adds points!
He didn’t come out of his room until it was dark and found Uncle Xu from next door chatting with his own dad, which surprised him.
"Uncle Xu? Day off today?"
In his impression, Xu Qianqian’s dad was particularly busy, a workaholic king. It was said he was supposed to transfer hospitals, but didn’t because of Xu Qianqian.
"Yes, little Nian is awake?" Director Xu smiled warmly, "I heard from your mom you got into the Olympic competition, great progress."
Jiang Nian simply stood there and chatted with Old Xu.
"Almost, memorized some books."
Li Hongmei poked her head out from the kitchen, glanced at the jesting Jiang Nian in the living room, frowned.
"Played all day, go get Qianqian for dinner."
Ever since Xu Qianqian’s mom passed away five or six years ago, both families spent all the major holidays together, with the convenience of being neighbors, just adding two pairs of chopsticks.
The door was ajar, Jiang Nian strolled in and saw Xu Qianqian’s room door open. She was lying on the desk doing homework, and hearing the noise she turned her head to look.
"Finished your homework?"
"No, planning to copy yours." Jiang Nian sat on her bed, said "Ah" and lay down, "Don’t feel like doing the ones I can do, will look at the ones I can’t later."
"Get up, don’t sleep on my bed." Xu Qianqian couldn’t stand him, "Filthy, get out!"
"I didn’t go out today."
"Suit yourself, hey, calling you to eat." Jiang Nian sat up from the bed, stood beside her looking at the papers, then suddenly pointed, "This word is wrong."
"Where? It’s written just ." Xu Qianqian glanced, somewhat hesitant.
"It’s wrong, the correct spelling is....." He casually Googled for evidence, placed the phone on the table, and left after showing off, "Remember to come for dinner, the food’s ready."
Left alone, the girl stared blankly at the paper, half a day before a thought emerged.
Did he really memorize it?
Dinner mostly consisted of adults chatting, usually wrapping up quite late. Jiang Nian and Xu Qianqian ate quickly, and after putting down their bowls, they exchanged a look.
"Mom, I’m going next door to do homework."