Chapter 12: The Magnate!
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“Huh?”
At those words, Song Ningsnow was stunned on the spot.
“No, Mom, I don’t have time... and that so-called Young Master Zheng, I really...”
Beeep—beeep—
Unfortunately, her mother gave Song Ningsnow no chance to refuse. The call was cut off, leaving Song Ningsnow alone in utter frustration!
Why... why did it feel as if the whole world was suddenly conspiring against her?
Especially that Ling Qiu!
The memory of Ling Qiu's forceful kiss just now made Song Ningsnow feel as if she were losing her mind. The more she tried to forget that scene and sensation, the more it haunted her!
A first kiss—is it ever something so easy to forget??
And then... of all places for this so-called Young Master Zheng to pick for a meeting, why did it have to be the same location as Ling Qiu’s, at the exact same time!
Song Ningsnow quickly grabbed her phone and called her mother back.
To her surprise, her mother hung up directly. Soon after, her mother sent a text: “Daughter, suddenly my heart is acting up again; the doctor says I can’t have any emotional ups and downs, especially not anger... Daughter, is there something you want to tell Mom?”
“...”
Reading that message, Song Ningsnow was utterly exasperated...
“No!” she replied furiously, feeling as deflated as a punctured ball as she slumped into her chair.
“Ling Qiu... you may have escaped this time with your sharp tongue... but don’t get cocky... One day, I’ll catch you out!”
Instinctively, Song Ningsnow touched her soft, blushing lips. Her pretty face flushed anew. “It’s infuriating! How dare he steal a kiss from me!!”
...
After school that evening.
Ling Qiu walked out of the campus alone.
Now, whenever anyone in the school saw Ling Qiu, they hung their heads and dared not look him in the eye—at least, most of the self-important boys did. The girls, though, were another story.
Their gazes toward Ling Qiu now brimmed with admiration and infatuation.
“Wow, I never noticed before... Ling Qiu is really handsome!”
“Seriously, look at him—all cool and silent, but with such a domineering presence!”
“Hmph! What’s so great about Shen Meng? She’s so plain!”
“Exactly! A man as bold as Ling Qiu should be with a sexy woman!”
As they spoke, a group of girls left the school gates, pulled off their uniform jackets to reveal daring outfits underneath. One girl even slipped off her school pants, revealing denim shorts and black stockings.
That girl, clad in hot pants and black stockings, walked up to Ling Qiu and pretended to stumble. “Ouch~”
“...”
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Ling Qiu felt a wave of irritation. Just then, he spotted Shen Meng ahead, alone and pushing her bike, silently moving farther away.
Ling Qiu thought for a moment. If memory served, the anniversary of Shen Meng’s mother's incident was approaching.
With that, Ling Qiu strode forward, ignoring the girl who’d faked a fall, and headed straight to Shen Meng’s side.
“Oh? Ling Qiu!” Shen Meng turned her head, surprised, her cheeks flushing as she greeted him.
Ling Qiu said, “You seem a bit down today?”
Shen Meng lowered her head, clearly preoccupied, but after a moment’s thought, she looked up and gave Ling Qiu a pure, sunny smile—so gentle and warm, it was like spring sunshine, never dazzling. “It’s nothing... I’m fine, really.”
“If you don’t want to say, I won’t ask.” Ling Qiu smiled faintly, then pulled a small triangular yellow talisman wrapped in paper from his pocket and pressed it into her hand. “After your mother’s accident, she’s been bedridden. I got this blessing charm some time ago; it’s for you. When you get home, hang it by your mom’s bedside to ward off bad luck.”
“Ah... this... I can’t accept—” Shen Meng’s cheeks reddened as she tried to refuse.
But Ling Qiu firmly closed her hand around the talisman. “Do as I say, hang it by her bed. It’s from the heart—I know you won’t refuse, right?”
His tone was gentle, almost magical, and Shen Meng nodded obediently.
Ling Qiu smiled, gently ruffling her hair. “Alright, I’ve got a date. I’ll be off.”
With that, hands in his pockets, Ling Qiu strolled away.
Shen Meng clutched the talisman, still feeling the warmth from his hand, deeply moved...
She and her mother had depended on each other for years; since the accident, no one had lent a hand but Ling Qiu, who’d given them twenty thousand yuan. And now, he was still the only one concerned about her mother’s health...
At this thought, Shen Meng felt her nose sting. She carefully placed the blessing charm in her backpack.
Meanwhile, not far away, the very girls who'd tried to catch Ling Qiu’s attention were now fuming!
“Ugh! Shen Meng again!—Because of her, Ling Qiu totally ignored me just now!!”
“My stockings and legs—most guys can’t resist! It’s all Shen Meng’s fault for distracting him! Yes, that must be it!”
“So what now? Should we teach her a lesson?”
“Yes! Let’s put her in her place! Quietly follow her!”
...
A narrow alley.
Shen Meng had just turned a corner on her bike when four or five tough-looking girls blocked her path.
Startled, Shen Meng looked closer. They were classmates.
“Ah!—What... what are you doing here?” Shen Meng had no idea danger was closing in.
The girls dropped their coquettish acts from before, now looking fierce as they approached. “Hmph, Shen Meng, we warned you at lunch—stay away from Ling Qiu... but you didn’t listen! Try to steal our man, and don’t blame us for being ruthless!”
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“What? What are you going to do?” Shen Meng’s face went as white as a sheet.
Before she could react, the girls lunged at her aggressively.
But just then—
Suddenly, Shen Meng felt her backpack come alive!
Bang!
The bag leaped from her bike basket and smashed right into one girl’s face!
“Ow!!”
The girl tumbled to the ground, clutching her nose, blood streaming out.
“What?! You... you hit me?!!”
Shen Meng clutched the bag in panic, bewildered. “No... no... it wasn’t me... I don’t know what happened!”
“Girls, scratch her face to pieces!!!”
The gang rushed at her again, but it was as if Shen Meng’s backpack had a will of its own. Every single girl who charged at her was struck in the face, one after another!
In a matter of moments, every one of them was left bruised and battered, dizzy and in pain.
“You... Shen Meng... you...”
“Girls, let’s go! She’s too strong! We can’t beat her!”
“Yeah! I’m going to get my big brother to deal with her! He’s the toughest guy on the night market street—ruthless! We’ll make her pay!”
The gang fled, cursing as they went.
Shen Meng was terrified. She had absolutely no idea what had just happened!
Instinctively, she opened her backpack. Inside, she saw the yellow talisman Ling Qiu had given her...
...
7:30 p.m.
East of the city, Lakeside Restaurant, couples’ section.
Ling Qiu sat near the water, legs crossed, yawning as he waited for Song Ningsnow.
Finally...
At two o’clock on the dot, Song Ningsnow appeared.
But what was curious—
At her left front, a young man in a suit, brimming with arrogance, seemed to be accompanying her.