0025 Suspicious

Ever since Song Ning added Shen Jiayu, her WeChat has been anything but peaceful. Just then, a new bar opened near the university, a branch of Jiang Xisheng's. Shen Jiayu invited Song Ning out, and Song Ning agreed.

The two agreed to meet at a bar.

As soon as Song Ning stepped into the bar's corridor, she was stopped by a security guard at the bar entrance: "Excuse me, please show your ID card."

"Why don't they use it?" Song Ning pointed at the two people who had just walked past.

"Um... because you look like a minor." The security guard said without changing his expression.

What a lame excuse.

Song Ning is tall with striking features and a preference for dark and mature clothing styles. Since she was 12 or 13 years old, she has often been mistaken for an adult, which is unprecedented for anyone to think she is underage.

Song Ning recalled the figure who had deliberately dodged her earlier, her lips pursed, and her attitude became assertive: "I didn't bring my ID card. Get your boss out here; he knows whether I'm an adult or not."

"Then I can't let you in. I'm just following the rules. Please don't make things difficult for me." The security guard looked troubled, but his stance was firm.

Song Ning was furious; it was obvious that Jiang Xisheng was deliberately preventing her from entering.

"I think you should bring your ID card before you come back," the security guard kindly advised.

"Will you let me in if I prove I'm an adult?" Song Ning smiled, her eyes narrowed.

The security guard seemed hesitant to speak: "We are just following the rules."

Is there a rule about treating people differently based on their status?

Song Ning smiled, her eyes crinkling like scimitars: "Okay, then please pass on a message to your boss, saying that I'll have my brother bring the ID card over, and ask him to wait."

The security guard didn't move, seemingly afraid that Song Ning would sneak in.

Song Ning sat down on a high stool: "Don't worry, I won't go in. I'll just wait here. If he still won't let me in after you say that, then I'll wait for someone to bring my ID card."

After repeatedly reminding Song Ning not to make things difficult for him, and giving a few more instructions to his colleagues, the security guard walked towards the inner hall.

In the inner hall, Jiang Xisheng was originally sitting at the bar, but after seeing Song Ning, he moved to a corner booth, where he was blocked by the booth.

Song Ning only saw the security guard lower his head and say a few words to the booth, and then she saw Jiang Xisheng stand up from the booth and stare at Song Ning through the openwork shelf.

The phone kept vibrating with messages, which annoyed Song Ning even more, making her want to smash the phone at Jiang Xisheng as he approached.

"Why can't you read the room?" Jiang Xisheng was dressed in a trendy and cool outfit. Compared to the last time I saw him, his clothes today gave him an elegant roguishness. "You know, I had the right to refuse you entry when you caused trouble at my bar last time, right?"

"Then you'd better go to the Consumer Association and explain your reasons for refusing in detail." Song Ning spun around in her high chair, feeling confident.

She was convinced that Jiang Xisheng wouldn't do that.

"I don't like being threatened." Jiang Xisheng smiled like a cunning fox, but his tone was unmistakably sinister.

The security guard next to him unconsciously stepped back, his face showing an expression that seemed to say, "Aren't you afraid of dying?"

Song Ning wasn't really afraid of death, especially since she had two "safety charms" protecting her—Shen Yuxiu and Shen Jiayi.

Besides, a few years ago, Jiang Xisheng might not have been afraid of causing trouble, but since he and Shen Jiayi got their marriage certificate, the family business has gradually become more responsible. Not allowing entry was just his own selfish reason. Naturally, he wouldn't upset Shen Jiayi for Song Ning's sake.

"You made me late." Song Ning placed her phone in front of Jiang Xisheng, her voice cold.

The messages kept popping up on Song Ning's phone screen, making his hands numb.

"If you cause any more trouble, I'll send you to jail for a few days. Let her go in." Jiang Xisheng said, then turned and left.

If anyone's going to go to jail, it'll be you first. Song Ning rolled her eyes inwardly.

The security guard stared blankly at Song Ning, who shrugged at him, jumped off the bar stool, and walked inside.

It was still early, and the atmosphere in the bar hadn't really heated up yet. The bar was only open for small gatherings of friends and one-on-one chats. The music playing in the bar was Song Ning's favorite futuristic, bouncy style.

It must be said that she and Jiang Xisheng have remarkably similar tastes in music.

Following the message Shen Jia had sent her, Song Ning found the booth where he was.

There were seven or eight people sitting in the booth, some of whom I knew and some of whom I didn't.

Cheng Yanchu, Xu Qing, and a boy who played cards with them that day were all there.

Shen Jia and Cheng Yanchu are both majoring in economics and management, so it's not surprising that they know Song Ning.

"Hey, Song Ning, why are you so late? Yan Chu said you weren't coming." Shen Jiayu moved aside, wanting Song Ning to sit next to her.

Song Ning didn't appreciate the gesture and sat down in another empty seat: "It's quite lively here."

"I didn't expect to see you late again." Cheng Yanchu drank with one hand and casually rested the other on the back of the seat, his posture making it seem as if he had his arm around Xu Qing beside him.

His words made it sound like the two were very familiar with each other, which made Xu Qing frown and glance at Song Ning, looking her up and down.

Song Ning casually picked up a glass of wine from the table to quench her thirst: "I arrived a long time ago, but I was turned away at the door because I look like a minor."

Shen Jia coughed unexpectedly, and the expressions on the faces of the others were quite varied.

Song Ning had anticipated their reaction, but she hadn't expected anyone to react so strongly.

She moved the wine away slightly, dutifully playing the role of a germaphobe: "It's very unhygienic."

Shen Jia hurriedly grabbed a tissue to wipe the wine stains from the corner of her mouth: "I'm sorry, it was just too funny. You don't look like a minor at all, do you?"

"It's very impolite of you to talk to a girl like that," Xu Qing said, defending Song Ning.

"It's okay, I really don't like people treating me like a minor." Song Ning leaned back lazily in her chair and smiled slightly.

Cheng Yanchu glanced at Song Ning, then turned to chat with Xu Qing beside her.

Shen Jiayu wanted to switch seats with the person next to Song Ning, but the other person refused because they thought it was too much trouble. So Shen Jiayu had to chat with Song Ning across the table.

After chatting for a while, the boy who had been playing cards suddenly said, "Did you guys know that Chen Yue dropped out of school?"

"Who is Chen Yue?" Shen Jia was completely confused.

Shen Jia was enthusiastic about club activities but did not join the student council, so naturally she did not know Chen Yue.

“A senior student in the student council,” Xu Qing explained.

"Why did you suddenly drop out of school?" someone asked.

"It seems he cheated a girl out of money before. Her family is quite influential, and they forced him to drop out of school. I don't know if he'll be able to go back to school; I feel the chances are slim."

"Why not just pay back the money? Why take a break from school?"

"Are you stupid? It's definitely not just about scamming money. That girl has already gone abroad. If it were just about scamming money, would they need to hold a grudge later?"

"When did you drop out of school?" Song Ning asked casually.

"About two months ago," the boy said.

Song Ning looked at Cheng Yanchu, who was looking back at Song Ning with the same suspicious gaze.

They didn't do it, is it really such a coincidence? It just so happened after that incident.

With the boys playing cards starting, the others also began exchanging the inside scoops they knew. Listening to the information she already knew, Song Ning couldn't help but sigh that Lin Qianqian truly lived up to her reputation as a know-it-all.

Strangely, Lin Qianqian never mentioned Chen Yue's suspension from school. There was no way she didn't know, so she deliberately didn't mention it.

Why?

Song Ning went to the restroom with doubts, and when she came out, Xu Qing was there too.

Xu Qing was applying lipstick in front of the mirror. She glanced at Song Ning through the mirror, but Song Ning pretended not to notice.

Song Ning thought Xu Qing was planning to observe for a while longer, but she was so impatient that she picked the cards earlier than Song Ning had expected.

"What's your relationship with Cheng Yanchu?" Xu Qing slowly twirled her lipstick.

“High school classmate.” Song Ning washed and dried her hands.

Song Ning wasn't really sure what Xu Qing was up to. Every time they met, Xu Qing was observing her, but she didn't show any great malice towards her.

“I like Cheng Yanchu.” Xu Qing put her lipstick into her handbag and looked Song Ning in the eye.

Song Ning lowered her eyelids and gave a curt "hmm," clearly indicating that it was none of her business.

Xu Qing wasn't angry at Song Ning's neglect. She confidently stated, "I know he likes you, but I don't mind. I had someone investigate you and him. Even if someone likes you a lot, he would never marry you. At most, it would just be a secret affair. But I've been observing you for a long time. You're very proud and wouldn't be someone's mistress."

"Thank you for thinking so highly of me. If he were more valuable, I might actually make an exception, since I'm not exactly a moral person," Song Ning said with a sneer, displeased at being investigated.

"I know the investigator is no good, but I don't want to be deceived like that girl, so I hope you won't be angry," Xu Qing apologized sincerely.

"So you've been waiting for me here just to tell me something unpleasant?" Song Ning retorted.

The toilet door was opened, and someone came in to use the toilet. Song Ning and Xu Qing tacitly remained silent.

After everyone left, Xu Qing spoke again: "I hope you can stay away from him. It's impossible for you to be with him. His family situation is very complicated. If he wants to become the person in power, he can't choose you."

"I thought you were very confident? What, you're just not satisfied with having someone, do you want them to give you their heart too? Let me tell you beforehand, I didn't have anyone investigate you, it's just that your family is quite wealthy, so it's hard not to hear some rumors." Still angry about being investigated, her words were inevitably sharp and sarcastic.

“It’s not just a rumor, it’s true.” Xu Qing said with a hint of loneliness amidst her pride: “Our two families do indeed have plans for a marriage alliance. It’s ironic, isn’t it? I always thought this kind of thing only happened in novels. Although my parents said they would respect my wishes, I would definitely be willing if the other party is Cheng Yanchu.”

Song Ning didn't speak, waiting for Xu Qing to finish speaking. She really couldn't understand Xu Qing's purpose in telling her all this.

“I originally intended to discourage you, and I even considered asking you how much money you would need to leave Cheng Yanchu, but I found that none of that seemed to work.” Xu Qing looked up. “Perhaps you don’t care about him, so you’ve never noticed that every time you appear, even though he’s talking to someone else, he always subconsciously pays attention to you. I’m telling you all this now because I want you to give him to me. As long as you have less contact with him in the future, I’m confident I can make him fall in love with me.”

Song Ning had never seen anyone who could blend pride, confidence, and willfulness so harmoniously.

Song Ning raised an eyebrow casually: "I have a lover, not Cheng Yanchu, and it won't be him in the future."

"So you've agreed to leave him?" Xu Qing smiled brightly.

"I didn't agree. If you want him to like you, then do it yourself. Why should someone else give in to you?" Song Ning pulled the door and left.

She would never restrict her freedom for the sake of others.