Chapter 71 Don't Mess With Me

He raised his hand and gently ruffled her soft hair, a tender gesture. "It's alright, Ningning," he said, his voice deep and pleasant, a stark contrast to his previous coldness. "Let's go home."

Jiang Yining tilted her head up, giving him a sweet and dependent smile, and nodded vigorously: "Mmm."

She obediently let Xie Shiyan take her hand, and under the watchful eyes of countless people, the two turned and left as if no one else was around. Secretary Lin put away her business card, glanced coldly at the dazed Song Chi lying on the ground as if he were a dead man, and then quickly followed.

Only after the black Maybach disappeared at the end of the campus road did the air in front of the bulletin board seem to begin to move again.

Song Chi lay on the ground, watching the departing car, utterly gripped by fear, his teeth chattering. From that moment on, no one in the Foreign Languages ​​Department of S University dared to approach Jiang Yining even a step closer.

On the tree-lined path of the Foreign Languages ​​College of S University, sunlight filtered through layers of camphor leaves, creating dappled golden spots that fell on Jiang Yining's shoulders. She carried several heavy textbooks, her steps light and quick, her skirt swaying slightly with each step.

As she rounded the corner, a few boys walking towards her, laughing and joking, glanced at her and their smiles froze instantly. They stopped abruptly, a mixture of awe and fear flashing across their eyes.

The next second, the group of people turned around with remarkable coordination, almost in a flustered manner, and disappeared along another path as quickly as possible, hugging the wall.

Jiang Yining didn't even pause for a moment. She slightly raised her chin, a very faint, almost imperceptible smile curving her lips in satisfaction.

The world was finally quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the turning of pages she longed for. Su Qingyao and her few noisy flies were swatted away overnight, and Song Chi, that self-satisfied but rotten peach blossom, also dejectedly transferred schools.

"Don't mess with Jiang Yining from the Foreign Languages ​​Department..."

"Her fiancé... is that guy from the Xie Group..."

"Su Qingyao's family fled overnight, and I heard that the company went bankrupt."

"Song Chi? Ha, I heard that when his dad dragged him home from school, his pants were..."

Jiang Yining occasionally caught glimpses of those whispered words circulating rapidly in the bathroom, in the corner of the stairwell, and in the anonymous forum, feeling as if a gentle breeze was brushing past her ears.

What she needed was never fake excitement or cheap adulation. This is good enough. No more buzzing mosquitoes bothering her as she devours those difficult foreign language classics.

Jiang Yining's phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out; it was a message from Xiao Xiao, accompanied by several cheerful cake emojis.

"Lemon Baby, our new product is a success! We've reserved an exclusive first-come-first-served opportunity for you. Come to the main store right after class. We're waiting for you to treat us! (heart emoji)"

Even through the screen, you could feel Xiao Xiao's excitement. Jiang Yining's eyes crinkled into a smile, and she quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Coming right away." She then sent a message to the pinned black profile picture: "Brother Shi Yan, don't bother picking me up tonight, I'm going to Xiao Xiao's shop for a free meal~"

The other party replied almost instantly, with just one word: "Okay. I'll pick you up and take you home after you've eaten." It was concise yet conveyed a silent indulgence.

Xiao Xiao's bakery flagship store is located on a quiet old street lined with plane trees in the city center. The white exterior walls and huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows, with warm yellow lights flowing out from inside, make the dazzling array of exquisite pastries, which are as beautiful as works of art, look especially tempting.

The air is filled with the sweet aroma, the scent of butter, and the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee, all intertwined to create a delightful fragrance.

There was a fairly long queue outside the shop, mostly young couples or parents with children. The prices were reasonable, the ingredients were high-quality, and the shop, owned and head pastry chef Xiao Xiao, was famous, making it a popular spot in the neighborhood.

Jiang Yining pushed open the glass door with wind chimes hanging from it, and the crisp tinkling sound rang out. Her gaze swept over the bustling shopping area on the first floor, where various pastries were displayed in transparent refrigerated cabinets. Next to it was a large parent-child DIY area, where a dozen children wearing aprons were learning to pipe cream with the pastry chef, their giggles filling the air.

"Ningning, over here." A clear female voice came from above.

Jiang Yining looked up at the sound. Behind the glass partition on the second floor, Xiao Xiao was leaning out, waving vigorously at her. She was wearing a clean, crisp white pastry chef's uniform and a matching chef's hat.

A few wisps of hair playfully fell across her forehead, her face radiating the pure joy of baking, making her glow. Jiang Yining smiled and raised her hand in response, then expertly made her way to the small staircase on the side.

As soon as she reached the second-floor platform, she saw Xiao Xiao already standing in front of the transparent glass door that separated the sterile operating room from the outside, not indicating that she should go in.

"It was just disinfected inside, so don't come in. It'll save me the trouble of cleaning it all over again later." Xiao Xiao's voice was a little muffled through the glass, but her smile remained bright.