78 gap

Shen Tao had clearly realized long ago that their drinking at noon violated school rules. Therefore, he decided to host a banquet for Luo Da at this memorable place as a gesture of reconciliation and to cultivate a relationship with Luo Da.

However, it was clearly unexpected that Luo Jianhua's girlfriend (that's how outsiders usually see her), such a delicate and seemingly well-behaved girl, would actually suggest that they go to the woods to drink! Didn't she know that if the school found out, especially if the dean of students, Sun Wei, found out, they would definitely be arrested and given a good beating?

Of course, I've never heard of Sun Wei hitting a girl.

Not knowing whether Li Wei was naive or not, Shen Tao turned to Luo Da and asked, "Brother, what do you think? If you dare to go out, I'll risk everything too."

To be honest, Luo Da didn't really like the room either. Although he admired Shen Tao, the environment was really not good. Seeing that Shen Tao was asking for his opinion, and since he also wanted to get some fresh air, he casually said, "Then let's go out. It's really stuffy here."

Shen Tao didn't want to lose face in front of Luo Da. At worst, they would all be arrested together. So, the group hurriedly packed their things and moved to the grove behind the school.

While everyone was packing their things, Li Wei went to a corner and took a large roll of newspaper, intending to keep it to use as a mat in the woods.

When Shen Tao saw this, he was quite disapproving. He thought that Li Wei was supposedly from a wealthy family, yet she was so fond of taking advantage of others. She was not as generous as Yuan Jiawei.

After walking a few steps out of the mimeograph room with Li Wei, Wu Feng felt a little awkward going out to eat with unfamiliar people, especially with an unknown boy among them. She said to Li Wei in a hesitant voice, "How about I not go?"

Li Wei glanced at Wu Feng and immediately saw through Wu Feng's little scheme: "Go ahead, picnics are fun. We'll play for a while and then leave. Aren't you curious about that grove? I heard Zhou Xiaoyan say it's terrifying. It's broad daylight, and there are so many of us, let's go check it out and see if there are any monsters or demons. It's a rare opportunity. I heard my grandma say that boys are strong. Most monsters and demons won't dare to come near. Look at all these boys in our group, let's go take a look."

Wu Feng was indeed piqued by Li Wei's words. The legendary grove of trees... she wondered what it looked like. She secretly glanced at Yuan Jiawei to the side and Shen Tao in front of her. Clearly, Wu Feng had also heard about the hot rumors about the two of them, and her curiosity only grew stronger.

The group soon entered the grove. This grove was a cluster of locust trees near the very back wall of the school. Because it was rarely visited, the ground was overgrown with weeds and flowers that the school had previously planted. However, due to neglect, they grew in haphazard clumps, all autumn-flowering varieties, a riot of colors, which gave it a unique, wild charm.

They chose a low, flat patch of grass. Li Wei quickly spread out newspapers. The boys put their things away one by one. They sat in a circle. Shen Tao brought two bottles of beer. He bit open the caps and poured a glass for Xiao Hei and Xiao Huang. He shared the other bottle with Luo Da. Everyone started chatting and eating.

Although Shen Tao brought alcohol, it wasn't much when divided equally among the four of them. Besides, beer doesn't have much alcohol. Li Wei actually had a good impression of Shen Tao's approach. Although this guy wasn't great, he at least had some sense of propriety. He didn't bring out ten or eight bottles of alcohol and insist on drinking until he was completely drunk. He did have some sense of propriety.

However, Li Wei was suspicious. This guy's treat was paid for with land. It might have been land Luo Dana gave him yesterday. Now he's doing him a favor. He's really calculating.

Li Wei was still somewhat resentful about Shen Tao asking for Luo Daqian's money. That was her money, after all.

In these kinds of situations, it's like a Hong Kong or Taiwanese gangster movie. The girls are always supporting characters. I heard Shen Tao talking like that, with all that gangster talk. It really makes you wonder if he's even a student.

Li Wei ate grapes and pastries, and after listening for a while, she lost interest. The gist of her explanation was that yesterday's misunderstanding was a misunderstanding, and she subtly apologized, but added that they had become friends after the misunderstanding, and discussed things to come...

You wouldn't guess that Shen Tao is a second-year junior high student, or even a third-year junior high student. I don't know if he's repeated a grade before, but he has a very street-smart air about him. I don't know what Luo Da saw in this guy. Li Wei doesn't care at all; he's just an immature little boy.

Luo Da listened more, occasionally interjecting at just the right moment so as not to leave anyone feeling neglected. Xiao Hei and Xiao Huang seemed to admire Shen Tao quite a bit, and for some reason, these two, ever since they started hanging out with Luo Da in elementary school, could basically be considered Luo Da's underlings.

Li Wei and Wu Feng sat on one side of Luo Da, directly opposite Yuan Jiawei, who was sitting next to Shen Tao. Li Wei subtly scrutinized the beautiful woman opposite her.

It must be said that although Yuan Jiawei's clothes are not very fashionable, and even somewhat simple and plain, she has the advantage of being natural and unadorned, and has a kind of pure and beautiful temperament.

Yuan Jiawei's beauty is different from Zhang Tong's. Zhang Tong's beauty carries a touch of naivety, childishness, and even timidity. Yuan Jiawei's eyes and brows reveal a stubbornness that refuses to admit defeat. She has less naivety and more maturity and sophistication, as well as a touch of cold elegance.

Although she spoke gently to Li Wei and Wu Feng, Li Wei still caught a glimpse of distance in her eyes and brows. Clearly, Yuan Jiawei was either still somewhat arrogant, or genuinely hesitant to speak too intimately with someone she barely knew; in any case, Li Wei could sense her nonchalance.

Li Wei didn't care; she didn't think she could have any connection with a so-called senior who was about to graduate from junior high. So she simply started looking at the scenery.

Now, because snacks are not so prevalent in the countryside, and plastic pollution has not yet appeared on a large scale, the woods, grass, and flowerbeds are full of natural vitality. Crickets chirp in the grass, blending with the birdsong in the trees. It's truly a pastoral scene!

Li Wei just couldn't understand how such a nice place could become a paradise for bad guys. It would be more like a romantic spot, but she really didn't get it. Did they think doing bad things in a place would be more romantic?

Li Wei was admiring the scenery when Wu Feng nudged her and muttered, "Let's go, class is about to start." Sitting with these people, especially the arrogant Shen Tao, made Wu Feng feel the gap between them, like a child and an adult, as if she were being looked down upon.

Li Wei glanced at her watch; there was still more than half an hour to go. However, she noticed Wu Feng's unease as she turned her head. Since she had brought Wu Feng here herself, she couldn't let Wu Feng go back alone. Li Wei patted the cookie crumbs off her hands and said to Luo Da, "Wu Feng and I will go back first."

She nodded to Shen Tao and Yuan Jiawei, but she had nothing to say to them. She wouldn't have bothered coming out if it weren't for Luo Da's sake.

Yuan Jiawei politely tried to persuade them to stay, but Li Wei just smiled and didn't say anything.

Watching Li Wei and Wu Feng's figures disappear beyond the woods, Shen Tao couldn't help but say to Luo Da, "Your little girlfriend is quite arrogant!"

Luo Da smiled but said nothing. Li Wei might not know what others were thinking, but Luo Da knew very well. Those with deep acquaintances knew exactly what was going on, and for those with only casual acquaintances, there was no need for him to explain. As for Shen Tao now, he wasn't even a casual acquaintance.

While Li Wei was sizing her up, Yuan Jiawei was also busy, scrutinizing Li Wei from head to toe, and looking at her for a longer time.

Unlike typical middle school students who are clueless about quality, she noticed that everything about Li Wei—from her clothes and even her socks to the black leather wristwatch on her wrist and the small, delicate gold chain with round, bean-sized bells on her right ankle—was exquisitely crafted. Judging by the quality, she was certain that the chain on Li Wei's ankle was pure gold.

This wasn't the era of rural brides demanding three gold pieces for weddings. Instead, the four essential items in rural areas were bicycles, watches, electric fans, and sewing machines. Even the four modern amenities in cities were material things like televisions, washing machines, stereo systems, and refrigerators. It wasn't at the point where people cared about non-essential luxuries like gold and silver jewelry.

A woman wearing gold jewelry is something that makes her stand out from the crowd, no matter where she is.

Although Yuan Jiawei didn't own it, she had actually seen it before and remembered it vividly. So when she saw the thing on Li Wei's ankle against the backdrop of her snow-white socks and matching calf, she was absolutely certain that it was pure gold.

Looking at Li Wei's skin, it was as if she had been carefully cared for like a greenhouse flower, hence her flawless white complexion.

Everything about her seemed to evoke a sense of unattainable despair in Yuan Jiawei. This other woman was a happy or lucky girl living above the average standard of living; thinking of her own parents, some gone, some addicted to alcohol, she couldn't help but sigh, "There's just no comparison between people."

What made Yuan Jiawei feel even worse was that Luo Jianhua, who seemed arrogant and aloof, was actually quite thoughtful. As soon as he sat down, he picked up the bunch with the purplest grapes and the reddest crabapples and placed them in front of Li Wei.

Look at Shen Tao. Besides talking incessantly to people, when has he ever paid attention to his own needs, even though I've always been the one taking care of him more? But without comparison, it wouldn't be so bad; the more you compare, the more the difference becomes apparent.

Yuan Jiawei's thoughts were in turmoil, and the more she thought about it, the more gloomy she felt. Was she destined to spend her whole life looking up to other people's happiness?

Li Wei was naturally unaware that Yuan Jiawei had been provoked by her. In her mind, girls who dared to date in junior high school were courageous people. They were not invulnerable, but at the very least, they were impervious to gossip and rumors.

Otherwise, not only would you be drowned in the spittle of teachers and parents, but you'd also suffer from the strange looks from your classmates.

Clearly, she believed that Yuan Jiawei, the beautiful Yuan, should be the kind of person who would go against the tide even if there were thousands of people against her. She was at least mentally sound, and being older, she probably thought she and Wu Feng were quite naive.

So although she loved looking at beautiful women, she didn't want to make a fool of herself by chatting with them.

When Li Wei and Wu Feng were walking back to their classroom, they passed by Li Lin's classroom. Li Wei habitually peeked in and saw Li Lin sitting with Li Lianhui eating something. It was all dark and unsightly... Damn! Wasn't that a grape?!

Li Wei was furious. These two heartless bastards didn't even call her when they were eating. She'd teach them a lesson!