Chapter 17
The third period in the morning is a self-study period.
Sang Sui got tired of writing, so she rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window to relax. Her gaze swept across the quiet campus and finally settled on the badminton court not far away. One look, and her eyes were glued to it.
There are several familiar little blue figures playing badminton.
Sang Sui paused slightly, because he noticed that one of the little blue figures looked somewhat like Liang Fengshen.
She picked up the glasses on the table, which weren't very strong, and put them on.
It was indeed Liang Fengshen playing badminton.
Their class was having PE at this time, no wonder she had never run into him during PE class.
Liang Fengshen was playing badminton with a classmate, his hand gripping the racket, his posture upright. Unlike the intense collisions of basketball, he played badminton with a relaxed ease.
When he jumps to smash, his movements are clean and crisp, with the perfect burst of power unique to young people. The white shuttlecock shoots out from under his racket like a swift streak of light.
His bangs were slightly damp with sweat, and they fluttered lightly at his temples as he ran.
The sunlight outlined the lines of his profile, making his jawline appear sharp and defined when taut.
Occasionally, in order to catch a tricky ball, he would take a long stride, his arm outstretched, revealing a slender yet powerful wrist peeking out from the cuff of his short-sleeved shirt.
As Sang Sui looked at the paper, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up slightly, and the tip of her pen unconsciously dabbed at the draft paper, leaving small ink dots.
She thought he was really handsome.
After the bell rang, Zhao Yanqi, He Lili, and Qiao Chunzhao immediately gathered together, and the conversation quickly turned to the basketball game they had seen in the gymnasium during yesterday's PE class.
"Ahhh, did you see that forward from Class 3 just now?! He's like a slam dunk master! That jump was so cool!" He Lili held her face in her hands, her eyes shining.
Qiao Chunchao nodded repeatedly: "Yeah, yeah, he looks so cool when he plays basketball!"
Zhao Yanqi smiled and agreed, "It's pretty good."
Sang Sui sat quietly in her seat, listening to their enthusiastic discussion, but silently added in her heart:
What's so interesting about basketball?
Boys look cooler when they play badminton.
wrong.
He looked most handsome when Liang Fengshen played badminton.
No, that's not right. It's that Liang Fengshen is the most handsome man in the world no matter what sport he plays.
As he thought about it, Sang Sui couldn't help but chuckle again.
The chances of having any interaction with Liang Fengshen at school were extremely rare; even just catching a glimpse of him through the window felt like a luxury.
Sang Sui did not have the chance to meet Liang Fengshen again until the weekend.
That weekend afternoon, Sang Sui was browsing the school's online forum, searching for clues about Liang Fengshen, when Tan Huiyu's voice came from outside her bedroom door, sounding tired after a long day at work: "Sui Sui, go pick up Xiao Chi from her extracurricular class. I have something come up and can't leave."
Sang responded, closed the workbook he hadn't even looked at, picked up his keys, and went out.
The sun's heat subsided slightly in the evening, and the sky was a soft orange-pink.
Sang Sui walked to the entrance of the Children's Palace and saw Sang Chi carrying a violin as he walked out.
Sang Chi complained, "You're picking me up so late again."
"If you don't want me to pick you up, then go home by yourself next time." Sang Sui's expression was also rather unfriendly.
"I don't care, I'm in a bad mood right now, just buy me some more food."
Sang Sui rolled her eyes: "Anyway, it's up to you whether you leave or not."
Sang Chi wanted to use the trick of standing still and refusing to go home to threaten her, but unfortunately it didn't work.
Sang Sui crossed her arms and stood there, keeping him company.
In the end, Sang Chi was defeated.
The siblings remained silent, walking one after the other. As they passed a relatively quiet street corner, a sharp female voice broke the evening's tranquility.
Sang Sui subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.
Not far away, Mingying was being cornered against a wall by a stylish young woman with long, wavy hair.
The woman was agitated, her high heels clicking as she pointed her finger almost at Mingying's face. Although the exact words were unclear, her vicious tone and posture were full of aggression. A few passersby glanced at her, but hurried past without stopping.
What's going on?
Before Sang Sui could figure out what was going on, he saw the woman suddenly raise her hand, seemingly trying to shove Ming Ying.
There was almost no time to think; the body reacted before the brain.
Sang Sui quickly told Sang Chi, "Wait for me here," and then ran over, standing in front of Ming Ying like a hedgehog that had suddenly raised its quills to protect its companion, staring at the aggressive woman with wide eyes.
"What are you trying to do?" Sang Sui questioned the other party.
The woman was clearly taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. She paused for a moment, then turned her fierce gaze past Sang Sui and stared intently at Ming Ying behind her, saying through gritted teeth, "You and your mother are both sluts."
Sang Sui felt Ming Ying's body stiffen slightly behind her, but her voice was unusually calm, like a frozen lake, without any ripples: "Instead of waiting for me on my way home from get off work every day, why don't you go back and question your husband about why he has a family but still goes out to find other women to marry?"
The woman's face instantly turned ashen.
Mingying continued coldly, each word like an icicle: "Also, that man just didn't get a marriage certificate with my mother, but they did have a wedding ceremony and a banquet; they're a legitimate couple. You're the one who came later; you're the mistress."
"You're talking nonsense!" The woman seemed to be completely enraged and raised her hand to strike.
"What are you doing?" Sang Sui immediately raised her voice. Although she was terrified, she refused to back down and pointed to the surveillance camera on the side of the road. "There are surveillance cameras here. If you dare to make a move, I will call the police immediately!"
The woman paused, glanced at the camera, then glared fiercely at Mingying, uttering a harsh threat: "Fine, very well. Mingying, I'll make sure you can't stay at Rongcheng No. 1 High School anytime sooner or later." With that, the woman strode away in her high heels.
Sang Sui only breathed a sigh of relief when the woman's figure disappeared around the street corner, feeling a thin layer of sweat break out on his back.
She turned around and looked at Mingying with concern: "Are you alright?"
It was at this moment that she noticed several obvious abrasions and bruises on Mingying's exposed calves and arms, and she didn't know how they got there.
“Your injury…” Sang Sui pointed to Mingying’s wound.
Mingying glanced down at her wound, her face remaining expressionless. She simply said, "Thank you. I'm fine, it's nothing."
"Aren't you going to get it done? There seem to be pharmacies and clinics nearby."
"Need not."
Mingying paused, glanced at her watch, and said, "I have to go to work now."
When Mingying said she was going to work, she probably meant going to that convenience store.
Looking at her calm, almost indifferent face, and the glaring wound, Sang Sui felt a tightness in his chest, a dull ache in his heart.
Sang Sui originally wanted to ask her why she wasn't going to school and why she was injured, but it seemed she didn't have any right to ask her.
She could only say, "Oh, okay, then be careful."
Mingying nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards the convenience store.
Her back was straight and her steps were steady, as if the fierce conflict had never happened.
A breeze carries the unique fragrance of jasmine, a scent that is especially pronounced in June.
Sang Sui stood there, watching Ming Ying's figure disappear into the twilight, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
She walked back to Sang Chi, who had been waiting there, and silently took her younger brother home.
After dropping Sang Chi off at home, Sang Sui made up a random excuse and immediately turned around and left.
She ran to a pharmacy near the neighborhood, bought a bottle of iodine and a pack of cotton swabs, and then headed straight for the convenience store where Mingying worked.
As I pushed open the door of the convenience store, the wind chimes rang.
Mingying was standing behind the checkout counter tidying up the shelves when she saw her return, and a very faint look of surprise flashed in her eyes.
"Why are you here?" she asked, her tone still indifferent.
Sang Sui walked over, placed the plastic bag in her hand on the counter, and said softly, "I still think your injury needs to be treated."
She was referring to the wounds on Mingying's arms and calves.
Why are you giving me medicine?
Why? Sang Sui couldn't explain it either.
Some people are so good that you just need to look at them once and want to get close to them. Jiang Yaoyue was like that, Liang Fengshen was like that, and Mingying was like that too.
Sang Sui wasn't a saint; she wouldn't be kind to just anyone. She only wanted to be kind to those she liked. If asked why, she couldn't answer no matter how hard she tried.
Sang Sui didn't know if she would use that bottle of iodine, nor did she know if her rash concern was unnecessary.
But she knew she didn't regret it.
Seeing her silence, Mingying glanced at the iodine in the bag and shook her head: "No need. Thank you for your kindness, but I don't want to owe anyone a favor."
Sang met her calm yet distant gaze and said earnestly, "I really liked the two candies you gave me last time, and the book you lent me. This bottle of iodine is to return it to you."
After saying that, without waiting for Mingying to refuse again, she gently pushed the bag of iodine solution into the counter, then turned around and quickly left the convenience store.
She walked quickly, afraid that if she slowed down even a step, she would hear Mingying's voice of rejection.
But she heard Mingying's soft "thank you" coming from behind her.
Sang Sui turned around and smiled, then ran away lightly.
As Mingying watched the girl's departing figure, her phone suddenly lit up. She picked it up and glanced at it.
LFS: How badly was the injury?
Mingying: Anyway, I won't die.
LFS: Why did she hit you? Why was she so violent?
Mingying: Because that man gave my mother 100,000 yuan for medical expenses.
LFS: The injuries are so severe, you should call the police.
Mingying: How do I call the police? My mom and I are both supported by that man. If I call the police and get her arrested, will my mom's medical bills be waived?
Mingying: To be honest, I didn't want to take that family's money at all, but it was something they owed me.
LFS: I'll come over and see you.
Mingying: Don't come, it will affect my work.
LFS: I'll leave after just one glance at you.
Mingying: Someone brought me the medicine, so you don't need to come over.
LFS: I'm on my way now.
Mingying did not reply.
When Liang Fengshen walked into the convenience store, he brought in a breeze of evening.
Mingying was focused on taking inventory when she heard a noise at the door. She looked up and saw Liang Fengshen, but she didn't greet him or say anything; she was busy with her work.
When Liang Fengshen said he was coming to see her, he was indeed just looking at her from afar without disturbing her.
He sat quietly in an empty seat in the convenience store, waiting for her to finish her work. Occasionally, he would try to talk to her, but she wouldn't necessarily respond. He didn't seem to care about her silence and distance.
Seeing that she had a little free time, he asked again, "Who sent you this medicine?"
"The person who returned my subject classification form last time."
"Sang Sui?"
"You know her?"
Liang Fengshen picked up the medicine, glanced at it, and put it down again: "Actually, we don't really know each other. He's just an ordinary classmate from the next class."
"oh."
Liang Fengshen asked curiously, "Then how do you know her?"
"You often come here to buy things."
"You must really like her."
Mingying remained silent, but Liang Fengshen knew that her silence meant she admitted it.
Because of her background and her personality, she had almost no friends.
Sang Sui was one of the very few people who were willing to be kind to Ming Ying.
Liang Fengshen didn't stay in the convenience store for long. Mingying had a strong sense of boundaries and didn't like others interfering too much in her life, not even him. He left after seeing that she was indeed alright.
It was quite late when I stepped out of the convenience store, and the streetlights gradually came on one by one.
He thought for a moment, took out his phone, found Sang Sui in the previous group chat, and clicked to add him as a friend.
Sang Sui is a good girl.
Perhaps he should thank Sang Sui.
For Mingying.
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