"I have nothing to say to you. Let's go, Cao Xue. We'll take the exam together." Jian Ning shook off Miao Xin's hand and went downstairs to the exam room with Cao Xue, ignoring Miao Xin's unwavering gaze behind her.
The exam lasted all day. At noon, while Jian Ning was having lunch with Cao Xue in the school cafeteria, Miao Xin sat next to her, secretly watching her with a crazy look in her eyes.
Cao Xue sensed something was wrong and gently nudged Jian Ning's arm.
"Miao Xin seems to have become a different person lately. She used to be quiet and gentle, speaking softly, but lately she's been particularly agitated."
A couple of days ago, a boy from the next class accidentally bumped into her, and she grabbed his collar and wouldn't let go for a long time. She couldn't pull him away no matter what she did.
We all privately felt that something might have happened in her family. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been such a sudden and drastic change.
"Maybe, Cao Xue, are you going home after the exam?"
"Yes, I've already bought the plane tickets. It's too hot here. My home is in the north, so it'll be cooler in the mornings and evenings when I go back."
"I have some inside information. This hot weather will continue for quite some time, followed by extreme weather. When you get back, you'd better buy more food and daily necessities to stock up."
"Try to live on higher ground. To avoid heavy rain or flooding," Jian Ning said in a low voice.
"Really? Is the information accurate? My apartment is on the sixth floor, is that high enough?" Cao Xue asked seriously, seeing that Jian Ning didn't seem to be joking.
"It depends on the terrain of your city. If you ask me, it's best to live on the tenth floor or higher."
“My hometown is just a small county town, there are no such tall buildings. But my grandparents live on the mountain, next to a reservoir, where the terrain is high.”
It's cooler than an apartment building. If what you're saying is true, I'll have my parents move back to our hometown when I get back. There's enough space there."
Cao Xue was actually a little worried about the current weather; it was really abnormal for it to be this hot.
After the exam in the afternoon, as soon as Jian Ning came out of the exam room, Miao Xin was waiting at the door and grabbed her arm. She affectionately pulled her towards the school gate.
It seems that if I don't go to dinner with her, she definitely won't let Jian Ning go back.
"Let go of me, you're all sweaty in this heat. Don't worry, I'll go with you."
"Say everything you want to say today, and don't come looking for me again." Jian Ning forcefully shook off Miao Xin's hand. She was very uncomfortable being so close to others.
“Okay, I specifically found a private restaurant, it’s all members-only. It’ll be easier to talk there, let’s go there by car.”
Miao Xin looked at Jian Ning and saw that he didn't seem to be lying to her, so she let go of his hand with relief, went out of the school gate, hailed a taxi, and gave him an address.
It was quite remote; it took more than twenty minutes to get there. If it weren't for the restaurant sign hanging at the entrance, Jian Ning would have almost thought Miao Xin was going to sell her off.
It wasn't lunchtime yet, and the two of them were the first customers.
After sitting down, Jian Ning didn't order any food. She went straight to the point and asked, "What brings you here? Just say it. I'm feeling really uncomfortable eating this."
"Ningning, don't be like this. We've been friends since high school, for so many years."
"You've suddenly become someone I don't even recognize!" Miao Xin's fair face was full of grievance, and her big eyes were filled with tears, looking like they were about to fall. She was truly pitiful to see.
"Stop it. Like you said, we've known each other for so many years, we know each other better than anyone else."
Actually, I've always been foolish, failing to see your true colors and continuing to treat you as a good friend.
I never imagined you'd stab me in the back so many times. Don't think I don't know what you've done. While I'm still giving you face, you should quit while you're ahead and stop clinging to me like that.
"Ningning, what are you saying? How could I do something wrong behind your back? You must have heard some lies from others. Take Li Mingxuan for example, I really did it all for your own good."
"He and I have absolutely no other relationship." Miao Xin quickly explained to Jian Ning. Judging from her expression, if Jian Ning said he believed her, she would probably kneel down and apologize.
The more she acted this way, the more she realized how important the jade pendant was to her. Jian Ning simply didn't stop her and wanted to see what other tricks she could pull.
"Ningning, I know you like fish. This place makes an amazing squirrel-shaped mandarin fish. You have to make a reservation in advance to get it. You have to try it."
Seeing that Jian Ning's attitude had softened a bit, Miao Xin assumed that her words had moved her.
We quickly called the restaurant staff to bring in the food. A short while later, they brought in four dishes and a soup, and I must say, they smelled delicious.
Jian Ning didn't want to upset her stomach; why not eat when someone was treating her?
So she ignored Miao Xin, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating heartily. The salmon was delicious—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and with a perfect balance of sweet and sour. Jian Ning ate most of it.
"Don't just eat vegetables, have some drinks too. This is freshly squeezed orange juice, your favorite." Miao Xin handed over a large glass of orange juice. Jian Ning took it and drank more than half of it.
Less than two minutes later, I felt a little dizzy, and Miao Xin in front of me suddenly became a double image. Needless to say, there must have been something added to this glass of orange juice, and quite a lot of it, otherwise I wouldn't have reacted so quickly.
Before she could even speak, Jian Ning pointed at Miao Xin with her finger, her lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
He then slumped back in the chair. The last image that remained in my mind's eye was Miao Xin's triumphant, maniacally laughing face, which was contorted with excitement.
"No matter how cunning you are, you still fell into my trap."
Miao Xin looked at the unconscious Jian Ning, chuckled smugly, then stood up and searched around Jian Ning's neck, only to find that she wasn't wearing the jade pendant at all.
Then she went to rummage through Jian Ning's handbag. Inside were a bunch of random little things, like lipsticks and tissues, but there was no sign of the jade pendant.
There was no way he could have it in his pockets, but he did search them anyway. Finally, disappointed, he stopped and smacked his head hard.
That's true, something this valuable should be kept at home.
Miao Xin helped Jian Ning up, took her bag, and after paying the bill, they hailed a taxi and went directly to Jinmao Mansion.
She only found out that Jian Ning had moved here after hiring a private investigator.
She'd been staking out this neighborhood for over half a month, but hadn't managed to catch a glimpse of Jian Ning, so she came up with this plan.
Miao Xin was quite strong; she helped Jian Ning out of the taxi and swiped her access card to open the building door. The lobby was empty, which made it easier for her to move around.
You have to swipe your card to get on the elevator. It was Miao Xin's first time in such a high-end residential area, and it took her a while to finally get the elevator up slowly.
When they reached the 16th floor, Miao Xin gasped as soon as the elevator doors opened.
This house is so well-built; even the passageway is so exquisite.
I have no idea where this girl got the money from. I helped Jian Ning, who was almost collapsed, to the door of room 1603. I took out my key card and swiped it.
Two beeps sounded, but the door didn't open.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
