Meng Qingluan sneered, "Otherwise, do you want to listen to this pig howling and squealing? It's not even the New Year yet and you're already making a racket. What bad luck."
Young Master Zhu was furious at being scolded and took two steps forward defiantly.
Meng Qingluan took two steps back as he stepped forward, her brows furrowing in disgust.
“Come on, stop talking all day long,” Young Master Zhu pointed provocatively at his face, “Try hitting me today, if you have the guts, hit me here.”
Meng Qingluan: "..."
Chen Yan: "..."
This familiar scene, these familiar lines…
Chen Yan stopped in his tracks, preparing to step forward to stop him, and silently lit a candle for the still smug young master Zhu.
Meng Qingluan raised her hand and flicked her nose, then asked him with a smile.
"You said it yourself?"
Young Master Zhu didn't believe Meng Qingluan would dare to make a move. "I said..."
"Smack—"
Before Young Master Zhu could finish his harsh words, a slap landed on his face.
This time, Meng Qingluan mustered all her strength and swung her sword, delivering a loud and crisp blow that knocked the face of Zhu Gongzi, a man weighing over two hundred pounds, to the side.
"..."
The scene was silent for three seconds…
Two streaks of bright red blood flowed from the corner of Zhu Gongzi's mouth. He raised his hand in a daze and wiped his mouth.
Looking down, Young Master Zhu's face turned pale instantly, and his finger trembled as he pointed at Meng Qingluan.
"You dare hit me?"
Meng Qingluan rubbed her red and swollen palms. "You have thick skin, it really took me a lot of courage to hit a boar like you."
Young Master Zhu still couldn't believe that he had actually received a slap from Meng Qingluan.
"You dare hit me?"
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingluan felt a surge of anger rising in her heart, her palms still throbbing with pain.
He walked up to Young Master Zhu and raised his hand to slap him again.
This time, the right cheek was hit.
Young Master Zhu raised both hands to cover his cheeks, his pupils trembling.
Meng Qingluan impatiently shook her sore hand.
"Have you been behaving yourself?"
"Behave yourself now."
Young Master Zhu dared not speak, and nodded, his fat face trembling.
Meng Qingluan must be insane. If she weren't, she wouldn't have done something like this.
Meng Qingluan turned her head, startling the candidates standing by who were watching, who simultaneously took a step back.
They originally wanted to see Shen Yan get into trouble, but they never expected that Meng Qingluan, a woman, would actually hit someone...
Hitting someone is one thing, but hitting them twice?!
Seeing this, Meng Qingluan sneered inwardly.
They're a bunch of bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong.
Chen Yan frowned slightly and walked towards Meng Qingluan.
Meng Qingluan was not happy. Before Chen Yan could speak, she dryly raised her chin at him.
"Let's go home."
"good."
Shen Yan lowered his hand, which he had just raised, and followed behind Meng Qingluan.
As the two reached the door, the crowd made way for them, fearing that Meng Qingluan might attack them all if she had a seizure.
After all, they were all scholars, and no matter what, it would be a disgraceful act for them to get into a fight with a woman.
Besides, they couldn't beat that village girl...
Shen Yan followed behind Meng Qingluan, watching her with a stern face and a sullen expression.
Shen Yan quickened his pace, walked to Meng Qingluan's side, and asked in a gentle voice.
"What's wrong? Were you frightened by Young Master Zhu just now?"
Meng Qingluan stopped and shook her head.
He raised his right hand and extended it in front of Chen Yan.
Meng Qingluan: "It hurts, you hit me hard."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yan quickly took Meng Qingluan's hand and gently rubbed it in his own palm.
"You know that thing has thick skin and tough flesh, yet you still dared to hit it? You're incredibly stupid!"
Meng Qingluan ignored his reproach and glanced at him with concern.
"what to do?"
Shen Yan didn't even look up. "What do you mean, 'what to do'?"
Meng Qingluan sighed. She really didn't know how a powerful minister who had gone on to kill his way through the court could be so careless now.
"They! That young master Zhu will definitely tell everyone what happened before. I'm afraid you'll be bullied, and they'll try to trip you up..."
Meng Qingluan unconsciously conjured up images in her mind: Shen Yan finishing his exam paper only to have ink smeared on it, or being dragged away to be abused and bullied...
If I can't become the wife of a powerful minister, how will I enjoy life?
Shen Yan found it amusing, but seeing her sullen expression also warmed her heart.
Shen Yan grasped Meng Qingluan's hand, bringing the two closer together.
"You really are stupid!" Shen Yan pinched the soft flesh on Meng Qingluan's cheek, found it felt good, and pinched it again gently.
Annoyed by his pinching, Meng Qingluan slapped his hand away.
Depend on!
He had never watched a palace intrigue drama and didn't realize the seriousness of the situation.
Chen Yan was clapped, and still not giving up, he gently pinched it again before leisurely speaking.
"This is an examination for selecting talent in the imperial court. Who would dare to cause trouble? I don't usually associate with them, so what if they all stay away from me?"
Meng Qingluan blinked, thought about it, and realized, "That makes sense!"
Shen Yan found her bewildered expression incredibly endearing.
I want to pinch it, I want to kiss it...
Meng Qingluan thought he wanted to pinch her cheek again, so she moved away from him and warned him.
"Don't touch me!"
Even if they are best friends now, they are not allowed to touch each other. If they pinch away the collagen in her face, who will be responsible?
Shen Yan nodded and extended his left hand.
Meng Qingluan asked in confusion, "What?"
Let me squeeze his hand, then squeeze it back?
It's so dry and bland, I don't even want to touch it.
Shen Yan said, "Let's go home, hand in hand."
Meng Qingluan didn't take his hand. "No, I'm not going to get lost, why would I need to hold your hand?"
She can't let Chen Yan have this bad habit.
What if he gets together with Li Zhanjue later and gets into the habit of holding hands with people, and the two of them are discovered...?
Meng Qingluan wiped away her tears. She really was the best friend in the universe, so considerate.
Shen Yan, unaware that Meng Qingluan had already begun to feel self-satisfied, said shamelessly.
"I'm afraid I'll get lost."
Meng Qingluan's lips twitched involuntarily.
Are you sure?
Shen Yan nodded with a serious expression, showing no sign of joking.
Meng Qingluan took a deep breath and looked away.
We can't let him have this bad habit!
Meng Qingluan refused, even putting her hands behind her back to prevent him from holding her hand.
"Don't hold my hand. I'll walk behind you and watch over you. You won't get lost."
"oh……"
Shen Yan replied listlessly, his expression hurt, and dejectedly withdrew his arm and turned away.
Meng Qingluan felt a tightness in her chest as she looked at it.
I tried hard to control my soft heart; I couldn't spoil him! Men shouldn't be spoiled!
Shen Yan took two steps, his shoulders hunched even lower, and his aggrieved voice could be heard.
"You dislike me too, don't you?"
Meng Qingluan: "I didn't."
Shen Yan ignored him, "Did I embarrass you today? Is that why you don't want to hold my hand?"
Meng Qingluan: "No, let me explain..."
Before she could explain, Chen Yan intensified his attack, "It's my fault, blame my lowly fate for being sold into the Nanfeng Pavilion, it's not your fault."
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