Chapter 11 Snow-white Feet

“Come on! Bottoms up!”

Outside the barbecue restaurant, smoke billowed, and a large fan blew the oily fumes skyward.

On the artificial turf, a dozen large wooden round tables and a circle of pink plastic chairs were set up. Under the bright lights, eight or nine students clinked beer glasses.

“Why didn’t Jiang Nian come?” someone asked.

“He’s probably out of money, who knows about him,” a boy said casually, the small hotpot on the table bubbling with steam. “He hasn’t talked with us these past few days.”

Le Zhi sat in his seat, his expression a bit awkward. He and Jiang Nian had a good relationship, and he knew the reason. Seeing the topic stray further and further, he couldn’t help but explain.

“Hey, it’s just about what happened last time. He overheard us when we were joking around. Jiang Nian might be a bit upset, but it’ll be fine once we talk it out.”

“What’s there to talk about? He can come or not, as he pleases,” Zhou Yu Ting suddenly said.

“Ah?” Le Zhi hadn’t expected Zhou Yu Ting to speak up, and he immediately felt embarrassed.

This group of people had gathered around Zhou Yu Ting to begin with, and now that Zhou Yu Ting had spoken. The others naturally became more aggressive in their words, openly disparaging Jiang Nian.

“A pauper is a pauper. What’s wrong with saying a few words about him?”

“Exactly. Why act so sensitive? What’s the point of someone who can’t even take a joke? He can come or not. Do we expect our class representative to coax him?”

Zhou Yu Ting was the class representative, and her grades were always in the top five. Her family was wealthy, she was smart, had a good figure, and knew how to have fun, so she always had high popularity with the opposite sex.

It was true that Le Zhi liked Zhou Yu Ting, but listening to the people at the table constantly belittle Jiang Nian. He initially thought it was just a few simple remarks, but then realized they were even bringing up his mother.

They continued to curse without stopping, only growing more animated and going further overboard with each word.

“Ha, isn’t this a bit unnecessary?”

“What’s unnecessary? Did we say anything wrong? A pauper is a pauper. Poor people give birth to poor people, and they’ll never have a grand vision in life.”

Even though Le Zhi’s relationship with Jiang Nian was actually just so-so, and he didn’t want to contradict Zhou Yu Ting in front of her, he couldn’t control his temper at this moment.

With a bang, Le Zhi suddenly stood up and angrily said.

“Damn it!”

“Are you guys out of your minds? Jiang Nian not coming doesn’t warrant bringing his family into it. Anyone who didn’t know would think his mother killed your mothers.”

“I can’t stand you idiots anymore. I’d rather be friends with a dog than with you. Go drink your damn beer!”

Le Zhi cursed in one breath, slapped three hundred-yuan bills on the table, and without looking at anyone, turned and left.

At the table, there was dead silence.

After a few seconds, someone reacted.

He grabbed a beer bottle and stood up, staring at Le Zhi’s retreating back, and shouted with red eyes.

“Idiot! Don’t you dare leave!”

“What are you doing!” Zhou Yu Ting said, displeased, glaring at the person. “He’s already gone, what’s the point of saying all that!”

“But…”

“Sit down!” Zhou Yu Ting crossed her arms and shot him a sideways glance. “Do you know who Le Zhi’s dad is? If you lay a hand on him, you won’t get out for at least fifteen days. Don’t you want to study anymore?”

Liu Fei Peng was slowly drinking his beer, smiling silently at the words at the table. The upturned corners of his mouth mocked not only Jiang Nian but also the other boys present.

A bunch of poor, idiotic dogs, did they think ostracizing Jiang Nian would win them the goddess’s favor?

He saw it very clearly: Le Zhi’s father was a leader in the county’s public security bureau. Although he usually seemed effeminate, he hadn’t realized he also had quite a bit of spunk.

This also made Liu Fei Peng look at Le Zhi in a new light; at least he wasn’t one of those brainless sycophants, and he had the qualifications to compete with him.

Moreover, he knew that Zhou Yu Ting valued background greatly and wouldn’t alienate Le Zhi over such a small matter. After their relationship thawed in a couple of days, she would still persuade him to come back.

The cake of victory should be enjoyed by someone as steady and capable as himself.

“Ahem.” Liu Fei Peng smiled, breaking the heavy atmosphere, “Yu Ting, how did you do on the exam this time? Is there hope for you to move up to the advanced class?”

With that one sentence, the table returned to a normal atmosphere.

Zhou Yu Ting frowned, “I did alright, but I don’t know if I’ll have a chance.”

“It’s fine.” Liu Fei Peng chuckled, looking like a steady older brother, “I asked around, and this exam was generally quite difficult. Perhaps 530 points will be enough to get in.”

“Really?” Zhou Yu Ting’s eyes lit up. “I estimated my score at 510. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll have a chance to touch the 530 mark.”

“Mm, even if you’re a little short, it doesn’t matter.” Liu Fei Peng smiled, seemingly mentioning it casually, “My father is quite familiar with our grade director.”

“He said this today. If it really doesn’t work out, I can put in a good word for you.”

“Okay, then I’ll thank Brother Peng in advance.” Zhou Yu Ting looked obedient.

The educational resources of the Olympiad class and the regular class were worlds apart. It wasn’t that the teachers were biased, but rather that the foundational levels of the two types of classes were different.

Zhou Yu Ting’s ranking in her class had always stayed in the top five. Last week, her homeroom teacher had even talked to her, telling her to prepare well for the exam and strive to be promoted to the Olympiad class to attend lectures.

If she could be promoted and establish herself in the Olympiad class, a first-tier university would be a sure thing, and a key university would be within reach. She had always wanted to study at Lu University in a coastal city.

Under the light, Jiang Nian opened the white box, his expression solemn as he took out the medicated plaster for sprains.

After opening the lid, a strong medicinal smell wafted out.

He turned around and shook his head.

“How did you sprain your ankle for no reason? Xu Qian Qian, were you daydreaming about romance when you went upstairs?”

In the Xu family living room, Xu Qian Qian, sitting on the sofa, gritted her teeth at his words!

“You’re the one daydreaming about romance! It’s because there was a mouse!”

“Mice are so cute, and you’re actually afraid of them?” Jiang Nian kept sighing, walked up to her, and looked down at her. “Tsk tsk.”

Xu Qian Qian got angry at his ‘tsk tsk’ and threw a pillow at him.

“Get lost! I’ll put it on myself!”

“That won’t do. Old Xu isn’t off work yet, so I have to help you apply the medicine.” Jiang Nian sighed, “Besides, how can I miss such a good opportunity?”

“Baby, I’ll be gentle!”

Xu Qian Qian’s face visibly paled; no girl is unafraid of pain.

“You leave it. I’ll do it myself.”

“A sprain needs immediate treatment. Your weak strength will leave bruises.” Jiang Nian pulled over a small stool, raised an eyebrow, “Bring your stinky foot over.”

“You’re the one with stinky feet! If you don’t believe me, smell it!” Xu Qian Qian reluctantly extended her snow-white little foot.

Perhaps because girls are keen on washing their feet, her entire sole had no dead skin. Instead, it was reddish with a hint of pink, and her toes curled like snow-white tangyuan.

Due to extending her foot on the sofa, the edge of Xu Qian Qian’s pajamas tightened, outlining the bulging mound, making it exceptionally alluring.

Jiang Nian only glanced at it before retracting his gaze, thinking to himself, when did it get so big?

He poured some liniment oil into his palm, then focused on applying it to the swollen edge of Xu Qian Qian’s ankle. He used some force and massaged it in circles.