Chapter 374 I’ll Buy You a Small Bed

Jiang Nian had no reaction when he was pushed away, his skin as thick as a bamboo wall.

It was just a whim, in short, he was being a pervert.

However, he truly hadn’t thought of taking advantage of Young Master Xu; he just hadn’t expected Xu Qianqian to suddenly become so sensitive.

He heard that girls mature earlier.

“Speaking of which, are you really not going to bet?” Jiang Nian tried to kill two birds with one stone. “How about a counter-bet? You set a goal too.”

Xu Qianqian was still replaying the scene from earlier and didn’t clearly hear what he said.

“Gambling is fined five hundred.”

“I remember you also get detained, right?” Jiang Nian recalled. Many people in Zhennan County did this during the New Year; it was a whole migration of gambling addicts returning home.

They’d go home for New Year’s Eve and leave for work on the third day of the New Year.

The main idea was to bring money home, then leave for work with only sixty yuan left.

“If this pervert gets caught, they’ll lock him up for ten days to half a month,” Xu Qianqian said, exasperated, “to prevent him from harming people.”

“Detain you in my room?” Jiang Nian asked.

“Take a punch from me,” Xu Qianqian said, raising her fist. “If I knock you out, I can save some food money.”

“That’s so vicious?” Jiang Nian walked out of the school gate with her, saying fearfully, “You wouldn’t stuff your socks in my mouth, would you?”

Xu Qianqian understood some abstract concepts, but she understood Jiang Nian even better.

Just as LPL likes to study opponents, Jiang Nian had figured out Xu Qianqian, and Xu Qianqian had also thoroughly studied Jiang Nian.

The conclusion was that this person was a pervert.

“Just stuff some old kitchen rags in there; I still need my socks,” Xu Qianqian said with a smile, parrying his words.

She thought to herself, ‘This little virgin sure has a vivid imagination. Does he want to make tea with my socks?’

‘What if I wear them for two days straight?’

‘Jiang Nian would definitely explode.’

Given Xu Qianqian’s somewhat strong aggressiveness, Jiang Nian simply changed the subject. He turned back to studying, speaking eloquently.

“Next provincial joint exam, I will score 650 points.”

“Pfft!”

A burst of laughter erupted from Xu Qianqian. “Sorry, sorry, I suddenly thought of something funny.” She pursed her lips. “I’m not laughing at you, really.”

“What if I really score 650?” Jiang Nian asked back, not angered.

“Haha, if you really score that!…” Xu Qianqian said halfway, then suddenly realized, “Then you just scored it, I guess.”

“You’re just stating the obvious!” Jiang Nian reached out and forcefully pinched her shoulder and neck muscle.

“Hiss!” Xu Qianqian flinched, biting her teeth as she turned to look at him. “Why are you using so much force?”

She was annoyed by his increasing little gestures, and also annoyed by her own self-inflicted worries, unable to sort out the thoughts that popped up out of nowhere.

If Jiang Nian just wanted to take advantage of her, then things would be simple.

Just kill him!

But the truth was, this person was indeed a big pervert. However, if before taking advantage of her, he wanted to be close to her even more…

Then things became very complicated, even turning upside down.

She felt that Jiang Nian liked her.

But he was very stubborn.

She just didn’t know when this contradiction would erupt. When it had nowhere left to hide, in what way… So, Xu Qianqian chose to deal with it vaguely.

She looked at Jiang Nian and said seriously.

“It’s certainly arrogant of you to aim for 650 points, but you’re not as arrogant as me. My goal is over 700 points, do you dare?”

“No,” Jiang Nian said, losing interest, his hands in his jacket pockets. “Let’s go, go home and share a cup of your bathwater with me.”

“I’m thirsty, I’ll save it to drink when I get home.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Qianqian felt she had underestimated Jiang Nian’s pervertedness.

“Only foot bath water.”

“What a pity, then I’ll just have to boil it and make instant noodles.”

“Get lost!” Xu Qianqian couldn’t stand him anymore and shoved him hard. “Go to hell, aren’t you disgusting?”

“Is this the first time you’ve met me?” Jiang Nian looked up at her, his gaze lingering on her face for five or six seconds, the more he looked, the more he wanted to.

He didn’t know why, but the green plums brewed into wine became more fragrant the longer they aged. It was nothing like what was said online, where they grew tired of each other.

Xu Qianqian’s face flushed slightly under his gaze, and she voluntarily turned her head away.

“Are you about to die and want to look at me a few more times?”

Jiang Nian found it a bit hard to bear. “No, why does your 38-degree mouth always say things that are minus ten degrees?”

“How dare you assume my mouth isn’t minus ten degrees?” Xu Qianqian hummed twice, covering her mouth at the same time.

Then, she secretly glanced at Jiang Nian.

“What kind of reaction is that?” Jiang Nian eyed her suspiciously. “You’re a weird girl, you don’t actually think I want to kiss you, do you?”

“Who knows?” Xu Qianqian retorted.

After that sentence, the two suddenly had nothing to say. They were silent the whole way, until just before they turned into the alley.

Jiang Nian called out to her, “Xu Qianqian.”

Xu Qianqian stood under the streetlight at the alley entrance, turning to look at him, feeling slightly nervous.

“What is it?”

“If someone calls you in the middle of the night, never look back.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Qianqian instantly froze. Images from certain horror movies rushed into her mind, and she completely blew up on the spot. “Ah!!! Jiang Nian, you scoundrel!!”

Jiang Nian’s expression suddenly changed, and he yelled, “Holy crap, someone’s there!”

He took off running.

The most brilliant thing about Chinese horror is that the emphasis isn’t on the words “there’s a ghost,” but on “there’s someone.”

Schrödinger’s person.

Before “it” reveals itself, it could be a person or something else.

So, when Jiang Nian ran past her, Xu Qianqian immediately panicked. She didn’t have the courage to verify and just ran after him.

“You…”

Jiang Nian ran a couple of steps and then stopped, as he hadn’t truly intended to scare her.

“Alright, no more games.”

Xu Qianqian caught up to him and immediately started punching and kicking him.

“That’s for scaring me!”

“I said there was someone, I didn’t say anything else,” Jiang Nian retorted, “Isn’t it normal for there to be people late at night?”

“Go to hell!”

They returned home.

After washing up, Jiang Nian didn’t immediately lie down on the bed. Instead, he sat at his desk, spread out a chemistry test paper, and prepared to study late into the night.

He specifically checked his phone and had not received any messages from the class monitor.

Chen Yunyun, however, had sent two daily routine messages, first sharing some late-night fruit, and then the spectacle of getting hot water in the evening.

“It’s going to be a long wait. (Image)”

“Didn’t you get water this afternoon?” Jiang Nian replied curiously.

“Yes, I was talking about other people,” Chen Yunyun said with a giggle. “(Laugh) I saw the team leader, he’s chatting someone up.”

“Who?” Jiang Nian asked.

Chen Yunyun: “(Snicker) Ji Jiayu.”

“Yunyun, that snickering emoji of yours is so ‘tea-like,'” Jiang Nian chuckled. “Hey, didn’t her ex-boyfriend just get a new girlfriend?”

In the girls’ dormitory.

Chen Yunyun, who was chatting gossip with Jiang Nian, saw the latest message. Her fingers paused, and she typed with a frown.

“How is it ‘tea-like’?! (Life Qi)”

“I wouldn’t know. Green tea girls like to discuss other people’s gossip. (Left hmph hmph)”

“Well, never mind then, I’ll ask her in person another day.” After Jiang Nian sent that message, he turned off his phone screen, preparing to do his homework.

With a buzz, Chen Yunyun sent a message.

“(Smiling).”

Jiang Nian was certain that this was the Yin and Yang Great Master.

However, Chen Yunyun was only slightly tougher online. When caught in person, she would become soft, primarily playing the role of an offline Jerry. “Just you wait, I’m arresting you tomorrow.”

Chen Yunyun: “(Confused).”

Jiang Nian sent her a picture of his test paper, interrupting their brief chat.

Time flew by quickly, and it was midnight in a blink of an eye.

He rubbed his sore eyes, ready to put away his papers and go to bed. But at that moment, his phone vibrated with a ‘buzz’.

Jiang Nian instinctively unlocked it, thinking it was a peace offering from Chen Yunyun.

He looked and saw it was from Xu Qianqian.

“Jiang Nian, I feel like there’s movement outside my room.”

He looked at the message and couldn’t help but sigh. He knew he shouldn’t have caused trouble late at night; now he was completely asking for it.

Putting on his jacket and grabbing a test paper.

Jiang Nian left his room, tiptoeing through the living room. As he picked up his keys, he casually sent a message to Xu Qianqian.

“I’m coming over, getting ready to open your door.”

He had a key to her door, but he didn’t usually use it. He couldn’t exactly use the key to launch a night raid, but now he could.

He opened the door and turned on the lights.

Checking the living room and all the rooms was just a matter of course.

Although it was an old building, with neighbors who had lived there for ten years on both sides, it was hard to say if a thief might sneak in.

It was early December. If it were early January…

The school would repeatedly issue warnings prohibiting students from going to less crowded places, because Zhennan County was unsafe around the New Year. As the New Year approached, shocking incidents would often break out. It wasn’t just petty thieves, but also cases of infidelity and revenge killings.

Passionate crimes in barber shops were a classic example.

Finally, he knocked on Xu Qianqian’s door.

Thump thump thump.

“Open the door, it’s me, Jiang Nian.”

Then, footsteps sounded.

Click.

Xu Qianqian opened her bedroom door, revealing a delicate little face. The moment she saw Jiang Nian, she instinctively frowned.

“It’s all your fault! Who told you to scare me?!”

“Alright, alright, I was wrong.” Jiang Nian pushed the door open and casually checked her room. “It’s fine now.”

“Outside… did you check everywhere?” Xu Qianqian swallowed.

“I’ve checked outside the windows, don’t worry,” Jiang Nian said, then crouched down to look under Xu Qianqian’s bed, before standing up again.

“I haven’t checked that drawer of yours yet, I’ll pull it open…”

“Don’t!” Xu Qianqian stopped him, her face gradually turning red. “I use it to put clothes in, don’t mess with it.”

“The way you say that, can I mess with it?” Jiang Nian said, “What if? Late at night, you need peace of mind.”

Xu Qianqian didn’t know how to refute him for a moment. After a brief stunned silence, she saw him pull open the large drawer under the wardrobe. Pink and white underwear were neatly folded inside.

“Ah!!! You’re going to die!” The girl instantly reacted, pushing him. “I’m telling Aunt Li!”

“Whatever you want,” Jiang Nian said, as unconcerned as a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. He pulled out the test paper he was carrying. “I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”

Xu Qianqian had just closed the underwear drawer, her face still flushed. Hearing what he said, her expression finally improved slightly.

“Oh.”

Although she was usually stubborn, she still knew what was important at critical moments.

“What kind of papers did you bring?”

“Chemistry.” Jiang Nian pulled out a chair and sat at her bedroom desk. “How do you turn on this desk lamp?”

“It’s touch screen,” Xu Qianqian said, shrinking into her quilt, only her head showing. “Touch the middle of the base, you can adjust the brightness.”

Click, the bedroom light turned off.

Jiang Nian adjusted the desk lamp’s brightness in a circle, controlling the light source to just the desk area. He could see the test paper without disturbing Xu Qianqian’s sleep.

At that moment, the room fell silent.

Xu Qianqian initially slept with her back to the desk, only seeing the faint glow of the lamp on the wall and the rustling sound of the pen on the test paper.

After a minute, she turned to sleep facing forward.

Finally, the girl couldn’t resist secretly glancing towards the desk. She saw that person focused, diligently bent over writing answers.

When he was serious, he actually looked quite human.

Xu Qianqian stared at his profile in a daze, then shrunk further into her quilt. Her mind was a jumble, thinking of many random things.

She originally wanted to say a few stubborn words to uphold her image as Young Master Xu. But the words reached her mouth and were swallowed back. What if he really left… Unbeknownst to her, she actually fell asleep.

When Xu Qianqian opened her eyes again, the room was completely dark. She lay with her eyes open, vaguely thinking for a while before remembering what had happened last night. She had slept soundly.

She subconsciously thought Jiang Nian had already gone back to sleep in the opposite apartment, just not knowing when he left, as she had slept too soundly.

Suddenly, there was a sound from the desk.

Xu Qianqian hadn’t gotten up yet, still in bed. She looked up, shocked, her pupils slightly dilated.

“You… didn’t go back?”

“Go back where?” Jiang Nian got up from the desk, his head tilted back on the chair. “I accidentally fell asleep.”

Xu Qianqian let out an ‘oh’ in a whisper.

She naturally didn’t believe Jiang Nian’s words; that person loved sleeping comfortably the most and would absolutely never sleep on a desk if a bed was available at night.

However, whether she wanted to or not, she had to acknowledge this favor.

As if possessed, she grunted softly.

“It’s still early, why don’t you sleep in my bed for a bit?”

The moment the words left her mouth, Xu Qianqian regretted them. She thought to herself that she was muddled early in the morning and hadn’t thought much before speaking.

“I… I’m getting up now, it’s the same if you go home to sleep.”

Her reaction was too obvious, appearing abrupt in the quiet, dim room, with a hint of ‘protesting too much’.

“I’ll go back and wash up,” Jiang Nian said, standing up, his shoulder blades cracking. “Then, shall we go to school together later?”

“Oh.” Xu Qianqian subsided.

Seeing Jiang Nian about to leave, she felt she at least had to say something. But she couldn’t say anything mushy, so she just blurted out.

“Next time, don’t sleep on the desk. I’ll buy you a small bed.”

Jiang Nian stopped turning the doorknob and looked back at Xu Qianqian, who was wearing pajamas.

“Thank you, Young Master Xu.”

“You’re welcome.” Xu Qianqian was also a little embarrassed and added, “Actually, I can also sleep in a small bed.”

“It’s just… I don’t sleep well at night, I might sleepwalk and step on your face.”

Jiang Nian couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. He left the room with his finished papers. After washing up at home, he stood at the door with his bag, waiting for her.

Soon, Xu Qianqian also came out.

She changed her shoes and then felt a little embarrassed. Thinking of compensating Jiang Nian, she volunteered.

“Later, you treat me to breakfast, okay?”

Jiang Nian: “????”

“No, I said it wrong.” A faint blush spread across Xu Qianqian’s neck. “It’s me treating you, what do you want to eat?”