NOVEL NEXT Chapter 499: Li Lanying
Late at night, under the dim streetlights.
A Mercedes parked by the roadside, its xenon lights piercing the night. A woman sat in the driver's seat, her face indistinct.
She was staring at Jiang Nian not far away through the car window.
"Hmm."
Jiang Nian stepped forward and, seeing the class president's outfit, couldn't help but take another look. He thought to himself, the class president is truly a natural clothes hanger.
In contrast, what he wore was much more ordinary.
Jeans and a black down jacket; fortunately, he's tall and slim, managing to pull off the look, appearing somewhat stylish.
"Qingqing, you look really beautiful."
Beautiful indeed, but not dressed like someone going hiking.
He mused that the class president should count as half a parent, so this outing was still a leisure trip.
"Hmm." Li Qingrong nodded, her eyes reflecting someone's figure. "If you're tired, you can sleep in the car."
Just then, there was a bang.
Li Lanying closed the car door and got out, smiling. Her black hair, bright eyes, snowy skin, and delicate features.
Her aura wasn't very class-like, even in casual clothes, she unintentionally exuded a hint of maturity.
"Who's this?" Li Lanying said playfully, then added, "Ah... I remember, we've met before."
No, Ms. Li Baoyu.
Jiang Nian didn't have much impression of Li Lanying, only meeting once, vaguely recalling a red Mercedes and big sunglasses.
Hmm? The car color changed.
The Mercedes is still a Mercedes, but not the same one as last time.
"Yes, at the school gate." Jiang Nian smiled, uncertain what demeanor to adopt, so he treated her as he would a senior student.
"I'm Jiang Nian, Jiang as in river, Nian as in New Year."
"Li Lanying."
"Boyfriend, huh?"
"Uh... not really." Jiang Nian leaned back slightly, a bit overwhelmed by the sudden topic, "Just front and back desk mates."
"Really?" Li Lanying clearly didn't believe him.
Li Qingrong watched silently, her expression unchanged.
"...."
"Hop in." Li Lanying smiled.
"Alright." Jiang Nian pulled open the rear door, wondering if the class president would sit in the front or back, just as he turned to ask.
Suddenly, Li Lanying in the driver's seat turned and asked.
"Want to sit in the front?"
"Huh?"
Jiang Nian turned back to look, finding no one at the back. The class president had already entered from the other rear side, so he was about to politely decline.
Before he could speak, there was a snap.
The silent Li Qingrong grabbed his wrist, pulling him into the rear seat from the car door.
Li Lanying: "...."
Not only was Jiang Nian stunned.
Li Lanying was actually quite dazed too, feeling a bit unsure, not understanding Qingqing's thoughts, though it seemed intriguing.
Although no one admitted, Li Lanying assumed they were as good as confirmed.
"Then both of you sit in the back. I'll be lonely by myself," Li Lanying said wistfully, started the vehicle.
Li Qingrong sat upright in the back, turned to look out at the night through the window. She seemed very calm, her profile cool and sharp.
No further conversation ensued.
Jiang Nian wasn't sure which mountain they were headed to, but he figured the class president would know. He felt a bit tired, so he dozed off for a while.
Half-asleep, he vaguely heard a rustling sound.
Then he felt a warm breath passing over his neck, followed by a light blanket being draped over him inside the car.
The interior was dimly lit.
Li Lanying glanced back through the rearview mirror.
"Ha."
....
"No, Li Hua, what are you doing!"
The internet café was bustling with people.
It's New Year's Day holiday, many students from nearby gathered at the café in groups. You need to queue up to use a computer, let alone get seats together.
If a friend gets into a fight, getting hit could be easily escalated.
"You all died, why should I rush in?" Li Hua turned and cursed, "Idiots! A bunch of idiots!"
"Damn it, not joining the team fight!" Ma Guojun retorted sharply, "Regret coming to this café with you!"
"Then leave." Li Hua shrugged nonchalantly, continued playing. "The café is packed, where can you go?"
Their luck was good, they found two seats together.
"Screw you, Sword Tomb!" Ma Guojun cursed repeatedly during the respawn break, "By the way, where did Jiang Nian go?"
"Went home to work on test papers, a study nerd." Li Hua played rapidly, holding a spicy stick in his mouth.
"It's already 2 AM, let's call him." Ma Guojun messaged Jiang Nian on QQ, a few seconds later, it connected.
"Hello?" Jiang Nian's voice was somewhat low.
Ma Guojun asked, "Where are you?"
"At..." Jiang Nian hesitated, then asked, "Is Li Hua next to you?"
At this, Ma Guojun shifted his gaze. With his peripherals, he glanced at the fool beside him, munching on spicy sticks with red oil all over his mouth.
"No, he's dead. It's been a while since he died. I was afraid his corpse would stink and affect my gaming, so I threw him in the bathroom."
The happily munching and playing Li Hua turned abruptly, his face full of shock.
Your mom?
"You're an idiot." Jiang Nian on the phone reproached, "How can you play well with a ghost?"
"Makes sense, I'll burn incense for him now." Ma Guojun said.
"Damn it, Jiang Nian!" Li Hua cursed, "You nerd, up late doing exercises again?"
"Ah, you idiot! You're hogging all the scores from the college entrance exam. Why didn't you come to the café!"
This is how guys talk, never at a loss for words.
Easy to understand, emotions spilling out.
On the other end of the phone, Jiang Nian had just started saying "you." Suddenly, a playful voice with a hint of sass interrupted.
"He's busy with a date."
Beep!!
The call ended abruptly like a duck with its throat cut.
The entire internet cafe went quiet.
Even the people by their computers subconsciously glanced over, feeling complicated.
Li Hua stopped playing entirely, and his expression disappeared completely.
"Just now... what was that weird sound?"
Ma Guojun was speechless, guiding his hero down the lane.
"A woman, definitely not a student. Who knows where Jiang Nian went, once the holiday started, he stepped into the adult world."
"Damn! Did he really get lucky?" Li Hua gulped down his iced tea angrily, teeth gritted.
Ma Guojun glanced at him, waiting for Li Hua to curse Jiang Nian.
Unexpectedly, Li Hua didn't continue cursing. Instead, his expression changed, and he mimicked Tom's gesture of a humble plea.
"Please, God, let me get lucky once too!"
Ma Guojun was speechless and tapped the keyboard.
"Li Hua, you truly have no spine!"
Upon hearing this, Li Hua's face changed rapidly.
"Let me ask you."
"What's the use of having a spine, can it get you close to sister? Ah, why aren't you saying anything? Answer me!"
Ma Guojun adjusted his glasses, "Idiot."
.....
At the highway service area, Li Lanying got out of the car to rest.
Jiang Nian also got out, having just ended the call to avoid any foul words affecting his reputation.
Don't hang out with bad kids.
Yes, I'm talking about that useless Li Hua.
Li Qingrong also got out, standing in the open space. Her high ponytail was undone at some point, with her soft hair cascading over her shoulders.
Jiang Nian was taken aback, thinking how the class monitor was truly as changeable as Martin.
Limited by school, he hadn't seen this version of her look.
"Qingqing, you look great." He grinned, generous with his praise, "By the way, where are we heading?"
"Wugong Mountain, over a hundred kilometers away." Li Lanying appeared from nowhere, still with that cheerful demeanor.
Jiang Nian nodded, "Oh, thank you."
For some reason, Jiang Nian found Li Lanying odd. She was enthusiastic but not genuinely so.
There was a hint of scrutiny.
But anyway, the three of them going hiking was strange, so... doesn't matter.
Life is like this, let it go and you can just do.
Overthinking makes things difficult.
Li Lanying was a bit worn out, even though the navigation only took a few hours. Anyone pressing on continuously must be made of iron.
Jiang Nian glanced at her and proactively said.
"I got my driver's license."
He hadn't mentioned it before because he didn't want Li Lanying to think he was itching to drive. Rushing it mostly feels unreliable.
Just saying, it's human nature.
"Oh?" Li Lanying thought he wanted to drive, didn't mind much, "When we're off the highway, you can drive."
"Sure." Jiang Nian nodded, not saying anything further.
At 3:30, the car gradually left the highway.
Li Lanying was a bit tired; even though she napped in the afternoon, she couldn't hold up, so Jiang Nian took over driving.
Initially, she was a bit worried.
After all, Jiang Nian was a novice, yet to go through that phase of overconfidence. Overcoming it only needs a minor scrape.
But to Li Lanying's surprise, Jiang Nian drove steadily. A few rough maneuvers, yet smooth with the brakes.
The brake lights came on, yet there was no jarring feeling of sudden deceleration.
"Your driving skills are good?"
"Just average."
"Why didn't you mention sooner!" Li Lanying regretted enduring three hours of driving at night, "Such a waste!"
Jiang Nian stayed silent, driving steadily ahead.
Then, Li Qingrong, who was almost silent the whole time, spoke.
"You didn't ask."
"I..." Li Lanying's presence vanished in front of her sister, "You say you aren't dating, yet you're shielding him."
Li Qingrong: "...No."
"You're just a stubborn mule, I'm not going to spread it around." Li Lanying muttered, then leaned over onto Li Qingrong's thigh.
This was ultimate trust in the driver, if Jiang Nian were to suddenly brake, this cool lady would tumble off.
Li Qingrong glanced at her, pushing her head away.
This gesture annoyed Li Lanying, intentionally saying.
"Gosh, it's so cold."
Li Qingrong said, "There's a blanket over there."
"But... it's been used by your little boyfriend." Li Lanying teased, "Isn't this inappropriate?"
Li Qingrong: "...."
Jiang Nian focused on driving, did not join the conversation, listening more and talking less, doing more.
As dawn broke, they finally reached Wugong Mountain.
"Thanks for your hard work." Li Lanying said.
Jiang Nian glanced at the class monitor through the mirror, "Qingqing suggested I get the license, turns out to be handy now."
Upon hearing, Li Qingrong raised her head to look at him.
Li Lanying still smiled, though her gaze deepened somewhat.