During the winter break, Meng Ting received good news – the results of the piano competition were out, and she had won second place.
Song Lijuan personally delivered the red envelope and certificate. The elegant teacher smiled and said, “Ting Ting, you’re amazing. I heard the first-place winner was a male teacher who has been playing piano for over 20 years.”
Song Lijuan, with her good connections, had inquired and found out that the teacher had some backing. After all, this was a large-scale piano competition with participants of all ages. It was better for a seasoned piano instructor to win first place than a young girl. While youthful talent is admirable, trees that grow too tall are felled by the wind – winning second place was also a kind of protection for Meng Ting.
However, with Meng Ting’s skill level, winning first place wouldn’t have been an issue.
Meng Ting’s eyes were filled with joy as she brought out washed fruit and melon seeds to serve Teacher Song. She hadn’t touched a piano in many years, so getting second place made her very happy.
Her happiness was pure, her eyes sparkling.
Song Lijuan couldn’t help but smile, “I won’t stay long, I’ll head back now.”
Meng Ting opened the red envelope, finding a thick stack of red bills inside. This time the prize money wasn’t given as a bank card, but in cash. She didn’t count it, but when Shu’s Dad came back in the evening, she gave it all to Shu Zhitong.
Shu Zhitong was startled by so many red bills, then proudly said, “Ting Ting is amazing. I’ll go deposit this money for you tomorrow.”
Meng Ting didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Shu Dad, I don’t have any use for the money right now. Let’s pay back the relatives first.”
Shu Zhitong said sternly that wouldn’t do.
“Shu Dad borrowed money to treat my eyes. Since we’re family, we should work together. Let’s give all this money to Uncle Du.”
After much persuasion, Shu Zhitong finally agreed.
On Little New Year’s Eve, Shu Yang also received good news – he had won first place in the physics competition, with a prize of 6,000 yuan in a big red envelope.
Meng Ting had won 10,000 yuan in the piano competition, and adding this 6,000 yuan, it totaled 16,000 yuan. In that year, this wasn’t a small amount. It immediately solved Shu Zhitong’s urgent problem. Although he didn’t say it, he felt relieved for a long time, and his face showed more New Year joy.
Children being successful is the happiest and most hopeful thing for parents.
Although this money was just a drop in the bucket compared to their debt.
During the winter break, Meng Ting wasn’t idle. Every day, besides previewing the second-semester courses for the second year of high school, she also practiced dancing.
By next spring or summer, she would have to participate in a dance competition.
The prize money for dance competitions was substantial, but it also required more effort. A soft and light figure is required day after day of hard work.
Every time she had a break, she would practice leg stretches and dance steps.
Meng Ting only repeated the basics, not needing music. Her dance shoes from a few years ago were a size too small, so she only wore thick socks, her footsteps light. No one at home discovered that she had started dancing again.
Her life began to become peaceful. Unlike her previous life, she no longer managed Shu Lan, experiencing fewer malicious comments.
The house Shu Zhitong rented was in the new district.
The New Year seemed a bit quiet. That year, the ban on fireworks hadn’t been issued yet. Firecrackers popped and crackled, various fireworks bloomed in the sky, then fell after exploding.
Shu Zhitong was happy this year and bought a few handheld fireworks.
The kind that cost five yuan each back then, with 18 shots when held in hand.
He distributed them to the children.
Shu Lan was ecstatic, lighting them and playing right away.
Meng Ting, wrapped in a coffee-colored scarf, also followed them to set off fireworks below the residential area. She lit it, and after a brief wait, it shot towards the sky. She held the hot stub in her hand.
She stood obediently, waiting for all 18 shots to finish.
Her tea-colored eyes had a naive and innocent look.
These fireworks looked silly. Shu Yang didn’t play with his, so Shu Lan took it.
Other families were quite lively with their celebrations.
Amidst the festive atmosphere, New Year’s Eve arrived. He Junming and the others gathered at Little Harbor City. Ji Ren didn’t return to B City. No one mentioned this unlucky topic.
He sat with his legs crossed, playing cards at Little Harbor City. His eyes were lazy and unrestrained, not at all like someone with no home to return to. Everyone opened countless beers, shouting, “Happy New Year!”
Lu Yue was peeling tangerines for them.
After peeling one, she first offered it to Ji Ren’s lips. The group of boys teased, “Hey, why didn’t you peel one for me?”
Lu Yue blushed, but still said softly, “Try it, it’s very sweet.”
The boys teased again, “Hurry and try it, Brother Ren, it’s very sweet~” They dragged out the word “sweet” teasingly.
Ji Ren was silent for a long time, then smiled and opened his mouth to accept it.
Another round of teasing ensued.
Lu Yue was both surprised and delighted, becoming even more eager to please.
The atmosphere became lively.
He Junming said, “Winning money isn’t much fun. Let’s play ‘Truth or Dare’. Everyone plays, sisters come over and join too.”
The girls also came over excitedly.
‘Truth or Dare’ was just as it sounds.
They played very simply and brutally. Each person drew a card, and the person with the lowest card faced punishment. They could choose between truth or dare.
In the first round, a boy with yellow hair lost. He said, “I choose truth.”
Everyone asked him to say who was the prettiest girl present.
He glanced at Ji Ren, then said Lu Yue.
Lu Yue couldn’t help but feel pleased.
The second round was He Junming.
Everyone teased him, asking when and with whom he had his first kiss. This guy smacked his lips, carefully recalling, “First year of middle school? With a little loli in our class.”
Everyone cursed him as a beast.
Then they asked about his first time.
He Junming said, “Get lost, we agreed on one question. You think I’m stupid?”
After all, he was different from real delinquents. Children from wealthy families, no matter how wild, didn’t dare to mess around carelessly. The heir was a sensitive and heart-wrenching topic. Even someone as wild as He Junming knew that kisses could be given freely, but bed couldn’t be shared casually.
If it happened, half the family fortune might be split into several parts.
Of course, these things weren’t for outsiders to know.
The next round was a girl, also from vocational high school, in He Junming’s class. She chose to dare.
Everyone was hyped up and dared her to kiss any boy present.
This group was used to being wild, and the girl didn’t refuse.
She didn’t dare choose Ji Ren and his friends, so she kissed a boy from the neighboring class.
Everyone cheered.
After several rounds, it was Lu Yue’s turn.
Her heart was racing. She chose to dare.
She was from No. 7 Middle School, and everyone was afraid she couldn’t handle it, so they said, “Then Lu Yue, find a boy to kiss? Anywhere is fine.” Everyone knew she liked Ji Ren, and Ji Ren was single. It was a chance to matchmake.
Lu Yue didn’t refuse. She blushed and walked in front of Ji Ren.
Everyone cheered with red faces.
Ji Ren lowered his eyes to look at the card in his hand, a nine of hearts.
He raised his eyes indifferently. Lu Yue didn’t dare kiss his lips, afraid he would get angry, so she prepared to kiss his chin.
The young man’s facial features were sharp. He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed. Lu Yue half-squatted in front of him, her lips almost touching him when he pressed against her shoulder, pushing her away.
Ji Ren showed no expression, flipping over his card with two fingers.
An ace of diamonds. He said, “I misread the card earlier.”
So the one to be punished changed from Lu Yue to him.
Lu Yue was disappointed and annoyed.
He Junming quickly smoothed things over, “Then everyone, ask Brother Ren questions quickly, don’t be polite, ask away.”
Few people present, except for He Junming and his friends, knew that Ji Ren had pursued Meng Ting before.
Someone believed it was true and laughed, asking, “Brother Ren, who are you thinking about now?”
They all thought he would say Lu Yue.
In such an atmosphere, it was perfect for matching couples.
Ji Ren lit a cigarette. The smoke made his expression unclear. After a while, he said a name in a hoarse voice.
His voice was too low, and that person didn’t hear clearly, showing a confused expression.
He Junming was close by and had a “what the hell” expression.
Then he said, “Let’s sing, start singing. This ‘Truth or Dare’ isn’t fun at all.” After a long while, when the atmosphere recovered, He Junming clicked his tongue.
After New Year’s Eve passed, they all left. No one dared to drive, as they had all drunk quite a bit. The night wind sobered them up.
Ji Ren sobered up, his face frighteningly dark.
Before parting with him, He Junming asked quietly, “Brother Ren, you’re still thinking about her?”
Ji Ren said, “I was drunk.” He was calm, his eyes showing no waves.
“Brother Ren, don’t think about her anymore. It’s useless, you can’t pursue her.”
Ji Ren lowered his eyes, rubbing the wound on his hand, unusually silent.
“I won’t think about her anymore,” he said, but He Junming had already left long ago. He didn’t know who he was talking to.
Every year at the Lantern Festival, Shu Zhitong would take his family to Shu Lan’s grandparents’ house.
This year, however, Meng Ting didn’t go.
She used to go because Shu Lan begged her, but this year they had completely fallen out. She wasn’t their real granddaughter, and it was always awkward when she went. Shu Lan’s grandparents would secretly give red envelopes to Shu Lan and Shu Yang every time, and Meng Ting, as an outsider, didn’t want to disturb them.
Shu Zhitong couldn’t persuade her, so he had to take the other two children, saying they would be back soon.
However, Meng Ting had to go buy groceries and cook for herself.
The most troublesome part about the New Year was that the small markets closed, requiring a trip to the big supermarket.
She put on her scarf and gloves before heading out, intending to buy groceries and return home. The street was bustling, with a grand hotel just across the way. As she exited the supermarket, she encountered Xu Jia, who was carrying oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and several large bottles of cola. He smiled and greeted Meng Ting.
Meng Ting couldn’t ignore him, given that they were neighbors, so she nodded in acknowledgment.
Xu Jia offered, “Let me help you carry those.”
“No need, thank you,” she replied.
Xu Jia continued, “There are many competitions next summer with generous prize money. Will you be participating?”
She nodded, answering candidly, “Yes.”
Her long lashes lowered as she gazed at the cracks in the cement sidewalk, beautiful even without a smile. The air was filled with her sweet scent.
Xu Jia smiled but said nothing more. Since Christmas Eve, when his feelings had been exposed, Meng Ting had grown distant. However, he wasn’t too concerned, as he had always admired her secretly. Back in middle school, he had been too chubby to confess his feelings.
They took the same bus home.
Xu Jia was carrying more items.
The young man and woman standing together looked as if they were returning home together, with him helping her carry her things.
Upstairs was a billiards bar.
He Xhan gaped at Meng Ting and Xu Jia at the bus stop across the street, then turned back to watch Ren Ge sink the black ball. Suddenly, he understood why Ren Ge had returned that night.
Jiang Ren missed his next shot. The air conditioning was on inside, making it stuffy. He lazily walked over to open the window, but He Xhan quickly pulled all the curtains shut.
Jiang Ren raised an eyebrow. “Are you going crazy?”
He Xhan said, “It’s cold.”
“The window is open.”
“I’ll open it, I’ll open it.”
His behavior was suspicious. Not just Jiang Ren, even He Junming noticed something was off. He came over grinning and put He Xhan in a headlock, “What did you see, you little rascal…”
He Xhan, his neck trapped, thought, “Damn idiot!”
Jiang Ren glanced down and immediately spotted her.
No, them.
He let out a soft snort but said nothing, still opening the window to let in some air. He Xhan, seeing Ren Ge’s calm reaction, breathed a sigh of relief.
It wasn’t until Meng Ting and Xu Jia had boarded the bus and been gone for a while.
Jiang Ren had already smoked three cigarettes.
He didn’t sink another ball after that.
It was late February, spring hadn’t fully arrived yet. Jiang Ren gripped his cue stick tightly, then finally threw it aside. “F*ck!”
He ran downstairs like a madman.
They had driven their car here. Jiang Ren angrily started the engine.
The car stalled twice. He was practically flooring the gas pedal as he drove.
He Junming watched nervously, “We’re in trouble.”
He Xhan sneered, “You Freaking idiot.”
“Didn’t Ren Ge say he didn’t care anymore? We all agreed not to pursue it.”
Fang Tan clicked his tongue. Youth, ah, when one should fall passionately in love.
Meng Ting still had a way to walk after getting off the bus, and Xu Jia accompanied her. He was a smart man, not talking much. His emotions were calm.
The small trees along the path had sprouted new leaves. He slowed his pace, walking leisurely alongside her.
Meng Ting glanced at him, noting his serene expression.
They were walking along a tree-lined path.
The veins on the back of Jiang Ren’s hands bulged as he gripped the steering wheel. He was having an episode. Trembling, he lit a cigarette, only to spit it out viciously.
Until he saw them.
He didn’t know which part of him hurt more or felt more agitated.
Jiang Ren could no longer hear his heartbeat, only feeling the boiling blood that threatened to set him aflame. He had the urge to run over that guy.
And he did it.
His psychologist had said that if his psychological condition wasn’t properly managed, he could become a criminal.
He suddenly wanted to laugh. The doctor wasn’t wrong. So it was normal that she didn’t like him.
Jiang Ren floored the gas pedal. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, almost recklessly driving straight towards them.
However, at the last moment, he jerked the wheel hard.
The car brushed past them and crashed violently into a tree.
The airbag deployed, and his mind went fuzzy. Blood began flowing from his forehead. Despite this suicide-like crash that could have killed someone, he didn’t make a sound.
He slumped over the steering wheel, his vision blurred by blood for a long time.
It seemed his condition had worsened.
Meng Ting was stunned for a long while. She had watched with her own eyes as the car crashed into the tree.
Xu Jia was also shocked. He looked back at the tire tracks. The driver hadn’t even tried to brake. Was he insane?
Meng Ting recognized the car.
With a life at stake, she ran over and knocked on the window. “Jiang Ren.”
Blood trickled down his forehead, dripping onto his black jacket.
Jiang Ren didn’t respond.
Meng Ting grew anxious and asked Xu Jia, “Do you have a phone? Can you call 120 (emergency services)?”
Xu Jia shook his head. He couldn’t describe his feelings; he even sensed a subtle, terrifying realization.
Jiang Ren had intended to run him over.
For some reason, he didn’t in the end.
Xu Jia said, “Don’t worry, I’ll go find someone to help.”
When encountering a car accident on the road, one should help even if it’s a stranger.
After Xu Jia ran towards the residential area to find help, Jiang Ren finally recovered from his dizziness.
He raised his eyes.
His pitch-black eyes stared intently at Meng Ting through the window.
Ignoring the blood on his face, he fumbled to retract the airbag.
Then he opened the car door and got out.
Meng Ting was frightened by his appearance.
Blood was still dripping from his forehead, but he seemed to feel no pain. As he walked towards her after getting out of the car, she almost couldn’t help taking a step back.
Jiang Ren approached her step by step, and she retreated step by step.
This area outside the residential complex was deserted. She eventually lost her grip on her groceries, and apples rolled across the ground.
Jiang Ren laughed, “I’m not dead. Are you happy?”
“…” Meng Ting thought he had gone mad. Her eyes were clear, revealing her thoughts.
Jiang Ren clicked his tongue, “What are you afraid of?”
Meng Ting abandoned her groceries and turned to run.
He’s insane!
She ran aimlessly, and a small fish even jumped out of the plastic bag. Its gills flapped desperately as it struggled to survive. Meng Ting, still young despite being reborn, with barely over ten years of life experience in total, was almost scared to tears.
Jiang Ren crouched down.
By the time the security guard and Xu Jia came to rescue him, he was picking up the fish.
He held the fish tightly in his hand, completely still.
Then he picked up the items on the ground and looked at Xu Jia.
The security guard said, “Sir… do you need to go to the hospital first?”
The amount of blood was frightening.
The guard looked back at the car. Wow, as expected of a luxury car, only the bumper was damaged a bit. The tree was nearly broken.
Jiang Ren said coldly, “No need.”
Then he entered the residential area, with the security guard following closely behind, “Hey, hey, you… don’t go in.”
Jiang Ren turned back, his eyes sharp and cold. He said in a hoarse voice, “I’m just returning something.”
The security guard, still uneasy, said, “Then you need to register.”
“Fine.”
When he reached Meng Ting’s door, it was tightly shut. Jiang Ren knocked.
She carefully peeked through the peephole, almost in tears.
Jiang Ren said, “Your things.”
Meng Ting said softly, “I don’t want them.”
Jiang Ren, separated by a door, suddenly smiled, “Meng Ting, did I scare you?”
Meng Ting remained silent.
He laughed, “I’m sorry.”
Jiang Ren put the things down. He didn’t insist on her opening the door.
He calmly lied, “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was passing by, and the brakes failed.”
Meng Ting gave a soft response.
Soft and timid.
He felt a mix of longing and self-mockery. It had been a very long time since he had spoken to her.
Why did he swerve? Perhaps because Meng Ting and Xu Jia were walking side by side.
He might have hit her.
Because she was there.
And also, he didn’t want to become a murderer. If he killed someone, he would never have a chance to be with her. Although the chance was already slim to begin with.
He casually wiped the blood from his forehead, trying to make himself look less frightening.
He knew she was watching him fearfully from the other side of the door.
Finally, Jiang Ren smiled and said, “Meng Ting.”
She gently raised her eyes.
Jiang Ren wanted to say many things, bordering on madness. He was sick, he knew that hugging her would make him better. But she belonged to someone else.
In the end, Jiang Ren said hoarsely, “Happy New Year.”