No Ulterior Motives C41
by MarineTLChapter 41: Monthly Exam Results Announced
Jiang Ning had actually thought about setting up Tao Tao with someone for a while now.
After all, the kid spent every night hanging around the basketball court, just waiting for that rabbit that came from who-knows-where.
He was pretty persistent, and he wasn’t bad-looking either.
Jiang Ning had asked him about that rabbit before, but the guy had a tight mouth—no matter how much she pried, she couldn’t get anything out of him.
That’s why she started thinking about introducing a girl to him.
She hadn’t considered a suitable candidate before.
But when she noticed Miss Qi, who was still in a daze, delicate like a little white flower…
A light bulb went off in her head.
A frightened beauty, saved by a hero.
Tsk tsk, isn’t that the perfect story?
Besides, if Qi Wen and Tao Tao really got together, wouldn’t that be a kind of protection for the girl’s future?
With Tao Tao’s family background, dealing with that rich transfer student would be a piece of cake.
However!
Something completely unexpected happened.
At first, Tao Tao looked like he was interested.
But when Jiang Ning quietly told him that the girl was Qi Wen…
Why did he suddenly look so unwilling?
Was he… rejecting Qi Wen?
No way.
Qi Wen looked so beautiful today, her aura so sweet.
Jiang Ning didn’t believe any guy could resist a sweet beauty like her.
If she weren’t a girl herself, she wouldn’t have the heart to introduce Qi Wen to someone else.
This brat didn’t know what was good for him.
Feeling a little annoyed, Jiang Ning shot a glare at the punk sitting on a rock.
And the guy had the audacity to glare back at her.
Hah.
He dared to glare at her?
Jiang Ning felt her temper flaring up.
She swore that if she ever caught that rabbit, she was going to torment it properly!
At that moment, Luo Shanshan and Chen Yang returned after putting away the picnic gear. No one was in the mood to keep playing anymore.
They had come in high spirits, but were leaving disappointed.
No one felt like talking.
Jiang Ning tried to start a conversation a few times but failed.
Left with no choice, she stayed by Qi Wen’s side. After all, the girl had seen blood—she needed comfort right now.
Just then, Jiang Ning’s phone started vibrating urgently in her pocket.
She pulled it out, frowned, thought for a moment, and answered.
“Hello…”
Just that one word made everyone’s eyes turn toward her.
When they saw it was Jiang Ning on the phone, they stayed silent but perked up their ears.
A moment later, Jiang Ning ended the call and let out a small sigh.
“What’s up?” Luo Shanshan asked.
“Someone invited me to their coming-of-age ceremony…”
“You don’t want to go?” Zhu Hui asked.
“Mm, I declined.”
“Then why are you sighing?” Qi Wen asked in confusion.
“I owe them a favor, and I’m stressing about how to repay it.”
“Who is it?” Wang Zekai’s voice came from behind.
Jiang Ning turned to glance at the curious guys behind her and rolled her eyes.
“None of your business.”
Just then, Luo Shanshan suddenly leaned in close and whispered, “Is it a favor… or a love debt?”
Damn!
Was this woman asking for trouble?
Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow and was about to launch an attack on a particularly obvious spot.
But this time, Luo Shanshan had learned her lesson—she predicted Jiang Ning’s move and dodged in advance.
She even stuck out her tongue while running away.
“Can’t hit me! Can’t hit me!”
Jiang Ning was so pissed that she rolled up her sleeves and chased after her.
The two of them running around like that managed to lighten the gloomy mood.
Before long, they arrived at the entrance of the military district’s convalescent hospital.
But no one dared to go too close.
Originally, Wang Zekai and the others had been annoyed with Tao Tao.
But when they saw that this Class 9 student had actually walked out from that place, they immediately fell silent.
Before parting, Tao Tao suddenly called out to Jiang Ning.
“Let me borrow your phone. I need to call my grandpa to send someone to pick me up.”
Jiang Ning, busy chatting with Qi Wen, handed over the phone without thinking.
Tao Tao took it, dialed a number, said a few words in a low voice, and returned it to her. Then he added:
“I saved you twice today. Two favors. That’s fair, right?”
Hearing the word favor, Jiang Ning’s scalp tingled a little.
But she couldn’t go back on her word.
She could only grumble, “Fine! But you’re not allowed to ask for anything unreasonable.”
“Relax, I won’t make you spend too much.”
As he finished speaking, a medical staff member in a white coat appeared at the entrance, pushing a wheelchair and waving toward them.
Watching Tao Tao limp away, Jiang Ning suddenly felt like laughing.
But then she remembered how she had looked during military training—
Her face instantly stiffened.
She lost all desire to make fun of him.
Turning around, she patted Qi Wen, who was still staring in a daze.
“He’s already gone inside. Still looking?”
With that one sentence, Qi Wen’s face turned several shades redder.
Her shy expression was so adorable that Jiang Ning couldn’t help herself—
She leaned in and gave her a kiss.
“Smack!”
And just like that, Jiang Ning started another round of “Jiang Runs-for-Her-Life.”
Back at the bus stop, Jiang Ning was just about to leave with her bicycle when Wang Zekai approached.
“Uh, Ning, what’s your phone number?”
“Oh, this phone belongs to my mom. She just lent it to me.”
With that, Jiang Ning pedaled away.
Leaving behind a frustrated figure pacing back and forth.
——————
If there’s one thing that passes the fastest during school, it’s vacations.
Jiang Ning could’ve sworn there were still two days left before school started, but then she got woken up early by her mom.
Checking the date—
Yep. Time to go back to school.
Jiang Ning got up reluctantly, layer by layer putting on her clothes, and went to the bathroom to wash up.
She wasn’t complaining for no reason.
Who would’ve thought that a simple game of Snake on her phone could get her hooked?
Damn phone!
After breakfast, under her mom’s usual nagging, Jiang Ning headed out.
The autumn wind swept through the falling leaves as she arrived at the school gate.
She parked her bike and walked in.
As soon as she entered, she noticed a huge crowd gathered around the bulletin board up ahead.
What’s going on?
Someone on the wanted list?
Curious, Jiang Ning walked over.
Before she even got close, she heard exclamations from the crowd.
“Wow! Huang Hao from Class 2 got first place this time!”
“Whoa, six out of the top ten are from Class 1 and 2. That’s insane!”
So it was the monthly exam results. No wonder so many people were gathered.
Since she knew what it was, Jiang Ning lost interest and turned to head to class.
After all, whether you did well or not, the teacher would tell you in class.
But just then—
Someone in the crowd let out a wow followed by a shocked gasp.
“Holy crap! Jiang Yaoguai from Class 3 got a perfect score in math!”
Yaoguai? (妖怪 – “monster” or “demon”)
Jiang Ning’s forehead veins twitched.
(End of Chapter)