No Ulterior Motives C03
by MarineTLChapter 3: Mom Says—No Dating Allowed
Early the next morning, Jiang Ning was woken up by her mother.
Still half-asleep, she hadn’t even fully opened her eyes when something came flying through the door.
—A hidden weapon?!
Jiang Ning rubbed her eyes and turned to look.
It was a pure white, oversized eye mask-like object with delicate lace patterns.
“Ning Ning, didn’t you say it was a bit tight before?”
“I got you a C cup this time.”
“Hurry up and put it on, then get out of bed!”
After saying that, her mother didn’t bother with the still-stunned Jiang Ning and walked off.
Put… it… on…?
How do you even wear this…?
Jiang Ning blankly picked up the white object, squeezed it, and looked troubled.
But she couldn’t not wear it.
What if there was, uh… an outline?
With no other choice, she struggled for a long time, fumbling to clasp the strap behind her back before finally securing it.
Once it was fastened, Jiang Ning touched her chest.
A strange sense of security washed over her…
Moments later.
Dressed in a white tracksuit, Jiang Ning entered the bathroom. Out of habit, she stood next to the toilet, pulled down her pants, and instinctively reached down—
She froze.
After a long pause, she sighed, lowered the toilet seat, and sat down.
Once done, she got up, stood before the mirror, and stared into her own captivating eyes.
Taking a deep breath, she solemnly recited:
“I’m a man! I’m a man! I’m a man!”
…
After a quick wash-up, Jiang Ning sat at the dining table for breakfast.
Soy milk, fried dough sticks, and a slice of layered oil cake.
She pulled out her chair, sat down, and took a sip of soy milk.
Mm, sweetened.
Delicious.
Jiang Ning had a sweet tooth in her past life, and that preference hadn’t changed in this one.
But before she could enjoy her meal for long, she heard a clicking sound.
Looking up, she saw her mother standing by the table, watching her with a satisfied expression.
“See? Listening to Mom wasn’t wrong.”
“Fixing your hair made you so much prettier!”
“As expected of my daughter, Tian Cuilan…”
Uh…
Just as Jiang Ning was about to respond, her mother suddenly changed the subject.
“Ning Ning!”
“There’s something you must remember.”
“Hmm?” Jiang Ning absentmindedly picked up her bowl.
“No dating during school!”
Dating?
Me?
…Hah.
Mom, you must be crazy.
…
By noon.
Wearing a baseball cap, Jiang Ning wheeled her bicycle out the door.
Her mother had originally prepared a sunhat with a big red flower, but she couldn’t stand it.
So she grabbed a random baseball cap instead.
Fifteen minutes later.
She stopped in front of a restaurant called “Love Sea.”
Staring at this vaguely familiar place, Jiang Ning tried to recall any past life connections but came up empty.
What she did remember, though, was the location.
If she wasn’t mistaken, in five years, this area would become a massive shopping plaza—one of the biggest in Jiangzhou.
But for now…
Jiang Ning glanced around.
Aside from this restaurant, the surrounding shops were all small, nondescript businesses.
If she had money…
Forget it.
Not realistic.
The investment required for these properties was way beyond her current means.
Shaking off the thought, she parked her bike and headed inside.
Soon, under the guidance of a waiter, she arrived at a private dining room labeled “Songhe Hall.”
The room was lively with chatter.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Ning gently pushed the door open.
Familiar yet distant faces appeared before her.
At the same time, the people inside instinctively turned toward the doorway.
Then—
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds…
Someone suddenly spoke.
“Excuse me, you are…?”
Hearing this, the figure at the door smiled.
“I’m Jiang Ning.”
In an instant.
The whole room erupted.
“Jiang…! Jiang Ning?!”
“Y-You, how…?”
Jiang Ning turned to the chubby boy near the door.
After a brief moment of thought, she remembered his name.
“Surprised, Li Duoyong?”
“N-No, it’s just…” Li Duoyong stammered, his face turning red under Jiang Ning’s gaze, unable to form a full sentence.
And it wasn’t just him.
Among the eight boys present, aside from a few exceptions, most turned red and lowered their heads whenever Jiang Ning’s gaze swept over them.
Luckily, a girl seated further inside suddenly broke the awkwardness.
“Jiang Ning! Over here!”
Following the voice, Jiang Ning looked over.
It was a girl wearing a red floral dress, her hair in two braids, red-framed glasses perched on her nose, and a bright smile revealing a cute little fang.
Seeing her, Jiang Ning nodded and walked over, bypassing two empty seats before sitting beside her.
But as soon as she sat down—
The girl leaned in, eyes filled with curiosity.
“Jiang Ning… I never knew you were this pretty!”
She even reached out, trying to touch Jiang Ning’s face.
But Jiang Ning swiftly blocked her hand.
“Alright, alright, Shanshan, enough of that!”
Seeing Jiang Ning resist, Luo Shanshan didn’t push, but she still stared in amazement.
“Jiang Ning! If I had known you had such delicate features, I would have dragged you to the salon ages ago!”
“Exactly!” another girl chimed in.
Not wanting to continue the topic, Jiang Ning quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.
As the girls chatted, the boys on the other side resumed their conversation—this time, about her.
“Who knew Jiang Ning was this beautiful?!”
“Yeah! If I had known, I’d have chased her in middle school!”
“Pfft, as if. Even before, you wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
At this, the group nodded in agreement.
Just then.
The private room’s door opened again.
A young man walked in—slicked-back hair, a fitted blue suit, exuding confidence.
Clapping his hands, he addressed the room.
“Everyone’s here, right?”
“Let’s order!”
Then, he scanned the room.
But when his gaze landed on Jiang Ning’s radiant face—
His heart skipped a beat, his eyes lit up, and he blurted out:
“Excuse me, you are…?”
(End of Chapter)