Chapter 125: A Jealous Qi Xiaoniu

Nighttime.

When Jiang Ning got home, she noticed that a huge full-length mirror had appeared in the living room.

Next to it, the sofa was piled with clothes of all colors and styles.

But they all had one thing in common—
They were noticeably larger than normal clothing.

Jiang Ning set down her backpack and walked over curiously.

She picked up a bright red wool sweater.
The moment she unfolded it and saw the scattered sparkly stars on the chest and sleeves,
Her face was already full of disdain.

Just then, her mom’s voice came from the side.

“Ningning, you’re back?”

“Perfect timing, help me check if this outfit looks good.”

Jiang Ning turned her head toward the voice—
And sure enough, saw that her mom was wearing an outfit nearly identical to the one in her hands.
Her brow instinctively furrowed.

“Mom, this outfit…”

“Does it look good?”
Seeing the hopeful gleam in her mother’s eyes, Jiang Ning clicked her tongue.

“Mom, I just think… some clothes are… very personal.”

“Like, you know…”

“Certain—attribute combinations, like…”

As she talked, Jiang Ning grabbed her backpack and started inching toward her room.

But her mom saw right through her and grabbed her arm.

“Finish what you’re saying.”

“What’s wrong with the outfit?”

Realizing she couldn’t weasel her way out of it, Jiang Ning instantly changed her expression.

“Beautiful! Absolutely perfect!”

“The color palette and the design—flawless!”

“Totally aligned with your elegant temperament!”

“This outfit was practically born for you!”

“Sweet talker!”
Although her mother didn’t respond directly, the upward crinkle at the corners of her eyes betrayed her delight.

However—

Jiang Ning still couldn’t escape her mom’s clutches.

She pointed straight at the pile of clothes on the sofa.

“Come on, try these on.”

“I want to pick some styles to stock.”

This time, Jiang Ning was not having it.

Sure, they were mostly short- or long-sleeved knitted tops—not skirts, so not a deal-breaker.

But seriously, they were hideous.

Especially those loud, glittery ones with sparkly little stars all over them.
Wearing those was basically social suicide.

So Jiang Ning hugged her backpack and shook her head like a rattle drum.

“Mom, please no. I have homework. Can we talk after I finish it?”

“Okay?”

Her tone softened into a pitiful plea on the last word, hoping to awaken whatever maternal mercy her mom still had.

Unfortunately—

She failed.

“It’s just a few outfits!”

“Try them on, then you can go do your homework!”

Resistance was futile.

Thinking it might help her mom’s fashion career, Jiang Ning begrudgingly set aside her pride and picked up the chosen few, heading to the bathroom to change.

But after trying on several, her mom kept frowning.

Jiang Ning grew more and more annoyed.

“Mom, if you have a problem, just say it.”

Her mom smacked her lips and said,

“Forget it. Ningning, go do your homework.”

“Your looks just aren’t quite right for modeling my clothes.”

???

Got it.

Her youthful beauty and heartthrob face just didn’t suit her mom’s middle-aged fashion line.

She’d just wasted half an hour for nothing.

Pouting, Jiang Ning grabbed her backpack and stormed back to her room.

Once inside, she locked the door.

Jiang Ning immediately pulled out her phone and dialed Li Mingyu’s number.

It rang for a while before a lazy voice answered.

“Well well, if it isn’t Boss Jiang. What made you suddenly think of calling this little lady?”

Hearing the teasing tone in Li Mingyu’s voice, Jiang Ning giggled.

“Come on, sis. You know I’m in class during the day.”

“I even texted you and said I’d call tonight.”

“Hmph.”
A nasal huff came through the phone.

Jiang Ning could already picture her haughty, pouty face from the sound alone.

They chatted about daily life and the shop renovations for a bit.

Then Li Mingyu finally circled back to the important topic.

“Jiang Ning, be honest with me. Did you have something to do with what happened today?”

Jiang Ning knew exactly what she meant.

But she had no intention of telling her the truth.

Some things were better left known by as few people as possible.

“What do you mean?”

“The president of the Food and Beverage Enterprise Association getting taken away.”

“Huh? Who?”

“The Food and Beverage—”

“No way?! Mingyu-jie, are you serious?! You’re not messing with me, right?!”

To sound more convincing, Jiang Ning even raised her voice a few notches—but only loud enough to stay within her room.

Sure enough—

With her response, Li Mingyu hesitated.

“Xiao Jiang Ning…”

“My gut tells me this has something to do with you.”

I hate gut feelings.

Jiang Ning grumbled silently, then turned on the Oscar-level acting again.

“Mingyu-jie, you’re overthinking.”

“I’m just a Grade 10 student who needs permission from my homeroom teacher just to take a day off.”

“How could I possibly be involved in something like that?”

She made a good point.

Even Li Mingyu on the other end of the phone paused for a moment.

But she still asked:

“Then why was it only the Food and Beverage Association that got targeted outside the compound?”

“Maybe… because their crimes were just that serious?”

Jiang Ning’s casual reply left Li Mingyu speechless.

To be fair—

From what she’d heard, the Association had done plenty over the years.

Even setting aside the entry fees—

Just the way they’d used their ties to the second-in-command to line their own pockets, coercing others into buying low and selling high.

Illegally manipulating market prices and disrupting normal operations…

After they were taken away, all those things started spreading.

Back then, with her family’s support, few people dared to point fingers at Li Mingyu’s business.

But now, through this incident, she had come to understand just how deep the waters of the market economy ran.

So by that evening, she’d figured it out.

This matter probably didn’t have much to do with Jiang Ning.

Still, gut feelings like this—no matter how accurate—need to be confirmed by hearing it from the person involved.

——————

The next day.

Teacher Yang Mei still came to work.

But judging by the look on her face, things seemed pretty serious.

Then again, Jiang Ning thought this was a good thing.

If something could actually be uncovered this time and those people got sent away, it would save a lot of trouble down the line.

In the afternoon.

There was an aerobics performance.

The venue was the auditorium.

Word was, this performance was part of a selection process for students to participate in the city-level middle school aerobics competition.

And if they placed well, they could go on to represent Jiangzhou at the provincial-level competition.

Placing at the provincial level would even earn bonus points for the college entrance exams.

This news had Luo Shanshan and Sun Qian—two girls utterly obsessed with grades—gritting their teeth in regret.

If only they had known earlier.

If the names hadn’t already been submitted, they probably would’ve pulled some stunt like switching identities.

As for the participants in the performance:

Once student Li Duoyong found out he might get bonus points for the college entrance exam, he actually volunteered for training.

He even started practicing moves during his free time.

Truly.

This is the power of the Gaokao.

By this time, the auditorium was already packed.

At a glance, nearly all the first and second-year students had shown up.

It seemed like today’s event was not just a simple aerobics performance.

“Is there something else going on today?”

“No idea.”

“I heard there’s some kind of speech on values and worldviews…”

“Can worldviews even be taught like that?”

Faced with Jiang Ning’s question, Qi Wen just shrugged, clearly clueless too.

Soon after, once everyone had taken their seats, the school leaders sitting in those chairs on the stage began giving the same old speeches.

Talk of student conduct.

Dreams for the future.

Blah blah blah—for over an hour straight.

By the time Jiang Ning was shaken awake by Luo Shanshan, she realized that dozens of boys and girls in matching outfits were now standing on the stage.

A closer look—

Well damn.

There were quite a few guys.

Though out of all of them, only Li Duoyong seemed to have that distinct watermelon-like physique.

Still, gotta say—

His moves were actually very on point for a guy.

Rolling, spinning, all over the place.

His limbs were surprisingly agile.

A real nimble chubby guy.

Then—

Jiang Ning suddenly spotted someone in the group.

Yao Yao Nuomici.

That figure. That posture.

That curve that lifted now and then.

Those legs showing when the skirt flipped up during a spin.

Seriously.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Just as Old Man Jiang was staring at the beauties in the middle of the floor with laser focus—

A soft voice suddenly spoke up beside her.

“Like what you see?”

“Of course,” Old Man Jiang replied without thinking.

That same soft voice followed up warmly,

“Want me to wear something like that next time too?”

Startled, Jiang Ning turned to look at the speaker—Little Qi.

“Sure!”

“Sure, my ass!”

“Keep dreaming!”

Jiang Ning: “???”

(End of Chapter)