Chapter 203: Still the Same Little Vixen

Jiang Ning found it all rather strange.

They were already dormmates, after all.

But the girls were still being overly polite with each other.

Overly reserved.

Especially once the parents had all left.

Everyone suddenly turned mute.

Some busied themselves making their beds, others washed their things.

If this were the boys’ dorm—

Okay, maybe not “one cigarette and we’re brothers” level of bonding,

but at the very least, within a day, they’d be squatting over toilets together, sharing war stories like blood brothers.

Tsk tsk tsk.

This wasn’t quite what she’d imagined.

Miss Jiang lay on the top bunk, staring at the mosquito net above her, wondering how to break the awkward silence.

Just then—

Qi Wen tapped the edge of her bed.

“Jiang Jiang, want to go get some water?”

“Let’s go.”

When the little wifey speaks, you listen.

And so, the two of them grabbed their kettles and headed out of the dorm.

In the hallway, Miss Jiang casually glanced at the other dorm rooms.

Nothing worth seeing.

She clicked her tongue in mild disappointment.

“Wenwen, don’t you think the vibe in our dorm is kind of weird?”

“Is it?”

Qi Wen clearly hadn’t noticed anything, smiling sweetly as she linked arms with Miss Jiang.

Feeling that soft warmth on her arm, Miss Jiang’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

To hell with dorm atmosphere.

To hell with bonding and friendship.

Who needs it?

“Jiang Jiang, let’s eat at the small cafeteria tonight.”

“Sure, sure, sure.”

“I heard there’s a new chef who makes amazing stir-fried rice noodles.”

“Sure, sure, sure.”

“Ew, why is there trash in the hallway?”

“Sure, sure, sure…”

“Jiang Jiang!!”

“Sure—huh?”

“Go die!”

…

The water room was located between two dorm buildings.

Just a small brick structure.

Not very big.

Only five faucets inside.

So once the crowd built up, you had to wait in line.

Like now.

By the time Jiang Ning and Qi Wen arrived, the line was already twenty to thirty meters long.

“So many people…”

“Guess we’ll have to wait.”

“Mm…”

And so the two of them settled into a half-hearted conversation while waiting.

Then—

Miss Jiang suddenly thought of something.

She turned and looked up. On the balcony of the boys’ dorm, a few guys were pointing and whispering as they looked down at the line.

Just as she suspected.

Miss Jiang’s face darkened.

She remembered her past life.

Back then, she and her dormmates had often leaned on the windowsill, looking down at the girls lining up for water.

So many pretty faces—it had been a pleasant view.

Now…

Jiang Ning checked her and Little Qi’s collars, making sure everything was in place.

She thought, There’s no way I’m going to be on display every day like some zoo animal.

After a pause, she said:

“Wenwen, do you think we can get a water dispenser in our dorm?”

“A water dispenser?” Qi Wen blinked.

“Maybe… I don’t know.”

“Should we go ask the Dormitory Auntie later?”

“Sure…”

…

When Jiang Ning and Qi Wen arrived at the Dorm Manager’s Hall,

Aunt Li was inside, knitting a sweater under the breeze of a fan.

“You want to install a water dispenser?”

“Not for now.”

“But I can ask the higher-ups for you once the weather gets colder.”

Tsk tsk tsk.

For the first time, Jiang Ning found the dorm manager surprisingly kind and approachable.

Especially this Aunt Li.

Because, truth be told—

In the eyes of some boys, this woman’s strength rivaled that of the legendary Black Whirlwind from history.

She once single-handedly dragged a guy who was peeking into the girls’ dorm from the balcony all the way into the hallway.

That strength?

No joke.

After a few words of thanks, they quickly left.

A while later—

When they returned to the dorm with their water bottles,

The room was empty.

Oh, sorry.

The girl in bed number five was still curled up reading.

If it weren’t for the faint light glowing inside her mosquito net,

Miss Jiang might’ve forgotten she was even there.

“Mai Wanting! Where is everyone?”

“Mm… they went to eat,” came a soft, timid voice from inside the net.

Dinner?

Oh.

Jiang Ning glanced at her watch.

It was already 5:30.

Remembering they had a class meeting at seven, Jiang Ning rubbed her stomach and said to Qi Wen:

“Wenwen, let’s go eat too.”

“Let’s try that stir-fried noodles you were talking about.”

“Okay!” Qi Wen beamed, hopping off the bed and grabbing Jiang Ning’s hand as they headed for the door.

They had barely taken two steps when Miss Jiang suddenly remembered something and turned back.

“Xiao Mai, have you eaten yet?”

From within the mosquito net’s shadow,

A soft voice replied,

“…Not yet.”

“Come on, let’s go together.”

“…I have food…”

Oh.

Jiang Ning didn’t think much of it and left with Qi Wen for the cafeteria.

And honestly?

That little cafeteria’s fried rice was actually amazing.

Miss Jiang devoured two big bowls, and only when she was stuffed to the brim did she finally pat her belly in satisfaction.

Just as she was basking in food bliss,

A familiar figure plopped down beside them with a tray and wailed:

“Wuwuwu, Wenwen, Jiang Jiang, I’m so miserable!”

“What’s the matter? Did your dad sell you off or something?” Jiang Ning wiped her mouth and looked at Luo Shanshan with a teasing grin.

“You’re the one who got sold!” Luo Shanshan shot her a glare, then turned to Qi Wen with a miserable expression.

“Wenwen, my dad wants me to learn dance.”

“Pfft!!”

Jiang Ning nearly spat out the last bit of soup in her mouth.

She quickly covered her lips, dabbed at them with a napkin, then stared at Luo Shanshan in disbelief.

“You?”

“Dance?”

“Yeah!” Luo Shanshan looked utterly hopeless.

“The old man somehow found a way to get me into Dance Academy.”

“He’s been making me stretch my legs and practice backbends at home every day.”

Stretching?

Backbends?

Jiang Ning couldn’t help but glance at Shanshan’s prominent assets and make a little gesture with her hands.

With those two things around…

Even the most elegant dance moves would end up oozing pure hormones.

“Do you have any dance background?” Qi Wen asked, then clarified, “I mean, have you ever studied dance before?”

“Not at all!” Luo Shanshan was full of resentment.

“Forget dance!”

“I’ve never even done aerobics!”

She wasn’t exaggerating.

Back when there was that Aerobics Competition, Luo Shanshan had thought about giving it a try.

But she couldn’t even manage a stable 360-degree spin in place.

Jiang Ning had laughed so hard that day—

She ended up being chased for three blocks.

“What am I gonna do, Wenwen~”

It was clear that this whole dance thing had Luo Shanshan seriously stressed.

But asking them for help wasn’t going to change much.

At best, Qi Wen could offer a few tips from a dancer’s perspective on how to avoid injuries.

Because dancing really does push your body to the limit.

It’s easy to get hurt.

As for Jiang Ning—

She had only one piece of advice.

“Go home and have your dad marry you off to some rich family.”

“That way, forget dancing—Luo Shanshan!! Calm down!! Calm down!!”

“Put the bowl down! Let’s talk this out!!”

…

Class 3, Grade 11.

Li Duoyong and Chen Lan were sitting together, chatting about their summer break.

After going through everything, they realized—

Aside from that one class gathering,

The rest of their summer had been nothing but tutoring and homework.

And on the rare occasion they had free time, they just hit the internet café for a few rounds of gaming.

“Sigh.”

“Life’s really rough.”

Chen Lan’s face, dotted with a few pimples, was full of weary lament over the future.

“Yeah, two more years!”

“Can’t wait to graduate already.”

Li Duoyong let out a matching sigh.

Just then, Qian Cheng from the row in front suddenly turned around.

“Hey, weren’t you two in Class 3 before?”

Huh?

The two in the back exchanged a glance and nodded.

“Why?”

Qian Cheng let out a sly chuckle.

“Oh, nothing. I’m just a little curious about Jiang the Enchantress from your class.”

“You know, I used to be in Class 13, so we weren’t even on the same floor.”

Hearing that,

Li Duoyong couldn’t help but think back to the start of their first year.

It was probably thanks to Jiang Ning that he’d managed to strike up conversations with his classmates back then.

And now, it was still the same story.

He couldn’t help but smile.

“Jiang Ning, huh.”

“How should I put it…”

“Why don’t you just ask her yourself?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Qian Cheng blinked, then followed Li Duoyong’s gaze.

At the classroom door—

Two girls had just walked in.

The shorter one had curled lashes and smiling eyes.

Her fair cheeks were tinged with a soft blush.

She looked like the very picture of sweetness and charm.

As for the other—

She stood over 165 cm tall.

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, resting naturally on her shoulders. Below that were bright, clear eyes, a delicate nose, cherry lips, and a faint, teasing smile at the corners of her mouth.

Even in a simple printed tee and fitted jeans,

Just standing there—

She was unforgettable.

No doubt about it.

The enchantress was still the enchantress.

No matter where she went, she was always the center of attention.

(End of this chapter)