Chapter 209: Three-Point Agreement, Clause Two – Courtesy

When it came to studying vocal music, the girls in the Sister Group grew more and more convinced it was worth pursuing.

Especially considering Luo Shanshan’s current physical condition—dancing might really not be the best fit for her anymore.

Rather than pouring effort into the wrong path, why not try switching tracks and see where it leads?

Who knows, it might just work out.

As for Luo Shanshan herself, after hearing the others chime in one after another, she started to feel tempted.

Right then and there, she made up her mind to go home and talk it over with the old man.

As for how that would turn out—well, she’d find out soon enough.

Surely he wouldn’t hang her up and whip her again, right?

That afternoon, when Jiang Ning returned to the classroom, Ye Na was already sitting quietly at her desk, reading.

This surprised Miss Jiang a little.

After all, this girl had always been the type who couldn’t care less about grades.

She’d even skipped final exams before.

If her family hadn’t forced her to attend school, she’d probably be off gallivanting in some foreign country by now.

“Yo~”

“Reading, huh? What are you—”

Okay, never mind.

She didn’t even finish the sentence before she realized Ye Na was actually reading a novel wrapped in a Chinese textbook cover.

From the few lines she glimpsed, it looked like one of those domineering CEO romances.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Who would’ve thought? Deep down, this Problematic Girl also longed to be ravished by a cold, overbearing CEO.

But clearly, Ye Na didn’t want Miss Jiang to know what she was reading.

The moment she heard Jiang Ning speak, she snapped the book shut and shoved it into her desk drawer with a blank expression.

“You’re here?”

“Hehehe…”

Miss Jiang couldn’t help but laugh at the deadpan greeting.

The reason was simple.

Clause Two of the Three-Point Agreement: No matter the situation, both parties must greet each other politely whenever they meet.

If either fails to do so, the penalty is a kiss.

Back when they first came up with that punishment, the look on the Problematic Girl’s face had been absolutely priceless.

Fear, dread, confusion, shock…

All of it.

Even now, Miss Jiang couldn’t think about it without grinning.

“Why isn’t he replying to my messages?”

Barely had Miss Jiang sat down when the Problematic Girl spoke up coldly:

“The method you taught me is useless!”

“No way!”

Miss Jiang swore up and down it couldn’t be, all while silently cursing Tao in her heart.

Damn it, didn’t they already agree?

Just reply to her once in a while!

I even promised to treat him to a meal!

If that little punk screws this up at the critical moment, I’ll hunt him down in Ningzhou and skin him alive.

“Let me see. What did you send him?”

At her words, Ye Na pulled out a Three-Star flip phone from her pocket.

“Press this, then—”

“I know how to use this thing.”

Before she could finish, Miss Jiang had already taken the phone, unlocked it with practiced ease, and opened the message inbox.

But the moment she saw what Ye Na had sent—

Sorry.

She couldn’t help it.

She burst out laughing.

“Girl, I know you’re rich, but do you really have to remind him in every single message?”

“What do you mean?”

Ye Na frowned, clearly not understanding what Jiang Ning was getting at.

“What’s wrong with my messages?”

In response, Miss Jiang flipped the phone around and pointed to the screen.

【Tao Tao~ Good morning~ Have you had breakfast yet? I know a kind of caviar that goes great with congee. Want me to send you some next time?】

【Tao Tao~ Are you in class? Montblanc just released a new Dickens edition fountain pen. I bet your handwriting would look amazing with it~】

【Tao Tao~ I got the limited edition Jordan knee brace too. It’s nothing fancy. Want me to bring it to you in Ningzhou sometime?】

…

“What’s wrong with that?”

Seeing Ye Na still looking completely baffled, Miss Jiang glanced out the window.

Confirming there were no teachers nearby, she pulled out her own Nokia.

Booted it up.

After ignoring a few pop-up messages, she opened her inbox and pulled up a conversation with Tao.

She tapped it open.

【Hey witch, someone’s thinking of transferring schools. Keep an eye out.】

【Try to calm her down. If anything happens, it’s on you!】

【I can’t stop her.】

【Permission granted to die before me.】

…

【Jiang Ning, you think one song is enough for my coming-of-age gift? No red envelope? If it’s under 50, I swear I’ll deflate your tires.】

【I’ve been running everywhere lately. If you’ve got the guts, steal my insoles instead.】

【Sure, drop me your address. Let’s see if I show up.】

【Eighteenth crater on Olympus Mons, Mars. Bring me a full chicken combo from Shi Ning Ji on your way, thanks.】

…

Reading those messages, the Problematic Girl fell silent.

She wasn’t stupid.

She could tell how close Tao Tao and Jiang Ning were.

That kind of easy, playful banter—she wanted that too.

Lighthearted. Fun. Natural.

Just like when she first laid eyes on Tao Tao.

Handsome. Sunny. Cheerful.

She liked that brightness.

That’s why she wanted to give Tao Tao the best of everything she had.

But she felt like a clumsy turtle.

No matter how hard she ran, the rabbit never looked back.

She couldn’t even catch a glimpse of his shadow.

“…So how should I text him?”

Hearing that,

Miss Jiang snapped her fingers and slipped her own phone back into her pocket.

Then she picked up Ye Na’s phone.

“Watch how I do it.”

【Are you there?】

Seeing those two words sent out—

???

Ye Na popped her head up, question marks practically floating above her.

“That’s it?”

“What else do you want?”

“You sure?”

“Just wait.”

Miss Jiang might’ve looked confident on the outside,

But inside, she was a nervous wreck.

If that guy didn’t have his phone on him, or worse, if he was deliberately ignoring the message…

Then she’d have to brace herself for the sting of a serious face-slap.

*Bzzz Bzzz…*

Suddenly, the buzz of a vibration snapped Miss Jiang out of her thoughts.

She quickly opened the phone.

The sender’s name lit up on the screen—“Tao Tao.”

But before she could tap the message,

The ever-troublesome girl next to her snatched the phone away.

Eyes full of anticipation, she opened the message.

Only for her expression to fall flat.

Jiang Ning leaned over for a look.

Ahem, ahem, ahem…

That kid Tao really was straightforward.

She asked if he was there, and he replied with a single word: 【Here】.

Not one extra character.

“See?”

“He replied, didn’t he?”

Miss Jiang awkwardly patted Ye Na’s shoulder.

“There, now just keep the conversation going from that.”

And sure enough,

The Problematic Girl really did keep the chat going from that one word.

She spent the entire afternoon glued to her phone,

Secretly typing away under the desk.

Her replies were slow, and his were even slower.

Sometimes it took ten, twenty, even thirty minutes to get a single message.

And yet,

Ye Na looked completely content.

Even when Miss Jiang teased her a few times, she didn’t get annoyed in the slightest.

Which, ironically, made Jiang Ning feel a little bored.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Love really does make people dumb.

Unlike yours truly…

So smart!

“Jiang Jiang!”

“Yeah~?”

“Come with me to the bathroom!”

“Okay~!”

………

After school that afternoon,

Since there was still evening self-study,

Most students didn’t bother going home for dinner.

At the same time, not many stayed to eat in the cafeteria either.

Wave after wave of students streamed out of the school gates,

Heading off to grab food from the shops outside.

Watching from inside the school, Miss Jiang shook her head.

If she remembered correctly,

It wouldn’t be long before the school started restricting student movement,

All under the guise of “safety.”

By then,

All meals would have to be eaten in the cafeteria.

Even day students would need a special pass to come and go freely.

This school was the only one in all of Jiangzhou City that claimed to have a fully closed-campus system.

So,

Even though snack stalls were popping up one after another outside the gates—

Even a branch of “Emperor’s Chicken” had opened—

Sooner or later…

Heh.

This was also one of the reasons why “Shi Ning Ji” hadn’t opened a store near First High.

At that moment,

Miss Jiang arrived at the security office.

She knocked on the door.

A man in his thirties opened the side window.

When he saw the visitor was a bright-eyed, slender young girl, he paused for a second.

“Jiang Ning, right? What do you need… oh, car keys?”

As he spoke, he stepped back inside.

A moment later,

The door opened, and the guy handed her a set of keys.

“These the ones?”

“Yup, thanks, handsome~”

Miss Jiang never held back her smile when accepting kindness from others.

Her sweet, crescent-eyed grin bloomed like a flower.

………

By the time Jiang Ning arrived at Lion Tower Restaurant,

It was already 5:40 PM.

Doing a quick time check,

Miss Jiang hurried to the private room she had reserved in advance.

She pushed the door open.

Seeing the table full of people inside the private room,

She beamed and said,

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Store Managers, thank you all for your patience.”

(End of Chapter)