plumnovel Chapter 185: Enemies on a Narrow Road
Chapter 185: Enemies on a Narrow Road
Now that the results were out, the weight on his shoulders finally lightened a bit.
Looking at the group of young people before him, he felt a sense of reassurance.
Although they could be rash and sometimes lazy, they never faltered when it mattered.
Especially Ling Xueshan. She didn’t say much, but she was the most reliable one when it came to getting things done.
"Alright, since everyone’s so happy, I’ll give you all two days off. Go relax and have some fun."
After speaking, he put his glasses back on, turned, picked up his bag, and left.
"Whoa! Thank you, Professor!"
Cheers erupted immediately. Some slapped their desks, while others hugged and jumped for joy.
As soon as their advisor left, the senior students started making plans to go out that night.
Someone suggested dinner, another suggested karaoke, but in the end, they all unanimously decided on a bar.
"Shanshan, you’re not allowed to say ’I have to go home’ this time. You’re an adult now; you can’t always hide away at home. We’ll be there, so nothing will happen to you. Relax, we’ve got your back."
Her senior brother put an arm around her shoulder, his tone half-joking, half-serious.
"Yeah, Shanshan! You always run home the second we get a day off. How boring is that! Aren’t you even a little curious what a bar is actually like?"
Her senior sister took her hand and shook it, her eyes full of expectation.
The group talked up the bar as if it were heaven on earth, describing the dazzling lights, deafening music, and all the interesting people you could meet.
As Shanshan listened, her resolve began to waver.
She had always refused before because Ling Anxun didn’t like her going to places like that.
But today, she suddenly thought, ’Why does everything have to be his way?’
"Well... let’s just go this once, then."
The words had barely left her mouth when the lab exploded with another round of cheers.
The truth was, Ling Anxun had long told Shanshan not to go to such noisy places.
He felt the environment was seedy and unsafe, and he also worried that drinking would be bad for her health.
But it was precisely because he was so strict that, for the first time, the idea of sneaking out popped into Shanshan’s head.
’I just want to try it, to do something I want to do for once.’
’Just this once. It should be fine.’
Meanwhile, Cao Jiajia had already made over a dozen calls to Hu Wenkang, alternating between apologies and coquettish pleading. Finally, just before she ran out of money, she managed to get a "Come meet me at the bar" out of him.
She nearly burst into tears when she heard those words and quickly agreed, terrified he would change his mind.
She immediately dug out her most presentable outfit: an off-white knit sweater she had bought on sale last year, its cuffs already starting to pill.
The skirt was old but washed clean, though there was a small crease in the hem that hadn’t been ironed out.
She didn’t even have enough money in her pocket for the bus, so she had no choice but to jog all the way there.
At one point, the heel of her shoe broke. She squatted by the roadside, wrapped the shoelace tightly around it, and then continued on her way.
She had just arrived at the bar’s entrance when Hu Wenkang laid into her with a torrent of disgust.
He stood under the neon lights, a cigarette between his fingers, his brow deeply furrowed.
"Look at what you’re wearing. Couldn’t you have looked in a mirror before you left the house?"
"Brother Kang, I’m sorry, I really... You know I don’t have money for new clothes..."
Her voice trembled, and she clutched her purse strap so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Her eyes were red from crying. She stood before Hu Wenkang with her shoulders hunched, not daring to make a sound.
"Take that sweater off! Pull it down a little!"
Hu Wenkang’s voice was commanding, leaving no room for negotiation.
His brow was knitted tightly as he stared at Cao Jiajia, waiting for her to comply.
Seeing her hesitate, he simply reached out himself and yanked open the collar of her sweater.
A perfectly good top was forcefully pulled into a strange, off-the-shoulder look that exposed her collarbone.
He took half a step back, looked her up and down, and was finally satisfied with the amount of shoulder she was showing.
Paired with her tear-filled eyes, she actually looked somewhat pitifully alluring. Only then did he nod in satisfaction.
Cao Jiajia clutched at her disheveled sweater, her fingers white-knuckled and trembling at the tips.
Her arms hung stiffly at her sides, her whole body as if nailed to the spot.
But seeing Hu Wenkang’s expression soften, her tense nerves finally relaxed, and the weight in her heart lifted.
Hu Wenkang casually draped an arm over her shoulder, the weight of his hand making it sink slightly.
He started walking toward a booth.
A waiter at the entrance saw him and immediately bowed, respectfully leading the way. He familiarly guided them to Hu Wenkang’s usual spot.
Along the way, other patrons automatically moved aside. No one dared to ask any questions.
As it happened, the table right next to them was occupied by Shanshan and her group.
That table was full, ringing with constant laughter and a lively atmosphere.
By the time Shanshan and her friends finally trickled in, Hu Wenkang’s group was already well on their way to being drunk.
But this kind of place was never short on people coming and going, so it didn’t matter who arrived first.
But the moment Shanshan stepped inside, her gaze was instantly drawn to Cao Jiajia.
It was impossible to ignore her appearance—
But Cao Jiajia paid no mind to any of that, focused only on forcing a smile for Hu Wenkang, her cheeks forming a strained curve.
The music was so loud it made her ears ring, and the intense drumbeat pounded against her eardrums. Shanshan couldn’t make out what they were saying.
But from the lecherous smirks and pointing gestures of the men, she could tell it was nothing good.
One man raised his glass to Cao Jiajia, others whispered amongst themselves, and another’s eyes swept over her body without any attempt to conceal his gaze.
"Shanshan, hurry up and sit over here! What are you spacing out for over there?"
Her senior sister grabbed her and pulled her forward, her voice insistent.
Shanshan stumbled a step, forced to move from her spot.
As she passed their booth, she happened to see Hu Wenkang forcing Cao Jiajia to drink.
The guys there immediately started hooting and jeering, clapping and whistling, making the atmosphere even more out of control.
Cao Jiajia choked and coughed violently, her chest heaving as she made suppressed noises in her throat.
She used the back of her hand to wipe the liquor from the corner of her mouth, but it only smeared it further.
The rims of her eyes were red, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and tears welled up.
The moment she looked up, her eyes met Shanshan’s, who was just sitting down nearby.
She, who hadn’t shed a single tear while being bullied just moments before, suddenly broke down the second she saw Shanshan.
"Ling Xueshan! Why is it you again? Why are you always here during my most humiliating moments? Are you following me on purpose, just to watch me make a fool of myself?"
"Shanshan, you know this woman?"
Her senior brother and sister immediately moved to stand in front of her, their bodies tense as they shot a sharp glare at Cao Jiajia.
They stood ramrod straight, their arms slightly spread in a protective stance.
Their brows were furrowed into a deep line, their eyes filled with wariness and scrutiny.
They didn’t know who this girl was, but judging by her clothes and her state, she clearly didn’t have good intentions.
Shanshan had wanted to pretend she didn’t know her and just look down to avoid the situation.
But the accusation had been made publicly, with a finger practically pointed in her face. Silence would only make her look guilty.
She could no longer pretend she hadn’t heard, nor could she remain quiet.
She slowly stood up, her movements unhurried.
Once standing, she fixed her gaze on Cao Jiajia, who was sitting on the floor. Her tone was flat, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
"I know her, but we’re not friends. We’re not even acquaintances."
She paused, her voice still steady.
People around them started looking over, but she seemed completely unaware.
"First, you’re no one to me. I have no interest in keeping tabs on you. Whether your life is miserable or glamorous has nothing to do with me. How you live your life is your own business. I’m not getting involved. As for why I always ’run into you’ when you’re down on your luck, you can call it bad luck or say that fate loves a cruel joke. Guess all you want."
After saying all this, her face remained expressionless.