Chapter 7: Pork Ribs, Endless Entanglement

It was another scorching noon. Fang Chuning, who had just finished playing basketball and was still sweaty, pushed away Gao Qiong who was leaning over with a look of disgust.

“It’s hot, don’t get close to me.”

Gao Qiong waved her phone in front of her, “The owner of Tianyou City said they got new game machines, do you want to go play?”

“Another day, I have something to do today.”

…

As night fell, in the night market filled with the aroma of food, Fang Chuning was sitting at a street stall, enjoying beef offal with great relish. The stall was located right in the corner, and a few female thugs were leaning against the entrance of the alley, smoking.

They would whistle and tease any boy who passed by.

Fang Chuning watched helplessly as a boy was surrounded by them, their laughter and teasing echoing non-stop. She had no intention of minding other people’s business, just focusing on eating the beef offal, planning to leave as soon as she finished.

But just because she didn’t want to get involved didn’t mean trouble wouldn’t find her.

“Classmate, help me!”

Actually, she wasn’t the only one eating beef offal here. The reason he sought her out was probably because she looked a bit more kind-hearted? Fang Chuning glanced at him and then realized this guy looked a little familiar.

“It’s you!?” The boy also recognized her. In addition to being pleasantly surprised, he quickly looked back at the female hooligans who were slowly approaching, and pleadingly grabbed her hand, “Can you please help me? I don’t know them!”

Fang Chuning pulled away from him, “Talk, don’t get handsy.”

The boy was a bit embarrassed. The female hooligans behind him were already standing in front of their table. The leader, a woman with red and green dreadlocks, spoke in a slovenly manner, “Handsome, don’t be ungrateful. It’s your lucky day that I, Hong Jie, took a liking to you. Don’t be unappreciative of your good fortune. If you become my boyfriend, you’ll be able to swagger down this street in the future, you know?”

“No,” the boy refused bluntly, showing no appreciation. “I don’t know you, and I don’t want to be your boyfriend even more!”

The dreadlocked woman became more interested in him because of his stubborn personality. “I like little cuties like you. The more stubborn, the more flavor. It’s more satisfying to conquer. I know which school you’re from. I will definitely touch your heart and make you fall in love with me.”

After saying a long string of sickeningly narcissistic words, the dreadlocked woman left with her followers, blowing him a kiss before leaving.

Fang Chuning felt like she was so full that she was a little nauseous.

“Thank you.”

The boy looked at her with sincere gratitude.

Fang Chuning, who had been sitting obediently the whole time, made a confused face.

Then she saw the boy take out a slightly faded wallet from the pocket of his school uniform pants, and give her all the red bills inside, “This is seven hundred yuan. That’s all I have now. I’ll slowly pay back the rest.”

Fang Chuning didn’t expect him to actually remember this matter. She stared at the red bills in his hand for a while and asked, “Did you ask your family for it?”

“Of course not!” The boy’s tone was a bit anxious. “I earned all of this from my part-time job.”

“Oh, then forget it. I don’t need you to pay me back.”

“No, I said I would pay you back. I’m not the kind of person who doesn’t keep their word!”

This development couldn’t help but remind Fang Chuning of a novel she had read before. The silly and poor male protagonist stubbornly insisted on working part-time to pay back the debt to the domineering and wealthy female protagonist. In the end, he successfully attracted the attention of the domineering female CEO, who took him into her mansion as her personal male servant. Under the male protagonist’s coy refusal, the domineering female CEO fell deeply in love with him. On one hand, she had to get rid of the bees and butterflies attracted by the silly and sweet male protagonist, and on the other hand, she had to persuade her family to accept him. Finally, she stepped into the tomb of marriage and was played by the silly and sweet guy.

Fang Chuning, after ending her imagination, took the money in fear. “It’s okay. I’m leaving first.”

As soon as she turned around, the boy blocked her way again. His handsome face still had a hint of childishness that had not completely faded away. “My name is Song Ruoyi. You can give me your contact information. I’ll pay you back little by little whenever I save up some money.”

See, this is the beginning of the routine.

“When you see me, pay me back. When you don’t see me, keep it. I have something to do. I’m leaving first.”

The girl suddenly seemed to avoid him like the plague. Song Ruoyi was a little unwilling, but since the person had already run away, he had no choice but to sulk silently.

…

Fang Chuning, who thought she had escaped a disaster, saw Song Ruoyi waiting at the school gate again two days later when she got out of school. It’s not that she had sharp eyes, but his school uniform was really eye-catching among their school uniforms.

Many people passing by him couldn’t help but look at him curiously.

Almost as soon as she walked out of the school gate, Song Ruoyi saw her, smiling brilliantly like a positive and sunny boy.

Gao Qiong, who was walking beside Fang Chuning, gossiped and nudged her with her elbow, “It seems like he’s looking for you, huh?”

While they were talking, the boy had already walked over to the two of them.

Gao Qiong was still cheering in a low voice, “Wow, he’s quite cute. You’re impressive. You don’t even let guys from other schools off the hook. You’re radiating charm!”

Fang Chuning watched as the person walked closer and closer, her eyelids twitching.

The people around also unconsciously stopped in their tracks, discussing this person who didn’t fit in with them.

Xu Muzhou’s injured foot hadn’t fully recovered yet. He was being supported by Qin Shaoqing and walking behind them. When he saw the scene at the school gate, his brows furrowed slightly.

“Who is that person? He seems to know that surnamed Fang girl,” Qin Shaoqing curiously said beside him. He looked at the boy’s school uniform and snorted contemptuously, “How did someone from the slums run over here? Isn’t he embarrassed with so many people watching?”

Xu Muzhou coldly withdrew his gaze. “Let’s go.”

Fang Chuning didn’t know about the little episode between the two. She was now passively accepting the things the boy handed over to her. “What is this?”

“This is something I made myself. Just take it as a token of appreciation for your help last night. That’s it. I’m leaving first.”

Song Ruoyi tried to maintain a distance that he thought wouldn’t be annoying, and after saying that, he didn’t give her a chance to refuse. He turned around and left with an air of coolness.

“I like his personality!” Gao Qiong leaned over. “What did he give you? Quickly open it and take a look.”

With so many people coming and going, Fang Chuning was already tired of being the center of attention. She said as she walked, “Let’s look in the car.”

Fang Chuning thought that what boys liked to give were nothing more than small things, such as handkerchiefs or scarves that were completely useless in summer. Otherwise, it would be some exquisite little snacks. Receiving too many of these things made her numb and gave her no sense of surprise at all.

When the box was opened, an appetizing aroma permeated the car. Seeing what was inside, Fang Chuning was a little surprised.

“Pork ribs?” Gao Qiong’s mouth curled up with interest. “This is the first time I’ve seen someone give pork ribs as a gift.”

The rich aroma made Fang Chuning swallow. The food made her forget about the scheming routine. She picked up the chopsticks prepared in the box, took a piece and put it in her mouth. The spicy flavored pork ribs were similar to those sold in the night market, completely to her liking.

Gao Qiong watched with a watering mouth. “Hey, give me a piece to taste too.”

Fang Chuning glanced at her with a meaningful look and picked a piece for her, asking, “How is it? Is it delicious?”

At first, Gao Qiong didn’t react. After chewing a few times, her face instantly turned red from the spiciness. She wanted to spit it out but didn’t know where to spit it. She looked quite embarrassed in her disorderly state.

Fang Chuning laughed uncontrollably. In the end, she kindly gave her two tissues to save her.

“Fuck! You gave me such spicy food to eat!” Gao Qiong took out a bottle of water from the car refrigerator and drank wildly. She raised her foot to kick the person who was still laughing.

“Hahaha, you wanted to eat it yourself. What does it have to do with me? Don’t kick me and get my clothes dirty. I’ll make you hand wash them!”

The two of them were playing around in the car. Before long, the car arrived at their destination, Tianyou City, which was the largest game center in Z City. The Gao family was a major shareholder here, and the two of them were old regulars. As soon as they entered, someone greeted them to go play with the new machines.

Fang Chuning was not very interested and sat there playing on her phone after playing a couple of rounds.

Gao Qiong finished a round and peeked over, “Who are you chatting with?”

“Just the one I often play games with.”

She was referring to a mobile game.

“That handsome guy you often team up with?”

“Mm.”

Gao Qiong looked at her strangely, “Don’t tell me you’re in an online relationship with him?”

Fang Chuning didn’t even bother to respond to her. The next second, her phone was snatched away. Gao Qiong quickly scrolled through their chat records, which were nothing more than the handsome guy not wanting to play alone and asking her to come online and play together.

“I have his WeChat too. Why didn’t he ask me to come online and only asked you?”

Fang Chuning took back her phone, “You’re such a noob. Don’t you have any self-awareness?”

Then she lowered her head and replied: not playing

Gao Qiong played on the machine for a while more but felt it was boring. She sat on the sofa by the bed, lit a cigarette, and looked down. When she seemed to see something, she exclaimed in surprise, “Isn’t that Aunt Fang?” Then she turned her head and shouted to the person playing on the phone over there, “Your mom is downstairs.”

Fang Chuning walked over and indeed saw her mother outside the game center, with a man standing beside her.

Gao Qiong: “Who’s that man?”

“I don’t know, probably a business associate.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Fang Hong raise her hand to gently caress the man’s hair and attentively help him straighten his clothes. Their intimacy would not make anyone mistakenly think that the two of them were unrelated.

Fang Chuning’s mouth, which had been slightly curled up, instantly fell. She stared at them intently. The man affectionately and skillfully linked arms with the woman, and the two of them walked away, talking and laughing.

Gao Qiong sensed the unusual atmosphere and stole a glance at the person’s face, which looked as if it had been struck by lightning. She patted her shoulder as if to comfort her, sighed, and continued to go back to playing games.

From that minute on, Fang Chuning never smiled again. She had a gloomy face as if her mother had died. This continued all the way home and during dinner, where she stared at Fang Hong in the main seat like an emotionless machine.

Who could eat their meal when being stared at like this? Fang Hong looked at her in confusion, “If you’re not eating, why are you glaring at me?”

Fang Chuning questioned expressionlessly, “Where did you go today?”

“Of course I was at the company. What’s wrong?”

“Heh.”

Fang Hong frowned, “What’s wrong with you today?”

Fang Father, who was eating, also felt that something was off and asked with concern, “Ning Ning, did something happen? If there’s something, tell Dad. Don’t keep it bottled up inside and make yourself sick.”

Fang Chuning’s eyes turned sour, and she shook her head, feeling distressed, “It’s nothing, Dad.”

Fang Father felt that there must be something, but since his daughter was already so grown up, he didn’t pry further since she was unwilling to say.

The scene from the daytime kept replaying in Fang Chuning’s mind. This matter was difficult for her to accept, to the point where she spent the next few days in a daze without any memory of them.