Chapter 78

Yang Jingxing had already sipped a few cups of water by the time the dishes finally arrived. Tao Meng had ordered some saffron noodles, but there were only a few strands coiled in the plate, pitifully few.

Yang Jingxing chuckled, "This isn't leftover, is it?"

Tao Meng scolded, "How disgusting... You have to eat it too!" She rolled a strand for Yang Jingxing.

Yang Jingxing's steak was still quite genuine and expensive, a decent-sized piece, and he cut a third of it for Tao Meng.

The dishes were served with intervals of more than twenty minutes, and Yang Jingxing said, "I spent most of the time looking at you, you should ask for a commission from them."

Tao Meng tilted her head left and right, "Who told you to eat so fast, guess what this is made of."

Yang Jingxing said, "Probably some flower petals."

Tao Meng asked, "What's your favorite flower?"

Yang Jingxing said, "A smile as beautiful as a flower."

Tao Meng rolled her eyes, "My favorite is the lily, I've even painted two."

Yang Jingxing took out a pen and unfolded a napkin to start drawing. He finished in half a minute and showed it to the uninterested Tao Meng. No wonder it was so fast, he drew a small figure with straight lines for the body and limbs, a girl with long hair, grinning widely.

Tao Peng glanced, "Ugly!"

Yang Jingxing sighed, "You're always so modest."

"Great!" Tao Meng's right hand clenched into a fist on the table, "You're talking about me again!"

Yang Jingxing continued, "And you won't accept compliments."

Tao Meng changed her tactic, "Wow, so pretty."

Yang Jingxing was satisfied, "Thank you."

By the time they finished eating, it was almost three o'clock. After leaving the restaurant, Tao Meng asked Yang Jingxing if he wanted to have more, and Yang Jingxing said they might as well save it for dinner.

They didn't drive, and Yang Jingxing took Tao Meng for a walk to play arcade games. Tao Meng recalled that every weekend, Yang Jingxing and Tan Dong would waste their time on those games and discuss them all night when they got back to school.

Tao Meng remembered, "Ren Chuyu played with you guys too."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Just once or twice, it was a painful memory, she was terrible."

Tao Meng said, "I've never played."

The arcade was bustling, and Yang Jingxing bought a lot of game tokens for Tao Meng. Tao Meng was first attracted to the dance machine, where a girl in her twenties, wearing shorts and thick tights in the cold winter, danced gracefully.

Yang Jingxing said, "Tan Dong can do this, I can't."

Tao Meng said, "I have one at home."

Yang Jingxing suggested, "Try it."

Tao Meng shook her head, "It's different, I don't want to play. Play something you're good at."

Yang Jingxing was skilled at racing games, both motorcycles and rally races. They waited for two machines and played together, a new game. They chose the same car and track and started together, and Yang Jingxing shamelessly said, "I'll give you a thirty-second head start."

Tao Meng, who had a driver's license, focused on the screen and started driving, quickly stabilizing and humming, not slow at all.

"Time's up!" Yang Jingxing started racing, drifting smoothly. The game was well-made, requiring genuine driving skills.

The audience, originally watching Tao Meng, soon turned to Yang Jingxing. His steering movements clearly showed he was an expert. Tao Meng struggled with the turns, while Yang Jingxing handled them effortlessly.

Tao Meng was quickly overtaken by Yang Jingxing. She was determined to catch up, but stumbled again. Yang Jingxing didn't show any gentlemanly manners and raced to the end. After the results came out, a young man behind him pointed and lamented, "If you had waited for her, you could have broken the record, damn, only a few seconds off!"

Yang Jingxing leaned towards Tao Meng and teased, "You definitely broke the record."

Tao Meng let go, "No more, it's not fun."

So they went to play some interesting and challenging games, like spot the difference. No longer competing, Tao Meng played, and Yang Jingxing assisted. He could spot all the differences in the two pictures at a glance.

But Tao Meng wasn't bad either, finding two or three differences first. When time was running out, she shouted, "Where, where?"

At this point, Yang Jingxing would step in to save the day.

In the end, Tao Meng still won, "I found more!"

They played Tetris, and Tao Meng was quite good, giving Yang Jingxing tips, "Don't just look at this, also look at the next one, or you'll miss good opportunities."

After playing all the less popular games, Tao Meng noticed, "No one's playing the dance machine."

Yang Jingxing said, "Come, I'll be your backup."

Hey, as soon as the beauty got on stage, people started coming. Tao Meng and Yang Jingxing glanced at each other, and Yang Jingxing said, "Don't worry, even if you stand still, you'll look better than the previous one."

They chose a slightly easier song, and the difference was clear from the start. The previous dancer was a technical expert, while Tao Meng went for a cute route. At 1.7 meters tall with long legs, she moved gracefully, not getting stuck. Yang Jingxing, on the other hand, was neither cute nor technical, tall and dressed in a suit, looking awkward.

After two rounds, Tao Meng was satisfied but sternly stopped Yang Jingxing from clapping for her. They then played shooting games, where Tao Meng extended her arms to hold the gun level, aiming carefully.

At first, it was relatively easy, but soon she got nervous, "So many... I forgot the bullets... Oh no, I can't kill this one..."

Unfortunately, time was running out, and it was almost five o'clock. Tao Meng asked Yang Jingxing to buy her a bottle of mineral water to wash her hands, and then they went to get the car to head home. Tao Meng summarized, "It's fun to come occasionally... but you shouldn't have done it back then, you were young and had heavy studies."

Yang Jingxing pointed to a fast-food restaurant, "We and Tan Dong always went to eat burgers after playing."

Tao Meng asked, "Are you hungry? I want something to drink."

Sitting across from each other in the fast-food restaurant, Yang Jingxing said, "Sigh, we were so pitiful back then, just watching Tan Dong, no appetite at all."

Tao Meng laughed, "You never invited me, I might have agreed to come... Actually, our school is not good in this aspect, it's too restrictive on normal interactions between boys and girls, making it hard for many to be ordinary friends."

Yang Jingxing agreed, "Luckily I have you, otherwise my high school life would have been a big loss."

Tao Meng hypothesized, "If there were no eighteen rules, what do you think our school would be like?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't know about others, but you wouldn't change."

"Why?" Tao Meng was curious.

Yang Jingxing said, "We are controlled, but you control yourself."

Tao Meng asked, "What about you?"

Yang Jingxing said, "If you don't change, how can I?"

Tao Meng took a small sip of her drink and looked at Yang Jingxing, "I remember that sophomore girl, she's a senior now, right?"

Yang Jingxing wasn't afraid, "I can remember more."

Tao Meng felt she had nothing to hide, "Who? Who can you remember?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Every time you went on stage to speak, those eyes below..."

Tao Meng dismissed it, "That doesn't count!"

Yang Jingxing was troubled, "I don't want to remember Shao Lei, and thinking about myself is too disgusting."

Tao Meng pursed her lips, "Indeed disgusting... You're so petty, you don't like Shao Lei?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Now you know why."

Tao Meng scolded, "Can't you be more generous? Look at me, I never said I disliked Yu Xinting and others, and I'm friendly to them."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "I should learn from you."

Tao Meng added, "This is very important, to be tolerant and understanding."

Yang Jingxing nodded repeatedly.

Tao Meng changed the subject, "But more important is self-reflection and self-discipline!"

On the way home, Tao Meng asked, "What about next weekend, what do we do?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I have a competition, I might be busy."

After asking what the competition was, Tao Meng said, "Friday, then you must be free on Sunday."

Yang Jingxing said, "If I win, I might not be. Actually, I don't want to go."

Tao Meng said, "It's not bad... I'll come find you."

Yang Jingxing warned, "I might be with Qi Qingnuo and others."

Tao Meng emphasized, "I don't dislike them."

Yang Jingxing teased, "Do you think they like you?"

Tao Meng was confident, "I haven't done anything to make them dislike me."

After getting home, Tao Meng summarized, "Today was quite fun, how about you?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Twice as much as you."

"Why?"

"You're important!"

"What if I wasn't happy?"

"Four times."

"Why?"

"To punish myself."

Tao Meng giggled, "You better be careful... It's half past five."

Yang Jingxing said, "Go back quickly."

"Then I'll go, drive carefully."

After returning to school, Yang Jingxing went to room 402, where no one was, and he enjoyed the peace. At seven o'clock, he received a call from Qi Qingnuo, asking, "Am I disturbing you?"

Yang Jingxing said no, and Qi Qingnuo mentioned that Fu Feirong was going on stage the next day, and as the recommender, he should go to encourage her or check things out. Yang Jingxing said it wasn't necessary.

Qi Qingnuo asked, "What about Xinting, isn't she with you?"

Yang Jingxing said, "She might be in the dorm."

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "She's here with me, we're out to meet people."

Yang Jingxing said, "Just be careful not to get caught."

Qi Qingnuo said, "We're still in the process of meeting and being met, are you coming? I won't send her back tonight."

Yang Jingxing said, "You go ahead, I'll come around nine or ten."

Qi Qingnuo threatened, "We might catch someone!"

Yang Jingxing wished, "Catch someone good."

After working for two hours, Yang Jingxing set out for Huihuang, arriving at ten o'clock. Ran Jie was singing, and Fu Feirong was helping with the drinks, but not in uniform.

Qi Qingnuo pointed at Yu Xinting and laughed, "Just one beer, it hasn't worn off yet."

Yu Xinting, holding her red cheeks, assured Yang Jingxing, "But I'm not drunk."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Who made you drink?"

Yu Xinting betrayed Qi Qingnuo, "Her."

Qi Qingnuo apologized, "I was wrong, I regret it, I won't do it again... Don't you think she's cute?"

Yang Jingxing invited, "Come, have another drink with me."

Yu Xinting giggled, but Yang Jingxing didn't really drink, and went to talk to Fu Feirong, "How have you been these days?"

Fu Feirong nodded and smiled, "All good."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Did you do your makeup yourself?"

Fu Feirong said, "Ran Jie taught me, I bought a set."

Yang Jingxing said, "Not bad, the eyeshadow is a bit heavy, you don't need false lashes."

Fu Feirong nodded.

Yang Jingxing added, "Get a good rest tonight, we'll come early tomorrow."

Fu Feirong nodded again.

Qi Dawei invited Yang Jingxing for a drink, but Yang Jingxing said it was too late, and he was going to take Yu Xinting back to school. Qi Qingnuo objected, "Just leaving, we haven't caught anyone yet!"

Yang Jingxing said, "Sacrifice a bit, catch me."

Qi Qingnuo apologized to Yu Xinting, "Forget it, next time."

Yu Xinting explained, "Nian Qing left, it's just the three of us, and Panpan."

Yang Jingxing invited Fu Feirong to go with them, but she refused. Yu Xinting seemed to have had a good time, describing to Yang Jingxing how Qi Qingnuo and Nian Qing knew many people, both men and women, and some even offered to buy them drinks. She also learned that Nian Qing had a boyfriend studying in Beijing.

"They met in high school, started dating in college, and their relationship has been good, they've even met each other's parents... It's a pity you didn't see the photos, she's quite tall too." Yu Xinting touched the dashboard decorations as she spoke.

Yang Jingxing asked, "Did they interrogate you?"

Yu Xinting blushed, pulling back her hand, "They asked everything... I had to make it up, they saw through it and made me drink."

Yang Jingxing was interested, "What did you make up?"

"No way!" Yu Xinting suddenly became firm, changing the subject, "Qi Qingnuo had a boyfriend in high school, but they broke up."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Are you sharing happiness or venting?"

Yu Xinting was surprised, "She said it herself, and I don't think she's sad. She said it was just for fun, and if it didn't work out, that was it."

Yang Jingxing said, "It's not that simple."

Yu Xinting was a bit down, "I think so too... But it's been so long, she must have forgotten, she's very outgoing."

Yang Jingxing said, "Learn to lie, and don't drink anymore."

Yu Xinting said, "It's fine, I'm not drunk at all... Mainly because they both asked me at the same time, and I hadn't made it up yet."

Yang Jingxing asked, "They teamed up?"

Yu Xinting shook her head, "When it was someone's turn, the other two would team up."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Did you team up?"

Yu Xinting giggled, "I started it, I wanted revenge!"

Yang Jingxing said, "You're thinking of revenge, they've known each other for so long, they know everything."

Yu Xinting didn't care, "I didn't know... They didn't ask particularly difficult questions."

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll help you get revenge when the chance comes."

Yu Xinting giggled again, "It was a bit fun... But if you were there, we might not have been so relaxed."

Yang Jingxing was hurt, "Great, I was trying to help."

Yu Xinting nodded quickly, "Yes, I helped you too. Did you have fun today?"

Yang Jingxing nodded.

Yu Xinting smiled, "That's good. Panpan doesn't know Tao Meng yet?"

Yang Jingxing said, "They don't need to know each other."

Yu Xinting seemed to understand and nodded.