Chapter 124: The Question of Owing or Not Owing Does Not Exist

Nie Jun listened, his heart pounding in terror, his face drained of all color.

The others had not heard what Shen Qing said, but judging by Nie Jun’s expression, he had been thoroughly shaken. The students from the Second High School could not help but feel ashamed; this Shen Qing was simply too terrifying!

Gu Ting watched the two of them, feeling a suffocating tightness in his chest, thinking that the man had been standing far too close to her.

Shen Qing glanced at Nie Jun, stood up straight, and swept her gaze over Fatty and the others. "I’ll leave them to you."

Seeing her turn to leave, Yao Panpan asked, "Sister Qing, where are you going?"

Shen Qing didn't look back. "To find Nie Huan."

Chu Yu froze for a moment and took a step forward, intending to follow, but was blocked by Fatty.

"Chu Yu, what are you going there for?"

"To find Sister Huan."

Fatty shook his head with great solemnity. "You can't go. This is a private moment for Sister Qing and Sister Huan."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Yu and Gu Ting both cast a chilling, lingering gaze at him. Fatty couldn't help but shiver, feeling a cold draft running down his back.

"What should we do with them?" Yao Panpan asked, gesturing toward the students from the Second High School.

Chu Yu let out a cold snort. "They caused trouble at our First High School; obviously, we should kick them out."

"Hey, we are guests here. Can't you be a little less petty?" one of the boys spoke up. With Shen Qing and Nie Huan gone, some of them had regained their courage.

"Then go be guests at another school," Gu Ting said, looking up at him with a trace of mockery in his eyes.

"You..." The boy wanted to continue, but was cut off.

"Our teacher already told you to get lost, so hurry up and leave!" Fatty was furious. He had almost been killed because of them, yet they hadn't even offered an apology and had the nerve to call themselves guests? If you go visiting people like that, don't be surprised if they poison you!

***

Shen Qing found her in the corridor of the building closest to the basketball court.

The girl was leaning against the wall, holding a half-smoked cigarette. Her eyes were red, and as she exhaled a faint ring of smoke, she caught sight of Shen Qing. She pulled the corners of her mouth into a smile, one that looked utterly desolate.

"Why are you smoking again?" Shen Qing frowned, her face stern as she snatched the cigarette from Nie Huan’s hand.

"I was feeling troubled, couldn't help it," Nie Huan smiled. She was accustomed to keeping cigarettes and a lighter on her.

Shen Qing extinguished the cigarette and tossed it into the trash can. Wrinkling her nose, she pulled a sour candy from her pocket. "Eat this instead. Don't smoke anymore."

Nie Huan paused for two seconds before slowly taking the candy from Shen Qing’s palm. She looked down at it for a long time without tearing open the wrapper.

"Not going to eat it?" Shen Qing nudged her shoe gently with her own.

"Shen Qing." Nie Huan looked up suddenly, meeting Shen Qing’s eyes.

"Yes, I'm here."

Nie Huan hesitated for several seconds before pulling a bank card from her pocket. "This is the pay from Brother Cai. I took ten percent, and the rest is for you."

Shen Qing lowered her gaze to look at it, her brows knitting together again. "Do I look like I’m short of this money?"

Nie Huan was stunned. She looked her up and down, then answered the question with complete sincerity: "You don't look like you have much money."

Shen Qing curled her lips and let out a low laugh. "Keep the money. Don't forget you still have Nie Yu to support."

"This money is already enough for the two of us. I already owe you so much..."

"I never intended for you to pay me back. There is no such thing as owing." Shen Qing turned sideways, leaning against the wall, her tone indifferent.

Nie Huan’s pupils contracted slightly. Looking at the stunning girl beside her, her eyes suddenly felt hot and sore.

Shen Qing tilted her head slightly, noticing the tears welling in the girl's eyes, and smiled. "Pearls are quite valuable; don't let them drop."

"Mm." Nie Huan nodded, tore open the wrapper, and popped the candy into her mouth. A faint, sharp sourness spread across her palate.

"Why didn't you contact me before?" Shen Qing narrowed her eyes at her.

Nie Huan froze, lowering her gaze. "I didn't want to drag you into this. It's quite troublesome."

"Oh." Shen Qing withdrew her gaze. "What about in the future?"

"Sister Huan! Sister Qing!" a boy’s voice called from afar.

Nie Huan hesitated, then said softly, "In the future, there is Nie Yu."

Shen Qing glanced toward the source of the sound and curled her lips. "Haven't you considered Chu Yu?"

"He and I... we aren't really a good fit."

"Oh, well, it seems like there’s still a bit of a fit there."

"..."

What kind of logic was that?