Chapter Sixty-Four: Too Many Wolves, Too Little Meat

Dong Yanyan found her own notebook, and then found Mr. Guo’s lesson plan on the lectern. She locked the front door as she left, ready to go downstairs, and just happened to run into Mr. Guo coming up from below.

“Teacher, I found your lesson plan. I’m so sorry, I remembered it wrong and made you come back for nothing.” She handed him the lesson plan, smiling apologetically.

Mr. Guo took the lesson plan, patted her head, and smiled, “Why are you so absent-minded today? Never mind, as long as you found it. Hurry back and finish your lab report.”

“Got it.” Dong Yanyan smiled back, watched him go down the stairs, then turned, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists: Cold Haoyang, you scoundrel, the one time you’re in charge of the keys you cause trouble and make me take the blame for you! She was ready to go downstairs and settle the score with him right away.

Back in the classroom, she didn’t see Cold Haoyang or Yang Ruining, but Zhang Lei strolled up, knocked on her desk, and said in a low voice, “Yanyan, you’re not being fair.”

Dong Yanyan looked up at him in surprise, glanced at Liu Qiang, who was up front strumming his guitar and singing “Just Can’t Help Liking You,” pointed weakly at him, and asked, “You mean him? Is his leg broken and his head damaged too? Can’t he play a different song? I’m so sick of it I could die.”

“What happened the night before last?” Zhang Lei whispered. “I didn’t dare tell him, but Cold Haoyang spilled the beans. He’s heartbroken.”

“What else could have happened? If it rains, it rains; if someone wants to get married, they get married. It’s okay for you guys to go to the movies, but not for my Xiaohan? Did I sell her to you? Besides, we’re students! Students! Can’t you think more about studying and less about all that nonsense?” Dong Yanyan glared at him, then looked at him unhurriedly. “If you complain to me one more time, I’ll get angry!”

“Alright, never mind, don’t be mad.” Zhang Lei grinned. “Let me borrow your lab report.”

“I haven’t written it either.” Dong Yanyan showed him her own blank report.

“Tch! Should’ve known.” Zhang Lei shrugged dismissively and went to the front to borrow from Liu Siying.

Liu Qiang looked back at her with a hint of grievance, but finally said nothing and turned back around.

As for friendship, Dong Yanyan was closer to those two than to anyone else in the class. After graduation, they’d even worked together in the same company for two or three years. They couldn’t be more familiar with each other. She knew exactly what kind of person Liu Qiang was. In the era to come, when family background would matter most, he was well off and smart enough. Even if he seemed a little timid and reserved, he was never short of admirers after graduation. She had almost forgotten he’d ever had such a lonely look; it was almost nostalgic.

So she went up to him, leaned against his desk, and knocked on his head. “Liu Qiang, pick a new song.”

“Which one?” Liu Qiang looked at her, a little flustered.

“‘Deskmate’ or ‘Silly Child’ is fine. Can you play either?”

“Let’s do ‘Deskmate’ then.” Liu Qiang smiled, lowered his head to tune his guitar. Dong Yanyan nodded. “That’s better. Changing songs isn’t hard. If you’re not tired of singing it, we’re all tired of hearing it.”

“Exactly, there are plenty of flowers in the world,” Liu Siying chimed in with a smile.

“Too bad there’s more wolves than meat,” Dong Yanyan sighed, tilting her head up at a forty-five-degree angle. She turned to see Yang Ruining calling her from the classroom door. She hurried out, and in the hallway, Cold Haoyang was there too. The two looked a little uneasy.

“Yanyan, thank you for what you did today,” Yang Ruining said shyly, taking her hand.

“It’s fine, what’s done is done. I didn’t see anything anyway.” Dong Yanyan smiled indifferently. What else could she do? She was a seventeen-year-old girl, having witnessed such a racy scene—she couldn’t just go around lecturing them, could she? That would be so unseemly! Besides, the two of them would go on to live their own wonderful lives. There was nothing to worry about.

It was still the age of recklessness.

Hearing her say that, Cold Haoyang beamed. “Yanyan, from now on, you’re my big sister! If you ever need anything, just come to me—I’ve got your back!” He thumped his chest and declared loudly.

Dong Yanyan simply rolled her eyes. “Oh, now you call me sister when it suits you? If you have time to patch things up, go reflect in the corner. It’s fine to make mistakes, just don’t repeat them.”

With that, Yang Ruining blushed and swung her arm shyly.

Dong Yanyan felt a bit awkward, scratched her head, and said with a smile, “Well, if you two don’t need me for anything else, I’m going back. I promised to help Liu Siying practice singing.”

“Here, I bought you an ice cream. Thanks again.” Yang Ruining stuffed the ice cream into her hand, pulled Cold Haoyang away, and Dong Yanyan watched them walk into Yang Ruining’s dorm room, speechless.

Kids these days—never learn from their mistakes.

“You’re something else. Even Cold Haoyang listens to you,” Ren Jiaxuan said, hands in his pockets, leaning against his classroom door, looking at her in disbelief.

Dong Yanyan tossed him an ice cream with a smile. “Coming from you? I’ve always been all about unity and friendship in our class. When have you ever seen me bully anyone?”

“You might as well tattoo ‘Don’t mess with me’ on your forehead. I just don’t get it—how can a girl have so much attitude?” Ren Jiaxuan took a bite of the ice cream, speaking languidly.

Dong Yanyan shrugged. “If people don’t mess with me, I won’t mess with them. Oh, and thanks for yesterday.”

“Huh? Oh. Don’t mention it.” Ren Jiaxuan smiled.

Lin Feng dragged Yang Lili over with a bag of things, rushing through the hallway. Seeing them, he stopped to greet them. “Chatting?”

Ren Jiaxuan nodded with a faint smile. Dong Yanyan watched them go into the girls’ dormitory and couldn’t help but give him a fierce glare. She knew she had no right to be angry, but she suddenly had the urge to punch him. Maybe it was a survival instinct she’d cultivated over the years—if you don’t want to get hurt, you have to look invincible at all times.

Ren Jiaxuan seemed to sense an opening and hurriedly laughed, “Look at that! I told you so! You never smile at anyone! The people in your class are weird—how does someone with your temper have so many friends?”

Dong Yanyan didn’t want to argue. She glared at him and spat, “Those who deserve a beating will get one!” Then she turned and went back into the classroom, slamming the door.

Five seconds later, the door was kicked open. Ren Jiaxuan stormed in, furious, jabbing a finger at her. “Dong Yanyan, who are you saying deserves a beating?!”

Dong Yanyan was about to retort when she noticed someone behind him.

She quickly put on a smile and greeted sweetly, “Hello, Director Tang.”

Ren Jiaxuan froze, adjusted his expression in an instant, and turned around with a polite smile, greeting the teacher respectfully.

“What are you two shouting about?” Director Tang asked with a stern face.

“We’re practicing a skit, sorry for being a bit loud,” Dong Yanyan replied calmly. Ren Jiaxuan nodded, “Yes, teacher, we’re rehearsing lines.”

“Jiaxuan, I was just looking for you. Come to my office for a moment.” Director Tang smiled.

“Of course.” Ren Jiaxuan nodded seriously and followed behind. In front of teachers, he was always the clever, well-behaved model student.