"No, Brother Feng, you didn't say that before..."
Hearing Ji Feng say he wanted to call it quits, a lackey behind him, who lived for chaos, spoke up. He was immediately met with a death stare from Ji Feng.
"What? You got a problem with that?"
The man, still wanting to speak, immediately fell silent.
Liu Wei. Ji Feng remembered him.
In truth, many things in this life hadn't been that bad to begin with. But he had been a hotheaded fool back then, always being goaded by this guy until it finally ended in an irreversible disaster. The entire incident of dragging Wunnuan here had been incited by Liu Wei.
This guy was good at playing the part: calling him "Brother Feng" to his face while cursing him as a moron behind his back. Although, to be fair, he had been a moron back then.
Ji Feng let go and said, looking indifferent, "Damn it, a bunch of grown men bullying a woman? I'm not doing something that pathetic. Let's break it up. Go home to your mothers, everyone just clear out."
"In that case... Brother Feng, we'll be going now!"
Dou Ding, the big guy leading them, said. Even he felt that bullying a girl like this was low. But since Ji Feng had spoken, he wasn't going to argue.
"Get lost, get lost. Don't forget to bring me a soda tomorrow morning."
"You got it."
Watching his lackeys disperse, Ji Feng looked back at Wunnuan, who was still staring at him.
"What are you still looking at? Get going!"
Though Wunnuan was puzzled by why Ji Feng had suddenly halted his malicious behavior, not having to be bullied anymore was a relief. She stood up quickly, ready to leave.
Suddenly, Ji Feng called out to her.
"Hey! Wait."
Hearing Ji Feng’s voice, Wunnuan stopped in her tracks. She didn't speak, just looked at him with vigilance. Her cold, clear eyes were filled with suspicion and caution.
Being stared at like a predator by a beautiful girl made Ji Feng feel somewhat awkward. There was no point in defending himself; things had progressed to such a state that trying to whitewash his reputation would be difficult. He simply picked up the worn-out schoolbag from the ground, handed it to Wunnuan, and recalled the hooligan-like tone he used to have.
"Here, Number One."
When Wunnuan heard Ji Feng call her "Number One," her cold expression flickered slightly before returning to its usual state. She wanted to say thank you, but she immediately realized she had no reason to.
Thank him for what? For forcing her here? For tearing her hair tie?
He had merely stopped bullying her; was she supposed to be grateful for his "mercy"? That made no sense.
Silently putting on her bag, Wunnuan walked toward the edge of the construction site.
Ji Feng pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced at it. It was past ten o'clock. They were in the suburbs, and Wunnuan’s home was in the opposite direction. If she walked back, it would take two hours, meaning it would be well past midnight.
Ji Feng didn't know the details of this night from his memory. Back then, he had turned a blind eye to the world, obsessed only with fawning over Gu Xueting. He only vaguely remembered some school rumors later on. Wunnuan’s mother must have gone out to look for her at midnight when she hadn't returned, and that was when the accident happened.
Their evening self-study ended at nine; being an hour late might have been excusable, but if she didn't return by midnight, her mother would surely be frantic.
Ji Feng stroked his chin, wondering what excuse he could use to drive her back. But the problem was... what kind of reason would make her willing to get on his bike?
He stared at his motorcycle parked in the open lot.
*Tsk, a "Ghost Fire" scooter.*
...
Wunnuan walked quickly. Once Ji Feng let her go, she reached the entrance of the construction site in no time. Without a watch or a phone, she could only estimate the time based on the delays she had endured. Looking at the moon, she frowned slightly; it was likely very late, and her mother would definitely be worried.
Her mother was in poor health—very thin and suffering from a serious heart condition. Intense exertion was bad for her heart, and Wunnuan feared that if she returned too late, her mother would go out to search for her. Thinking of this, Wunnuan tightened her grip on her schoolbag straps, her pace quickening.
*Vroom, vroom, vroom!*
The sound of a scooter exhaust followed right behind her, moving at a slow pace. Hearing this, Wunnuan’s brow furrowed even deeper. She knew Ji Feng was coming and was trailing right behind her.
"Hey, get on. I'll give you a lift."
Hearing Ji Feng’s voice, Wunnuan’s first instinct was to wonder what trick he was pulling now. Did he regret letting her go? Her upbringing prompted a response, though her voice remained cold.
"Thank you, but no."
Ji Feng suddenly accelerated, then slammed on the brakes, blocking her path with the scooter. He wore a slightly exaggerated expression, his tone arrogant as he pointed back at the construction site.
"What? You don't want to? Or do you want to go back there? Because right now, it’s just the two of us."
Hearing the threat, Wunnuan clenched her fists. The intimidation made her angry. She was an ordinary student, but she was never a coward, and she wouldn't compromise with a bully like Ji Feng.
"I won't get on your bike. If the worst comes to the worst..."
Before she could finish her harsh words, Ji Feng cut her off.
"Stop wasting your breath. Be smart and get on. It’s so late; what time will it be if you walk all the way back? You’re supposed to be 'Number One,' can’t you do simple addition? Wunnuan, you wouldn't want your mother to be overly worried, would you?"
Wunnuan paused. Ji Feng’s logic actually held some weight. Compared to his previous threats to drag her back, she found his mention of her mother much harder to dismiss.
*If I go back too late, Mom will definitely be worried...* Wunnuan thought to herself.
She looked up at Ji Feng, who was straddling the "Ghost Fire" scooter. Riding with him? The ribbons on the handlebars, the ridiculous exhaust pipe, the tacky stickers—all of it made her deeply resistant. But she felt he had a point. While she hesitated, Ji Feng’s voice came again.
"What are you still standing there for? The more you overthink it, the longer it takes. Get on early, get home early. You're not the only person in this world with a mom; I have one too. I’m waiting to get home to see mine!"
Wunnuan turned her head. She was a decisive person. Once a decision was made, there was no need to dwell on it. She swung her leg over the seat, moving her hips to the very back to keep as much distance as possible. Ji Feng couldn't be bothered to care; he just didn't want his current self to continue doing evil.
"Hold on tight. Let's go."
As the bike started, Wunnuan, who had no experience on a motorcycle, jolted backward and nearly fell off. Ji Feng glanced back at her. Her pretty face was slightly flushed, but the coldness in her eyes had intensified.
*Shame? Anger?*
Ji Feng didn't care what she was feeling; he just didn't want her falling off by accident. What if she died from the fall?
"Hold onto the sides, there are handles."
"Oh..."
Wunnuan replied softly, gripping the iron rails on the side of the seat. Ji Feng rode steadily, and they remained silent the whole way. Suddenly, a dump truck ran a red light, forcing Ji Feng to slam on the brakes. Caught off guard, Wunnuan slammed into his back.
The impact left Ji Feng completely stunned.
*How is one supposed to describe the world underneath a school uniform?*