Chapter 4 - Don't cry

Chapter 4-Don’t cryTranslator:zyzy Editor:Aru

That afternoon after school, Zhao Nuan Cheng was arranging the forms.

She was the class’s organizing committee, any events happening in school, she would be the one responsible to recruit participants. The flyers were all on her desk.

“Countrywide Mathematical Olympiad for Primary School is officially open for registration, welcome all students to participate.”

The thing that caught Meng Ting’s eyes was the black letters in the middle of the red flyer: First place will be awarded $8000.

$8000.

Meng Ting dazed off for a second, $8000 was a lot this year, Shu Zhi Tong’s salary at the research centre was only $6000 a month.

Her family was poor, for her eye surgery, Father Shu had to run all over the place, to borrow money from their relatives. Every weekend, they would push Father Shu to settle his debts. Shu Zhi Tong could only smile back, while he apologized and complimented them, only then they would have let him pay back later.

Consequently, things couldn’t have been dragged on any longer, along with Meng Ting’s disfigured face after the incident, Father Shu only then chose the dangerous radioactive job.

Zhao Nuan Cheng didn’t notice that Meng Ting had dazed off, she continued to gossip as she packed her bags: “It was Sheng Yu Qing’s birthday party last weekend, they say that Jiang Ren didn’t even show up. But out of nowhere, she said that Jiang Ren had invited their class over to Little Harbour this weekend. Ting Ting, do you know where’s Little Harbour?”

Meng Ting shakes her head.

Zhao Nuan Cheng with her eyes bright: “I’ve never been there too, but I’ve heard that people spend at least a few thousands bucks there” she continued while pouting her lips, “Everyone knows Sheng Yu Qing just wants to show off, but Jiang Ren is so rich and generous. Well, too bad Sheng Yu Qing is that pretty, we don’t even stand a chance.”

Meng Ting looked down, and picked up the form, slowly filling in her name.

She knows the world isn’t fair, some people get to spend money lavishly, some people struggle to earn a living.

“Ting Ting, you’re gonna participate in the Mathematical Olympiad?” 

“Mmhmm.”

“You’ve learned it before?” 

“I learned a little of it when I was young, there are two more weeks left, I could practice and give it a shot.”

Zhao Nuan Cheng couldn’t help but admire Meng Ting 

Meng Ting sighed to herself, it is $8000, even if I can’t do it, I’ll also have to make it work. Just so she could stop Father Shu from working at the radiation lab, the first thing is to not repeat the incident again, second is to think of a way to earn as much money as possible.

But she’s only 17 this year, still studying. Father Shu wouldn’t have permitted her if she was busy with other stuff and affected her studies, but competition would be different. 

Meng Ting froze on the spot, looking at the Mathematical Olympiad’s flyers, she suddenly knew how to earn money.

She asked Zhao Nuan Cheng: “Beside the Mathematical Olympiad, are there any other competitions going on?”

“Yes, there’s an English Speaking Contest, but it’s during the summer holidays.”

Meng Ting felt slightly disappointed by the fact.

After some thinking, Zhao Nuan Cheng said: “But I’ve heard that LiCai has a lot of different events going on, singing, dancing and piano competitions, their school is starting to accept registrations, but Ting Ting.” Zhao Nuan Cheng stared at her, and stopped, after a while, she only continued, “Nevermind, it’s nothing.”

Ting Ting’s eyes are injured, how could she participate in these events.

Today was Zhao Nuan Cheng’s turn to clean the classroom, in Seven High, this was easy, after school, she just had to clean the blackboard, and close the doors and windows.

Meng Ting helped her along.

Just as the two girls were closing the windows, thunder started to rumble, and rain started pouring. Zhao Nuan Cheng secretly cursed.

“Ting Ting, did you bring an umbrella?”

Meng Ting didn’t.

Zhao Nuan Cheng too.

This year, Seven High still didn’t have campaigns such as “Umbrellas For Your Convenience” yet, Meng Ting decided to wait for Zhao Nuan Cheng, so Shu Yang would have already left.

They both proceeded to the first floor, looking at the downpour, feeling slightly gloomy. Their school had a “no phones in school” policy, so Meng Ting didn’t have a cell phone with her, she glanced at her watch——- 18:32.

Father Shu finishes work at 9 pm.

Zhao Nuan Cheng was also slightly anxious: “My father will come to pick me up after work right?”

Her words just fell, and a few sports cars drove into the school. A dazzling silver sports car took a turn and stopped in front of their building.

The first car in the lead was a supercar.

The car window rolled down, Jiang Ren was inside.

His hands were on the steering wheel, he looked over at Meng Ting, she lowered her head, avoiding eye contact.

Zhao Nuan Cheng pulled Meng Ting a few steps back, thinking what were the guards doing, letting a bunch of students from LiCai to drive in.

Not long after, sounds of laughter could be heard from upstairs, Sheng Yu Qing and her girlfriends were on their way down.

The girl’s eyes twinkled at the sight of the expensive cars.

They gathered up to please the guys: “Good Afternoon, Boss Jiang, Boss Ren.”

He Jun Ming raised his eyebrows: “Pretty ladies, hop on, don’t stand in the rain.”

The girls hopped into different cars, Shen Yu Qing sat in Jiang Ren’s car.

Jiang Ren with his feet on the break, his gaze turned to the girl quietly sitting in the corner, taking cover from the rain: “The one there……” He didn’t even know her name, “Get in, I’ll send you to the bus stop.”

Meng Ting looked up.

She still hasn’t gotten used to her eyes, it still felt a bit sore after using them for too long. But under the dark skies, she didn’t have to close her eyes shut.

Meng Ting shook her head: “Thank you, but it’s okay.”

“Get in, don’t let me repeat myself.” his tone sounding slightly annoyed.

Meng Ting was ready to reply, Shen Yu Qing poked her head out: “ You’re the girl with the weak eyes, right? get in.” she sounded relaxed, but her gaze said something else.

He Jun Ming was also taken aback. 

When was Boss Ren so kind, is he really caring for the disabled?

Meng Ting knows Jiang Ren’s personality, the more someone disobeyed him, the more persistent he’ll get. If she didn’t get in, his legs would never leave the break.

Jiang Ren was only 18 this year. He retained a grade, so he was older than his friends, and got his driving license way sooner. Everyone was looking at them, Meng Ting and Zhao Nuan Cheng had no other choice but to get in Jiang Ren’s car.

Even Zhao Nuan Cheng, who was usually very talkative, was terrified.

The whole car ride was dead silent.  S~ᴇaʀᴄh the ɴovᴇlꜰirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Shen Yu Qing knows that Jiang Ren has bipolar disorder, so she wouldn’t anger him on purpose.

As Jiang Ren drove, abruptly, a sweet voice came from behind: “We’ll get down at the station in front.”

The voice sounded like it was mixed with the sweetest honey, it also sounded like the water that flowed towards the old village down south he’s been visiting since young. Just the tone of her voice was distant and cold.

Jiang Ren tightened his grip on the wheel, smiling all of a sudden: “So you’re not really blind.”

As he spoke, he stepped on the accelerator and drove past the bus stop. Meng Ting started to panic, she got a hold on her walking stick, slightly restless. She didn’t do anything to him, why is he being so annoying.

Meng Ting looked towards Zhao Nuan Cheng beside her, she didn’t make a single sound.

Don’t take this disorder lightly, it’s pretty scary.

If he goes crazy……

The bunch got down at Little Harbour.

The sound of the rain can still be heard, the whole street was soaking wet. Night fell, and the city was covered with bright lights.

The sign of Little Harbour was brightly lit, shining in their eyes.

Meng Ting got down and stood at the entrance, Little Harbour was pretty far from her house, even if she hailed a cab, she wouldn’t have enough money to pay for it.

Jiang Ren with the keys hanging on his thumb said: “Good student, come in and have some fun.”

He shouted for them to enter, it wasn’t to seek their approval.

The big-sized bodyguards at the entrance all knew who he was, they bowed and greeted Master Ren. Jiang Ren smiled back rather coldly, the back of his hand still slightly sore. He thought that if they didn’t despise them, then they should play with them. 

Meng Ting understands clearly that if he didn’t get what he wanted, he wouldn’t give up, reluctantly, they both had to follow them in.

Sheng Yu Qing frantically stared at Meng Ting, the girls behind closed upon her and whispered: “ Yu Qing, don’t worry, I asked He Jun Ming, he said the blind girl hit Jiang Ren just now. On top of that, she’s just an ugly blind girl, Jiang Ren wouldn’t fall for her.” 

Sheng Yu Qing only started to feel better.

Compared to the chilly fall weather outside, Little Harbour was much warmer.

Meng Ting never came to a place like this before.

In her memories, her times with Jiang Ren was mostly only after her eyes had already recovered. He would constantly chase after her, and was never bothered by the fact he was always rejected. In the past, Jiang Ren tried so hard to make her happy, he wouldn’t have forced her to Little Harbour.  

The lighting inside was of a warm yellow tone, with luxuriously soft sofas.

There were a few game controllers on the table. One private room, mics, wine, a pool table, everything.

There were even meals and desserts on the bigger table.

Everyone went over to eat first.

“Boss Ren, cheers.”

The two touched glasses.

It was lively at the table, but Meng Ting and Zhao Nuan Cheng felt really out of place.

Jiang Ren looked over at Meng Ting, she was eating small scoops of rice, she looked uncomfortable, and sat rather upright.

She had a type of aura.

That made people both envious and also jealous.

Jiang Ren initiated: “Let’s play a game, the loser gets punished.”

Everyone agreed to his idea right as he started speaking.

It was a simple game, everyone counted off. Until number 7 or the multiple of 7, the person claps. The game went by very fast.

Jiang Ren looked over at Meng Ting, and counted where she was positioned, he shouted number 16.

The boy after him clapped.

When it was Meng Ting’s turn, she was supposed to be 21, but she didn’t know she had to participate in the game. Jiang Ren lit a cigarette as laid back: “Good student, you can proceed to the punishment box.”

Beside her was a huge box.

Meng Ting softly said: “I didn’t know I was playing too.” She hesitated, under everyone’s gaze, she lightly clapped. “Does this count?” 

The crowd fell silent, followed by He Jun Ming frantically laughing: “This is too funny, my tummy is going to explode.” Who even shyly claps after like a good few minutes.

Shen Yu Qing and her squad also couldn’t contain their laughter.

Fang Tan looked over at Jiang Ren, under the smoke, Jiang Ren’s eyes looked like they were smiling.

“You can’t, go draw one of the slips of paper and accept your punishment, be sporting.”

Meng Ting blushed, only realising how funny her slow reaction was.

She could also tell that Jiang Ren was fooling with her, he didn’t have any intentions to let her go.

She hesitated but still drew out one slip of paper over their loud shouting.

Meng Ting looked at the words on the paper clearly, she froze.

The girl beside her snatched the paper away from her and read out loud: “Pick a person of the opposite gender here and stare at each other for 10 seconds.”

Everyone got even more excited.

Meng Ting is blind.

This kind of flirtatious game, regardless of who she picked, the person would feel terrified.

He Jun Ming, seeing as she didn’t know where to look at: “Oh no oh no, don’t come here!”

Everyone laughed hysterically.

Zhao Nuan Cheng’s eyes turned red, she could tell that Ting Ting and her were being humiliated. She gritted her teeth: “Don’t push too far.”

Jiang Ren looked over, Zhao Nuan Cheng stopped talking.

Jiang Ren with his hands rested on the sofa, and his legs crossed, he stubbed his cigarette into the ashtray and said: “Come to me then. They’re all scared of you, I’m the only one left.

Someone already pushed Meng Ting towards him, she looked back, she could see a few girls snickering as they covered their mouths. Only Sheng Yu Qing didn’t look that good.

Meng Ting knows that if she didn’t satisfy Jiang Ren today, she’ll never get the chance to go home.

She slowly walked towards him and sat next to him.

Jiang Ren could smell that pleasant scent again.

It smelled like the pure fragrance of flowers after the rain.

She felt slightly unsettled, her voice sounded soft and gentle compared to the noise outside: “My eyes are not very good, can I not take off my glasses?”

He unexpectedly agreed.

And he was met with a pair of eyes, slightly blurred out from the faint black shades of the glasses. But he was near enough to her glasses, that he could see the shape of her eyes.

How can he describe what he was feeling now?

It was like the mountains, covered with mist after the rain. He could see her, but her beauty was blurred out.

10 seconds were tough for Meng Ting, she was facing the light, so her eyes slightly hurt and started to water.

Meng Ting walked away embarrassedly as soon as the 10 seconds were up, Zhao Nuan Cheng was on the verge of crying.

He Jun Ming was close to them, oblivious of the fact that the two girls from Seven High couldn’t take anymore from them, he softly asked Jiang Ren: “Boss Ren, how do you feel, was it scary?”

Jiang Ren suddenly sounded slightly frustrated, he pushed him away and said: “Get away from me.”

He got up and walked towards her: “Get up, I’ll send you home.”

Don’t cry, why are you crying, I didn’t even scold you.