Read Novel Full Chapter 108 Part 2 – The Power of Knowledge (II)
Chapter 108 Part 2 – The Power of Knowledge (II)
Ear-Piercing Girl froze. “How did you know we were trying to lure Han Haoyan out?”
Xia Mian tilted her head and said, “Isn’t it obvious? Since you can’t catch him, you’re trying to draw him in.”
Fan Xiaoman had her hands in her pockets, squinting at her coldly. “You know quite a lot.”
Xia Mian smiled. “What can I say—I just happened to hear all about your thrilling little drama.”
Fan Xiaoman tossed her cigarette butt and ground it out with clear irritation. “We won’t lay a hand on you.”
“But you’d better behave. If you try to run, next time we catch you, we won’t be so nice. Or do you want us blocking your way to school every day?”
“Blocking school’s a no-go,” Xia Mian said seriously. “I’m not going to run. I’m the type who likes to get things straight.”
“Where are we waiting? Right here?”
They clearly hadn’t expected her to be so cooperative and were momentarily stunned.
Eventually, Fan Xiaoman said, “We’re going to our school.”
…
It was summer break. Besides the old man guarding the gate, the No. 14 High was deserted. The wide-open sports field had basically turned into a prime meetup spot for delinquents to settle scores.
Xia Mian looked at the tall wall in front of her. It was covered in dents and scuff marks—clearly the students here treated the wall as their main entrance.
Two of the boys smoothly climbed up and perched on top of the wall. Another one brought over two bricks and snapped at Xia Mian, “Up!”
Seems like Tian Xueya had left them quite a lasting trauma—these people were wary and openly hostile toward Xia Mian, yet still kind of polite.
Climbing was out of the question, obviously. Xia Mian glanced down at her ankle-length Bohemian dress—something Ning Shaoyun had picked up for her on a beach trip. It was soft, flowy, and completely matched a little angel’s image. She adored it.
Besides, what little angel climbs a wall?
“We’re heading to the field, right?” Xia Mian tilted her head, thinking. “Last time Tian Xueya ran off… or was it you guys who got caught off guard by Han Haoyan?”
Ear-Piercing Girl widened her eyes. “How do you know that?”
Xia Mian said, “You went through all this trouble to choose a spot like this not just to prevent me from running, but to keep an eye on anyone approaching, right? Must’ve been burned once already.”
Ponytail Girl said, “How do you know everything?”
Xia Mian beamed. “Read more books, and you’ll understand.”
The gang: “…”
They felt personally attacked!？”
Fan Xiaoman sneered, “All that reading—does it even help you get over the wall?”
“Get moving, or I’ll have them tie you up and toss you in.”
“No need for that,” Xia Mian said. “How about you all go in first? I’ll meet you inside.”
“Are you kidding me?” snapped the tall, skinny guy who had been quiet until now. He was getting impatient. “Just climb already!”
As he moved forward to grab her, Xia Mian didn’t even flinch. “Touch me, and when Han Haoyan gets here, I’ll tell him everything. Then your ‘brother-in-law’ is definitely going to break up with your boss. You sure that’s what you want?”
The guy froze—apparently not expecting that kind of threat to come out of a seemingly good girl’s mouth. He glanced at Fan Xiaoman.
Fan Xiaoman was briefly stunned too, then snapped impatiently, “Come on, we stacked bricks for you. Even a pig could get in!”
“I never said I wouldn’t go in,” Xia Mian said, looking around before walking toward the school gate. “Relax, I keep my word. You go in first—I’ll be right behind.”
Before they could stop her, she jogged off. When they saw she was heading for the school gate, they didn’t give chase—if the old man caught them, that’d be a whole other problem.
So they watched in disbelief as Xia Mian walked up to the front gate, chatted briefly with the old man, and then waltzed in smiling after he opened the gate.
Ear-Piercing Girl looked stunned. “She actually got in…”
The skinny guy was equally baffled. “Is this girl out of her mind?”
Ponytail Girl suddenly said, “Maybe Han Haoyan really does like her?” She couldn’t help thinking Xia Mian was pretty cool.
Ear-Piercing Girl pinched her. Fan Xiaoman didn’t say anything. Hands in her pockets, she turned around and said, “Let’s go in.”
By the time they’d each climbed over the wall, Xia Mian was already strolling leisurely across the school grounds with her hands behind her back, casually inspecting the place.
Ear-Piercing Girl couldn’t hold it in. “How did you get in?”
Xia Mian tilted her head thoughtfully. “The power of knowledge?”
Everyone: “…”
Again with that personal attack!
“Bullsh*t,” Ponytail Girl snapped. “What’d you tell the old man? He hates trouble—super strict. Never lets anyone in.”
“I told you—it’s knowledge,” Xia Mian said. “I obviously look like a studious girl hungry for learning. All I said was that I needed to come in and grab an important study guide, and he opened the door.”
She looked at them and sighed. “See? That’s why you need to read more books. With enough knowledge, you can go anywhere you want.”
“Cut the crap!” the tall, skinny guy snapped. “To the field.”
Xia Mian followed them toward the sports field. It was a decent distance from both the main gate and the classroom buildings—any noise from a scuffle here would hardly attract unwanted attention. As they walked, Xia Mian curiously asked Fan Xiaoman, “Did you call him already? How long will we have to wait?”
Fan Xiaoman lit another cigarette. “He’s at the library with that Tian Xueya. Normally, he should be here in half an hour or so… depends on how important you are to him.”
“Important, huh,” Xia Mian chuckled. “You guys have been watching too many movies? What is this, a hostage kidnapping?”
Fan Xiaoman gave her a glance. The girl didn’t have a single trace of being detained and looked more like she was tagging along with them for fun.
Strangely, she didn’t feel the same burning irritation she’d felt the last time they had cornered Tian Xueya.
“So what happens when he gets here?” Xia Mian asked. “Are you going to apologize? Ah, perhaps you want to properly explain yourself to him?”
Ear-Piercing Girl’s eyes widened. “How do you know again?”
“Unfortunately, I know Tian Xueya,” Xia Mian said, smiling sweetly. “She’s got the kind of personality that just makes people want to slap her.”
“And she loves making things up. If there’s even a hint of something, she’ll turn one into a hundred.”
“Since you’re misunderstood, of course you’d want to explain.”
“Exactly!” Ear-Piercing Girl immediately joined in with righteous indignation. “We just slapped her twice, and then she saw our brother-in-law and started clutching her stomach like she couldn’t walk, even fainted! In the end, our brother-in-law had to carry her away!”
“Next time I see her, I should just break her legs!”
Xia Mian laughed loudly. “I’d advise against that. Two slaps already cost Han Haoyan an entire summer. If you break her legs, you might cost him a lifetime.”
Ear-Piercing Girl was startled, realized Xia Mian had a point, and got annoyed. “Then what do we do? We can’t even touch her?”
Xia Mian shrugged—that wasn’t her business.
Fan Xiaoman gave her a look. “You really don’t like Han Haoyan?”
“Nope.” Xia Mian found a flat boulder, wiped it clean, and sat down. She asked curiously, “Why do you like him? Love at first sight?”
Fan Xiaoman gave Xia Mian another look. There was no mockery or fear in her eyes—just genuine interest in the question.
It reminded her of Han Haoyan. The first time he met her, he’d had that same bright, sunny smile. Clearly someone from a completely different world than hers. And yet, when he looked at her, there was no disdain or avoidance of her delinquent image. In his eyes, she was just a normal, maybe even cute, girl.
When she found out that he was also a top student, she couldn’t help falling for him.
But of course, Fan Xiaoman wasn’t about to say all that out loud. She just said simply, “I don’t know. I just do.”
Ear-Piercing Girl added, “Our brother-in-law’s good-looking and treats people well.”
“There are lots of good-looking, kind guys.” Xia Mian pointed at the skinny guy. “Isn’t he handsome too? Looks good enough. Why don’t you like him?”
“That’s different,” Ear-Piercing Girl replied, but couldn’t say how exactly.
“Alright then.” Xia Mian didn’t press it and instead asked Fan Xiaoman, “So once you liked him, what if he doesn’t like you back? Or say he does accept you… then what?”
“If he doesn’t, Sis will just keep chasing,” Ear-Piercing Girl grinned. “And if he gives in, then of course they’ll start dating. What else?”
“Your Sis has been chasing him all summer and still hasn’t caught him. Clearly, that method doesn’t work.” Xia Mian smiled. “You know why Han Haoyan hasn’t outright rejected you?”
Fan Xiaoman frowned.
Xia Mian said, “Because he knows your persistence won’t last past summer. There’s no need to waste energy dealing with it. Once school starts, you won’t even see him again.”
Ear-Piercing Girl and Ponytail Girl both turned pale. Fan Xiaoman’s gaze toward Xia Mian grew sharper.
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