Cage

The next day.

Before evening self-study began, Xue Yuantong and Jiang Ning went outside the school together to buy some warm Iced Fermented Rice Wine.

It got dark early in winter. Though night had not fully fallen yet, the neon lights along both sides of the street were already lit.

The two walked beneath the dim sky and bright halos of light.

Just now, on the spacious main road through campus, Xue Yuantong had chirped nonstop. Now that they had reached a crowded place, Jiang Ning still felt her voice filling his ears, even though her little mouth was clearly shut.

As they continued forward and neared the fermented rice wine shop, she perked up again. "Jiang Ning, I want Iced Fermented Rice Wine with taro balls!"

Jiang Ning kept it simple. "Buy it!"

Xue Yuantong said, "Buy two cups!"

Jiang Ning said, "Four cups!"

Xue Yuantong was delighted. "I get three cups?"

Jiang Ning denied it. "No. One is for Chen Siyu, and one is for Bai Yuxia."

Xue Yuantong recalled how Bai Yuxia had looked slightly dazed after seeing the class's overall rankings that afternoon. She felt that Bai Yuxia really did deserve some comfort.

As for Siyu? That idiot could use some food to make up for her pitiful IQ! The Iced Fermented Rice Wine shop consisted of only one room and stood near a small crossroads. Next door had once been a Wonton shop, but it had gone out of business. A sign on the wall read, "Prime Storefront for Rent."

Xue Yuantong's little mind wandered. "Why does every shop being transferred always like to label itself a prime storefront for rent?"

Jiang Ning said, "Because society is dangerous, and people are full of lies."

Xue Yuantong nodded. "Oh, oh."

The Wonton shop's doors were open.