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Chapter 496: Chapter 334 Landlord
In the afternoon, the athletic meet came to a temporary end.
Tonight, from freshmen to seniors, everyone was required to attend evening study at school.
So, Jiang Ning wouldn’t be going home for dinner.
He made a call to Xue Yuantong in her office, and she, not feeling hungry at all, declined the offer of a meal, giving Jiang Ning permission for some free time.
Indeed, through Divine Sense’s surveillance, Jiang Ning knew that Xue Yuantong had snacked all day.
"Teacher, let’s go," Jiang Ning said.
He had previously agreed with Guo Ran that he would treat her to dinner tonight.
"Do we not need to move these things?" Guo Ran asked, pointing to the Class 8 base with its tables, chairs, benches, and water dispenser.
Hu Jun, the life committee member, projected loudly, "Teachers, please go ahead, Jiang Ning is our class athlete and has made great contributions to the class. He shouldn’t have to do these petty tasks!"
"Leave these little chores to us!"
Hu Jun rallied the students to work.
The students on the field scattered and began to evacuate.
As dusk approached, the setting sun bathed the lawn, submerging people with stools in hand, carrying tables, and those chatting in pairs or groups, creating the scenery of an event’s end.
Yet everyone knew this was only a temporary departure, for tomorrow, the final events of the Sports Day would unfold.
Jiang Ning walked in the remnants of the setting sun, his body aglow with a golden sheen.
Guo Ran accompanied him, gazing at this scene with an indescribable feeling in her heart.
Immersed in the past, she didn’t notice its significance, but years later, seeing such a scene evoked different emotions.
Hadn’t she once been a participant in these sporting events?
Guo Ran exhaled deeply and mused:
"It’s wonderful."
How great would it be if life offered a chance to start over?
It was precisely this inexplicable mood that made her play along with Jiang Ning’s game.
She managed to recapture some of that carefree spirit from her student days.
Jiang Ning noticed her sentimentality and smiled, "Teacher, are you thinking about the past?"
Guo Ran candidly replied, "Yes, I really envy you guys. I’m telling you, you have to cherish your school days, it might be the happiest time of your life."
Jiang Ning: "It seems that with age, you’ve grown fond of giving lectures."
Guo Ran, upon hearing this, was tempted to give him a twist.
She was just about to slip into her teacher mode, ready to educate Jiang Ning, hoping he would take it to heart. Instead, he said that!
It left her caught in between, feeling like there was more to say.
...
Dinner was at a small restaurant owned by a couple who were quite nice. On rainy days, Jiang Ning would bring Xue Yuantong here to eat.
At the moment, there was only one table of customers in the store.
The Boss Lady greeted them warmly, familiar with Jiang Ning, a regular customer.
Jiang Ning found a corner table and sat down: "Boss, what do you recommend today?"
The Boss Lady suggested, "Try our sour cabbage fish. We make the sour cabbage ourselves, it’s authentic and clean, I assure you it’s different from what they sell outside."
Jiang Ning nodded, "I understand, many factory-made sour cabbages are dirty."
The Boss Lady’s chatterbox opened, "Exactly, they make so much at a time, and the workers even step on it with their shoes. If you saw how it’s made, you’d lose your appetite."
After talking for a bit, the Boss Lady said, "Our sour cabbage fish is a bit expensive, 38 yuan per serving, but it’s guaranteed to be satisfactory."
She made this recommendation knowing full well that Jiang Ning was not short on money.
Other students would spend at most around ten or so yuan on a meal.
Jiang Ning ordered, "One sour cabbage fish, and also one green pepper and egg dish, and the 3 yuan plain pancake."
The Boss Lady responded, "Alright, I’ll also give you a free bowl of mung bean soup."
They were regulars, and the Boss Lady knew how to do business.
Guo Ran watched Jiang Ning ordering with ease, suspecting that he must have come here often.
While waiting for their meal, students started to come in, and the restaurant gradually became more crowded.
The mung bean soup was served first, and Guo Ran, feeling thirsty, gulped down half a bowl.
After a moment, Guo Ran chose her words carefully, "Jiang Ning, this afternoon’s match was just a game I played with you."
"It was to help your class win that I cooperated with you."
As a young teacher who only started working last year, she understood high school boys quite well.
Worried that Jiang Ning might overthink, she felt the need to make it clear.
Although Jiang Ning had once saved her, giving her a special impression, he was too young for her, and she simply saw him as a younger brother to care for.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning’s gaze was calm and he naturally replied, "I know, it was just a game."
"Oh, okay," Guo Ran was relieved.
Suddenly, the atmosphere became slightly awkward.
Guo Ran felt uncomfortable, wishing she hadn’t spoken—after all, Jiang Ning understood.
What was the point of bringing it up, making it seem so formal?
No matter what, Guo Ran was still a girl in her early twenties, not quite adept at handling issues smoothly, her youthful idealism could make her seem naive.
Luckily, the Boss Lady arrived with their dishes.
The sour cabbage fish tasted great, smooth and delicious, and Guo Ran ate lots of the pancake. As they enjoyed their meal, the awkwardness faded away, and their previous rapport was restored.
The meal ended with Guo Ran’s lips tinged naturally red from the spice, as she leaned back to rest in her chair.
"Boss, the check, please," Jiang Ning called out.
The Boss Lady spontaneously replied, "That’ll be a total of 51 yuan, but I’ll round it down for you, let’s make it 50."
Guo Ran took the initiative to pay.
Although Jiang Ning had earlier declared he’d treat her to dinner, and she’d agreed in words, how could she actually let a student pay?
Jiang Ning had already taken out the money and said:
"Let me handle it this time."
"You’re here for the first time, it’s only right that I show some hospitality."
The Boss Lady watched the two, knowing from years of experience that a bit of insistence was necessary before the real payer would emerge. She had seen it all before and was used to it.
However, all she heard was Guo Ran assertively holding up 50 yuan and declaring, "I’ll be the generous host!"
