Infinite Ebullience-Chapter 1021 - 4 Junior High School Classmates
"After you finish your meal, please leave. I want some time alone," Li Xinlan said, no longer feeling an appetite. She turned to head back to the bedroom. ππ»πππππ«π£π€πππ΅.ππ€π’
"Donβt. Eating alone is too lonely," Tang Zheng caught Xin Lanβs arm. "Didnβt we say weβd stop? Canβt you resist anymore?"
"Youβre the one who canβt resist!" Li Xinlan knew Tang Zheng was just trying to cheer her up but still gave him a stern look and pinched his armature, "Let go."
"Then hurry up and eat, and afterwards, we can go to the mall and thoroughly enjoy life."
Ultimately, the two of them did head out together. After all, Li Xinlan was looking forward to it as well, and she had taken great care with her appearance, fussing for a full half hour. Even going to work in the past had not elicited such an effort.
"Donβt laugh. A woman getting dolled up is only natural!" After last night, the married woman felt much closer to Tang Zheng.
"Iβm not laughing. My lips just cracked, thatβs all," Tang Zheng said, trying to hold the married womanβs hand, but she dodged it, "Xin Lan, youβre truly beautiful."
"So cheesy," Li Xinlan picked up her pace, leaving Tang Zheng behind.
...
"Zhi Jian, does this outfit make my stomach look too big?" A dowdy, misshapen matron, scoring at most a forty-five in her looks, held up a garment in front of the fitting mirror, her face filled with anticipation as she sought the opinion of her boyfriend, a man a full twenty-two years her junior.
"Not at all, you look good in everything," Yin Zhijian smiled and complimented Song Tong, while his gaze lingered on her protruding belly, feeling nauseated inside. He couldnβt help the slander: nothing you wear can hide that flab on your belly. But he dared not voice these thoughts, or heβd be out on his ass tomorrow, and once again, penniless and destitute.
"Stop it, youβre just sweet talking" Song Tong loved the flattery, though regrettably the foundation on her smiling face was flaking off.
Yin Zhijianβs polite smile remained, only daring to sneak glances at the women passing by in the mall when Song Tong wasnβt looking. Otherwise, if she caught him, another round of berating would be inevitable.
"Tsk, such a beautiful married woman!" Yin Zhijian caught sight of Li Xinlan. Her voluptuous figure made him involuntarily swallow hard, then, enviously, he glanced at the man by her side and froze, "Tang Zheng?"
"What are you staring at?" Song Tong turned her head and saw Yin Zhijian eyeing a married woman intently. Angered, she marched over and grabbed his ear, "Is she prettier than me?"
"How could she be prettier than you?" Yin Zhijian hurriedly explained, "I was looking at the man. He seems like a junior high school classmate of mine."
The nearby sales clerks chuckled under their breath, pointing and whispering, causing Yin Zhijian immense embarrassment. However, the most urgent task was to cool down Song Tongβs anger to avoid another night of mistreatment.
"Really? Is it that guy wearing sportswear?" Song Tong immediately brightened when she saw the dashing Tang Zheng.
"Yes." Yin Zhijian felt a sense of impending doom, sensing the strong crisis. But it was too late; Song Tong had already started walking over. This wealthy woman didnβt care if it was a junior high classmate or not. Seeing such a man, she naturally wanted to strike up a conversation.
"Hello, I am Yin Zhijianβs friend." Song Tong extended her hand, subtly examining Tang Zheng. Although it was early spring and still a bit chilly, the man in front of her wore nothing over his sportswear besides a white, tight undershirt which outlined his muscular frame all too clearly, looking so well-built that Song Tong nearly wanted to bite into him.
"Yin Zhijian?" Tang Zheng looked past Song Tongβs shoulder to his junior high classmate and smiled, greeting him, "Long time no see."
"Is this your girlfriend?" Yin Zhijian said with an awkward smile. How could he not understand what Song Tong was up to? So he tried to clarify the relationship status between Tang Zheng and his companion, hoping to make Song Tong back off. Of course, he was also quite interested in Li Xinlan. Getting her phone number would be even better.
"Yes!"
Hearing Tang Zhengβs unabashed response, the three had different thoughts running through their minds. Li Xinlan felt a profound sense of happiness.
Song Tong was jealous, appraising the married woman from head to toe, considering her looks and dress, calculating how likely she was to snatch Tang Zheng away.
Yin Zhijian kept his expression neutral, glancing at Li Xinlan, his heart filled with envy and jealousy. Why was fate so unfair?
"Didnβt you go to a Key High School? So, what happened, didnβt get into University?" Yin Zhijian sought to find a sense of superiority, for he would go mad without it.
"I dropped out," Tang Zheng didnβt hide the fact.
"Oh, it seems things havenβt been going your way either!" Yin Zhijian puffed out his chest, displaying what he thought was his most charming smile, convinced Tang Zheng was probably just like him, working as a duck, and thus his impression of Li Xinlan soured even more.
"Another cheap woman," Yin Zhijian cursed inwardly.
"Whatβs the matter? Financial troubles at home?" Song Tong felt her chance was coming. Yin Zhijian had a good height and looks, or else she wouldnβt have kept him. But compared to Tang Zheng, he just became so unimpressive, not catching her eye at all, "Weβre all friends here; I can help you."
"I forgot to introduce her, sheβs my girlfriend," Yin Zhijian blurted out in panic, no longer caring about being laughed at, as he quickly clarified their relationship. Song Tong was his cash cow; losing her would mean he could end up homeless.
"Who is your girlfriend?" On hearing this, Song Tong reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, screeching instantly. She still wanted to play the lady, otherwise how could she hook Tang Zheng?
"Tong Jie, you canβt be like this," Yin Zhijian was frustrated, but before he could finish his sentence, Song Tong slapped him across the face.
"Shut up." Song Tong didnβt take Yin Zhijian seriously at all. What was it to her if she hit or scolded him? If she broke him, she could just find another. She had grown tired of such spineless men long ago.
"Looks like you have some issues, letβs talk next time we meet," Tang Zheng frowned, pulling Xin Lan to leave, but he clearly underestimated Song Tongβs daring.
"Whatβs the hurry? Itβs not often we classmates meet. Letβs have a meal together; my treat," Song Tong launched her money attack, glancing at Xin Lan, "Do you like this piece of clothing? Come on, take it, itβs my gift to you."
"No need." Tang Zheng saw Song Tong about to swipe her card, grabbed her wrist, "Iβll pay."
"What are you pretending for? Arenβt you just a gigolo kept by a rich woman?" Watching Song Tongβs gaze at Tang Zheng, nearly devouring him, and knowing her fickle nature, Yin Zhijian knew he was finished. With rage, loss, and jealousy surging, he exploded, roaring out loud.
"Show some respect," Li Xinlan would not allow anyone to slander Tang Zheng like that, but her words only drew more cursing from Yin Zhijian.
"Shut up, cheap woman. I saw you just a few days ago in the club toilet messing around with another man, pretending to be such a pure married lady," Yin Zhijian was plainly defaming; he wanted to throw dirt on everyone, "Youβre so old; no man would like you if you werenβt rich."
By this time, some twenty customers had gathered around to watch the conflict. In their opinion, Yin Zhijian was wrong; judging by the ladyβs appearance, many men would pay for just a glance from her.
"You..." Li Xinlan was so angry her face turned red and she was about to cry. What if Tang Zheng believed all this? And that word "old" hurt her deeply.
"I have photos; this is the evidence!" Yin Zhijian was skilled at manipulating peopleβs hearts; otherwise, he wouldnβt have been the one closest to Song Tong for so long. His statements would lead the onlookers to subconsciously believe he was right, but, unfortunately, he no longer had the chance to spout foul language.
Tang Zheng punched Yin Zhijian in the mouth, sending him reeling, spitting out five bloodstained teeth, his mouth corner split open.
The onlookers screamed, some people cheered, while the sales clerks made phone calls for security guards.
"So you canβt keep spreading lies and hurting people, and so you wonβt need to talk anymore either," Tang Zheng moved quickly, grabbing Yin Zhijianβs chin, and then exerted force, crushing his jawbone.
The sound of bones crunching shattered the silence, leaving only Yin Zhijianβs distorted moans from his throat resonating in the eerie quiet.
"Stop it!" had Li Xinlan not grabbed Tang Zhengβs arm, Yin Zhijianβs tongue might have been torn out.
"How much strength that must take!" Song Tong didnβt care about Yin Zhijianβs well-being, her eyes fixed on Tang Zhengβs long fingers, yearning for his touch.
"Trash!" Although there hadnβt been much interaction since junior high school, the happiness of seeing an old classmate was there; however, Yin Zhijianβs behavior completely ruined Tang Zhengβs mood.
"Everybody stop, the police have been called!" Security guards from the mall rushed up, taking control of the situation. Seeing Yin Zhijianβs twisted jaw, their original intent to subdue Tang Zheng paused; those who lacked insight couldnβt continue there.
Looking at Li Xinlanβs tear-filled eyes, Tang Zheng felt a burst of rage and kicked Yin Zhijian in the stomach. The latter slid across the floor for more than ten meters.
"Whatβs the call for police? Letβs settle this privately." This was an opportunity for Song Tong to show her worth, and she wouldnβt let it pass. She had noticed that Xin Lanβs clothes were quite ordinary, definitely not those of a rich person, so they must need her.
"Itβs not necessary," Tang Zheng declined. As a fearless man, he couldnβt lose face over such matters.
"Tang Zheng, what are you doing?" Mu Nianqi had no classes today, and as she was shopping with a friend, she got drawn over by the crowd. Discovering it was Tang Zheng, she saw it as a chance to reconnect. She wanted to retrieve those missing memories. She had hidden some information that someone had partially destroyed. There was much missing, and pressed by Tang Zhengβs craftiness and caution, she had not taken action recently.
"No need," Tang Zheng looked into Mu Nianqiβs eyes, reassured she didnβt remember him using the Memory Eraser on her.
"Heβs watching me, this detestable man, hmm? Heβs even looking at my chest. Hmph, last time he knocked me out with a chop of his hand, he mustβve taken advantage of touching my body," Mu Nianqi displayed perfect acting while internally railing against Tang Zheng with an onslaught of slander and bitter resentment.
