Chapter 23: Skipping Class to Go Skating
"Taking a break? Aren’t we supposed to have class?" Chen Tianlong was taken aback and asked.
"We have two consecutive math classes, but the math teacher took a leave, so we’re on self-study. Besides, I said I’d repay you, so this time I’ll skip class to accompany you for a chill time."
"This..."
"Hmm?"
"Couldn’t ask for more!"
Wu Mengting initially thought Chen Tianlong was unwilling, but suddenly saw him grin widely, clearly very eager, and her heart filled with joy.
"Alright, wait for me downstairs at the girls’ dormitory for a bit. I need to grab something," Wu Mengting looked down at her school uniform and smiled wryly.
Chen Tianlong nodded.
Ten minutes later.
"Chen Tianlong, can you not smoke, at least when I’m around?"
A familiar voice suddenly came again. Sitting on the bench downstairs of the girls’ dormitory, Chen Tianlong turned his head sharply and saw Wu Mengting approaching excitedly with a small bag.
"Meng...Mengting!"
Seeing Wu Mengting had changed from her school uniform into casual attire, looking much prettier than before, he was stunned for a moment and immediately threw the cigarette butt to the ground and stomped it out.
"Didn’t you say you were skipping class? You should at least do it professionally. Isn’t it embarrassing to go out in a school uniform?" Wu Mengting glanced at Chen Tianlong impatiently.
"Oh, I see." Looking at the beauty before him, Chen Tianlong was instantly a bit excited.
"Oh, hurry up, if the authorities see us, we won’t even get a chance to escape." Wu Mengting chuckled bitterly, grabbed Chen Tianlong’s hand, and they ran to the school gate.
At this moment, Chen Tianlong was stunned.
Though they had held hands the previous night while pretending to be a couple, that was acting. Now, this was a normal situation, wasn’t it? A beautiful girl holding someone’s hand like this, didn’t she know the consequences could be serious?
Chen Tianlong murmured in his heart, but the beauty acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to hold his hand as they walked forward.
When they reached the school gate, Wu Mengting suddenly realized and quickly let go of Chen Tianlong’s hand, her face flushed as she said, "Let’s go grab a taxi to the city center; there’s an ice skating rink there. A friend said it’s super fun."
"Mhm." Chen Tianlong was too focused on the beauty to pay attention to what she was saying.
However, Wu Mengting had no guard against Chen Tianlong’s intense gaze, as if he were an old friend she trusted completely.
They hailed a taxi and soon arrived at the city center ice skating rink.
This rink was the largest in South Sea, but Wu Mengting didn’t know if Chen Tianlong was skilled at skating or if he was like her, just half-skilled, so they chose a smaller rink. They rented a pair of ice skates, and Chen Tianlong helped Wu Mengting onto the rink.
"By the way, Wu Mengting, are you good at skating?" Chen Tianlong suddenly asked.
Wu Mengting shook her head.
"Then why did you bring me skating!" Chen Tianlong replied, a bit speechless.
"Because I think skating can make people forget their sadness through speed and thrill," Wu Mengting replied with a sweet smile, her voice as gentle and sweet as a nightingale, melting Chen Tianlong’s heart instantly.
"Alright then, let me teach you. Try standing up now!" Chen Tianlong replied with a faint smile.
"Chen Tianlong, you don’t need to worry about me. Go ahead and skate; I’ll just learn slowly." Wu Mengting didn’t want to embarrass herself by falling, so she intentionally sent him away.
"Haha, alright then, I’m off."
Chen Tianlong hadn’t skated in a long time, and feeling a bit down, he decided to just enjoy himself. He skated towards the crowd quickly, feeling a sense of relaxation.
In school, listening to teachers drone on all day left him dizzied and stressed. Now, finally relaxed, it felt truly refreshing.
Wu Mengting secretly watched Chen Tianlong weaving through the crowd, smiling, feeling a rare moment of happiness.
Determined to keep up, Wu Mengting decided to give standing up a try. Unexpectedly, after skating less than two meters, she crashed onto the ice.
Regaining her composure, she quickly stood up and, seeing that no one had noticed, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, pretty girl, did you hurt yourself? Let me help you up!"
Suddenly, three or five young guys jumped down from the sidelines, looking like students. Some were even wearing school uniform pants, which were quite conspicuous.
However, it was obvious that this wasn’t their school’s uniform but from South Sea No.5 Middle School.
South Sea No.5 Middle School was notoriously a third-rate high school where students generally had poor behavior, often engaging in smoking, drinking, and creating a chaotic atmosphere.
Wu Mengting had also heard that many girls there were involved in selling themselves, and several rape cases had occurred on campus, which made her shiver at the thought.
"Don’t touch me!"
Clearly a bit scared, Wu Mengting found herself facing five guys with even more sitting on the sidelines, totaling over ten. These guys had tattoos and looked like they mixed with some gangsters.
Indeed, the two notorious bullies from South Sea No.5 Middle School had come onto the ice. Skipping class to come to the rink, not just to skate, but also to hit on women.
After tiring of the good-looking ones in their school, they wanted to find fresh meat outside and couldn’t believe they’d run into such a prime catch at the rink.
And this exquisite catch was none other than South Sea No.1 Middle School’s top school beauty. While they could be forgiven for not recognizing others, not knowing the top school beauty of No.1 Middle School, who was the object of their daily fantasies, was impossible.
"Haha, school beauty, out here all alone, right? Let us keep you company, you’re surely feeling lonely, aren’t you?"
Xu Hao grinned wickedly, starting to extend his devilish hand.
This guy was the younger brother of Xu Wei from the senior remedial class at No.1 Middle School.
Seeing this, Wu Mengting hurriedly tried to get up, but wearing ice skates, she fell again after only taking a couple of steps.
In pain, Wu Mengting cried out into the crowd, "Chen Tianlong, help me!"
"Chen Tianlong? Haha, you mean that newbie fool? Perfect, let’s bring him over to see what real toughness looks like!"
Xu Hao laughed arrogantly. His brother was Hao Jian’s right-hand man, well-known on the streets and very skilled, making him naturally proud.
Chen Tianlong was having a blast with the beauties when he suddenly heard Wu Mengting’s shout. He immediately looked up and saw a group surrounding her, causing his anger to flare up.
"Get away from me; I don’t know you all!"
Wu Mengting waved her arms to keep them at bay, but these guys just wanted to cop a feel while they had the chance, not letting the opportunity slip away.
Especially Xu Hao, who didn’t care if Chen Tianlong was there or not, preparing to take her.
Suddenly, everyone heard a "swish" sound. Raising their heads, Xu Hao felt a sharp pain in his head, flipping over several times on the ice before landing unconscious.