Chapter Thirty-Four: Invitation to the Family Banquet

Early the next morning, Jiang Hong and Wang Yanan noticed that their son, uncharacteristically, was still fast asleep. They didn't wake him. Knowing he'd been obsessively coding for days, they let him rest, quietly leaving for work.

When Jiang Xiwen finally awoke, it was already eleven o'clock. After showering, he found himself idle, and recalled he hadn't seen Gong Xiang in quite some time, so he decided to head to school. Just then, the phone rang at home. He answered, hearing a somewhat familiar voice, but it wasn't until the caller explained their purpose that he remembered the young man he'd met in the hospital—the one who had given him those trousers.

"Since Zhang Ya has invited me, I'll definitely attend. Saturday evening at six, Building Seven, Unit Two, third floor in the Municipal Committee Compound, correct?"

"That's right. I won't disturb you further. Goodbye."

It turned out Zhang Ya had explained everything to her parents, and her father decided to invite Jiang Xiwen for a family meal to thank him for saving his daughter.

Thinking of Zhang Ya's mother's demeanor, Jiang Xiwen was hesitant. But learning that Zhang Ya lived in Building Seven of the Committee Compound, he was tempted. His father, Jiang Hong, had once told him that Building Seven was reserved for top municipal leaders—cadres at deputy prefecture level or higher.

A flash of insight struck Jiang Xiwen. Zhang Ya's father must be at least a deputy mayor. If those criminals weren't after money, they were surely targeting Zhang Ya’s father. Gong Xiang’s father was just a section chief in the city’s Education Bureau, with limited authority and modest means. The gang first tried to kidnap Gong Xiang, then went after Zhang Ya—there must be a connection.

Gong Xiang was his friend, and, after getting to know Zhang Ya, he didn't dislike her as much as before. He had to figure out what was going on. The frustration he'd felt in the hospital had made him want to ignore the matter, but now he realized that if the criminals weren't motivated by money, they might attempt another kidnapping. Since he was heading to school anyway, he could ask Zhang Ya.

Logically, if Zhang Ya had reported everything to the detectives, they should have come to question him. Yet, four days had passed as if nothing had happened, which puzzled Jiang Xiwen even more.

He soon arrived at No. 2 Middle School. The rush of students had passed, and the campus was quiet. Entering Class Four of Grade Three, where he hadn't been for a while, he found only a few classmates engrossed in their lunchboxes.

"Jiang Xiwen? Finally, you’re here! Has your novel been updated?" The first to spot him blurted out the question, eyes gleaming with enthusiasm, almost like a lover seeing their beloved.

"What novel? You guys read it too?!" Jiang Xiwen was surprised. "Did you all go to the computer lab?"

"We didn’t get a chance," another classmate explained, approaching with even more fervor, like Zhong Ziqi meeting Yu Boya. "Gong Xiang printed a copy of your novel, and at least half the class read it. Unfortunately, Tan Yutou confiscated it in the end. If you have new chapters, don’t be stingy!"

A chubby classmate lifted his head from his lunchbox, wiped his greasy mouth, and shouted, "What? Xiwen’s here? Where? Give me an update!" Like a zombie from Resident Evil spotting a living human—utterly terrifying.

That birdbrain Gong Xiang pirated my book! Jiang Xiwen could only reply helplessly, "I haven’t written for days. When I have time, I’ll write more."

With that, he hurried out of the classroom. Demanding updates is a joy when you have drafts, but a pain when you’re at your limits.

Jiang Xiwen understood this, so he quickly escaped, and sure enough, he heard lingering cries behind him, "You’d better hurry... hurry… hurry..."

Zhang Ya wasn’t there, nor was Gong Xiang, so Jiang Xiwen headed for the computer lab—Qi Fatty was sure to be there.

Passing the flower path in No. 2 Middle School, a voice called from behind, "Jiang Xiwen, long time no see. That English phrase you told me last time—what exactly was it? I remember what you said to Teacher Zhao was different from what you told me. No matter how I think, I can’t figure it out."

He turned to see Ning Yan, her face set with determination, looking at him expectantly.

"You mean you’ve been thinking about it for almost three weeks?" Jiang Xiwen was speechless, surprised by the persistence of this cold girl.

"Of course. How could I lose to someone as frail as you?" Ning Yan replied. "I’m not asking you to give me the answer, but since it’s been so long, I hope you’ll repeat that English phrase."

"Hey, kid, lend us some money," two students, half a head taller than Jiang Xiwen, shuffled over, hunched and twitching in a manner that seemed calculated to look like thugs.

Do I have a face that attracts muggers? Jiang Xiwen laughed bitterly.

Ning Yan’s face was cold. This scene was a replay of their first year—a time when Jiang Xiwen, terrified, was about to hand over his money, only for her appearance to save him from loss.

It happened again. In Ning Yan’s mind, Jiang Xiwen was always weak. After successfully outwitting Extinction Wen, she admired him but wasn’t convinced. Then, in English tutoring, he bested her again. If someone else had outdone her academically, she wouldn’t have cared; she never sought to be top. But this was Jiang Xiwen—a boy she saw as weak in every way—so she was relentless, determined to best him.

"So, if I help you teach them a lesson, you’ll repeat that English phrase?" Ning Yan tilted her chin.

"Deal!" Jiang Xiwen nodded, then said to the thugs, "Hey, we don’t have money. Want to rob us for something else instead?"

He pointed at Ning Yan. His mentality had changed since first year—Old Seven wasn’t even his match, let alone these two. He deliberately teased Ning Yan, curious to see if her fighting skills were as formidable as those Wang Wu had taught him.

"Shut up!" Ning Yan snapped, a little annoyed. Three weeks ago, she’d just built up immunity to Jiang Xiwen’s nonsense, but time had worn it down.

"You little punk, looking for trouble…" The thugs' standard opening, but just as two years ago, before they could finish, Ning Yan kicked one in the knee, sending him howling to the ground.

"Wow!" Jiang Xiwen was mildly surprised. He remembered Ning Yan was tough, but never saw her moves clearly. Even if he had, those years had blurred the memory. Now, watching afresh, he noticed her force, angle, and ruthlessness were just like what Wang Wu taught.

"Hmph!" Ning Yan heard Jiang Xiwen’s exclamation, assuming he was scared again, feeling both triumphant and a little contemptuous.