Chapter 29: I, South Star, Am Not to Be Trifled With

Nan Xing: "Low-carbon travel, cherishing our home, it is everyone's responsibility, and it begins with me."

Xi Meng: "..."

Waving her hand to fan away the exhaust fumes left by the taxi, Xi Meng said with disdain, "I really pity you. Almost every time you go to or from school, you have to squeeze onto a bus with a whole crowd of people. It’s smelly and suffocating. And even if you do take a taxi, you end up in one that’s this beat-up."

"Unlike me, my boyfriend drives a luxury car to pick me up and drop me off every day, and he even buys me breakfast."

As she spoke, Xi Meng shook the handbag in her hand. "Here, my boyfriend just bought this for me. Nan Xing, guess how much this bag costs?"

"Not interested."

Nan Xing replied with an indifferent attitude, shrugged, and walked inside.

Seeing that Nan Xing was too embarrassed to talk to her, Xi Meng felt great and followed closely behind.

"Why are you walking so fast? I’m not going to laugh at you for not knowing quality. Let me tell you, this bag is an Hermes. You must have heard of Hermes, right? It is... hey, hey, Nan Xing, wait for me!"

Xi Meng was wearing a pair of sky-high heels, and Nan Xing was walking so quickly that there was no way for her to keep up. A moment later, a cry of "Ouch!" came from behind, and Xi Meng froze in place.

It turned out that the thin heel of Xi Meng’s left shoe had become wedged into the wire mesh of a square sewer grate about the size of a palm, and no matter how she pulled, she couldn't get it out.

Nan Xing, ten steps away, stopped and looked back, smiling without showing her teeth.

As the saying goes, those who commit many injustices are doomed to self-destruction.

The young girl looked away, hummed a little tune, and headed straight for the girls' dormitory building.

"Ah, Mengmeng, what happened to you?"

At the same time, a shocked voice rang out by Xi Meng's ear.

At this time of day, most students were in class, and the campus was quiet. As graduating students, Nan Xing’s class had been recalled for an internship mobilization meeting.

Xi Meng looked up and, the moment she saw Nan Zhen'er, she felt as if she had seen a savior. Tears streamed down her face. "Zhen'er, save me."

Nan Zhen'er stuffed her phone into her bag, grabbed Xi Meng’s arms with both hands, and used every ounce of her strength to pull her out.

However, Xi Meng’s shoe was completely ruined, as the heel had snapped off.

"It’s all that cursed Nan Xing’s fault! If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be this unlucky!" Xi Meng sat on the ground, clutching her shoe pitifully.

Now, she would have to spend money to buy another pair.

Another expense!

"You just saw Nan Xing?"

"Yes, she came to school in a beat-up taxi today."

Xi Meng managed to force her foot back into the shoe and, supported by Nan Zhen'er, walked toward the campus convenience store.

Nan Zhen'er sneered coldly, "She didn't come back all night yesterday. Who knows where she went to mess around? Maybe she was off doing something unspeakable."

"How do you know she didn't come back?" Xi Meng asked, looking suspicious.

Nan Zhen'er’s eyes darted around. She suddenly remembered that Xi Meng still didn’t know that Nan Xing was the eldest daughter of the Nan family. However, she didn't intend to reveal Nan Xing's background; she didn't want others to know she had a poor relative from the countryside.

Nan Zhen'er shook her head. "No, I just heard. I saw her hugging and kissing a man at the hospital a while back."

"No way, even someone like Nan Xing can get a man..."

Xi Meng looked as if she had heard the greatest joke in the world. Her jaw nearly hit the ground, and her face was full of disbelief.

Nan Zhen'er curled her lip. "Who knows? She must be good at bed tricks."

The two of them were shamelessly bad-mouthing Nan Xing behind her back. But as they walked into the daily necessities section of the convenience store and looked up, they were met with a pair of sharp, peach-blossom eyes.

On her way to the dormitory, Nan Xing had been asked by a roommate to pick up a pack of sanitary napkins. She was in the middle of choosing a brand when she heard the unbearable conversation between Xi Meng and Nan Zhen'er.

Nan Xing smiled casually. Just as the two of them thought Nan Xing wouldn't dare do anything to them, Nan Xing stepped forward and slapped each of them across the face.

A burning pain spread across their faces. Xi Meng and Nan Zhen'er huddled together, stunned, taking a full half-minute to process what had just happened.

Nan Xing actually dared to hit them?

And in a place like the school convenience store?

They never dreamed that Nan Xing would be so bold.

Watching their dazed expressions, Nan Xing lowered her eyes and calmly smoothed out the wrinkles on her cuffs. "You're both adults. If you say something or do something, you should have the courage to take responsibility for it, hmm?"

"Of course, you could also try using your brains beforehand to see if you can handle the consequences, because I, Nan Xing, am not someone to be trifled with."

After dropping these words, Nan Xing turned and walked away with effortless grace.

"Ah, Nan Xing, you... you are simply going too far!"

Xi Meng was so angry she screamed, clutching her head. But with one foot bare, she was unable to move easily and could only point at Nan Xing’s retreating back and shout insults.

Nan Zhen'er, standing to the side, also had red eyes. Born with a proud and arrogant nature, how could she swallow such a grievance? However, upon noticing the surveillance camera in a corner above them, she suddenly changed her mind.

What was the power of one person? Only when everyone gathers firewood does the flame rise high.

This time, she would make Nan Xing pay a heavy price!

...

Back in Dormitory 218, Nan Xing gave the sanitary napkins to Qiao Xin and shared the snacks she had bought from the store with everyone.

There were six people in the room, with beds on top and desks below. Although some were in different classes, everyone was in the same major, so they sometimes attended classes together.

Nan Xing didn't usually live on campus, but she got along very well with the others.

"Xingxing, thank you for the snacks."

Everyone thanked Nan Xing one after another, snacking and discussing their upcoming internships.

Qiao Xin pulled a chair over to sit next to Nan Xing and asked with concern, "Have you decided where you're going for your internship?"

Nan Xing opened a bottle of Wahaha AD Calcium milk and bit into the straw. "Not yet. What about you?"

"I haven't decided either, but it's highly likely I'll have to return to my hometown. My grandmother fell ill a while ago, and my grandfather’s legs aren't what they used to be. Both of them are getting on in years, and they can't be left without someone to look after them."

After saying this, Qiao Xin sighed, slumped over the table, and the light in her eyes dimmed.

Qiao Xin was born into a single-parent family. Her father passed away when she was very young, and when she was just a few years old, her mother went away to work and never returned. She had been raised entirely by her grandparents.

But Qiao Xin was a determined child; she had excellent grades throughout her schooling and eventually succeeded in getting into Beixin University.

Yet, the foreign land could not hold her soul, and her hometown could not sustain her body. Now, as the internship stage approached, Qiao Xin was facing a difficult choice.

Nan Xing paused and gently patted Qiao Xin’s shoulder. "There will always be a way when you reach the mountain. Don't be too anxious."

Qiao Xin pursed her lips and nodded with a look of relief. "Yeah, if push comes to shove, I’ll find a job with a relatively decent salary in Rongcheng, my hometown, and just see how it goes. That way, it’ll be easier to take care of my grandparents."

Since this was Qiao Xin’s decision, Nan Xing didn't say much more. She turned and sent a WeChat message to her fifth brother.

Nan Xing: Fifth Brother, did you open a new farm in Rongcheng? Are you short-staffed?

Two minutes later, he replied: Why? Do you want to come work and do your internship with me?