True Solution of the Sword Dao
Chapter 181 - 175 Softness 1

Chapter 181: Chapter 175 Softness 1

Jiang Nan quietly walked behind Xu Qin, with Nie Xiaoyan occasionally chipping in a few words on the side. The atmosphere was as usual, with Xu Qin talking about some interesting happenings in her life and mentioning how a boy pursuing her had recently made some kind of move.

The setting sun stained the entire street red, and suddenly Jiang Nan felt as if all the sounds around her seemed so unreal. Xu Qin and Nie Xiaoyan’s chattering and laughter, the frequent honking of cars nearby, the sounds of advertisements from the screens in the distance, and the music wafting from the audio stores. Everything appeared to be slowly sinking down.

People were coming and going in front of her, and as she walked amongst the crowd, Xu Qin and Nie Xiaoyan up ahead seemed to blend into the surrounding crowd without distinction. They were just like everyone else in this vast sea of people, living an ordinary and busy day in the city. Everyone had their own social circles, occasionally intersecting with others, then separating again to return to their own paths. Amidst this vast sea of people, Jiang Nan suddenly felt a slight sense of loneliness.

Everything seemed as though it was in shades of grey, without a hint of color.

All of a sudden, Jiang Nan seemed to see a splash of bright color. She couldn’t help but widen her eyes and look intently ahead.

In the midst of the countless people, a tall figure stood quietly, leaning against the roadside railing, with long black hair fluttering in the wind. It was as if he was the only splash of color among the crowd.

That was Lin Fei, her cousin.

Jiang Nan suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring at Lin Fei leaning on the railing, noting his carefree smile. He stood out so vividly, as if everything else was just a backdrop for him.

In an instant, all the sounds around her snapped back into place.

"Nannan??" A small hand waved in front of Jiang Nan’s eyes.

"What’s wrong, Nannan?" Nie Xiaoyan asked curiously, enlarging her eyes and waving in front of Jiang Nan.

"No... nothing." Jiang Nan came back to her senses and smiled.

***********

Lin Fei lightly tossed the metal lighter in his hand, a gift from Xiao Ling. Even though she knew he didn’t smoke, she still gave him a Zippo lighter, with the amusing reason that ’he would need it later’.

Seeing Jiang Nan approaching from a distance, Lin Fei pocketed the lighter, stood up straight, and made his way through the crowd towards her.

Xu Qin was chatting merrily with the others as she backed away, laughing from time to time, not noticing Lin Fei approaching from behind.

However, Nie Xiaoyan took notice and rapidly glanced over Lin Fei with some curiosity, blinking her eyes.

"That guy is so strange, he gives off a weird vibe," she whispered to Jiang Nan who was beside her.

The latter couldn’t help but laugh.

"What kind of strange vibe?"

Nie Xiaoyan hesitated for a moment, then hesitantly said, "I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it feels a bit like when I see my uncle."

Jiang Nan was taken aback; she knew that Nie Xiaoyan’s uncle was one of the standing committee mayors of another city. Although his relationship with Nie Xiaoyan’s family wasn’t that great and they didn’t interact much, they still saw each other during the holidays.

Xu Qin turned around in confusion, just in time to face Lin Fei, who was a head taller than her. She couldn’t help but look up at him.

Lin Fei smiled and tilted his head down.

"Nannan, are you out having fun with friends?"

In a flash, Xu Qin and Nie Xiaoyan’s gaze fell on Lin Fei and Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan hurriedly nodded her head.

"They’re my friends; we’re out having fun together."

She quickly stood next to Lin Fei to introduce them.

"Xu Qin, Xiaoyan, he’s my cousin."

Both looked at each other in surprise, but it was Xu Qin who reacted first.

"Cousin, hello," she sweetly greeted, and Nie Xiaoyan also hurried to say hello.

Lin Fei nodded, then reached out to ruffle Jiang Nan’s hair.

"I saw you guys coming out of KFC just now. That stuff isn’t nutritious, come on, let’s get a proper meal."

"Where are we going?" Jiang Nan blushed, feeling childish being treated like this in front of acquaintances, she couldn’t help but push away Lin Fei’s hand that was ruffling her hair. However, Lin Fei just smiled, reached out again, and Jiang Nan, wanting to move away, couldn’t refuse the comforting feeling his presence brought. A light scent of laundry detergent mixed with a subtle fragrance of perfume drifted into her nostrils.

"Perfume?" Jiang Nan suddenly paused.

"Yo, Jiang Nan, is it?" A pleasant female voice suddenly came from behind Lin Fei.

Jiang Nan looked in the direction of the voice.

It was a beautiful woman dressed like a professional secretary, in a white blouse and a black skirt, with shiny black heels. Her skin glowed with a ruddy jade hue under the setting sun.

The woman stepped over to the other side of Lin Fei with a smile.

"Hello, everyone. I’m Fei’s friend; you can call me Sister Xiao Ling." Xiao Ling playfully winked at Jiang Nan.

Xu Qin and Nie Xiaoyan both greeted Xiao Ling politely.

Xu Qin looked back and forth between Lin Fei, Xiao Ling, and Jiang Nan, who was nestled by Lin Fei’s side. She understood.

"Maybe we should leave first, Nannan?"

"Come with us; I’ve booked Moon Star Tower. Just join us," Xiao Ling said with a smile. She knew that girls at this age generally have a bit of vanity, and this was also a chance to make good relations with Jiang Nan, who seemed to have a close relationship with Lin Fei.

Moon Star Tower was considered quite upscale in the city, and booking it out would cost no less than tens of thousands. In this era, that amount of money had very strong purchasing power. Anyone who could afford such an expense must have a very strong background.

As expected, Jiang Nan wasn’t particularly moved, but Xu Qin and Nie Xiaoyan’s expressions changed slightly.

"We better not," Xu Qin quickly said, "We’ve already eaten."

Nie Xiaoyan hurriedly echoed the sentiment.

"I see," Xiao Ling’s eyes flickered as she suddenly opened her small sling bag and took out a tiny gift box, handing it to Jiang Nan.

"This is a meeting gift from Sister Xiaoling. You’re not allowed to refuse it!"

Jiang Nan was at a loss for words as Xiaoling forcefully stuffed the small gift box into her arms.

Lin Fei then persuaded Xu Qin and the other girl to join them for a meal, but they both hurriedly declined.

Only then did Lin Fei and Xiaoling leave with Jiang Nan.

Xu Qin watched as the three of them got into a black Audi A6 parked by the side of the road and couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief.

"Such a strong presence..."

Nie Xiaoyan also felt the residual fear.

"Those two have such an overwhelming presence. Talking to them felt like speaking with my own grandparents, afraid to even breathe too loudly." Her grandparents were also retired high officials with considerable networks and influence locally.

"Tsk tsk tsk, driving an Audi A6. Just look at Jiang Nan; even if her family has fallen from grace, with relatives like these taking care of her, her future is bound to be extraordinary." Xu Qin said enviously; her family was just a small business owner. Although they had some connections, they weren’t immediate family, so the occasional favor was the most she could expect. She couldn’t have regular contact with people of such status as easily as Jiang Nan, who seemed to have a good relationship with the man. Growing up in complex family environments where they were used to comprehensive social interactions, both Xu Qin and Nie Xiaoyan were mature beyond their years and understood the significance of such relationships for the future.

Nie Xiaoyan pursed her lips but did not speak.

Continuing, Xu Qin licked her lips and said.

"Let’s still invite Jiang Nan to hang out with us next week. Now it seems she might really have looked down on those clothes."

"Whatever you say." Nie Xiaoyan responded noncommittally.

Suddenly, the door of that Audi swung open and Jiang Nan hurriedly got out and ran over.

Because she was in a rush, when she reached Xu Qin and the others, Jiang Nan was slightly out of breath.

"Xu Qin, Xiaoyan, once I start at No. 7 Middle School, you guys shouldn’t come looking for me anymore, okay?" Jiang Nan took a moment to catch her breath, tears welling up in her eyes.

Xu Qin and the other girl were taken aback, just about to speak.

But Jiang Nan cut them off.

"What you guys just said," Jiang Nan paused, "I heard it all."

Xu Qin gaped, stunned, while Nie Xiaoyan was at a loss for words as well.

Jiang Nan kept her head down, her face obscured. "Honestly, I really enjoyed the times we spent together, truly. Also, thank you for all your care over the years."

She turned and ran back to the car, shutting the door behind her.

Leaving Xu Qin and Nie Xiaoyan frozen, their faces a complex mix of emotions,

In the car, Jiang Nan leaned gently against Lin Fei, staring blankly out of the window at the slowly passing streetscape.

Lin Fei gently positioned Jiang Nan on her knees and slowly stroked her hair.

"Don’t blame them," Lin Fei said softly.

Jiang Nan lay on her lap, silent.

**********************

"Ah~~~~ Waaah!!"

A fist-sized cream cake was forcefully stuffed into a tiny cherry-sized red mouth.

Lin You chewed with obvious satisfaction, her cheeks bulging as they swayed from side to side.

The setting was a self-service dessert restaurant bustling with young men and women.

Lin You sat at the table, facing a beautiful girl who was also munching away, albeit differently than Lin You’s near-perfect beauty. This girl exuded an energetic, playful charm with a small hair tie on one side and the rest of her hair casually draping over her shoulders. Despite wearing a demure green knee-length dress, her actions were unreserved, just like Lin You.

The few plates of pastries they had ordered were quickly being devoured.

On the side, the black cat Feil licked honey milk delicately, occasionally looking up at the feasting Lin You.

After a round of competition, Lin You swallowed the trophy—the last strawberry pudding—and stretched luxuriously.

"That felt so good~~~"

The girl across from her wiped her mouth daintily with a napkin and asked.

"Lin You, you haven’t been out shopping for so long, what mysterious things have you been up to all this time?"

"Just homework, watching TV, and joining some hobby classes," Lin You thought for a moment before answering.

"That shouldn’t keep you so busy that you neglect your friends, right?"

"It really has been busy," Lin You said helplessly. She was indeed exhausted. She had spent every school day studying while Feil incessantly pointed out her shortcomings on the side, and also shared basic combat knowledge suitable for psychics. After school, she would practice what she had learned.

Now, with school out for the holidays, things had intensified. The sleazy Uncle Xilan Saersi was nowhere to be seen, and now Chris was responsible for her training. Just thinking of that emotionless pervert, Lin You couldn’t help feeling aggrieved. Chris claimed to have tailored an extreme training program to bring out Lin You’s latent strength, which was supposed to be like extracting every last drop of potential energy. As a result, Lin You felt tormented to the brink of death... no, rather, worse than death!!

She cherished the rare breaks when she could go out and enjoy pastries with her new high school friends, finding comfort in the absence of training. The contrast made Lin You realize how pleasant life could be without it.(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please show your support by voting for it on Qidian.com and by giving it your Monthly Ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)