Chapter 72: Hiding One’s Merit and Fame
Wu Zhigang was given a stern verbal warning by the police officers, and that alone was enough to scare him half to death. He didn’t dare make a single sound, just lowered his head and listened, then quietly stood off to the side.
Ning Xiaoxiao, for attempted property damage, received an official warning from the police. Considering how malicious her actions were, the public outrage she caused, and her suspected promotion of “incorrect ideology,” she was sentenced to ten days of administrative detention.
The officers were now speaking with the team leader to hand things over.
When Ning Xiaoxiao heard she was going to be taken to the station and detained for ten days, her whole world collapsed. She sat limply on the ground, staring blankly into space, muttering something under her breath.
Ning Xiyue walked closer and tilted her head to listen carefully. Finally, she caught fragments of what Ning Xiaoxiao was saying.
“No… this isn’t how it’s supposed to be…”
“It wasn’t like this in the dream…”
“Where is it? Where did it go? Come out…”
Ning Xiaoxiao continued murmuring, anxiously twisting the bracelet on her wrist. She started hitting and shaking it, then took it off and held it tightly to her chest, chanting like someone possessed:
“No… it must exist… it has to be real…”
“The dream must be real…”
When she finished muttering, she closed her eyes with a blissful, almost intoxicated smile on her face.
The others didn’t know what was happening and assumed she’d gone a little mad from the trauma.
Only Ning Xiyue knew the truth. Hearing those crazed words, she was inwardly delighted.
Hiding one’s merit and fame.
Ning Xiaoxiao still had no idea that the “golden finger” she longed for had already miscarried — it had become nourishment for Ning Xiyue’s little system pet. If her little turtle could poop like a real turtle, maybe it would even excrete a pile of worthless waste just for Ning Xiaoxiao.
The two “extraordinary dreams” Ning Xiaoxiao had left were destined to remain just that — dreams, forever unfulfilled.
Ning Xiyue teased her system in her mind,
“Hey, System, did you see? The energy you absorbed drove someone insane.”
The little turtle refused to take the blame.
“Nope. You drove her insane. I’m just a tool-turtle serving you.”
Ning Xiyue continued the psychological manipulation:
“Don’t be modest. You absorbed the energy, so half the credit is yours. Are you saying that wasn’t your energy?”
Little Turtle: “…”
Turns out its host was a master at PUA.
Having had her fun, Ning Xiyue’s gaze turned cold as she looked at Ning Xiaoxiao.
Compared to the original host’s family, who were mere cannon fodder and died miserably, Ning Xiaoxiao drinking urine and being detained for ten days was nothing.
No need to rush — she would take her time. Letting Ning Xiaoxiao die quickly would be too merciful. She had to make her suffer in both body and soul to repay her debts.
Of course, Ning Xiyue wasn’t about to dirty her own hands — she was, after all, a proud successor of socialism.
Chen Yechu looked at the miserable, pitiful state Ning Xiaoxiao was in now and felt a rush of satisfaction.
It seemed she’d have to torment Ning Xiaoxiao more in the future. And she’d definitely have to torment Xia Zhipeng too, to vent the resentment from her previous life. She couldn’t just let things slide — torture was therapeutic.
Not far away, Xia Zhipeng suddenly felt a chill and shivered without knowing why.
Wang Mengmeng glanced at him curiously. She was about to ask but remembered what Chen Yechu had said earlier. She took a few cautious steps back before speaking: “Brother Zhipeng, what’s wrong?”
Xia Zhipeng couldn’t describe the feeling. “It’s nothing, maybe it’s just getting cold since it’s late.”
He didn’t notice the trace of disgust on Wang Mengmeng’s face, nor did he know she was still bothered by Chen Yechu’s comment about his bad breath.
Xia Zhipeng was even a little moved that Wang Mengmeng was worried about him. With a gentle smile, he took a few steps toward her. “Mengmeng, thank you for caring about me. You’re the best.”
“N-no, no need to thank me. I was just… curious.”
Wang Mengmeng quickly backed away a few more steps, raising a hand in a “stop” gesture.
Watching from the side, Ning Xiyue almost burst out laughing. Wang Mengmeng could be pretty adorable sometimes.
She had long noticed that Wang Mengmeng had a mild case of mysophobia. Just hearing that Xia Zhipeng might have bad breath — whether it was true or not — was enough for her to believe it completely.
And now? She felt a subtle disgust toward him — but Xia Zhipeng, touched by his own imagined narrative, hadn’t even noticed.
How amusing. She never expected Xia Zhipeng to be the “self-touched type” of scumbag.
The team leader had already finished talking to the police. Ning Xiyue withdrew her gaze and refocused on the officers.
Comrade Sun, whom she knew, walked toward her. Ning Xiyue felt a little puzzled but smiled and nodded politely.
Comrade Sun waved his hand and said with a smile, “Comrade Ning, Comrade Ji asked me to pass on a message if I saw you. He said the letter has already been mailed — you can rest assured.”
“Thank you, Comrade Sun. May I ask if Comrade Ji is still in the county? I’d like to thank him in person.”
“Comrade Ji said, ‘We’ll meet again if fate allows.’” Comrade Sun didn’t answer her question directly. “As for anything else, I’m afraid I can’t tell you.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
Ning Xiyue had only asked about Comrade Ji out of politeness. She wasn’t truly interested. Since he couldn’t say, she wasn’t the type to pry.
It was obvious Comrade Ji wasn’t an ordinary person. To avoid bringing unnecessary trouble upon herself, it was better not to dig too deeply — caution was key in these times.
Everyone in the educated youth compound watched as the two police officers escorted the dazed Ning Xiaoxiao away.
Ning Xiyue returned to packing up the meat, tossing thoughts of Ning Xiaoxiao and Comrade Ji entirely from her mind.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Ji Yanming, the man Ning Xiyue had just mentioned, was standing at the reception office of a military unit in Shanghai.
“Old Yang, could you check if there’s any mail for me? And also for Ning Qingzhi?”
“Hold on, I’ll check.” After a while, the receptionist, Old Yang, looked up.
“There’s mail — but not for you. Only something for Ning Qingzhi. Tell him to come pick it up later; it hasn’t been inspected yet.”
“Thank you.”
Ji Yanming left with a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Old Yang rubbed his eyes and muttered quietly to himself, “Am I seeing things? The cold-faced King of Hell just smiled. Is the iron tree finally blooming? Wonder what good thing happened to him…”
