Chapter 041: Not Fond of Joking

Zhao Feng was startled. "Ding Lan?"

The young girl nodded. "It's me! Zhao Feng, where have you been this past year?"

Ding Lan was Zhao Feng's high school classmate, and, in fact, his desk mate. He was genuinely surprised—he hadn't expected to run into an old classmate here.

Ding Lan had always been like the girl next door, pure and sweet in appearance. For a period, she was the white moonlight in Zhao Feng's heart.

Yet, since Zhao Feng had entered the Immortal Sect, he had met all kinds of women. Now, he was immune to their charms.

He rubbed his nose. "I never thought I'd see you here. How have you been?"

Ding Lan wore a white dress and her hair was tied in a ponytail, looking fresh and lovely.

She walked up to Zhao Feng, gazing mischievously at him for a moment before smiling. "You've gotten more handsome! And taller!"

"Heh." Zhao Feng touched his nose, a little embarrassed.

Ding Lan giggled. "Zhao Feng, the college entrance exams are coming up soon! Are you still going to school?"

"School?"

School felt like such a distant word to him now. The last time he attended was a year ago.

He felt dazed.

"Zhao Feng? Zhao Feng?"

"Ah?" He snapped out of it. "What is it?"

Ding Lan seemed a little melancholy, her mood somber. "Zhao Feng, I never expected to see you again before I leave."

He blinked. "Leave? What do you mean?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

He frowned. "What’s going on? You’re only telling me half the story—it’s frustrating!"

Ding Lan smiled playfully, just like the girl next door. "I'll tell you when I get another chance."

"Alright then."

"Shall we go shopping together?" Ding Lan suggested.

"Sure."

Zhao Feng clasped his hands behind his head, walking alongside Ding Lan in silence, wandering aimlessly.

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Ding Lan? Who’s he?"

Zhao Feng and Ding Lan turned around to see three or four teenagers approaching.

The speaker was a boy.

Zhao Feng glanced at him—it was another high school classmate, Zhang Zhi.

Zhang Zhi looked at Zhao Feng with a mocking tone. "Isn't this Zhao Feng? I heard you dropped out to work?"

Ding Lan frowned. "Zhang Zhi, what are you saying? Dropped out to work? Do you have to make it sound so unpleasant?"

"Heh." Zhang Zhi chuckled. "Zhao Feng, I heard your father's tea processing factory closed down. Should I ask my father to sponsor your family?"

Zhao Feng offered a polite smile. "No need."

He glanced at the other boy and two girls—all high school classmates. The other boy was Kang Hao. Of the two girls, the one with short hair was Lin Min, and the one with long hair was Zhang Juan.

None of them greeted Zhao Feng, and he saw no reason to greet them either.

Zhang Zhi laughed. "Lan, Zhao Feng must need to work to pay off debts! Let’s not disturb him—let’s go sing karaoke!"

Ding Lan frowned. "I've told you many times, don't call me 'Lan.' I have a name—use it."

"Heh." Zhang Zhi smiled. "Lan, we’re all classmates and childhood friends. It’s more intimate this way."

When he mentioned childhood friends, he eye Zhao Feng deliberately.

But Zhao Feng, hands behind his head, stared into the void, lost in thought.

The atmosphere grew awkward; everyone fell silent for two minutes. Zhao Feng suddenly came back to himself.

He smiled. "Ding Lan, you go do your thing. I’ll wander on my own."

"But…but…"

"Hahaha!" Zhang Zhi laughed.

He said, "Zhao Feng must be embarrassed for us to see him working, that’s why he wants us gone!"

At this point, Zhang Zhi was in no hurry.

He said, "Zhao Feng, we’re all classmates. Let us see what kind of job you do!"

"You’re not selling stuff on the street, are you?" Kang Hao chimed in.

"Heh."

"Ha-ha-ha!"

Lin Min and Zhang Juan laughed at Kang Hao’s comment, finding him amusing.

In truth, Zhang Zhi’s family ran a business, while Kang Hao’s father was a village chief. Their relationship was close during school.

Zhao Feng shook his head. "Sorry, I don’t have a job right now."

Kang Hao and Zhang Zhi were momentarily stunned, then everyone burst out laughing.

"Hahaha!"

"Heh!"

"So you’re unemployed?" Lin Min said.

Zhao Feng nodded. "You can think of me as unemployed."

"Heh." Zhang Zhi looked at Ding Lan. "Lan, let’s go! I despise the unemployed."

Ding Lan’s face was flushed with anger. "Zhao Feng is not unemployed!"

"Hmph! He is!"

"That’s right!"

Suddenly, a voice piped up, "Hey, Zhang Zhi, Zhao Feng’s shoes are exactly the same as yours!"

It was Zhang Juan, who had been silent until now.

Everyone looked at Zhao Feng’s feet and were instantly shocked.

"Those are limited edition Kachi clogs?"

"No way, are you serious?"

"Really!"

"I can’t believe it!"

"Impossible—must be fake!"

Zhang Zhi said, "Zhao Feng, I didn’t expect you to be so vain, buying knockoff clogs."

Zhao Feng blinked. "A knockoff? I don’t know. They were a gift from a friend."

"Hahaha!"

Zhang Zhi and his friends laughed loudly.

"You’re passing the blame to someone else!"

"I didn’t expect you to be so irresponsible!"

"Exactly!"

They jeered, one after another.

Zhao Feng shook his head. At first, he’d been happy to see his classmates—it was good for his state of mind. He hadn’t expected them to behave this way.

He recognized their sarcasm, but chose not to engage, lest it disrupt his inner peace.

He patted Ding Lan’s shoulder. "Ding Lan, you all have fun. I’ll head off now."

"Take your filthy hand off!"

Zhao Feng’s gesture enraged Zhang Zhi.

Zhang Zhi came at him with a kick.

But Zhao Feng lightly stepped back, dodging swiftly.

"Ouch!"

Zhang Zhi stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Hahaha!"

Passersby laughed.

Zhang Zhi’s face flushed red with shame.

He glared at Zhao Feng. "Zhao Feng, how dare you dodge?"

Zhao Feng blinked innocently. "You tried to kick me—why wouldn’t I dodge?"

"You!" Zhang Zhi was furious.

Kang Hao interjected, "Zhao Feng, Zhang Zhi was just joking with you! How could you treat him like that?"

"Heh." Zhao Feng replied, "Sorry, I’m not one for jokes."