Chapter 88: An Unspoken, Unexplainable Feeling

Wang Ying looked utterly despondent before Zhang Shen’s words. This was the first time she had ever gathered the courage to confess to someone, only to be turned away.

“What do I have to do for you to accept me?”

Her stubbornness left Zhang Shen at a loss. He did not know how to explain himself to the girl before him.

“Wang Ying, it’s not what you think. I know you’re a good girl, but my mind is not on this right now. I don’t even know where I’ll end up in the future, and I hope you can understand that.”

Seeing her tears, Zhang Shen could only continue, “That’s why I don’t want to waste your youth. As for Meng Ran, I just happen to think that although he is a little gluttonous, his nature is not bad. If—”

Before he could finish, Wang Ying kept shaking her head and said, “I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear it...”

Crouching by the wall, she buried her head in her arms and cried even louder. Unexpectedly, this time Ye Qiong and the others all rushed over.

The moment Jiang Muyun saw Wang Ying in such a state, she strode angrily to Zhang Shen’s side and shouted, “What did you do to that girl? I knew you weren’t anything good.”

“Xiaoying, what’s wrong? Did this bad guy bully you?”

Ye Qiong also crouched down, letting Wang Ying lean toward her. As for Meng Ran and Mu Qiao, they only stood there in a daze.

Hearing Ye Qiong and Jiang Muyun accuse him, Zhang Shen found it utterly ridiculous. If he had truly meant to be irresponsible, Wang Ying would probably already have thrown herself at him; there would have been no need for such tears and sobbing. Yet ever since childhood, his master had taught him to be upright and never to resort to dishonorable tricks.

Zhang Shen had always kept his master’s teachings close to heart, which was why he had never dared act recklessly. He had not expected that today he would still be slandered.

At that moment, Zhang Shen did not know whether he should explain himself. Faced with everyone’s misunderstanding, he feared that any explanation would only make matters worse. If it really came to that, he would be unable to clear his name no matter how hard he tried.

“So this is where you all are?”

They turned around to find Wang Ying’s mother.

It turned out that after Wang Ying’s parents finished boiling the dumplings, they noticed that no one was around the table. They figured the young people must be somewhere nearby, so they had followed the alley all the way here. And sure enough, they found them.

Only, when Wang’s mother saw her daughter crouched on the ground, sobbing, she did not immediately understand what had happened.

At that moment, Jiang Muyun suddenly lashed out with a flying kick straight at Zhang Shen’s leg. Zhang Shen had never expected her to pull such a dirty trick, so he had no defense at all.

Jiang Muyun’s kick landed squarely on Zhang Shen’s leg.

“Hmph! Consider yourself lucky. I’ll let this count as a lesson for now. If you ever do this again, it won’t be so easy next time.”

Wasn’t Jiang Muyun, by saying this, clearly trying to make Wang’s mother think of Zhang Shen as the culprit who had bullied her daughter?

Zhang Shen had no choice. With the situation so chaotic, he still said to Wang’s mother, “Auntie, it’s not what you think!”

Wang’s mother merely looked up at him and said slowly, “I know you’re a good boy, and I know my daughter’s temper too. So I believe this has nothing to do with you. Let’s go back to the shop first.”

With that, Wang’s mother helped Wang Ying back toward the shop.

By then, Wang Ying’s eyes were already swollen and red.

Still, after hearing Wang’s mother’s words, Zhang Shen finally felt a little more at ease. At last, there was someone who believed him.

“Auntie will let you off, but I won’t.”

Jiang Muyun glared fiercely at Zhang Shen, her fists already warming up in preparation.

Seeing her like that, Zhang Shen could not help but laugh. Such meager skill, and she still thought so highly of herself. Against an opponent like Jiang Muyun, he truly had nothing to fear; she was not even worth a proper look.

“Enough, stop fooling around. Let’s go.”

Zhang Shen patted Jiang Muyun on the head as he spoke. Then he looked up at a few leaves overhead, plucked several down, and held them in his hand.

After they returned to the dumpling shop, everyone was concerned about what had just happened to Wang Ying in the alley. Even Meng Ran was now giving Zhang Shen hostile looks.

Zhang Shen felt wronged to no end. He did not know what he had done to deserve the united front against him, while he stood alone in battle. If he had to choose an ally, only Wang’s mother remained.

Just then, Wang’s father also hurried out from the shop.

“Xiaoying, what happened?”

Before he could even finish asking, Jiang Muyun again seized the floor and said, “Uncle, it was this jerk who made Sister Xiaoying angry.”

Zhang Shen could hardly imagine what kind of grudge could make Jiang Muyun strike so fiercely at him.

Wang’s father glanced at Zhang Shen as well, but said nothing. He simply patted Wang Ying on the back and said, “Xiaoying, no matter what happened, your parents will always stand on your side. If something is wrong, tell us first.”

Her father’s words flowed through Wang Ying’s heart like warm water.

Wang Ying slowly lifted her head from the table and said to him, “Dad, I’m fine.”

Everyone could tell at once that these were words spoken to hide the truth, but no one was willing to expose her.

With a smile, Wang’s father stroked his daughter’s hair and said, “Dad knew it. My Xiaoying is the strongest. Now stop crying; so many people are watching.”

As he spoke, he used both hands to wipe the tears from Wang Ying’s face. Although the atmosphere was not exactly harmonious, it had eased a little. Zhang Shen no longer gave it much thought.

Still, the mood for tonight’s dumplings had been completely ruined.

Seeing this, Wang’s father said to everyone, “I’m truly sorry, everyone. Come again next time, and I’ll treat you to dumplings.”

Hearing this, they all knew that even if the dumplings were filled with dragon meat now, they would not have the heart for them. So they prepared to return to the school and sleep.

But just as they turned to leave, Wang’s father suddenly called out to Zhang Shen.

Naturally, everyone’s gaze drifted toward Zhang Shen and Wang’s father.

At that moment, Zhang Shen did not know why Wang’s father had stopped him, but he still answered, “What is it, Uncle?”

Wang’s father sighed meaningfully and said, “Divine doctor, my Xiaoying has been headstrong since she was little. If she has done anything to offend you, then for this old man’s sake, let it be forgotten.”