Nine Star Burden

Chapter 174: Pig Skin

Jiang Xiao was indeed confused. The 30th, 31st, and 1st were indeed holidays because of the New Year.

To be specific, it was a break for the Awakened students because the ordinary Year Three students of high school still had to attend lessons as per normal.

They seemed to only have one day off for New Year’s.

Jiang Xiao returned to bed happily. In the past month of training in the snowfield and living in fear every single day, he indeed did not get to sleep in peace.

That was also the reason Han Jiangxue gave in to him.

Most average Awakened students would never dare to go to the snowfield.

Even in the elite class of Year Three, only two teams had chosen to go to the snowfield to train. That was the best example.

Very few people could really live for themselves. Everyone had a family, parents, and too many things and factors to consider.

Even fearless Awakened would only manage to stay three or five days in the snowfield.

What did Jiang Xiao do?

He stayed in the snowfield for more than 30 days!

It was no longer an issue about courage, but a clear display of strong willpower.

How firm must he have been?

His strength and abilities were probably on par with actual Chinese soldiers.

Even if there were no creatures of other dimensions in the snowfield, it was an impressive feat for Jiang Xiao to survive there for more than a month.

Han Jiangxue was both touched and sorry for him. Just like she said, Jiang Xiao ought to be learning and progressing in Year One. Yet, he was dragged to Year Three by her. Meanwhile, he had always been working hard and not only did he achieve the goals that she had set for him, but he also even achieved the ones that were beyond what he ought to at this age.

The most important thing was that he never complained.

He could be frivolous with his words, but his actions would never lie.

Han Jiangxue sat by the side of the bed and meticulously pulled the duvet over Jiang Xiao, who had fallen asleep. She then stayed by his side to accompany him silently.

Surprisingly, she acted out of the ordinary and did not seize the time to train or study. At this moment, she was feeling complicated and at a loss for what to do.

Ever since her parents left a long time ago, she had already gotten used to bottling everything up and quietly shouldering all the burden while contributing single-handedly.

Fortunately, everything changed a week before Jiang Xiao went to high school. To her frustration, she had no idea how she should express her emotions.

At ten-something, Jiang Xiao finally woke up.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he shrieked in horror and wondered, Why is Han Jiangxue still sitting here?

Have I made progress in chasing her?

Sis is getting more and more clingy. That’s a good thing.

Jiang Xiao sat up and glanced at Han Jiangxue before asking, “Are you spending New Year’s Eve with me?”

Han Jiangxue was speechless.

Jiang Xiao remained silent.

“Don’t forget that Li Qingmei has invited us for lunch this afternoon,” Han Jiangxue said as she stood up and tried to hide her emotions. She continued, “I can’t seem to contact Xia Yan. Try contacting her later.”

Jiang Xiao was thrilled and thought to himself, Has Xia Yan really become cowardly because she got scared by me?

“Hey, Little Jiangxue, it’s almost 2016. Give me a new mobile phone.” Jiang Xiao suddenly felt that something was amiss and so repeated himself, “Give me a new mobile phone.”

Of course, Han Jiangxue had no idea what Jiang Xiao was thinking and simply thought that he was expressing his desire for a new mobile phone.

But, should I give in to him?

Han Jiangxue was feeling a little hesitant and conflicted. She did want to treat Jiang Xiao better, but she was afraid that she would end up spoiling him.

Should I buy him a new mobile phone or not?

He did bring 50,000 yuan home, but she had already confiscated it without giving a single cent to him because she was afraid that he would become a spendthrift.

“It’s time you change your mobile phone too. You’ve been using your current one for several years. It’s almost the New Year. Let’s buy some new clothes. Your quilt jacket is very old and tattered. When I wore it this morning...” Jiang Xiao suddenly paused and continued, “Shall... shall we go buy some new clothes?”

Since she’s a girl, she should like buying clothes, right?

Jiang Xiao thought, It’s time I change my mobile phone. Since it’s a tool that I use to flirt and pick up girls, I have to get a better one.

Seeing how careful Jiang Xiao was, Han Jiangxue’s heart softened and she shook her head smilingly. “Which mobile phone do you want?”

Jiang Xiao’s eyes glistened and he asked, “When I was training in the snowfield, Huawei launched a new model called the M8. I think it was available for sale on the 9th of December?”

Han Jiangxue smirked at Jiang Xiao and thought, 9th of December? He knows the date so clearly. He obviously checked on it before. He’s already devised this a long time ago and yet, he’s still pretending.

Han Jiangxue hesitated for a moment before nodding again. “Next month, your allowance will be reduced by half.”

“Uh.” Jiang Xiao scratched his head and said, “I just brought tens of thousands home...”

Han Jiangxue glared at him coldly and said, “I’ll save it for you. Once you’re older, you can spend your savings on getting married.”

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

...

In the afternoon, Jiang Xiao carried a few shopping bags that contained some newly bought clothes on his left arm while fiddling with his new mobile phone. He then leisurely entered a restaurant called Fisherfolks’ Home.

It was themed around the color silver, which made it look posh, elegant, and tasteful.

Under Jiang Xiao’s coercion, Han Jiangxue finally replaced her mobile phone with a new silver-colored one—the color she liked.

Actually, Jiang Xiao would rather have a gold-colored mobile phone, but for the sake of having the same one as Han Jiangxue, he had no choice but to settle for a silver-colored one.

Jiang Xiao made his way forward together with Han Jiangxue. While he was playing with his mobile phone, he heard a familiar voice saying, “Long time no see, Xiaopi.”

“Huh?” Jiang Xiao asked as he raised his head, after which the figure hugged him gently.

Jiang Xiao was playing on his mobile phone, so his head was hanging low when he knocked into the figure’s chest. He looked up, only to realize that it was the dashing Li Weiyi.

He had naturally wavy, black-colored hair and a handsome face. He said, “You must have been exhausted in the past month. It’s been hard on you.”

In fact, apart from Jiang Xiao, everyone in the team had the same thoughts as Li Weiyi. They knew why he went to train in the snowfield. If possible, he would be willing to go with him.

However, Han Jiangxue said that Jiang Xiao wouldn’t need Li Weiyi’s help since he had outstanding teachers and companions. Hence, Li Weiyi decided to make himself stop worrying, even though he still felt rather emotional.

Li Weiyi felt that his junior, who had skipped two grades and went to Year Three, had really given his all for the team.

Most importantly, Jiang Xiao was not going to sit for the college entrance examination. Hence, he was doing that entirely for the team.

Jiang Xiao still wasn’t sure of what Li Weiyi was thinking, and to be honest, he did want to sit for the college entrance examination this year. He initially thought of spending some time in Year One and obtaining some Skill Points in the competitions.

However, now that he had gotten an eye-opener, he felt that the Skill Points awarded in the high school competitions were too little.

“Hey, Xiaopi, why are you so thin? You don’t look human anymore,” said a girl popping out from behind Li Weiyi. It was his girlfriend, Li Qingmei.

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

What did she just say?

Li Qingmei walked towards them with a grimace on her sweet face. She pinched Jiang Xiao’s face and said, “How many Blessings have you given yourself? You’re almost as thin as a bamboo. You look so malnourished. Come in, hurry and come in...”

Li Qingmei nudged Jiang Xiao into the room by pushing his shoulders. She said frantically, “Let’s not wait for Xia Yan. Hurry and have some meat. Look, there’s some fried pork.”

Li Qingmei then pushed the rotating plate to move the pork towards Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

Li Weiyi entered together with him and said, “Go on and eat, Xiaopi. Don’t bother waiting.”

Impressive.jpg.

I’m carrying bags of new clothes and I’m holding onto my mobile phone now. Yet, you two are treating me like a refugee?

Indeed, does aura come from within?

To Jiang Xiao’s astonishment, Han Jiangxue, who had just hung her coat on the hanger, turned around and said, “Have some food first.”

“Uh...” Jiang Xiao put his mobile phone in his pocket and picked up a pair of chopsticks while everyone watched. He said, “Can I eat now?”

Li Qingmei frantically said, “Go ahead, I’ll order more if it’s not enough. You guys are seriously so hard on yourselves.”

She turned her head around and glanced at Li Weiyi with a look of resentment.

Li Weiyi smiled and remained silent.

All of a sudden, the door of the cubicle was opened and a figure peeked in through the tiny gap.

It was Xia Yan. She saw Jiang Xiao wolfing his food down while his seniors served him drinks.

She pursed her lips and looked at Han Jiangxue quietly, only to realize that she seemed to be rather calm, especially when she was gazing at Jiang Xiao eating. She didn’t look as cold and aloof as she used to and instead, seemed rather gentle.

That seemed to be a good chance for her.

Shall I do it while she’s in a good mood?

Xia Yan pushed the door open and apologized profusely. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry for being late.”

Li Qingmei smiled and waved at her. “Yanyan is here.”

Han Jiangxue glanced at Xia Yan before asking, “I called you twice in the morning. Why didn’t you pick up?”

Xia Yan’s heart skipped a beat and she tried to force herself to stay calm. She answered feebly, “I, I didn’t hear my phone ringing. Yeah, I didn’t hear it ringing.”

Han Jiangxue looked at Xia Yan in bewilderment and wondered, Why does she look so guilty? What’s going on?

Han Jiangxue asked, “What’s going on with you?”

“Huh?” Xia Yan blinked and stared at the confused Han Jiangxue, seemingly having noticed what was wrong.

Xia Yan then looked at Jiang Xiao who was wolfing his food down and kicked his leg gently. “You’re doing well, huh?”

Jiang Xiao turned around and curled her finger at her.

Xia Yan hesitated for a moment before leaning forward.

Jiang Xiao inched closer to Xia Yan’s ear and said gently, “There are welts all over my body, be gentler. I’ll give you a few Blessings and Bells later. You’ll feel much better.”

Xia Yan shuddered and almost lost her balance.

Jiang Xiao continued, “Life is full of ups and downs. Let’s cut it out. Have some food.”

Xia Yan pressed her lips together and murmured, “How unreasonable.”

Jiang Xiao humphed and gibed. “Are you trying to reason with a woman? What are you waiting for? Hurry and eat while you still have an appetite. Once you’re full, you’ll be ready to go.”

Xia Yan’s face grew sullen and she continuously shifted her gaze between Han Jiangxue and Jiang Xiao. At last, she gritted her teeth and stomped her feet before collapsing onto the chair. Without even removing her coat, she immediately rolled up her sleeves and picked up some chopsticks.

She picked up a slice of fried pork and said to Jiang Xiao in a muffled voice, “Hand me the braised pork. I’ll see if the skin is too thick.”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.