Chapter 23: Like?

The incident happened so suddenly that everyone in the room stared blankly at what had just unfolded.

It wasn’t until the people around started whispering and murmuring that the boy finally realized, belatedly, that he had just been slapped in public.

In a shrill, furious voice, he demanded, “You actually dared to hit me?”

Humiliated, the boy’s face flushed with rage.

He tried to lunge forward, but the moment he met Song Meng’s cold, emotionless gaze, his body froze in place as if on instinct.

Seeing this, Jiang Ling couldn’t help but tremble slightly, shrinking back and hiding behind Song Meng.

She stared at the girl’s slender yet upright back, blinking uncontrollably.

…So cool!

She hadn’t seen it clearly, but Song Meng really did slap him hard, right?

Jiang Ling was so stunned by the forceful action that she almost gasped out loud.

She felt as if she had caught a glimpse of a hidden side of Song Meng, a feeling she couldn’t quite put into words began to surface in her heart.

“The surveillance cameras should have caught everything. Do you want me to pull the footage and send it to your advisor? Or would you prefer I hand it directly to the Academic Affairs Office and let them judge your ignorant and foolish behavior?”

Song Meng glanced at the surveillance camera running in the corner, her tone unfriendly.

“You’ve been harassing me since the start of the semester. I put up with it before because I didn’t have enough evidence, but now, I don’t have to endure it anymore.”

As she spoke, she looked at a female classmate not far from her.

The classmate immediately nodded repeatedly and played back the video she had just recorded for Song Meng to see.

The video captured the entire incident in detail—clearly, they had been prepared, waiting for him to walk right into the trap.

Seeing this, the boy’s face instantly turned pale.

After all, even though he’d never actually gotten close to Song Meng, he really had been sticking to her like glue, refusing to give up.

Anyone paying even a little attention would have noticed, and now there was the video and the surveillance footage to prove it…

This incident could be minor or serious, but Song Meng was a favorite among the teachers, so there was no way they would just let it go.

The boy’s lips trembled as he said, “I—I know I was wrong. Can you forgive me this time?”

“Forgive you?”

Song Meng let out a cold laugh, slowly fiddling with her phone.

“I was actually going to be generous and give you a chance to change, but of all things, you just had to say what you did just now.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ling, who was still hiding behind Song Meng, trembled slightly.

That thing he said just now…?

As she finished speaking, Song Meng raised her phone, showing a conversation with a teacher.

All the videos and chat records had already been sent.

“Hope you enjoy your little chat session.”

With a crisp motion, Song Meng put her phone away and ignored the boy’s devastated expression.

She took Jiang Ling’s hand and walked out.

As she left, she winked playfully at her friend.

“Just say I’m not feeling well, thanks~”

“Huh? Oh, oh.”

The classmate who was suddenly called out stared after them with a gossipy expression and answered.

Jiang Ling found herself inexplicably being led out of the classroom hand-in-hand by Song Meng.

Their fingers were entwined, burning hot.

“Um, aren’t we going to class?”

Jiang Ling sneaked a glance at their joined hands, her voice a little dazed as she asked.

“It’s not an important class. Don’t worry about it.”

Song Meng didn’t notice Jiang Ling’s awkwardness and answered naturally.

“…Oh.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ling didn’t say anything else.

She quietly followed Song Meng’s lead, sticking close behind her as they left the teaching building and quickly made their way to the school gate, eventually arriving at a bustling barbecue restaurant.

After sitting down, Jiang Ling was still in a daze.

She looked around at the fragrant, lively restaurant, her face full of confusion.

“I told you before I’d treat you to a meal. Did you forget?”

Seeing Jiang Ling’s expression, Song Meng knew she’d completely forgotten what she’d said.

Amused, Song Meng pinched her fingers.

A faint ticklish sensation traveled from her hand to her heart, and Jiang Ling couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

She instinctively pulled her hand back, only to find it completely enveloped in Song Meng’s palm.

Maybe it was the hot weather, but their palms began to sweat slightly, making the touch even warmer.

After quietly looking at the menu for a while, Jiang Ling suddenly spoke in a soft voice.

“Thank you.”

She quickly pointed at the restaurant’s signature barbecue platter on the menu with her other hand and added, “I want to eat this.”

The sudden change of topic almost made Song Meng miss Jiang Ling’s words of thanks.

A mischievous smile appeared on her face as she pulled Jiang Ling’s hand closer.

Jiang Ling tumbled into the embrace formed by Song Meng’s arm.

“What did you just say?”

“I want to eat this.”

“The one before that.”

“Ahem… thanks.”

Jiang Ling lowered her head so much she nearly buried her face in the menu, squeezing out a barely audible sound from her throat.

“I can’t hear you.”

Song Meng leaned in a little closer, her face calm and smiling.

The feeling of their skin pressed together made Jiang Ling want to shout, “Forget it if you can’t hear!” with a blushing face. But remembering how Song Meng had slapped that guy for her earlier, she took a few deep breaths, looked up, and stared seriously at her.

“I—I said, thank you… for helping me…”

Her voice grew weaker as she spoke, but Jiang Ling pressed her lips together tightly, forcing herself to face Song Meng’s increasingly amused expression with her red face.

No matter what, she had to express her gratitude properly.

She recalled the words Song Meng had said so lightly just now:

——But of all things, you just had to say what you did just now.

That must have been referring to the boy’s harsh words toward her.

So this is what it feels like to be protected…

Thinking of this, Jiang Ling mustered up her courage and looked up again.

Though a little awkward, she met Song Meng’s gaze directly.

“Thank you for helping me, I’m… really happy.”

Seeing her misty eyes, Song Meng’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

This pitiful look was enough to awaken anyone’s protective instincts, yet it could just as easily turn into a growing sense of possessiveness.

Not good at all.

Hiding the strange look in her eyes, Song Meng let go of Jiang Ling’s hand to scan the code and order food, her expression returning to normal as she asked,

“Anything else you want to eat?”

In no time, Song Meng ordered a few common dishes.

Noticing Jiang Ling staring blankly at her now empty hand, she couldn’t help but laugh and ask, “What’s wrong, do you like me holding your hand?”

She thought she’d get an embarrassed denial from Jiang Ling, but instead, the girl seemed to hesitate for a long time before reaching out her pinky and gently hooking Song Meng’s hand hanging by her side, curling it around.

As if making some kind of promise, their fingers touched.

Song Meng’s gaze instinctively shifted to Jiang Ling.

Her eyelashes fluttered like cicada wings.

After a moment, she revealed her round, adorable eyes, nodded openly, and gave a shy yet radiant smile, her lips parting softly.

“It’s… not bad at all.”