Chapter 32: Waiting Especially for You

At noon, Jiang Zheng went to the infirmary to buy some medicine to reduce swelling. Of all his injuries, his face had fared the best—he had made a point to shield it at the time—whereas his body bore the brunt of the wounds. To avoid being seen by his roommates, Jiang Zheng applied the medicine in the restroom. When he finished, he reeked of medicinal ointment.

That afternoon, Jiang Zheng continued to immerse himself in that remarkable state of “focus,” his study efficiency soaring. Sometimes he couldn’t help but sigh—if only he’d possessed this miraculous skill a few years earlier, he would be studying at the best university in the country by now. This ability was perfectly suited for learning. Of course, while “focus” didn’t directly raise his intelligence, it allowed his capacity for learning to be fully unleashed.

When classes ended, Jiang Zheng and Zhou Quanyi went to the cafeteria together; the others had their own affairs and didn’t join them. After dinner, they returned to the dorm. Jiang Zheng sat in front of his computer and began to write.

His story was progressing rapidly—it was a multiverse narrative, and while the first world was important, he couldn’t linger on it for too long. The protagonist he’d created, Hei Xiaohu, had already gained considerable strength, and his father had officially become the leader of the Demon Sect, the greatest villain in the martial world. Meanwhile, Blackhearted Tiger had begun plotting to seize the Qilin’s blood, setting his schemes in motion. All of this, Hei Xiaohu was keenly aware of; he understood the story was about to truly begin.

As Jiang Zheng wrote, he envisioned a small climax once the main plot took off, and he had been laying the groundwork for it all along. Time slipped by, and he wrote more than twenty thousand words in one sitting, still feeling unsatisfied. But his fingers ached, forcing him to stop.

Given that he was still attending school, being able to write twenty thousand words in his spare time was no small feat. After a short break, he continued. With final exams approaching, he needed to build a stockpile of drafts to avoid interrupting his updates during the revision and exam period. So, he pressed on, accumulating more drafts.

After another five thousand words, Jiang Zheng’s neck was sore. He glanced at the clock—it was already eight in the evening. Rising, he headed out to complete his daily workout.

He had truly experienced the benefits of improved physical fitness; now, he no longer dreaded his daily exercise, but rather relished it.

Reaching the track, Jiang Zheng began to run. At his current level of fitness, anything less than ten laps barely counted as exercise. As he ran, he set aside all stray thoughts, concentrating solely on training. He entered that state of focus, but unfortunately, it seemed to have no effect on his physical performance. He felt a pang of disappointment—though, on reflection, it made sense. It was already remarkable that the skill could boost his studies; if it enhanced his physical training too, perhaps the system itself would be broken. What else could it be if not a bug to grant him such an ability?

Pushing himself to the limit, drenched in sweat, Jiang Zheng slowed to a walk to steady his heartbeat. After intense exercise, one should never sit down immediately; it was necessary to walk for a while to avoid causing undue harm to the body. Once he had walked a lap, he sat down to rest on the grass at the side of the field. He’d meant to sit on a bench, but those were all occupied by couples. He had no desire to witness their affection, so he settled for the grass instead.

The advantage of the school’s lawn was that there was no dog mess—no need to worry about sitting down and soiling his pants. After resting for a bit, Jiang Zheng prepared to return to his dorm; it was getting late.

Just then, a bottle of water appeared in his field of vision. The hand holding the bottle was slender and fair. Puzzled, Jiang Zheng followed the hand up and saw Jiang Qianyu crouching beside him, a smile on her face.

He had no idea when she had arrived—he hadn’t noticed her at all. Perhaps he’d simply been too exhausted to pay attention to anything else. After a brief hesitation, Jiang Zheng accepted the water, twisted off the cap, and took a long drink.

“Thank you,” he said.

Jiang Qianyu sat down beside him. “No need to thank me.”

The two sat in silence for a while, neither knowing how to start a conversation. Jiang Qianyu seemed to have something to say, but the words caught in her throat. Jiang Zheng felt the atmosphere growing awkward; he and Jiang Qianyu were hardly close, and he had even offended her before.

“What a coincidence, seeing you here on the track,” Jiang Zheng said stiffly.

He’d intended to break the ice, but somehow, saying it only made things more awkward.

“It’s no coincidence. I waited here for you on purpose,” Jiang Qianyu replied.

“Ah?” Jiang Zheng was surprised, unsure how to respond.

Perhaps because Jiang Zheng had spoken first, breaking the silence, Jiang Qianyu continued, “About last night—thank you.”

“No need for thanks. Anyone in my position would have made the same choice,” Jiang Zheng replied.

“Regardless, I still want to thank you. If it weren’t for you, the consequences could have been unimaginable,” Jiang Qianyu said softly.

Anyone who would resort to drugging others surely had foul intentions. The mere thought of what might have happened to two beautiful girls in such a situation sent chills down the spine.

Jiang Zheng had never underestimated the darkness lurking in human nature.

“In the future, you should be more careful. Don’t agree to meet just anyone,” Jiang Zheng said.

He couldn’t always be there; only they could truly protect themselves. He fervently hoped the two girls would never encounter such a thing again.

Hearing his words, Jiang Qianyu hurried to explain, “It wasn’t me who arranged to meet; it was Xiaoxiao who dragged me along.”

Seeing her nervousness, Jiang Zheng reassured her, “I know it wasn’t your online friend.”

He remembered enough from last night—their conversation had lasted quite a while, and he had overheard bits and pieces. He just hadn’t had the energy to think about it then, but now that he’d recovered, it all made sense.

At this, Jiang Qianyu’s expression eased slightly.

“But…” Jiang Zheng continued, “whether you’re accompanying a friend to meet someone or meeting someone yourself, it’s best to stay vigilant. Sometimes, people can stoop to any level.”

Jiang Qianyu nodded in agreement. She believed she had been careful enough last night—she had never fully trusted Gao Fu—but his acting was too convincing. In the end, she let her guard down for a moment, and that was all it took.

By now, Jiang Qianyu had pieced together exactly what had happened: Gao Fu must have drugged their drinks while both she and Liu Xiao were in the restroom. If your drink leaves your sight, it’s better not to touch it again.

“Oh, by the way—how’s your roommate?” Jiang Zheng suddenly thought of Liu Xiao and asked.

At his question, Jiang Qianyu fell silent, her expression complicated. After a long pause, she finally spoke, “She’s taken it very hard. She’s lost her appetite, does nothing all day, just lies in bed staring into space and weeping.”