Chapter 28 (2/2)

“To thank your hero, I have made the executive decision to betroth the prettiest girl in our dorm to you!” Xu Jing concluded. Suddenly, she received another smack across the head! But after that, Shen Xixi also thanked Zhang Heng.

After informing the others scattered all over the campgrounds, the group gathered again, feeling a lot safer by the numbers.

Zhang Heng put down his bow and opened up his backpack, distributing a bunch of snacks that did not require cooking to everyone.

While taking a bite out of her custard pie, Xu Jing mumbled, “What a day full of action! It’s my first time camping, and it may very well be my last!”

With food filling their stomachs, the group was feeling much better, and they began discussing the precarious situation they were in just a while ago.

It was then that out of the blue, Shen Xixi said, “Zhang Heng, can I talk to you?”

“Mmm.”

The pair stepped away from their friends’ bemused gazes.

Shen Xixi thanked Zhang Heng again for the night, saying, “Did you notice?”

“Notice what?”

“That guy didn’t look like he’s from the villages around here. He’s probably from the city like us.”

“You’re saying that the guy came here tonight just to look for women to a.s.sault?”

“No, if he was prepared, he wouldn’t be dressed like that. The shoes on his feet were an Adidas Coconut 500. It’s at least 2000 yuan and above for the authentic one! He would not have willingly worn those here and risked having his sneakers sc.r.a.ped by twigs and branches. Also, when he was talking, he kept scratching at his neck. He must have gotten bitten by a lot of mosquitos! If this was premeditated and he did not even prevent that, that would just too careless. So, chances are, he came here at the last minute.”

“That’s a very detailed observation!” Zhang Heng looked surprised. “Most people would not have noticed so many fine details in that situation!”

“Aren’t you the same?” Shen Xixi answered softly.

“I didn’t notice any of that.” Zhang Heng shook his head. “I don’t know much about shoes. I was busy paying attention to his friends in the woods. I didn’t notice his little movements. If you didn’t mention it, I really would not have known.”

Shen Xixi was taken aback slightly. “Then why have you been keeping an eye on w.a.n.g Huan?”

“Because when the guy appeared, her reaction was a little too intense. Everyone was paralyzed by shock and fear but she was very, very frightened. After the guy left, everyone was so relieved, but she seemed even more alarmed instead.”

Shen Xixi smiled bitterly. “That is why I didn’t agree with them calling the police.”

“Even though she put everyone in danger tonight?”

“w.a.n.g Huan has her share of problems. Cheng Cheng threatened her, telling her that if she refused to help, he wants her to reimburse him for the lipstick. Her parents were laid off a while ago, and she has a younger brother at home. And just like you said, she didn’t expect this to happen. She only sent our location to Cheng Cheng. All she thought was that he wanted to join us. She never expected the person someone like that to pop out. She was terrified… worried that police would find out.”

“You decide then.” Zhang Heng declined to comment. They were all adults. They have to be responsible for their own actions. Circ.u.mstances and her family’s situation may have induced her to behave that way, but it’s no excuse for her wrongdoing! One straightforward justification: society may not be just to you but you can’t go kill people in a kindergarten or set public transportation on fire just like that!

However, Shen Xixi was the target here. Whatever she would decide to do was entirely up to her. Zhang Heng had no opinion on that.

As for Cheng Cheng, he had an idea of what kind of game the guy was playing at, sort of… In light of the declining favorable impression between him and Shen Xixi, he probably wanted to play the hero and save the damsel in distress in this self-directed drama to make up for it. It, however, appeared that this guy had underestimated Shen Xixi’s intelligence.

At the moment, it did not look like they were on the same level.

Shen Xixi let out a breath of relief. “I am not a person who keeps forgiving – w.a.n.g Huan promised to move out of our dorms when we get back. We won’t have any social interactions with each other. So, that’s how it’s gonna be. You, on the other hand, will have to be very careful. Cheng Cheng wouldn’t dare break the law, but he has no problem crossing the line. Mm, it’s best if you don’t leave the campus for the time being. I’ll help you figure a way out of this!”