Chapter 1154 - 1154: Top Scorer in the College Entrance Examination

While eating a hand-grabbed pancake, Xiao Feng and the girl beside him started chatting.

Of course, calling it chatting isn't entirely accurate.

Because the conversation between the two didn't have much interaction; it was basically Xiao Feng asking a question and the girl answering it.

During the exchange, Xiao Feng learned that the girl's name was Jiang Mixue, and her identity was quite unusual and special.

Obviously, it's not that Jiang Mixue had any significant background, but rather, she was this year's high school top scorer in Jiangcheng.

This was quite something, as there were plenty of wealthy and influential people in Jiangcheng, but only one top scorer each year.

The university Jiang Mixue attended was in Kyoto, and after winter break, she worked at a restaurant. She took leave this time to visit home and would not return for the New Year; she planned to return to school directly after collecting her salary.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Feng was puzzled: "With your grades, shouldn't you have tuition reductions or other support?

Why work outside during New Year and not return home?"

"There are tuition reductions, but I still need to pay for lodging and meals." Jiang Mixue smiled: "However, quite a few rich people approached my family, offering to sponsor my entire college education.

The condition was to work at their company for ten years after graduation, but I refused."

"Why?" Xiao Feng followed up: "Was the offer not good?"

Jiang Mixue shook her head, pondering for a moment before replying: "While my agreeing would greatly reduce my pressure and allow me to study with peace of mind,

it would make studying meaningless.

I strive to study hard to gain more choices.

Besides, I'm doing quite well now—scholarship plus wages cover my daily expenses—so why borrow from the future?"

"Makes sense." Xiao Feng slowly nodded, agreeing with her perspective.

Effort is for gaining more choices; this reasoning indeed makes sense!

Just like most university graduates who run around looking for jobs.

While a few outstanding ones might receive job offers from top national companies even before graduating.

To some extent, the school environment, which centers on academic achievement, is relatively fair; if you're a good horse, you won't lack a discoverer.

Perhaps due to the long chat, Jiang Mixue gradually opened up and asked proactively: "Xiao, are you going to Kyoto for business?"

"Well, I…" Xiao Feng had just begun when a loud "bang" sounded ahead, like something was hit.

Shortly after, the driver braked hard, stopping the bus.

Momentum pushed passengers forward, and screams erupted inside the bus.

"Ah!" Jiang Mixue also shouted, her head quickly striking the backrest of the seat ahead.

However, just as she was about to hit the backrest, a palm appeared in front of her forehead, and another at her neck.

The owner of the two palms was, of course, Xiao Feng.

And there was indeed thought in this action.

Firstly, simply cushioning with a hand on the seat's backrest wouldn't have much effect.

Pushing Jiang Mixue's forehead backwards might prevent injury, but simultaneous forces from front and back could harm the neck.

Therefore, the most prudent approach was to block her forehead with a palm to counteract the braking force, while the other hand supported her neck, minimizing injury.

As for Xiao Feng, if he couldn't handle this situation, he wouldn't be Xiao Feng.

Wait!

Strictly speaking, Xiao Feng wasn't actually Xiao Feng but rather a thirty-something, unremarkable-looking Xiao Bajia.

"Are you okay?" Xiao Feng asked with concern, seeing Jiang Mixue's rapid breathing, pale face, clearly frightened.

Jiang Mixue shook her head: "I'm… I'm fine, thank you, Xiao. What just happened?"

"Not sure; seems like something got hit." Xiao Feng replied, furrowing his eyebrows slightly.

At this moment, the bus interior became noisy, with many people moving to the front, while a few with short tempers started swearing colorfully.

"Ouch… It's killing me!"

"What happened?"

"Can the driver even drive? Damn it, nearly killed me!"

Xiao Feng didn't rush to join the commotion; he scanned the area to see if anyone was seriously injured.

Fortunately, no one appeared to be severely hurt, although a few unlucky ones did have hands or legs scratched by sharp objects, causing bleeding.

"Bang bang bang bang bang!"

Intense pounding sounds came from the bus door.

The driver realized what was happening and opened the door.

An old man dressed in a thick coat and holding a sheep-herding whip rushed in, cursing loudly at the driver:

"Can't you see, you turtle-grandson? Such a big sheep, yet you drove right into it. Luckily I moved quickly, or you'd have hit me too!"

The driver hurriedly defended: "I… I didn't see any sheep!"

"What did you say!" The sheepherder said with a heavy accent: "You dare to deny it?!"

"I'm not… I'm really not denying it… I really didn't see any!" The driver seemed on the verge of tears.

The sheepherder then began rallying the crowd, urging people to go down: "Let's go, come down to see.

There's a giant sheep right in front of the bus, yet he keeps insisting he didn't see it. Is this reasonable?"

Those squeezed at the front of the bus followed the sheepherder down.

Seizing the chance as the area at the front emptied, Xiao Feng stood up and patted Jiang Mixue's shoulder, signaling her to move her legs aside.

Jiang Mixue stood and walked to the center aisle; after Xiao Feng emerged from the inside seat, they followed the others.

Outside the bus front lay a motionless sheep on the road, surrounded by spectators, while the sheepherder gestured and spoke emphatically, though his words were unclear without the windows open.

Not having witnessed the collision, Xiao Feng found it difficult to judge whether the sheepherder was fabricating or the driver lost focus on this quiet stretch and hit the sheep.

But…

"Isn't there a dashcam on the bus? Let's check it to see what actually happened." Xiao Feng suggested.

"Oh, right!" The driver thanked Xiao Feng with a glance, then looked back at the injured passengers, noticing an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl giving simple first aid. This kind-hearted girl was Jiang Mixue.

Xiao Feng didn't pay her much attention for now and instead followed the driver in retrieving the dashcam footage.

After a while, the driver suddenly stood up and shouted: "I told you, I didn't see any sheep; that old man tossed the sheep with a rope in front of my bus!"

"Let's call the police; otherwise, this could drag on indefinitely." Xiao Feng advised.

The driver nodded, reaching for his phone to report the incident.

Just then, a group of people riding motorcycles and wearing helmets appeared at the road's end curve, heading their way.