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TN: I re-translated chapters 1 – 6. It’s more for new readers but just wanted to let you guys know. Enjoy the chapter!
The day after the fight, when my head was still filled with thoughts of getting revenge for brother Gang, the cla.s.s leader came up to me after cla.s.s and said:
“Give me your clothes.”
What? Clothes? Which clothes? Cla.s.s leader, you’re amazing! I know you are an advocate of equality between s.e.xes, but you can’t brazenly ask for a male’s clothes solely because the panty thief is stealing clothes from girls.
I understood later on that the cla.s.s leader was referring to the QingZi Academy jacket I wore last night.
The cla.s.s leader recounted last night’s events without any emotion: “You lost a lot of b.u.t.tons during the fight and I picked them up. Give me your clothes and I’ll take it home and help you sew the b.u.t.tons back on.”
Huh? You were leisurely picking up b.u.t.tons while I was in the middle of an intense fight? What are you thinking! Or, do you have OCD, and you can’t sleep thinking about my missing b.u.t.tons?
“Bring it to me whenever you’re free.” The cla.s.s leader moved her feet quickly and pretended she was looking at the scenery outside the window in order to evade Loud Mouth’s gaze. It was as if she already started training for techniques that are indispensable to criminal police.
“But I’m also busy, so don’t expect me to finish the job the day you bring it to me. It might take a few days.”
“If you’re in a rush, I can return your b.u.t.tons and you can take it to a tailor shop.”
Why would I go to a tailor shop? If there’s someone who would sew my b.u.t.tons for free, why would I not take advantage of it! I was just feeling uneasy because I used Ai Mi’s credit card recklessly! I will save money if I can. This is the only time when I envy Shu Zhe because he has a sister who could do everything.
Xiao Qin was also on sick leave for those couple of days, so the only thing I had to do other than waiting for brother Gang’s news, was to have the cla.s.s leader sew the b.u.t.tons back onto my uniform.
I did not have to wait two days at all. I found the repaired uniform inside my desk in the morning, the day after I handed it to the cla.s.s leader.
The cla.s.s leader was sitting quietly at her desk reviewing her homework as if this did not concern her.
Not only did she sew the b.u.t.tons back on their original positions, she was even able to clean off the blood stains on my collar that I could not.
Didn’t she say she was busy? If you are busy, you don’t need to make my task a priority! Whether it’s taking care of your smart-a.s.s brother, or going to the pet hospital to hug cats or dogs, aren’t either of them more important than sewing b.u.t.tons?
But, I still felt a warm feeling in my heart.
You are the product of your environment. Lately, I have become more aware of how an environment can influence someone.
In the cold alleyway that night, against the evil criminals, it was as if the world lost its order, or you could say violence became the only order. I was taken over by chaos, and I actually thought I was in a prehistoric desert before human civilization, where I devoured raw meat and only the strong would survive. I treated the lives of me and my enemies as equally worthless.
But now, sitting in the cla.s.sroom, watching the students studying, talking, and fooling around, I feel like the world has returned to order.
Especially the sunlight coming through the windows, pouring over the desk and giving it a golden color. It makes me feel that beautiful events still occur in this world.
Of course, this does not include Xiao Qin, who was holding onto two movie tickets with a wide smile, and hoping she can see a movie with me this weekend.
“As for what lovers should do, they should first see a movie together!”
I covered her mouth and she could only make m.u.f.fled sounds, but she still waved the two beautiful digitally printed movie tickets that were in her hand.
Shockingly, this was written on the ticket: The city’s first full-featured 4D theater, elegant environment, well-equipped. A domestic high-definition blockbuster, a martial arts film that spans the times —— “Tang Bo Hu Da Zhan Chu Liu Xiang”. (TN: It’s the name of the film, TBH fights CLX)
What the f.u.c.k is with the t.i.tle of this movie! Shouldn’t it be ‘Flirting Scholar‘! (TN: Chinese name for Flirting Scholar is ‘Tang Bo Hu Dian Qiu Xiang’, so the names are similar) Chu Liu Xiang, why are you joining the fray! Do you have to compete with him on the big screen at picking up girls because you’re both outstanding? In my opinion, not only does this film span the times, it simply ignores the integrity of filmmakers!
“How can you say that about my mom’s film!” Xiao Qin said after escaping from my grasps, “Although the plot is a bit outrageous, mom still put a lot of effort as the martial arts director! Even if you don’t watch it for the plot, you definitely won’t be disappointed by the martial arts!”
Huh? Auntie Ren was also involved in this film? It’s a bit beyond my expectations, but it’s not strange. Originally, the job of the martial arts director is to ch.o.r.eograph the fights to make it more interesting. They don’t actually have much say for the plot.
As a single mother, especially with a child like Xiao Qin who makes you worry, Auntie Ren probably does not have the leisure to pick a movie with a good plot.
“Did Auntie Ren give you those movies tickets?” I asked.
“Yeah. She receives a lot of tickets as a present once a movie is on air since she is the martial arts director. I can go see it together with Ye Lin cla.s.smate, hehe.”
Xiao Qin’s smile was as splendid as the radiance of spring. She still does not know I have already seen through the listening device plan, and I am currently looking for a way to get her back.
The matter with brother Gang has come to an end. Another way of putting it is that I have lost my goal in life. It would be senseless to keep thinking about it, and it should be fun to watch the martial arts movie that Auntie Ren helped film.
But I was not good-natured enough to go alone with Xiao Qin.
Thus I asked with an ulterior motive: “Does she have more than two tickets? There’s probably more she can’t use, right?”
Xiao Qin did not realize my plan and said with a smile: “Of course, there are still a lot more! If you need them, I can bring all of it and you can give it to your friends or family!”
“That’s good.” I said as I s.n.a.t.c.hed the two movie tickets from Xiao Qin and walked towards the cla.s.s leader without looking back.
The cla.s.s leader was discussing something with the teacher in the hallway and she just returned to the cla.s.sroom. She stared blankly at me when she saw me holding two movie tickets while walking towards her.
“Cla.s.s leader, do you like watching movies?” I asked casually.
“Wh-…. What are you doing!” The cla.s.s leader was anxious and she said angrily, “We’re at school right now. How can you… in front of this many people…”
It was as if she felt she misspoke halfway through her sentence and her face flushed red. Loud Mouth and Little Smart were watching the cla.s.s leader from a distance, and they started to whisper with bad intentions.
“I don’t like movies.” In order to break from the awkwardness, the cla.s.s leader sat back at her spot with lightning speed. She picked up an extracurricular book that was on her desk to read, it seems like it was ‘Robinson Crusoe‘.
“You can go with whoever you want, I’m not going… Why don’t you invite Xiao Qin?”
“I never said I wasn’t going with Xiao Qin! I thought it would be more fun with more people!”
She breathed a sigh of relief after hearing my words, but at the same time, she expressed a slightly disappointed expression.
“I have stuff to do on the weekend. Since you already invited Xiao Qin, you guys should go together. Pay attention to your safety on the road. Also, don’t bully Xiao Qin because I’m not there, otherwise, I won’t forgive you!”
It was like blades were hidden behind her jet-black pupils. Really? I’m only taking Xiao Qin to the movies.
It’s fine even if you don’t go. My goal is to not be alone with Xiao Qin at the movies. Even if you don’t go, I have other people I can invite.
Hence, I went to Loud Mouth and Little Smart and asked if they were interested.
Loud Mouth initially claimed that someone was treating her to a meal, and that’s why she felt regretful that she could not attend the theaters. After she heard that I invited the cla.s.s leader, and Xiao Qin will also attend, her spirits were dampened and she said:
“So you’re watching a movie in a group? I was trying not to be a third wheel! Sat.u.r.day afternoon at two, right? Okay, we’ll both be there, but you better at least treat us to popcorn!”
I nodded and agreed. The more people that come, the more disappointed Xiao Qin will be. As long as I can destroy her enthusiasm, so what if I have to spend a bit more?
I suddenly thought an errand like buying popcorn should be done by your junior. It’s not something a seven–foot man like me should do personally.
Thus I came up behind Eunuch Cao who was reading an H manga in secret. I tapped him on the shoulder which made him jump in shock, then I invited him to come with us on Sat.u.r.day and he can also help the girls out by buying snacks for them.
Eunuch Cao was afraid of starting a conversation with me the past few days because he saw my dark expression when I was worried about brother Gang. Now he saw I was in a good mood, he quickly agreed to meet us there on time.
After inviting the few people in our cla.s.s who were not afraid to talk to me, I returned back to the cla.s.s leader’s seat. She still has not even turned a single page on the book she was reading.
“Now there are a total of five people going to the movies on Sat.u.r.day, don’t you always advocate that we should partic.i.p.ate more in group activities? Xiao Qin’s mom received a lot of movie tickets, and it would be a waste if no one uses them.”
The cla.s.s leader hates hearing the word ‘waste’. Also, after she learned it was not only me and Xiao Qin, she was a bit tempted.
“But… It’s rare that Xiao Zhe doesn’t go out on Sat.u.r.days, I wanted to spend the day with him. Also, if I leave in the afternoon, his dinner….”
I can’t stand how the cla.s.s leader always puts her brother first for everything. He’s a grown man, does he need you to accompany him? Would he starve to death if you don’t make him one meal? Don’t you always advocate for equality between s.e.xes, then why do you sacrifice so much for your brother? Or is it to say your belief is ‘equality for both s.e.x, but not including older sisters’?
“Hey, hey, it’s not like he’s a cat or dog. He can’t always depend on you to feed him, can he?”
The cla.s.s leader squinted her eyes and glared at me after what I said about he brother. A murderous aura was about to be released.
“Okay, I won’t call him dog anymore, he’s actually not as loyal as a dog… How about this. I said we have a bunch of movie tickets, why not bring him along since he’s staying at home anyway. We… We’ll watch the movie with seven people, what do you think?”
My suggestion removed the cla.s.s leader’s final bit of resistance and guilt.
“Okay, I’ll bring Xiao Zhe along too. I don’t even remember the last time we watched a movie together.”
I thought in my mind: No s.h.i.t! Why would he go see a movie with you if he already has a girlfriend! You are a perfect example of a mother who feels lonely and disappointed because her son has grown up and is no longer as attached to you as before!
When I returned to my desk, I found Xiao Qin sprawled motionlessly across my desk like she was dead.