KFN A1C2 - A doll... or a minx?
EDIT: Minx sounds much better than the literal translation.
TL: So much easier. Here"s chapter 2.
As soon as Lin Ling gets back home, she thought of the incident this morning. Did she misheard it? That angel-like boy simply cannot be that bad of a person!
"Lin Ling, are you listening to me? How"s your new school?"
Lin Ling"s mother patted her shoulder lightly. She quickly snapped out of her daydream.
"Hm, not bad."
Lin Ling nodded, and ate a slice of eggplant. (?) TL: I... I dunno...
"Leaf High School is a prestigious school. Pay close attention in cla.s.ses, you hear me? Make sure you keep up with the other students. Only then can you be admitted into a good university! Only AFTER you entered a good university can you then..."
"Mum, did Dad get on the afternoon plane? How many days is he going again?"
Lin Ling head always hurt when her mother starts nagging. It"s her usual trick to change the topic to avoid speaking about it.
"Your father will be back once he"s finished discussing the business deal."
Lin Ling"s mother replied while topping up her bowl with even more carrots.
"Eat somemore."
Lin Ling frowned, but nevertheless used her chopsticks to pick up her most disliked vegetables.
"Dad"s always busy doing work outstation..."
"Your father is doing this for us. Else, how would we pay off those ridiculously high tuition fees for your school. Don"t fret about this matter, just study as hard as you can, understand?"
"Alright..."
Lin Ling slowly finished her meal and tipped her mother.
"Mum, I finished my meal."
Lin Ling"s mother smiled graciously and said, "Good. Wash your hands and go finish your homework."
Lin Ling was going to put her dishes into the kitchen, but was stopped by her mother.
"I"ll clean this up. Just study hard, alright? Ah yes, by the way, starting this Sunday, I invited an English and Maths tutor for you. Both are excellent teachers."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ling"s expression turned dour. She headed straight to her room, laid on her bed, and yelled into her pillow.
My life is so boringgggg!
Endless a.s.signments, exams, rote learning! Is life meant to be lived like this?! Studies, studies and more studies! Admitted to a good university in the future, work in a good company, found a decent husband, pop out a kid, then
repeat the process! Make the child study, study and study...
Although this is a really boring routine, is this not life? Lin Ling does not think anything special will ever happen to a normal girl like her. If G.o.d would only (?) (TL: I have no idea what it says.), Lin Ling would be so grateful to Him. It seems like G.o.d did not hear this unlucky girl"s prayer. However, the next day, no misfortunate events caused her to be late to school. However, the moment she step foot out of her door, the sky grumbles, and rain falls.
The bus is crowded yet again, the smell of breakfast wafted through the bus. (?) (TL: I have no idea...) She gripped the railings (TL: You know how buses have those uhhhh... things to let people grip them.) tightly to prevent herself from falling to the momentum of the rickety bus. It is at this moment, she felt someone in close proximity at her back. Thinking that the bus is crowded, she moved forward to give way. Unexpectedly, the person behind also followed
her movement. Feeling disgusted at the approach, she turned her head just to see... an uncle with a disgusting, perverted expression. (?)
Although Lin Ling feels disgusted, she chose to say nothing. Instead, she tries desperately to push him away. Thinking that she finally succeeds in doing so, she looked over her shoulder just to see the very same uncle hara.s.sing another girl. Alas, this girl has guts. She slapped his hand away. Shocked, the perverted uncle moved a few steps backwards. Lin Ling softly whispered to herself, why can"t she summon her courage to do that too? Instead of hating on that perverted uncle, she hated her cowardly self.
Once she gets down the bus, she used her fastest speed and ran towards the school. As soon as she reaches the gate, she inadvertently glanced at her chest. Her heartbeat almost stopped at the sight. Several crows crowed as they pa.s.sed by above her head.
The, the, the school badge is missing!
As though on cue, Guo Ting"s voice came from behind Lin Ling.
"Lin Ling! Why aren"t you going in?"
Lin Ling"s expression turned to a troubled one.
"Guo Ting! I... I...!"
Lin Ling pointed to her supposed pinned school badge on her chest. That is to say, not there at all.
"So that"s why. You just forgot to wear your badge! This is easily solved!"
Guo Ting pointed to hers as well.
"I forgot mine too!"
"Oh great! Now what do we do?"
Lin Ling asked in a troubled voice.
"Relax, it"ll be fine. Watch me. Just support me when the prefects come."
Guo Ting winked at Lin Ling and walked towards the prefects with great confidence. With impressive acting skills, she bent over and covered her chest, all the while groaning as if in pain. Everyone was shocked at her actions, and begin asking how is she feeling.
"My... My chest hurts..." Guo Ting walked while covering her chest.
"I need to... hurry to the... infirmary...!"
Lin Ling quickly caught up to her acts, and supported Guo Ting.
"I"ll bring you there!"
"Go! Just go! Quickly!"
Even the teachers on duty is ushering them to hurry up, and none bothered to check whether their school badges is pinned on their chest. Guo Ting looked down at Lin Ling, made a mischievous face before doing an "Okay" gesture. Only when both of them reached the school buildings that they stopped the act.
Guo Ting who could not stop laughing said, "See? I told you it"s easy."
Lin Ling looked at Guo Ting with nothing but admiration. Her methods really do work, and it"s something that Lin Ling can not think of in the first place. It is a pity, Lin Ling thought, that she can"t think of such a witty method on the fly. Since young, she has always been called a bookworm.
"Thank you, Guo Ting." Lin Ling"s eyelid flickered as she thanked her friend.
"It"s thanks to you today..."
"It"s okay! We should help each other in anyway."
Guo Ting patted Lin Ling"s shoulder and said, "That"s what friends are for, right?"
Nakama... Friend... A burst of warmth spread over Lin Ling"s heart. She felt appreciated, a feeling that she is not used to. But, I... I do not hate this feeling.
"Are you backstabbing me?!" A sharp and shrill voice from the lab next door, accompanied by a girl"s soft cries filled the surroundings. Hearing this voice, Guo Ting smiled lightly.
"Must be that girl, Chen Yi. She"s bullying others again."
"Chen Yi?" Lin Ling is not familiar with this name. (?)
"Yes, she"s the vice president of the Third Prince"s cla.s.s. (?) I heard rumours that her parents are really loaded. Thanks to that, she"s not afraid to bully anyone that she hates. Her nickname"s Minx (?)."
Guo Ting filled Lin Ling on this as she walks towards the lab next door.
"So why are you meddling in her affairs?"
Lin Ling desperately tried to stop Guo Ting"s advances. She tries to pull Guo Ting away from the door.
"We should mind our own business!"
"NO! I can not stand that women having her own way!"
Guo Ting pushed away Lin Ling"s hand and roughly, whammed the lab"s door open.
Laboratory equipments littered the table. There, stood several arrogant looking girls, led by a pet.i.te girl. A slim body, well-cared for hair that screams cute hairstyle, the supposed pet.i.te leader is almost like a delicate doll. Unfortunately, this angel-like appearance is a facade as the girl in question wears an s.a.d.i.s.tic smile on her face. The Minx, so to speak, is now preparing a reagent to pour onto another girl"s face as she sits helplessly on the floor.
"P-p-please... I don"t want this!" The girl pitiful begged her.
The Minx did not expect Guo Ting to appear in this place. She casually shook the test tube she was holding while moved her posture to acknowledge her presence.
"You again, Guo Ting."
"Chen Yi. Stop this at once! If you don"t, I"ll go get the teacher!"
So this is Chen Yi. Lin Ling feels a little surprised at this revelation. After all, anyone would after seeing such a lovely girl doing such "evil" actions.
"You"ll tattle me to a teacher? Ooooh~ I"m so scared~" Chen Yi "accidentally" spilled a little of the test tube"s content, splashing onto the girl"s face. Astonished, the girl burst into tears.
"Stop crying! It"s just water!"
Chen Yi smirked and walked towards the exit. As soon as she approached the exit, she stopped, and turned around to face Guo Ting.
"Can you tell the teachers... How I lovingly wash my fellow student"s face?"
"You...!"
Once Chen Yi and her supporters left the room, Guo Ting can not help but to curse her back.
"Guo Ting..." Lin Ling was going to continue her sentence, yet she failed to bring out the words.
"Yes?"
"Oh... it"s nothing. Let"s go back to cla.s.s." Lin Ling smiled at her, and left the lab as well.
"Hm, that"s right. Let"s go back to cla.s.s. Once school"s done, let"s go shopping. I know a really special shop!"
Guo Ting quickly throw the incident out the window and happily dragged Lin Ling back to the cla.s.sroom.
"Okay..." Lin Ling softly replied.
Unknowingly, she felt jealous of the happy-go-lucky Guo Ting. If she had the same att.i.tude as Guo Ting, she can easily overcome these troublesome feelings! Throw them out as easily as wind, just like her corwardly self. Once school is done and over with, Guo Ting rushed to bring her friend to "that special shop", all the while rea.s.suring Lin Ling that she"ll absolutely love the place. Since there is still time, Lin Ling pondered at the trip"s worthwhile. There"s nothing telling her to do otherwise anyway, so Lin Ling followed Guo Ting to see this shop
of hers.