Chapter 65 - What Are Your Cla.s.smates Doing Here?
Under Zheng BuLu’s oppressive gaze, He YiJun had to bite the bullet and speak up: “Zheng PingQing, how about…”
Zheng PingQing put on an una.s.suming expression. “Hmm?”
He YiJun’s heart was thumping, but her expression remained gentle as she asked in a soft tone: “I know you don’t believe your teacher, but are you really going to disregard your father’s words?”
Zheng PingQing looked at her weirdly. “Isn’t this your gift to me? When did I disregard my dad’s words?”
He YiJun: “……” This father and son pair…
Although Zheng BuLu raised a brow, he didn’t blame He YiJun for the situation. He said: “PingQing, you don’t need that phone. I’ll give you something better.”
He YiJun pursed her lips, then chimed in: “Old Zheng is always thinking about you. Don’t always fight him on things. Do you remember that fight you had with Zheng Chong during your last year of middle school? Well, you probably didn’t know this, but Zheng Chong’s father was one of Old Zheng’s business partners. Old Zheng had to personally apologize for you…”
Zheng BuLu was used to throwing money at his problems, and during Zheng PingQing’s rebellious phase, the busy Zheng BuLu often used this tactic to cover for his son. In many of those instances, it was actually He YiJun acting on Zheng BuLu’s behalf. This impersonal solution was one of the main reasons why the father-son pair drifted apart and alienated each other. In their last life, when He YiJun married Zheng BuLu and gave birth to his son, this alienation turned into estrangement.
By then, Zheng PingQing had set his sights firmly on Lin Qian. Zheng PingQing’s awkward relationship with his family made him reluctant to accept Zheng BuLu’s help with his career, and in the end, he worked things out on his own. Zheng PingQing had never intended to inherit his father’s business in the first place, and he didn’t care much about the changes in his relationship with his Zheng BuLu.
For that Zheng PingQing, his family was an unspeakable existence. He didn’t want Zheng BuLu’s wealth, he just wanted to escape.
But in this life, there was no tangle of anger and hatred clouding his view. This Zheng PingQing is able to a.n.a.lyze the situation clearly.
In addition to those lies about Chen ShiYi, it seems that He YiJun was also manipulating his relationship with Zheng BuLu.
He YiJun had always taken very good to Zheng PingQing and had never directly argued with him in front of Zheng BuLu. At the time Zheng PingQing had been reborn, He YiJun had already settled into the Zheng family. Her son would’ve probably inherited Zheng BuLu’s company if it wasn’t for Zheng PingQing’s little time-traveling accident. Even then, He YiJun was still very polite to Zheng PingQing and tried to be a bridge between the two men. She often asked Zheng Pingqing to let go of old grievances and to reconcile with his father.
But after some thought, Zheng PingQing noted that every time He YiJun tried to persuade him, she would end up bringing all those unpleasant memories into the forefront of his mind. As Zheng PingQing grew up, his indifferent relationship with his father actually eased a little. But then, He YiJun would come by and talk about the past, and ultimately, even if they had no reason to be at odds with each other, Zheng PingQing and Zheng BuLu were never able to get along.
And now, as if to ease the awkwardness between father and son, He YiJun casually mentioned something Zheng PingQing did that made trouble for Zheng BuLu. As expected, Zheng BuLu’s expression was slightly unhappy as he said: “Don’t mention such old things.”
He YiJun immediately complied, and with a smile, said: “Yes, it’s all in the past. Right now, nothing is more important than PingQing.”
She then brought the conversation back on topic and said: “The phone doesn’t matter PingQing, just don’t bring it to school. Cell phones, or fighting… that’s nothing. It’s normal for kids your age to be noisy and playful; what’s important is to make sure that you don’t go astray.”
He YiJun gently pushed Zheng BuLu. “You and your mild temperament just don’t get it, ah. The most important thing is to finish senior year. Everything else is inconsequential.”
In truth, Zheng BuLu had long accepted that there wouldn’t be anything to hope for in his son’s college entrance exams. It was just that Zheng PingQing’s temper was problematic in a lot of ways. It wasn’t just the incident with Zheng Chong during his middle school years. When Zheng PingQing transferred to No.12 High School, Zheng BuLu initially tried to get Zheng PingQing into the better cla.s.ses. But not only did he end up in the worst cla.s.s, he even made a group with the underachievers and specifically b.u.t.ted heads with their teachers.
Back then, Zheng BuLu had just dealt with Zheng Chong’s family. He had made a lot of concessions for Zheng Chong’s father business-wise, so he was very disappointed with Zheng PingQing’s att.i.tude and lack of repentance. He acted coldly towards Zheng PingQing for some time, but then he ended up busy with work, so, in the end, the entire situation was removed from everyone’s minds.
That is, until the last school semester when He YiJun patched in a call from Zheng PingQing’s homeroom teacher. The teacher explained that Zheng PingQing instigated his cla.s.smates to mess with their math teacher. Zheng PingQing clashed with his math teacher so aggressively that math cla.s.s was almost cut short. At the time, Zheng BuLu was in the middle of an important business project and was currently at its most critical stage. This phone call made Zheng BuLu more and more frustrated with Zheng PingQing, and without much choice, he asked He YiJun to take care of things. After some time, he called Zheng PingQing to figure out the situation, but Zheng PingQing’s att.i.tude was as bad as ever. It was all this that made Zheng BuLu finally give up on his son.
This school semester, Zheng BuLu didn’t care about Zheng PingQing’s academic situation. At this point, Zheng PingQing successfully sitting his college entrance exams would already be considered lucky.
Zheng BuLu’s heart began to feel tired as he thought about Zheng PingQing’s previous antics. He suddenly felt that playing around with a phone wasn’t that of a big deal. With a hand on his forehead, he said: “Alright. Since it’s a gift from YuJin, you can accept it. Just don’t make trouble in school.”
Zheng PingQing didn’t immediately answer, prompting He YiJun to quickly change the subject: “By the way, I heard that some of your cla.s.smates are coming?”
Zheng PingQing replied: “Ah, yes, from Cla.s.s 7.”
When he heard that the Zheng PingQing’s cla.s.smates were coming, his face turned a little sour. He still remembered the phone call he had gotten from Zheng PingQing’s homeroom teacher. He had asked He YiJun about it later and found out that Zheng PingQing’s friends were little hooligans who didn’t have much chance of getting into university.”
But, well, he didn’t know how Cla.s.s 7 was actually like. With great concern in her face, He YuJin asked: “Why are you a.s.sociating yourself with students in Cla.s.s 7? I heard that several students in that cla.s.s are very outrageous? Oh, I also heard that they blackmail cla.s.smates….”
Zheng BuLu: !!!!!
Zheng PingQing gave her a faint smile. “It seems that you know the situation in my school quite well, ah.”
He YiJun sighed. “It’s because Old Zheng is concerned for you.”
With an ‘oh’, Zheng PingQing replied: “I’ll go wash up. They should arrive soon.”
As Zheng PingQing walked off, Zheng BuLu sighed heavily. “How can he be friends with those delinquents? No wonder his grades don’t improve!”
He YiJun sighed. “He’s too stubborn. If we try and interfere with his life, he’ll just get angry. You know, last semester, I actually wanted for Zheng PingQing to change cla.s.ses, ah. But Zheng PingQing refused to switch. In the end, how can I make him do something he doesn’t want to do?”
He YiJun patted the back of Zheng BuLu’s hand. “He’s just at that age. We can slowly guide him in the future…”
“But he’s hanging out with those hooligans every day. How can we guide him? And what’s with this Cla.s.s 7? How can they be blackmailing students?”
He YiJun looked hesitant but answered him nevertheless. “I heard it when I went to deal with PingQing’s situation last semester. The students of Cla.s.s 7 and Cla.s.s 8 are really too outrageous…”
She told Zheng BuLu a little about the brilliant deeds of No.12 High School’s famed underachievers. Afterward, with said with great concern: “I can only hope that PingQing doesn’t learn from these people.”
After hearing the stories, Zheng BuLu slapped the armrest of his chair and angrily said: “How can they let their students do such things!”
He YiJun quickly covered his hand with her own. “Just forget it. They’re just children. They don’t understand…”
“It doesn’t matter! They’ll all be eighteen soon, how can they still be considered children!” Zheng BuLu rubbed his chest, his face turning red with anger. “You’re tried for your crimes as an adult when you’re eighteen! That kid, he’s unable to differentiate the good from the bad, ah! At this point, I really think he just wants to infuriate me to death!”
Zheng BuLu was really angry. He thought that the people Zheng PingQing chose to be friends with were hooligans who disrespected their teachers and had poor grades. He didn’t realize that these hooligans were actually criminals in the making. Zheng BuLu had indulged his son in many things, but he couldn’t sit still for this. He could accept his son’s poor grades, but he will not tolerate any irreparable mistakes that could damage Zheng PingQing’s future.
Zheng BuLu stood up and said: “No, I have to talk with him. I have to make him stop a.s.sociating with such people.”
He YiJun hurriedly tried to stop him. “How can you do such a thing? With PingQing’s explosive temper, you’ll just end up fighting the entire time you’re here. You said that you were going to happily celebrate the new years with him just two days ago. Don’t make things unpleasant again…”
“I have to say it.” Zheng BuLu became angrier and angrier.
As Zheng BuLu got worked up, He Fei came back with some more presents in his hands. He put them down and said: “Brother Zheng, Sister, there is a group of students outside. They said they were PingQing’s cla.s.smates…”
He hadn’t even finished when Zheng BuLu roared: “Drive them away! Drive them all away!”
He YiJun tried to dissuade him: “Don’t, they’re already here, ah. We musn’t make things difficult for PingQing.”
Zheng BuLu didn’t care. “Based on the things you said, how can these hooligans come here with good intentions? Aren’t they here just to mess with PingQing? Drive them out, drive them out, ah.”
He Fei didn’t understand the situation and looked towards his sister in confusion. After seeing He YiJun imperceptibly nod her head, He Fei said: “Alright, I’ll go do it now.”
He Fei hadn’t been outside long when Zheng PingQing ran down the stairs. “s.h.i.t, what are you doing? Why are you chasing my cla.s.smates away? Have you no manners?!”
It was impossible for Zheng BuLu to be harsh towards his baby son. He could only gloomily say: “PingQing, I’ve never cared about all the trouble you make in your school. But your cla.s.smates are too outrageous. What will others think if you a.s.sociate yourself with such people all day?”
Zheng PingQing glanced at He YiJun and guessed what had happened. With a smile, he asked: “What’s wrong with my cla.s.smates?”
Zheng BuLu bitterly and hatefully pointed towards the doors and said: “Don’t try to persuade me. What are those people doing here?”
Zheng PingQing earnestly explained: “There’s only half a year left before the college entrance exams. Senior students can’t slack off, even during the holidays, ah. So, of course….”
With a deadpan expression, Zheng PingQing said: “They’re here to study.”
Zheng BuLu had a follow-up speech already planned in his head, but at Zheng PingQing’s words, he was left speechless. After a while, he looked towards He YiJun and saw that she was also at a loss.
However, He YiJun quickly adjusted her expression when she noticed Zheng BuLu. She smiled, and acting as if nothing had happened, said: “What are you going to be studying?”
Zheng BuLu blinked. How could those delinquents study, ah? They must’ve tricked his son and told him they were going to study as an excuse. His son was probably clueless about the many evil deeds of those hooligans. Zheng BuLu looked towards Zheng PingQing, seriously wondering how he could properly educate him.
Zheng PingQing shrugged and answered: “Language, Maths, English, Literature Comprehension, Science Comprehension…”
Zheng BuLu: “…..”
He YiJun: “…..”
While the two adults were at a daze, they suddenly heard a shrill cry just outside the door: “Let me in, let me in! Otherwise, I won’t be able to finish my homework today!”
Zheng BuLu looked at He YiJun in doubt.
He YiJun: “….!!!”
Zheng PingQing rolled his eyes at them and ran out the front door without another word.
The atmosphere in the room plunged. Zheng BuLu scrutinized He YiJun, making her lips tremble. She couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation.
After a while, Zheng PingQing led a large group of students inside.
Zheng BuLu made a visual inspection. There must be more than ten people. Of course, the Zheng family home was ma.s.sive, so it wasn’t crowded.
The students came into the room with huge schoolbags on their backs. One of them started howling the moment he entered their front door. It was the voice they heard moments before.
“My arm hurts so much- who was that man just now, ah? Why did he hit me? I do my homework with his hand! It’s already sore, and now it even got hit? I don’t think I can hold a pen anymore… what’s going to happen to my homework, ah!”
Dong MingEn howled as he cradled his hand. This was the task Lin Qian had a.s.signed to him moments ago. He and Lou XingGuang were used to crosstalk, so he had some acting ability.
He Fei, who followed them, heard Dong MingEn’s pa.s.sionate accusation as soon as he came in. His expression was incredulous as he thought: What the f.u.c.k????
He just gave him a nudge, how can it be so severe?
Seeing Zheng BuLu look at them, He Fei quickly waved his hands. “I just pushed him a little….”
But before he could finish, a tall and handsome young man interrupted him. “If you wanted to drive us away, you could’ve just said so. You didn’t need to do things physically. Now his hand is hurt. What’s going to happen if he is unable to hold a pen…”
He Fei was stupefied that the most gentle and harmless-looking student in the group was the one that destroyed him so thoroughly in just a few words. He couldn’t even find the words to refute the accusation.
At this point, Zheng BuLu was already complaining about He YiJun in his heart. So after hearing that student’s words, he felt even more discontent. He opened his mouth to say something when Zheng PingQing turned towards him and said: “Dad, you’re too much. You try to drive away my cla.s.smates without even asking me. You even ask He Fei to…”
Zheng PingQing sighed. “I’m so disappointed…”
Zheng BuLu: !!!!
Zheng BuLu glared at He YiJun, then started to dump all the blame towards He Fei, scolding him: “Did I tell you to be physical? Is this how you do things?”
He Fei helplessly looked towards He YiJun.
But He YiJun was even more upset than him. Although Zheng BuLu didn’t scold her directly, she knew who those words were for.
Looking at her brother’s plea for help, He YiJun could only ruthlessly turn her eyes away.
The author has something to say:
Old Zheng is a self-made rich man…