“Mouse, what’s the good news? You’ve been all smiles today.” The next day, during a class break.
Yang Haoran’s mind was stillๆฒ้ (intoxicated/immersed) in the wonderful experiences of the previous night. The curve of hisๅด่ง (mouth corners) was like an AK (rifle) that couldn’t be pressed down, rising involuntarily. Anyone could see he was in a great mood.
Hearing Wei Ming’s words, his deskmate, Ji Youxi, glanced at Yang Haoran before returning her focus to the book in her hands.
She had transferred here and was behind the class่ฟๅบฆ (progress/schedule). If it were anyone else, they might be scrambling to catch up, but she had already self-studied the entire first-year high school curriculum.
For some reason, at this moment, she was still intently focused on that book in her hands, reading with great interest and single-minded concentration, not moving an inch. This left Yang Haoran, who had words on the tip of his tongue, unsure how to start.
“Ahem…” Yang Haoran coughed,ๆ้ (reminding/hinting to) Wei Ming that there was someone else present.
“Oh… Mouse, forget it for now. I need to use the restroom. Wanna come?” Wei Ming suddenly understood and quickly tried to smooth things over. He sighed inwardly; times had changed. Although he envied Ji Youxi for being Mouse’s deskmate, it also interfered with their privateๅ ๅผ (brotherly) conversations. What a hassle.
Just then, Xiao Shaowan and Han Lili came over to chat with Ji Youxi. Yang Haoran seized the chance to slip out of the classroom with Wei Ming.
From their brief conversation yesterday, Xiao Shaowan and Ji Youxi had gotten along quite well.
Ji Youxi possessed great skill in the art of language. Despite being a new transfer student, she had managed to blend in and become friendly with many of the female classmates.
During their short exchange, Xiao Shaowan had overall been in a pleasant mood, which made her realize that Ji Youxi wasn’t just any ordinary transfer student.
At the very least, she had very high emotional intelligence. Conversations between smart people are always easy and enjoyable.
If you find a conversation with a stranger you’ve just met to be very pleasant, you can reasonably suspect the other person is ‘dumbing down’ or socially accommodating to you.
“Shaowan, is Yang Haoran really not chasing after you anymore?” Seeing Yang Haoran immediately slip away upon their arrival, Han Lili feltๅๅ่ฏงๅผ (extremely surprised).
Looking at Yang Haoran’s hurried manner, it was as if he was avoiding them like the plague.
The topic was somewhat sensitive. Xiao Shaowan momentarily didn’t know how to respond. Ji Youxi, sitting in her seat, said, “Wei Ming just called him out to go to the restroom.”
A simple explanationๅ่งฃ (resolved/dispersed) Xiao Shaowan’s awkward situation and also made the straightforward Han Lili realize her question was somewhat inappropriate. At the very least, it shouldn’t have been asked in front of everyone. She gave an embarrassed laugh.
Then, Xiao Shaowan้ๆถ (timely/opportunely) made a joke. “Well, he’s not chasing me anymore. I talked to him privately and told him I planned to introduce you, Lili, to him. When he heard that, he agreed without even thinking.”
Han Lili playfully slapped Xiao Shaowan. “Shaowan… you… pushing me into a fire pit.” The atmosphere instantly lightened considerably.
“Youxi, let me tell you, you should watch out for your deskmate. You’re so pretty, don’t let him take advantage of you,” Han Lili warned Ji Youxi. “Apart from being somewhat good-looking, Yang Haoran is practically useless. It’s only recently he’s been behaving a bit better. Don’t be fooled by him.”
Gossiping and commenting on people behind their backs is often a favorite topic among some girls.
Ji Youxiๅๅค (puff) laughed and teased, “But isn’t being handsome the biggest advantage?”
Ji Youxi knew Han Lili meant well. Since yesterday, she could tell this cheerful, outgoing girl was straightforward, lacking the cunning and indirectness of some other girls.
Simply put, she was simple-minded. This was the kind of person Ji Youxi wasๅ่ๆฟๆๅคไบฒ่ฟ (instead willing to get closer to and spend time with).
“No way, Youxi, are you that shallow too?” Han Liliๅจๅผ (gave a coquettish humph). “You didn’t just sit next to him yesterday because he’s handsome, did you?”
Ji Youxi smiled serenely and didn’t comment.
Xiao Shaowan looked at Han Lili and asked, “Lili, what do you think of Wei Ming?”
“He’s alright, just a bit dumb.” Han Lili was somewhat baffled and answered offhandedly.
Why was Xiao Shaowan bringing up Wei Ming? Could it be that she didn’t fancy Yang Haoran but instead had taken a liking to Wei Ming, who was in cahoots with Yang Haoran?
Seeing the strange look Han Lili was giving her, Xiao Shaowan knew what she was thinking. She didn’t explain. Instead, her face่ซๅ (inexplicably) reddened, as if confirming Han Lili’s suspicion.
This instantly made the gossip-hungry Han Lili widen her eyes in disbelief.
“No way… Shaowan, you…” Han Lili covered her small mouth in surprise.
This was truly explosive news!
Xiao Shaowan, however, seemed somewhat relieved now. She instructed Han Lili, “Lili, you mustn’t tell anyone. I trust you and want you to help me with something.”
“Mm… ah, mm, okay, okay.” Han Lili nodded like a chick pecking at rice. She commented, “Wei Ming is okay too, at least much better than Yang Haoran. By the way, Shaowan, what do you want me to help you with?”
“Could it be you want me to be your makeshift advisor?” Han Lili asked curiously.
Xiao Shaowan smiled “็พๆถฉ” (shyly/bashfully). “You can’t put it that way. I want you to try interacting with Wei Ming a bit, help me sound out what he thinks of me. There are some things I’m too embarrassed to say to him directly. I know your personality is suited for dealing with boys, so I can only ask you.”
Han Lili suddenly understood and said with the chivalrous่ฑช็ฝ (boldness and straightforwardness) of ancient martial heroes: “Shaowan, I get you. Small matter, leave it to me.”
“Thank you, Lili.” Xiao Shaowan let out a sigh of relief, as if “ๅฆ้้่ด” (a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders).
Thinking about it, she still felt a bit guilty inside.
“Do you need my help, Shaowan?” Ji Youxi looked at Xiao Shaowan.
“No need, it’s just asking something.” Xiao Shaowan shook her head, thinking to herself, “You should worry more about yourself.”
Ji Youxi was simply too beautiful. Xiao Shaowan didn’t believe for a second that Yang Haoran wouldn’t be tempted by such a piece of delicious meat delivered right to his mouth…
The two who had finished using the restroom walked through the crowded corridor and arrived at a quiet corner.
Yang Haoran, of course, couldn’t bring up last night’s events. This kind of taboo involving mother-son incest was something only an idiot would talk about to others.
“Little Ming, I’ve got it all arranged. Wait for my message after school.” Yang Haoran held the cigarette Wei Ming offered, lit it, and took a comfortable drag.
Last night was missing this after-action cigarette. It was a pity his mom watched him closely; he didn’t dare smoke or hide cigarettes at home. Only at school could he get a few puffs in.
Wei Ming knew what Mouse was referring to and couldn’t help but feel some anticipation. It was hard to imagine a girl like Xiao Shaowan, with her cool and beautiful exterior, privately being someone else’sๆฏ็ (bitch/female dog – implying submissive sexual partner). This sense ofๅๅทฎๆ (contrast/incongruity) was simply unbelievable.
Even now, hearing the confident Yang Haoran say this, Wei Ming still had some doubts inwardly.
Let’s just say, some things are hard to believe verbally unless seen with your own eyes.
Most people prefer to believe their own eyes.
“Mouse, you can’t be joking with me. If it’s a joke, you can say it now, it’s no big deal. We joke around all the time anyway,” Wei Ming said, pretending to be relaxed.
Yang Haoran gave him a็ฝ็ผ (look of disdain/rolling eyes) and teased, “What, not willing to have me as your cheap dad anymore?” Wei Ming glared, saying irritably, “When have I, Wei Ming, ever gone back on my word? If you can really do it, I’ll call you Dad on the spot. It’s not like I haven’t called you that before.”
Naturally, their dorm had experienced the “dorm father-son dynamic.” It was simple: packing a meal for someone made you ‘Righteous Father.’ If you could treat them and even handle the packing, you were practically ‘Biological Dad.’
“And also, what about that thing we discussed yesterday? Are you really sure about it?” Wei Ming brought up the matter they hadๅฏ่ฐ (plotted/secretly discussed) on WeChat last night. The core of it was Han Lili.
Proving Yang Haoran’s status as a ‘tamingๅคง็ฅ (great god/master)’ was because Wei Ming was afraid Yang Haoran’s ‘taming’ of his mother might backfire. Without real skills, who would dare risk utter ruin to go along with his madness?
If it weren’t for the urgent matter of his mother being seduced away by another man, Wei Ming would never have agreed to this่ๅ็่ต็บฆ (absurd bet) even if beaten to death.
The second matter was naturally his own request: for Yang Haoran to find a way for him to successfully pursue Han Lili. That way, he could also embrace a beauty, and everyone would get what they wanted.
His mother wouldn’t leave him either. It was killing two birds with one stone. If you counted Yang Haoran’s enjoyment on his side, it was practically killing three birds with one stone.
Wei Ming knew his mother was considered a great beauty; otherwise, he wouldn’t have had an Oedipus complex.