Yang Haoran’s confident and eloquent manner completely stunned the few people listening. As Ji Youxi listened to Yang Haoran go into increasingly detailed explanations, she turned the name ‘Woodrow Kármán’ over in her mind. Before she could figure it out, Yang Haoran, seeing how everyone was completely dumbfounded, said with a serious face, “Xiao Mingzi, do you understand this great master now?”
Wei Ming was just about to nod when he saw his best friend Yang Haoran’s serious expression begin to twist and contort grotesquely until he finally burst into loud laughter: “Xiao… Mingzi… if you… still don’t… get it… I’m afraid… I can’t… keep this up any longer… Hahahaha…”
Yang Haoran laughed until tears streamed from his eyes.
Only then did everyone suddenly realize it was a joke. Ji Youxi gazed at Yang Haoran’s beaming face, a strange light flashing in her eyes, the corners of her mouth tilting up slightly as if she were in a rather good mood.
The commotion from Yang Haoran’s loud laughter drew the attention of the entire class, even making Ruan Hongbo, who was slacking off at the lectern, lift his head.
“Student Yang Haoran, mind your behavior. Don’t disturb the other students.”
After being warned by the teacher, Yang Haoran cheerfully turned around and sat properly, feeling pleased with himself, his previous disappointment completely swept away.
After this little episode, Yang Haoran could no longer bear to look directly at his own drawing. He hurriedly finished it, as it still had to be handed in.
His original intention had been to draw his deskmate, Ji Youxi, but his ambition outweighed his ability. He had tried to draw a tiger but ended up with something more like a dog, so he could only give up.
Yang Haoran was not one to sit idle. He folded his arms on the desk, resting his head on them, and tilted his head to look at Ji Youxi’s flawless profile. A few strands of her dark hair fell beside the girl’s晶莹 (sparkling, crystalline) earlobes. Her tall, exquisite nose bridge added a sense of depth to her face. Her thin, pink lips shimmered with a soft, alluring glow. The girl was completely focused on the drawing paper on her desk. Even though she noticed Yang Haoran’s blatant staring, Ji Youxi ignored him as if he weren’t there, concentrating wholly on her drawing.
It wasn’t until the clothes under Ji Youxi’s desk were tugged, affecting her hand and causing a stray stroke on her drawing, that she turned her head with an expressionless face to meet Yang Haoran’s awkward, sheepish grin.
Yang Haoran had never imagined that his simple act of tugging her clothes to get her attention and maybe chat to pass the time would backfire so spectacularly.
Ji Youxi asked calmly, “Do you want to pursue me?”
Yang Haoran awkwardly rubbed his nose. “Is that not allowed?”
“Then do you know why I transferred schools?” Ji Youxi’s face remained emotionless.
“Why?”
“There were too many flies… it affected my mood!” Yang Haoran: “……”
How was he supposed to continue this conversation? Frustrated, Yang Haoran turned his head away, too embarrassed to keep staring at her. Just as he was about to lay his head on the desk to sleep, the collar of his shirt under the desk was tugged instead.
Yang Haoran looked over. “What is it, Classmate Youxi?” He couldn’t help but let some of his annoyance seep into his tone.
Ji Youxi once again revealed the serene smile that matched her classmates’ impression of her. However, her tone was different from before, filled with a disdainful, superior air: “Classmate Yang Haoran, I can grant you the opportunity to pursue me.”
Yang Haoran was stunned. What was this little vixen saying? How could these words come from the previously serene image of Ji Youxi? The contrast was far too intense!
Seeing Yang Haoran stunned and speechless, Ji Youxi curled her lips into a sneer. “What? Can’t handle it already?”
Ji Youxi said leisurely, “You should know, not every fly gets this opportunity.”
“Go on!”
Humiliated like this, Yang Haoran’s temper flared. He was determined to see what game this little vixen was really playing.
“Kneel down and lick my feet. Can you do it?” Ji Youxi said offhandedly, her tone dripping with unmistakable arrogance.
Yang Haoran’s face froze. If any other girl had said this, he would have surely slapped her across the face—who did she think she was?
But this was Ji Youxi, with her perfectly flawless face, the sight of which made his heart pound. He weighed his options internally, torn. Wasn’t it just kneeling and licking her feet? With someone this beautiful, wouldn’t licking her feet be a reward for him?
Yet, he also felt that kneeling to lick someone else’s feet was utterly humiliating. It was tantamount to trampling his self-respect underfoot. How could he ever face her again after that?
“Classmate Yang Haoran, if you can’t accept it, then stay away from me from now on. I find it very troubling to be circled by flies,” Ji Youxi said. “I’ll give you three seconds to consider. The offer expires after that!”
“One!” Yang Haoran could hear his own heart pounding violently.
“Two!”
Sweat beaded on Yang Haoran’s forehead. His hands clenched unconsciously. His thoughts raced, and gritting his teeth, he made a decision.
So what if it was just kneeling and licking feet? Once he got his hands on her, he would humiliate her right back.
Before Ji Youxi could call out “three,” Yang Haoran gritted his teeth and said, “Fine!”
Instantly, Yang Haoran saw a brilliant, triumphant smile spread across Ji Youxi’s face, like a victor looking down from on high. Her confident smile felt glaring in Yang Haoran’s eyes, more like a mockery of his自尊 (self-respect, dignity).
“Classmate Yang Haoran, I look forward to your performance after school,” Ji Youxi said lightly. “For now, please be quiet and do not disturb my drawing.”
She returned to her composed and indifferent demeanor, as if nothing had happened. Yang Haoran, utterly郁闷 (depressed, frustrated), slumped onto his desk.
Mom, Aunt Shen… I’ve disgraced you both!
His mind went blank, and a wave of shame washed over him belatedly.
After class, the two of them leaned on the corridor railing, enjoying the breeze. Wei Ming, seeing Yang Haoran’s distraught and dejected appearance, couldn’t help but ask, “Haozhi, what’s wrong?”
Yang Haoran said with a melancholy look, “Xiao Mingzi… Bro really made a huge fool of himself today.”
Wei Ming thought it was because of the drawing. Even though he had been completely fooled by Haozhi’s nonsense, it was ultimately because of him that the surrounding classmates had laughed at Yang Haoran. Apologetically, he said, “Haozhi, I’m sorry. I didn’t think that much at the time. It’s just that your drawing was so ugly… no… so abstract, I couldn’t help but laugh.”
Even now, mentioning it, Wei Ming still couldn’t suppress a laugh.
Yang Haoran waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not about that…”
“Then what is it?” Wei Ming was completely baffled.
“It’s nothing… Anyway, I just made a huge fool of myself!”
“Haozhi, with the relationship we have, do you still need to hide it from me? Tell me.”
“It’s a different matter. Telling you won’t help anyway.”
“Sigh… Haozhi, it’s rare to see you so withdrawn.”
“Stop talking. Let me enjoy the breeze and have some quiet!”
During the breaks between the next few classes, Yang Haoran went out to enjoy the breeze with Wei Ming. Occasionally, Zhou Shiwen joined them for some casual chat. On the surface, Yang Haoran seemed fine.
Seizing a moment when they were alone, Wei Ming asked, “Haozhi, are you coming back to my place tonight?”
The implication was clear. Yang Haoran shook his head. “Can’t tonight. I stayed out all night yesterday. If I don’t go back again tonight, my mom will skin me alive.”
…