Happy new year!
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Although Chen Qianqing and Lu Zhengfei had already agreed to go on vacation, they didn’t have any time to do so right now. Chen Qianqing needed to go to school, and Lu Zhengfei had a lot of matters to deal with.
Of course, Chen Qianqing only needed to ask and Lu Zhengfei would definitely take some time off to accompany him. However, in the end, Chen Qianqing refused Lu Zhengfei’s good intentions and went to school the next day.
Lu Zhengfei was very worried and wanted him to stay at home, but when Xu Shaoren realized this, he advised him otherwise.
Xu Shaoren, “I think rather than letting him stay at home by himself, you should let him interact with other people more. This is better for him. If you’re still worried, you could have someone follow him.”
Lu Zhengfei listened to what he said; he hesitated for a while, then he agreed. He also hired different people to guard Chen Qianqing – if he was going this far, it was Ruan Wenhong’s fault.
The next day, Lu Zhengfei personally brought Chen Qianqing to his house off-campus.
Lu Zhengfei still felt uneasy. “Why don’t you move back in with me? I can buy you a car.”
Chen Qianqing, “Let's talk about it next time.”
Lu Zhengfei sighed. “Your hand is still injured, let me send someone to take you home at night for the next few days.”
Chen Qianqing knew that having Lu Zhengfei pick him up from school was already a kindness, so when he heard that, he didn’t refuse and just said, “You’re not in a hurry?”
Lu Zhengfei laughed. “Nope.”
Wouldn’t Chen Qianqing know whether or not Lu Zhengfei was busy? But he didn’t want to expose him, so he could only laugh.
Lu Zhengfei opened the car door for Chen Qianqing. He walked until they reached the stairs, urging the other to reconsider. He then said, “Qianqing, take care with your wounds, avoid touching water.”
Chen Qianqing lowered his head and didn’t reply.
Lu Zhengfei pulled Chen Qianqing’s shoulder, looking at his expressionless face. He endured. He endured, yet he couldn’t, finally kissing Chen Qianqing’s pale lips.
Chen Qianqing’s first reaction was to push him away, but his hands were injured, so he could only use his arm. His forehead muscles couldn’t relax, his brow furrowed.
At first, Chen Qianqing thought that Lu Zhengfei would kiss him gently. Who could’ve expected that this monster would kiss him more vigorously, even pushing him against the wall, exploring his mouth with his tongue?
Chen Qianqing didn’t put up with it this time: he raised his leg and kicked Lu Zhengfei’s lower body.
Men know how delicate this part is. Although Chen Qianqing didn’t exert a lot of strength, Lu Zhengfei’s face changed color. After that, he reluctantly released him, faintly saying, “Qianqing, you are so heartless towards me.”
Chen Qianqing said coldly, “If I really were heartless, this organ of yours would be useless now.”
Hearing that, Lu Zhengfei’s pain in the already aching region intensified.
Lu Zhengfei kissed Chen Qianqing until his lips became red and even prettier. He then turned and waved, “Goodbye.”
Lu Zhengfei couldn’t help but smile. He spoke to those around him for a while before getting in the car.
Chen Qianqing opened his door and heard Xiao Hua meowing. After a bath and a full meal, Xiao Hua appeared to be more energetic and nibbled on Chen Qianqing’s feet as he walked. He(1.) insisted on being carried; only then he would be happy.
Chen Qianqing looked at Xiao Hua tentatively. Then, after getting plastic gloves from the bathroom, he picked him up.
Xiao Hua had just finished drinking milk, judging from his round abdomen. He nestled in Chen Qianqing’s arms, rubbing his head against Chen Qianqing’s hand, obviously feeling very comfortable.
While Chen Qianqing was squatting on the floor and playing with Xiao Hua, he heard the door opening. He turned to look and found that it was Zhu Mao.
His flatmate was carrying a sack of salt, looking like he had just come back from a shopping trip.
Chen Qianqing quickly greeted him. “You’re back?”
He couldn’t fathom why, but Zhu Mao’s face was a different color from usual. It seemed like he was cowering under Chen Qianqing’s gaze, and when the latter greeted him casually, he ran into the kitchen in a panic.
Chen Qianqing gave Zhu Mao a wistful look, but he didn’t comment.
There were two classes left in the afternoon. When Chen Qianqing finished eating his lunch, he sat at the table, embraced the almost asleep Xiao Hua, and looked at Zhu Mao, who kept his head lowered as he chewed. He opened his mouth and asked, “What did you see?”
Hearing this, Zhu Mao froze up. “So…sorry.”
Chen Qianqing felt like a wise old man looking at a child who didn’t know what to believe. He laughed, “Do you feel disgusted?”
Zhu Mao almost dropped his chopsticks. He very much feared that Chen Qianqing would misunderstand, so he quickly replied, “No!! I don’t think you're disgusting! It’s just that…just that…I didn’t think…”
Chen Qianqing felt that this kid Zhu Mao was fun to play with. Actually, Chen Qianqing could tell very easily whether or not someone was disgusted. He intentionally asked it so he could see Zhu Mao panic from not knowing what to say.
Chen Qianqing was in a good mood, he even wore a small smile on his face. It wasn’t much, but it was still an improvement over his usual indifference.
Zhu Mao slurped up his noodles before noticing that Chen Qianqing was wearing plastic gloves. He wondered, “Qianqing, what happened to your hands?”
Chen Qianqing, “I carelessly touched a broken mirror.”
Zhu Mao, “Ah? Did you see a doctor? Your hands are so pretty, it would be a shame if scar tissue were to form.”
Chen Qianqing had played the piano at their freshman reception, so Zhu Mao knew how important his hands were.
Chen Qianqing answered indifferently, “Mh.”
The two of them talked for a while. When Zhu Mao finished his noodles, it was about time for class.
Chen Qianqing placed Xiao Hua into his cat nest. At that moment, Xiao Hua was sleeping sweetly and would often purr.
Zhu Mao, “Let's go, Qianqing. You can put your books in my bag.”
Chen Qianqing nodded. When he first became Chen Qianqing, his leg had just been broken; now his hand was injured. It could be said that he was being dogged by bad luck.
When they got to the classroom, there were still twenty minutes left before class. Chen Qianqing and Zhu Mao sat in the third row.
“Zhu Mao, Zhu Mao, is Gao Ziyu your roommate?” The moment they sat down, the girls in the class started surrounding them with chatter. Chen Qianqing wasn’t easy to get along with, but Zhu Mao had a friendlier disposition, so they all crowded him to ask.
Zhu Mao was stunned. He couldn’t understand why the girls in his class were looking for that exotic flower. He said, “Yes…why?”
A certain girl spoke. “Don’t you know? He joined a competition for the most powerful male voice.”
Zhu Mao couldn’t help but recall Gao Ziyu’s appearance as he put on a face mask and felt an indescribable fear. “No…I..I didn’t know. I moved out a while ago.”
Although Zhu Mao had already given them an explanation, it was clear that the girls wouldn’t let him get away that easily. From their words, Chen Qianqing pretty much understood what was going on.
It was nothing more than the sudden emergence of a talented youth. Gao Ziyu had used his own song to gain popularity, and in the end it was discovered that he was their classmate. Naturally, being able to interact with an up-and-coming star would make these young girls excited.
But to be honest, how could Chen Qianqing avoid wondering — what sort of connection do a ‘face caked in makeup’ and ‘talented youth’ have with each other?
Initially, there were also girls who asked Chen Qianqing about Gao Ziyu, but he was more blunt than Zhu Mao; with just one denial they were driven away.
At long last, the twenty minutes were over and class started. Zhu Mao was drenched in cold sweat after being questioned. He weakly asked, “Qianqing, were they really talking about Gao Ziyu?”
Chen Qianqing, “Most likely.”
Zhu Mao failed to understand how people like Gao Ziyu could make girls so excited. He didn’t speak for a long time.
Chen Qianqing peered at him and felt that he was a little pitiful. He comforted him, “Usually, Gao Ziyu doesn’t attend class. These girls would rarely see him.”
Zhu Mao pushed up his glasses, his expression hard to read. However, at this point, Chen Qianqing understood him very well: when he heard the name ‘Gao Ziyu’, it was as if he could smell that cheap cologne and the 'old lady(2.)' moniker that made goosebumps appear all over one’s body.
After the first class was over, Zhu Mao rushed to the bathroom, fearing that the girls would continue interrogating him. Seeing this, Chen Qianqing really felt like laughing.
In the end, his smile only lasted a few seconds - the class representative, Li Feiyue, had come to find him.
Li Feiyue, “Every class needs to perform during the new year’s party. Chen Qianqing, can you participate?”
Chen Qianqing, “Sorry, my hand is injured.” As he spoke, he showed his bandaged hand.
Li Feiyue, “Your hand is hurt? When did it happen? How can you be this careless…”
Chen Qianqing, “I inadvertently broke a mirror.”
Li Feiyue bit her lips. It was obvious that she didn’t expect an accident to get in her way. She paused for a while, then uttered, “If that’s the case, you don’t need to play the piano, just sing with Xiong Yueyi(3.).”
How could Chen Qianqing agree? “I’m sorry, I don’t want to perform.”
Li Feiyue was dumbfounded. “Chen Qianqing, think it over, won’t you? If you refuse, our class really won’t be able to put on any kind of performance…”
She was definitely exaggerating, obviously wanting Chen Qianqing to join the new year’s gathering.
Chen Qianqing’s refusal was firm. Asking him to sing a love song with a girl? He and the original Chen Qianqing had never done something like this, so how could others ask this of him?
Li Feiyue sensed this and could only say, “Think it over, please. Our class really really needs you.”
Chen Qianqing nodded without answering.
Li Feiyue sighed and went back to her seat. She told the meizi(4.) next to her, “He might not agree.”
That girl urgently replied, “But, Feiyue, you promised me!”
Li Feiyue, “Let me think of a different method.”
Footnotes:
‘He’ - From here on out we’re gonna gender the cat because writing ‘it’ each time he’s mentioned feels weird in English. Also because the raws use 他 to refer to him.
‘Old lady’ - to recap, Gao Ziyu uses ‘lao niang’ as a form of address to himself.
‘Xiong Yueyi’ - her name can be read as either Yueyi or Leyi, but for this translation we’ll be using Yueyi.
‘Meizi’ - 妹子 a variation of mei mei, which means little sister.
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