CH 12

In an instant, everyone’s eyes were all fixed onto Peijin.

On pins and needles, a bitter taste settled within Peijin’s heart.

She had especially chosen to sit in this location to make herself an invisible (1), so why, even though she had clearly been so low-key, did she still get cue’d?

(1) Literal translation, like the ‘Invisible Man’ novel.

Someone else dated and pursued girls, what did it have to do with her.

However no matter how Peijin tried to be invisible, it didn’t matter, because everyone was waiting for her answer.

It was the first time Peijin had ever felt so tormented in her life. On one side were the brothers that she strived to build good relationships with and on the other were the next door female students who were being deceived.

She knew which choice was of the most benefit to her.

In order for her life after to go more smoothly, she knew herself, she should face towards Zhang Chun, Fatty and the others. If she were to be a bit more of a person (1) again, she would’ve been able to effortlessly put in a few good words for Zhang Chen and help him brush up his image in front of Meng Meng. Even if she didn’t, she could’ve said that she didn’t know and waded into muddy waters (2), and that would’ve been it.

(1) Play on words, goes off of the previously mentioned invisible person, but also “做人” means to conduct herself, in this case to be more sociable, so an alternative would be, “If she were to be a bit more social again,”

(2) Wade into muddy waters: Get/make trouble for oneself.

However she was also a woman herself. Put yourself in the other party’s shoes and think about it. If she were to be that female student and later, she accidentally found out that the she had not only cheated by a male student, but even lied to by someone of the same sex, then how upsetting would that be?

Although she had never been in love before, she still knew, in a relationship, cheating was taboo. That female student was an innocent, surely it doesn’t mean that she deserves to be tricked so unknowingly? Unless she also wanted to be a villain who deceived a fellow girl?

Although she didn’t know much about Zhang Chen, he obviously only wanted to play around a bit. She seemed to have overhead from prior conversations of her classmates that Zhang Chen was currently competing with others on the amount of girls he seduced, for who could flirt with the more girls, and who was more formidable. It was clearly visible that Meng Meng was only for a tool for him to use in this competition.

Maybe it was because Peijin has hesitated for too long, but the on-scene atmosphere gradually became unsettled. Maybe Meng Meng realized something, but the smile on her face constricted little by little. Even He Xun had put down the phone he had been playing on, his eyes narrowing as he looked over at Peijin’s side for the first time.

In her heart, Peijin had already reached a decision.

She knew which choice would’ve been beneficial to her, but there were times where you shouldn’t do something just because it was advantageous to you. Everyone should have their own bottom lines.

Peijin pursed her lips. She heard the calmness of her voice as she spoke and slowly replied with the facts she was aware of, “Zhang Chen just wants to play you.”

Because of these words, the karaoke box’s atmosphere seemed to suddenly freeze. For a moment, only the calm trickle of background music played, no one said a thing. It didn’t seem she was welcome here. Peijin stood up and gave Zhang Chen a word of apology, after that she pretended like nothing was wrong as she spoke, “I’ll be leaving first, you guys have a good time.”

With that, Peijin promptly stepped forward and left. After getting away from the karaoke box, Peijin felt somewhat lost.

Somewhat empty and also blank, she didn’t know if what she had done was right. They must’ve never thought she would have replied so. They must be extremely disappointed in her, feeling that she wasn’t worthy to be their brother then?

Yet she didn’t regret her decision.

She wasn’t good at lying and didn’t like to lie either, and she disliked being deceived more.

She had done nothing wrong.

But she still felt kind of sad.

She didn’t know how long she had been gone, but Peijin was suddenly grabbed by the arm from behind.

Peijin was startled, but before she had the time to struggle, a familiar voice came to her, “What are you running for?”

Her feet stopped moving and she slowly looked behind at the person who had come in complete disbelief, “Xun… Brother Xun?”

He Xun looked at her with disgust, “What are you crying for?”

Crying?

She was crying?

Being told this by He Xun, Peijin came to realize that her face was wet. Her current appearance was definitely unalike to a male student’s.

At this thought, she quickly wiped her face and closed her lips lightly, “Brother Xun, sorry.”

He Xun asked for a pack of tissues from the ktv’s front reception, opened it and pulled out a tissue, stuffing it into Peijin’s palms.

His voice sounded listless, still having the usual careless tune it did, “What are you saying sorry to me for?”

Peijin hastily used the tissue to wipe her face, completely afraid of taking off her glasses. She bit her lip and thought for a moment, following her own heart as she replied, “Because I’m not qualified to be a brother, I didn’t help them earlier. But Brother Xun, I… I really don’t want to tell lies.”

“Mhm.”

“I don’t want to be a liar.”

“Mhm.”

“I don’t want to be someone even I would hate.”

“Mhm.”

After that, Peijin sensed that He Xun didn’t seem to be angry and slowly lifted her head to look him in the eyes, “Brother Xun, aren’t you angry with me?”

He Xun chuckled and lazily said, “It’s just a small matter, what is there to be angry about.” When he finished talking, he looked at Peijin’s blotchy face in disdain, “Have you always been such a crybaby?”

Peijin stiffened, it was like someone had pressed an acupuncture point, rendering her unable to move.

After pausing for a few seconds did she crabbily reply, “What’s the matter? I’m still not allowed to have a shred of a delicate, sensitive, young boy’s heart?”

He Xun was first stunned, and then burst into unstoppable laughter. He laughed for a full half a minute before he could settle down, hooking his arm over Peijin’s shoulder, “Big Brother, for you to even speak of a young man’s heart, you really are a talented man.”

Peijin was actually a bit embarrassed and her face slightly flushed hot and red. Thankfully her head was lowered and with the addition of her wide glasses, it wasn’t very obvious.

He Xun was just about to say something. Right then, a fit of disordered footsteps came from the stairway. It seemed several people were approaching.

Not after long the sounds came, Fatty’s boisterous voice neared, “Chen’zi, Chen’zi, calm down.”

Zheng Li also coaxed him from the side, “Chen’zi, what’re you doing?”

Zhang Chen was silent, but his entire persons was similar to a rampaging bull who had lost all sense.

He was in a state of complete madness.

As soon as Zhang Chen came downstairs and saw Peijin, he lunged like a madman towards her. Zheng Li’s sharp eyes and quick hands hurried in, firmly restrained Zhang Chen in his arms from behind.

A slight, imperceptible frown was on He Xun’s face, “Zhang Chen, what are you doing?”

Zhang Chen’s eyes blazed red with anger, he used a hand to ferociously point at Peijin, growling aloud, “Brother Xun, it’s them, they did me dirty!”

Originally, Meng Meng had already been charmed till she was bursting with joy, and with a little push he would’ve been able to chase her right into his hands. However after Peijin had said those words, before he could say anything to rescue this situation, he had been harshly slapped by Meng Meng.

He had lurked in the arena of love for so many years and had never lost his hand. Today was the first time he had ever been slapped by a woman. This was just a disgrace to him!

And this, had all been due to Peijin.

Zhang Chen put all the hatred he had atop Peijin’s head.

Fatty tried to mediate from the sidelines, “Chen’zi, wasn’t it just a woman? Why have you gotten so riled up?”

Zheng Li added, “Almost got her though, don’t fuss until you get too ugly.”

Zhang Chen sneered, “Do you allknow exactly why I’m so angry? I’m angry, not only because I’ve failed to chase after her, but more so because someone stabbed a knife in my face. (1) And the person who had done so, is the good brother we speak of!”

(1) Face = Image

As soon as these words fell, Fatty, Zheng Li, and Peijin’s faces fell.

Peijin hadn’t thought what she had done earlier would’ve actually tagged such a large label onto her. “Stab a knife in my face.” That’s a big accusation.

But she had only been doing what she wanted. What was most important was that Zhang Chen didn’t normally pursue girls, he just treated this ‘wooing’ as a race, a competition to magnify the status of his own masculinity.

Peijin felt that this behavior was terrible and also harmful. Why would he treat girls so?

In his heart, girls were nothing more than a prop.

He Xun’s lips tightened thinly together. At this time, his indifferent voice sounded, “Chen’zi, you’ve gone too far.”

Right now, Zhang Chen was a bit high in his head, but after He Xun spoke out, he didn’t restrain himself and indignantly claimed, “Brother Xun, I’m going too far? Exactly who is going overboard? You’re not even afraid of making a person like this a brother? You’re not afraid that they might stab you in the back later on?”

Once Zhang Chen finished howling these words, a hush instantly befell the scene.

Peijin was as quiet as a chicken, silently biting her lips.

She knew that no matter what she said right now she would be wrong. So she might as well say less to make less mistakes.

However she didn’t understand how things had turned out this way.

Peijin didn’t say anything, Fatty and Zheng Li didn’t open their mouths either.

He Xun gave a laugh and the sound of his dismissive sneer broke the still scene.

He first glanced at Peijin, “Will you stab me in the back in the future?”

Peijin’s eyes widened and she hurriedly shook her head to deny it, “Brother Xun, I wouldn’t.”

Zhang Chen gave a grim laugh, “Brother Xun, what use is it to ask them, they’re not an idiot, of course they’ll say no right now!”

After so, Zhang Chen ferociously added, “Brother Xun, I’ll state my words here today, if you want me, then you can’t have them, if you have them, then you can’t have me! It’s your choice!”

Fatty’s complexion briefly changed, “Chen’zi, you’re being too impulsive, pull yourself togehther!”

Zheng Li’s brows knitted in unhappiness, “Zhang Chen, that’s enough! How long do you want to make a joke of yourself for others to see?”

Yet Zhang Chen wasn’t swayed and stubbornly waited for He Xun’s reply.

The corners of He Xun’s lips twitched, his tone was calm, “I choose them.”

Peijin glanced at He Xun in surprise, both of her hands unconsciously covering her mouth.

She had wholly never thought that He Xun would say this.

Fatty could do anything but stand anxiously nearby, he was at a loss when he spoke, “Don’t, don’t, don’t, everyone has been brothers for so many years, so why does it have to come to this?”

Zhang Chen looked at He Xun in disbelief, “Brother Xun, you chose them? You’re actually choosing them?”

He Xun’s black pupils darkened, “Zhang Chen, respect is mutual, I have already told you this so many times, but you never listen. When you come back to your senses, come look for me again.”

Finished, He Xun turned around, picked Peijin up by the collar and indifferently said, “Leaving.”

In Peijin’s heart, she felt shame, and then touched.

Ashamed because she was too short, everytime He Xun lifted her up she it was like he was easily carrying a chicken.

Touched because He Xun hadn’t hesitated to choose to stand by her side.

She obviously hadn’t gotten to know He Xun for a very long time. What capability did she have, to earn so much of He Xun’s trust and support?

Once they had walked a couple of steps, Peijin cautiously asked, “Brother Xun, where are we going to now?”

He Xun’s lips hooked into a grin, “To comfort that delicate, sensitive, young man’s heart of yours.