CH 22

“If they were a girl, then it would’ve been fine.”

Though it was put this way, in actuality whether it was He Xun or Zheng Li, they hadn’t really thought about it that way. Naturally, in an all boys’ school there were only guys. There was entirely no such thing as a girl hiding amongst an all boy’s highschool. If there was, then that would seriously be way too weird. Generally speaking, there wasn’t anyone who would do this.

Zheng Li scratched his head in helplessness, the other party had said they were straight, yet Ah’Xun was suspected as a probable gay. That kind of situation was truly not easy to handle. A matter such as romance particularly stressed that both parties must mutually feel the same, as a forced love is not a sweet one.

He harshly pounded on his chest, granted that he may feel more or less uncomfortable, this was for his brother and he was ready to risk it all. That included offering himself for sale, “Ah’Xun, look, I’m a man too, what about falling for me instead?”

He Xun choked on his breath, almost choking to death from Zheng Li’s words. He gave a long look at his own brother, looking at the strong outline of his face, his thick and dark eyebrows, his unshaven stubble, to his sturdy and rough body. His eyes clearly revealed his abhorrence.

“Zheng Li, you fucker…”

He Xun said this, but knowing his brother was doing this for him, he was unable to even say the following roast.

Zheng Li had felt a bit awkward since the start, he was a ram-rod straight man of this universe and only liked women. But what about when his brothers needed him? So long as He Xun needed him, he would get straight up for him without any fear. However he was a bit disgruntled when met with He Xun’s disgusted attitude, he patted his face and asked, “Ah’Xun, what’s wrong, I’m a handsome man too, okay?”

So Ah’Xun could settle for a skinny chicken like Peijin, but not the piece of fresh meat (1) he was?

(1) This is a term that refers to young, handsome men, specifically those with athletic physiques; an english equivalent would be a ‘hunk’.

Fortunately he had mentally strengthened himself and was prepared to give it all he had.

He Xun looked at his own brother in disgust. Let alone mentioning the others, imagining him and Zheng Li together was something he could not entirely digest. Why wasn’t Zheng Li and the others acceptable, but only Peijin was?

What exactly differentiated the two of them?

He Xun faintly lowered his head and fell deep into his thoughts.

He and his few brothers were all rough and thick-skinned, but Peijin….they were entirely not the same as them.

The first feeling they gave him was supple softness. The second, sensitivity. The third, tenderness.

Rather than saying they were a guy, it might as well be said that they were more like a girl. Not only were the lines of their face too feminine, even their character also in fact completely belonged to that of a young girl.

Plus the fleeting image he had glimpsed at last night…. Last night he had been too panicked, and hadn’t paid attention at all. Thinking about that graceful and composed, beautiful face now, no matter how feminine a guy was, there was no way their looks could be so devastating?

He Xun frowned and then reached his hand out, going straight to feel Zheng Li’s waist. Zheng Li jumped in surprise, but didn’t shy away.

He had pledged his life that he would do his best that he could to be a good brother, even if He Xun made any moves on him, he would never say ‘no.’

He Xun pressed down hard as he felt Zheng Li’s waist, then calling to mind that night he had been touching Peijin’s waist when they were sharing a bed.

That one night, he had undoubtedly felt the figure under his palm as slim and soft, it was totally different from the feel of Zheng Li’s coarse waist.

And his own waist was quite similar to Zheng Li’s.

So….his roommate, was it possible that they were really a girl?

As soon as the seeds of doubt were planted, the variety of details he had neglected from before slowly grew more apparent.

Such as would never take off their glasses, how they always wore high-collars and long-sleeves, how they never used the toilet upstairs where the classrooms were.

One incident after another all suggested that Peijin had a secret.

However in reality would it truly be like what he thought?

He Xun tightly closed his lips, he needed time to prove his speculations.

Zheng Li watched as He Xun fell silent after touching his waist, his face was completely blank, leaving him clueless of what had happened.

It was pretty tortuous being left hanging like this, so he urged, “Ah’Xun, what is it? Could the two of us work out, give a definite answer.”

A rare burst of cursing came from He Xun, “ Work out, my ass.”

He took out another cigarette from his pocket and took a deep breath, only then shooting a glance at Zheng Li, “Alright, you don’t have to get involved with this matter anymore, I’ve already made up my mind.”

When Zheng Li heard these words he knew that he didn’t have to offer himself as tribute, and inwardly gave a faint sigh of relief. To the very end he was a straight, straight, man. To make him become gay all at once was actually not all that easy. Now that He Xun didn’t need him, everyone could continue to be good brothers and of course, that meant everyone was happy.

Spring was budding in the heart of the leader of us brothers, Zheng Li couldn’t avoid wanting to gossip about straight away, “Made up your mind? Come on, He Xun, fill me in on the inside story, what are you planning to do?”

He Xun refused to speak anymore, he still needed to verify exactly if Peijin was a woman, he exhaled a ring of smoke, saying in a low and hoarse voice, “Let’s touch on this again when this matter has been resolved.”

Zheng Li gave a “Yo’oh’ and threw a thumbs up to He Xun.

He Xun was just this kind of person. Usually he was indifferent about everything, and treated most matters with disinterest. However if there was something he really wanted, he would never retreat halfway, let alone run away from his own feelings, but he took initiative to fight for it. Bullshit things like ‘if you really loved someone then you would understand when to let go’ were something that he would never agree with.

Peijin was absolutely clueless about He Xun and Zheng Li’s conversation. She only felt that Zheng Li was looking at her strangely, like he was deliberately winking and raising an eyebrow in some sort of signal to her. She had no idea what the hell he was doing.

There was PE for morning lessons.

When it was time for class, Peijin discovered that on the field, aside from her own class, Xia Ying’s class was also there.

From afar, as she watched Xia Ying being enthusiastically surrounded by the group of boys, a complicated feeling arose immediately.

There was a bit of envy, and a few other emotions within it.

Actually in the book, the female lead Xia Ying, could’ve helped a handful during the supporting female’s roughest times. At that time, the supporting female’s female identity had been exposed and all at once, she received various types of bullying and humiliation on campus.Not only did they verbally bully her, cursing her as a pervert, they lobbed rotten eggs and dead mouses at her, intentionally ruining her textbooks. Piling everything up one after another, it had gone far overboard.

The supporting female was also just an eighteen year old student, suddenly met with all of this, her mental state rapidly deteriorated. During that time no one helped her. All alone, she bitterly struggled. Father Pei only knew about everything afterwards. However by the time Father Pei was aware of it, the supporting female’s mental state had thoroughly fallen apart. Even though she had left the all boy’s highschool, she still seemed to be in hell. Not long after, the supporting female committed suicide, ending her short life.

Peijin hadn’t realized it when she was reading the novel. After she had become the supporting female in the book, she felt the female lead was too apathetic. They were both girls, the female lead actually could’ve supported the female lead a lot, but she didn’t. At that time the female lead was reveling in everyone’s praise, enjoying fine romance and friendships, completely ignoring the supporting female lead.

Recalling the story’s plot, Peijin despondently lowered her head.

The female lead was so well received and easily liked by her classmates.

Then what about her, this supporting female lead? She had tried really hard before, but although the current situation was much better than that inside the books, she still couldn’t compare to the female lead.

While she was still immersed in her imagination, someone’s arm suddenly slung over her shoulder.

He Xun dipped his head to look at her, laughter in his tone, “Nerd, what are you thinking of?”

Peijin’s voice was a bit depressed, “Brother Xun, what do you say, is the Feng Shui of my name negative?”

He Xun raised an eyebrow at her, “Why do you say that?”

Peijin cracked her knuckles, “Look, my surname is Pei. However Pei and the ‘Pei’ in unprofitable investments (1) are homonyms. Not only is there the loss of money, but also drinking with others, subserviently smiling, and apologizing…these are all negative words. Ah, my surname, it’s really terrible.”

(1) This is a word used to curse people, it’s called 赔钱货, the dictionary translates it as “money-losing proposition”, but culturally refers to how in chinese society when girls (and sometimes boys) are married off, a dowry must be given and they will no longer ‘belong’ to their original family. Figuratively, this means ‘useless’, as people are losing more money investing in this person than they will profit. Parents usually use this as an insult to children, the most similar American phrase is probably when children are ungrateful, parents will call them a “waste of money” out of anger.

“Peijin.”

All of a sudden He Xun’s tone was serious when he looked at Peijin, Peijin was taken aback for a moment and gazed up at him with a blank expression, “Brother Xun, what is it?”

He Xun said word for word, “Don’t sell yourself short.”

What unprofitable investments, drinking with others, subserviently smiling, and apologizing, what things were they thinking about all day in that little head of theirs?

Peijin pursed her lips, a bit aggrieved. She didn’t want to think that way either, but the unknown future always made her anxious. As soon as a person’s heart was worried then it would eat at their minds, opening up large, large holes in their brain.

Moreover, when she went to elementary school in her previous life, there were boys who deliberately called her “useless” (1), this nickname followed her straight to middle school. Until highschool, where all the students around her were strangers and this nickname was no longer spoken of.

(1) This refers back to the initial word of “unprofitable investments” in terms of people, as said, it most closely relates to the word “useless” or “waste of money”.

At that time she had felt that her surname Pei, truly did sound unpleasant.

He Xun slowly held Peijin’s fair-skinned chin between his fingers, his tone firm, “I feel that your name sounds very nice.”

‘Jin’, it was a beautiful gem, a fine jade, and also meant virtuous.

The Pei family’s jewel. What a lovely name. Where was it as deplorable as she had said?

The corner of He Xun’s lips lifted into a smile, “However it’s a bit old-fashioned to call you Peijin, how about this, from now on I won’t call you Nerd anymore, but Peipei, how about that?”

Peipei?

Peipei.

Peipei!

It was the first time someone had addressed her in this way. Clearly the name Pei was still in it, but placing the two words Peipei together inexplicably made it sound better.

Peijin stammered, “Brother Xun, thanks.”

After being called this once by He Xun, she felt that she really was melodramatic.

Her surname obviously was great, yet she had denied herself of it because of a nickname some immature boys had offhandedly given her in the past. This her wasn’t sunny in the least and not positive either.

She resolved to change that.

Although the female lead was outstanding, she wasn’t any lesser than her. In her previous life, her performance had been among the top of her class, and she could draw. She thought, so long as she worked her, she could definitely change the supporting female lead’s ultimate ending. She wouldn’t beg for everyone to accept her, but at the very least, as long as they didn’t bully her like they did in the book, she would be fine.