CH 32

Peijin entered the bathroom, only unbuttoning her shirt after closing the bathroom door. She took out the pad and her cropped-vested bra she had already hidden well earlier. Thankfully she had smartly packed them up safely ahead of time, so she was able to bravely look through these clothes in front of He Xun earlier.

Once Peijin was out of the shower and at her closet putting away her clothes, He Xun suddenly kabe-don’ed (1) her from behind.

(1）Yes, it’s the mythical ‘kabedon’ from anime, ironically the word was ‘壁咚’ which translates to wall and dong (noise), literally wall-dong.

His arm was propped next to the side of her right ear, thoroughly enveloping the petite her inside his arms.

Peijin froze on the spot. He Xun’s presence was too much, her breaths were filled with his scent.

She clutched the freshly cleaned loose long sleeve in her hand, not looking back, only dryly questioning, “Brother Xun, what are you doing?”

He Xun chuckled behind her, his jaw seemed to softly lean on top of her left shoulder, but also didn’t seem to. “Nothing, I just wanted to let you know, we’re going ice skating tomorrow after school.”

Peijin pursed her lips, “But… I don’t know how to.”

“It’s alright. Brother will take you soaring into the skies (1), you only need to bring yourself.”

(1) The actual phrase is “带你装逼带你飞”, the words 装逼 mean to show off in a pretentious manner (humourous), but the whole phrase itself is similar to the terminology of carried’ in games; where one team member will ‘carry’ the rookies and newbies. Essentially, He Xun would be saying in English, “Bro will carry you to the top, don’t worry.”, but alternatively, I would say it’s like “Bro will you show you the stars” as well. (Fact: It’s popularly used in League of Legends).

Finished talking, He Xun appropriately released his arm from the closet. As soon as He Xun left, fresh air seemed to start rushing back again. Peijin took a deep breath of air, and then, pretending as if nothing had happened, returned to arranging her clothes.

He Xun, that jerk, he was teasing her on purpose again.

The next day Peijin unexpectedly received a Wechat from Meng Meng.

Peijin had assumed that Meng Meng wanted to chat with her about some confidential matters, but against her expectations, this time it entirely wasn’t.

[ Meng Meng: Small brother, Xu Yi found a boyfriend! ]

[ Little Five: Isn’t that great? ] After getting a boyfriend, He Xun shouldn’t be on Xu Yi’s mind anymore.

[ Meng Meng: Her boyfriend is a deadbeat (1), big, big tattoos cover his body, and he has a lot of muscles, he doesn’t look like one to be messed with. Xu Yi found this kind of boyfriend on purpose, it seems that she did it to get payback on He Xun. ]

(1) 混社会 describes a person who has no goals or motives in life, who doesn’t work, ambitionless and prefers to loiter and get involved with the activities on the other side of the law for fun, aka, a gangster.

Peijin’s eyebrows slightly pressed together.

[ Little Five: Get revenge on Brother Xun? Why? ]

[ Meng Meng: Didn’t He Xun reject Xu Yi’s confession before? Xu Yi’s been the campus belle since she was small, she has a very strong sense of superiority. It’s always been her that’s rejected other people, she doesn’t have any experience being rejected. She’s probably going crazy from princess syndrome (1) right now and feels like He Xun looked down on her, so she wants to save her image. ]

(1) Princess Syndrome is a term seemingly used mostly in East Asia, it is a phenomenon in which teenagers, particularly young women, and girls depict traits of narcissism, considering themselves to be “Princess” or holding themselves high in that regard.

Peijin momentarily didn’t know what to say upon seeing this long string of words.

Feelings and these sorts of things were most unpredictable and the rewards for the effort paid forward were also the most disproportionate. Does it mean that if someone doesn’t like you, you still need to force the other person to like you? Just because you’re a campus belle and you’ve never been rejected before? There was just no such thing in this world.

If feelings could be forced, then there wouldn’t be so many unrequited loves in this world.

[ Little Five: Then how is she preparing to get payback? ]

[ Meng Meng: I’m not even sure about the details. Small brother, I’m just going to give you a heads up ahead of time, you warn He Xun later. People in gangs are very violent, although Brother Xun is bad-ass, they still have eaten far more bowls of rice after all (1) and have been out in the world longer, I’m afraid he might be at a disadvantage. ]

(1) “Eaten far more bowls of rice” means that they have lived longer, gained more experience, therefore ‘eaten more’.

Peijin bit on her lower lip, and typed, [ Little Five: Got it, I’ll tell him later, Meng Meng, thank you. ]

[ Meng Meng: What’re you thanking me for, it’s what I’m supposed to do. You also need to pay more attention yourself. ]

[ Little Five: Alright. ]

Once Peijin put her phone away she hurried to He Xun’s desk.

At this moment He Xun was currently lying over his desk getting some shut-eye, it happened that the person who sat in front of him hadn’t got to class yet, so Peijin slid straight into that person’s seat.

When He Xun slept with his eyes closed, he looked at peace and gentle, the usual edge and carefreeness completely missing.

During such a peaceful hour in class like this, Peijin was a bit reluctant to interrupt He Xun’s nap time when seeing He Xun’s lovely dozing face.

It was Zheng Li who ‘yo’ed’ from the side, speaking aloud to tease, “Little five, Ah’Xun’s sleeping face looks nice, right?”

Peijin bit down on her lower lip, trying hard to lower her voice, “Zheng Li, keep your voice down, don’t wake up Brother Xun.”

But by this point, He Xun had already woken up.

He slowly lifted his head and opened his eyes, His sight was still a bit blurry from the start, but after he saw Peijin, bit by bit, a smile rose in his eyes.

“Trying to watch me sleep?”

Because he had just woken up, He Xun’s voice was a bit deep but was surprisingly pleasant.

Peijin almost became a pufferfish because of Zheng Li, what nonsense was this guy saying?

She was merely going to He Xun for something, but He Xun had coincidentally been asleep and she didn’t have the heart to wake him up, so she was going to sit here and wait for a little.

How come they were misinterpreting her as intentionally peeping at He Xun sleep?

Peijin angrily mumbled, “I’m not.”

Zheng Li watched the scene with great interest and kept teasing her, “Ai yo, we all know how good-looking He Xun is, even if you like how he looks when he sleeps, what about it? It’s normal, right?”

Peijin didn’t bother responding to Zheng Li, she took out her phone, turning to her and Meng Meng’s chat history, and then put her phone in front of He Xun.

He Xun gave it a cursory glance and then laughed, “You came over to tell me about this?”

Peijin vigorously nodded her head, “Yes.”

He Xun rubbed Peijin’s head, amused, “What a big deal.”

Zheng Li curiously came over to take a look, after looking at the chat log, his expression was also completely unbothered, “Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal.”

Although she heard them say isn’t wasn’t a big issue, Peijin still felt a bit worried.

She warily said, “But they are the leader of a gang.” For someone who had been in a gang for many years, who wouldn’t have a few skills and talents? Maybe he seriously shouldn’t be messed with.

Zheng Li sniggered and broke out into a laugh, “With Brother Xun here, who dares to call a gang leader before him? Lil’ Five, just take it easy, pay attention to class, don’t think any more of it.”

Seeing that they all knew about this matter, Peijin returned to her seat and prepared for class.

Just like that, a day flew by.

After class let out, they had scheduled for the group to go ice skating together, yet there was a temporary change to the plan.

Peijin was a bit nervous, “What’s going on? Why aren’t you going ice skating?”

Fatty explained, “It’s not that I’m not skating, but I’m going to deal with something, after it’s done I’ll go skating.”

“What is the issue?”

Zheng Li straightened his coat, looking impatient, “Who is it but Xu Yi from the neighboring school. Ah’Xun, I truly applaud you, your eyes are really fucking good. If I knew Xu Yi was such a terrible woman, I would’ve directly turned her down the first time.”

Zheng Li and them wouldn’t start any trouble, but they weren’t afraid of it. It was Xu Yi and her boyfriend who were intentionally making it and holding up their time for fun, so he was a bit irritable and impatient.

He Xun’s expression was very uninterested.

By the time the group arrived at the location designated by Xu Yi, Xu Yi, and her gang leader boyfriend, as well as her boyfriend’s group of friends, were already there.

The scene of rods and guns in Peijin’s expectations didn’t emerge and seeing that the other party didn’t have any tools, she instinctively let out a sigh.

Fatty, seeing her like this, covered his mouth and snickered, “Little Five, have you been watching too many Hong Kong gangster films? You thought a fight would so easily start? Did you think that a clean knife would enter and a red knife would come out too?”

Peijin was a bit embarrassed from being seen through as small-minded. She had thought they would have rods, guns, and immediately start fighting, but never that the Big Brother (1) was a civilized person who hadn’t bought any tools.

(1) 大哥 usually refers to the leader of a group, in this case, it is for a gang boss/leader.

Xu Yi’s boyfriend, Wang Qiang, was thirty and the small boss of a bar. He wore a tight tank top, emphasizing his strong muscles and large tattoos, he did look pretty intimidating.

Xu Yi stood by Wang Qiang’s side, a touch of mockery on her beautiful face.

Wang Qiang threw the cigarette he had smoked down to the butt to the floor, his voice hoarse, “Let’s do it like this, I don’t bully high-school students, so let’s race. The loser has to kneel before the winner and kowtow three times and shout aloud sorry three times. One round decides the outcome, how about it?”

He Xun took a step forward, both of his hands in his pockets, an undaunted wildness around him.

“Okay.”

Peijin’s mouth opened and closed at the sidelines, wanting to say something, but obviously, it wasn’t suitable for her to speak during the current situation.

To make this offer, Xu Yi must’ve been insane!

The loser, has to kowtow three times to the winner? And has to shout three times as well!

This was going too far!

So because He Xun had rejected Xu Yi, she wanted to get revenge like this?

Wang Qiang walked to the side, revealing two motorcycles behind him. There was one black and one red, he casually pointed, saying, “Take your pick from the two.”

Zheng Li gave a harsh ‘pei’, “Choose from the two?” Who knows if you’ve tampered with the motorcycles? What if something happens?”

Wang Qiang didn’t get angry, he took out a cigarette and slowly took a puff after lighting it, “It’s up to you then, if you have your own motorcycle you can use it too.”

Not long after, Fatty drove over a space gray motorcycle. The lines of the motorcycle were smooth and fluid and it was very beautiful.

She estimated the price of this motorcycle was also very beautiful.

Wang Qiang laughed ‘ha-ha’, “I didn’t think it’s a guy who knows how to have fun, with this being the case, it works out for the best, so after I win you’ll say I bully little kids.”

Wang Qiang’s tone was flat, but the inside and outside of his words divulged the idea that he would win.

It had to be said that gangsters were older and were all the more sinister and slick. He, intentionally or not, was hinting that He Xun would lose, and he himself, would win. Not only that but he had purposefully provoked He Xun by saying He Xun was a little kid.

A boy of this age actually hated being called a little kid by others. This was a psychological device. If met against someone in a bad mood, his comments could immediately send them into a rage. Either furiously counter back, or feel dissatisfied. After their mind cracked, it would extremely easily influence the factors of the following race.

But He Xun looked relaxed, no matter what was said right now it would all be in vain. He didn’t look at the process, just the results. Even if this gangster boss attempted to anger him with various kinds of methods, it was a lost cause. No matter what Wang Qiang did, ultimately, Wang Wiang could only kneel and cry loudly for his father. Then he would kowtow three times, and scream sorry three times.

He, He Xun, had this confidence.

He came forward and rubbed the handles, his voice nonchalant, “When do we start?”

Wang Qiang thoroughly finished smoking the rest of his cigarette, after he did, he reveled in blowing out the last smoke ring, saying, “Now.”

With an ‘ok’, He Xun then immediately prepared to get on.

Peijin looked at Zheng Li, Fatty, Zhang Chen. They all looked like they had no intention to stop He Xun, like they had completely fine with He Xun entering the contest. She had no choice and could only bite her lip, shooting forward and tightly hugging He Xun’s waist.

Because of her great momentum, she had even made He Xun walk a few small steps forward.

Fatty had still been frenziedly calling (1) out for He Xun at the top of his lungs, when he saw this scene, it was like someone had pressed the pause button for his entire person, he momentarily forgot the words.

(1) This is similar to “cheering” for people, like cheerleaders or fans with a call-out/chant for their favorite musicians.

Blank confusion covered his entire face, he asked, “This….What’s going on? Someone explain this to me?”

Zheng Li, who was the only person aware Peijin was a girl, watched this show from the sides, while the remaining others present had their eyes fixed on the back of the two hugging people, falling into a strange silence.

In the end, it was Xu Yi who looked at this scene with disgust, sneering, “Two shameless fags.”

(t/n: bitch??? You’re just angry you can’t be one smfh OMG SHE GOT ME HEATED DIEAWD)

Fatty was still trying to digest the scene before his eyes, this was too much information for him to take in at once, but when he heard Xu Yi’s words, he instinctively got angry and very protectively defended He Xun, retorting, “And what about fags? Did they eat your family’s rice? You’re the pathetic bitch, fuck off!”

Xu Yi had always been a campus belle everyone worshiped, she had let go He Xun’s rejection of her confession from before, this time, it was a Fatty who had dared to curse her. The edges of her eyes instantly reddened. She whipped her head back, saying to Wang Qiang, aggrieved, “Brother Wang, he insulted me!”

Wang Qiang patted her shoulder, consoling her, “Don’t worry, wait until this Fatty’s leader has to kneel before you, kowtow, and shout he’s sorry.”

Xu Yi felt great pleasure from just thinking of that sight alone. She called back her tears and fiercely glared at Fatty.

Fatty already didn’t feel like acknowledging Xu Yi, he scratched his head, saying with slight burning impatience, “Hey, Lil’ Five, what’re you doing? Don’t affect Brother Xun’s performance, okay?”

At this point, Peijin was already ready to risk everything, in any case, she had already hugged him. She had already gone this far, she wouldn’t let go of her hands.

No matter what, she wouldn’t let He Xun enter the competition.

This life of He Xun’s had been saved by her.

If she hadn’t transmigrated, at this time, perhaps He Xun already wouldn’t be here. It wasn’t just He Xun, if she wasn’t here, maybe Zheng Li, Fatty, Zhang Chen, the three would have already lost their lives in that sea storm.

She couldn’t watch with unfeeling eyes as He Xun did such a dangerous thing as drag racing.

Although they had passed that previous calamity, the butterfly effect was frightening.

Perhaps He Xun would have a new peril?

She didn’t want to gamble that.

He Xun had wholly never thought Peijin would come right up and tightly hug him, doing it to stop him from participating.

He softly patted the hands Peijin had wrapped around his waist, a bit amused, “Peipei, let go.”

Peijin rarely persisted, the right of her face was buried into He Xun’s back, her tone unyielding, “No.”

“Be good, loosen up a little.”

“I won’t.”

He Xun stopped smiling, “You’re hugging me too tight, I can hardly breathe.”

Peijin heard, she flushed, and only then did she slowly let go a little.

However after she slightly loosened her hands, her face was still firmly glued to He Xun’s back.

He Xun massaged his temples, “Peipei, generally speaking, nothing will happen.”

Peijin immediately retorted, “You’re still speaking generally, what if something does happen? He Xun, I’m not cursing you, but this kind of thing can’t be joked about.”

He Xun could hear the obvious concern within Peijin’s words, he tentatively asked, “You care about me?”

Peijin blushed, but by now there was no need to deny it. If she were to deny it, then why did she go stop him from doing such a dangerous thing. Now, she could only come out and admit it, “Before when we went to sea, because of me you luckily got away with your life. I don’t care, before you had told me your life was mine, that time I turned you down, now I’m going back on my word. In any case, you can’t drag race.”

Fatty and the few stared at each other, speechless.

This situation, no matter how you looked at it, there was something fishy going on between the two.

Zheng Li inwardly laughed uncontrollably.

It was seriously hilarious, he had never thought that He Xun would have a day like this.