Chapter 20

Cheng Xiaoyu, holding two books, stopped at the opera section, while the two men went to the pop music section.

The opera section took up about a third of the audio-visual area, with a large selection of Peking Opera masterpieces, Yueju Opera collections, and various opera CDs. The other sections, such as pop music, classical music, and folk music, were relatively smaller.

Cheng Xiaoyu picked up a Yueju Opera CD with a very eye-catching cover titled "The Absolute Star." He then selected a Peking Opera disc, the top-selling Mei School's "The Imperial Consort of the Tang Dynasty." Buying these two CDs wasn't necessarily for listening; it was purely to satisfy his purchasing desire. Cheng Xiaoyu planned to grab two more classical piano CDs and then leave, as Wang Huasheng would be arriving soon.

When Cheng Xiaoyu walked to the classical music section, the two literary youths from earlier were just in the adjacent folk music section, surrounding a girl wearing their school uniform. Cheng Xiaoyu didn't think much of it and intended to buy a Beethoven and a Chopin classical piano CD and leave. As he was selecting the CDs, the two literary youths and the girl from their school slowly moved in his direction.

The long-haired man said, "Miss, we have no ill intentions. We sincerely invite you to be a model. I am from the Fine Arts Department of Jiaotong University, and my friend is from the Literature Department of Fudan University. In a way, my friend and you are half-alumni."

The other man with wire-rimmed glasses also said, swaying his head, "Sister, have you heard of the Flower Picking Society? I am the vice president, Fan Jiahang, also known as Wangxi. I am somewhat well-known at Fudan University. The book on display, 'Finding the Most Beautiful Self in Absurd Years,' is my work."

Cheng Xiaoyu almost burst out laughing at the overly pretentious tone but managed to hold back, trying to continue selecting CDs without getting involved. He heard the girl respond, "I'm sorry, but I need to prepare for the college entrance exam, so I don't have the time." Cheng Xiaoyu couldn't see her, but her voice was very pleasant, and with someone actively approaching her, she must have been quite attractive.

The long-haired man, a seasoned veteran, said, "No problem, just leave your phone number. If you have any questions about studying or choosing a school, feel free to call us anytime."

The girl replied, "No need to trouble you. My phone is out of battery. I'll leave it for next time." Generally, when a girl says she'll leave her number for next time, it means she has no intention of giving it. However, the two men continued to persist, showing a determination not to give up until they achieved their goal.

As the saying goes, a good woman fears a persistent wolf, and a queen fears a rogue. Many beautiful girls are often moved by the long-term persistence and relentless pursuit of these "wolves." Cheng Xiaoyu knew the secret: "Don't be ashamed." These two literary youths seemed to have deeply studied the art of seduction.

The man with glasses, seeing that ordinary approaches weren't working, changed his strategy and said with a hint of pride, "Sister, our Flower Picking Society is hosting a literary salon this weekend. We have invited the poet Hezi, and the big star from the Shanghai Drama Institute, Jiang Lan, might also come. If you're interested, I can take you to the event, and you might even get their autographs."

Cheng Xiaoyu couldn't help but shake his head, finding the two literary youths a bit despicable. They were using all sorts of flattery to win over a high school girl. If you're a literary youth, they have Hezi; if you like opera, they have Jiang Lan. Young girls are often easily swayed by such tactics. If you leave your number, they have a thousand ways to explain why the people you want to meet aren't there. Cheng Xiaoyu had done similar things in the past, luring young girls to art salons and music festivals, causing a lot of harm to innocent girls. Of course, he had his limits and didn't touch minors, which he considered a matter of principle.

The girl remained silent for a moment, seemingly tempted. Cheng Xiaoyu sighed, thinking another innocent girl might be about to fall for the so-called literary youths. He knew these people well, who claimed to write with their bodies, using the guise of art and pursuit to play with emotions and bodies. He had once been one of them. Cheng Xiaoyu placed the books and CDs under his arm into the shopping basket, turned to leave, and didn't intend to interfere in others' lives, even if they were alumni. He didn't feel he had the right to do so. As he turned, he saw an alumna, Ji Yunyun, about to take her phone out of her bag.

Cheng Xiaoyu, turning his fat body, faced Ji Yunyun's side. Ji Yunyun was taking her phone out of her bag, and they saw each other clearly. Cheng Xiaoyu was stunned, and Ji Yunyun was also surprised, not expecting to meet an alumnus so late in the bookstore. She had just finished a dance practice and was hesitating about taking out her phone, fearing gossip would spread back to school.

The long-haired literary youth was waiting for Ji Yunyun to give her phone number and, seeing the situation, quickly stepped in to block Cheng Xiaoyu's view. Cheng Xiaoyu, however, had a change of heart, thinking of the kind teacher Ji, and decided to save the girl from the literary youths.

Cheng Xiaoyu walked over and shouted, "Ji Yunyun, if you give your phone number, I'll tell your aunt." The two literary youths immediately looked at him.

Ji Yunyun had no good feelings for Cheng Xiaoyu and even suspected he had followed her into the bookstore. She frowned and said, "Mind your own business," but still put her phone behind her back, not wanting her aunt to know about her contact with boys outside school.

The two literary youths, seeing their "cooked swan" about to fly away, were visibly upset. They ignored Cheng Xiaoyu and said to Ji Yunyun more gently, "Ignore that fat guy. This is just normal social interaction. What's there to hide?"

Before Ji Yunyun could respond, Cheng Xiaoyu said, "These two guys were asking for a girl's phone number here yesterday, saying the exact same things they said to you." He then looked at Ji Yunyun calmly.

Ji Yunyun, seeing that Cheng Xiaoyu didn't seem to be lying, looked at the long-haired youth, who was looking at the man with glasses. She then saw the man with glasses make a gesture indicating it wasn't him, and she understood. She put her phone back in her bag and walked toward the cash register.

Cheng Xiaoyu quickly followed. The two literary youths, realizing they had been outsmarted by Cheng Xiaoyu, were furious. They quickly walked up, trying to explain to the girl, but were blocked by Cheng Xiaoyu's large frame.

Cheng Xiaoyu, not afraid of the two weak and frail men, who could only use literary jargon to insult, raised his eyebrows provocatively, showing a "what can you do to me" attitude. Since Wang Huasheng was almost there, this was a good opportunity to act cool. Cheng Xiaoyu thought about his tragic rebirth and felt a sense of melancholy.

The two literary youths were helpless against Cheng Xiaoyu and could only follow behind, hoping to find a chance to talk to the girl alone and save some face.

At the cash register, Cheng Xiaoyu paid on the left, and Ji Yunyun, with a cold face, paid on the right. She didn't feel grateful to Cheng Xiaoyu. First, she was a big fan of the poet Hezi and really wanted to attend the literary salon. Second, she didn't know the dangers of the world and thought nothing would happen to her. Third, she hated being threatened.

Cheng Xiaoyu didn't expect Ji Yunyun to be grateful. He did this for Teacher Ji, and he didn't care about Ji Yunyun's feelings or how she saw him.

The two literary youths, seeing the fat guy keeping a close eye on them, couldn't help but mock Cheng Xiaoyu, "Fat guy, are you into this girl? A toad trying to eat a swan?"

Cheng Xiaoyu, not angry, said, "Don't take it out on me, guys. Life is short, and you must be sexy. Go on, continue flirting. Why waste time on a toad like me?"

The man with glasses, seeing Cheng Xiaoyu respond, immediately perked up. He didn't mind verbal attacks but hated silence. He couldn't physically harm Cheng Xiaoyu, so he aimed to hurt him mentally, a concept known as "mental damage." In literary terms, it meant to give the enemy a cold and ruthless mental pressure, making them realize their insignificance and foolishness. The man with glasses, a literary genius, spoke with a rhythmic tone, "I see you are a student at Fudan High School. As your half-senior, I have the right to educate you. How can you lie and defame others so casually? How can you not be ashamed of yourself? The century-old school spirit of Fudan is worth nothing to you? I bet you are a student with poor grades and low morals." At this point, almost everyone in the bookstore was watching, and the man with glasses was even more excited, thinking he had the moral high ground. He then wondered if the word "scum" was too vulgar.

Cheng Xiaoyu, immune to such insults, pretended to be helpless, "You guys are just being silly. Why don't you leave me your number to make up for it?" His mocking expression was extremely annoying.

The long-haired youth, seeing Cheng Xiaoyu was unshaken and with so many people watching, felt his face was at stake. Seeing the fat guy was not easy to deal with, he turned to Ji Yunyun with a charming smile, "Miss, I'm sorry for disturbing you today. I really want to get to know you. Look, I've followed you this far, and even with so many people watching, I haven't given up. You should understand my sincerity."

Ji Yunyun, feeling a bit embarrassed, had encountered many such approaches before. The two literary youths, though a bit shameless, had always been polite, and their looks were not bad. Looking at Cheng Xiaoyu's sleazy appearance, she thought he was a bit over the top and said softly, "It's okay."

The long-haired youth, seeing Ji Yunyun was easy to deal with, continued, "To show my apology, I will draw a picture of you on the spot. The moment I saw you, I was captivated by your flawless beauty. I think I have fallen in love with you at first sight." He paused and then said in a rhythmic, low voice, "You don't need to pose to be a beauty, and you don't need to smile to create a breeze. I can't help but pursue you, even if others misunderstand. I want you to remember, as long as the sandalwood is not extinguished, I will not leave. In the vast night, I will hold onto the beauty and sorrow, and in the curve of your eyebrow, I see our destined meeting. The beauty is the sand in your fingers, and the old age is the time I promise you. I hope you can forgive my abruptness and endless talk. I don't want to regret this encounter for the rest of my life. I only want to meet you once."

This long, heartfelt monologue was very successful, and some onlookers even applauded. The audience, seeing this romantic climax, was entertained. The long-haired youth, with his handsome face and elegant demeanor, and the girl, with her pure and graceful appearance, was a combination that the Chinese particularly favored. In contrast, Cheng Xiaoyu, with his fat face and crude language, was the typical villain.

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