chapter 30

Kou Chen could hear the laughter surrounding them getting louder as he maintained eye contact with Huo Ran; the way several girls were laughing was outrageous and incredibly arrogant.

“What’s wrong with looking at you?” Kou Chen made a strong counterattack on Huo Ran’s query.

Huo Ran was instantly choked to the point of being unable to speak.

He had simply been unable to foresee that this sort of “what are you lookin’ at” “what’s wrong with lookin’ at you” theatrics could actually be performed under these circumstances.

“What else do I have to say?” Kou Chen asks.

The laughter and screams in the classroom were already out of control, Huo Ran had only experienced this sort of noise on the basketball court and sort of wanted to laugh, at the same time thinking that it was pretty awkward.

“What do you want to say?” Huo Ran looks at him, a speechless 'someone come save this dog” expression on his face.

“If I knew would I need to ask you… forget it I’ll do it myself,” Kou Chen grits his teeth and turns back, patting his desk, “In any case what I meant was that we can date when we want to date, we can also say it out loud and openly when we have someone we like. After all, when we get these ideas it shows that the time has come, the same logic as having to sprout when spring comes.”

“We want to sprout!” someone shouts.

“Want to sprout!” everyone else starts shouting along.

“Wu Xiaochen I like you!” there was suddenly a statement like this sandwiched in between the laughter and shouts.

“Who!” Jiang Lei stands up, “Who shouted that!”

The various sorts of excited laughter and shouts had attracted the attention of the teacher downstairs, likely afraid that the ceiling would once again be stomped into collapsing.

“Alright alright alright, you can sprout, you can also confess!” Old Yuan laughs as he raises his hand to gesture to everyone, “Lower your volume a little.”

After everyone’s volume gets lowered by Old Yuan, there was finally a bit of a shift in their attention and they started to look for the confessor that was sandwiched in the crowd.

“Who was it, fuck, I didn’t pay attention just now,” Jiang Lei was very excited, “With just a call like that, I couldn’t tell who it was.”

“If it weren’t for the chaos earlier,” Hu Yi says softly, “This person probably wouldn’t have dared to shout it out, being sandwiched in the crowd bolstered his courage.”

The classroom was in chaos for half a day, yet nobody stood up to admit to it.

“Alright, don’t look anymore,” Old Yuan claps his hand, “This classmate is definitely embarrassed, those who have guessed who he is do help him to keep the secret for now too. His confession has been received by Wu Xiaochen, this will do.”

“Thank you,” Wu Xiaochen stands up to say very generously.

Everyone applauds.

“Actually,” Kou Chen had leaned back onto Huo Ran after finishing his speech and had stretched his legs out. He was currently speaking while facing the front, and Huo Ran couldn’t hear what he was saying clearly at all, “Just now…”

“What?” Huo Ran lowers his head and gets closer to the side of his face.

“I said, actually, it wasn’t that that person earlier was too embarrassed to stand up,” Kou Chen slants his head and speaks quietly, “He hadn’t even planned to stand up. Even though Wu Xiaochen hadn’t said it specifically, she’s definitely part of the group that doesn’t plan on dating anyone. He just wanted to let Wu Xiaochen know that there is someone that likes her.”

“Fuck,” Huo Ran also speaks quietly, “Why does that feel kind of romantic? There are these sorts of people in our class?”

“Romantic my ass,” Kou Chen says, “If it were me knowing I would get rejected, I wouldn’t open my mouth at all.”

“Why, have You not always been very arrogant? You’re afraid of getting rejected?” Huo Ran says.

“I already know that you wouldn’t accept, why would I still let you know that I like you,” Kou Chen says, “Dream on, besides, that’d be so humiliating for me.”

Huo Ran starts laughing.

He notices that Kou Chen had swept a glance sideways in the midst of his laughter and he looks over; a few girls in the front rows were currently laughing at them, unable to stop.

Huo Ran quickly leans back onto the wall.

Kou Chen’s hand immediately follows, giving a pat on his face, and the girls instantly lay onto their desks, suppressing their screams.

Huo Ran swats Kou Chen’s hand away at once.

It was only today that he noticed that there were this many girls in their class, and felt that no matter where he looked, he could meet with a girl’s gaze.

“Can you sit properly?” Huo Ran asks.

“Can’t,” Kou Chen answers extremely simply, “Hit me if you’re capable.”

Huo Ran faces away and does not speak anymore.1

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“Alright, we’ll continue,” Old Yuan says, “The students earlier had spoken very well, very representative, and also had surprised me as a teacher. I like you guys this way: daring to speak, daring to think and thoughtful. Let’s continue.”

With Old Yuan’s encouragement and the excitement from the series of laughter and shouts from the earlier half in addition, everyone let loose and even a number of those that usually didn’t like to speak spoke up.

Huo Ran eyes the director sitting in the back of the classroom.

The director’s expression was alright; although he didn’t have a smile on as per usual, he could tell that he was not upset.

He retracts his gaze and watches the people speaking up from all around.

If they got him to speak, he really didn’t know what he should be saying; he couldn’t even come up with lines as simple as the ones Kou Chen had said, much less the ones from Xu Zhifan.

He usually wouldn’t think about these questions at all, and he had never had the thought to like anyone despite having grown this big. He’d never thought about it even after having seen the pairs of little lovebirds in his classes.

Looking at the students in his class now, some had spoken about people they had liked in the past, some expressed that they had someone they liked at the moment, some had parents that supported, some had parents that objected, and he suddenly thought that it was pretty interesting.

These classmates that usually looked to be no different from himself and rioted whenever they heard about someone liking someone else or someone having gotten together with someone else each hid so many words within their hearts.

When compared like this, he himself felt as if he had lived for nothing for seventeen years, without even a person he had liked.

It was the first time the class meeting lesson was unable to end when it was time to.

In the end it was only when the director walked up to the podium that he finally got everyone to stop despite not having had enough. It was only then that a number of people seemed to collect themselves; this reticent piece of clothing of a director that people hide from whenever they saw had spectated the entire process of their unbridled discussion.

“The class meeting today was very exciting,” the director says, “I will not do a general evaluation of the content, but I think that this sort of format and direction is not bad. The way everyone spoke freely today should be the way a class meeting should be, the class meeting no longer being merely out of formality but actually serving the purpose of a class meeting, this was extremely good.”

Everyone applauds.

Huo Ran applauds while waiting for the ‘but’ from the director.

It seemed there wasn’t a ‘but’, however.

“Your Teacher Yuan had asked me to come to listen to your voices,” the director says, “I want to say that I have heard them, and I have understood them.”

Applause sound once again, relatively louder compared to the applause out of civility before.

“Thank you Teacher Yuan, and thank you students for your trust,” the director finishes and nods at everyone, walking out of the classroom.

“Alright, I would also like to thank everyone for today’s class meeting,” Old Yuan stands in the middle of the classroom, “Everyone gather yourselves, rearrange the desks and chairs. If there are still things you want to say, you can all write them in the weekly diary.”

The people in the class all stand up, and continue chatting excitedly as they lifelessly drag the desks and chairs back.

“Get up,” Huo Ran pushes the Kou Chen who was still leaning on him and unmoving a little.

“Ai…” Kou Chen drags his voice out, and only sits upright slowly after a good half a day, then stands up unhurriedly, giving a stretch.

“My stomach’s all numb from being squashed by you,” Huo Ran rubs his stomach, pushing him away, dragging his desk to where it originally was.

“Could this class meeting lesson of ours save that pair in Thousand Years Old’s class?” Wei Chaoren says.

“Even if it can’t save that pair,” Xu Chuan says, “It should be able to act as a bit of protection for future pairs, at least not having to meet both sides’ parents for a single jarring note in conversation, and making it seem like they’re discussing to prepare a wedding banquet.”

Huo Ran thinks a little: if he were to date, what would happen if Dad and Mom found out?

Maybe nothing would happen?

Ever since Dad and Mom experienced his fall into the ditch, they seemed to have maxed their grade, and could deal with anything that happened to him with calm. Something like dating probably wouldn’t be considered an issue, would it?

It might be different for Kou Chen though, he gives Kou Chen a glance.

After all his dad was a gourmet chef, and his specialty was sausages.

Excitement was rather plentiful even after the class meeting; when they were having dinner, the people in their class were still sighing in admiration over how Old Yuan was cuter than their biological fathers as they sat in the cafeteria.

“Yiyi just told me,” Kou Chen heads over after grabbing a plate, placing it onto the table, “From tonight onwards for four days, cafeteria duty will be up to us.”

“Those third years are done?” Xu Zhifan asks.

“Nope, it’ll be up to them again after our four days,” Kou Chen says, “She said we’ll have to alternate for half a month, excluding weekends.”

“Alternating like this, we’ll be able to finish the rest of the year won’t we?” Wei Chaoren asks.

“So be it, we won’t be at a loss anyways,” Xu Zhifan waves his phone, “I asked around a little, their group of people got a combined punishment for several offenses and their demerit points are more severe than ours. A roll of shame should be coming out these couple days, when the time comes we’ll go take a look.”

“It’s almost the sports meet,” Jiang Lei asks, “Which events are you guys signing up for?”

“I’ll sign up for leisure tug-of-war,” Xu Zhifan says.

“Do you want face or not, the whole class is participating in leisure tug-of-war,” Jiang Lei says.

“Then I’ll sign up for the cheerleading team,” Xu Zhifan reconsiders.

“Huo Ran what about you?” Jiang Lei gives up on Xu Zhifan.

“I’ll sign up for the basketball match,” Huo Ran says.

“They’d have to have you even if you don’t sign up for it don’t they,” Jiang Lei says, “But our school sports meet’s basketball matches are boring, elimination matches all the way, play one match carelessly and it’s over.”

The school would organise basketball matches according to the grades for the sports meet each year, but compared with the annual inter-school basketball match, the scale is very small and the time limit very short; they needed to match the sports meet’s time frame after all.

“What about Kou Chen,” Jiang Lei asks after everyone one after another, “You’d have to go for a cooler event don’t you?”

“I am part of the school basketball team,” Kou Chen says.

Huo Ran turns to look at him; for someone that had only participated in three training sessions, he sure boasts without holding back when he introduces himself.

“If you don’t go to training again this week, you can stop coming next month,” Huo Ran says.

“I’ll go tonight,” Kou Chen answers while smiling sweetly, “I was mainly worried that I’d clash with the Zhou Haichao duo, they even glared at me when I bumped into them yesterday. They’ve already been punished for several offenses, but they haven’t reined themselves in at all.”

The basketball team’s training sessions were mostly arranged at night, with only two days that would use the afternoon each week, in order to not interfere with classes in the day as much as they could.

Huo Ran would always arrive early to each session, and when Kou Chen arrived that day he had already jogged two rounds around the field.

“What do I do?” Kou Chen asks.

“Jog two rounds for warm up,” Huo Ran says.

“By myself?” Kou Chen points at himself.

“There are others on the field, members usually run two rounds by themselves when they arrive,” Huo Ran says.

“You’re not running with me?” Kou Chen asks.

“I’m done running,” Huo Ran sighs.

“I’m a new member you know,” Kou Chen says, “You’re not worried something will happen to me? Like slipping and the like?”

Huo Ran looks at him, only speaking after a while: “If you can fall while running two rounds around the field, you can back out directly.”

Kou Chen gives a ‘tsk’, turning to run over to the field.

“Ai,” Huo Ran bends and supports himself on his legs, sighing.

“Tonight we’ll do skill training,” Huo Ran starts arranging after everyone had finished their warm-ups, “First year members try a half-court with the older members, see the effects of coordination.”

Kou Chen ponders over it carefully, and was a little perplexed at once.

He wasn’t a first year, nor was he an older member.

What should he do?

Huo Ran slants his head at Kou Chen after he finishes settling the other members: “Kou Chen, come with me.”

“Alrighty,” Kou Chen merrily follows him over.

Rather than training with the other members, he preferred one-on-one with Huo Ran. After all, his interest in basketball was only so much, and they could at least chat a little when he went one-on-one with Huo Ran.

“Still the old rules?” Kou Chen asks, “You defend I attack?”

“Today you’ll be shooting from fixed points,” Huo Ran says.

“…What?” Kou Chen was stunned.

Huo Ran tosses a ball over: “Ten shots from one spot, hurry up.”

“On what basis?” Kou Chen takes the ball over, standing under the hoop. He sweeps a glance at the hoop and shoots the ball in his hands.

It goes in.

Huo Ran tosses the second ball over: “Why are you bullshitting so much.”

“If you dare to mess with me,” Kou Chen receives the ball and tosses it out once again, “You’re dead meat.”

The ball goes in.

“Continue,” Huo Ran passes the third ball over.

Kou Chen doesn’t speak, receiving the ball and continuing to shoot.

Ten shots go in out of ten.

This result took Huo Ran by a bit of surprise; previously he had only seen that Kou Chen knew how to play basketball, his foundations were alright, but he didn’t think his shooting would be this stable.

“Switch to the left side,” Huo Ran passes a ball to him once again.

Kou Chen receives the ball and looks at him.

“Switch to the left side!” Huo Ran repeats once, “What are you thinking.”

“Fuck,” Kou Chen switches the ball to his left hand and shoots it. The ball goes in and he raises an eyebrow at Huo Ran, “Thinking to fool me? Would it be that easy?”

Huo Ran was stunned for a few seconds: “I fucking wanted you to move to the left side of the hoop to shoot!”

“…Oh,” Kou Chen was also momentarily at a loss, picking the ball up and walking over.

As he prepares to continue shooting, Huo Ran suddenly says: “Left hand.”

“What are you trying to do!” Kou Chen was enraged, sandwiching the ball under his arm, looking at him, “You really dare to play me?”

“Shoot,” Huo Ran grins, “I want to see if it can still go in.”

Kou Chen raises his left hand extremely grumpily, shooting the ball.

It doesn’t go in.

“Your uncle,” Kou Chen instantly felt he’d lost some face, using his hand to beckon Huo Ran, “Pass a ball.”

Huo Ran passes the ball over.

Kou Chen receives it and shoots with his left hand once again.

It goes in.

He gives a ‘tsk’ gleefully, looking at Huo Ran: “I’m telling you, I was left-handed up to second year of middle school.”

“You suddenly succeeded in unblocking your Conception Vessel and Governing Vessel* after second year of middle school? Both your left and right hands could be used?” Huo Ran asks.

[*tl note: 任脈 (rèn mài) Conception Vessel and 督脈 (dū mài) Governing Vessel are part of the eight extraordinary vessels and is a part of the meridian system which is a concept in traditional Chinese medicine about a path through which the life-energy known as “qi” flows (via Wikipedia)]

“I didn’t want to hide the fact that both my hands could be used after second year of middle school,” Kou Chen says.

Huo Ran looks at him, seemingly in thought.

“But I can’t dribble with my left hand, can only shoot,” Kou Chen supplements, “My level for dribbling with my left hand is about the same as an elementary student’s probably.”

“I could tell,” Huo Ran says.

“How did you tell?” Kou Chen asks.

“If you could use your left hand to dribble, when we were attacking and defending before you’d have long used your left hand,” Huo Ran says, “Is there a need to ask.”

The great cause of playing it cool for ten thousand years was too long, could only seize the day.

Kou Chen starts laughing, going over to retrieve the ball, then shoots another: “You know me so well.”

“Continue with your right hand,” Huo Ran says.

“Mn,” Kou Chen nods, “For the inter-class basketball matches, who’ll be participating?”

“Us two,” Huo Ran says, “Then gather the rest from the remaining boys.”

“There’s no third person whose name is worth mentioning?” Kou Chen was a little shocked, “Are humanities class really as weak as the legends say?”

“Wei Chaoren,” Huo Ran says.

“What about Xu Zhifan?” Kou Chen asks, “That rather tall height of his can’t be wasted can it?”

“Xu Zhifan’s only hobbies are morning and night jogs, other than those don’t think to get him to participate in any sporting events,” Huo Ran says.

“Just us and a Chaoren, his skills… are alright,” Kou Chen thinks a little, “Then aren’t we destined to lose?”

“Bullshit,” Huo Ran says, “There’s me.”

“You alone?” Kou Chen says, “I didn’t think you were that incredible when we played against your class last time though, you even almost lost.”

“To beat your class I only used,” Huo Ran sticks his pinky finger out and pinches the tip, “This much ability.”+