Chapter 24

Huang Jie said, "You even asked Yi Zhen to fight, almost beating him to death. I'd be embarrassed to take this money!"

Monkey spat, "I at least fought. What did you do? Just sang a few songs? Phoenix Legend earns hundreds of thousands for one performance, how much did you earn by singing a few thousand times?"

I asked, "Who are Ding Sheng and Liang Qi?"

"I sang to provide background music for you. At that moment, didn't you need a more passionate song?"

"Is 'The Most Dazzling National Style' a passionate song? I almost started dancing, and my lifelong reputation was almost ruined by you, you know?"

"Who are Ding Sheng and Liang Qi?!" I got anxious.

"They are a group from Grade 2, quite influential. These are their two leaders," Xiao Furen Ma Jie said timidly, and seeing me look at him, he quickly hid his head under the blanket.

"Monkey, why did you ask Yi Zhen to go to Grade 2?" I grabbed Monkey's collar to prevent him from going off-topic.

"Zuo Fei, I ask you, if there's a wolf in front of you and a tiger behind you, and you have to choose one to fight, which one would you choose?"

"Of course the wolf, at least there's a chance to fight. There's no chance against a tiger!"

"That's right," Monkey said. "I'd rather Yi Zhen go to Grade 2's Ding Sheng and Liang Qi, where we at least have a chance to fight, than to the crazy dogs in Grade 3!"

"Before Yi Zhen goes to them, can we go to Ding Sheng first?" I suggested. With our status in Grade 1, it shouldn't be a problem to talk to the leaders of Grade 2, right?

"Do you think it would be more useful for us to go than for Yi Zhen to pay money?"

"Someone must not value money!"

"Who? Who doesn't value money? Bring them out and let me worship them!"

"You, when Yi Zhen paid you to beat me, you didn't agree, right?"

"That's because he didn't pay enough. If he adds five more, I guarantee your head will explode."

"Whatever..." I knew Monkey was joking.

"Let's go, all-nighter!" Monkey and Huang Jie left like a gust of wind.

There was still a puddle on the floor. As soon as I picked up the mop, Ma Jie shouted, "I'll do it, I'll do it," and rushed over.

...

The next day, right after morning study, I heard someone calling me at the door.

"Zuo Fei, Zuo Fei!"

I looked up and saw Wang Yao, immediately running out.

"Did you guys expel Yi Zhen last night?" Wang Yao looked excited.

"Yeah," I said proudly, "that bastard wanted me to give up Lin Ke'er!"

"Ha, good job, that guy thinks he's something just because his family has some money! You guys go ahead, and if it gets too tough, I'm here for you!" Wang Yao patted my shoulder smugly.

The more I looked at Wang Yao, the more I liked her, but I forced myself to suppress these feelings: "Hehe, we can handle it."

"Right, when are you going to confess to Lin Ke'er? We can't wait, it's so hard to keep it from her!"

"Tonight!" I paused, "After evening study!"

"Great, you have to buy me a drink if you succeed!"

I noticed she said "you" instead of "we," which stirred something in my heart: "No problem!"

"Hey, I'm waiting for your good news!"

I watched Wang Yao's back, my gaze lingering for a long time. There was no way I could be with her in this life.

At noon, I went to the internet cafe to find Monkey and told him about my plan to confess tonight. Monkey said, "Good, good luck." I said, "What about you? Didn't we agree to confess together? I'll confess to Lin Ke'er, and you to Liu Yina."

Monkey hesitated, "I don't think I'm ready with Liu Yina yet."

"Whatever, you softie, you really disgrace Shanxi."

"What did you say?!" Monkey jumped up, "Who dares to call us Shanxi softies?!"

"Then confess together!"

"Fine, who's afraid of who!"

Monkey was dragged out of the internet cafe by me, and Huang Jie sighed behind us, "Ask the world what love is, it makes people live and die for it..."

Back in the dorm, I forced Monkey to change into clean clothes. He smelled like the internet cafe, so I had Xiao Furen Ma Jie help him groom himself. Ma Jie was indeed good at this and even sprayed some cologne on Monkey. Monkey finally looked presentable. I was very excited all afternoon, but Monkey remained calm, saying, "It's just a confession, what's the big deal?"

In the afternoon class, I told Lin Ke'er to free up her time after evening study. Monkey did the same with Liu Yina. We both waited anxiously for the evening to come, it felt like an eternity!

Finally, evening study arrived, and I started getting nervous, going to the bathroom three times in just an hour and a half. It turned out the Thirteen Roses were even more nervous, frequently going to the bathroom too. The last time, I even ran into Wang Yao.

I said, "Why are you so excited about my confession?"

"You don't understand, Lin Ke'er is the best girl among us!"

"You're pretty good too." Of course, I didn't dare say it out loud, just thought it in my head.

Finally, evening study ended. As soon as I left the classroom, I saw the Thirteen Roses all gathered, except for Lin Ke'er. They winked at me, "Go on, go on, we're waiting for you!"

I walked forward, and they followed, like a bunch of gossips.

When I entered Monkey's classroom, they all froze.

"Wow, is Zuo Fei going to confess to Monkey?" "Isn't Lin Ke'er the main girl tonight?"

I turned and pointed at Liu Yina, "Wait, Monkey and I are confessing together!"

Liu Yina's face turned pale.

I went in and found Monkey sleeping on the desk. I pulled his arm and found his drool had soaked his sleeve, which he had just changed at noon. He was still sleeping at such a critical moment!

"Monkey, wake up, it's time to confess!"

"Don't feed the head," Monkey mumbled.

"You Shanxi people are all idiots!" I had to use my trump card, I'm not being regionalist.

Monkey didn't react.

"You Shanxi people are all softies!"

Monkey still didn't react.

I got angry and shook Monkey hard, "Wake up, it's time to confess!"

"Zuo Fei, forget about him, Lin Ke'er is waiting for you!" Zhang Xuan called from the door.

With no choice, I left. Monkey had dropped the ball at the crucial moment, so I had to take the lead. The girls laughed, and Liu Yina laughed too.

"Don't be too happy, Monkey will wake up soon."

Liu Yina turned and ran, and everyone laughed.

"Alright, wait here, don't follow me. I'm going to confess to Lin Ke'er!"

I walked to Lin Ke'er's classroom, and the girls didn't follow. At the door, I looked back, and they all looked excited.

But I suddenly felt that Wang Yao's smile seemed a bit forced.

Was I hallucinating?

No matter, Lin Ke'er was the most important now, and I would put Wang Yao out of my mind.

I took a deep breath and said to the classroom, "Lin Ke'er, come out for a moment."

Lin Ke'er seemed to have been waiting, and quickly came out, "What do you need?"

I looked back at the girls, some of whom were whistling, ready to be little hooligans.

"Let's talk over there." I pointed to the end of the corridor.

At the end, I stood face to face with Lin Ke'er. I looked at her beautiful face, mentally preparing myself. The moment had finally arrived!

"Ke'er," I said earnestly, "I like you, will you be my girlfriend?"

Lin Ke'er looked up but didn't immediately agree as I had expected. Instead, she said, "Zuo Fei, do you really like me?"

I nodded firmly. I wasn't crazy, why would I confess if I didn't like her?

"Do you like me, or do you like my face?"

I was stunned for a moment, then understood. Two years ago, Lin Ke'er was ugly, and I didn't want to be with her, even throwing a ring in her face. Two years later, she became beautiful, and I started chasing her, protecting her, and wanting her to be my girlfriend.

Any girl would feel uncomfortable, right?

Fortunately, I had thought about this before: "Ke'er, do you know what I thought about the most during the two years you were gone?"

"What?" Lin Ke'er looked puzzled.

"I thought, if you appeared in front of me, I would definitely make you my girlfriend. Lin Ke'er, don't you understand? I liked you two years ago. Otherwise, why would I always protect you? I was too naive back then, not realizing that was love. I thought everyone said you were ugly, so I didn't want to be with you, fearing they would laugh at me. I was too immature. After you disappeared, I felt like I was hollowed out, my life losing its color. I thought about you and missed you every day, hoping to meet you again. Thank goodness, that day finally came. I swear to the heavens, even if you were still ugly, I would still be with you. I even wished you were still ugly, so no one would compete with me for you. So, Lin Ke'er, rest assured, I truly like you, not because of your face, but because of you as a person! This time, I won't let you escape again!"

By the time I finished, Lin Ke'er was in tears!

"Don't cry, don't cry." I quickly wiped her tears, "What are you doing? If others see, they'll think I'm bullying you. Ke'er, I protected you two years ago, and I want to continue protecting you now and forever." I said gently, opening my arms to embrace her.