“W-what are you doing?” Remembering the last time he inexplicably fell down from the mountain, Zhang Goudan’s body couldn’t help but tremble.
“What did you do to her?” Yu Yuan repeated his question.
“What does this have to do with you?” Zhang Goudan wouldn’t admit it.
He didn’t believe that this little b*stard would dare to do anything to him. If Yu Yuan did dare, he would ask his dad to break his legs.
Remembering how Yu Yuan was beaten up last time, Zhang Goudan inwardly felt a little triumphant.
“Your mother didn’t even want you and left you at my house. Who do you think you are? What are you pretending to be all innocent for[1]?” Zhang Goudan mocked, “Little b*stard, do you wanna be beaten by my father again? If I’d known, last time I would’ve just beaten you to death myself!”
Yu Yuan didn’t speak, but just coldly looked at him. Zhang Goudan felt extremely uncomfortable being stared at.
After a long time, Yu Yuan suddenly laughed.
“That’s right. There’s still that matter from last time.” He stared into Zhang Goudan’s eyes and directly walked towards him.
Yu Yuan’s gaze was icy cold, like a thousand years of unmelted snow. And under that thick snow, was a barely perceptible sharpness.
Zhang Goudan inexplicably had an illusion of being preyed upon by a wild animal. A chill ran down his spine and he subconsciously took a step back.
Zhang Goudan’s lips slightly trembled with guilt as he raised his voice and said, “Little b*stard, what do you wanna do?!”
At these words, Yu Yuan stopped, and a hint of mockery appeared in his eyes that were watching Zhang Goudan. He walked past Zhang Goudan and picked up the axe that was on the ground.
Under the sunlight, a dazzling ray of light refracted on the sharp blade. One could know how sharp that axe was just by looking at it.
Yu Yuan wouldn’t…… Yu Yuan wouldn’t be thinking of cutting me with an axe, would he? Zhang Goudan’s lips were slightly trembling and the longer he looked at Yu Yuan, the more flustered he became.
“W-what do you want to do……” He yelled timidly with trembling knees.
“Of course I want to…… go out and chop firewood.” Yu Yuan picked up the axe and sneered at Zhang Goudan. He retracted the emotions in his eyes and walked out of the courtyard, holding the axe without even looking at Zhang Goudan.
Only when Yu Yuan’s figure had completely disappeared did Zhang Goudan let out a sigh of relief, feeling like he was going to collapse.
“Little b*stard!” He spat on the ground. Zhang Goudan felt that he had lost face, but right now, he was too intimidated by Yu Yuan’s aura. That chilliness seemed to seep into his mind, giving rise to a brief sense of fear.
He cursed as he strode back into the house, feeling a cold chill on his back as he walked. Only after he turned around did he realise that his clothes had long been drenched in cold sweat.
*************
As soon as Yu Yuan walked out of the courtyard door, he saw Yan Mu pacing in circles like a headless chicken.
“What should I do……” Yan Mu frowned, looking distressed. She was dressed in light yellow clothing, like a winter jasmine[2]
Picture of it: blooming in spring.
The corners of Yu Yuan’s mouth twitched. He had intended to go up and ask the young girl what had happened, but, as if roots had grown on his feet, he stood stuck in place, unable to move. After hesitating for a long time, in the end, he turned around and prepared to leave.
“Yu Yuan!” Yan Mu had been conflicted for a long time, deciding whether or not to peep on Yu Yuan through that hole.
After thinking it over, she dismissed the idea. She had to respect Yu Yuan and shouldn’t invade his privacy in the name of concern.
“Yu Yuan, are you alright?” Yan Mu lowered her head, somewhat embarrassed, “I heard you guys quarreling just now and was a little worried about you……” Having said that, she lifted her head and carefully looked at Yu Yuan. She was relieved to see that he was unharmed.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Yan Mu smiled and said.
“You……” Yu Yuan had something to say to Yan Mu but he hesitated.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t peep and I won’t from now on.” Yan Mu hurriedly explained, “I’ve already blocked up that hole.” As soon as she said that, she felt Yu Yuan’s body stagnate and the atmosphere around him seemed to become heavier.
……
Did I say anything wrong? Yan Mu didn’t understand.
“That wasn’t what I wanted to ask you,” Yu Yuan said sullenly after a long time.
Yan Mu felt that Yu Yuan was a little unhappy. She was slightly stunned, then asked, “Then what did you want to ask me?”
“Are you…… alright?” Yu Yuan frowned and looked at Yan Mu for a while before asking in a muffled voice.
“Me?” Yan Mu was a little confused, “I’m quite well.”
“…… Okay.” Yu Yuan pursed his lips and seemed to want to say something else, but in the end, he didn’t continue. He glanced at Yan Mu and prepared to turn around and silently leave.
Seeing Yu Yuan’s hesitancy and connecting it with the argument she had just overheard, a light turned on in Yan Mu’s brain. She tentatively asked, “Yu Yuan, do you want to ask about Zhang Goudan?”
Yu Yuan didn’t answer, but his footsteps paused.
As the author, Yan Mu suddenly understood Yu Yuan’s current situation—— Oh boy, his tsundere[3] side is showing again.
So she stifled a laugh and said to Yu Yuan, “I’m alright. With Teacher around, Zhang Goudan wouldn’t dare do anything.” Yu Yuan stood still, and seemed to be thinking about something. Only after a long time did he let out a soft and almost inaudible “okay”.
“If only you were the one who went to school,” Yan Mu sighed.
Obviously, Yu Yuan was handsome and smart, but he was either beaten or scolded every day and couldn’t go to school. And most importantly, if the person who attended school was Yu Yuan, she would have more chances to steal a kiss from him to prolong her life.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yan Mu felt a fiery gaze land on her face. She turned around only to see Yu Yuan avert his eyes as if he was electrocuted.
“I’m afraid only you would think so,” Yu Yuan said self-mockingly.
He stood still, as a gust of wind blew through his hair. The sun was gradually setting and clouds covered the golden afterglow, making the sky a little dim.
Yan Mu couldn’t see Yu Yuan’s expression clearly. She wanted to say a few words to comfort him, but the teenager just glanced at her and then silently walked away.
Under the setting sun, Yu Yuan’s shadow was stretched thin.
********
The next day, Yan Mu reluctantly accepted her fate and obediently went to study at the private school.
In order to guard against Zhang Goudan, she actively spent a long time just to catch a small non-poisonous snake.
—— It was because of what she had heard from her classmates yesterday: Zhang Goudan isn’t afraid of anything[4] but snakes.
Then she went back to her seat, took out her textbook, and sat upright. All she lacked was ‘I’m a good student’ written on her face.
For the first time, she actually hoped that Zhang Goudan would arrive faster. Who would’ve known that Zhang Goudan would be especially late today, and even after Yan Mu had waited for a long time he still didn’t come.
Not only did Zhang Goudan not come, but even Teacher was extremely late. Yan Mu was extremely bored while the classmates around her gossiped excitedly. She seemed to vaguely hear Zhang Goudan’s name.
Yan Mu hesitated for a moment, but still went over and asked, “What happened to Zhang Goudan?”
It seemed the male student didn’t expect Yan Mu would take the initiative to talk to him, because he instantly turned red, stammering and unable to say a single word.
“…… Hey, answer me.” Yan Mu urged.
Her voice had a sweet tone, and was naturally delicate and soft, as if she was coaxing as she spoke. The male student’s blush deepened the more she urged him.
“Last night, Zhang Goudan…… last night, he……” Just as Yan Mu was about to hear the answer, Teacher finally arrived.
Yan Mu’s gossiping spirit was suddenly extinguished and she could only resentfully return to her seat.
“Zhang Goudan’s leg is broken, so he may not return to school for a while.” As soon as the teacher spoke, it was with heavy news.
Yan Mu froze in her seat. Before she could come back to her senses, the teacher delivered even more shocking information—— “From today onwards, Yu Yuan will replace Zhang Goudan to attend school.”
After his announcement, he led Yu Yuan in and pointed to Zhang Goudan’s seat and said, “There are no extra seats in the private school, so you’ll be sitting there.”
Under everyone’s either surprised or disgusted gazes, Yu Yuan very calmly walked towards Zhang Goudan’s seat.
Remembering the little snake in the drawer, Yan Mu’s brain twitched[5] and she suddenly got up and said, “You can’t sit there!”
*********************************************
The author has something to say:
Zhang Goudan (Comforting himself): Yu Yuan wouldn’t dare do anything to me.
Yu Yuan: Sorry, I really dare.
*
Yan Mu: Don’t worry, Yu Yuan. I won’t peek at you in the future.
Yu Yuan: …… Have you lost interest in me? (Emo)
[1] 大尾巴狼 (dàyǐbaláng) – person who puts on an act/feigning ignorance/acting innocent
[2] 迎春花 (yíngchūnhuā) – Jasminum nudiflorum, the winter jasmine, is a slender, deciduous shrub native to China. The flower’s blossoming peaks right after winter, which is why it is also named Yingchun in Chinese, which means “the flower that welcomes Spring.”
[3] Unfriendly and blunt on the surface, but is warm and tender inside (loanword from Japanese “tsundere”)
[4] 天不怕地不怕 (tiān bù pà, dì bù pà) – fear neither Heaven nor Earth/nothing daunted
[5] Resulting in abnormal speech or behaviour