"The Mortal Chapter Of Qing Zhuan" - Chapter 24

The Master’s Sudden Realization

This was great. Everyone was looking at me. I was really annoyed and speechless, but what could I do? I couldn’t just curse at him in front of so many people, could I? I could only give an awkward smile!

Just as I was at a loss, the Chinese teacher came to my rescue.

“Everyone did very well. You have a good grasp of poetry. I hope you’ll all learn more about ancient poetry in the future. Okay, that’s all for this class. It’s almost time for recess. Everyone, please preview the next lesson’s content.”

At that moment, my eyes inadvertently fell on Cai Jingwen. She seemed to be crying, and I wasn’t in a good mood myself. How was I going to face Weng Yuan now?

I thought I could finally get through ninth grade peacefully, but who knew it would turn out like this?

As the school bell rang, I went to the window in the hallway, opened it, and looked at the distant mountains, letting the cool breeze extinguish the anger in my heart.

Just then, Gao happened to pass by my class and gently patted me. “What are you doing, Da Yuanzi?”

Seeing Gao, the grievances in my heart surged up all at once, and I felt like crying. After all, I had been so humiliated today.

Just when I was about to hold back, tears flowed out unconsciously. In the end, I couldn’t hold it in. I buried my head in Gao’s arms and started crying.

At that moment, Gao was also confused by my actions. He asked softly, “What’s wrong? Why are you crying so much? Who bullied you?”

I didn’t say anything, just kept sobbing. After a while, Gao wiped my tears and asked anxiously, “What in the world is wrong? Did Weng Yuan bother you again? I’m going to go find him and get some answers. Why is he so annoying!”

With that, he went into the room and yelled, “Weng Yuan, is Weng Yuan in here? Get out here!”

At that moment, Chen Baolian from inside the room said, “He’s not here.”

A few girls who had been secretly crushing on Gao came forward and offered to help. “Um, Jichang, what’s the matter? I can help you pass a message…”

Before she could finish, Gao retorted, “Help me with what? Help me beat him up? Do you dare?” The girls saw Gao’s angry and stern face and didn’t dare to say anything else. They went back to their seats.

At this moment, Gao was furious, and Weng Yuan happened to come back. Gao, seething with anger, strode toward Weng Yuan and gave him a left hook.

Then he grabbed his collar and asked, “Weng Yuan, what did you do to Da Yuanzi again? Do you know how much she was crying just now?

Do you know what she is to me? Why are you so annoying! You keep bothering her again and again!

I’m telling you today, Weng Yuan, you better remember this. She, Li Yuan, is my person! She is my family!

If you dare to harass her again and affect her grades, I’m telling you, you can’t handle the consequences. I will kill you. Do you hear me!”

Looking at the furious Gao in front of me, I quickly hugged him and pulled him back, gently patting his back. “Gao, calm down, Gao. It’s okay. I just had a stomachache today, which is why I was crying. It’s okay. We’re not fighting. Be a good boy! Gao, go back to class. Be a good boy!”

Gao was pulled back by me, pointing at him with his finger. “You better remember this. Do you hear me? Don’t mess with her!”

I held Gao’s hand, and it was ice-cold. I knew he was truly angry. His body was trembling, and his lips were a little purple.

I pulled him to the other side of the hallway and gently patted his back. “Gao, don’t be angry, don’t be angry. We’re not getting angry.”

But his hand was still very cold, and at the same time, his sharp eyes were still looking in Weng Yuan’s direction.

Hao Sheng then dragged Weng Yuan back into the room, wiped the bl00d from the corner of his mouth, and said in a heartfelt tone, “Weng Yuan, why are you doing this? I don’t think Li Yuan likes you at all. Why are you putting yourself through this? Sigh…”

Weng Yuan didn’t say anything, just clenched his fists tightly. Meanwhile, Gao was still furious. I held his cold hand and said, “I’m sorry, Gao. I know you care about me and you’re afraid I’ll be wronged and hurt. It’s all my fault. I’m fine, I wasn’t hurt!”

Gao retorted anxiously, “What do you mean you weren’t hurt? Do you have to be hurt for it to count?”

I looked at his red eyes, hugged him tightly, and said, “Gao, don’t worry. From today on…”

Gao interrupted me. “I’m going to talk to Director Li and have her move you to my class. That way I can be more at ease.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Silly, what would the homeroom teacher think if you did that? Besides, it hasn’t gotten that bad yet.

If you do that, my class will target me. You dummy, don’t worry. Trust me, I can handle this.”

I looked at the chubby boy from Chinese New Year who was now so thin that his bones were showing. I couldn’t help but hug him again. “Gao! I will make things crystal clear with him this time. If he still doesn’t stop bothering me, I’ll go to my homeroom teacher and ask to be moved to your class!”

Slowly, I felt Gao’s hand regain its warmth. I patted his back. “Come to my house for dinner tonight. My parents have been missing you lately.”

A smile slowly appeared on Gao’s grim face, like the melting of snow and ice. We smiled at each other. I walked him back to his class and then returned to mine.

I walked up to Weng Yuan and said in a stern tone, “Weng Yuan, come out here. I have something to say to you, now!”

After he came out with me, we stood by the small window at the end of the hallway for a while. I asked him,

“Weng Yuan, do you like me?”

Weng Yuan’s eyes widened. “You, me, sigh…”

I looked at his swollen, bruised face, helpless.

“Weng Yuan, I’ve told you several times before that it’s impossible between us, right? I thought we could be good friends, but I didn’t expect you to be so stubborn!”

I then deliberately provoked him. “And you can’t even get into Yuetan High School. You can’t be in the same school as me, so why should I waste my time and youth here with you?”

Weng Yuan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. “Are you rejecting me because of my grades?”

I replied against my will, “Yes, that’s it. I just think your grades are too bad. I think you’re not good enough for me! We wouldn’t have a future together. Are you satisfied with that answer?”

At that moment, the look in Weng Yuan’s eyes was as hot as a flame.

“Okay, fine. Are you willing to make a bet with me? If I can get into Yuetan High School, you’ll be my girlfriend! If I don’t, I’ll never bother you again. How about that?”

I thought to myself, his scores are usually around 500 to 600. Even if he works hard now, he might not be able to catch up. At most, he could only raise his score by 40 points, which is still more than 30 points short of Yuetan High School’s cutoff score of 675 last year! Thinking this, I immediately agreed.

“Okay. From now until March next year, you have almost ten months. If you can score 700 on the national mock exam in March next year, I’ll agree to be your girlfriend. How about that?”

When Weng Yuan heard my words, his eyes lit up, and he said firmly, “Okay, it’s a deal.”

I added, “But let’s be clear. Before then, you’re not allowed to bother me, you’re not allowed to give me things, and you’re not allowed to talk to me. We’ll see who wins after the exam next year.”

Weng Yuan nodded and said, “Okay, it’s a deal!”

Finally, my world returned to the peace I longed for. Gao and I also reviewed and did practice questions together every night, shared our thoughts on the problems we got wrong, and helped each other improve.

Time flew by, and Weng Yuan really didn’t bother me again after that conversation.

When I saw his grades slowly improving with each exam, I was genuinely happy for him. After all, Weng Yuan’s grades used to be very good. Although he couldn’t get into Yuetan High School, he could get into the old prestigious 52nd Middle School.

But ever since he started bothering me every day, his mind wasn’t on his studies at all. He was only thinking about how to get my attention every day. That’s why I came up with a plan to help him, and in a way, help myself.

In the days that followed, my math scores and Hao Sheng’s got closer and closer. Hao Sheng said resentfully:

“Da Yuan’er, you’re going too far. How did you become a six-sided warrior now?

Even my proud math score is now on par with yours! This time you even scored higher than me!”

“Because I’m constantly leveling up! Hahahaha…” I said, laughing at him.

Weng Yuan also no longer had those messy emotions. He was also crazy, burying himself in a sea of practice questions every day and barely saying a few words to us. Because now he only wanted to prove himself with all his heart!

Time flies. It was once again the season of snow. In the final exam hall, I looked at Weng Yuan, who used to be two classes away from me. This time, he was in the last seat of our exam hall. I felt a strange sense of worry, but I was also happy for him.

As the bell rang, we all began to take the test. Time flowed from the tip of our pens, and soon, the day’s exams were all over. Gao and I were ready to go home and rest before going out to play the next day.

When I got back to the classroom and was packing up my papers, I found a letter hidden in my desk. When I opened it, it was from Weng Yuan.

I didn’t dare to let Gao see it, afraid that he would get angry at Weng Yuan again! I secretly hid it, planning to read it when I got home.

When I got home, Gao sent me a message. “Let’s buy tickets and go to the mountain city tomorrow.”

“Huh? That far? Just the two of us, will we get lost?”

“Your brother is here. What are you afraid of? I’ll lead you. You won’t get lost, don’t worry. Besides, Auntie’s family is in Chongqing. What are you afraid of with your brother leading the way? Hahaha.”

“Let me ask my mom first. I’ll get back to you in a bit.”

After I told my mom, she and my dad looked at me and said, “How many days are you going for?”

“I don’t know. Gao’s planning everything.”

My mom said, “Okay, you two can go. Take care of your valuables.” With that, she went to help me pack my suitcase.

I told Gao, “My mom and dad said yes!”

He texted back, “Let’s go to the station to buy tickets tomorrow and then we’ll leave.”

After we agreed, I went to wash up. When I went outside, I looked up and saw the sky full of stars and a full moon hanging over the willow branches.

Looking at the full moon, it felt like I was back in my childhood, seeing my childhood self waving at me!

I smiled calmly, stood at the door, and waved to her. “Long time no see…”

Bathing in the bright moonlight, my mind was filled with thoughts. I remembered how the wind outside the window would always sway gently, and the cat’s grave was already covered in fallen petals, with green grass and fragrant flowers.

What was even more amazing was that my big orange cat would always go there, lie on the soft cattail grass, and sniff the fragrance. It was like he was the cat’s reincarnation, because he and the cat both had a small red mole on the tip of their noses.

In a trance, I saw the small river from back then, which often reflected the big moon. A gust of wind would blow across the river, creating ripples…

I went back inside and lay down, feeling like I had forgotten something. I thought about it for a while and suddenly remembered the letter. So I quickly took it out and read it:

“Yuanzi, thank you! Thank you for helping me find my lost self!

You made me realize that I was once excellent too! Now I’ve also entered your exam hall. Are you feeling the pressure?

Don’t worry, it might be hard for me to get that score, so you don’t have to feel burdened.

To be honest with you, I really, really, really, really, truly, truly, truly, truly like you from the bottom of my heart, but I know you don’t really like me!

You just wanted our relationship to be less awkward. You’ve always been rejecting me in a subtle way, and you’ve even been helping me get back on track!

But I was extremely crazy and kept bothering you in every way. Now that I think about it, it’s so rare for an excellent girl like you to even bother with me.

When faced with my harassment, you didn’t embarrass me or humiliate me in public. When others talked badly about me behind my back, you were brave enough to stand up for me!

You’re always so warm and pure, but I always wanted to taint you!

I’m sorry, Yuanzi! I’m too ashamed to apologize to you in person. I can only pour out my heart to you in this letter. I hope you can forgive me.

But, our bet still stands, because it’s not time yet. Hahahaha, please allow me to indulge myself in front of you one last time before the high school entrance exam!

If I can really get into Yuetan High School and walk to and from school with you every day, I’ll show you my boyfriend side!

But that’s for a later time. Anyway, I still have to thank you for helping me find myself again and find my goal. I won’t bother you again this holiday break. Get some good rest.

—Weng Yuan.”

After reading it, I felt a lot clearer. After all, this old rascal finally knew he had to study hard. It seems my painstaking efforts were not in vain…