Chapter 13

Zhong Wan didn't know what she had said wrong.

Since he learned to fight back, no one had ever managed to slap him. The blond boy's chest heaved violently as he stared intently at Tan Quelu, every word dripping with rage: "Get out, immediately!"

Tan Quelu suddenly laughed.

That innocent face not only didn't leave, but slowly moved closer. Que Lu reached out and gently touched Zhong Wan's swollen face, her voice as usual: "Zhong Wan, what you said just now was too awful."

"If I don't hit you, who will I hit?"

"..." Zhong Wan was so angry she was completely stunned.

In the past, if he encountered something like this, he would consider himself weak if he didn't smash the other person's head.

But now, looking at Tan Que's pale, porcelain-white face, he could only clench his fists and grit his teeth, repeating, "Get out!"

"Oh." Tan Quelu said without any hesitation, "Bye-bye."

"..."

The boy walked to the manor gate in a few steps.

Zhong Wan's expression was cold and gloomy; she had completely forgotten that she had locked the door from the inside.

Seeing that Elk Green seemed about to open the door and leave, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately said awkwardly, "...Wait."

Tan Quelu stopped walking without turning around.

Zhong Wan's ears flushed red with shame. He remained silent for a long time, his brain completely blank, unable to find any excuse for his behavior. It was utterly absurd. Was he really so pathetic that he didn't want the other person to leave after being slapped?

It must have been Tan Quelu who poisoned him. When did Lingqing produce such a treacherous and manipulative person? He knew that people from small places were more cunning!

The vast courtyard was completely silent.

Tan Quelu stood still, then suddenly turned around lightly.

The boy's porcelain-white face was illuminated by the light. He couldn't help but look at Zhong Wan with a smile, his eyes clear as water: "Young Master Zhong, why are you so stubborn?"

"I have self-respect too, don't I?"

Emerald seemed to sigh very softly.

Zhong Wan was furious.

He then remembered Tan Quelu's awkward status as a special admission student, and noticed his faded short-sleeved shirt under the moonlight, his clean but worn sneakers, and even the paper bag he used to pack his birthday gifts, which were given away as a freebie when the school cafeteria packed up white porridge.

As her anger subsided, Zhong Wan suddenly felt a tightness in her throat for no apparent reason.

Zhong Wan was taken back to the Zhong family when he was six years old. It can be said that he has never experienced any hardship since he can remember. He cannot imagine how Tan Quelu grew up in an orphanage. His hard work in studying and getting into St. Weston University proves that he has extremely high self-esteem and does not want to be looked down upon.

Zhong Wan actually understood his feelings. Because he was the same way; no matter how unruly he was, he always maintained good grades, and deep down he didn't want anyone to look down on him and his mother.

Tan Quelu's infiltration here is just like his being taken back to the Zhong family.

What's wrong with having high self-esteem? What's wrong with being a little cunning?

Nobody likes being yelled at. He used to hate people like that the most, so why is he being hypocritical when it comes to him?

Zhong Wan's anger completely vanished.

He stared at the lawn for a long time, then said stiffly and briefly, "Sorry."

Tan Quelu: "Apologize for what?"

"..." Zhong Wan remained silent for a long time before whispering, "What I just said to you..."

Tan Quelu said "Oh," and smiled slightly: "Then I accept."

Zhong Wan paused, and surprisingly breathed a sigh of relief.

He gripped the parasol in his hand, looked at Elm Green, and softened his tone considerably, asking the question he had asked for the nth time tonight: "So what do you want? Tell me, and I'll make it happen for you."

He should have said that back when he talked about stopping those people from spreading rumors.

This gratitude is not excessive, no matter what it asks for, because he was the only one who stood up at that time.

Tan Quelu thought for a moment, then looked at him and said, "Then take me for a drive."

“Take me on a walk around the bridge over Wies, I’ve never been there before.”

Zhong Wan stared at him, opened her mouth, and asked, "...Are you sure? You don't want anything else? Why?"

There's no reason why.

Tan Quelu smiled and turned her head to look at the motorcycle she had seen at the beginning of the semester: "If I had to say why, it's probably because it's so liberating. The wind blowing on your face feels like the world is cheering and applauding you, doesn't it?"

The main point is that I wanted to experience the first-person perspective of smashing the protagonist into pieces.

Zhong Wan did not speak.

Aside from repairs and maintenance, he never lets anyone touch his motorcycle, not even his parents, but since Green just mentioned it, it's not impossible.

Cars are meant to be ridden in, and Tan Quelu, with her tall stature and long legs, is perfect for sitting in the back seat.

Moreover, Zhong Wan never said that his car could only carry one person in his entire life.

"Put on your helmet."

The blond boy tossed over a brand-new helmet, his expression aloof as he instructed, "And make sure you wear the protective gear. It's no joke if you fall."

"I know, after all, I'm a bit of a motorcycle enthusiast myself."

Zhong Wan chuckled, not refuting his nonsense. He straddled the motorcycle, his ears burning in the darkness, and whispered a reminder: "...Grab my clothes after you get on."

Tan Quelu skillfully sat on the motorcycle, put his arms behind him, and grabbed the modified motorcycle's tail wing.

Let's go.

“…Fine, forget it then.” Zhong Wan gritted her teeth. “I didn’t really want you to grab my clothes anyway.”

"Mmm, let's go!"

Moonlight spilled over the manor.

Zhong Wan's hair was burned off in half, her forehead was bleeding, her face was covered in the sweet smell of fruit juice and cream that she hadn't had time to wash off, and one side of her face was swollen from being slapped.

But despite his injuries and lack of complaint, he set off with Tan Quelu. The motorcycle roared and sped off into the distance.

...

Xia Xing looked terrible when she got out of the car.

He slammed the car door shut, rubbed his dizzy head, and lowered his voice to talk on the phone: "He didn't show up. Zhong Wan disappeared all night. Even Zhong Lin couldn't keep him out. Where am I supposed to look for him!"

"Zhong Wan's parents were putting on a brave face today. Am I supposed to go to them and ask them in person? Why don't you go?"

"The Xie family didn't show up either, but Wei Zhiyan came alone, saying that Wei Guan was on a business trip in Avalon and couldn't make it back."

The elevator doors opened.

Xia Xing frowned and said irritably, "Alright, I'm at my dorm now, it's not convenient to talk on the phone, that's all."

Without waiting for a reply, he hung up the phone, adjusted his expression for a few seconds, and then entered the room with a smile after having his iris scanned.

"Green Sparrow, I'm back—"

The sight that came into view made Xia Xing suddenly speechless.

Luxury clothes and jewelry were scattered all over the floor.

The packaging bags were still unopened, scattered haphazardly in the dormitory's common area living room; any one of them could be worth three months' worth of his living expenses. Not far away, a custom-made, ornate motorcycle model sat in the corner of the floor-to-ceiling window, its black outline gleaming with a cold metallic sheen.

Tan Quelu stood in front of the motorcycle and, in his most familiar smiling tone, said to the blond boy in front of him, "Thank you for bringing me back, Zhong Wan."

"Actually, you're not that annoying."

"........"

Xia Xing felt completely bewildered.

"You're welcome."

Zhong Wan didn't even turn her head, as if she was completely unaware of the other person's presence. He snorted coldly, frowning and staring disdainfully at the peacock green clothes: "What kind of rags are you wearing? Change them all."

"And this motorcycle model, since you think it's cool, I'll just give it to you. It's not worth much anyway."

"Laughing my head off, don't think I gave you anything precious. I just gave it to you because I saw you were envious. Don't get the wrong idea."

Tan Quelu nodded, treating him like a talking blond banana, and smiled innocently as she shooed him away: "It's late, you should go now, my roommates are back."

Oh right, and happy birthday to you lastly.

"Be happy every day, Zhong Wan."

Zhong Wan's eyes suddenly darkened.

Today is not his birthday.

But Tan Quelu didn't know, and he didn't want him to know.

Although this time of year always meant shame for Zhong Wan—a shame of being powerless to resist his father and having even his birthdate forced to change—he didn't want his emotions to spoil this blessing tonight.

This pure, heartfelt blessing, which he had lost for far too long.

They fled into the roaring traffic tonight, the stars overhead forming a dazzling river. The summer night breeze blew their hair aside, revealing equally youthful features. Zhong Wan heard Tan Quelu laughing loudly in the back seat, the boy raising his arm, his breath warmer than the night wind.

This bridge is so long, it seems to make you forget all the bad people and things, with only strangers along the way. This bridge is also so short, beyond the crowd lies the silent sea, with waves crashing against the surface.

The motorcycle was parked on the beach, and Green stood in front of it.

“Zhong Wan, actually you’re quite annoying.”

Elm's voice was softer than the sound of the waves, yet it struck Zhong Wan's heart with infinite weight, leaving an unforgettable impression: "But I will applaud you, no matter when or where."

"Just like the wind today."

Zhong Wan felt that talking about the green peacock was completely unnecessary.

What a foolish sentimentality! The poor pity the young master, and the maid sympathizes with her wicked master. They're truly insane.

But why does it feel like something is blocking my throat, preventing me from saying anything?

In the end, he could only buy so many things in a disheveled manner and send them all here at once, as if in this way he would not be controlled by the incredibly humble "Really?" in his throat, and would not wag his tail and beg for mercy like a dog, asking questions in a despicable manner.

At least don't let him make you feel so pathetic.

Zhong Wan exhaled, gave a cold "hmm," and calmly said, "I understand."

The dormitory light fell on Peacock Green's head.

"...Then I'm leaving."

Okay.

Tan Quelu spoke softly, smiling as she waved goodbye to him.

The blond boy's ears burned slightly, and after a few seconds he turned around, his expression quickly returning to its usual coldness.

He didn't even glance at Xia Xing, and left dormitory 401 with an air of great elegance, his body reeking of burnt smells mixed with the scents of fruit juice and cream.

When she got downstairs, Zhong Wan looked up and stared quietly at the lit window of room 401 for a long time.

After a long pause, he lowered his head, put on his headphones, and rode off on his motorcycle with a roar.

Amidst the howling wind, a song that Zhong Wan often listened to was playing in my headphones.

A slightly hoarse male voice sang: "The blackness isn't the night, it's the long loneliness..."

"Alas, everything in this world is worth hoping for, except true love, which is the most fleeting..."

True sincerity is the most fleeting.

Zhong Wan gripped the cold handle tightly, her face expressionless.

No.

He wants to possess this sincere heart forever.

......

Xia Xing felt like she must be dreaming.

He stood in the entrance hall of his dormitory, his mind blank, completely unaware that his expression had become as stiff as the first mummified corpse from Loulan.

Tan Quelu ignored him, lowered her head and picked up the packaging bags on the ground, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

Knowing to have so many servants carrying things up and down, why didn't you help him organize everything? F1 must be out of his mind.

The system watched the host's actions all night and was greatly shocked, feeling as if its common sense had been washed away like urine.

The light fell on the top of her peacock green and black hair.

Xia Xing finally came to her senses.

He walked over in a few steps, grabbed Que Lu and pulled her up, his arm bulging with strength: "Tan Que Lu, what are you doing?"

Tan Quelu frowned and cried out, "Xiaoxing, what are you doing!"

"What am I doing?" Xia Xing sneered, his voice sharpened by inexplicable anger. He snatched the expensive gift bag from Que Lu's hand and roared, "What are these? Are you that desperate for clothes? So desperate that you have to ask Zhong Wan for them?"

Just tell him if you need something! He has plenty of money to buy it for you!

Fear flashed in Tan Quelu's eyes, and she pushed him abruptly: "I didn't! Zhong Wan has been having people target you. I only wanted to see him today because of you."

"I just wanted to give him a birthday present so he would stop targeting us... Ouch, Xia Xing, let go of me!"

Xia Xing was taken aback.

For him?

That's true.

Tan Quelu is a good boy.

How could he possibly go to Zhong Wan on his own initiative? It must be that idiot Zhong Wan who said something. He forced Tan Quelu to buy so many things and even moved that ridiculous motorcycle model to his and Quelu's dorm room.

Haha, this model is really ugly, and the colors are also unlucky. It looks like something that Zhong Wan's family would put next to his coffin when he died suddenly and held his funeral.

It's understandable that Que Lu would be foolish enough to plead with a scumbag like Zhong Wan, since she likes him so much. He was too hasty, and even treated Que Lu so harshly.

Xia Xing loosened her grip slightly, her expression stiff: "Really? Then don't look for him anymore. I promise I won't let him bully us again... I haven't eaten anything all afternoon and evening, so I'm a bit short-tempered. I'm sorry about what happened just now."

Tan Quelu smiled and said, "It's alright."

"Hmm," Xia Xing said, calming the dizziness from the anger and hunger, "Que Lu, shall we give these back to him? What do you want?"

"I'll save up money to buy it for you, I will."

"Why do we have to pay it back?" Tan Quelu was stunned and looked at Xia Xing with a blank expression. She explained seriously, "Xiao Xing, I think we have a misunderstanding about Zhong Wan. Actually, he is not a bad person."

"......"

“He was very polite tonight, I think we can be friends.” Tan Quelu, with her pure and innocent eyes, thought for a moment and then smiled and said to him, “Xiaoxing, you are prejudiced against him.”

"Zhong Wan is doing well."

"You shouldn't look at people with tinted glasses and prejudice."

A sudden roar filled Xia Xing's ears.

The pain was compounded by overwhelming emotions.

With a loud clang.

Tan Quelu was stunned. Suddenly, the protagonist rolled his eyes and fell forward without warning, landing with a thud at his feet.

In the last second before she fainted from anger, only one sentence occupied Xia Xing's mind—

Zhong Wan, you're going to get hit by a truck tonight!

A note from the author:

Xia Xing: #dizziness #nausea #vomiting #chills #fainting #vomiting blood #weakness #collapse #trembling #roaring #murder #illness #self-destruction #bombing #jumping off a building!

-

The lyrics are from "The Train Rides Towards the Clouds, Dreams Find Peace in the Ninth Heaven".