Chapter 8 P-Boy
In September, Hangzhou remained unbearably hot, showing no signs of cooling down.
Chu Beiling, with his drawing board between his legs, stayed in his room sketching still lifes casually placed on the windowsill, one sketch after another. A large stack of finished paintings lay at his feet, and he hadn't touched them for a full five hours.
Li Shuying knocked on Chu Beiling's door, "You're supposed to report for duty right away, why haven't you moved yet? Don't you have any sense of time?"
"Ms. Li, don't worry~ It'll be done soon, packing will be quick." Chu Beiling tore off a small piece of toast from the one she was biting into, wiped the fabric to reveal the light and shadow, then stuffed the toast back into her mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it.
He clapped his hands and began to tidy up the art supplies scattered on the floor.
Ms. Li gave Chu Beiling the same instructions she usually gave her subordinates: "Before you leave, go upstairs and call Xing Yu down. Uncle Zhao can take you to school together, so he doesn't have to carry heavy luggage and there's no one to help him."
Chu Beiling stopped what she was doing.
Today is the first day of school at Xigao High School. Ms. Li happened to be back in China from Singapore. After the results came out, I heard Ms. Li complaining about how he barely passed Xigao High School. My ears are practically calloused.
When he first returned to China, Ms. Li not only didn't care about him, but she also kept criticizing him, saying that he was no good at this or that, and that he was inferior to Xing Yu no matter what.
He even brought Xing Yu along, but Young Master Chu didn't want to see him at all.
Not getting the response she wanted, Li Shuying was very dissatisfied: "I'll say it one last time, go and call Xing Yu down, and have Uncle Zhao take you to school together."
The young master, who was already unhappy, immediately put on a sullen face: "President Li, can you please stop mentioning Xing Yu to me all the time? It's really annoying."
"You have the nerve to say that? You barely passed Xigao. Look at Xing Yu and then look at yourself. How can you compare?" Li Shuying said irritably, "If you're so capable, then show your face to me here. But you're not capable enough to get first place. I don't even want to talk to you about such a terrible result."
Chu Beiling didn't reply. She went to the balcony to wash her hands, which were covered in pencil dust, and then started packing her clothes.
He and Xing Yu studied in the same art studio since childhood and were natural rivals. After his father passed away, Ms. Li moved him to Zhalongkou, and it turned out that they were destined to meet again.
That annoying jerk lives upstairs from him.
Now things are really messed up. Every time Ms. Li returns to China from Singapore, she makes him humbly seek advice from Xing Yu. If he dares to talk back, Ms. Li will scold him ten times over.
To say he's not as good as Xing Yu, to say how outstanding he is, how well-behaved and worry-free he is, if you were even half as good as him, I'd be thanking my lucky stars.
Such things are extremely annoying.
Chu Beiling didn't want to listen, so she simply shut up and quickly packed her luggage before leaving the house. She didn't want to stay at home for even a second longer, ignoring Ms. Li's stern rebukes behind her.
Just as he opened the door to leave, Ms. Li grabbed him: "Chu Beiling, did you hear me? Why can't you learn from Xing Yu? You're such a worry every day."
Chu Beiling exploded: "You like Xing Yu so much, why don't you make him your son? Anyway, his parents don't want him, so they're in need. You'll get a son who's better than me for free. It's a win-win situation for everyone."
Ms. Li frowned: "You think I don't..." She changed the subject: "Go and call them, did you hear me? Don't make me repeat the same things all the time."
It was a resounding statement, leaving no room for refusal.
There was silence for a few seconds.
Chu Beiling, like a dejected lop-eared rabbit, felt wronged and jealous, and reluctantly went upstairs to find Xing Yu.
Chu Beiling didn't know what Ms. Li was insisting on, nor did he understand that his enemy had that arrogant attitude of "everyone owes him a fortune" and "nobody can stand him." Even if he went to find her, he would only get a cold shoulder.
I already disliked him and wanted to avoid him as much as possible, but I had to go to his door to be mocked. It was like offering my warm face to his cold backside.
So annoying!
As soon as Chu Beiling turned around, she was met with a cold gaze.
Standing on the descending stairs, wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers, carrying a paint bucket on his back, with luggage in one hand and a painting toolbox in the other, isn't that just an nemesis?
Chu Beiling wasn't sure if she was more angry or guilty: "You, when did you get here?"
"Don't bring me into the conversation next time, we're not familiar with each other." Xing Yu stood at the juncture of light and shadow, the light and shadow transitioning from dark to bright on his body, the figure and the background complementing each other, the whole composition full of aesthetics.
Such a scene, if placed in an idol drama, would be an absolute highlight, enough to make any girl passing by scream.
Chu Beiling was a little lost in thought. His hands were itching again, and without thinking, he blurted out, "Stand still."
After saying that, he took out his sketchbook and prepared to draw.
Xing Yu frowned and reminded him in a cold voice, "Have you forgotten about the painting that was torn up?"
Chu Beiling was stunned for a moment, then gradually came to her senses.
He couldn't resist drawing Xing Yu when he ran into him while sketching. Even though Xing Yu had noticed it long ago and refused to be drawn, he didn't remind him. Why didn't he tear up the drawing earlier or later, but waited until he finished drawing it before tearing it up? This is an irreconcilable grudge, and Chu Beiling certainly hasn't forgotten it.
Normally, being stared at by Xing Yu with that chilling, disdainful gaze, scanning him up and down, would have been a chilling warning.
With Chu Beiling's fiery temper, he would definitely retort, "Who gave you permission to look at me like that? Not just anyone can be painted by me. Even if someone begs me, I won't paint them."
However, since he had just spoken about Xing Yu and said those things, even though Chu Beiling was arrogant, he still felt somewhat guilty and ashamed.
Feeling guilty and ashamed, he relapsed into his habit of being at a loss for words.
He completely forgot to argue back, and even forgot why he had sought out Xing Yu in the first place.
Ms. Li came out of the house and looked at Chu Beiling, who was standing in the middle of the corridor like a door god: "What are you doing standing here? Have you gone to call Xing Yu yet?"
The next second, Ms. Li noticed Xing Yu standing on the stairs: "Xing Yu, what are you doing standing here? Come down quickly. I'll have Uncle Zhao take you to school. You and Chu Beiling are going to Xigao together, so you can look after each other."
Ms. Li's originally serious and aloof expression instantly became gentle and approachable, as did her tone; even the face-changing act in Sichuan opera couldn't be faster than her.
Chu Beiling glared at Xing Yu, her jealousy flaring up completely; the guilt she had felt earlier was gone.
He stared at Chu Beiling and muttered to himself, "Why ask? What's the point? He won't agree anyway, so it's pointless."
"Okay, then thank you Aunt Li." Xing Yu raised the corners of his mouth, his originally cold and aloof demeanor suddenly becoming obedient.
Chu Beiling: "..."
Really.
No wonder Ms. Li likes her nemesis; their Sichuan opera face-changing expressions are practically identical.
Li Shuying smiled and said, "Okay, then you two go together. Uncle Zhao should be downstairs. You two alumni, remember to look after each other. If Xing Yu has time, remember to keep an eye on him for me, especially if there are any signs of early romance. Remember to tell me in time."
Xing Yu politely replied, "Don't worry, Aunt Li, I'll help keep an eye on things."
"Then thank you in advance, Auntie." Li Shuying turned to look at Chu Beiling, her face serious again, as if the gentleness just now was just his illusion. "Remember to study hard and learn more from Xing Yu."
Pooh.
Chu Beiling almost rolled his eyes. What kind of early romance was he talking about? His girlfriend was an artist, and she would be in the future. With Xing Yu's face that attracted so many suitors, he might be the one who started dating first. And he still had the nerve to agree to supervise him.
Young Master Chu thought to himself, "What's with all the arrogance and smugness? I'll take you down one day, tear off your mask of feigned innocence, and let Ms. Li see your true nature. Let's see if you'll still be so arrogant in front of others and try to be docile and ingratiating in front of Ms. Li."
The two of them went downstairs one after the other with their luggage and art supplies.
Before getting into the car, Chu Beiling said with great displeasure, "You are not allowed to tattle on anything to Ms. Li."
He was extremely uncomfortable and only wanted to make Xing Yu, who had caused all this trouble, even more uncomfortable, and to prevent the other party from becoming too arrogant and thinking that he could really do something to him.
Even if you can't do anything, it's still good to annoy your enemies.
Chu Beiling said, "If you casually tattle to Ms. Li, I'll say that you're her boyfriend and drag you down with me."
Xing Yu's lips curled slightly upward, his eyes conveying a sense of disdain and indifference that seemed to say:
Try and see if you can drag me down with you.
Seeing that mocking and smug expression, Young Master Chu became even more annoyed. He got into the car and warned, still not giving up, "Did you hear me? I'm serious."
Xing Yu's cold face didn't even twitch an eyebrow: "If you don't make a fuss or act up, no one will care about you."
Chu Beiling: "..."
Very well, after Xing Yu tore up one of his paintings, another feud was formed between him and Xing Yu.
Inside the car, the two sat by the window, with a narrow strip of space between them that could also accommodate two more people.
On the way to Xigao, Chu Beiling, feeling both angry and aggrieved, took out his sketchbook and divided it into nine-square comic panels, then began to draw to vent his emotions.
After finishing the drawing, Chu Beiling smiled and felt instantly happy.
The nine-square comic strip depicts:
"The chibi version of him, holding a long and fat spiked club, 'smack, smack, smack' hit the chibi version of Xing Yu on the head, giving him several big bumps. Xing Yu cried and begged not to be hit anymore. The chibi version of Chu Beiling put one hand on his hip and pointed the spiked club at Xing Yu, demanding that he apologize. The chibi version of Xing Yu had no choice but to compromise and apologize because of the power of the spiked club. The chibi version of Chu Beiling looked at the weak and helpless chibi version of Xing Yu squatting in the corner and laughed wildly."
Catching Xing Yu's gaze out of the corner of his eye, Chu Beiling suddenly turned around. Xing Yu was staring blankly at the receding street scene, seemingly oblivious to anything amiss.
Chu Beiling turned around and quickly finished, signing the date in the lower right corner: September 1, 2012. He glanced out the window, the car turned onto Tianmushan Road, and he lowered his head to sign the location.
"Beat up Xing Yu, September 1, 2012, Tianmushan Road"
An hour later, the car drove into Liuxia Street and stopped at the entrance of Xigao University.
After declining Uncle Zhao's offer to accompany her, Chu Beiling took her luggage and art supplies and headed into the campus.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhao." Xing Yu thanked him politely, picked up his luggage and art supplies, and followed Chu Beiling into the campus.
The school square was packed with people, with many students accompanied by two or more parents. The most extreme case involved a family of seven.
Only he and Xing Yu came to report.
Chu Beiling didn't want to squeeze in with them, so she waited on the outside. Xing Yu, who was standing next to her, didn't move either.
Chu Beiling glanced at him and thought to herself: What a clever student.
After everyone had mostly dispersed, Chu Beiling went up to look at the class assignment list. The first thing he found was Class 13, where his name was located. Unfortunately, Xing Yu's name was above his.
Chu Beiling felt incredibly unlucky and cursed a thousand times in his heart: "What a small world! They're really persistent."
The nemesis who had been pressing down on him appeared beside him at some point. He glanced at the class assignment list and frowned in displeasure: "What a small world."
The sounds unexpectedly overlapped, the sunlight was blinding, and the two glanced at each other before quickly looking away.
As luck would have it, there were only two art classes in the Xigao Art Department this year, so the probability of being assigned to the same class was 50%. Just thinking about his mother, Chu Beiling, who always compared Xing Yu to him made his heart ache.
Previously, no school could escape the shadow cast over Xing Yu's name.
That's it, his high school life is completely beyond saving, it's turned into hell.
At that moment, a gust of wind blew by, sending the fallen leaves that had clearly separated him and Xing Yu to one side.
Chu Beiling was in an extremely bad mood, and even watching a few leaves drift away made her unhappy.
What are you floating around for? Why didn't you float around earlier or later? If you're so good at floating, why don't you float back and block it again?!
Chu Beiling walked past him and deliberately bumped into him hard, but Xing Yu dodged immediately.
Chu Beiling stumbled and almost fell, then turned around and glared at him.
The culprit, Xing Yu, said expressionlessly, "He brought it on himself."
Chu Beiling chuckled twice and stormed off.
Except for those who apply for day school, all other students at Xigao live on campus under a closed management system. Chu Beiling found the dormitory building where her class was located.
Find your dormitory room number on the notice board in the lobby.
Chu Beiling laughed in anger, especially since Xing Yu's name was above his own.
It really is his hell; he's everywhere, and there's no escaping him.
At home, in class, and in the dormitory, there was a feeling of being completely overshadowed by Xing Yu.
I'm really annoyed, really annoyed.
There was no choice about the house at home, but the school assigned houses according to the first letter of the pinyin, so Xing Yu should have been below him in the school.
Why do I always end up on top of him?
Chu Beiling had serious doubts about the school's job allocation system.
After staring at the notice board for a while, Chu Beiling had no choice but to accept her fate and head to her dormitory with her luggage.
The dormitory at Xigao is a six-person room. The other four students have already arrived and are unpacking their luggage with the help and arrangements of their parents.
The boy who brought his whole family was in the same dormitory room as them. He was making his bed on the top bunk when a bunch of parents on the bottom bunk started asking him to come down, wanting to help.
But the boy stopped him, saying he wanted to do it himself.
They arrived late, and all the other bunks had already been chosen, leaving only one upper bunk and one lower bunk in the six-person dormitory.
Chu Beiling didn't like others sitting on his bed, and he disliked cramped spaces even more. When he looked up, he saw the oppressive wooden planks of the lower bunk. Without making any other choice, he threw his luggage onto the upper bunk.
Meanwhile, Xing Yu's luggage was thrown onto the upper bunk along with him.
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