CH 24

The last exam subject, English, would end at about the same time normal classes would end. Shen Juan and Lin Yujing finished their exams at around the same time. Just as Lin Yujing raised her head, Shen Juan’s pencil stopped moving.

Once Shen Juan had finished, he immediately got up to hand in his papers. Lin Yujing heaved a sigh and handed in her papers as well before retrieving her bag.

The chocolate, jelly, and bread were left pretty much untouched. She merely ate a single piece of bread, drank a single carton of milk and the rest quietly laid in her bag. She took the bag of peanuts out and suddenly wanted to laugh.

Wait, what did he mean by giving her these roasted peanuts?

Was it to have it with alcohol? (1)

(1) The chinese for roasted peanuts is 酒鬼花生米, the first two characters mean drunkard, the last three characters mean shelled peanuts.

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Lin Yujing carried her backpack out of school and crossed a road, spotting Old Li’s car in the same parking spot.

She got in the car and greeted Old Li. “Hi Uncle Li.”

“Sigh, Miss Lin.” Uncle Li quickly said, initiating the car. He then glanced at her from the rearview mirror. “Mr. Meng returned home today.”

Nkd Zwfkdt zssjle yv vbl pnldlau vbaswtb vbl okdeso. “Zlyb, R jdso.”

Xze Nk pktble yde ds zsdtla pyke yduvbkdt.

Mbl uswdt zyeu xyu cl uswdt cwv pbl oyp elnkpkhl. Fbl bye bla sod vlxrla, yde oyp hlau pvwccsad.

–

Vascyczu pldpkdt bla wdokzzkdtdlpp, vbl asye bsxl vseyu oyp y ckv xsal nasoele vbyd wpwyz, vyjkdt vblx yzxspv yd bswa vs alynb bsxl. Qwyd Dkydtxlk oyp dsoblal vs cl plld yde Yldt Elktws oyp pkvvkdt kd vbl zkhkdt assx oyvnbkdt MA. Brsd pllkdt bla ldvla, bl vwadle vbl MA sqq yde vwadle bkp blye.

Tkp nsxrzlmksd oyp eyaj yde bkp lmralppksd oyp wtzu.

Nkd Zwfkdt’p blyav easrrle esod okvb y vbwdj.

Yldt Elktws pwal oyp shlaalynvkdt.

When he called her in the afternoon, he didn’t sound like he was that angry.

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Lin Yujing cleared her throat. “I’m back.”

Meng Weiguo looked at her, “You still know how to come back?”

“Weren’t you the one who asked me to come back home?” Lin Yujing honestly replied.

Meng Weiguo’s face sank and he got up. “Who signed your slip for you?”

Lin Yujing hesitated, “Brother did…”

“Why would he sign it for you?”

“He doesn’t want me to stay at home,” Lin Yujing steeled her nerves and said. “We don’t have a good relationship. We’re always fighting so I told him that I wanted to live on campus and he agreed–”

Meng Weiguo took two steps forward and raised his hand, indicating a slap coming her way.

Lin Yujing had already reacted the instant he raised his hand. She hesitated for a moment but still decided not to evade it, merely shrinking back and turning her head to the side to diminish a big majority of the force.

Just like this, the slap landed on her face, producing a crisp, distinct sound.

Lin Yujing didn’t feel much pain, but a burning feeling still arose on one side of her face.

Meng Weiguo pointed at her, his voice lowering slightly. “Fu Mingxiu signed for you? I gave him a call earlier and asked, but he said he doesn’t know anything about this at all. Lin Yujing, am I too lax on you? You now dare tell lies? You dare deceive your father?”

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Lin Yujing cursed Fu Mingxiu 180 times in her heart.

She simply didn’t think that Meng Weiguo would actually go and ask him. The reason why she had dared to say such was because she assumed that Meng Weiguo wouldn’t confirm it with him.

He was someone who didn’t like losing face so he definitely wouldn’t want to let Guan Xiangmei know that he couldn’t even manage his own blood-related daughter. And now, the reason why he was so angry wasn’t because she was living on campus. He felt that he was someone who couldn’t be opposed, yet it turns out that not only were his words equivalent to air and ineffective, she even dared to deceive him.

Meng Weiguo felt as if his dignity as a parent was being challenged.

This was so ridiculous. This man who had never fulfilled his fatherly duties or obligations, wanted to maintain absolute power and strength over his daughter.

The corner of Lin Yujing’s lips twitched. “How could I dare to?” She raised her head, staring straight at him. “Why would I deceive you?”

“What kind of attitude is this? You think you’re still justified in lying to me?”

Lin Yujing didn’t speak, standing quietly in place.

A servant came out from the kitchen and glanced in their direction. Meng Weiguo tried his best to suppress his voice but to no avail, sounding like booming thunder. “What? Are you unwilling to admit your mistakes? Look at you, speaking back to your elders, lying, doing things without permission. Did your mom teach you to be this way? I am your father. Is hitting you not my right?”

“My mom didn’t teach me.” Lin Yujing said.

“What?”

“My mom didn’t teach me this. Nobody taught me.” She looked at him. “You finally now remember that you’re a father, don’t you think it’s a bit too late?”

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Meng Weiguo was quiet for 3 seconds before looking like a lion whose fur was plucked off its rear, instantly growing hopping mad.

His face turned tomato red, his anger boiling.

Lin Yujing predicted she was going to have to suffer another slap and paid close attention to Meng Weiguo’s movements, conflicted as to whether she should avoid it or not.

He stood on the side of the sofa, the chaise longue restricting him from making full use of his strength. Otherwise, if he reached his arm over, she should be able to give him a shoulder throw.

This thought flashed through her head but only stayed for 0.5 seconds before Lin Yujing decided to give the thought up.

It was most likely because she had gone through an entire day of examinations so she was both mentally and physically exhausted. She didn’t even have the energy to resist or squabble.

At worst, she would just have to endure another slap. In any case, it didn’t hurt that much.

Lin Yujing had already made mental preparations when Meng Weiguo suddenly paused.

His line of sight went past Lin Yujing, appearing taken aback before he quickly regained his calm. “Mingxiu?”

Lin Yujing froze.

She stiffly turned her head and saw Fu Mingxiu coming down the stairs. The soft carpet muffled his footsteps as he quietly walked towards them.

“Why didn’t you let me know you were coming back?” Meng Weiguo smiled at him, “Was there no classes today?”

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Fu Mingxiu: “Yeah.”

Lin Yujing expressionlessly looked at him.

Fu Mingxiu cast her a glance and cleared his throat. “I forgot to mention this but I actually did sign her slip.”

Lin Yujing was at a loss for words.

Meng Weiguo wore a flabbergasted look. “You signed for her? But when I asked you in the afternoon–”

“It slipped my mind,” Fu Mingxiu cast Lin Yujing another glance, “We previously got in a fight and our relationship turned sour so she said she wanted to live on campus so I signed her slip for her.”

This turn of events was like a rollercoaster, happening so fast Lin Yujing couldn’t react.

Meng Weiguo was probably the same. He withdrew his hand and only let out a sound after a long time. “Then, since you signed for her…”

“Since I signed it for her, the matter’s resolved right? All this disturbance has been making my head hurt,” Fu Mingxiu sounded a bit vexed before he paused and looked at Lin Yujing, “Where did you buy the lemon pie you got last time?”

Lin Yujing looked at him blankly, “Ah?”

“That lemon pie.”

Lin Yujing: “I….”

“I can’t find it,” Fu Mingxiu interrupted her in annoyance, “Take me to the shop.”

Lin Yujing, who never bought any lemon pie before, followed him out in confusion.

The night air of October was slightly damp and the breeze was cool. Lin Yujing followed Fu Mingxiu, crossing through the back garden and arriving at a car parked in the back doors.

Fu Mingxiu turned his head and frowned at her, “What’s going on with….you and your dad?”

At this moment, Lin Yujing finally reacted. No matter what, Fu Minngxiu had changed sides, suddenly helping her out this time.

She raised her head, “It’s just as you saw it.”

Fu Mingxiu appeared as though he couldn’t quite understand. The scene from earlier was something he found difficulty accepting, “Is he….always like that?”

Lin Yujing looked at him in amusement. “Like that?”

“Does he often hit you?” Fu Mingxiu asked with much difficulty.

“….No,” Lin Yujing honestly replied. “That was the first time. In the past, he never paid me any attention.”

Fu Mingxiu quietly stared at her.

Lin Yujing felt so cold her teeth involuntarily chattered. Just like this, they stared at each other for less than a minute before Fu Mingxiu suddenly awkwardly said. “I wasn’t helping you. I just couldn’t stand the sight.”

Lin Yujing nearly let out a chuckle. She could see what kind of personality this brother of hers had.

She adjusted her expression and sweetly said. “Thank you, brother.”

Fu Mingxiu’s shoulders quivered and he pointed at her, warning. “Lin Yujing, don’t be disgusting.”

“Oh,” Lin Yujing put on an innocent expression, two fingers pressed on the corners of her lips, pushing it upwards, “Where are you planning to take me?”

“Take you?” Fu Mingxiu snorted, taking out the car keys from his pocket. “I have plans of my own. Go wherever you feel like.”

Lin Yujing raised a brow, “Aren’t we going to eat lemon pie?”

“When did you buy a lemon pie?”

“Then why did you drag me out?”

“If I didn’t do that and he hit you again, what else was I supposed to do?” Fu Mingxiu waved his hand in annoyance, no longer wanting to deal with her. He opened the car doors and climbed inside the sports car, speeding off out of sight.

The lights in the courtyard were quite dim, shining on the lawn and casting a soft circular halo on the wall. As it hadn’t reached 7pm, the sky hadn’t turned dark, the color a burning purple, however, the saturation rapidly decreased at a rate visible to the eye, completely disappearing in a matter of minutes.

Lin Yujing stood in place, two fingers still planted at the corners of her lips, her fingertips so cool they were a little stiff.

She put down her hands and the arc of her slips slowly dropped, eventually forming a straight line.

Go wherever you feel like but she didn’t have anywhere else to go.

She stood there for a while before leaving through the back doors. Since breakfast this morning, she’s only had a piece of bread and a carton of milk. As a result, her empty stomach was now rumbling for attention.

Lin Yujing then realized that she actually wasn’t able to take her bag off in time.

She took out a piece of chocolate from her bag and peeled off the wrapper, eating on the road. The sky gradually turned dark and the street lamps were brightly lit, beaming a warm yellow light on the marble floors. She gnawed on the chocolate with her head lowered, stepping on the ring of light with each step. 30 meters ahead of her was a familiar light, a familiar 7-11 store.

Lin Yujing stuffed the last piece of chocolate in her mouth before throwing the wrapper into a trash can. She stepped into the store and bought a box of chicken cutlet curry udon.

She then took the heated noodles and walked towards the long table beside the window, taking off the wrapper. After eating half of it, she lifted her head and watched the endless flow of people on the street, suddenly overcome with sadness.

She was like those young workers venturing into the city from the village and were sacked by their employers, their salaries deducted. They couldn’t pay the rent and were then driven away. As such, they could only wander the streets without anywhere to go, bringing with them the only luggage they have—a bag of roasted peanuts, and she sat in the convenience store eating a boxed meal.

Lin Yujing’s imagination ran wild as she let out a long exhale while grievously stuffing some udon into her mouth with her head lowered.

Ding Dong. The automatic doors of the convenience store opened and the sweet voice of the cashier lady rang out.

Lin Yujing didn’t raise her head, catching a person coming in from the corner of her eyes and walking towards her.

Lin Yujing turned her head to the side and lifted it up.

Shen Juan stood beside the table expressionless.

Lin Yujing was in the middle of chewing some noodles

She mulled over how to apologize to Shen Juan. After all, she stood him up for lunch to the point of driving him off so it was normal for him to get angry.

“Why are you here?” Shen Juan looked at her.

Lin Yujing poked at her curry udon noodles, “Eating dinner.”

Shen Juan: “Don’t you live on campus?”

Lin Yujing opened her mouth.

She didn’t know how to explain it and also didn’t want to let Shen Juan learn of the existence of Meng Weiguo.

Before she could even say anything, Shen Juan scrunched his brows and asked again, “What’s wrong with your face?”

Ling Yujing hesitated for a moment before saying, “The matter’s a bit complicated and hard to explain–”

Her words came to an abrupt halt.

Shen Juan suddenly leaned down, his face approaching hers with eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze concentrating on one side of her face.

The young man’s skin was very fair, his eyes slender. His dense lashes drooped down, the tail of his lashes turned up slightly, framing the raised corner of his eyes.

Lin Yujing’s breathing came to a stop for a beat.

The next second, Shen Juan straightened himself, his voice so cold ice could congeal, “Who hit you?”

Lin Yujing licked her lips and quietly looked at him, remaining silent.

Shen Juan coldly gazed at her for a few seconds, his cheek twitching as though he was grinding his teeth.

“Fine.” He nodded, no longer probing, turning around to leave the convenience store.

Lin Yujing was struck by a very odd feeling, heaving a breath of relief mixed with bewilderment.

She blinked her eyes, turning her head back and slowly continued eating her noodles.

When she raised her head, she nearly choked on her food.

Shen Juan stood in front of the 7-11 windows, leaning against a wall on his side with a lit cigarette in his mouth and he looked at her with great displeasure.

The two people looked at each other through the glass for five seconds.

Shen Juan then held the cigarette and breathed out, forming a cloud of smoke. His expression was indiscernible under the dim light.

Lin Yujing really wanted to tell him ‘Just fucking come in and fight me. It’s so annoying seeing you hold back.’

She had already endured receiving a slap at home and now that she was out of the house, she was being glared at. What the fuck is this? Why is he glaring at me?

It’s not as if I deliberately stood you up.

Did you think I wanted to do so?

I’d rather Meng Weiguo never come back for my entire life.

Who the hell did I offend? Did I kill and burn in my previous life or destroy the world to be born with the parents that I currently have? Why am I so unlucky to be born as their daughter?

She took a deep breath, throwing the chopsticks she was holding onto the table and getting up abruptly, walking towards the outside.

A ding dong sounded again and the automatic doors opened. She walked towards Shen Juan with an overbearing aura, wind blowing in her surroundings.

Upon arriving in front of Shen Juan, Lin Yujing stood still and raised her head to look at him. “Let’s go for a round.”

Shen Juan paused.

Lin Yujing pursed her lips, speaking in a quick tone as though she was trying to hide something. “You’ve been stood up so you’re in a bad mood. I’m also in a bad mood and since we’re both unhappy, this is the perfect opportunity for us to exchange blows and solve everything.”

Shen Juan lowered his eyes and saw the expression on the girl’s face clearly, becoming stunned.

“I’m really fucking annoyed to death right now. I’m so stressed I’m tempted to jump off a building.” Lin Yujing breathed heavily and looked at him with red eyes, “Are you going to fight with me or not? If you aren’t, I’ll just look for someone else.”

Shen Juan quietly stared at her for a few seconds and sighed, “Let’s do it.”

He lifted a hand, his cool fingertips sweeping the wet corner of her eyes. “I’ll fight with you whichever way you want. Just don’t cry.”

——————–

The author has something to say:

Shen Juan: Wifey, tell me. Where do you wanna take this? Do you wanna do it on the bed?