Chapter 28: CH 28

Ye Yao was lying in bed when he heard Lu Xun’s footsteps coming back to him under his bed.

Ye Yao didn’t bother with him and faced Lu Xun with the back of his head.

The quilt on his back was tidied and flattened by Lu Xun, who helped him tuck it in.

“Don’t be angry, I’ll go to the museum with you tomorrow and make it up to you?” Lu Xun said, “I’m also angry, I’ll be more careful next time.”

Ye Yao didn’t really think Lu Xun needed to stoop to his level and apologise, after all, he was the one who first joked about Lu Xun being a needle and Lu Xun retaliated. It was a normal interaction between friends, and he was lying on the bed in a moment of embarrassment rather than being angry.

Ye Yao’s attention turned to what Lu Xun had said and frowned, “Why are you still going out tomorrow?”

He had spent the day with Lu Xun and that was more than enough.

“Don’t want to go out? Then go to the library with you and read a book?” Lu Xun said again.

“Tomorrow,” Ye Yao said vaguely, “I haven’t thought about it yet.”

The conversation came to an end and Ye Yao thought the night would be quiet, but the bed shifted slightly as if someone was climbing up.

Ye Yao turned around quickly and saw Lu Xun, who was halfway to his bed.

Ye Yao was shocked and reached out to stop Lu Xun from moving forward, “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you before that you’re not allowed to sleep with me this term?”

Lu Xun explained, “You said there are a lot of classes this semester, so I need to sleep alone to keep up my energy. But tomorrow is the weekend and we don’t have classes, so we can still sleep like before, right?”

Lu Xun paused for a moment and whispered, “We’ve been apart for five days at night and I miss you so much.”

Ye Yao frowned slightly, not softened by Lu Xun’s show of weakness.

It was an obvious loophole, but he had failed to notice it before.

If, according to Lu Xun, he sleeps in the same bed two out of seven days a week, there is no point in taking care to maintain a normal distance.

And Lu Xun is basically with him all day during the day on weekends. If only there was a way to reduce the amount of time Lu Xun spends with him during the day on weekends so he can stay busy and sleep at night with plenty of energy.

Ye Yao thought about the plan in his head while pretending to be angry and rejecting Lu Xun’s request, “You don’t know what you did tonight and you still want to sleep with me? Go back to your own bed.”

Lu Xun, who had spanked Ye Yao in the heat of the moment, retreated to his bed, lost in defeat.

Ye Yao had an idea in his mind after a short period of reflection, but not too suddenly. The idea had actually been popping up from time to time since he started university, and he opened his phone to look for part-time jobs in the same city.

Ye Yao’s idea was simple – he just needed to find a suitable part-time weekend job so that he could keep busy during the day and continue to use it as an excuse to turn down Lu Xun in the evenings.

There are many part-time jobs to choose from, such as leaflet distribution, weekend order taker at a fried chicken shop and weekend waiter at a milk tea shop, all of which are very popular with university students.

Ye Yao’s mother was ill during high school and the family was under a lot of financial pressure, so he would work part-time after school to support the family.

As Lu Xun and he became familiar with each other, he began to give Lu Xun tutoring lessons as he began to change his ways. Because of this behaviour, even though he didn’t intend to ask for it, Lu Xun forced the money into his family’s bank card and called it a tutor’s fee.

Ye Yao, who has managed to pull the school bully into becoming an outstanding student, thinks that he might actually have some talent for lecturing and could try his hand at tutoring.

Ye Yao searched through all kinds of information and really found a suitable one.

There was a job posting for a high school tutor, and the family offered a good hourly rate and a decent address, and the number of applicants was very high, to say the least.

Ye Yao clicked on the [I want to apply] icon, sent in his basic information and work experience, and with the title of provincial topper and the experience of successfully teaching a university student, he was able to kill the competition and got the tutoring job.

Ye Yao got the contact information of the opposite party, added the other party’s WeChat to talk directly.

Ye Yao greeted the other party with a round-faced middle-aged lady, Ms. Wang, who looked bejeweled but very pleasant.

I’m not sure if it’s too late to make up for it.

Ye Yao uses the universal reply: [Don’t worry, if you are willing to learn, you will definitely improve].

Ye Yao was a bit confused, as he could tell by Ms. Wang’s avatar that the family was not short of money, so why was they only looking for a tutor now, and on a job board? He thought that he would be looking for a qualified tutor through various contacts.

Ms. Wang’s message again: [Ms. Ye Yao, our child is a bit rebellious, he has lost his previous tutor, are you in good health?

Ms. Wang : […… know a few moves?

Ye Yao : “……”

He probably understands why he didn’t get a teacher with strong credentials.

Ye Yao replied in the affirmative and, not knowing if he believed it or not, or if it was a dead horse, gave him the time and address of his first class.

The time is tomorrow and the address is in an expensive central business district, some distance from Ye Yao’s school.

As Ye Yao was estimating his waking time for tomorrow, Lu Xun, who was in the bed next to him, leaned over and asked him, “Why don’t we go to the movies tomorrow?”

Ye Yao looked at Lu Xun for a moment and shook his head, “I might not be available on weekends anymore, so I won’t have much time to go with you, so why don’t you find someone else to go with you?”

Lu Xun’s expression is slightly sullen, but he quickly pulls up the corners of his mouth and smiles to make himself look milder.

“Why are you not available on weekends, are you working to build your country?” Lu Xun said, “Take me with you, we are also the pillars of our country.”

“I’m going to work part-time on weekends afterwards.” Ye Yao said lightly, “When I was a freshman I didn’t know any better, I thought I could relax after my family got well and put all my energy into my studies. Now I think I should not have done that. I should earn more money while I have time. If you have savings in your hands, you won’t have to panic when you encounter unexpected events, and you won’t be too embarrassed when the things you want to buy are more expensive.”

Lu Xun frowned as he wanted to say something, but was afraid of hurting Ye Yao’s pride if he didn’t get his words right. In the end, he said, “You can borrow from me in case of emergencies, isn’t that what friends are all about? You can rely on your relatives at home, but you can rely on your friends when you go out.”

Ye Yao shook his head, “You will have to pay back the money you borrowed after you encounter unexpected things, so instead of waiting until you have debts to pay, you should start now.”

Lu Xun watched Ye Yao set his alarm clock for tomorrow morning and used his mobile phone to find out which metro he should take tomorrow, and the blood in his heart could not be stopped.

Ye Yao was always on the outs with him when it came to money. He used to think that Ye Yao didn’t want to use his parents’ hard-earned money, but he later found out that the proceeds from his own investments in the stock market were purely personal assets that Ye Yao had no interest in spending either.

This is something to be happy about for the vast majority of wealthy families, and how many people cry that their friends are just looking at their money and don’t really want to be friends with them as a person. It would be a great joy to have a person who came for them and didn’t spend a penny of their money.

But Lu Xun doesn’t think so.

What did he work hard to learn all kinds of money-making skills management skills for, but for the people close to him not to be bothered by money?

And isn’t Ye Yao’s unwillingness to even spend his money purely a sign of treating him as an outsider?

During the winter holidays, Ye Yao would fantasise about buying a plane and a yacht with his card, but now he is back to this state, a clear outsider.

Now Ye Yao doesn’t even have time to spend with him on weekends because he has to earn money.

Lu Xun’s spirits had been tense throughout the week’s classes, and today, just after a little relaxation, they were tense again.

Ye Yao is still checking the route, jotting it down in a memo, looking serious.

Lu Xun couldn’t control his temper and covered Ye Yao’s phone screen, making Ye Yao return his attention to him.

“No need to pay it back, you spent my money.” Lu Xun’s face was so gloomy that it could drip water, “Internet banking payment to tie up my card, now.”

Lu Xun looked terrifying now, but Ye Yao wasn’t afraid of him, and since they were both male anyway, the big deal was to spar.

“No.” Ye Yao said, “The money has to be clear or it’s a property dispute, and I’ve seen a lot of cases about how many property disputes there are, so you don’t have to say anymore.”

Lu Xun didn’t let go of the hand holding Ye Yao’s phone screen. Ye Yao simply switched it off and saw his slightly indifferent face on the remaining half of the dark phone screen.

Ye Yao adjusted his expression slightly and slowed down his voice: ” Lu Xun, you know I can’t accept your money for nothing, so what kind of person would I be? A friendship mixed with money is not pure enough, you know?”

Lu Xun was tempted to say that he didn’t find it impure, that he liked it, but Ye Yao’s attitude was so strong that any further arguments would probably have brought the atmosphere to a freezing point.

Lu Xun took a few deep breaths, “Where do you work, I’ll drive you to and from work.”

Ye Yao wanted to refuse, but on second thought, he thought it was unnecessary the first time, and that Lu Xun could follow him secretly without him telling him, so he simply gave Lu Xun the address of his tutor.

“Go to sleep.” Ye Yao put the phone down, “I have to get up after seven tomorrow, no staying up late, good night.”

*

The next day, Ye Yao arrived at the tutor’s place without any problems.

Lu Xun was finally rushed away after he vowed to call him on the emergency call button if anything went wrong.

Ye Yao rang the doorbell and when the door opened, he saw the same Ms. Wang as in his WeChat avatar.

“Mr. Ye Yao, you are here!” Ms. Wang smiled as he ushered him in. Ms. Wang smiled happily as he ushered him in, “I checked the news yesterday and saw your report and photo, the top students are getting more and more handsome these days.”

Ye Yao : “…… You’re welcome.”

Ye Yao looked at the superbly decorated home, saw no one else and asked, “Where is the student who needs remedial lessons?”

Ms. Wang serves Ye Yao tea, a sad look on her round face. she sighed and gestured for Ye Yao to come with her, so Ye Yao followed her to a closed door.

The sound of rhythmic music faintly emanated from inside the room door, Ms. Wang knocked on the door, “Xue Xue, the new teacher has arrived, come out and meet the teacher?”

The music inside the room stopped, followed by a grumpy voice, “I thought I said I didn’t want a tutor! What’s wrong with me being on the streets in the future, life is free and you have no idea how cool that is!”

Ye Yao : “……”

It’s rebellious, but it’s not the same kind as Lu Xun, who at least didn’t think he’d grow up to be a street person.

Ye Yao looked at the sadness on Ms. Wang’s face and wanted to drag the man inside out and beat him up.

“Can you just open the door and let me in to talk to him?” Ye Yao asked.

“Hey, yes, but ……” Ms. Wang hesitated, “I’m a grumpy kid and I like to get my hands dirty …… ”

“It’s okay,” Ye Yao said gently, “I’m not weak with my hands either.”

Ms. Wang was amused for a moment, she hesitantly inserted the key into the keyhole, finally sighed and opened the unlocked door, “Alas, if you are going to be bullied by him, come out quickly, and ask for as much compensation and medical expenses as you want, our family will compensate you within our means.”

Ye Yao didn’t say anything, he smiled slightly, knocked on the open door to give a hint to the person inside, then stepped inside the room and closed the door behind him.

It is better for parents not to see when he is teaching a disobedient child.

The bedroom was huge, the clothes in it a mess, the sophomore kid in punk clothes full of holes, sitting with his back to him on the computer chair, his feet on the computer desk in front of him, his arms crossed on the back of his head, a whole sleazy little punk.

This is his current tutor, Wang Xue.

Wang Xue sneered and gave a warning to anyone who stepped onto his turf: “You’ve got three seconds to get out before I do. College tutor? I’ll have you beaten to a pulp with one hand.”

Ye Yao, as if he hadn’t heard: “I’ve checked with your parents, your foundation is weak, we’ll start with the senior content and also need to revise the junior content occasionally, is this plan acceptable to you?”

Ye Yao’s voice was so calm that Wang Xue was completely enraged and snapped back, “You can’t hear me, can you, deaf-”

The sound of anger came to an abrupt end.

The room is big enough and messy enough that the owner doesn’t like to let anyone else in to clean it up, and he doesn’t clean up at all himself, leaving the whole room looking more messy than a doghouse.

The slender figure in the white jumper stands in this messy room like a lotus out of the mud.

Wang Xue’s mouth opened unconsciously, his expression dumbfounded as he watched the man walk up to him.

“Hello, I’m your new tutor.” Ye Yao said.

One should wear a tuxedo in the presence of such a person.

Sitting in an ungainly position, Wang Xue stiffly lowered his legs from the computer desk, sitting in a subconscious manner as a good student.

His brain hadn’t been able to recover from the shock of beauty his eyes had brought, and after a few more seconds of reprieve, he cracked a bad smile.

“Be a tutor,” Wang Xue’s eyes were ambiguous, “Be my boyfriend and I’ll give you money to spend on whatever you want.”

Ye Yao : “You?”

Wang Xue whistled, “Don’t look at your brother as young, your brother has abs.”

Wang Xue is actually quite good looking, but when faced with a man, Ye Yao is as calm as water and not at all turned on.

“I heard you want to be on the streets afterwards?” Ye Yao asked.

“It’s hanging out on the road!” Wang Xue corrected with a red face, then he went back to what he had just said, “If you don’t object, I’ll take that as a yes, you’ll be my boyfriend from now on.”

Ye Yao smiled faintly, as if the ice had melted. With such a pretty face, he said, “You look weak, forget it.”

That’s the kind of talk you don’t want to hear when you’re on the street!

Wang Xue immediately stood up and said in a vicious voice, “Heh, I advise you not to play with fire to anger me, or I’ll let you have one hand and you won’t be able to beat me.”

Ye Yao stood away a little, with a look of indifference, “Really? I can’t see it, you can’t beat me, can you?”

Is that the kind of thing you can just say, then he’ll have to show off his masculinity and give the pretty tutor a piece of his mind!

Wang Xue pounced with great vigour.

*

Ten minutes later, Wang Xue is lying in bed with his head covered by a quilt, weeping silently.

His heart aches so much.

He couldn’t even beat such a good-looking tutor! How can he still get along if word gets out?

“You’ve lost face on the road, you can’t go on anymore.” Ye Yao said. Ye Yao said, “The only way out is to learn, are you learning?”

Wang Xue silently sat up from bed with tears streaming down his face: “Why do you fight so well?”

“Learning gives me strength in my heart, and when I have strength in my heart, I naturally fight well.” Ye Yao Bullshit.

It sounded like a ridiculous excuse, but it was perfectly adequate to fool Wang Xue. He wipes away his tears and sits down at the desk with Ye Yao.

“What if I still run into people I can’t beat after I learn?” Wang Xue asks.

Ye Yao calmly markets his profession: “Then you have to learn to protect yourself with the weapons of the law, huh?”

*

At the end of the day’s tutoring, Ye Yao walked out of the room to a teary-eyed Ms. Wang shaking his hand.

After some warm conversation and money, Ms. Wang said, “Mr. Ye Yao, your school is so far away and it’s so troublesome to come and go on weekends, I’ll reserve a house for you nearby, so you can stay there when you need to, so you don’t have to go back and forth.”

It was too costly, and Ye Yao refused, of course, before he saw Ms. Wang pull out a large set of keys and give him one out of the large set.

“Don’t bother with the money, it’s all your own house, it’s too much trouble to rent it to someone else and there’s not much money in it, so I’ll just leave it unused. No one has lived in it yet, so don’t be formal! I’ll send you the address on WeChat when the time comes.”

Ye Yao : “……”

The key was shoved into Ye Yao’s hand, and when the young Ye Yao tried to give it back, he was no longer in Ms. Wang’s league.

Ye Yao came down the stairs in a trance and saw his back waiting for him in the darkness.

It’s Lu Xun.

Lu Xun didn’t know when he arrived and how long he had been waiting, but he waited silently, without any trace of impatience.

Ye Yao’s nose sank a little and he took a few breaths, gripping the cold, hard key that had been shoved into his hand not so long ago.

If he had lived nearby, Lu Xun would not have had to come and pick him up and they would not have had to meet again.

This key allows him to stop seeing Lu Xun two days out of seven.

Then come out and live on your own, you’ll only see Lu Xun during class time, which is just the right distance.