TFS | Chapter 31

“Xu Linruan? You two made up again?” Xu Zhou, who was playing ball, jerked his head up abruptly, sounding shocked. “No way, Qiyue, didn’t you two just break up? When did you get tangled up again?”

“You don’t know shit, this is real love! What do you mean ‘tangled up again’? I worked my ass off to win her over, so watch your wording, okay?” The boy shot him a sidelong glance, his eyes full of blatant contempt.

Xu Zhou: “…”

Fuck, was this really still the Qiyue he knew?

Real love, with a girl like Xu Linruan? Had this young master’s brain short-circuited or something? Had he already forgotten what a miserable sight he’d been when he got dumped before?

Xu Zhou was speechless. He thought the guy must have gone crazy. What kind of person went rushing headfirst into a beating like that? It really seemed necessary to get his brain checked at the hospital.

He knew this guy’s personality inside and out. They had grown up together, and this pampered young master had always been reckless and unruly, changing for almost no one.

The deepest impression Xu Zhou had was from when Qiyue’s parents were screaming about getting a divorce. The young master had gone wild, never coming home for days on end, and spent all his time finding people to fight just to vent.

During that period, everyone who saw him got a headache and kept their distance. He was like he was risking his life for sport, and anyone who dared make him unhappy would definitely be in for it the next day.

But now?

Xu Zhou thought of the period after Qiyue broke up with someone. Other than self-destruction, the guy had practically not even dared show his face in front of the girl. Xu Zhou had really never seen him so cautious before.

He felt it was necessary to talk some sense into him.

At least they were brothers.

So that this guy wouldn’t get cheated out of even his underwear.

“You’re serious?” He felt that Qiyue was the one blinded by emotion, while as an onlooker he naturally saw things more clearly. “Bro, don’t blame me for not warning you. A girl like Xu Linruan obviously isn’t suitable for you. You can’t handle her.”

Qiyue just curled his lip, sounding completely unconcerned. “Tch, what’s there to worry about? As long as she can handle me, that’s enough. What couples do together is called fun. What would a single dog like you know?”

The contempt and disgust in his eyes were blatant, and the words he said were enough to make someone angry to death. “Forget it, I’m not talking to you anymore. A single dog who’s never been nourished by love, even if I told you, you still wouldn’t understand.”

That smug, triumphant look on his face was practically infuriating.

It had to be said, Xu Zhou was provoked. He barely held back the urge to drag this guy out and beat him up. For the first time, he’d been so thoroughly put down by this heartless bastard that he couldn’t get a word out.

Xu Zhou suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. “Have you even thought about whether the two of you can last? With Xu Linruan’s grades, after the college entrance exam she definitely won’t stay in this city. She’s so smart, she’ll definitely have a better future. But what about you? What are you going to do after the exam?”

Lay bricks? Or go mooch off life at a university near hers?

Qiyue paused slightly. He had thought about this question before, too. But he had always felt that as long as two people had love, that was enough. Now the reality had been exposed by someone else, and Qiyue could no longer pretend to be an ostrich and lie to himself.

Leaving aside whether Xu Linruan loved him or not.

If she went to Jing University, with his grades he definitely wouldn’t get into a top school. He’d probably only be able to get into a vocational school near Jing University, then watch helplessly as the gap between them grew wider and wider, as she rushed toward a better future while he stayed where he was, standing still. In the end, the two of them definitely wouldn’t last.

Countless gaps would separate them, because in love, it was impossible for only one person to improve. The one left behind, man or woman, was all too easily abandoned.

Qiyue fell silent for a rare moment. He didn’t want her to be mocked when she was at university in the future, with other people’s boyfriends being top-tier high achievers, while hers was just a street thug who fought all day and didn’t study.

He didn’t want to hear those words.

Didn’t want people saying her taste was bad, saying she was blind, asking how she could have picked a boyfriend like that.

He wanted to become better, too.

He wanted to become her pride.

He wanted to hear people talk about them and think, ah, so that’s Qiyue. Xu Linruan’s taste is really good, to have found such an excellent boyfriend.

But the current him…

Was obviously still not qualified.

Qiyue frowned. After hesitating for a moment, he took out his phone and dialed a number.

After a long while, the other side finally picked up, and a burst of cursing came through the line. “Qiyue, what kind of trouble have you caused again?”

Qiyue was annoyed too. His relationship with his family had never been good, but since he had something to ask for, he had to rein in his temper no matter how bad it was. “President Qi, you really wronged me this time. I really didn’t cause any trouble. Can’t I just have something to discuss with you?”

There was a cold laugh on the other end. Father and son had the same nasty temper. “Calling me President Qi? You little brat, you sure are capable now. What, you don’t still think of me as your father?”

Qiyue said, “Whether I think of you that way or not, aren’t you still my father? Facts like that aren’t exactly going to change.”

The person on the other end was obviously furious, his volume suddenly rising. “How did I end up with such a bastard of a son? You’re young and already refusing to learn anything good, fighting and causing trouble all day. Tell me, what are you even supposed to be like?”

Qiyue held the phone farther away, his tone even more impatient. “Alright, alright, stop playing the loving father here. I just want to get into a better school, and I’m asking if you’ve got a way to help me.”

The voice on the other end swore loudly. “You little brat, do you think your dad can fly? The school you can’t even get into yourself, and you want me to help you…”

As soon as Qiyue heard that there wasn’t much hope on the other side, he decisively hung up.

Father Qi was furious beyond belief. He wanted nothing more than to rush over immediately, drag the brat back, and give him a beating.

This kid was becoming more and more impossible to control, exactly the same rotten temper he’d had when he was young.

The old man rubbed his temples and started getting a headache again.

Though he said he wasn’t going to bother with that rebellious brat anymore, he only had this one disappointing son. There was no way he would really give up on him. Especially after hearing that he wanted to get into a better school, he quickly had someone gather information.

…………

Xu Linruan’s schedule had always been regular. After lunch, she rested in the library.

Just as she was sleeping in a daze, the bench beside her suddenly made a rustling sound as clothing brushed against it. Xu Linruan didn’t really want to deal with anyone, so she turned over and prepared to keep sleeping.

The other person didn’t make a sound either. He carefully leaned down beside her, then lightly hooked a strand of her hair with his finger and twirled it around the tip.

“Ruanruan, do you want to lean on my shoulder and sleep?” The boy’s voice was very soft, his warm breath lingering by her ear.

Xu Linruan gave a vague hum.

He leaned in again and supported her shoulder, his movements light. “I think sleeping like this must be uncomfortable for you. How about this? I’ll hold you instead, okay?”

Xu Linruan didn’t answer. He muttered to himself in a low voice, “Fine, if you’re not saying anything, that means you agree. Then I’m going to hold you now.”

Just as he was about to make a move, his girlfriend slowly opened her eyes and met the boy’s eager, sly gaze head-on. She slapped a hand over his face, blocking those blazing eyes.

“What bad thing were you trying to do this time, Qiyue!”

Her boyfriend blinked, looking like a big wolf with a harmless, innocent tail. In one motion, he caught her small hand and rubbed it in his chest. “Nope, I was just thinking you looked uncomfortable sleeping, so I wanted to make you more comfortable.”

“Oh? Really? I thought you were going to sneak a kiss on me.” Xu Linruan was also the best at acting innocent. As if she couldn’t tell what this guy was thinking.

“Hmm…”

That was still up for debate. Although he had indeed wanted to do that just now, he hadn’t actually done it yet, so of course something that hadn’t started didn’t count.

After all, he had been with Xu Linruan for so long that he’d picked up plenty of banter skills too.

The boy shook his head and looked at her with sincere, innocent eyes. “How could I? Even though your handsome and dashing boyfriend is full of trash thoughts, he wouldn’t do something like taking advantage of a girl.”

He would only take advantage of his own girlfriend.

He wasn’t going to say that out loud, or he’d definitely get beaten. He still remembered his girlfriend’s bad habit of pinching people’s butt. If she pinched his butt in public, how embarrassing would that be?

Xu Linruan cupped his face and smiled with gentle eyes. “Is that so? Then I really did wrong you. What should I do about that? What kind of compensation do you want?”

“There’s compensation?” At those words, Qiyue’s eyes lit up immediately. “Can I ask for two?”

His girlfriend arched a brow. “Hmm, what are you saying?”

Qiyue could tell from her tone that it wasn’t going to happen. Afraid he’d end up with no compensation at all, he took her little hand and reluctantly backed down. “Fine, one then. How about we go on a date together this weekend?”

Qiyue had never seriously gone on a date with someone before. The last time at the movie theater didn’t count.

He didn’t understand romance, didn’t understand atmosphere, and didn’t have many strengths either. After living this long, it was the first time he had racked his brains to make a girl happy, to share everything he liked with her.

Xu Linruan looked at his eager little expression and felt like laughing. And she did laugh. “Okay.”

His girlfriend looked especially beautiful when she smiled.

Those eyes were like they’d been soaked in a pool of spring water, her long lashes slightly lowered, casting a shadow at the bottom of her eyes, clean and lovely.

Qiyue suddenly felt a little like he didn’t deserve her. He had never had this kind of thought before. A young master born with advantages had always had a rather unclear understanding of himself.

Before meeting Xu Linruan, the young master had always had a kind of mysterious confidence in himself. But now?

What was he, and what was she?

The two of them standing together looked exactly like a top student paired with a thug. No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem right.

Qiyue’s chest felt tight. The good mood from her agreeing to go on a date vanished instantly. He asked Xu Linruan, “What do you think of me?”

Xu Linruan raised a slight brow, not knowing what this guy was up to again. What did that kind of worried, uncertain tone mean? Was he getting sentimental again?