Chapter 12 – The Protector of Flowers
TN: Sorry had an assignment due today so I’m running late. Anyways, enjoy
After suffering through the torturous history class, I deliberately kept my distance from Xiao Qin.
I painstakingly reached 5pm, now I can finally go home.
I live very close to the school, only 10 minutes away by walking.
Xiao Qin on the other hand, first has to walk to the subway stop, ride two stops, then walk for some distance before she can get home.
It probably takes at least half an hour?
It’s even worse during rush hours.
Your house is clearly closer to even better schools, why don’t you just go to those ones? Even nearby there’s a private school that completely outshines our school in every category.
The tuition is obviously very expensive, it’s all full of rich kids.
However, based on Auntie Ren’s reputation in the martial arts world, you shouldn’t lack money, right?
I recently heard from my dad that auntie Ren set foot in the film industry, and is now a martial arts director.
Speaking of martial arts, it was my passion when I was younger, I even wanted to…
Never mind, it was just an immature dream.
As soon as teacher Yu dismissed class, I immediately grabbed my bag and started running outside. I slung the nearly empty backpack over my back and ran like lightning, I quickly arrived at the school’s main entrance.
This’ll definitely get Xiao Qin off my tail! My painful day can finally end!
I wiped the sweat that ran off my forehead and just as I was planning to heave a sigh of relief, I found someone pulling the corner of my uniform.
It was Ren Xiao Qin. She was standing at the school’s entrance with a lowered head, I had no idea how long she waited there for me.
She was wearing a maroon colored Hello Kitty backpack. It was completely packed with new books, she also held the bag containing uniforms in her hand. She was equipped like a soldier.
You ran faster than me even with all that stuff? You monster!
Her bangs covered her eyes and her posture was very reserved. If someone walked by they’d definitely think that she was a very quiet, well-mannered and introverted girl.
Introverted my ass!
Under the control of the school’s security guard, the retractable doors opened automatically. The guard that was on duty today was that young one, he’s the niece of a guard that worked here for a very long time. He’s not well acquainted with me.
The young guard saw us through the glass of the security room and gave me a knowing smile. He stuck out his thumb towards me as if to say “Your girlfriend’s been waiting here for a while, not bad”.
Why the hell are you so gossipy when you’re a man! Also, you were sleeping earlier, weren’t you! Did you sleep well? Did you win the lottery in your dreams? Is that why you didn’t see Ren Xiao Qin open a portal and teleport to the main entrance? It’s because you guards always slack off, which allows hoodlums to take advantage and mug people at the back door!
Xiao Qin held onto my uniform not allowing me to leave while twisting her feet inwardly.
“Ye Lin classmate, can you send me home?”
“You’re going overboard! I only promised to not bully you for the afternoon, I sure as hell didn’t promise to send you home!”
And also, let go of your hand! What kind of rumors are you trying to spread! The guard is watching a real-life drama from his office!
“Bu, but, this morning, I was molested on the subway…”
“Ha? Stop joking! Who’s suicidal enough to molest you! Hurry and use your Tatsumaki and Hadouken to KO him!”
“I’ve already told Ye Lin classmate. In order to become more feminine, I’ve already prohibited violence.”
“Even if I still occasionally play fighting games, I don’t fight anymore in real-life…” Xiao Qin innocently waited for my response.
Would you really allow yourself to be molested for such a ridiculous reason? I don’t believe it, but then again common sense doesn’t apply to Ren Xiao Qin.
“What was the guy who molested you like?”
“Un…he was a middle-aged man holding a briefcase. At the time, the subway was very crowded. He used the crowd to stealthily move over and touch my butt…”
Anger welled up within me.
Don’t misunderstand, It’s not because I think of Xiao Qin as a girlfriend and that her body belongs to me. I just believe that adults who would do these kind of things are really despicable. Like my dad who’s full of remorse and has cast a shadow in the hearts of their own children, do you still want to go and do that to others children?
Purely because they can’t control their own desires, they’re really the scum of society! I really don’t want to become an adult like that!
“Even if you can’t use violence, can’t you just scream for help?”
“Un, Ye Lin classmate is correct. When I first noticed that I was being molested, I was too startled to do anything.”
Shit, just poke his eyes and kick him in the nuts!
“I’ve always thought that this kind of thing only occurred in Manga, so I was very surprised. I felt that: Wow, Chikan’s (TN: Japanese for molester) really do exist!”
“Stop using that Japanese expression! He’s just a lecher, scum!”
“Eh, after I was shocked, I felt slightly happy…”
“Happy!？ You were happy to be molested? Are you a chijo?” (TN: the Female counterpart of a chikan)
“Because it was my first time wearing a skirt. There was a sense of recognition as a female…”
“I can’t believe you! So you let him touch you for the whole ride?”
“Of course not, I ran away very quickly.” Xiao Qin mischievously spat her tongue out.
“But, I might encounter him again when going home. I hoped that Ye Lin classmate can serve as my protector…” (TN: The protector of flowers, females are often compared to flowers) (ED: that’s why it’s called deflowering)
“I refuse!”
“Do, do you not care even if your girlfriend is getting molested!”
“Who said you’re my girlfriend? Just because you met him when going to school, doesn’t mean you’ll meet him again. There are also so many different carriages on a subway, it’s almost impossible you’ll meet him!” I was getting ready to leave but Xiao Qin was still not letting go.
“If you’re willing to send me home, I’ll return Optimus Prime to you.” and just like that I was nailed to the floor and couldn’t move an inch.
Although I’m already 14 and I don’t like to play with robot toys, I’ll still be very happy if I can get Optimus Prime back.
“You’ll really return it?”
“If you don’t believe me then we can pinky swear.” Xiao Qin held out her pinky to me, “If you send me home, I’ll return Optimus Prime to you. You can wait outside or you can watch me. —-But don’t think that just because my mom’s not home, you can do whatever you want to me!”
Who the hell would! If you return Optimus Prime to me, I’ll instantly leave without turning back!
We wasted quite a bit of time talking, there are already students walking by us and leaving.
“Holy fuck they’re brave, (ED: there are many variations of cursing in Chinese, but not a lot in English, it might seem repetitive) flirting in front of the school entrance! Didn’t the school just release 100 rules forbidding contact between opposite genders…?”
“Hush, quiet down! Can’t you see who that is! Even the head teacher is scared of him!”
A group of female students was more curious, they stared at us like they wanted to surround us and watch us to their heart’s content.
“Lil Red, Lil Red, do you think that girl is voluntarily dating him?”
“Who knows…I heard from someone in class 3 that said she was being coerced.”
“Guys listen to this, today at lunch in the cafeteria…Ahhhh he’s looking this way! He’s so scary!”
I suddenly detected a strict gaze, I looked back and just as suspected it was class leader Shu Sha leaving the school. She was followed by Loud Mouth, Loud Mouth’s gossipy sidekick and also number 1 loyal dog, glasses bro.
Although they were still quite far away, with Shu Sha’s eyesight, she should have already seen me standing and talking with Xiao Qin already. Maybe she can also clearly see Xiao Qin’s flushed face and my bitter smile.
Will we be suspected? No, she’ll definitely think that I’m still bothering Xiao Qin even after school ended.
In order to avoid trouble, I grasped Xiao Qin’s hand and pulled her speedily out the school’s main entrance.
After thinking about it calmly, I probably shouldn’t have done that. The class leader might think that I’m coercing Xiao Qin and bringing her to someplace she shouldn’t go to.
Ahhh, who cares! I’ll deal with it tomorrow! Luckily the class leader doesn’t run as fast as us and can’t catch up from behind.
Xiao Qin practically ran with me all the way to the subway stop.
After stopping, her small mouth was gasping for air, her whole face crimson, and she was even sweating.
You’re kidding me. You’re tired after this short distance? Or is it that your instant movement skill is on cooldown?
“Because Ye Lin classmate was holding my hand, so I was very nervous and my heart was beating rapidly…”
I quickly let go of Xiao Qin’s hand.
That gentle and supple feeling still remained in my palms. It was softer than I expected and extremely delicate. It was also unexpectedly cool, but that coolness boiled my blood once more.
“It’s just this once that I’ll send you home!”
Humph, you’ll be useless after I retrieve Optimus Prime!
Soon after arriving at the railway platform, the white train arrived. It opened its doors after a series of alarm bells.
There are so many people! Though it’s not peak rush hours, the people in the car are already touching shoulders. Many passengers had a bitter face as if they just had their chrysanthemums bursted. [1]
Xiao Qin and I found a spot facing each other near a fire extinguisher.
I could easily reach the hanging straps, but it seems like Xiao Qin can’t reach them.
Things really do change over time, you used to be taller than me, but it seems like you haven’t grown at all over the past 3 years…
It seems that I’ll be looking down at Xiao Qin from this angle forever now.
When the subway started to move, because Xiao Qin didn’t hold on tightly, she was thrown into my embrace by inertia.
She conveniently grabbed my arm that was holding onto the straps.
I didn’t show any sign of discontent.
“Do you want me to hold your bag?” since I saw that she was carrying a lot of things.
“Thanks, don’t worry about it, its fine as long as you wholeheartedly protect me.”
I nodded my head in agreement and swept my eyes across our surroundings to see if any perverts were hiding about.
A male who looked like an engineer vigilantly protected his bag.
A high school girl wearing heavy makeup accidentally made eye contact with me and hurriedly placed her iPhone back into her purse.
A mom wearing a flowery headscarf quickly hugged her baby tighter.
Do I really look that much like a bad guy! I’m fine with you hiding your bag and phone, but what would I use a baby for!