Chapter 9 – Xiao Qin Almost Dies
The first class of the afternoon, for some unexplainable reason, became a language class. Old man Zhang didn’t step up to the teacher’s platform, instead, he told everyone to do self-study. He also wanted us to transcribe one of Du Fu‘s poems 100 times with a fountain pen, supposedly to help us practice writing characters.
I have a feeling that this decision was because of me.
When I came back to class this afternoon, I immediately felt the burning gazes of everyone within the room. I’m guessing everyone has already found out the events that transpired in the cafeteria.
Xiao Qin was leaning over her table with slightly trembling shoulders, it seems like she was still hurt. Shu Sha wasn’t here again, she was probably called into the teacher’s office because that scaredy-pants head teacher was too afraid to criticize me to my face and wanted to vent on our class leader.
What a despicable person!
Xiao Qin’s hair and clothes were already dry, the only parts that were still dirty was a small stain that remained on her collar. She was busy the entire lunch and probably didn’t even get to eat, right?
I retrieved a pen from my pencil case, flipped open the textbook, uncapped the pen, spread out the paper…my movements were very gentle as if I was afraid to disturb Xiao Qin.
But I couldn’t write a single word.
Everyone was afraid that old man Zhang would swing by to patrol at any time so the classroom was very quiet. The only audible thing was the scratching sounds of pens writing on paper.
“I…”
Why can I suddenly not speak! Don’t you start up conversations regarding Middle East problems or martial art animations faster than a Gatling gun? It’s just an apology!
I helplessly raised my head, I didn’t expect that anyone would help me. However, the distant ‘Loud Mouth’ classmate was also closely paying attention to the development between me and Xiao Qin.
She even made a “Good luck I support you” pose.
She really deserves to be called a gossip queen!
“Xiao Qin, I…”
Xiao Qin was still hunched over her desk, along with movements coming from below the desk.
Eh? Is she also transcribing the poem? Can she even see clearly in this position? Is there enough light? I guess not only can you type without looking, but if you’re a master, you can even write without looking?
“Shuffling sounds”
Wait, these aren’t even writing sounds! Xiao Qin, what on earth are you even doing! Is this how it sounds when you cry? Do you hate me so much that you’re biting the desk?
Xiao Qin finally noticed that I was glancing at her. She lifted her head, she was still teary-eyed. She was holding a coconut bun and she had coconut all over her lips.
So you were hunched over to stealthily eat! Your movements were like a hamster! Crying while eating, truly a real foodie!
After noticing I was sizing up her bread, she moved it away cautiously as if she doesn’t want me to snatch it.
“At least wait until I’m done eating my bread, then you can bully me, ok?” Xiao Qin pleaded pitifully.
Oh my, you think of me too poorly, I don’t want to bully you right now! If you didn’t speak first I would’ve even apologized!
You experienced this kind of wrong-doing yet you’re still putting on a nonchalant expression. If you do that my intense sense of guilt will disappear! If I don’t feel guilty anymore, I will start putting my defenses back up!
“Eat at ease, I won’t take it from you. I’ll cover you. I’ll let you know if old man Zhang comes back.”
Obviously not believing me, Xiao Qin picked up her eating speed. Though her mouth was very small, so she needed quite some time to eat a normal piece of bread.
Now, I can calmly transcribe the poem. I copied a couple of lines, not bad if I say so myself! Each successive line looks shittier and shitter!
My sleeve was suddenly caught by Xiao Qin, she was holding on very tightly, looking at me seemingly requesting for help. She wasn’t speaking at all and had a painful expression.
Don’t tell me…she’s choking on the last piece of the bread?
Xiao Qin shook her head quickly whilst handing over an unopened water bottle.
“Do you…want me to help you open this?”
I quickly twisted the cap off the water bottle and handed it back. Xiao Qin took it over and drank it with big gulps and finally regained her complexion.
“Whew..I’m saved! If Ye Lin classmate wasn’t here, I would’ve died here!” Xiao Qin said exaggeratedly.
It’s impossible to die from a piece of bread, right? Speaking of which, if it wasn’t because of you being afraid of getting the bread snatched by me, you wouldn’t have eaten that fast, right? Additionally —
Do you really not have enough strength to open a water bottle?
You’ve done a one-on-ten before as ‘Little Tyrant’! When you were in the 5th grade there probably wasn’t any water bottle you couldn’t open on this planet. Let’s say your muscles degenerated a bit because you stayed at home for the last 3 years, but you couldn’t have gotten this weak!
Almost choking to death because she couldn’t open a water bottle, she must be acting, right? Is she playing with me so that she can see my worried expression?
Seeing my suspicious gaze, Xiao Qin started to speak.
“I was sickly since a young age, not being able to open a water bottle is very normal.”
“You still didn’t forget this setting! You’re not afraid to lie to the teachers? You’re going to be exposed after the physical examinations during gym class!”
“Because I have anemia, the teacher said I don’t have to attend gym class, or I can just watch from the sides.”
“…”
Someone like you that can enter an Ironman Triathalon pretending to be Lin DaiYu watching us from the sidelines. What kind of sick hobby is that!
It’s like Pan ChangJiang and Guo JingMing playing basketball whilst Yao Ming and Kobe Bryant are sitting on the sidelines saying “You guys are playing so well, we can’t do that, we had weak bodies since a young age!”
“Ye Lin classmate.” Xiao Qin asked suddenly, “Are you going to stop bullying me this afternoon?”
“Ah…yeah.” I nodded embarrassedly.
Xiao Qin happily started to hum, it sounds like the tune from <>. She hummed while she was copying the poem, her efficiency was astonishing.
I also hurriedly returned to my work.
After class, the class representative collected all our work. I was just thinking about how to use up my free time when class leader Shu Sha walked into the room.
She was walking quickly towards me with a murderous aura.
My heart skipped a beat and I started running towards the opposite direction without even thinking. Yes, I ran towards the teacher’s stand! I win as long as I can escape from the classroom!
“Ye Lin! Stop! Ye —– Lin —–!”
Class leader Shu Sha yelled my name, getting more and more ferocious with each successive call. Splitting the crowd, she chased after me with big strides.
In the end, I was obstructed by the sea of students leaving their class and got blocked in the hallways by Shu Sha.
Shu Sha wasn’t short, if she stood next to me she would reach my nose. She was half a head taller than Xiao Qin.
Because her aura was too strong, the males that stood in front of her, even if they were as tall as me would be mentally oppressed to a point where they can’t stand straight.
I, of course, didn’t reveal this on my face. I’m a hot-blooded male that would never compromise or admit defeat! How can I casually yield to a female?
“Why are you trying to run away from me?” asked the class leader.
Of course I have to get away from you! You look annoying to deal with, and your name sounds like a name from a strong character in <>. (TN: think omae wa mou shindeiru meme) If I accidentally let you kill me off with your self-made boxing techniques, how wrong would that be!
Although I thought this in my head, I definitely can’t say this out loud.
“I wasn’t hiding from you! Stop thinking too highly of yourself! I was just going to take a piss!”
A real hoodlum style, I was proud of my acting ability.
“The head teacher already told me about everything that happened in the cafeteria!”
“Eh? You mean that incident where I found and returned the school Madonna’s lunch card? That’s already spread throughout the school? Man, I’m embarrassed. I wanted to learn from Lei Feng and do good things without leaving my name…”
“Shut up!”
I was scared stiff.
“I’m talking about the incident where you poured coke over Xiao Qin’s head!”
The class leader was angry to the point where her lips were trembling, her black hair was swaying slightly along with any passers-by.
Her eyes were like a falcon that was about to soar, pitch black pupils that could stare into the depths of one’s soul.
I was speechless.
Xiao Qin suddenly came out from the classroom, passed the class leader and stuck herself to my arm. She tightly held onto my arm as if we were very close.
“Class leader, you’re mistaken!” Xiao Qin said while smiling. “We’ve actually known each other since we were kids! We were just messing around in language class!”
It was evident that Shu Sha was taken aback when Xiao Qin came to my defense.
“Stop lying to me! Even if you were just messing around in language class, the incident at lunch definitely wasn’t just for fun!”
“That was just an accident because Ye Lin classmate wasn’t being careful enough, anyways my clothes are already dry!” Xiao Qin continued to help me explain.
“Class leader ~ it’s true~” Xiao Qin desperately wanted Shu Sha to believe in her.
“I was neighbors with Ye Lin when we were young, our parents even know each other. We’re childhood friends! Although we may fight sometimes, we make up very quickly! Isn’t that right Ye Lin!”
Xiao Qin looked towards me for confirmation, under these circumstances, I could only groan in confirmation.
The time after class was very precious and the bell was about to ring. The class leader saw the victim protecting me so she didn’t really know what to do.
“Then you guys can go back, for now. I’ll investigate the situation more carefully later.” The class leader waved her hands at me signaling me to leave.
I was walking very awkwardly because Xiao Qin was hugging my arm, however, she was very happy for some reason.
The class leader stopped us again from behind.
“Ye Lin, why are you walking towards the classroom? Didn’t you just say you wanted to go take a piss?” Shu Sha squinted at me and nonchalantly repeated my vulgar words.
“I, I don’t need to go anymore! The weather’s too dry, so my body reabsorbed it!”
Shu Sha snorted with contempt.
“Also, Xiao Qin classmate, I have to seriously ask you again. I hope you’ll tell me the truth. —Does he have some dirt on you?”