Chapter 17
Proofreader: Akimi
Whatever Shi Bufan considered exciting was completely frightening for Zhen Yuanbai.
He widened his shocked eyes and said, “My father will beat me.”
Shi Bufan slightly trembled when he met Zhen Yuanbai’s gaze, an intense feeling rushed up in his heart. “How old are you? Your father still beats you?”
Zhen Yuanbai drooped his head down and his curly hair landed on his eyelashes. Shi Bufan reached over and went to brush it to the side, but Zhen Yuanbai immediately dodged his touch. He said in a resentful tone, but it felt like he was acting like a spoiled child. “Don’t touch me.”
Shi Bufan had never seen someone who was that obedient like him, listening to his parents’ every word. He didn’t even know how to reject his parents. Therefore, Shi Bufan didn’t think that he could find any excitement here. He changed to another method, purposefully saying, “Is your father treating you like a child in daycare? He’s taking you home whenever he feels like when you didn’t even do anything wrong. Isn’t he being a bit too excessive for keeping you away from class?”
Zhen Yuanbai originally thought so as well, but he didn’t dare to disobey Zhen Pingjin. Right now, Shi Bufan had exposed his thoughts. Zhen Yuanbai rubbed the corner of his eyes and remained silent.
Shi Bufan’s eyes sparkled and moved closer to Zhen Yuanbai, saying, “What a smart child. Are you really not going to class? Your father didn’t even lock the house, so can’t you just go to class if you feel like it?”
Zhen Yuanbai was slightly touched in his heart.
Shi Bufan’s words exposed Zhen Yuanbai’s genuine feelings as well. Towards Zhen Pingjin’s treatment, he naturally rejected this in his heart. But he has always been weak and afraid of confrontation. This time, the moment Zhen Pingjin received Ji Yanping’s call, he rushed over to take him home. To speak in a nice way, Zhen Pingjin was just protective of Zhen Yuanbai. But to speak the truth, he just desired control over Zhen Yuanbai. As a child, Zhen Pingjin was used to controlling Zhen Yuanbai and whenever he noticed that the latter was about to head on the wrong path, he would immediately correct him.
If it were Zhen Youxiu today, Zhen Pingjin would never force him back home because Zhen Youxiu would never accept this unreasonable treatment.
Shi Bufan continued, “There’s a lab today and I heard you especially enjoy it. We’re already in junior year and in the future, there will be a lot more work to do. There’s going to be fewer chances to do hands-on experiments.”
Zhen Yuanbai’s eyelashes flickered and one could see the struggling gaze within his eyes. Shi Bufan patiently waited for a while before he heard him finally say, “My father will beat me.”
“Has your father really beat you before?”
Shi Bufan stared at Zhen Yuanbai’s pure white face. Although he didn’t have time to see Zhen Family’s parents, according to Zhen Yuanbai’s personality, there was no way normal parents could lay a hand on him. One just needs to frighten Zhen Yuanbai and the latter would be scared witless. If his parents actually hit him, Zhen Yuanbai would probably faint.
After a good while, Zhen Yuanbai said, “No.”
That’s right. Although Zhen Pingjin frequently scared him, he didn’t actually lay a hand on him. However, he did beat Zhen Youxiu before, because the latter didn’t accept discipline. Regarding Zhen Yuanbai, he always listened and this made Zhen Pingjin resentful. He claimed that Zhen Yuanbai was too weak and he would come home as a child, bullied. His mother would hold him in her arms and soothe him, while his father would be scolding him. “How come you always come home crying? Can’t you just hit them back if they hit you? Beat those kids to death! This father will go to jail for you!”
Zhen Pingjin had a conflicting ideology. He didn’t want Zhen Yuanbai to cry if he was bullied, but he also didn’t want Zhen Yuanbai to be associated with people like Shi Bufan. Zhen Yuanbai didn’t know whether he was doing the right thing or not.
“Go to class with me?” Shi Bufan was like the wolf enticing red riding hood and also the evil stepmother who was enticing Snow White to eat the poisoned red apple. “He won’t hit you. If he really does, I’ll bring you to my house.”
Zhen Yuanbai looked over and Shi Bufan continued, “We’re just going to class, not fighting. What are you scared of?”
Zhen Yuanbai was in a dilemma.
Shi Bufan lacked patience and said, “Nevermind, three-year-old Congming should listen to his parent’s words. I’ll be going now.”
Zhen Yuanbai’s heart was slightly touched when he heard the door close.
What does he mean by three years old? He was about to be an adult and Shi Bufan’s words were too humiliating. He’s so annoying.
He kneeled for a while and heard nothing outside the door. Shi Bufan clearly left.
Zhen Yuanbai tugged on the curly hair in front of his forehead, straightening it. Once he loosened the hair, it began to curl again. He couldn’t maintain his position anymore as the room was too quiet. He missed the teacher’s lectures, the happiness in conducting an experiment, getting first place every time, and the feeling of glory when people looked up to him as a legend.
Zhen Yuanbai’s heart thumped rapidly and he sucked a few breaths in. He suddenly jumped up, grabbed his backpack and changed into his shoes. He walked out and closed the door, going into the elevator.
He was extremely nervous and felt sweat on the palm of his hands. The moment the elevator door opened, he sprinted out t0 find Shi Bufan.
Who knows why he wanted to find him? But he didn’t feel safe being by himself, as if his father would come out at any moment and give him a beating.
When he rushed out of the building, the young boy leaning against the wall suddenly raised his head. He stared at the figure sprinting out and he suddenly curled the corner of his lips, like the wolf who had successfully enticed little red riding hood, or stepmother who had successfully fed the poisoned apple to Snow White. He slipped his phone into his pocket and chased after him.
Shi Bufan actually walks so quickly. Zhen Yuanbai panted while glancing at the bus station. He then questioned his decision of taking the bus to school, hesitating. His shoulders were suddenly slapped and he turned around, meeting Shi Bufan’s handsome face.
His heart strangely calmed down and he immediately turned around to look at the bus. He rubbed the palm of his hands against his pants, pursing his lips firmly.
When they arrived at school, it was already the second period. Zhen Yuanbai breathed in the scent of the textbooks in the bright classroom. He happily threw himself into a learning state.
There was nothing that made him happier than learning in this world.
Sometimes, Zhen Yuanbai would be terrified and wondered what he would do if he left the school. If he could, he wished he could go to school forever. To him, there was a lot of bitter things in the world and only knowledge was sweet.
After class was over, Shi Bufan suddenly called him. “Why are you running so quickly? You’re eager to go home and suffer a beating?”
Zhen Yuanbai was indeed thinking of this. The sooner he dies, the sooner he will reincarnate. Even if Zhen Pingjin doesn’t beat him, he will definitely scold him.
“Don’t worry.” Shi Bufan started to brainwash him again. “Once your parents are home, you can go back. If your mother also thinks that your father is being too excessive, she will definitely scold him. Therefore, by the time you get home, your father will know he is wrong and won’t scold you anymore.”
Shi Bufan held Zhen Yuanbai in his arms and the latter asked, “Then, what if my mother thinks he’s right?”
“Give your father a call later on and tell him that you’re going to live in the dormitory. See what he says and if he dares to give you attitude, just tell him that you’re going to live in school and not come back anymore. Live here for about a week and no matter how angry your father is, he’d get over it. If he doesn’t give you an attitude, then your mother must’ve scolded him. Therefore, you can go home whenever you want.”
Zhen Yuanbai was skeptical and he peeked his head out from under Shi Bufan’s shoulder, saying, “Then I’ll go home and bring some practice tests over.”
“What’s fun about practice tests?” Shi Bufan walked over in large strides and said, “Let me take you out for a feast.”
“I’m not going.” Zhen Yuanbai quickly walked towards the classroom, but he couldn’t get rid of Shi Bufan. He was very distressed since Shi Bufan hated him a lot before he had lost his memory. Why does he act like that towards him after losing his memory? Doesn’t he think it’s strange?
There was barely anyone in the classroom. Before the evening study session began, everyone returned to their dormitory to do whatever they wanted to.
Zhen Yuanbai placed his practice tests on the table while Shi Bufan sat across from him, propping his chin. “What about this practice test attracts you more than a feast?”
“The feast will only satisfy me for a while, but knowledge will keep me satisfied with my entire life.” Zhen Yuanbai took out a pencil and paused, raising his head and said, “You’re not going to find Ye Lian and the others?”
He remembered that Ye Lian and the others didn’t go to their last class, saying that they will get revenge for Shi Bufan. Therefore, they went to Shengsan to wait for them.
“What are you looking for? They can handle this.” Shi Bufan looked at his phone and Zhen Yuanbai was embarrassed to continue his practice test. He even stopped writing, saying, “Why don’t you go and eat a feast?”
“Eat a feast by myself? I’d rather look at you.”
Zhen Yuanbai lowered his head and grabbed a page of a practice exam from his drawer, saying, “This is the last page of the exam. You can have this.”
Shi Bufan paused and seeing that it was the first time Zhen Yuanbai had gave him something, he generously accepted this. “Can I ask you if I don’t understand?”
“Mhm.” Zhen Yuanbai happily answered.
The two buried their heads and focused on completing the practice exam. Shi Bufan would touch his earlobes from time to time, something he often did while thinking. Zhen Yuanbai had noticed this habit as well. Because there were a lot of problems Shi Bufan didn’t understand, the two took a long time to finish. Shi Bufan didn’t even finish half the page when his phone suddenly rang.
Shi Bufan raised his eyebrows after answering it. “Ok, I know. Wait for me to come over.”
He placed the exam away and said, “Come with me.”
He said it in a tone of authority, making Zhen Yuanbai murmur, “Where are we going?”
“Bringing you out to see the world.”
Zhen Yuanbai was tugged out of the room and they walked out of the school door. They passed the slope where Shi Bufan had tripped and Zhen Yuanbai subconsciously looked at Shi Bufan’s expression. The latter didn’t react and continued to pull him.
They traveled all the way to the grove and then Zhen Yuanbai suddenly stopped. Shi Bufan couldn’t pull on him anymore, so he asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Why are we here?”
“You’ll find out once you come over.”
Zhen Yuanbai couldn’t help but walk a few dozens of meters more. The falling tree leaves basked in the dim yellow sunset. Zhen Yuanbai stared at the boys from Shengsan High School sitting on the ground in front of them. Qiu Jing and Ming Mai were both glaring at them, while Ye Lian leaned against the trunk of a tree and played games.
“Brother Shi.” Before Qiu Jing could say something, that boy smiled at Shi Bufan. “Sorry, I didn’t know the rules and I shouldn’t have led so many people to chase you. I apologize, for real.”
Shi Bufan snorted and pulled Zhen Yuanbai from behind him, saying, “It’s fine if you hit me, but it’s a different story if you hit my benefactor. Do you understand?”
“Sorry, sorry.” The boy was slick and sly, saying, “Brother Congming, it’s my fault. I’m sorry. In the afternoon, Officer Song came to talk to me and I…still need to hand in 10,000 words self-criticism letter. I only have one day to do this, so please let me go.”
This was the first time Zhen Yuanbai has ever been called ‘brother’ in society. His legs weakened and he ducked behind Shi Bufan. However, the latter pulled him out again and said, “What are you scared of? Did you forget how he called you ‘real fool’ this morning? Scold him.”
Ye Lian looked up and even Ming Mai and Qiu Jing were confused. “Wait, Brother Shi, you’re not going to beat him up?”
“Shut up first.” Shi Bufan pointed at the boy and then said to Zhen Yuanbai, “Scold him.”
Zhen Yuanbai didn’t dare to scold the boy, thinking Shi Bufan was causing trouble for him. If he did scold him, what if this boy went to chase after him when he was alone later on?
“If you don’t scold him, I’ll punch him for you.” Shi Bufan rolled up his sleeves and the boy’s face turned pale. “Brother Congming! Brother Zhen! Please scold me. I won’t cause you trouble. I know the rules, so please scold me!”
Shi Bufan glanced at Zhen Yuanbai and the latter stared at the injured boy, then at the injury on Shi Bufan’s forehead. He felt a burst of anger and said firmly, “You, you’re a butt!”
He thought he had done a good job at scolding and was very thankful for Shi Bufan. But, he was a bit afraid now. He said softly, “I’m done scolding. Let him go now.”
Shi Bufan remained silent.
“Pft.” Ye Lian laughed out loud and said, “Brother Shi, this is no good. You need to teach him.”
Qiu Jing said, “Say f*ck you!”
Ming Mai said, “Follow me and say ‘you son of a bastard!’”
Zhen Yuanbai said nothing. It’s not that he didn’t know how to scold people, but he was scared that he might end up in the hospital one day from a scolding. He still has a long life and it’s not worth scolding someone and breaking an arm or leg as a result.
Qiu Jing continued, “Call him a f*cking idiot!”
Ming Mai also taught him. “Curse that his son has erectile dysfunction!”
Ye Lian was pretty kind and understood Zhen Yuanbai, saying, “It’s fine if you don’t know how to scold him. Go and help Brother Shi to beat him up.”
That boy widened his eyes, looking over. No wonder good students are good students. One needed to teach them to scold someone and urge them to beat someone up.
Shi Bufan stared at Zhen Yuanbai’s pale face and said in a moment, “Do you want to beat him up or do you want me to help you?”
The boy shivered and called, “Brother Zhen, Brother Congming, beat me. Please beat me up!”