Chapter 47
There’s only one entrance to the ice rink and a lot of people were in line to enter. There were also a lot of people who were hanging around to rest and chat. He Shen’s hadn’t kept his voice low and his voice was magnetic. When he’d said this, all the people around him looked over.
Qiao Shao: “…”
He didn’t want to skate anymore!
Unfortunately, he was stuck at the entrance. If he didn’t go onto the rink, he would be blocking the others’ way. But to get onto the rink, Qiao Shao really couldn’t do it by himself! Or … Qiao Shao glanced at the handrail, maybe he could use that…
He Shen saw through what he was thinking. He quickly took his hand and dragged him onto the ice rink.
Qiao Shao’s eyes widened. He Shen supported his waist and said, “Don’t be afraid.”
Qiao Shao wasn’t scared, but … he couldn’t stand the attention!!!!! He could feel the eyes of all the people behind him boring into his back!!
He Shen, though, didn’t mind at all. He said, “I’m going to let go. Try to lean forward and don’t be afraid. With me, you won’t fall.”
Qiao Shao had so many things he wanted to say but when He Shen let go, he was so nervous that he swallowed them all down. “Hey … hey … He Shen …”
Everyone’s first time on the ice was the same. They felt that their feet weren’t their own, snow white sheet of ice felt very unfamiliar, and they felt that the slightest movement would cause them to fall.
He Shen chuckled: “Don’t be afraid.”
Qiao Shao clutched his arm tightly, as though it was his last straw of hope.
He Shen slowly led him away from the handrail, halfway to the center of the rink. Qiao Shao completely lacked any sense of security. “I’ll-I’ll stay by the side and try this by myself for a bit.”
“I’ll be your handrail.” He Shen said.
Qiao Shao stared at him. “A handrail wouldn’t run off and drag me along!”
“Trust me, you won’t fall.”
Qiao Shao said resentfully. “How can I trust you? You’ve done nothing but talk nonsense all day.”
He Shen was truly quite skillful on the ice. Although he didn’t show off his skills like Wei Jiayu, he was really reliable as a handrail—the kind that moves.
Hearing what he said, He Shen asked. “What nonsense? What did I say?”
Qiao Shao looked up at him. “Boyfriend!”
He Shen: “Yes?”
Qiao Shao: “???” I wasn’t calling you!
“Nice,” Wei Jiayu’s voice came floating over. “Qiao Shao, you’re pretty brave.”
Before when he stood up to those hooligans, he had seen that this tiny thing was unexpectedly fierce. Now he was skating for the first time and he fearlessly came to a quarter of the way down the rink. He really was reckless…Uh, in a good way.
When Wei Jiayu approached them, he made a beautiful turn that drew a lot of attention.
Qiao Shao didn’t dare to talk nonsense with He Shen anymore so he turned and praised Wei Jiayu, “You didn’t go to those lessons for nothing. You’re really good at skating.”
Wei Jiayu said, “Not just anyone can learn so well.”
Qiao Shao laughed. “Do I also have to praise you for being naturally talented?”
Wei Jiayu didn’t look away. He said, “It’s mainly because I studied several types of dance before.”
Figure skating and dancing were indeed related disciplines.
Qiao Shao nodded. “No wonder you’re so good.”
Wei Jiayu was actually easily embarrassed. He cleared his throat and said, “I’ll show something more impressive.”
Qiao Shao cheered him on. “Alright!”
Wei Jiayu backed away and skated out some distance. Just in time, the music was reaching a climax. Half-way through a lap, Wei Jiayu accelerated and performed a beautiful and graceful jump.
“Wow!” Qiao Shao wanted to applaud!
The crowd on the sidelines even let out some cheers.
Wei Jiayu skated over and said, “It’s not up to par, I’ve been out of practice for too long.”
“That’s amazing and you’re not even an athlete.” Qiao Shao said. Thinking of He Shen, he said to him, “You can also go play. I’ll try it by myself over there.”
He Shen said, “No need.”
Qiao Shao teased him, “Maybe you just can’t do it. Wei Jiayu’s jump just now was pretty amazing. “
He Shen smiled and asked him, “I wonder what will happen to you if I let go now?”
They were millions of miles away from the railing! Qiao Shao hurriedly said, “I’ll hold onto Wei Jiayu.”
“No,” He Shen suddenly held both his hands, “don’t even think of going anywhere.”
“Hey!” Qiao Shao was startled. “Don’t-don’t …”
He Shen accelerated, pulling him along as he skated backwards.
Qiao Shao was scared silly. “Slow … Slow down!”
He Shen didn’t slow down at all. “Lean forward. Just relax.”
How can he relax!
Qiao Shao’s entire body was stiff. “No! He Shen, this is impossible. You’re going too fast, too fast!”
However, He Shen had no intention of slowing down at all. Instead, he put on even more speed and they reached the center of the ice rink in the blink of an eye.
Now Qiao Shao was left with absolutely no other option but to rely on He Shen.
He Shen changed positions. He led him by the hand and said, “Just keep this posture. I’ll lead you.”
Qiao Shao anxiously said, “No, no, no … He Shen!”
He was agitated and closed his eyes tightly. But unexpectedly, when he felt the real speed, he wasn’t afraid.
The sound of the blade scraping across the ice rink was unexpectedly pleasant. A melodious music sounded throughout the rink. The ethereal female voice permeated the entire space, as if a sacred snow scene was outlined in the beautiful notes.
Qiao Shao slowly opened his eyes and saw He Shen.
His short hair ran across his ears, revealing a handsome side profile. At this speed that was faster than running, he was the very picture of wanton youth.
He Shen noticed his gaze and turned to look at him. “Are you still scared?”
Qiao Shao replied dazedly, “No.”
He Shen asked him again, “Is it fun?”
Qiao Shao breathed a sigh of relief, the corners of his mouth were raised in a big smile. He said: “It’s fun!”
It’s been a long, long time since he’d felt so carefree! It was like he had captured the wind, he had seized his freedom and escaped from his imprisonment within the cage.
Qiao Shao was enjoying himself immensely. For the entire night, He Shen never let go of him, always holding his hand and protecting him. Qiao Shao, a newbie who had set foot on the ice for the first time, really didn’t fall, not even once.
Wei Jiayu first circled around them, wanting to take Qiao Shao to play. Later, after seeing that he was turning into a light bulb bright enough to light the entire stadium, he went to play by himself.
On the way back, Qiao Shao could feel his legs turning sore. He sat in the car and said, “It’s quite tiring.”
He Shen said, “When we get back, go take a bath and rest early.”
Qiao Shao looked at him. “What about you?”
He Shen paused, “I have to play a game.”
Qiao Shao: “…”
The way the god of learning acted was truly like a slacker; with a slacker’s habits! Qiao Shao though behaved like a true “god of learning” but got results like a slacker’s. Ah … You mustn’t compare yourself to others. The comparison might just be enough to anger you to death.
Back at the rental house, the two took turns taking a shower. Qiao Shao had fine hair that wasn’t easy to dry. If he didn’t blow dry it after taking a bath at night, he wouldn’t be able to sleep.
He clumsily held the blow dryer to dry his hair.
He Shen looked at how he was doing and said, “Let me.”
Qiao Shao said, “It’ll be dry soon.”
He Shen then took the hair dryer and lifted it high up. Qiao Shao’s first thought was to jump to snatch it back… This was simply too shameful, Qiao Shao was having none of it! The height difference between the two of them was enough to make his heart sting. He Shen dried his hair for him, he didn’t even need to sit down.
The mirror in the bathroom wasn’t that big, just enough to reflect the two people.
Qiao Shao could see He Shen through the mirror. He Shen also looked up to see him. When the two met eyes through the mirror, they both said at the same time—“You …”
Qiao Shao said, “You go first.”
He Shen also said, “You go first.”
Both of the people in the mirror laughed.
He Shen said first, “Your hair’s so soft.”
Qiao Shao looked up at his reflection in the mirror. “Your hair looks stiff.”
Unfortunately, he was too tall. He was unable to reach.
He Shen added, “I heard that people with fine hair have a good temper.”
Qiao Shao then said, “So that means people with thick and stiff hair have a bad temper?”
“Well,” He Shen muttered, “I do have a bad temper.”
Qiao Shao was surprised. “Oh, how come I think you’re really good-natured?”
He was very attentive and caring. Although he had a bad mouth on his, he was really nice.
He Shen smiled. “Probably only you think so.”
Qiao Shao looked at him, “Why?”
Come to think of it, Blue Hair seemed to be very afraid of him. The other students in class rarely took the initiation to approach him. Even Song Yixu, the reincarnation of a silly husky, adapted a reverent and extremely deferential attitude towards him.
At first Qiao Shao thought it was because he carried around him to aura of a teenage delinquent. No one dared to provoke him. Later, Qiao Shao thought it was the effect of being a god of learning. He was too invincible, so they stayed at a respectful distance. Now that he heard He Shen say it, was it because he had a bad personality?
“That’s because I’m only good to you.” He Shen said.
Qiao Shao was dazed.
He Shen dropped this sentence and ended the topic. He asked Qiao Shao, “What were you going to say just now?”
Qiao Shao really wanted to ask why, but the topic had been diverted…
He cleared his throat and said, “I wanted to say that you’re really like my dad.”
He Shen: “………”
Qiao Shao’s eyes curved into crescents and he said, “My dad also blow dries my hair for me.”
Comrade Da Qiao was an expert at blow drying. He was very practiced. He had also done way too much research on the types of hair dryers. He earnestly followed the dictum that a workman must first sharpen his tools if he wanted to do his work well.
He Shen looked at him through the mirror. “Your dad is very good to you.”
Qiao Shao went stiff as he remembered his dad’s brand spanking new persona. He amended, “En, he’d really good when he isn’t drunk.”
This wasn’t a lie. Da Qiao never got drunk, so … he has always been a good father.
He Shen’s heart softened. He rubbed his fluffy hair and said, “Alright, now go to bed early.”
His hair was now dry. Qiao Shao looked at him, “I’ll help you dry your hair too!”
He Shen said, “No need. I won’t be sleeping yet. It’ll dry by itself in a bit.”
Oh yeah, this guy was still going to play games.
It was half past ten, and it was indeed Qiao Shao’s bedtime.
Qiao Shao put on his earphones and climbed onto the bed. He closed his eyes for a while but he really couldn’t sleep.
Hmm … Probably because he had too much activity that night?
After another ten minutes of trying his best, Qiao Shao really wasn’t the least bit sleepy. He took off his headphones and got up, trying to see what game He Shen was playing.
Was there a game so fun that could make one stay up all night?
He walked very lightly, and when he came to the study, he found the door half-open. It was good to be small sometimes. He slipped in without needing to open the door any further.
Who would have thought that when he came in, he found that He Shen wasn’t there.
Where was he then…?
Qiao Shao looked at the bright computer screen, and he was stunned. The curved screen display was filled with codes he couldn’t understand…
Was this a game? This game was kind of high-level!
Then, he heard a voice coming from the balcony.
He Shen’s voice was very quiet, but because the study window was open, he could hear it clearly.
He heard He Shen say, “Yes, if you want the app completed within the week, the price needs to be doubled.”
He didn’t know what the other party said. He Shen replied, “At least 30,000.”
“If I can’t complete it on time, I’ll double the refund.”
“See you in a week.”
Qiao Shao blinked, feeling that he’d just found out something incredible!
He Shen hung up the phone. He entered the room, and saw this tiny little thing wearing his oversized T-shirt and with a dazed look upon his face.
It’s really—He Shen didn’t look away — very adorable.
Qiao Shao pointed to the computer screen and said, “This is the game you play?”
He Shen said, “It’s actually quite fun.”
Qiao Shao was stunned. “Have you been up all night working?”
He heard it. If he made an app within a week, the other party will pay him 30,000 yuan.
He Shen didn’t have any intention of deliberately hiding it from him. “I told you, a man must have some means to support his family.”
Earning 30,000 yuan in seven days. How is that “supporting a family”? That’s clearly called getting rich overnight!
Qiao Shao quickly spotted the important point, he said. “What do you need so much money for?”
He now knew the going rates very well. 10,000 yuan was enough to cover an ordinary student’s living expenses for a year. If He Shen could make that much money, why does he need to stay up late every night?
In just seven days, he makes enough money to squander away!
The lax and ordinary way He Shen took that call, showed that this was an ordinary transaction and that this amount wasn’t some pie that fell out of the sky. In other words, he really could get a steady income of a hundred thousand a month.
Does a student need that much money? He Shen obviously wasn’t the money-obsessed type!
He Shen sighed. “Actually …”
Qiao Shao was mentally prepared to listen to a tragic story of a genius boy carrying huge family debts.
He Shen: “… This is my family’s test. If I earn 10 million before I turn 20, I can stand on my own. Otherwise, I’ll have to go back and inherit the family business.”
Qiao Shao: “………………”
“Look,” He Shen summed it up, “I’m fighting for my freedom.”
Qiao Shao sneered and said, “Then, I’ll let you in on a secret.”
He Shen: “Huh?”
Qiao Shao said, “Actually, my father’s name is Qiao Zongmin; that Qiao Zongmin on the Forbes list.”
He Shen was amused and he laughed. “I’m not lying to you.”
“I’m not lying to you either.” Qiao Shao rolled his eyes, “I came to East High to study hard. If I don’t score well, I’ll have to go back home and inherit the family fortune worth millions upon millions.”
We two truly are “fellow sufferers empathizing with each other”, He ‘the great trickster’ Shen!