Dear Zhang Ming, The seniors told us that Emerald Beach Resort will be the venue and to be there on the dot. They also reminded us to bring swimming gear and snacks, food, and drinks if we'd like. I hope you come with us! It’ll be fun! And really? I thought for sure you'd be part of the chess club now. Why not? Yes, I can play the viola. No promises on being that good at it though. I'd call myself a beginner. I don't think it's that different, though I haven't really tried playing the violin before. I've heard that viola is a bit harder to play from other players. P.S. Okay, it's alright I don't mind. Yours, Reke
Reke sighs as he finishes writing his response.
He thought that Zhang Ming initiating this letter exchange they were doing meant that they’d be able to converse with each other more.
Well, they do, but not face-to-face as he’d first thought.
Still, he respects Zhang Ming’s boundaries and will do his best to keep from interacting with him at school aside from the letters.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
–
Itjcu Zlcu lwwfvljafis qlmxfv eq Efxf’r ifaafg joafg bqfclcu tlr ibmxfg.
Lf xfqa la lc tlr tjcv jr tf abbx bea atf atlcur tf cffvfv jcv qea jkjs tlr ylxf tfiwfa.
Lf rafjvlis wjvf tlr kjs ab tlr olgra mijrr, bqfclcu eq Efxf’r ifaafg ab gfjv la. Lf tjr fcbeut alwf.
His eyes darted back and forth, going through the short letter.
(Students walking past him swerve out of their way, sending him an irritated glance for not paying attention as he walked.)
Seeing the short postscript, Zhang Ming sighed. He’s not oblivious enough to know it’s not really okay. He wouldn’t have been okay with it either if it was him in Reke’s shoes.
He shakes his head. No, he can’t delve into this too much. It’s out of his control. He can’t do anything about it right now.
Instead, he thinks of the beach outing.
Is he really going with? Honestly, he has no plans of joining.
He’s not really one for beaches, he’s not one for outings in general, preferring to just stay at home when free time comes on to his schedule.
He finds sand kind of annoying to deal with, it gets everywhere which he absolutely detests. Then there’s the sun blasting on his pale skin, he doesn’t want to deal with sunburn either.
Then he has to pack things for it too. And he isn’t even sure if this world’s Zhang Ming has beach items, he doesn’t even have any in his original world.
Plus, he doesn’t really know that many people anyway. If he goes, then he’ll probably be just by himself.
He makes up his mind to inform Reke in his response letter that he’s not coming with to Emerald Beach. He hopes he won’t disappoint the other boy too much.
–
After spending the morning going to his classes, his brain only continues to make up more and more reasons why he won’t be joining. Sooner or later, he’ll probably end up crossing into weird and absurd reasons.
He’s quite taken aback, however, as he goes to get some lunch. He isn’t exactly sure how it happened, but Alice— his terrifying teammate from the chess tournament— ambushed him at the cafeteria and started interrogating him about his plans for the beach outing.
“What, you’re really planning to sit this one out?” Alice asked him, grabbing her utensils to start eating.
Zhang Ming grimaced, “I’m not really one for… ‘social interaction’.”
The girl looked him in the eye with a look on her face, then started pointing her fork at him, “Zhang Ming, you brought home a bronze medal for Soaring Phoenix. If anyone deserves to go on this outing, it’s us who actually contributed something.”
Zhang Ming frowns setting down his own utensils, “What I deserve is to do what I want—” Sadly he’s not allowed to “—and what I want is to stay at home and sleep.” More like mope, but she doesn’t need to know that.
She rolls her eyes and sighs before taking a mouthful of food, “Can’t believe the second best player of our whole year chooses to sleep instead. Not to mention the fact that your coward ass still refuses to join the chess club.” She narrowed her eyes at him before taking another mouthful of food.
Zhang Ming could only sputter at her words, “Second best— What— I already told Coach Noya—”
“—Shh!” She shushed him, “Nope! I don’t care about your reasons. What I care about is our year beating the rest of those arrogant 12th Years.”
Zhang Ming blinks in confusion, “…why?”
She turned away but he could still see the narrowed eyes glaring across the room, “They think just because their the eldest they know better and rule the school. I can just see my sister’s stupid face and that holier-than-thou attitude—”
It’s like a light suddenly flipped open in Zhang Ming’s head, “Ahh, so it’s a sister thing.”
“It’s not just about her!” Alice protested, It’s about the rest of them!”
Zhang Ming decides to just stay quiet, but something in his eyes probably shows his true thoughts about it anyway because Alice continues talking.
“…and well, her too.” She concedes, “But not solely her—” She shakes her head before pointing her fork at him again, almost flicking bits of food at him, “Anyway we’ve gone off-topic, you’re joining the outing and you’re coming with me to the mall!”
“I haven’t even agreed!” He said, voice almost in a whine, “And why the mall?”
“We’re buying things for the outing.” She said, as a matter-of-factly before taking a bite of her food once more.
Zhang Ming frowns, “I’m not goi—”
“Yes. You are.”
Dear Reke, I was previously not planning to join the outing. I listed dozens of reasons why I shouldn't. In the end, I was ruthlessly (and rudely) persuaded to join, apparently on the fact that I had contributed something to our faction winning the bronze medal I was able to take home from the tournament. So yes, you will be seeing me there. Though not exactly sure what I will be bringing. And that's kind of cool. I don't really know how to play any instruments, much less anything close to classical. Do you think I should try something out? P.S. Thank you. So much. Sincerely yours, Zhang Ming
This author has something to say:
Very sorry for the update delay! *kowtows*
Thanks for the chapter ☺️. But honestly I’ve been seeing this reoccurring thing in teen books and movies where the MC is often “forced” to go somewhere by their friends or something and it’s confusing for me. Like can someone really force you to go somewhere that you don’t to go? It’s just so strange to me that a friend will adamantly insist on you going somewhere you don’t want to go and you too you’ll na end up going🤷🏾♀️. But I guess it’s for plot to continue
Thank you for the chapter!