Just a while ago, Director Sun of 2nd High School received a report.
Someone had taken the advantage of lunchtime and gone to the illegal internet café.
Their school had just attained the title of a municipal key school this year. It was the time to strive for performance and boost the university enrolment rate. There was absolutely no room for students to have a slack attitude!
As such, he immediately stormed over without even having had a bite of lunch, and sure enough, he caught them red-handed.
Director Sun paced around the pimple-faced guy and the chubby guy, a sense of disbelief settling heavily upon him as he touched his bald crown. “How come it’s you two?”
He recognized these two youngsters. The one with pimple on his face was called Zhang Tengfei, the class monitor of the honour class. The other was Huang Xing, who had commendable grades and usually carried a demeanour akin to a good and well-behaved student.
Zhang Tengfei also had never expected to encounter Old Sun here. He usually wouldn’t come to this internet café to apprehend people. Now, this was undoubtedly going to be recorded in the inspection records. If his parents were informed as well, wouldn’t his dad beat him to death?!
Zhang Tengfei’s thoughts raced, his gaze flickering back to Zhai Yao and the others as he strategized silently.
“Director, we were coerced!”
“What?” Director Sun frowned upon hearing so and, with his hands crossed behind his back, he asked, “Coerced by whom?”
Thinking “might as well,” Zhang Tengfei decided to press forward with his accusation and pointed directly at Zhai Yao. “Them, from 9th High School!”
He sniffed and made the innocent expression he typically wore in front of teachers. “Director Sun, you know me. How could I possibly come to a place like this internet café? …Today, as Huang Xing and I were leaving school, we had planned to visit the book store to purchase some materials. However, they intercepted us and insisted that we help them pay for the internet café. And if we refused, they would beat us.”
As he spoke, Zhang Tengfei lightly tapped Huang Xing. “Huang Xing! Isn’t that right?”
Huang Xing felt sweat reappearing on his forehead, thinking that now they truly had sealed a deep-seated grudge with 9th High School! But then he thought again, the issue with 9th High School could be settled later. Right now, he simply couldn’t afford to let Director Sun have a bad impression of him. He was still banking on securing the end of term scholarship!
So, he fixed his gaze firmly on his toes, not even daring to lift his head, and nodded vigorously.
One of the present 9th High School students became discontented, swore a foul phrase, got up, and was ready to start a fight.
Director Sun whirled around and glared fiercely. “Who dares to make a move?! You think I won’t call the police?!”
“As if we’re afraid of you f*cker!” Someone from 9th High School fired back but was stopped by a classmate, who signalled them with a look, indicating they should wait and see how the boss wanted to proceed first.
Right after hearing Zhang Tengfei’s explanation, Director Sun—in all honesty—felt a wave of relief wash over him.
At the very least, it wasn’t their own students misbehaving; rather, they were simply being coerced by the dregs from 9th High School.
He rolled his eyes at Zhai Yao and the others, then turned back to Zhang Tengfei and Huang Xing, nodding. “Alright, I understand. Next time if you encounter such a situation, remember to look for a teacher. You both are future university-bound students; absolutely mustn’t be affected by negative influences.”
Zhang Tengfei put on an act, hanging his head in remorse, and said, “I’m sorry to have let you down, Director. We’ll make sure to report to the school promptly from now on.”
Director Sun responded with a subtle “Mm,” before continuing with an underlying meaning in his words, “Some people are beyond redemption, yet they’re still basking in their own false glory, thinking they’re oh so amazing! In reality, they’ve long been abandoned by both school and society; otherwise, they wouldn’t all be clustered together in the same rubbish dump. You both must stay away from these rubbishes, or else you’ll end up tainted. Disgusting, isn’t it!”
Zhang Tengfei caught the implied meaning and, with a sense of schadenfreude, stole a glance at Zhai Yao and Shen Heng. Then, he said to Director Sun, “Director’s criticism is spot on. Let’s leave quickly; the stench of rubbish here is too foul.”
Having said that, Zhang Tengfei and Huang Xing followed behind Director Sun, intending to leave.
Zhang Tengfei seized the opportunity while the director wasn’t looking and glanced back at Zhai Yao with a smug expression, quickly flipping him the middle finger.
“Idiot,” someone cursed.
Director Sun’s steps suddenly halted, and he spun around. “Who?! Cursed what?!”
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.
“Nothing,” Zhai Yao replied, hands in pockets, a smirk on his lips. “We trash are just like this; no qualities at all.”
“You!” Director Sun was momentarily choked speechless by Zhai Yao’s audacity. In his entire career, ever since he had taken the office, he had never encountered a student who dared to display such an audacious attitude towards him. With disgust, he cursed, “Born to a mother, yet nurtured by none!”
Zhai Yao’s smile faded, his tone turning serious. “Say that again.”
Being threatened in this manner, Director Sun felt that he could no longer uphold his face. With a darkened expression, he retorted, “What? You dare to hit me? What a ‘motherless’ scum.”
Before he could finish his sentence, a lean figure had already rushed out. With the wind at his back, he surged ahead of Zhai Yao.
Zhai Yao had intended to follow, but upon meeting the other party’s gaze, he hesitated and instinctively shifted from wanting to assist to pulling back the latter’s arm.
How could one describe those eyes?
Dark, gloomy, with a hidden intent to kill lurking beneath the indifference.
Allowing him to act would surely lead to trouble.
Luo Le also sensed that something was amiss. He held Shen Heng’s shoulder and urged in a low voice, “Don’t, Heng-zi.”
After a short pause, he continued in a hushed voice, “Don’t end up like me.”
“Let go,” Shen Heng’s tone revealed little emotion, while his gaze remained fixed on Director Sun’s face throughout.
Director Sun felt a bit uneasy under his persistent staring, but considering his position as the director of 2nd High School, how could he allow himself to be intimidated by a little bastard? He immediately forced himself to remain calm and asked, “W-what… what are you trying to do?!”
His speech was somewhat stuttered.
“Get the f*ck out of here.” Zhai Yao pulled Shen Heng’s scarred arm, and for a moment, he was actually worried about whether he would be in pain.
“W-what’s your parents’ phone numbers?! Spit it out!” Director Sun became anxious and resorted to his usual tactics. In his understanding, these kids were most afraid of having their parents contacted.
Zhai Yao coldly replied, “My parents died early. There’s no phone numbers to spit out.”
Zhang Tengfei and Huang Xing glanced discreetly at the group from 9th High School. They felt that if Old Sun continued to berate like that, the other side might really launch a collective attack.
Old Sun was always being buttered up by them, inexperienced in the ways of Jianghu, unaware of its dangers. How could this group of people obediently listen to his reprimands? Right at the current moment, they were also pulling and persuading Director Sun persistently, “Forget it, forget it. Director Sun, you don’t bother with them; they aren’t even from 2nd High School.”
Director Sun became increasingly angry as he was persuaded further, to the point where he wished he could jump up three feet high in a single bound to vent his rage. He shouted angrily, “Trash! A bunch of trash!”
“This f*cker—” Xie Ziming rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge forward, but was stopped by Luo Le’s call again.
Luo Le knew that those present today were probably not afraid of getting into trouble, but they all still bore the identity of students. If they really hit the teaching director, regardless of the reason and effect, they would inevitably suffer.
Naturally, he was well aware of this because he had gone through it himself.
“Heng-zi, listen up; today’s matter has nothing to do with you guys,” Luo Le exhorted, released his grip on Shen Heng’s shoulder, and stepped in front of everyone, flashing a grin at Director Sun. “You probably haven’t seen a real trash before, huh? Well, why not let me show you today?”
Director Sun sized up the young man before him. From his attire to his manner of speech, he didn’t resemble a student at all. Most likely, he was really a societal thug, which made Director Sun even more apprehensive.
If he were to be beaten up, there really would be no way to talk his way out.
Zhang Tengfei and Huang Xing were still persuading, dragging Director Sun towards the exit.
Just then, the entrance curtain of the internet café was lifted again, and in stormed a short, stout “tornado,” shouting, “Hold it right there, 9th High School lot! Don’t even think of running!!”
“What the f*ck, Old Liu’s here!”
The one who arrived was indeed Director Liu, who had been lying low and lurking around this internet café for a while now. Today, he finally had the opportunity to catch them all in one go!
As Old Liu “swooshed” till the front of the group, ready to let loose a barrage of scolding, the sudden sight of Director Sun among them caused his words to catch in his throat.
He blinked. “Director Sun, are you here to round up students too?”
Director Sun, who was apprehensive about being outnumbered just moments ago, now felt like a still-weaning child who had found his mother upon seeing Director Liu. His lips trembled violently, finally howling out, “How–utterly–outrageous—!!”
Even though Director Liu had just arrived and was unaware of the situation, upon seeing Director Sun’s expression, seemingly with skyrocketing blood pressure and on the verge of exploding, he knew that these little rascals of his must’ve stirred up trouble again. He immediately patted Director Sun on the back, putting on a smiling face. “Haiyaa, take it easy, relax. They’re just a bunch of adolescent nuisances.”
“Adolescent nuisances?!” Director Sun went beet red. “They’re simply a group of ruthless tyrants! Dregs! Potential criminals! Orphans!”
Director Liu wasn’t pleased upon hearing those insults. His expression fell. “Old Sun, you shouldn’t use such language and say things like that.”
“How else am I supposed to say it?! If you had shown up a moment later, I would’ve been beaten to death by them!”
Director Liu scanned the present crowd, his gaze first landing on Luo Le. “You, what class are you in? And what’s with the getup? Your jeans are so low that their crotch point is almost touching your shoes!”
“Director Liu, he’s not from our school,” someone piped up.
Director Liu gave the group a once-over, then finally fixed his gaze on Shen Heng.
He knew this child was the most receptive to communication among the group of students. According to his understanding, although Shen Heng was in Class 10, he wasn’t someone who would cause trouble for no reason.
Director Liu nodded towards Shen Heng. “Tell me, what happened? Look at how upset Director Sun has got.”
Shen Heng remained silent.
Director Sun interrupted, “Old Liu, the school ethos of your 9th High School is none of my business. We, the teachers from other schools, all thanked you for voluntarily sweeping up this bunch of trash. But this time, they’ve really gone too far!”
As he spoke, he pushed Zhang Tengfei and Huang Xing forward. “These two are good kids from our 2nd High School. One is a class monitor, and the other is a top student. They were coerced and threatened by your school’s students to come to the internet café and forced to pay for their surfing session! You tell me, is this a lawless land?!”
“Bullsh*t,” Zhai Yao said flatly.
“You shut your mouth!” Director Liu waved his hand, as if about to smack Zhai Yao’s head. But as his hand neared Zhai Yao’s hair, he merely pretended to brush it lightly and then withdrew his hand.
Director Liu: “You tell me, is what Director Sun said true?”
Zhai Yao remained silent.
Before this, he had always been a person who was lazy to explain himself, thinking that those who trusted you would do so regardless, and those who didn’t, well, they wouldn’t believe you no matter what you said.
But then he glanced at Shen Heng’s expression and ultimately closed his eyes, speaking up. “No one threatened them, nor did anyone force them to pay up. We just happened to bump into each other here.”
“Hah, who would believe that!” Director Sun sneered.
“That class monitor and top student came to the internet café to watch pornography, and afterwards, they started gossiping about a girl in their class, calling her risqué.” Zhai Yao paused before continuing, “Me and Shen Heng couldn’t stand their attitudes.”
“Wh-who the hell watched pornography!” Zhang Tengfei panicked and accidentally cursed, hastily swallowing his saliva. “Director Sun, he’s slandering us!”
“The computer has watch history records. From the sound of it, it’s probably from Japan.”
“Ahem,” Director Liu cleared his throat. “There’s no need to go into such detail.”
“Oh.”
Director Liu then turned to Director Sun. “Look, Old Sun, what you said doesn’t quite match up. But no matter what, resorting to violence against teachers is unacceptable… There, there, don’t get worked up anymore!”
“He was the one who called us trash!”
“And said we were born to a mother, yet nurtured by none!”
“Yeah, and called us abandoned dregs!”
The students from 9th High School retorted.
Director Liu frowned. “Old Sun, isn’t that going too far? Besides, what do you mean abandoned? Look, aren’t I here!”
“What I’ve said are all facts!” Director Sun lashed out, “And, Old Liu, you’re not seriously believing this kid’s words, are you?”
Director Liu’s eyes flickered from Zhai Yao to Director Sun, and then walked over to the computer which Zhang Tengfei and Huang Xing were previously using, and opened the media player.
Just a glance, and then he closed it with a reddened face.
Director Liu: “There, the evidence is right here. Why don’t you take a look too?”
“I’m not looking! Who knows who was sitting here just now!” Director Sun said. “Don’t you know these students? You can never trust a single word that comes out of their mouths!”
Director Liu sighed, put his arm around Director Sun’s shoulder, and pulled him aside a bit, whispering, “I say, why don’t we let go of this matter for now. Let’s each take our students back and reinforce discipline. Not that I wanna criticize you, Old Sun, but what you said just now was indeed too much.”
“Old Liu-ah, I can’t have you showing favouritism and protecting your own students!”
“Hey, but aren’t you also siding with the students from your school?”
Director Sun’s tone rose again as he pointed to Zhang Tengfei and Huang Xing. “These, are good students!”
And then pointing to Zhai Yao and the others, “These, are scoundrels! You say, who should I believe?!”
“Y-you can’t make such a distinction, can you?”
“Then how should I make a distinction?!” Director Sun said sternly. “Why don’t you share this matter in the group chat of our several schools and ask the other high school directors who they would believe!”
“Y-you’re being unreasonable!” Director Liu was also starting to get angry, but he knew full well the impact of stereotypes on people.
Just like 9th High School and 2nd High School, he and Director Sun, one could receive everyone’s love and respect at the general meeting, while the other was always on the verge of being criticized.
Even if their dedication and efforts made towards education matched or even exceeded that of others…
In truth, what difference was there between him and these children of his?
Director Sun finished venting his anger, feeling somewhat refreshed in his heart.
As he was leaving, without even looking back, he coldly said to Director Liu, “Old Liu-ah, I used to speak out against the injustice of you having to take over 9th High School on your behalf. Considering that you were the class monitor in our university class, I wanted to make feedback to the head and request your transfer. Now… I firmly believe you deserve it.”
Seeing his bald crown disappear beyond the doorway, a muttered curse, “F*ck,” slipped from someone’s lips; though the culprit remained a mystery.
Director Liu spun around and yelled, “No swearing! Everyone, get your asses back to school, and if I see anyone at this internet café again, consider yourself expelled!”
With that, he briskly strode out of the internet café, almost slipping in the process.
Zhai Yao silently watched his departing figure before trailing behind.
Yesterday, because of Liang Hao, he was driven out of his home by Zhai Bing’s words, and ended up staying together with the rubbishes at the abandoned rail station.
He also felt that what Old Sun said wasn’t entirely wrong; he was indeed an unwanted trash.
Yet, little did he anticipate that there was still someone willing to come for him.
Whether it was his annoying desk mate or the annoying Director Liu.
…
They have a good directory 🤓
Aww you’re not unwanted trash zhai yao. I’m glad neither shen heng nor director liu gave up on him 😢