In the following classes, Shen Heng remained deeply engrossed in a book. Despite boldly placing his phone on the desk to charge, no one would come and confiscate it.
Occasionally, the book’s pages would turn, stirring a delicate breeze.
Zhai Yao lifted his eyelids, his gaze meeting the same book he had seen before, “How the Steel Was Tempered.”
Turning his head, he thought to himself: Pretentious. Why the hell would someone who loves reading end up coming here?
With less than half of the fourth class period remaining, Shen Heng finally closed the book, removing his glasses. This particular class was taught by Hou-ge. The two exchanged glances, and Hou-ge nodded at Shen Heng, who promptly stood up and left the classroom.
Zhai Yao followed suit.
Hou-ge: “What are you doing? Sit down!”
Zhai Yao tilted his chin towards Shen Heng’s back and said, “Why can he leave?”
Hou-ge: “He’s going to the hospital to deliver food to his grandpa.”
Zhai Yao replied with an “Oh” and thought for a moment. “I need to pick up my niece on behalf of my sister.”
“Pick up what niece? School hasn’t ended anywhere yet!” Hou-ge waved the class teaching materials and sighed, “Sit down, bear with the lesson a bit longer.”
The whole class knew that if Zhai Yao wanted to leave, Hou-ge probably couldn’t stop him. However, to everyone’s surprise, Zhai Yao, with tongue against his cheek, cooperated and took his seat.
Everyone thought he was just making an excuse, but in truth, Zhai Yao didn’t lie. Just moments ago, he received a message from Zhai Bing asking him to pick up Xiao Lajiao from the special education school at noon. Zhai Yao asked why Zhai Bing couldn’t do it herself, but he received no response.
So, the moment the bell rang, Zhai Yao instantly left the classroom with no time to waste.
Although Venus Special Education School where Xiao Lajiao attended was in the same district as 9th High School, there was still some distance between them. Somewhere in the middle, one would have to go through an underground passage with an abandoned railway tracks overhead.
When Zhai Yao arrived riding a bicycle, most of Xiao Lajiao’s classmates had already left. The teacher was in the classroom, folding origami stars with her.
Seeing Zhai Yao, Xiao Lajiao ran towards him with gleaming eyes, presenting the star she had just folded. A soft smile surfaced on Zhai Yao’s face as he accepted it, conveying a “thank you” in sign language.
The teacher had an impression of the male in front of her, but wasn’t sure of his relationship with Xiao Lajiao. She asked doubtfully, “You are Xiao Lajiao’s…?”
“I’m her uncle.”
“Where’s her mom?”
Zhai Yao, unsure of his sister’s whereabouts, replied vaguely, “She’s busy.”
The teacher nodded, appearing as if she wanted to say something, but hesitated for a moment before ultimately deciding to inform Zhai Yao of some circumstances.
“Well, it’s like this. Xiao Lajiao told me that her parents always smoke in front of her, especially her father. This is harmful to her health and growth development. When you return, communicate with your sister and ask them to pay more attention to this matter in the future.”
Zhai Yao pulled Xiao Lajiao over and let out a soft “Mm” before saying, “I understand. Thank you, Teacher.”
…
At noon, Zhai Yao took Xiao Lajiao to a random noodle shop near the special school. While having lunch, Xiao Lajiao told him about a new teddy bear cake at the bakery by the railway. She really wanted to try it, but Zhai Bing always never bought it for her.
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.
Zhai Yao didn’t respond, but after finishing their meal, he immediately took Xiao Lajiao on his bicycle to the bakery.
Xiao Lajiao’s joy was palpable as she held the teddy bear cake in her hands, admiring it with reluctance to take the first bite all along the way.
Zhai Yao: “Hurry up and eat. Otherwise, when you get to school, others will snatch yours.”
Xiao Lajiao shook her head, using sign language to express: —The teacher said good things should be shared with friends.
Zhai Yao thought to himself: Your teacher could say that because they aren’t short of money and haven’t experienced the struggle of being financially strained. Despite this, he didn’t discourage Xiao Lajiao from following her teacher’s advice.
The midday sun was viciously scorching in the aftermath of summer, casting a layer of heat waves above the ground. As soon as Zhai Yao and Xiao Lajiao exited from the underground passage, they were forced to retreat into the shadows once again.
Zhai Yao decided it would be better to go back to the bakery first; there was air conditioning there. He planned to wait until the school reopened its gate before taking Xiao Lajiao back. However, as soon as he turned the corner, he heard a commotion coming from the railway tracks above the underground passage.
Squinting against the harsh sunlight, Zhai Yao chinned up and spotted a familiar white shirt.
The tip of his eyebrows slightly raised. Why is he everywhere I go?
At that present moment, Shen Heng was surrounded by seven or eight individuals, retreating towards the railway tracks with his upright back pressed against the wire fence.
One of those people seemed vaguely familiar to Zhai Yao, probably from the vocational high school.
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Xiao Lajiao tugged at Zhai Yao’s sleeve, gesturing to ask: —What are they doing?
Zhai Yao replied nonchalantly: —Dancing.
Then, as Shen Heng blocked a punch from the other side and seized the opportunity to slam the guy’s swollen, pig-like face into the wire fence, Zhai Yao raised his hand to cover Xiao Lajiao’s eyes.
It was also at that moment Shen Heng caught sight of Zhai Yao. Their gazes fleetingly connected across the railway tracks and the underground passage.
Zhai Yao flashed a smile at him.
This was the first time Shen Heng witnessed Zhai Yao smile, a grin that carried an air of apathy, as if he were merely a spectator enjoying the show.
The vocational high school guys behind Shen Heng began to clamour and advance. Shen Heng lifted the pig head in his hand, saying, “Move again, and I’ll throw him down.”
Sure enough, that group of people stopped. They knew very well that the person in front of them was capable of doing it.
Zhai Yao saw how the outcome had already been determined, and there probably wasn’t much more to watch. He carried Xiao Lajiao, placed her on the back seat of his bicycle, and started pedalling into the underground passage…
After escorting Xiao Lajiao back to school, Zhai Yao stood under a tree, lit a cigarette, and, under the scorching sun, made his way back to 9th High School.
When passing through the underground passage again, he couldn’t resist glancing from afar at the railway tracks, but the place where the fight had occurred now stood vacant.
Zhai Yao accelerated his cycling speed, cutting through the heat waves, eager to return to the classroom swiftly and enjoy the cooling fan.
Upon reaching the classroom, there was still some time before the afternoon class. Only a few people occupied the room, and Zhai Yao immediately spotted Shen Heng at the back.
Shen Heng was leaning his head on the desk, napping away. His hair was slightly tousled and curled up by the fan’s breeze, and his glasses were placed aside after being taken off.
Zhai Yao approached him and took a seat, catching a faint whiff of smoke emanating from Shen Heng.
Probably feeling the stifling heat, Shen Heng had unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. The collar, once constricting, now lay open, revealing half of his neck. On the side of his neck, there were a few thin blood streaks, probably from being scratched by the wire fence near the railway tracks during noon.
Zhai Yao sardonically laughed inwardly, thinking: If you’re feeling hot, just take it off; wearing long sleeves in the middle of summer and looking like a moron.
As if sensing Zhai Yao’s gaze, the moron raised his hand to adjust his collar, covering his neck, and opened his eyes.
“Does my neck look good?”
How annoying as hell the moment he opens his mouth.
Zhai Yao had originally wanted to curse “idiot,” but inexplicably, he felt a teasing mood and nodded. “Mm,” he said, “it’s hard to see clearly from a distance. Was that why those people were surrounding you?”
All it took was a split second for Shen Heng to understand that Zhai Yao was probably asking about what happened at noon. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I don’t remember; I also didn’t see it clearly.”
Zhai Yao sneered; this motherf*cker really knows how to play the game of feigning ignorance, huh?!
People started entering the classroom one after another as class time approached. Shen Heng and Zhai Yao didn’t speak again. Shen Heng opened his “How the Steel Was Tempered” book and had his attention fixed on it for the rest of the afternoon.
As the end of the school day approached, Zhai Yao was in his drowsy state when suddenly, a voice floated by, “Zhai Yao.”
Zhai Yao was caught off guard, feeling a bit dazed. For the first time, his own name sounded unfamiliar to him.
Shen Heng glanced at him. “Can you accompany me to the hospital?”
Zhai Yao instinctively wanted to ask, “Are you sick or something?” but Shen Heng continued after a moment’s hesitation, “Shen Ziyao didn’t eat well at noon. He kept insisting on seeing you.”
“Why did he want to see me?”
Shen Heng took off his glasses and wiped them with a velvet cloth. His lowered gaze and tone were equally inscrutable, “Maybe he mistook you for me.”
Zhai Yao felt that what Shen Heng said was equivalent to saying nothing.
Seeing Zhai Yao not speaking, Shen Heng fell silent again. “Consider it one more favour owed to you.”
“Your favours are rather cheap.” Zhai Yao slung his backpack over his shoulder, turned around, and walked away. He didn’t have the kindness or the energy to get involved in someone else’s family affairs. Lately, a group of people kept causing trouble at the skating rink, and he was afraid that Zhai Bing wouldn’t be able to handle it alone.
Shen Heng didn’t try to keep him any further; instead, he watched Zhai Yao with a deep, lingering gaze as the latter left the classroom.
Zhai Yao couldn’t shake off the feeling that at any given moment, Shen Heng might suddenly strike him on the back of the neck and drag him away against his will the next second.
Naturally, he also didn’t look back.
The skating rink hummed with its customary vitality, with Zhang Qiang's distinct electronic voice blaring from the massive speakers. The blinking lights from the disco ball overhead spun and shimmered, causing discomfort in Zhai Yao’s eyes.
Zhai Bing sat in front of the counter with a cigarette in her hand, loudly chatting on the phone. Upon noticing Zhao Yao’s arrival, she quickly told the person on the other end, “My brother’s here; I’ll hang up now.”
Zhai Yao didn’t need to guess; he knew it was Liang Hao on the line.
“Just in time for you to take over the shift; I need to go fetch Xiao Lajiao.” Zhai Bing extinguished her cigarette, packed her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and lightly pointed towards a blonde youth on the rink with her red-nail-polished fingertips. “That kid is a bit shady and unscrupulous; keep an eye on him.”
With that, she grabbed the key to the electric scooter from the drawer and left the skating rink.
As anticipated, not long after Zhai Bing left, the blonde youth she mentioned started making a move.
First, he skated a figure-eight behind a girl with smoky eye makeup. When they reached a blind spot on the surveillance camera, he extended his hand and deftly snagged the phone chain dangling from the girl’s pocket.
The blonde youth revealed a triumphant expression, ready to make a hasty escape. But as soon as he turned around, he was met with Zhai Yao’s cold gaze.
“What the heck!” The blonde youth jumped in surprise, almost losing his balance.
Zhai Yao beckoned at him with a finger.
The blonde youth pretended to be clueless. “Who you? Do I know you?”
Impatiently, Zhai Yao urged, “Hurry up.”
The blonde youth twisted his lips into a scowl, begrudgingly reached into his pocket, and just when he thought he had managed to deceive Zhai Yao with his action, he suddenly swung his body sideways and darted towards the exit, still wearing the skating boots.
Zhai Yao, as if to have expected the move, turned around and delivered a swift kick to his knee.
The blonde youth yelped in pain, sliding to the ground in a kneeling position. The girl’s phone flew about half a meter away.
Zhai Yao bent down and retrieved the phone, handing it back to the bewildered non-mainstream girl. “Check if it’s broken.”
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“Mm.” Zhai Yao picked up the blonde youth from the ground with one hand. Turning to the non-mainstream girl, he continued, “Next time, keep your phone in a safer place. It’s not easy to buy another Nokia now if you lose your current one.”
“Oh, th-thank you!”
After dropping off the blonde youth at the police station, Zhai Yao checked the time. It was right about the closing time, so he went back to close the skating rink.
At the police station, the officer on duty was the same one who had questioned him when he brought Shen Ziyao last time. Recognizing Zhai Yao, he inquired whether Zhai Yao knew the old man’s grandson. Afterwards, he also asked if Zhai Yao had seen Shen Ziyao lately and how the old man was doing health-wise.
Zhai Yao gently pressed the bicycle brake, his foot lightly touching the ground. His expression, devoid of emotion, blended into the night, merging subtly with the darkness.
After a moment, he shifted course, making his way towards the People’s Hospital…
The author has something to say:
Ceatbg: Itjl Tjb, atf bcis atlcu sbe’gf ubbv ja lr ajixlcu ylu (kjuulcu olcufgr).
Zhai Yao: (holds a knife)
Both of them are tsundere❤️
Hehe zhai yao you’re too kind to ignore grandpa shen uwu
Thank you for the chapter!