Wen ZhiChu: !
Not expecting the curled-up party horn to smack Qin JiaShu right in the face, his eyes widened in terror. The originally bright and shiny eyes, which gazed at the other, were now filled with panic.
Hastily removing the party horn from his mouth with a hand, Wen ZhiChu looked at Qin JiaShu and asked cautiously: “Are…are you alright? I didn’t do it purposely.”
Qin JiaShu’s face darkened, the pain on his face appearing and then disappearing transiently. Today was really a huge mess for him. He didn’t want to argue excessively with Wen ZhiChu and only wanted some peace and quiet.
As a result, he took a deep breath, as if exercising his patience, and said through gritted teeth: “What are you doing here?”
Wen ZhiChu lowered his head: “Giving…giving you a pleasant surprise.”
Qin JiaShu, who was whacked directly in the face: ……
There was no pleasant surprise. It was more like a startling shock.
The surrounding atmosphere gradually turned awkward. Qin JiaShu looked at the colorful ribbons that had landed all over the floor, the result of the merriment that Wen ZhiChu had experience alone just now.
The youth was still holding the empty party popper in his hand. His head was lowered, and his shoulders were slightly hunched. Qin JiaShu never noticed how he walked previously in the past, but lately, Wen ZhiChu has always been like this.
Noticing the thoughts in his head, Qin JiaShu frowned slightly, displeased at himself for paying attention to such an obnoxious and antisocial person.
In other words, they had seen each other too many times lately. This was clearly something the other had planned deliberately.
Yet right now Qin JiaShu was right in front of him, but Wen ZhiChu kept his head lowered the entire time, afraid to look at him. For a second, Qin JiaShu couldn’t understand Wen ZhiChu at all. Regardless however, he didn’t want to have anything to do with Wen ZhiChu.
Like in the eyes of every other student, Wen ZhiChu was trouble.
After all, not many knew Qin JiaShu’s true colors inside this school, but Wen ZhiChu was one of them.
He didn’t know if Wen ZhiChu would spread that information publicly, but he wasn’t afraid anyway. After all, it should be unlikely that anyone would believe his words.
Just as Qin JiaShu suspected Wen ZhiChu silently to himself, Wen ZhiChu started speaking while twisting his fingers together. His voice was extremely quiet, soft like a feather landing on someone’s shoulder, without any force: “Um… con…congratulations on your English essay, for getting 2nd place.”
Qin JiaShu’s deep dark eyes abruptly constricted. His limbs stiffened for a second before he very quickly recovered again.
“Did you come to laugh at me?”
Hearing this, Wen ZhiChu said swiftly: “No…No……”
For a second, his small fair-white face flushed bright red: “No, I’m not.”
Only if he were suicidal, would he come with such fanfare to make fun of the protagonist.
Terrified that Qin JiaShu didn’t believe him, Wen ZhiChu continued to explain: “If…if I wanted to laugh at you, I wouldn’t do it like this.”
“Then how would you do it?”
“I wouldn’t…wouldn’t let you find out.”
“……”
Very good. Quite tight-lipped over the secrecy of this matter.
Afraid Qin JiaShu might resort violence anytime, Wen ZhiChu took half a step back: “Really…. I came to congratulate you. You’re…you’re really amazing.”
Qin JiaShu gave him an indifferent look and didn’t say anything. That English essay was still placed inside his pocket right now. To him, 2nd place was a type of failure, a type of humiliation. It was nothing to celebrate about.
Picking up his feet, he wanted to leave. However, with that movement, the essay that was crumbled into a paper ball inside his pocket fell out and landed on the ground.
Seeing this, Wen ZhiChu bent down and picked it up: “You… you dropped your stuff.”
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.
Opening it, he discovered it was Qin JiaShu’s English essay.
Hlc AljVte aegcfv tlr tfjv jcv uijcmfv ja la yglfois, mifjgis cba qijcclcu ab ajxf la yjmx.
Vfflcu Qfc ItlJte jybea ab tjcv la yjmx, tf rjlv: “Rb cffv.”
Coafg tfjglcu atlr, Qfc ItlJte yilcxfv jcv ibbxfv vbkc ja atf qjqfg. Lf jrxfv mjealberis: “Ktfc…atfc mjc sbe ulnf la ab wf?”
Qin JiaShu halted in his steps. For once, there was a rare stiffness and discomfort to his voice: “Whatever you want.”
The next second, he saw Wen ZhiChu putting that ball of paper into his bookbag extremely carefully as if it were a precious treasure. After placing it well, Wen ZhiChu then put the backpack on his back like a good little student.
Wen ZhiChu happily put away the ball of paper, keeping it to sell as scrap when he returned.
A smile still dangling on his face, he looked up and immediately saw the person in front of him watching him. Wen ZhiChu swallowed his saliva and for a second, felt somewhat awkward from the stare.
Then he opened his mouth and said: “In…inside my heart, you’re forever number 1.”
After all, the title of that <<My Father, the District Mayor>> was even written wrong. It gave Wen ZhiChu a delusional feeling like if he had participated, he’d also be able to do it.
However, after hearing these words, Qin JiaShu, who had originally started walking away, suddenly came to a stop.
Wen ZhiChu’s heart skipped a beat. Afraid the other had misunderstood again, he hastily stepped forward and explained: “Real…really. I’m not I’m not making fun of you. Although you received… 2nd place, inside my heart, you’re forever forever always number 1.”
The youth’s cheeks flushed slightly red out of nervousness and panic. A pair of eyes that were sincere, without any impurities, watched Qin JiaShu, ardent and zealous, as if terrified he’d misunderstand, like an uneasy little animal glancing at him nervously.
For a second, Qin JiaShu had an incredulous expression in his eyes. This kind of steadfast recognition, from a certain perspective, appeared and swept away the dark haze in his heart.
He liked hearing these kinds of things.
Since childhood, what he needed the most, what he loved to hear the most was affirmation. Imperative, like the wings of an eagle, only through having these can his desire and vanity be satisfied, filling the huge hole inside his heart.
Everything he wanted, he had obtained to the best of his abilities with all his skills. Therefore, since young, he has never been short of admiration and praise. However, looking at the person before him, this was actually the first time he received affirmation despite not receiving first place.
The teachers didn’t even give him any words of consolation. To hear it spoken from such an annoying person made him momentarily feel an inexplicable taste in his mouth.
Then he left in a hurry without giving the other another glance.
He was really very absurd.
Seeing Qin JiaShu’s figure leave, Wen ZhiChu also let out a huge breath of relief.
[System: Don’t relax just yet.]
Wen ZhiChu: ?
[System: There’s only 5 minutes before the bus leaves.]
Wen ZhiChu: !
When Qin JiaShu returned home, it was 10pm at night. After switching his shoes at the entrance hall, he saw Mama Qin walking out of the living room.
“JiaShu, you’re back. How was today?”
“Fine.”
“Yes?”
The conversation between the two of them was somewhat awkward. Looking at her, Qin JiaShu fell silent for a while before saying: “The results of the Provincial essay contest came back today.”
“Is that right? What rank did you get?”
“2nd place.” This voice was both gloomy and heavy.
After hearing this, Mama Qin frowned slightly. Qin JiaShu caught this perceptively with his eyes and unconsciously clenched his hands tightly.
“Did you get careless this time?”
Qin JiaShu: “No.”
Qin JiaShu’s grades have always been extraordinary. Throughout his childhood, what she and her husband heard the most from the family tutor was how Qin JiaShu had won some contest or another once again or how he had obtained some kind of outstanding achievement again. After hearing these words too many times, they gradually stopped listening carefully. After all, Qin JiaShu’s first place has already carved an imprint in their hearts. Therefore, in every contest afterwards, they always assumed he’s number one.
Looking at her son, Mama Qin didn’t know what to say for a moment. She didn’t really spend a lot of time with her eldest son. She also didn’t know how to treat kids this age.
After a brief hesitation, she said: “Our ability may be inferior, but if you try harder next time, perhaps you’ll be number 1.”
Qin JiaShu made a noise of acknowledgement and then went upstairs using rest as an excuse. When passing the corner of the staircase, he heard the tapping sound of footsteps.
Turning his head sideways to look, he saw a chubby dumpling currently clinging to the doorframe and looking eagerly at himself.
Qin JiaHe looked at his elder brother with big, wide eyes: “Gege, you’re back.”
A few seconds later, Papa Qin also appeared behind that door: “XiaoHe, why did you run outside?”
Qin JiaHe pointed at his older brother: “Gege is back.”
Papa Qin looked over: “Ah, JiaShu you’re back. Hurry upstairs and go rest.”
Qin JiaShu looked at the story book in his father’s hands. Without saying anything, he turned and went upstairs.
After a 600-meters dash, Wen ZhiChu successfully got on the bus.
Seeing this, the old driver couldn’t help but comment: “Kid, you’re so energetic.”
Wen ZhiChu: ……
Unfortunately this energy was forced.
After returning home, Wen ZhiChu took a shower and then sat down in front of the table, planning to study English.
However, not long afterwards, there was a notification message from his phone.
It was a friend request from the English representative. Seeing this, Wen ZhiChu accepted skeptically.
Very quickly, the other sent over a file.
[Daffodil: The English teacher said you should look at some essays.]
There was no more follow-up after that.
Wen ZhiChu recognized this folder. It was the one sent to the English department by Class 1’s English teacher, the essays from the Provincial English essay contest.
Wen ZhiChu felt somewhat confused and mumbled to himself: “Why make me read these?
[System: Shouldn’t you ask yourself this?]
Wen ZhiChu: ?
[System: Full score of the English essay portion is 25 points. You scored 5 points.]
“…….”
Wen ZhiChu quietly saved the folder. Thoughts on the ball of paper that he had acquired flashed across his head. He opened his book bag and took it out.
Spreading it open, thin beautiful English words appeared before his eyes.
Wen ZhiChu was stunned. He never expected Qin JiaShu’s handwriting to be so pretty.
[System: Can you understand it?]
Wen ZhiChu could hear the meaning behind those words: “Are you looking down on me?”
[System: Perhaps.]
Wen ZhiChu felt a bit stubborn and said indignantly: “I can understand.”
[System: Very good, young man. I admire you.]
Saying this, Wen ZhiChu gathered his concentration and started reading it.
5 minutes later, he placed the paper to the side.
[System: What’s the matter?]
“Let’s just sell it as scraps.”
[System: ……]
Although he verbally said he was going to sell it, Wen ZhiChu still smoothed out that crumpled piece of paper and put it away carefully. The signature on the lower right corner was also very beautiful.
In his memories, besides having a bad temper, Qin JiaShu didn’t seem to have any other faults. He had no imperfections.
Keeping this essay can also be considered having a small goal. There’s bound to be a day that he will be able to read it.
After putting it away carefully, he started to look through the folder the English teacher had someone send to him.
[System: Young man, why are you still looking even though you can’t understand it?]
Wen ZhiChu: “What if I can understand it?”
[System: This is provincial level English essays.]
“I know.”
[System: Even if you stuff inside a piece of garlic, it’s still not an orange.]
“……”
Wen ZhiChu stubbornly ignored Skycat Genie and started reading them. After flipping through countless essays, he finally found an essay that he can understand.
The top essay of the provincial contest, <<My Father, the District Mayor>>.
Every single word inside this essay, Wen ZhiChu was able to understand exceptionally well. Who would have imagined that first place would fail to such an extent.
[System: So in reality, the only difference between you and #1 in the province is a father.]
Wen ZhiChu: “So?”
The mechanical voice said somewhat bashfully: “I’m willing.”
Wen ZhiChu: ……
Really, that’s quite unnecessary.
hahahahaha i love the system Jiashu’s family is awful. It hurt when they looked at the storybook. he never had it shitty parents
Thanks for chapter ♥️
QJS’s parents failed at basic parenting. Congrats!
Wow. Gotta love parenting skills…when they exist… Thanks for the update 👀❤️ (I can still see and hear the thwap of the fully extended party favor. And Skycat, achieved!)
I straight up hate his fcking parents…. they’re just so obliviously and callously inconsiderate. Especially the dad jfc… the mom’s a knob, but at least she knows it’s bad, the dad straight does not give a fck….
+1
I really hope they aren’t “redeemed”. I’d really rather an ending where QJS keeps them at arms length cause he realises he doesn’t need their approval and the parents realise that the relationship is doomed and it’s entirely their own fault.
I would like to +1 your +1~ sometimes it really is better to leave relationships like that behind you. The fact that the mom, who does want to repair the relationship but is just useless at it, straight up forgot he existed on that rainy day when he didn’t cycle to school is really indicative of how baked in it is to her psyche to just utterly disregard him.
I want these parents to lose everything, to feel what he feels. I feel so bad for him, especially since he probably on realized there was something off with the way they treat him when his little brother was born and they showed a completely different side of themselves. I also don’t want them to repair the relationship, I want him to realize he doesn’t need them, and that he’s better off without them. I typically like when siblings get along, but it is honestly too painful, because even though the brother threw away the umbrella for a different reason, it seems like he’s two-faced, excited to see his brother but doesn’t want the things he’s “sullied”. All in all, I think the author is writing this family dynamic really well.
This is the same as the other ml in this same authour other book both ml’s parents are always absent
Thanks for the chapter!
I will also congratulate Qin JiaShu on winning second place! 🎉🎉
Oooo, great parenting skills there Mama Qin. Your distant son opened up to you for the first time in forever and you took that chance to stab him where it hurts. He’ll be sure never to do that again!
His parents pissed me off. Yeah sure treat your estranged elder son like air, that definitely won’t hurt his feelings or anything 😒
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
Thanks for the chapter 💕
Our parents used to congratulate us for not failing a subject, yet here Qin JiaShu’s mother is being a prat because he didn’t get first place. I have first-hand experience witnessing a boy having a mental breakdown when he got 98% for his exams, because his parents had the same mentality Qin JiaShu’s mother has. It’s heartbreaking when you realise that this situation is more common than you’d think
I really can’t like the Qin family :/ They are making a lot of mistakes and don’t even try to fix them…
Thank You for the new chapter ( ˘ ³˘)♥
Thanks to update again
Why can’t girlie even say a word of affirmation bruh, even a small “congratulations, you did great” BUT SHE EXPECTED HIM TO GET FIRST PLACE EVERYTIME?? I’m about to punch some sense into their faces. That is literally impossible..
Also the fact that an “obnoxious” person was the one who gave him affirmation and made him feel better which causes him to have mixed feelings about him 😭😭😭😭 they’re both so precious 🥲🥲🥲🥲
Thank you for the chapter!
oh sweetie (T^T) 2nd place is still very good… i’m sorry that you haven’t been told that
…. being honest, if the protagonist manages to let go of the resentment he has towards his family it would be incredible, getting along with them with hugs and smiles is impossible. Look how they behave!
thanks for the chapter!