novel
| ← Ch.174 | Ch.176 → |
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
[Wen Heng: Probably because he's handsome. ]
Ji Zhiyao lifted a corner of his lips.
Did he think that he would be happy after they complimented him like this?
He couldn't bring himself to be happy at all!
He put his phone aside and hugged himself tight miserably.
Mo Huaifeng questioned, "What's wrong?"
"My tutor has taken note of me, I'm scared."
Ji Zhiyao looked at the table, in the time where he was texting, several cold dishes and plates of meat had been served. He picked up a peanut to eat, saying gloomily as he chewed, "Our teacher told me to go meet him once I'm back in school, even the thought of it is scary. Would he really expel me?"
Heng commented, "Would he still ask to meet you for a talk if he was planning to expel you? Don't be so silly my boy."
Ji Zhiyao realized that he was right after giving it some thought and hence became at ease, then looked towards Yuan Wei with eager eyes."So Brother Yuan Wei, I shall not go for the holiday, could you get the club to convert it into cash for me?"
Mo Huaifeng frowned slightly."You're in need of money?"
"I'm not, but who would complain that he has too much money? Besides, I still have to earn allowance for my sister."
"You're really good to her."
This tone sounded a little off. Ji Zhiyao lifted his head and saw that Mo Huaifeng was staring right at him, and quickly remedied."She's your sister too, remember to give her more pocket money yeah!"
Mo Huaifeng was left speechless.
Was he supposed to be happy or angry?
The others all looked speechless and constipated. Nuo pretending to be retching, in addition to an especially disdainful expression on his face."Can we have a meal in peace? In any case we're outside right now, isn't it better for both of you to be more cautious?"
"He's right, we just won the championship, isn't it good to stay alive?" Yuan Wei said, "Let me ask the club, though we haven't had any past cases of converting a holiday into cash previously, it should be doable."
Thus Ji Zhiyao was very pleased and threw the thought of wanting to rebut Nuo to the back of his mind as he replied, "Thanks a lot, Brother Yuan Wei."
The meat on the barbecue rack was already more or less done, everyone began to dig in, laughing and talking as they ate.
When they returned to the base after dinner, Ji Zhiyao sprawled out on his bed after a shower. As he recalled how he had played four consecutive matches today, to clinching the championship and raising the trophy up high, things just somehow did not feel real.
He picked up his phone to scroll Weibo and realized that his number of followers had exceeded 10 million.
Ji Zhiyao rubbed his eyes and took another look. Yet nothing had changed, it was 10 million.
He was also an influencer with 10 million fans now!
Ji Zhiyao swiftly became cocky, joyfully tapping into Mo Huaifeng's profile, intending to mock his 10 million following that he was once very envious of. Yet he found...
21 million.
Ji Zhiyao was dumbfounded, his eyes stared at those digits, almost burning a hole in the phone's screen.
Yet the number did not change.
Ji Zhiyao gnashed his teeth in anger.
What bullsh*t!
Isn't it just because his Captain is good looking, and he does not belong to them.
Why were they paying so much attention to him?
It was simply infuriating.
Ji Zhiyao muttered towards the screen for quite some time before he calmed down with a cough and secretly switched to his private account to enter the interest community of Mo Huaifeng and his own "Windy Couple".
...
The next morning.
Ji Zhiyao woke up with just enough time to get to his first period, packed his bag and headed out to book a ride back to school.
This timing was relatively ingenious, everyone was either heading to class or up for breakfast, there were lots of people on campus.
Ji Zhiyao hadn't even stepped past the gates and already found many girls going "ahhhhh" and boys making comments like "indeed quite handsome, deserving of the championship" while pointing at him, they seemed like they were about to pounce on him in the next second.
He quickly pulled his cap lower, glanced left and right, then took to his heels and ran.
Running all the way to a little corner on the ground floor of his dormitory, Ji Zhiyao really didn't have it in him to continue anymore and stopped. While panting heavily, he held onto the railings and crawled his way upstairs arduously.
He finally made it to his dorm and pushed opened the door.
The three others had yet to leave, seeing him enter, they were first stunned, then Yang Bing instantly pounced on him and gave him several bear hugs.
Ji Zhiyao was almost suffocated by his hold."Damn it Bing! What have you been eating in school? Why are you so heavy now?"
"Could you not poke at my sore spot the moment you come back?"
Ji Zhiyao retreated as he dodged Yang Bing's intentional forward bump, then he took another two steps and bumped shoulders with both Wen Heng and Ning Lichao.
"Congrats on the championship, waiting for you to carry me later on." Wen Heng said.
Ji Zhiyao grinned."Sure, sure, no problem. I'll be back here to stay tonight, I guarantee to bring you up to Challenger rank."
With that, the creepy feeling of the crowds of people staring at him like an animal in the zoo came to his mind and he involuntarily shivered."What's with our school? The moment I stepped in today, there were so many people surrounding me, if I hadn't run while they weren't paying attention, I definitely wouldn't be able to get out even at the end of the day."
Yang Bing was surprised.
"Were there many girls?"
Ji Zhiyao was confused."Yeah, quite a lot."
"Damn! Why did you still run when there were girls! You're so unpromising! How great of a chance was that to flirt with girls huh?"
Indeed, it was a wrong decision to discuss these things with Yang Bing.
As it was almost time for class, Ji Zhiyao quickly grabbed his books from the table and left the dorm with them.
While on their way, he asked, "Do you guys think that I would still be well and alive after meeting the tutor today?"
"Being alive is a definite, but whether you're well or not is another matter." Yang Bing put a knife through Ji Zhiyao's chest without batting an eyelid. Ji Zhiyao became even more depressed."Before I look for our tutor I'll go repost all the images of koi fish, I don't believe I won't be able to make it out of it alive."
Yang Bing chuckled."Impressive, impressive, can't afford to offend you."
The four of them rushed their way and finally entered the lecture hall before the lesson began. Once Ji Zhiyao stepped in, he felt countless gazes fall on him, and his scalp instantly went numb.
He pretended not to see and walked to the very last row with Yang Bing and the rest. He sat in the seat right on the outside, making it easy for him to run once class ended.
"I'm finally experiencing the feeling of having all eyes on me." Yang Bing sat down, with a twitch of the corner of his lips, his expression didn't look too happy."But why do I feel uncomfortable all over?"
Wen Heng nodded."I shall not sit with Old Ji in lessons anymore."
And Ning Lichao agreed as well."I think so too..."
Ji Zhiyao pretended to sob."Are we still brothers, you guys are abandoning me so easily?"
Yang Bing sighed heavily."We don't wish to do that too. But we really do not have the luck to enjoy all this, it's better to leave them all for you."
Ji Zhiyao lifted the corner of his lips then pulled out a textbook from his backpack and set it upright to block the vision of others. Brought out his phone to send a text.
[MelonRind: Help! Why are all these people doing this to me!]
[DB. MHF: Someone blocked your way?]
[MelonRind: Not quite considered blocking, but it's about the same _(:_」∠)_ my heart is so tired. ]
[DB. MHF: As a public figure, you must get accustomed to this. ]
Ji Zhiyao let out a "heh" and typed: [You're right, after all there are many pretty ladies, it's not bad to take a look for some eye candy. ]
[DB. MHF: Beware that I will break your mutt legs. ]
Ji Zhiyao read the text, then put his phone away again, the corner of his lips turned up unconsciously as he shook his leg, feeling very pleased.
Less than two minutes passed, the lecturer arrived and began the lecture. Most of the explicit and secret gazes disappeared, Ji Zhiyao sighed in relief and read his textbook according to what was lectured.
The amount of classes that he had missed was too much. Wanting to catch up all at once was really out of the question, first understanding what was written in the textbook was already something.
One period was about one and a half hours, and it went past very quickly. Ji Zhiyao had just finished reading one chapter and it was already the end of class.
Before the lecturer left, Ji Zhiyao observed his classmates all around who seemed to be restless and eager for action, he first tapped Yang Bing and conveyed in a low voice, "Help me to bring my backpack back, I'm going to evacuate first, I'll be back at the dorm after I've met our tutor."
Yang Bing replied in a similarly low voice, "Go ahead, I will take good care of your family for you."
"... Screw you!"
He indignantly kicked Yang Bing's leg, then slid off the chair like a mud fish and swiftly ran out through the back door of the lecture hall.
Their tutor's office was located in another academic building. Ji Zhiyao ran to the ground floor, swiped the QR code in a bike-sharing app to unlock a bicycle, then hastily rushed to the other side.
In less than ten minutes, Ji Zhiyao had already arrived at his destination, and got off to head upstairs.
As this academic building was the office building for all tutors, it was especially quiet. The further Ji Zhiyao went on the stairs, the more he felt that a disaster was imminent. Before he entered the office, he pulled out his phone and quickly reposted several images of koi before knocking on the door.
A voice sounded from the inside very quickly."Come in."
Ji Zhiyao silently drew a cross before his chest, then opened the door to the office.
The room wasn't especially big and there was only their faculty's tutor in there. Ji Zhiyao stood properly very quickly and greeted meekly, "Good morning tutor, I am Ji Zhiyao from Class 3 from the Faculty of Law."
"Oh my, it's you! Come come come, don't stand on ceremony, take a seat."
Ji Zhiyao blinked dazedly and instinctively sat onto the sofa according to the tutor's instructions.
Were all the teachers these days so amiable?
Yet Ji Zhiyao evidently remembered the lecture they got when they first started school, their tutor was beating the idea of "if you can't do it then don't even criticize it", simply fierce and strict. What's with the change in character now?
Just as he was feeling doubtful, his tutor sat down opposite him and said with a pleasant smile."About your situation, I already knew about it. Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on the championship."
Ji Zhiyao became even more fearful, even his tongue was no longer as glib."No no no Sir you flatter me, my results are average, it's my teammates who are better."
"But, a country has its laws and a family its rules, although you are very outstanding, the school cannot make an exception for you, otherwise we wouldn't be able to manage the other students well, do you agree?"
He knew it would be like this.
Though he was in great despair, he still replied conscientiously, "You are right."
"You are counted to have skipped an entire semester of lessons. Out of consideration for your situation, I have requested to the school, we will have your parents make a trip here and you are to hand in a 10 thousand words reflection."
Ji Zhiyao froze for a moment, his face became a little blue.
Let's put aside the 10 thousand word reflection for now, getting parents to come to school... Which university still needed to invite the parents of their students to school? Why had he never heard of it before?
"Sir, it's not that I'm unwilling... Both of my parents are doctors, they are involved in many surgeries every day and really too busy, they might not have time to come to school."
The tutor was evidently a little stumped, a thought suddenly sprang to Ji Zhiyao's mind."How about this Sir, I stay with the battleteam more these days, can I get my Captain to come meet you? Our Captain looks over our meals, accommodation, everything, he's akin to a second parent.
"Sir, do you play video games? Captain is very skillful with games.
"He's very handsome too, Sir do you want an autograph?"
Both of them stared at each other, Ji Zhiyao capably demonstrated a sincere smile, the tutor was discomfited and made a difficult compromise as he said, "I think... That would work too."
Ji Zhiyao spoke swiftly, "That's great! I'll give my Captain a call now, Sir please hold on!"
Ji Zhiyao quickly slipped out of the office and called Mo Huaifeng.
Mo Huaifeng picked up very quickly, just as he said "hello", he was already interrupted by Ji Zhiyao."Don't hello anymore, Captain save me! Quickly make a trip to my school?"
There instantly a crash coming from the other hand, as if someone had gotten up too quickly and pulled something down, at the same time there was also the sound of hurried footsteps... Mo Huaifeng asked, "What happened?"
"Um... My tutor wanted to meet my parents, I told him to let you come instead."
All at once, all the sounds in the receiver stopped like a cassette being paused, leaving Mo Huaifeng questioning calmly, "What did you say? Repeat it? Parents or family member?"
"Pa..."
"Think it through. Your answer will determine whether or not I will beat you after I arrive at your school."
Ji Zhiyao was in despair."What can I do, I'm feeling very hopeless too! I still have a 10 thousand word reflection to write!"
Mo Huaifeng felt especially helpless."I'll be there in 20 minutes." Then with a click, he hung up.
Hearing the beep, Ji Zhiyao's countenance instantly changed, letting out a "tsk" sound, he put his phone and pushed opened the door back into the office."Sir please hold on, my Captain will be here soon."
His tutor nodded.
Ji Zhiyao sat back onto the sofa, he wanted to play with his phone but didn't dare to, hence he just stared ahead, occasionally bowing his head, secretly peeling at his nails for a while.
About 20 minutes later, Ji Zhiyao's phone rang. He leaped up from his seat."Sir please hold on, I'll go bring my Captain up."
His tutor nodded, Ji Zhiyao bowed, slipped out of the office and picked up the call."Captain, you're here?"
"Mm." Because he'd was using hands-free calling, Mo Huaifeng's voice sounded slightly soft."I'm at the gates, where do I go next?"
"Left turn, left turn, then right turn, then go straight for 200 meters."
"Can't you say north south east west?"
"Wow, you still don't know that I can't differentiate between north south east west? Are you a fake boyfriend?"
Mo Huaifeng was choked up and said after quite some time."I got it, come meet me downstairs."
"I'm walking down right now, I'll be there right away."
As the sound of his last word fell, he stepped down from the very last step onto the flat ground of the ground floor and walked towards the main entrance. He'd just taken a few steps out and he already saw, through the glass, Mo Huaifeng's show-off of a Cadillac.
| ← Ch. 174 | Ch. 176 → |