Chapter 44: I Stand With You
Click—
Zhang Jincheng pushed the door open and entered. “What’s the noise? Heard it from outside.”
Zhang Lin opened his mouth, but Lin Qizheng pressed his shoulder. Helpless, he looked away. “Nothing.”
No matter how dumb Wen Rong was, he knew he shouldn’t mention cheating and illegitimate children in front of Zhang Jincheng. He lowered his head to stare at the smooth tabletop and silently shut his mouth.
With everyone present, they held a slack-off club meeting.
—Eaten yet?
—Ate.
—Any news?
—None.
Conversation over, everyone went back to doing their own things.
Zhang Jincheng was more troubled than before receiving the cocoons, banging the keyboard louder than Lin Qizheng from time to time.
Amidst the noise, Wen Rong missed the days of joking and playing around, but he didn’t know how to return to that state.
The four returned to the dorms from the Administration Building in silence.
That night, Wen Rong told Leon about this matter.
Since they agreed to share with each other last time, the two would chat on Black Pigeon at night.
He didn’t dare ask directly about right and wrong but asked indirectly: [Senior, in your circle, is cheating within marriage common?]
Leon: [You want to ask about Shi Ye’s family?]
The Senior was very smart and always seemed to guess what he wanted to say.
Wen Rong thought about it and decided to say what was on his mind: [It seems no one minds that Shi Ye’s father cheated during marriage. The seniors in the News Club also said many people play their own games after marriage. I’m a bit curious if this kind of thing is right or not.]
[Curious about cheating within marriage, or curious about others’ marriages?]
Wen Rong paused. His thoughts were led forward, and he actually started to wonder what the cause of the “play their own games” marriages the seniors mentioned was like.
Wen Rong: [Seems curious about others’ marriages.]
Leon: [Are you free tomorrow?]
Wen Rong flipped through his small notebook. His schedule was very full; he should go to the library after class tomorrow.
But since the Senior asked, Wen Rong silently adjusted the plan to tonight.
[Yes.]
Leon: [I’m going to the Girls’ School tomorrow. Come with me then.]
Floriman Academy’s Girls’ School was built next to the Boys’ School. However, because both campuses were huge and separated by several undeveloped wastelands, Wen Rong hadn’t seen students from the Girls’ School since enrolling.
When Leon drove into the Girls’ School gate, Wen Rong saw many beautifully dressed girls walking together and suddenly remembered the System saying “Host can build a family yourself.”
Maybe the car was too eye-catching, or maybe his gaze was too enthusiastic; as he watched, girls on the roadside turned back to meet his eyes. Wen Rong lowered his head in embarrassment, his cheeks heating up uncontrollably.
Leon noticed his state. “What’s wrong?”
Wen Rong was honest. “A bit nervous seeing girls.”
“Nervous about what?”
“They smiled at me.”
Leon smiled at the road ahead. Just as he was about to tease him, he heard Wen Rong ask, “Senior, can students from the Boys’ School date students from the Girls’ School?” The smile froze on his face.
His expression changed slightly. “No.”
Wen Rong was shocked. “Why?”
Leon stepped on the gas, driving away from the girls on the roadside and turning onto a road with no sidewalks. “Did you see a girl you like just now?”
Wen Rong shook his head.
“Then why ask that?”
“Want to build a family.”
Leon sucked in a breath. “Little Fool, wanting to get married without even dating?”
“Mm! When you reminded me last night, I realized I’m really curious what marriage is like. I want to experience it too.”
Leon was speechless for a moment. “Do you have a type you like?”
“I…”
Wen Rong was stumped.
If he had to say specifically what kind of person to marry, that part was actually blurry.
Only when the car stopped and Wen Rong got out did he barely come up with a description. “Senior, I want to date a gentle girl.”
“I’ll take you to see a gentle girl in a bit. Let’s go.”
Wen Rong was shocked: “Senior, are you introducing me to a partner? I… I didn’t fix my hair properly before leaving.”
Smack.
A palm slapped onto his forehead. Wen Rong closed his eyes instinctively. Leon took his hand away. “Keep dreaming. Just taking you to have a look.”
“Oh.”
Wen Rong rubbed the spot the Senior slapped and followed him disappointedly into a teaching building.
The Girls’ School was completely different from the Boys’ School. The air was full of sweet scents, feeling clean and pure.
Upstairs, the corridor had a wall on one side and windows on the other. Brilliant sunlight warmed the air. The sound of high heels on the floors above and below sounded as pleasant as a symphony.
Senior Leon placed Wen Rong in front of a window and asked him to wait a moment.
Wen Rong stood obediently.
The sky here was the same as the Boys’ School. Approaching night, the horizon was filled with orange afterglow.
Click.
A nearby door opened, and a female voice came out, “What kind of attitude is that?”
“Take it or leave it, otherwise scram—”
A girl walked out angrily. “I don’t want it. I don’t believe others can’t make it.”
“Good luck then.”
The girl walked away quickly in high heels. Wen Rong thought the door would close, but another girl walked out. White coat, long hair pinned back with a clip, capable and beautiful.
The moment her eyes met Wen Rong’s, Wen Rong, who hadn’t interacted with girls, hurriedly buried his head in fear. “Hello.”
“You’re that Special Recruit from the Boys’ School?”
Wen Rong didn’t know how she knew him and asked hesitantly, “You are…”
The girl’s expression softened. She strode over to Wen Rong. “I’ve seen your news. I’m a Special Recruit too.”
Wen Rong’s eyes widened.
It was amazing. He actually had no hometown, but hearing this girl say she was also a Special Recruit, a sense of intimacy like “meeting a fellow villager” arose in his heart.
“Are you doing okay? Have you been bullied?”
Wen Rong intended to answer he was doing well, but speaking of bullying, he had indeed been bullied.
Before he could answer, the girl said first, “If you’re bullied, never hold it in. These rich people push their luck. As long as you study hard and show real strength, they won’t dare do anything to you.”
Wen Rong, whose grades were at the bottom, didn’t have much confidence, but he was still very grateful that the girl told him this upon first meeting. “Thank you.”
“You look unhappy.”
Wen Rong paused. “Is it obvious?”
“Super obvious.”
“…”
“Tell me what you’re unhappy about. I have experience; I’ll give you some tips.”
Experience?
Wen Rong hurriedly asked, “Were you bullied?”
“No, I mean I have experience bullying people.”
Wen Rong breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
Wait a minute—
Wen Rong sucked that breath back in. “You bully people?”
“Yeah. You don’t know, there’s a fake-kind bad apple here in the Girls’ School, deadly annoying and a pervert… Anyway, I’ve been grinding her like a mob since school started. I’m max level now. Tell me your difficulties; I’ll give you tips.”
These words sounded impressive, but the girl started scratching her head irritably, loosening her hair. The friction sound inexplicably reminded Wen Rong of Shi Ye. Shi Ye also liked rubbing his hair like this when annoyed.
The question about cheating within marriage climbed into Wen Rong’s brain again. He couldn’t help asking this kind “fellow villager,” “Do you think cheating within marriage is right or wrong?”
The girl paused, turning back in surprise. “Does that even need asking? Of course it’s wrong.”
“But they say this kind of thing is common, accustomed to it.”
“Which dumbass said that?”
Although the girl was a bit grumpy, Wen Rong felt inexplicably reassured.
He got the answer he considered correct from the girl and felt comforted.
Just as he wanted to chat more, like asking if there were many perverts on the forum, crisp footsteps came from behind.
The girl’s expression stiffened instantly. “Alumnus, happy to meet you. I have things to do. Contact on Black Pigeon later.”
Wen Rong: “?”
He turned his head following the girl’s figure, and a large patch of gold suddenly appeared in his vision.
The girl’s white coat was quickly covered by gold—satin-like golden curly hair falling from the shoulders down the white coat like a waterfall.
“Baby, haven’t seen you all day. Are you hiding from me?”
“No… I’m not.”
“No? Then give me a kiss.”
The gentle voice startled Wen Rong. Immediately, the girl’s voice pulled him back to reality. “Move. Are you a pervert? Stay away from me.”
The girl tilted her neck to dodge, but the golden hair stuck to her, forcefully leaving a red lip print by the girl’s lips.
Then, the golden hair looked up at Wen Rong, azure eyes revealing a bit of triumph.
Wen Rong was stunned and simultaneously understood why he felt weird.
Her voice was very like Senior Leon’s, the golden hair was also like Leon’s, and the eyes even more so.
!!!
Wen Rong’s brain crashed, yet spun inexplicably.
Ordinary friends don’t kiss; only lovers kiss.
Boys can date boys; of course, girls can date girls too.
Various terms spun in his head. He felt a bit dizzy, his body swaying uncontrollably, unaware when his shoulder was held down.
“This is my cousin, Evelyn.”
Still different from the Senior. The Senior’s voice was deeper, without the blonde girl’s tone of coaxing a child.
Wen Rong stood straight and greeted, “Hello, my name is Wen Rong.”
“Zhiyue, not going to greet your sister-in-law?”
Jiang Zhiyue’s gaze toward Wen Rong changed from friendly to sympathetic. She pushed Evelyn away forcefully, took out her phone, and handed a QR code to Wen Rong. “Let’s add WeChat. I’m Jiang Zhiyue. Let’s keep in touch.”
Evelyn: “Why don’t we create a family group chat? Contact often in the group.”
Wen Rong’s light eyes were full of confusion. He looked back at Leon. “Senior, why create a family group?”
Leon’s gaze patrolled between Evelyn and Wen Rong. Then, disappointed, he gently pushed Wen Rong’s shoulder. “Nothing. Let’s go, time to head back.”
Before leaving, Wen Rong saw Jiang Zhiyue push Evelyn again, but failed. Evelyn stuck to her completely, her nose tip constantly rubbing against the lipstick mark on Jiang Zhiyue’s lips.
When Jiang Zhiyue was pinned against the wall and kissed by Evelyn, Wen Rong’s heart beat extremely fast. It didn’t calm down even in the car.
Like a brat seeing the main characters kiss on TV, he was excited and shy, raising both hands to cover his face.
“What’s wrong?”
Wen Rong shook his head along with his hands.
“How did it feel seeing Evelyn?”
“What?”
“Didn’t you want to date a girl? No feelings seeing her?”
Wen Rong was still blank. “What feelings?”
Leon lowered his eyelids, covering a fleeting disappointment.
After a moment, he asked unwilling to give up, “It’s so dark, yet I can see your face is especially red. Do you like Evelyn’s type?”
Face red…
Like…
Wen Rong’s tongue tied. “I I I I…”
“No rush, speak slowly.”
Wen Rong’s heart pounded rapidly. He explained incoherently, “I don’t like her. I just saw people kissing with my own eyes for the first time, first time. A little…”
“A little what?”
“…Shocked.”
“Besides that?”
“Need there be anything else?”
The air was silent for a moment.
Lights and shadows scattered away. In the darkness, Leon shook his head helplessly once again and changed the subject. “Were you chatting with Jiang Zhiyue just now?”
“Mm-hm. Didn’t expect she was a Special Recruit too.”
“What did you talk about?”
“She thinks cheating within marriage is wrong, just like me.” After saying it, he started thinking deeply about this issue again. “Why don’t others think so?”
Leon’s lips moved slightly, muttering, “You aren’t straight; you’re a wooden block.”
“What?” Wen Rong didn’t hear clearly.
He sighed. “Wen Rong, are you 18?”
“Yes.”
“Then you have to learn to enter the adult world.”
“What is the adult world?” Wen Rong asked.
The wheels crushed leaves leaving the Girls’ School, driving slowly on the wide road.
“It means other people’s affairs aren’t important. Your own feelings…”
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Leon couldn’t say them.
Reason told Leon that Wen Rong’s mind was full of cheating, cheating, cheating right now. He wouldn’t listen to anything other than cheating.
But Leon couldn’t speak about cheating according to Wen Rong’s wishes either, because his mind was full of why Wen Rong had no reaction to Evelyn.
—Similar appearance to himself, female.
—Wen Rong had no reaction, meaning he had no thoughts about him.
“Senior?”
Leon forced himself to calm down for a moment. Finally compromising, he followed Wen Rong’s train of thought. “The adult world means there is no absolute right or wrong, only interests.”
Silence meant Wen Rong didn’t understand. Leon continued, “For example, regarding cheating within marriage, you got ambiguous answers from the seniors. Maybe as you said, many people are accustomed to it and don’t think it’s wrong. But if you ask Shi Ye, his answer will definitely be opposition. Do you know why their opinions differ even though they are all people of that ‘circle’?”
“Why?”
“Because Shi Ye is a victim, while the others are potential beneficiaries.”
“Why are there beneficiaries? Is there profit in this kind of thing?”
“Of course. They might plan to cheat in the future, might want to gain benefits from those who cheat, or might want to protect themselves.”
“So don’t obsess over right and wrong like a child. Interests can drive people to do many strange things… Adults need to understand how to act from their own interests. You can’t guess others’ minds. Criticizing right and wrong solely based on moral concepts won’t solve problems and does you no good.”
Wen Rong tilted his head in contemplation. Being too distracted, his head suddenly bumped against the car window. His handsome face froze instantly. He turned to look at Leon immediately. Seeing he didn’t turn his head, probably assuming he didn’t see, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Leon’s mood improved inexplicably. He continued, “Encountering this kind of thing, you only need to consider your own interests. Is it more beneficial to stand with the beneficiaries, or more beneficial to stand with the victim?”
The car rolled over a speed bump, both swaying with the vehicle.
Leon was suddenly curious about whose side Wen Rong leaned towards more—his three seniors from the News Club, or Shi Ye.
“Can you determine now if Shi Ye’s father cheating is right or wrong?”
“It’s wrong.”
Answering without hesitation. Leon developed a new worry.
Didn’t stand with the three seniors he cared about most, but stood with Shi Ye instead? Is Shi Ye more important than the three seniors?
Leon lifted the corners of his mouth, feigning a smile. “Why stand on Shi Ye’s side?”
“Didn’t stand on Shi Ye’s side.”
Leon’s smile became slightly more genuine. “Then why?”
Wen Rong: “…”
The car had entered the school at some point and stopped at the dorm gate.
Before getting out, Leon asked again, “You still haven’t told me why.”
Wen Rong turned his head, eyes curved and twinkling with cunning light. “Senior, take a guess?”
Leon’s heart moved. He felt this unusual look was extremely cute, like a little fox.
Click. Leon unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned close. “Senior can’t guess. If you don’t say, you have to sit here with Senior forever.”
“Okay.”
Wen Rong nodded frankly. Whether out of trust or being too obtuse, he didn’t even move back, looking increasingly proud.
Leon keenly sensed there were no wicked thoughts in Wen Rong’s mind and sat up straight helplessly.
A block of stupid wood.
“Senior, don’t you want to know anymore?”
Leon: “Mm.”
“Ah…” Wen Rong was regretful.
“If you want to say, Senior will listen. Anyway, Senior can’t guess.”
Click.
Leon heard Wen Rong unbuckle his seatbelt.
He leaned close as if telling a secret to a friend, suppressing excitement in his eyes. “When the News Club knew Shi Ye’s illegitimate half-brother was enrolling, Senior Zhang Lin said ‘Shi Ye is the Youngest’s friend; we stand with him unconditionally.’ I didn’t understand his saying at the time. I thought they were just agreeing with me, not really agreeing with my view.”
“But what Senior just said made me understand. This means taking a friend’s interests to heart, cherishing the friend.”
“Senior, Shi Ye is your friend. I guess you would stand on his side.”
“I stand with you.”
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