The Foolish Bookworm of the Aristocratic Boys’ School chapter 68

Chapter 68: Zhou Xie Loses His Cool

It wasn’t until a sob broke the silence that Shi Ye snapped back to reality.

He quickly took off his jacket, stepped forward, and tied it around Wen Rong’s waist. “Hold it yourself.”

Wen Rong clearly hadn’t expected him to come. He looked up abruptly, a flash of surprise in his red-rimmed eyes.

Shi Ye’s emotions were complicated. He avoided that gaze, silently crouched down to help him put his shoes back on, picked up the trousers and belt, and pulled him out of the cafeteria.

That night, the Black Pigeon forum was livelier than ever.

Thread: [Verified with my own eyes. The cross-dressing Liang Zilixue is obsessed with isn’t even that good-looking.]

[I saw it in the cafeteria today. It was just okay.]
[It’s just showing some leg. We already saw that when he fainted on the tennis court a few days ago.]
[Wearing a short skirt with hair that short looks weird. Can I make a request for the Special Recruit to wear a wig next time?]
[Isn’t this meant to humiliate him? Why are you making requests?]
[Even if it’s humiliation, I need to protect my eyes!]

…

[If Shi Ye hadn’t taken him away, I could have looked a bit longer. Shi Ye won’t be sticking to his side constantly from now on, will he? That would be boring.]
[Relax. Shi Ye is going to the Open Tournament next week. He can’t protect him for long.]
[When that happens, can I see a shorter skirt?]
[Want to see a shorter skirt +1]
[I believe the dealer will satisfy my small request.]

Just as everyone was clamoring to see a shorter skirt, a new post appeared on the forum.

Poster: Wen Rong Title: [Once you have this, you’ll never fear bullying again]

Editor’s Note: I’ve found that people with weaker physiques or poor family backgrounds often face inexplicable bullying in school, the workplace, and daily life, sometimes even physical threats.

I hope capable alumni can help create a weapon similar to pepper spray—lightweight, non-lethal, yet effective for self-defense—so that everyone can have a fighting chance when facing danger.

[???]
[Excuse me, you still dare to post?]
[Haven’t had enough of wearing skirts?]
[I can make the thing you want, but I absolutely won’t make it for you.]
[How do you have the nerve to talk about bullying? Didn’t you start this?]
[Is wearing a skirt not enough to satisfy you, Wife?]
[You called him Wife?]
[It’s just humiliation. He hates being treated like a woman the most.]
[I see. I’ll join in too. Wife Wife Wife Wife Wife Wife Wife]
[From now on, I’m going to call him Wife to his face. Just treat him like a woman.]

Even at 3:00 AM, people were still replying to the thread with unusual intensity. It reached a point where Zhou Xie, the system administrator, received a backend notification: [Tonight’s forum reply volume has increased by 300% compared to average. Come see what interesting things are happening.]

Thus, Zhou Xie, who usually kept a strict schedule, broke his routine and opened the Black Pigeon forum before sleep. His heart tightened when he saw Wen Rong posting again, reminding him of the educational software post. But then he thought, Being forced to cross-dress has surely broken Wen Rong’s spirit temporarily; his persistence in posting is just a last-ditch effort to act tough.

Relaxing, he clicked on the post.

[Wife Wife Wife Wife]
[Wife Wife Wife Wife I want to marry you and take you home.]

When Zhou Xie saw people claiming that calling Wen Rong “Wife” was a way to humiliate him by treating him as a woman, he raised a hand to rub his brow.

Acting like it’s real. Useless idiots thinking with their lower halves.

The next day, Zhou Xie woke up early.

A helicopter circled above Floriman Academy. After the roar of the engine, the fierce wind kicked up circle after circle of airwaves.

Someone held the door frame and stepped off the helicopter. Golden hair, like a clawing beast, swayed strand by strand, roaring at the sky.

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Seeing his close friend whom he hadn’t seen in nearly a month walk toward him, Zhou Xie, as the Student Council President, prepared to express routine concern about Leon’s trip. Suddenly, a black shadow clouded his vision.

Crack—

His cheek went sideways, and his glasses flew off. Only then did Zhou Xie feel the pain radiating from the bridge of his nose.

Leon’s punch was so earth-shattering that Li Ao, standing nearby, was stunned. It took a few seconds before he stepped forward to support his cousin. “Leon, what are you doing?”

Zhou Xie raised a hand to signal Li Ao to shut up, squinting as he found his glasses on the ground and put them back on.

When he straightened up, the soul imprisoned beneath his cold indifference broke free. Zhou Xie charged at Leon and returned the punch.

Leon stumbled back two steps, a mocking laugh spilling from his lips, and raised his hand again.

Now everyone was truly shocked. The calmest Student Council President and the best-tempered Leon were fighting!

“Pull them apart, quick!”

Someone shouted, and the crowd woke from their trance, rushing forward to separate the two.

Zhou Xie curled his lip in a sneer. “Because of that Special Recruit again, is it?”

Leon, shedding his gentle demeanor, struggled against the hands holding him. He tried to get to Zhou Xie, but people blocked his path. His azure eyes were rimmed with red blood vessels. “You made him wear a skirt in front of so many people! You actually made him wear a skirt! Zhou Xie, do you understand basic respect?”

Zhou Xie also struggled in Li Ao’s grip, his upper body lurching toward Leon. “Did I force him to write that article? Did I force him to smear the school?”

“There were better ways to solve it.”

“Then tell me, what other way could quell everyone’s anger?”

Li Ao, who had inexplicably taken a punch from his cousin during the struggle, finally couldn’t help interrupting. “Stop arguing.”

“You’re still helping him? Since we were kids, you’ve listened to him like a dog. You’ve bitten so many people—has your brain never grown in once? Haven’t you ever doubted if those things were right!?”

Li Ao froze. A nerve in his brain was struck. He frowned deeply. “Is it necessary to fight over an insignificant Special Recruit? And in front of so many outsiders?”

—Outsiders.

Everyone present felt awkward. After exchanging glances for a few seconds, ignoring whether the two wanted to continue fighting, they declared, “So tired, so sleepy, need to sleep,” and swiftly vanished.

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The helicopter lifted off, its sound dissipating into the air, growing fainter until it was gone.

The cold wind remained fierce, slapping faces and chilling bones. The three stood in silence for a long time before Zhou Xie abruptly turned around.

“He started it. If you really feel sorry for him, then watch him like a dog. Don’t let him out to bite people randomly.”

According to Zhou Xie’s prediction, the dispute should have ended there. However, Leon strode forward and grabbed his shoulder. “Who are you calling a dog?”

Zhou Xie’s lips curled into a smile devoid of warmth. “Truly deep in love…”

Then he couldn’t help adding, “Here’s some bad news for you: Shi Ye definitely likes him too.”

“What are you going to do? Fight over someone with the friend you grew up with?”

Sure enough, Leon’s expression changed slightly.

The smile became much more genuine. Zhou Xie sighed sincerely, “I really want to see that scene.”

Leon evidently didn’t want to see that scene; he hurriedly let go and backed away several steps.

Zhou Xie turned at the right moment. Just as he was about to go downstairs, hurried footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell. A splash of aqua blue rushed out from the corner, like morning mist rising from a lake.

In the mist was a woman. Her figure was light and graceful, her long hair pinned up in a bun, secured simply by a white jade hairpin. As she passed Zhou Xie, she left a trail of faint fragrance.

Zhou Xie tried to recall her face but found he couldn’t remember what she looked like. It felt like a dream.

“Senior.”

A familiar voice…

He turned back in confusion and saw the long hair cascading down her back, tied into a single lock with a slender ribbon, like satin.

“Wen Rong?”

Wen Rong?

Zhou Xie’s foot slipped, and he stumbled down two or three steps.

Li Ao rushed up to support him, simultaneously shoving a phone in front of his face. “Cousin, something happened.”

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Bluebook Trending Topic #1

#Wen Rong Traditional Costume#

#Floriman Academy Student Council President Requires Wen Rong to Dress Like This Every Day#

Clicking on the trend, the first post was a nine-grid photo set of the “woman.”

The lake was the familiar lake near Shi Ye’s villa. The face was the familiar face, with elegant makeup. Aside from stray hairs blown by the wind, there were no other adornments on his cheeks.

The skirt was even more familiar—it was the wisp of morning mist that had just drifted past his eyes.

The photos had been posted half an hour ago. Shares exceeded 100 million. Comments exceeded 100 million.

The comment section was buzzing.

[As everyone knows, Floriman students must wear uniforms. But because Zhang Jincheng’s work is too perfect, the Student Council President—the Federal President’s only son—gave a special green light, allowing Wen Rong to wear clothes made by Zhang Jincheng on campus.]
[Is Zhang Jincheng the one who accused Wang Allen of plagiarism a few days ago?]
[Yes, yes! Although Zhang Jincheng isn’t very famous, his family is a renowned traditional tailoring dynasty in the Federation. Many big shots who love traditional culture order clothes from his family. Many big-budget historical dramas also ask for their help.]
[No wonder the Student Council President made a special exception for Wen Rong to wear it. Cross-dressing Wen Rong is way, way, way too beautiful!]
[It fits his temperament perfectly, like a goddess who doesn’t eat the food of mortals.]
[The aqua-blue gauze robe on him is even more incredible. Those in the fabric business know that modern silkworms, due to genetic mutation, grow fatter than ancient ones, and their silk is coarser. It’s impossible to replicate the ultra-thin gauze found in ancient tombs. But looking at Wen Rong’s robe, just seeing him stand there, you can feel it floating. It’s terrifyingly thin. It must be a new silkworm species! Not only can it make layered gauze skirts that don’t feel hot even with twelve layers, but it might even help archaeologists restore antique clothing.]
[I now believe Wang Allen stole Zhang Jincheng’s design drafts. Wang Allen’s previous designs were a bit dark in style, while Zhang Jincheng’s style is so ethereal. Those fairy skirts at the Spring/Summer Fashion Week definitely came from his hand.]
[I compared Wang Allen’s designs from Fashion Week. Some details use ancient techniques that only a true professional would know.]
[Didn’t you guys notice? Wen Rong’s eyes really look platinum-gold in the sunlight. It matches exactly what Zhang Jincheng said!]
[Oh my god, the Student Council President has such good taste. The only skirt permitted is indeed amazing. Was he stunned too when he saw it with his own eyes?]

Dizziness hit his brain again. Zhou Xie’s knees went weak, and he nearly planted his face on the steps. Fortunately, Li Ao held him up in time. “Cousin, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“But you…”

“…”

Am I really fine?

I have a problem!

A fool wouldn’t see it, but he wasn’t a fool.

While he was fighting a war inside the school, Wen Rong aimed directly outside the school. He used Tai Chi tactics—borrowing force to strike back—using Zhou Xie’s “humiliation” as a stepping stone to elevate Zhang Jincheng.

The Academy’s sole permission, the President’s son’s appreciation, and Wen Rong’s own inherent heat. With these three factors combined, even a pig could fly into the sky.

Zhou Xie couldn’t believe it. How could Wen Rong come up with such a “move”?

“Senior, you look so haggard. Was it hard work over there?”

Oh, Senior.

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Leon.

Wen Rong couldn’t think of it, but Leon could. Perhaps Leon had been secretly acting as his strategist all along.

For a Special Recruit he’s known for less than two months, he would stab his childhood brother in the back like this?

Zhou Xie was beside himself with anger. Hostility bred in his eyes as he jerked his head to look at Leon. “Did you teach him?”

Leon didn’t know when his face had become covered in smiles. Maybe when he saw Wen Rong, maybe when Wen Rong called out to him…

His azure eyes were full of tenderness, making no attempt to hide the love within.

His gaze shifted slightly to Zhou Xie, and the corners of his mouth lifted a few degrees higher. “I didn’t teach him.”

Then who—

Shi Ye?

No, not Shi Ye. Shi Ye is always direct; he couldn’t come up with a plan like this.

“Senior has been gnawing on tree bark in the deep mountains and old forests for a month. So hungry, so hungry. Take Senior to eat something good.”

“Okay, okay.”

Leon took Wen Rong’s hand and went downstairs. That fragrance once again swirled through the air and rushed into Zhou Xie’s nose.

His gaze followed them. The aqua-blue hem almost floated away. The long hair was too unfamiliar; Zhou Xie almost hallucinated that this wasn’t Wen Rong.

Just Leon’s new girlfriend.

She looked nice. Good enough for Leon.

However, as the two figures reached the corner, the aqua-blue back suddenly turned around.

The light eyes were bright and crystalline, the corners of the lips slightly raised.

Smug.

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