Chapter 31
Jiang Yu felt awkward about lying, and being abandoned on the wall by Lin Xiu and Chi Aibei made him even angrier. After returning to the classroom, he didn’t look back at Chi Aibei.
However, Chi Aibei interpreted his reaction as guilt.
When Lin Xiu returned, he saw Chi Aibei staring at Jiang Yu’s back with an angry face. Their relationship had always been secretive, and it was rare to see Chi Aibei with this expression towards Jiang Yu.
When Lin Xiu passed Jiang Yu, Jiang Yu glanced at him, wanting to ask what the headmaster had said, but afraid of hearing that he’d faked depression to escape punishment. He swallowed the words before they came out.
Lin Xiu asked inexplicably, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Yu looked at Lin Xiu again, realizing he was asking the person behind him. Jiang Yu turned his head and met Chi Aibei’s furious gaze. Jiang Yu was startled.
Chi Aibei glared at Jiang Yu and asked Lin Xiu, “Did you get scolded?”
Lin Xiu sat down. “No.”
Chi Aibei didn’t believe him. “Then why did the headmaster call you out?”
Lin Xiu didn’t know why the headmaster called him out either. The headmaster’s words had been strange. “He just said I shouldn’t put too much pressure on myself to study and maintain a good attitude.”
Jiang Yu: “…”
Lin Xiu asked Jiang Yu, “Did the headmaster punish you?”
Jiang Yu stammered, “No.”
Chi Aibei snorted at him. “Traitor.”
Jiang Yu was about to turn away when he heard Chi Aibei’s words. He turned his head. “Who are you calling a traitor?”
Chi Aibei: “I’m talking about whoever is a traitor.”
Even Jiang Yu, slow-witted as he was, realized Chi Aibei was rolling his eyes at him. “I’m a traitor? You two left me on the wall and ran away, and now you’re calling me a traitor?”
Chi Aibei: “We left you behind because we had no choice, but betraying us is unjust!”
Jiang Yu was already angry about being abandoned, and when Chi Aibei started accusing him, Jiang Yu’s face turned cold. “I betrayed you? If I’d betrayed you, would you two be sitting here safely now?”
Lin Xiu didn’t know why they were arguing and wanted to mediate, but they spoke so fast that he had no chance to interject.
Chi Aibei didn’t believe him. He had clearly looked guilty when he came in and didn’t even dare to look at him. “If you didn’t betray Brother, why did you come back to the classroom with the headmaster? And the headmaster called Brother out!”
Jiang Yu: “The headmaster sent me back because I pretended to be depressed and said I was stressed about studying to get out of trouble! Chi Aibei, do you think I’m such a disloyal person?”
Jiang Yu was furious and didn’t lower his voice.
The classroom was quieter than ever; everyone was looking at him and Chi Aibei.
Lin Yang, witnessing the scene, was completely bewildered… What betrayal? What wall? What depression? What are they talking about?
Lin Xiu finally had a chance to speak. He told Chi Aibei, “The headmaster didn’t say anything to me.”
Seeing that Chi Aibei wasn’t speaking, Jiang Yu angrily turned away. Lin Yang was about to ask what had happened when there was a “bang!” Jiang Yu slammed his desk. “Where’s your homework? Did you eat it? Hand it in!”
Lin Yang jumped, quickly turning to find his homework. “I didn’t eat it, I didn’t eat it!”
Lin Xiu looked at Jiang Yu, who vented his anger on others. His personality was still as difficult as before. But what surprised him was that Jiang Yu had actually told that lie to the headmaster, which explained his extremely awkward expression when he came in.
Lin Xiu looked at Chi Aibei… They say that birds of a feather flock together, but this happened awfully quickly.
Chi Aibei whispered to Lin Xiu, “He scared me.”
Lin Xiu: “…”
Lin Xiu didn’t quite understand him. He was clearly a kid with high emotional intelligence, but now he was acting like a fool. Knowing he’d wronged Jiang Yu, he couldn’t even say a nice word and was still acting childishly.
Lin Xiu, like Jiang Yu, was waiting for Chi Aibei to apologize, thinking he’d help mediate if necessary. But two classes passed without Chi Aibei speaking to Jiang Yu.
During the break after the third class, Jiang Yu had calmed down. As he turned around to speak, Chi Aibei suddenly stood up and told Lin Xiu, “Going to the bathroom,” then ran off.
Seeing Jiang Yu’s improved mood turn sour again, Lin Xiu sighed. …This silly kid’s cleverness is so inconsistent!
In a deserted corner of the playground, Chi Aibei was on the phone. “Uncle, have you found the people?”
On the phone, Lin Weimin said excitedly, “Yes, don’t worry. I’ll definitely win a lot today. Once I win, I’ll pay you back and treat you to a meal.”
Chi Aibei didn’t dare accept the meal, but he said, “Okay, but Uncle, don’t let Brother Lin Xiu know about this; he’ll be unhappy.”
Lin Weimin also thought it was better not to let Lin Xiu know, as he always spoiled things. “Don’t worry, I promise I won’t tell him.”
Someone called Lin Weimin; it was probably time to start. Lin Weimin had organized this gambling session, usually attending others’ gatherings, this time it was his show. As Chi Aibei said, whoever runs the game has the luck. Before the gambling even began, Lin Weimin felt he’d win.
Chi Aibei: “Uncle, can you send me the address? I’ll come over after school to cheer you on.”
A mother’s love is as great as a milk-giving nurse’s love, so Lin Weimin, having received the money, considered the child his lucky star. Hearing he was coming, Lin Weimin readily gave him the address.
Hanging up, Chi Aibei looked at Lin Weimin’s location. “Sorry, you might have to stay inside for a while.”
…
After Chi Aibei reported the incident to the police, he ran upstairs, two steps at a time. A girl carrying a stack of homework was walking in front of him. Chi Aibei suddenly called out, “Classmate!”
Meng Ying turned around. “Are you calling me?”
Chi Aibei took off his new school uniform from that class and gave it to Meng Ying. “Cover your pants.”
Meng Ying was stunned, then she quickly understood. She glanced at her pants. “Oh my god!”
She’d felt something was wrong, and it turned out her period had started early.
She quickly turned her back to the wall, still holding a stack of homework. Chi Aibei took the homework, and Meng Ying thanked him while tying the uniform around her waist. “Thank you.”
Chi Aibei returned the homework. “You’re welcome.”
Then Chi Aibei continued running upstairs. Meng Ying quickly shouted, “I’ll return your uniform later!”
Chi Aibei’s voice came from upstairs. “My name is Chi Aibei. I’m in Class 2-1.”
Meng Ying smiled.
She knew; everyone in school knew the silly kid.
When Chi Aibei came back, his uniform was gone. Lin Xiu asked, “Where’s your uniform?”
Chi Aibei: “I lent it to a classmate.”
Lin Xiu was curious who would borrow his uniform. “Who?”
Chi Aibei shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Lin Xiu: “…”
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