Chapter 20: Checking Results
Having just showered, the fragrance on Yu Deng’s body was even more heady, but Zhou Yuejun felt it was distinctly different from his own.
Yu Deng simply smelled better than he did.
As the suggestive thought surfaced, the scenes in the bathroom from earlier played vividly in his mind.
Zhou Yuejun leaned in and pecked the base of Yu Deng’s ear.
Instantly, the boy whipped his head around, exasperated: “Don’t kiss me anymore! I’m going to be… kissed to death by you!”
His cheeks were flushed pink, and his watery eyes were stained a moist red, yet two small flames of anger flickered within them.
However, beneath the wary resentment, there was also a hint of cowardice.
Compared to ghosts, Yu Deng was now more afraid of Zhou Yuejun.
A malevolent spirit even more fierce and wicked than a ghost.
“I won’t allow it! I won’t allow it ever again! Don’t you even think about kissing or touching me again!”
Clearly, he had even shed two tears begging Zhou Yuejun earlier.
Yet, every time, Yu Deng couldn’t help but glare at the man with a mix of resentment and reproach.
It was just like flirting.
His mouth continued to mumble, though it was unclear what he was saying.
“Pinching my hand, too—it’s all swollen. Just pinch me to death then; you’re so annoying…”
Zhou Yuejun began to rub his legs, inevitably receiving two more hits. A porcelain-white toe even kicked against his hard, sturdy chest.
Zhou Yuejun simply endured it, neither dodging nor defending himself. However…
Not touching Yu Deng was impossible. He hadn’t even done anything truly overboard today.
Yu Deng would have plenty of “bitterness” to taste in the future.
Perhaps because he had just tasted a bit of “meat broth,” Zhou Yuejun’s entire aura was no longer cold and stiff. His wildness was wrapped in an erupting sex appeal, his whole body radiating tension.
This overflowing hormone was charming to others, but to Yu Deng, it was terrifying.
“I’m going downstairs to buy you some ointment. If you can’t sleep, wait for me to come back.”
His little partner was truly too delicate; he’d likely keep making a fuss and crying of pain. Once that three-part weak, pitiable appeal came out, Zhou Yuejun couldn’t remain indifferent.
Yu Deng huffed again and turned his head away. When he was displeased, his words weren’t polite, and his voice was slightly raspy.
“Buy some for my mouth too. Just say… just say I was stung by a bee.”
Yu Deng was clever enough to find an excuse for himself.
To this, Zhou Yuejun suppressed a laugh and headed out.
When he returned, the electric fan was whirring away, and the boy on the bed was already asleep.
Despite his legs still feeling hot and stinging, he had wrapped a thin blanket around himself. As he slept curled on his side, the curves of his body were particularly evident.
It made one want to give him a few swats.
Knowing the boy had just fallen asleep—it was already two or three in the morning—Zhou Yuejun was extremely careful when pulling the blanket.
When the cooling ointment was applied, the sleeping Yu Deng twitched in alarm, clearly not sleeping very soundly.
Zhou Yuejun moved his hand in circles, applying it meticulously, a thought suddenly occurring to him.
That is, Yu Deng could taste this kind of bitterness, but he absolutely must not taste the bitterness of life.
Because of the late-night tossing and turning, Yu Deng also woke up late.
Feeling sticky, he had thought it was early morning, he…
Who knew it was the medicine Zhou Yuejun had applied to him.
The medicinal scent was mixed with a hint of mint. It felt cool on his skin, and as the fresh minty fragrance was inhaled into his respiratory tract, he felt as if the surrounding temperature had dropped quite a bit.
The breakfast Zhou Yuejun had bought was almost cold. Yu Deng took a sip of porridge and two bites of a meat bun. Feeling sleepy and lethargic, he flopped back onto the bed in a soft pile.
When Zhou Yuejun returned at noon, Yu Deng was squatting on the balcony, watering his seeds.
He was even preparing to grow some vegetables to eat.
Zhou Yuejun hadn’t bought food; he had rushed back because he remembered about Yu Deng checking his results.
“The general store downstairs has a phone. Let’s go check your scores.”
Yu Deng immediately set down the small bucket he was using for watering and scrambled up, unable to wait: “Let’s go, let’s go! Let’s check them!”
In a small place with few people, there weren’t many checking their results. There were still four or five people ahead of Yu Deng, all lined up at the counter of the general store.
To avoid affecting the shop lady’s business, everyone lined up toward the back. Standing under the scorching sun, it wasn’t long before everyone’s foreheads were steaming with sweat.
Some, afraid they had misheard, would make two more calls to verify.
Zhou Yuejun naturally wouldn’t let Yu Deng suffer like that: “Go inside and buy an ice pop. After we ask for the score, we’ll go to a shop to eat.”
The general store had many varieties of ice pops; they only had basic popsicles at home.
Yu Deng bought a red bean one. After giving Zhou Yuejun two bites, he went inside to enjoy the shop lady’s electric fan.
The shop lady was eating lunch. A war movie was playing on the TV, though no one was actually watching it; everyone’s attention was captured by the students checking their results.
Some wept for joy upon hearing their scores, while others were so dejected they almost fainted. Just from their expressions, one could tell who would have their name on the “Golden List” and who had “fallen off the mountain.”
The shop lady couldn’t help but inquire: “How are your grades usually? Which university do you want to attend?”
To avoid provoking anyone, the shop lady asked in a low voice.
Yu Deng took a sip of the rapidly melting sweet liquid and replied softly: “I don’t know. Just a university in this province.”
In the normal plot, Yu Deng was considered a stumbling block for Zhou Yuejun, causing him to stay in Jiangcheng for two years.
Two years later, once Zhou Yuejun’s career had achieved some success and he successfully reunited with his wealthy biological parents, he no longer had the “oil bottle” that was Yu Deng. Only then did he move from the inland to the coast, showing his prowess as his business expanded overseas.
It was a standard “power fantasy” setup.
Soon it was Yu Deng’s turn. Zhou Yuejun beckoned him over: “Keep your voice down. Don’t make a scene.”
He was very cautious.
After Yu Deng dialed the number and provided his information, the other side quickly found the results.
Zhou Yuejun pressed his ear against the back of the receiver, but he could still hear.
Amidst the slight hum of the electrical current, a number was heard.
Before Yu Deng could confirm, Zhou Yuejun couldn’t wait: “How much?”
The voice on the other end repeated it: still 541.
Once it was confirmed, Zhou Yuejun hung up the phone and handed it to the person behind them.
As the two stepped aside, the shop lady asked curiously: “How much? Did you pass? Will there be a school to attend?”
Yu Deng was about to speak when Zhou Yuejun gave his arm a tug: “He should be able to attend a university in this province.”
His face was solemn, his expression unreadable. Instead, he created an impression that Yu Deng’s results weren’t that great—that he could barely manage to attend some “wild chicken” university.
The shop lady glanced at Yu Deng’s expression again and found that after his initial shock, the boy kept a sullen face and narrowed his eyes, not saying a word.
It didn’t look very good.
But Yu Deng was only because the sun was shining diagonally on him and he found it glaring.
Moreover, he had anticipated that the original owner’s grades wouldn’t be bad.
The shop lady offered a few words of comfort: “As long as you get in, it’s fine. If all else fails, you can go to that night school. Work during the day and study at night; it won’t be a delay.”
Yu Deng was gripped by the wrist by Zhou Yuejun. Seemingly receiving some hint, he only nodded and didn’t speak.
Only after the two had walked some distance away did Yu Deng whisper: “I got a 541!”
No wonder the original owner wanted to study so much. With a score of 541, it was actually quite good.
[Author’s Note: Since my own Gaokao experience involved receiving scores before filling out preferences, I wasn’t aware that in some places preferences were filled out first. This is an oversight on my part.]
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