Chapter 110 - Pay Attention to Me

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

A week passed, and the students of First High now had a whole new understanding of the school tyrant.

 

First, Su Qi tearfully apologized in an online post, and then Rong Wei announced that he won't have anything to do with Tang Shasha. The two best friends and suitors of Tang Shasha were behaving like this just after listening to the recording. The melon-eating bystanders probably understood now who was right and who was wrong.

 

A few students came to their classroom during their break to apologize for what happened at the school assembly at the end of last semester, even presenting him with several small snacks: "Brother Che, we've offended you, please accept these."

 

It was as if they were paying some consolation fee.

 

Only a few of them were like this, the majority of the students just silently brushed it over in their hearts, as if nothing had happened. They may have felt some guilt over this matter, but not everyone can actually muster the courage to apologize to the people they have wronged.

 

In short, this was already considered a past matter as they already turned a new page.

 

Jiang Yao sighed: "They simply won't acknowledge that their words and deeds were nothing short of bullying. If you were not this mentally strong, you would have long since jumped off a building."

 

The two of them were sitting on the rooftop of the dormitory building, the evening breeze blowing his words away.

 

The night sky was dark, stretching far in the distance with no end in sight.

 

Yin Che looked at the relatively tiny school building below, closed his eyes, and felt the wind brushing his face.

 

In fact, his mental strength was nothing much. But, just knowing that there is someone who will always believe in him and accept him unconditionally, made him able to carry on.

 

Since there will always be a way back, naturally, he won't be afraid to move forward anymore.

 

The popularity of school gossip rises quickly and falls just as fast. Not long after the dropout incident, the school forum had switched to a brand new hot topic: it was the topic of the 70th anniversary of First Hight.

 

But before the celebration, third-year students were looking forward to another event: the coming of age ceremony.

 

The ceremony was held at the school, but Zhang Jiaozhu was so stingy that he wouldn't let them squander a valuable weekday and insisted on doing it on the weekend.

 

So on Friday night, most of the dormitory students didn't go back home.

 

When Yin Che talked to his family on the phone about this, Qiao Wan Yun was quite suspicious: "Xiao Che, is there really a coming-of-age ceremony? Isn't it that you simply want to stay at school with your boyfriend, right?"

 

"... Mom, there really is such a ceremony. If you don't believe me, ask our head teacher."

 

Qiao Wan Yun then believed him, although she kept repeatedly admonishing him: "You two are still young. Don't be too hasty, some things should not be rushed. That's why, you have to pay more attention to protection, understood?"

 

She made it seem as if Jiang Yao was a mighty beast that would swallow him up at any moment.

 

Yin Che glanced at the man sitting in front of his desk.

 

He was quietly looking at his phone, seeming quite peaceful and honest.

 

He was afraid this beast had degenerated into a herbivore. It had not eaten meat for more than half a month. Even the last time when he pressed him on the bed, he just kissed and rubbed against him for a while.

 

Even though he was so wild during the heat, he suddenly turned back into a proper gentleman afterward. So he also didn't know what went wrong.

 

"Zhang Ke said in the group chat that they would go out to eat tomorrow night and that the class monitor would treat them. Are you going?" Jiang Yao asked.

 

Yin Che hung up the phone and opened the group chat just in time to see that many were signing up and there were already a dozen people participating.

 

"I'll go."

 

This kind of activity was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. If you miss it, you will not have the opportunity to go in the future.

 

Early Saturday morning, residential students departed from their dorm rooms and went downstairs to reach the sports field in order to attend the coming-of-age ceremony held by the school.

 

"Isn't this too simple?" Zhang Ke was greatly disappointed.

 

The podium was decorated with a row of tables and chairs arranged for the school leaders. It was simply decorated with a red cloth, flowers, and a long banner hung above them, on which was written with bold characters: We are now adults!

 

Other than that, there was nothing special.

 

Zhang Ke: "At least give us some adult gifts, right?"

 

Han Meng: "You think it's a wedding ceremony? So you want to receive wedding candy?"

 

Jiang Yao: "Speaking of marriage..."

 

Zhang Ke and Han Meng shouted in unison: "You shut up!"

 

"......"

 

The ceremony process was nothing fancy. First, the principal delivered his speech, then it was the turn of the student representatives.

 

The fact that Jiang Yao went up on stage was something no one was expecting.

 

"Crap? And there I was wondering why Brother Yao suddenly wore formal wear today, he concealed it very well ah."

 

"I have to concede that clothes make the man, he actually looks the part*."

[T/N: The identity is human, but the behavior is described as a dog. Mostly used for sarcasm.]

 

"Brother Yao looks so serious. I can't even recognize him."

 

Yin Che's gaze crossed over the noisy crowd and landed on the boy standing on the podium.

 

He stood tall and straight, dressed in a clean white shirt and a meticulous tie under his tailored suit jacket. His voice was a little low during his speech, giving a very steady feeling, occasionally showing a sunny and warm smile.

 

Many students on the stage were whispering excitedly, and many kept staring back at the boy standing at the end of the Class 1 line.

 

His eyes were cold. He didn't make any sound, as his gaze fell intently on the person on the podium.

 

One was warm like the summer breeze, the other as cold as a winter gale.

 

Obviously, they should have repelled each other, but they ended up being wonderfully suitable for each other, and couldn't find a second person who's more suitable for each other.

 

When Jiang Yao came off the stage after his speech, the applause of the crowd was even more enthusiastic than when the principal spoke, and some even cheered loudly: "Brother Yao is so handsome!" This led to a burst of laughter.

 

Eighteen years old was the last year for them to enjoy this pure and simple happiness.

 

At the same time, it was also the beginning of a new life. Just like this spring day, it was full of infinite spirit and vitality.

 

Many years later, no one will remember the official and boring speech at the coming of age ceremony, but the four words "We are now adults" written on the bright red banner will still remain bright and eye-catching.

 

Just like their shining youth.

 

In the evening, a small restaurant near First High was packed with third-year students.

 

Chen Yingying: "Luckily I had the foresight to book it yesterday."

 

Han Meng opened a bottle of beer: "That's right, let's first raise a toast to our resourceful class monitor!"

 

Guo Zhixiong laughed, "Old Han, can you even drink? Don't act so reckless, I don't want to carry you back."

 

"What a joke, your brother Han can't get drunk, not even after a thousand glasses."

 

A group of dozens of people sat at five or six tables in the small restaurant, almost ordering all the dishes on the menu. The boys bought a dozen beers, while the girls mostly drank soft beverages.

 

Zhang Ke crossed the table and asked, "Brother Che, what will you drink?"

 

"He'll have orange juice." Jiang Yao, sitting in the middle of drinking boys, heard him somehow and answered right away.

 

Yin Che stood up, took a bottle of beer for himself, and raised his hand towards Zhang Ke: "I'll drink this."

 

Within a minute of sitting down, he received a message on his phone.

 

[Your body has just recovered. Don't drink with them, listen to me].

 

"Bang!" The cap of the beer bottle was pried off and popped out far away. Yin Che raised his eyebrows at someone who was looking over from the other table.

 

[Aren't you drinking yourself?]

 

[I'm different, I'm strong and fit.]

 

[Oh, are you saying I'm weak?]

 

[... I didn't mean that. I just want you to pay attention to your body.]

 

[I'm in good health.] Yin Che tilted his head and gulped down half a cup at once.

 

Yang Yile next to him looked dumbfounded: "Wow... You can drink so well. It's so awesome..."

 

Yin Che choked on a mouthful.

 

I'm sorry to say this is the first time in my life that I have drunk alcohol.

 

"Of course, don't you know who you're talking about?" Zhang Ke took the bottle and came over to fill up his cup, "Brother Che, let me give you a toast! Without your notes, there would be no Zhang Ke today!"

 

Chen Yingying said happily: "Look at you acting so tough, you're so full of yourself. What kind of toast is it, if you're just drinking coke?"

 

"I can't drink, I go crazy when I get drunk. Try me, if you're not afraid."

 

Guo Zhixiong: "Afraid of what, I can lift this tiny body of yours with just one hand, come on! Open wide and drink! I'll carry you back if you're drunk!"

 

The group of boys were clamoring loudly. The shop was very noisy, but the one who was usually the most arrogant was quiet this time.

 

[You can only have one more drink at most.]

 

Yin Che saw the message and glanced towards the other table, Jiang Yao already had an empty bottle on his table and was drinking a second one.

 

[Mind your own business.]

 

Halfway through the meal, Chen Yingying went out to answer a phone call and came back with some bad news: "Old Wu is coming."

 

Zhou Haoliang was so scared that he almost fell off his chair: "What's he doing here? Give us some slack!"

 

Guo Zhixiong: "He's already fed us so much chicken soup* today, hasn't he said enough?"

[T/N: Chicken soup: feel-good motivational stories, this expression is often used disparagingly because the stories don't really effect change in people's lives.]

 

Even Yang Yile said, "This is not good..."

 

But no matter how reluctant they were, they couldn't really call a teacher to turn him down. Everyone had to hurry to hide the bottles, and the cups filled with wine were also hurriedly poured out and replaced with regular drinks.

 

So when Wu Guozhong entered the store, only to see a table full of dishes and regular drinks, dozens of students quietly eating in this small restaurant, seamlessly adjusting to the elegant atmosphere of the Western shop.

 

Wu Guozhong had also been a student like them before. How can he not know what these children were doing or thinking? He said bluntly: "Don't worry, I have prepared gifts for you. When I heard that you were all here, I came over. After giving them away, I'll just leave, so I won't stand in your way."

 

The crowd secretly breathed a sigh of relief and took turns receiving the envelopes handed over by Wu Guozhong one by one.

 

There was no letter inside, only a few photos.

 

From the first to their third year of high school, there were pictures of the field day, the garden party, the spring trip... and the coming of age ceremony this morning. Some were individual close-ups of themselves, while others were group photos, and each person got a different set of pictures.

 

Wu Guozhong: "Most of them were taken by Chen Yingying, there are also some that I've taken myself. There may be some blurry ones, please be considerate, this old teacher's hands have gotten shaky."

 

It was different from when they pretended to be quiet just now, the shop truly became completely silent.

 

These few photos were thin, but now they felt quite heavy.

 

They carried the weight of three years worth of memories.

 

No one spoke. Some people's eyes even turned red.

 

Wu Guozhong continued to hand out envelopes and looked around the store: "Where is Han Meng?"

 

Chen Yingying pointed to the corner: "Drunk, lying there."

 

Wu Guozhong frowned: "I know that you are happy today, even if you drink some wine, your teacher will not say anything. But you can't drink too much..."

 

Zhang Ke: "He just drank half a cup!"

 

Wu Guozhong was stunned: "His wine tolerance is too poor."

 

Zhang Ke raised his glass: "That's it! He is too weak, come! Old Wu! Let's have a drink!"

 

"......"

 

The store was instantly silent to the point where a pin drop could be heard.

 

"Pfft." Someone couldn't help but laugh.

 

Immediately afterward, the laughter grew stronger and everyone could not stop giggling. Even Wu Guo Zhong smiled helplessly: "You kids..."

 

Finally, Zhang Ke clinked glasses with his "good brothers" as he wished, and when Wu Guozhong left, he shouted: "Old Wu! In the future, do fewer dictations! You know what I mean! Be nice to your brother! It won't kill you if you don't do dictations for a day!"

 

Guo Zhixiong: "I don't know if he'll die if he won't do any dictations, but you'll definitely die when you sober up."

 

Zhou Haoliang: "It's hard to disagree with that."

 

When everyone was almost drunk, Han Meng suddenly got up, sat drunkenly next to Chen Yingying, and burped.

 

Chen Yingying covered her nose in disgust: "It stinks, get away."

 

"You..."

 

Chen Yingying didn't hear him clearly: "What?"

 

Han Meng slumped on the table, he looked still drunk, his face flushed: "Which university are you aiming for..."

 

"It's none of your business where I'm going."

 

"I'll take the exam for whichever one you choose..."

 

Chen Yingying froze.

 

Yin Che put down his glass, watched Chen Yingying's face slowly turning red, and poured himself another glass.

 

Some of the people around continued to drink, while others kept looking at the photos with emotion. They took advantage of the power of alcohol to confess many of the words they were embarrassed to say or dared not to say on ordinary days.

 

They all wanted to do something bold and reckless.

 

On this special day, through the cover of special emotions.

 

The glass was raised halfway, the wrist was clasped, and the wine spilled a few drops.

 

"I said just a cup."

 

Yin Che turned back and looked at the person behind him, "I didn't agree."

 

Jiang Yao pressed his body down, propped his hand on the table, and circled him with the other, "I don't care, no more drinks for you."

 

Someone noticed their movements and said, "What is Brother Yao doing? Bullying our Brother Che?"

 

"He's not a good boy." Jiang Yao smiled, "You guys drink, I'll take him back first."

 

The commotion got louder: "Why go back? Drink a little longer!"

 

"Are you two going to do something bad in secret?"

 

"It has to be. Be careful, Brother Che. Brother Yao has drunk two bottles, beware of him turning into a beast."

 

Jiang Yao whispered, "Did you hear him? If you don't behave, I'll turn into a beast."

 

Yin Che picked up the wine glass and took a big sip right in front of him, then put it down and raised his eyebrows.

 

He looked quite provocative.

 

"You asked for it."

Last Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter