Chapter 116 - 80: It Should Be Different, Right?

Chapter 116: Chapter 80: It Should Be Different, Right?

"Oh, give me a break. Teacher Bai wears black stockings and high heels. You think you’d be able to focus on anything? Your mom’s a doctor, so you might as well go check out Teacher Cao’s age spots. You could even give him a check-up. Wouldn’t that be perfect?"

"Just you wait. Once I pass my Level 4 English exam, I’m going to apply to be the English class representative!"

"Get lost. Stop screwing around and transfer me 30 yuan."

"Our class has 42 people. The copies are 50 cents apiece, which comes to 21 yuan. Why are you asking me for 30?"

"I want to pocket the extra 9 yuan to buy myself a drink."

"Nope. Just 21."

Chen Yuan went back to his seat in the back row and received the transfer from Zheng Wenkai.

’That son of a bitch really only sent 21. Fucker’s using this as an excuse for petty revenge.’

"Huh? Brother Wei, what are you doing sitting in the back? This isn’t where you belong."

Brother Wei was a classic academic poser—the type of guy who would stand in the front row even during gym class. Seeing him in the back row today was truly a rare sight.

"I’ve got something important to do today. I need to do some research."

"What are you researching?"

"I signed up for the school’s debate tournament. The first match is tonight, so I have to prepare."

’The class president must have been desperate to find people if he even roped Brother Wei in.’

"What’s the format for the tournament?"

"First, it’s an intradepartmental competition. The winner gets to represent our department."

"Good luck, Brother Wei."

"You wanna join? I’m a little nervous, I’m worried I can’t handle it."

"Nah, I’m just a fragile emperor. I can’t handle that kind of work."

As they were chatting, Chen Yuan’s phone buzzed.

Liu Shiyu: "Boss, I can’t make it back. Help me ask for another leave of absence."

Chen Yuan: "Do you require funeral services?"

Liu Shiyu: "Hehehe..."

He giggled like a total creep.

No matter what a pain in the ass his roommate was, he still had to help him out. Chen Yuan went to request a leave of absence for him again. As for the official leave slip, he’d just take care of it for him later.

Today’s Advanced Math class was interspersed with some stories about the Battle of Stalingrad, which made it surprisingly fascinating.

Just before class ended, he received a message from Fang Youning.

Fang Youning: "How many classes do you have today?"

Chen Yuan: "I have one more in the afternoon, Advanced Physics."

Fang Youning: "I’m free this afternoon. How about we go to my sister’s place after your class? Does that sound okay?"

Chen Yuan: "OK."

By the time they finished texting, class was over. Afterward, he headed to Cafeteria No. 3, where Song Jianye had already saved him a seat and even bought his food.

She was wearing a uniform-style blouse, a short skirt, and over-the-knee socks.

’Absolute Territory! Engage!’

"Has your aunt left yet?"

"Not yet. She said she still has some loose ends to tie up. She should be leaving tomorrow."

"I made a good impression on your aunt, right?"

"Of course! I said lots of good things about you. But I really didn’t expect her to show up so suddenly, without any warning."

"She was probably here to check up on you."

"But I’ve already arranged it with Uncle Zhang. From now on, he’ll give me a heads-up about my aunt’s..."

Halfway through her sentence, Song Jianye stopped, realizing she might have said the wrong thing again.

’I was already upfront with my aunt and told her all about Chen Yuan, so why am I still doing this?’

’Can’t I even be friends with someone openly?’

"To report on your aunt’s whereabouts?"

"That’s right! Report her whereabouts! And then wherever she goes, we’ll go!"

"Huh? What’s the plan there?"

"It’s not a plan. The point is to be an eyesore, to annoy her."

"Huh? What did your aunt do, steal your supreme bone? Why treat her like that?"

"She just showed up without a word, startling you and making you sit awkwardly in the lobby for ages. We have to show her we have some backbone."

Chen Yuan recalled what had happened on Saturday.

’It was a bit awkward, sure,’ he thought, ’but it was a different kind of awkwardness, more like the nervousness of meeting the parents. It wasn’t really a big deal.’

"It’s not that serious, really. Your aunt has it tough, too."

"Don’t worry about it. We’ll be completely open about it. She needs to see where we stand."

’From his perspective, Song Jianye was simply amazing. She had her own ideas, a mind of her own, and top-tier looks and figure. Practically perfect.’

’But from the perspective of a worried father, he really wanted to strangle her.’

During the meal, Chen Yuan used his phone to search online for a template for vocabulary definitions and quickly found one.

After lunch, he and Song Jianye went to the print shop to print out the vocabulary definition template.

At Song Jianye’s request, he printed a few extra copies. She wanted to study vocabulary with him.

Liu Shiyu still hadn’t returned by the afternoon class, so Chen Yuan covered for him again.

He paid close attention to the Advanced Physics lecture, understood the first ten minutes, and then promptly fell asleep.

Drowsy in spring, weary in autumn, dozing in summer. Chen Yuan figured he couldn’t be blamed.

When class ended, he handed his books to Sheng Kangming.

"I’ve got something to do, so I’m not going back to the dorm. Can you take my books for me?"

"Off on another date with Song the School Beauty?"

"Nope."

"Good. That lets me hold on to a little hope."

"It’s Fang Youning this afternoon."

"Boss, could you do me a favor? Go hide in the green median of the highway, wait for a semi-truck to come by, and then jump out and give it a good scare."

"Great idea. I’ll go tell Lao Wang."

Chen Yuan left the classroom and headed to the school gate, where Fang Youning was already waiting for him.

She was wearing loose white pants and a pair of white sneakers. Her hair, tossed by the wind, floated around her like scattered willow catkins.

She was holding two cups of bubble tea.

When she saw Chen Yuan, the smile on Fang Youning’s face grew, and she walked over to greet him.

"Our housekeeper came back today. She and my sister tried again, but it didn’t work. It was no use at all."

"I can only try my best. If I can’t do it, you’ll have to take him to the hospital."

Chen Yuan didn’t actually have the proper skills for this, just some experience. He had no idea if it would actually work.

"Well, let’s just give it a try. You never know, it might work."

"Let’s go."

The two of them didn’t take a taxi, just the subway to get there.

"It’s not quitting time yet, is it? Is your sister home?"

"She started her own company, so her schedule is relatively flexible." Fang Youning looked at the time on her phone. "She should be home by now."

"Mm."

He knew the way, and soon they arrived at Fang Youning’s sister’s home.

The person who opened the door was the housekeeper. She had short hair and a very kind-looking face.

"Aunt Liu, this is my classmate. His name is Chen Yuan."

"Come on in, come in." Aunt Liu greeted them warmly, already getting out a pair of slippers.

As Chen Yuan came inside, Fang Youqing emerged as well.

Compared to yesterday, she didn’t look as put-together. She was wearing gray sweatpants and a simple white T-shirt, and her hair was undone.

Her current state was similar to Jiang Wanyi’s, but strangely, she didn’t give off a domestic vibe. There was still a sharp edge about her.

"Sister Qing."

Chen Yuan offered a greeting, then changed into slippers and stepped inside.

"Have a seat."

With a quick greeting, Fang Youqing went into the kitchen and brought out a plate of fruit she had washed earlier.

Chen Yuan sat on the sofa while Zhao Wen Cheng played on a mat on the floor. The boy excitedly ran over with an Ultraman toy.

"Uncle, let’s play together."

"Chengcheng, go play by yourself. Don’t bother Uncle."

Fang Youqing said sternly, then turned to Chen Yuan.

"Have some fruit first."

"Let’s take a look at the boy first. If I can’t fix it, then you can take him to the hospital."

"There’s no rush. Rest for a bit first."

’Fang Youqing was a very hospitable person, but every time she spoke to him, it felt like she was issuing a command.’

"I’m fine, really. Let’s get down to business."

Chen Yuan waved, calling the boy over. He cradled his ’nephew’ in his arms and pulled down his pants.

He was a classic case of ’once the wound heals, the pain is forgotten,’ and he started giggling.

"This process might hurt a little, and he’ll definitely squirm. You guys need to hold him steady."

"Okay."

Chen Yuan placed the boy on the sofa, and the three women took charge of holding him still.

’This scene reminded Chen Yuan of a eunuch’s castration ceremony.’

’That profession really highlighted a problem: just because you work for a powerful person doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a future.’

’Look at all those palace eunuchs. Every single one of them worked for the emperor, and they ended up losing their ’roots’ in the process.’

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