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Thirtieth Period (2)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
The classroom suddenly became lively. Jiang Huihui was somewhat at a loss for what to do. She reached up to touch her cheeks that were endlessly heating up.
Actually, this wasn’t her first time getting first place. Although it was her first time participating in this competition, she had previously represented the school in other competitions before.
Every time she came in first, everyone’s reaction would be the same as earlier, indifferent, having nothing to do with them. In fact, there were even faint scoffs.
“So what if she got first place, look at how pathetic she is.”
“I really can’t f#$%ing stand her.”
“F#$%, what’s that look on her face? Got first place but still has a bitter face, does she think she’s very impressive?”
“What’s there to be cocky about? Wasn’t it just getting first place in a city-level competition?”
These voices have always followed her the most, and they were also the comments she received the most.
Over time, even if getting first place, it still didn’t make her very happy. At most, it was just sighing in relief the moment she heard her placement.
She was just a bit more introverted and a bit more taciturn than others.
Because of always getting bullied and neglected growing up, it contributed to the development of this personality of hers.
Afterwards, because she was taciturn and always by herself, it caused her to not have any friends, thus getting bullied.
It was a vicious cycle. The more she got bullied, the more withdrawn she became. And the more withdrawn she was, the more she attracted bullying.
Jiang Huihui thought that her life would just be like this.
But now…..
She looked at the person beside her who was even happier than her.
He had a mischievous grin, one arm resting on the back of the chair behind him, while his other hand nonchalantly twirled a pen.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Qin Yu who was an aisle away was currently sucking up to him.
Clearly, he was very pleased by it.
Zhou Yanli slightly lifted his chin, letting him continue.
Jiang Huihui also heard some of it.
“Jiang Huihui is simply unparalleled in the world, the Star of Literature descended upon the mortal realm. For her to come to our school, it is practically an honor for the entire school. And our homeroom teacher further must have accumulated a lot of good karma in the past life to be able to………”
Jiang Huihui: “…..”
–
Her mom was also very over the top. After learning that Jiang Huihui had gotten first place over the phone, she directly let someone make a banner to hang in the neighborhood.
She even deliberately stood in a crowded area to call her, loudly asking her, “Are you going to come back to eat today? You got first place in the competition, so I’ll make you some of your favorite dishes.”
Jiang Huihui had a troubled look, “There’s a classmate who wants to treat us today, so might not come home to eat.”
Her mom was immediately on guard, “Boy or girl?”
Jiang Huihui glanced at Zhou Yanli who was playing basketball in the court downstairs, “You know him, Zhou Yanli.”
Hearing it’s Zhou Yanli, her mom felt reassured, just instructing her to not drink alcohol.
She obediently nodded, “Okay, mom.”
After hanging up the phone, she went back over to watch Zhou Yanli in the ball court.
Unknown as to when, he’d already changed into a full set of sportswear.
Perhaps because he’d warmed-up before the match, he started feeling hot, so took off the windbreaker on top.
Underneath was a loose white tee, with a pair of black sports shorts below.
At a glance, it was obvious that he was someone who exercised and trained regularly, not the kind that was lean and skinny. The lines of his muscles were perfectly balanced between the sturdiness of an adult and the vigor of an youth. On the ball court, he was practically like a walking embodiment of testosterones.
The members of the school basketball team were among the tallest in the school and even in all of Pingjiang.
Yet, when Zhou Yanli stood among them, he easily towered over all of them.
Normally, he seemed careless and unserious, but on the ball court, in contrast to his usual demeanor, he became full of vigor, bold and striking.
The edge of the court was filled with girls, screaming in excitement.
Jiang Huihui watched him land shot after shot.
Fast-break layup, free throw, three-pointer, and slam dunk.
When taking the shot, the muscles in his arms were tense, the lines even more defined than usual. Each subtly protruding vein was manifesting boundless tension.
The ball makes it through the hoop, steadily landing on the ground—-three points.
He pulled up the collar of his T-shirt to wipe the sweat on his face. After scoring, he high-fived each and every one of his teammates.
And when walking to the opponent’s side, he didn’t hesitate to raise his middle finger.
Ye Shuting was so angry that his face was flushed, yet he was unable to retort.
After all, in this match, he’d indeed been dominated by Zhou Yanli, completely powerless to fight back.
This person was practically like a maxed-out pro slaughtering a newbie village.
–
Inside the opposite building, Sun Ju came in with over ten cups of milk tea. The amount was in direct proportion to the number of people in the class.
One of the girls glanced at it in disdain, “Who would drink this kind of fake sugar water?”
“These are from someone in the other building, said it’s to celebrate someone in our school getting first place in a competition.”
Zhou Jinwei, who was originally indifferent to all this, suddenly paused, “First place?”
“You know them—-Jiang Huihui.” He placed the milk tea on the podium, telling everyone who wants to drink it to help themselves, “The one paying for everything, you also know—–Zhou Yanli.”
Zhou Jinwei’s cold eyes slightly twitched, his expression subtly changing from earlier.
Even Sun Ju could sense that ever since Zhou Jinwei took a trip back to the capital, he’d become increasingly sullen.
Granted, he was a sullen person to begin with. Even the place he lived was gloomy and sinister like a medieval vampire’s castle.
Sun Ju had the fortune of visiting him once. He had gone at night, and as the guest, he even had to drive his own courtyard shuttle, only to get lost in the end.
At the time, it was a dark and windy night. His first thought was actually: ‘This place shouldn’t be haunted, right?’
Just, although Zhou Jinwei was normally gloomy, he was very rarely this chillingly cold, as if everything and everyone within a ten-mile radius would freeze to death because of his presence.
“Let me guess, your troublesome parents at it again?” Sun Ju tentatively asked.
He received a subtle frown from Zhou Jinwei.
He knew, he’d guessed right.
Zhou Jinwei’s family situation was very complicated. In fact, it can even be considered bizarre.
Once people have money, they will want to seek thrills, and once there’s too much thrill, they will just become unsettling.
Let alone a family like Zhou Jinwei’s, who was extremely wealthy.
Sun Ju himself also came from a wealthy family. In the capital, his family was also considered an influential and prestigious family. But compared to Zhou Jinwei, he was practically small potatoes.
Zhou Jinwei didn’t respond, only asking him for a cigarette and lighter.
When he went out to smoke, Sun Ju also tagged along, “Why haven’t I seen you smoking lately?”
“Quit.” When he spoke, thin wisps of smoke escaped from his lips.
Sun Ju was like having heard an enormous joke, “You? Quit smoking? If you quit smoking, how are you going to deal with that pressure of yours that’s as big as a mountain? Have Yu Gong[1] move it for you?”
Zhou Jinwei only smoked to vent his frustrations and relieve stress.
Sun Ju sometimes would feel that he’d never seen anyone as hard on themselves as Zhou Jinwei.
He could go three days and three nights without sleep, smoke an entire pack of cigarettes in one day, and even when bleeding from his wound, he wouldn’t think of bandaging it. Instead, he would stare at it, watching the blood freely flow.
This behavior that was comparable to self-harm allowed him to momentarily relax and destress.
He didn’t have an addiction to smoking, or should say, he didn’t have an addiction to anything.
Just, he desperately needed an outlet.
On the basketball court, the cheers were endless. His eyes also drifted over.
What stirred up the crowd was Zhou Yanli making a three-point shot.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Sun Ju shook his head, “Look’s like you’re going to get replaced as the handsomest guy in school.”
Hearing this, Zhou Jinwei slightly frowned.
Sun Ju laughed, “Don’t tell me you actually care about this title?”
Zhou Jinwei actually didn’t hear what he was saying.
He was frowning because Zhou Yanli was wearing short-sleeves in the middle of winter.
[1] Yu Gong – The name literally translates to ‘Foolish Old Man’. He’s a character from an old fable called ‘The Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountains’ (愚公移山). A rough summary: Yu Gong was an elderly man who lived in a village blocked by mountains. In order to make life easier for the people, he decided to dig through the mountains. His neighbors made fun of him for being foolish and doing something futile. However, he still persisted, saying that if he can’t finish it in his lifetime, his descendants can continue in his place. Because of his determination, the gods were moved, thus removed the mountains for him. Overall, it’s a story teaching the importance of perseverance and determination.
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