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Fourth Period
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!
Those guys, after getting ruthlessly beaten, ran off with their tails between their legs, also not daring to call the police.
The shop suffered an unexpected disaster, with quite a few chairs, tables, and even tableware getting smashed.
Zhou Yanli didn’t bother counting, directly handing the owner a wad of cash. The other party’s anger was instantly quelled, even smilingly reminding him to remember to dress his wound.
He finally noticed at this time that his hand was bleeding.
He must have gone at them too hard when beating them up just now, thus injuring himself.
“It’s nothing.” He had his backpack picked up off the ground and casually threw it over his shoulder, too lazy to bother.
But, that little pink backpack, he actually carefully patted off the dust on it.
Jiang Huihui quietly came over with her head down. The tears on her face still haven’t thoroughly dried. She softly said, “It’s…..it’s better to go get it checked, your injury.”
Zhou Yanli unconcernedly waved his hand, “It’s really nothing. This bit of injury isn’t even enough to look at. Let me tell you, the most ruthless beating I ever gave……..”
He stopped talking, because he saw the tears on Jiang Huihui’s face.
Why is she crying again? Is this little crybaby made of water?
Due to not having any experience interacting with girls in the previous seventeen years of his life, it caused him to be like a flustered little kid when facing Jiang Huihui.
As soon as she cries, he was just completely helpless.
He could only give in, bending down to coax her, “Bandage, bandage, I’ll go get it bandaged right away. Please don’t cry.”
In the end, it was Jiang Huihui who helped him bandage his wound while crying.
“Don’t let it touch water these next few days, and remember to change the medicine every day.” She instructed him as she wiped her tears.
Zhou Yanli clenched and relaxed that left hand that got wrapped like mummy, teasing her, “How come you like crying this much, huh? Little crybaby.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Jiang Huihui lowered her head, quietly cleaning up the things nearby, not saying a word.
“Alright.” He used his perfectly fine hand to rub her fluffy head, his tone nonchalant, “I’ll listen to you for everything, whatever you say.”
Jiang Huihui felt it was somewhat strange. She didn’t like others touching her head, but getting touched by him, she actually didn’t find it unpleasant.
She carefully lifted her eyes and secretly glanced at him. His eyes and brows were very unique, carrying a bit of aggressiveness amidst the aloof air. His facial features were a bit sharp, the lines distinctive as if chiseled.
He seemingly indeed looked a bit like Zhou Jinwei.
As if detecting something, Zhou Yanli’s line of sight shifted from his left hand onto her face.
She instantly lowered her head, avoiding his eyes.
Zhou Yanli said, “What are you avoiding for, didn’t say that you can’t look.”
He pinched her chin, letting her lift her head and closely look at this face of his.
“Take a good look.”
Jiang Huihui took a good look.
He asked, “Notice anything?”
She stammered: “A….a bit…..”
Zhou Yanli looked forward to hearing her say that he somewhat resembled Zhou Jinwei.
He was full of anticipation, “A bit what?”
She pursed her lips, her voice somewhat faint, “A bit….handsome.”
“…..” Zhou Yanli shamelessly said, “Not just a bit, practically earth-shakingly, god-stunningly handsome.”
He asked Jiang Huihui, “Am I handsome or is Zhou Jinwei handsome?”
In the nearby printing shop, Zhou Jinwei originally just came over to print a copy of the student financial aid application. He very rarely questioned these things, but a certain student’s application got damaged in the chaos earlier.
He took a glance, seeing written on there the name ‘Jiang Huihui’.
This name overlapped with that face he saw earlier. Unknown as to why, he had the pieces picked up, piecing them back together, before taking it to the printing shop to print a new copy.
When they came over, the shop next door was in a complete mess. The owner was busy cleaning up the tables and chairs.
Sun Ju shook his head in disdain, saying with a sigh, “Backwater places always breed the worst kind of people. I really don’t want to stay in this dump for another moment longer.”
Zhou Jinwei didn’t speak. He had that pieced together application handed to the print shop owner, asking whether or not it can be restored.
The owner took a glance and nodded, saying that it can.
Sun Ju was curious as to what he was doing. This person wasn’t someone who would care about this kind of thing.
It wasn’t until he leaned over, seeing the name Jiang Huihui on it, as well as that 2-inch black and white application photo to the side, did he finally understand.
The girl wearing the school uniform had her hair in a simple high ponytail. Even if it was this kind of low-resolution black and white printed photo, you can still clearly make out her delicate and refined facial features.
A palm-sized face, phoenix-shaped eyes, and a dainty little nose.
One look at her, and you could tell that she was the typical good girl type.
Sun Ju meaningfully smiled, “Turns out, the self-disciplined and indifferent President Zhou likes this type.”
Zhou Jinwei’s gaze was extremely cold. He shot him a glare. The latter immediately shut his mouth in fear.
The printer began operating, making a soft humming noise.
Practically at the same time, he heard coming from the seats outside not far from the shop a young boy’s voice, asking in amusement, “Am I handsome or is Zhou Jinwei handsome?”
Hearing his name appearing in someone else’s conversation, Zhou Jinwei slightly frowned, turning to look in the direction the sound came from.
Upon that old worn-out chair, the young girl had her head lowered, replying in a muffled voice.
“You’re handsome.”
Zhou Jinwei pondered for a moment, before retracting his line of sight.
The printer had finished printing at this time. The owner had the copy handed to him.
He took it and saw the picture on top. It was the same pretty and docile face as the girl who spoke just now.
–
After confirming that all his injuries were bandaged, Jiang Huihui finally relaxed, taking her backpack from his shoulder and going home.
Her home was in a very old residential building, even the assigned housing for employees from when her parents worked at the nearby porcelain factory decades ago.
Afterwards the factory closed down, but these residential buildings stayed. Just, they were too narrow, less than 50 square meters, dividing into three bedrooms and one living room.
Jiang Huihui’s room could only fit a bed and a desk that was just wide enough for her.
When she returned home, Jiang Man was watching cartoons in the living room, even holding his newly bought toy in hand.
Seeing Jiang Huihui, he directly picked up the orange peel by his hand and threw it at her, “Hey, how come you came back this late? Do you want to starve me to death?”
The little guy was about ten years old, yet extremely domineering and would casually order her around.
Jiang Huihui got hit by the orange peel, but didn’t dare to say anything. If she were to retaliate, then when time comes, he’ll go tell their mom, and in the end, it’ll just be her getting scolded again.
She put down her backpack, “Ran into something on the way. Why did you come back from maternal uncle’s place?”
“Uncle and aunt-in-law were fighting. I found it annoying.”
He ordered her to quickly go make food. He was hungry.
Jiang Huihui hesitated for a moment, “Why don’t you go eat out today, I still have homework to do.”
He frowned, “How much of your time can cooking take up? Also, it’s useless for you to do your homework anyways. Even if you get into college, there’s no money for you at home to go. Those are all saved for me. You might as well drop out early and go get a job.”
When Zhou Yanli walked in, he just happened to see him reaching out to pull Jiang Huihui’s backpack with a contemptuous look on his face, wanting to have the things in her backpack all dumped out.
Zhou Yanli furrowed his brow and immediately shot his foot over, directly having the person sent flying.
“What the hell are you doing, f@#$!”
Her younger brother was stunned by the kick, holding the back of his head as his eyes spun with stars. After finally getting a good look at the person who came, he saw that it was someone who was almost 190cm tall, with broad shoulders and long legs.
He only reached his waist.
He was only tough at home, so didn’t dare to say anything, nearly crying out loud, even wanting to turn to Jiang Huihui for help.
“Who….who are you? Why are you in my house?” He asked while trembling.
Zhou Yanli pointed at his nose and warned, “You better keep your mouth clean.”
He got frightened into tears, tremblingly nodding his head, “Under….understood.”
Zhou Yanli thought of those words of his just now, feeling increasingly angry, so smacked him in the head again, “Damn it!”
Jiang Man held his forehead, loudly bawling, “I’ve already agreed to what you said, so why are you still hitting me?”
Zhou Yanli found him annoying, so let him stop crying, “Keep crying and I’ll keep hitting you.”
He immediately stopped crying.
Zhou Yanli studied the surrounding. Using ‘nothing but four bare walls’ to describe the place couldn’t be more fitting.
In the past, he’d never heard that his maternal grandfather’s home was this poor. The furniture was old like some ancient relic dug out from a tomb somewhere.
The walls had turned yellow, with some areas even starting to peel.
Zhou Yanli sat down on the sofa, sitting in an imposing manner with his legs crossed, ordering Jiang Man, “Go pour a cup of tea.”
He didn’t dare to refuse, scared of getting hit, so obediently went to pour tea. However, after pouring, he added in something extra.
——Spitting a mouthful of saliva in.
As soon as he carried the tea over, he handed it to Zhou Yanli. After the latter took it, the latter directly splashed it on his face.
Afterwards, he picked him up with one hand and opened the window, hanging the person outside. Jiang Man’s legs dangled in the air, entirely getting supported by Zhou Yanli’s arm alone. His arm strength was frighteningly strong, not feeling the slightest pressure.
Jiang Man was frightened to the point of peeing his pants. His home was on the eighth floor. Falling down, even if not dying, he’d still become crippled.
Zhou Yanli warned him, “Do it again, and I’ll make sure that even if you die, you won’t be able to piece your corpse back together.”
This threat was very direct and effective. Jiang Man didn’t have any temper left, just short of wetting his pants and getting on his knees before him.
A moment ago, he was still arrogantly bullying Jiang Huihui, but now, he instead turned to her for help, “Sis, you can’t just not care about me.”
Sis? Zhou Yanli slightly lifted his brow, a bit surprised, asking Jiang Huihui, “He called you sis just now?”
Jiang Huihui nodded, hesitating to speak, “He’s my younger brother, called Jiang Man.
Zhou Yanli looked at the fat shortie before him, how come he doesn’t remember that he has a maternal uncle.
The nephew beating up the uncle was also considered rather absurd.
However, this shortie deserved it, who let him asked to be beat.
Zhou Yanli was too lazy to bother with him, having him pushed aside, letting the shortie not run around, “I’m scared that I’ll accidentally crush you under my foot.”
After saying this, he put down his backpack and looked to Jiang Huihui, asking her, “Where am I going to sleep tonight?”
The latter blanked, “You want to stay at my place?”
He asked back: “What do you think?”
“But…..” Jiang Huihui had a troubled look. Although he’d helped her, and they were also classmates, they were ultimately strangers that had just met for the first time today, so how can she just casually bring the person home.
“Don’t you have money? You can go stay at a hotel first. The environment there is better than my place.”
Zhou Yanli’s face instantly crumpled, “Even you don’t want me anymore?”
Jiang Huihui blanked: “Huh?”
Zhou Yanli’s eyelashes hung over his eyes, covering up the emotions in the bottom of his eyes.
His tone was lax, carrying a bit of nonchalant, as if not caring, “Fine, this young master doesn’t give a damn either.”
He didn’t say another word. Scooping up his backpack off the couch, he flung it over his shoulder, opening the door and leaving.
No matter how nonchalant he acted, Jiang Huihui still sensed his dejectedness.
Especially that expression of his just now……
Jiang Huihui shook her head, dispelling her thoughts. No matter what, letting a stranger live in their home wasn’t safe.
She then went to look at Jiang Man to the side. His fear towards Zhou Yanli clearly has yet to fade. Fearing that he will suddenly come back, this while, Jiang Man didn’t dare to be rude towards Jiang Huihui either.
He was just a bit resentful, asking her where did she find this bodyguard.
Jiang Huihui explained, “Not my bodyguard.”
Jiang Man was unconvinced, “If not your bodyguard, then why is he helping you? Even helping you hit me.”
Indeed.
Why did he help her? This morning, he helped her chase away those delinquent girls. Outside the school, he also helped her beat up those thugs that have always harassed her. And just now, he even beat up Jiang Man for her.
Jiang Huihui thought of what he’d said, that she was his mom, and that he was her son.
This person……could it be that there really was something wrong with his head?
At night, Jiang Huihui tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. She kept feeling uneasy inside.
Zhou Yanli’s accent didn’t sound local. He most likely had just transferred over recently. If he really doesn’t have anywhere to go, in such cold weather……he even had his own coat sold…….
He only had a hoodie on him.
What if he freezes to death in the streets?
The more she thought about it, the more scared she felt, feeling increasingly uneasy.
In the end, Jiang Huihui still decided to put on her clothes and go out to look for him. She walked around in a circle while shivering, not knowing where she was going.
It was completely dark all around.
Finally finding a place with light, she walked over in long strides.
It wasn’t until she got closer did she notice that it was a 24-hour convenience store.
She hesitated for a moment.
Just as she was about to go over, she saw someone come out from inside.
He was wearing a black windbreaker, his hair short and refreshing. The streetlamp shone down from above, yet one was unable to find the slightest imperfection on his face.
A high nose and slightly upturned slender eyes.
He had his head down, taking apart the plastic film on that box in his hand.
Jiang Huihui finally made out what he’d bought from the store.
——-Cigarette and lighter.
He stood there, his figure upright and lean, like a tall and resolute cedar. The air around him was tranquil and chilly.
He lit the cigarette. As he exhaled, he lifted his eyes, meeting Jiang Huihui’s gaze.
Jiang Huihui instantly widened her eyes.
Zhou Jinwei.
The latter slightly lifted his chin, his eyelashes hanging low. That pair of dark eyes quietly stared at her.
A modeled student with both excellent grades and character actually had the bad habit of smoking.
He once again got seen by her.
Jiang Huihui’s heart was drumming, “This time, I….I also won’t tell anyone. Don’t worry.”
He didn’t say anything, taking another drag of the cigarette, and then had it put out, throwing it into the trashcan to the side. His slender fingers gripped the cigarette box.
He walked over towards her.
Jiang Huihui experienced firsthand how that kind of overwhelming pressure brought about by someone gradually intensified.
The closer he got to her, the more she felt her body growing heavy like iron.
Even if she wanted to escape, she couldn’t escape.
All the way until he stopped and stood before her.
Jiang Huihui looked up, but could only see the collar of his sweater worn under that obviously expensive windbreaker.
His neck was gracefully long and fair. There was a tiny little mole by his collarbone.
When speaking, his Adam’s apple slid up and down, carrying a kind of seductiveness that didn’t match his age.
“What are you doing out here this late?”
Probably because he’d just smoked, his voice was a bit hoarse.
Jiang Huihui’s voice was shaking, but even if scared, she didn’t dare to not answer, “My friend……don’t know where they went. I’m worried, so came out to look for them.”
“Oh.” He nodded, asking her the details, “Where did they disappear, what do they look like?”
She looked up, dumbstruck, “Huh?”
“It’s more efficient with two people.” His tone was very calm, “I’ll search with you.”
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