Chapter 9

Proofreader: Akimi

Shi Bufan’s voice wasn’t loud or quiet, full of will and spirit. Ji Yanping sighed in her heart, thinking of how nice it would to be young again. Then, she ordered him to run ten laps around the field.

Towards this, Shi Bufan had no objections.

But he suddenly heard a voice from behind. “His head is injured…so, he can’t participate in intense activities.”

Ji Yanping turned around to see Zhen Yuanbai’s timid expression. He had never objected against a teacher and usually dodged as far as he could whenever a matter involved Shi Bufan. Today, he actually spoke for Shi Bufan, making Ji Yanping shocked.

However, he was saying the truth and Ji Yanping just wanted to teach Shi Bufan a lesson. She didn’t plan on punishing him severely, so she said, “Then stand outside the class. Two periods.”

“Class is about to start, so quickly head back to class.” Once she finished her words, she was about to head off when Zhen Yuanbai carefully moved to Shi Bufan’s side, hesitatingly. “I ate…the food he bought too.”

Shi Bufan’s eyes flickered and he couldn’t help but curl his lips up, unable to contain his joy.

Ji Yanping’s eyelids jumped before she said, “You also participated?”

Although he didn’t climb over the wall like Shi Bufan, he had eaten everything, so he did participate in a way.

Zhen Yuanbai nodded nervously and said, “I…for the past few days, I haven’t been eating at the cafeteria…because I was eating the food he bought.”

Fine.

Ji Yanping understood. She couldn’t help but glare at Shi Bufan. Before she made a decision as to what she should do with this top student, Liang Tu who finished drinking water came back. “Zhen Yuanbai, why are you here? Why aren’t you back in class?”

After the temporary happiness, Shi Bufan said in a low voice, “You don’t need to stay with me. I’m fine.”

Zhen Yuanbai couldn’t hear anything from him. At this moment, he didn’t even dare to make eye contact with the two teachers in charge. “I, I am also at fault. I should be punished with him.”

When Zhen Yuanbai was eating, he didn’t even think about this and now, he felt regretful. But he couldn’t really let Shi Bufan be punished for two people’s fault. Although they were standing on the field, it felt like he was standing on a boiling hot pot. His face was flushed and he couldn’t contain the feeling of shame in his heart.

Liang Tu was confused and he was so angry that the fat under his chin started to tremble. He looked unbelievably at him and hollered, “How dare you and Shi Bufan…”

Ji Yanping pulled him back just in time and looked at the ashamed Zhen Yuanbai. “Fine. Since Zhen Yuanbai wants to share the punishment with you, you guys just need to stand for one class.”

Right now, it was autumn and the air was cool. Although the sun isn’t blazing, it wasn’t warm either. Zhen Yuanbai quietly looked down and stood by Shi Bufan’s side, hiding his milky white fingers under his sleeves and not saying a word at all.

The bell for class rung and all the students playing sports on the field rapidly sprinted towards their classes. There were some people who passed by them and discussed curiously, “How come Zhen Yuanbai is punished as well?”

“Damn, could he possibly be in the same boat as Shi Bufan for real?”

“Heh. Shi Bufan is damn awesome. He pulled an angel to hell…remember how well-behaved that kid used to be?”

“Damn. Next week’s school magazine’s title will definitely be ‘why did the elite student fall into a mire.’ He’d make the headlines.”

They chuckled and walked off, but countless people continued to pass by them. They all looked at Zhen Yuanbai in surprise and disbelief.

Well, it was easier for Shi Bufan. After all, he didn’t care about losing face despite losing his memory. He shoved his hands in his pocket and looked at people in disdain, as if he wasn’t standing here for punishment; instead, he was sitting on a throne.

Quickly, the field became empty.

Although Shi Bufan said that Zhen Yuanbai should go to class and learn, he was still very happy that he had decided to share the punishment with him. When the field gradually became empty, he turned around to look at Zhen Yuanbai. He was shocked by the sight.

Zhen Yuanbai kept his head down and the tip of his nose turned slightly red. The bangs in front of his forehead fell on his eyelashes and a water droplet fell from his eyes, dripping on the red track on the field.

…

It was silent momentarily and even the wind was noiseless.

Shi Bufan softly poked him and said, “…Yuan, Yuanyuan?”

Zhen Yuanbai had never experienced this sort of attention before and he originally stayed silent. After Shi Bufan called for him, he suddenly couldn’t hold it in anymore and pursed his lips, tears dropping down rapidly.

Shi Bufan pinched his ears and knitted his eyebrows. He licked his lips restlessly and tugged Zhen Yuanbai over. “Really. Why are you crying?… What’s wrong with this? All we’re doing is just standing here. Plus, don’t you have your Brother Shi here to accompany you? Hm?”

Zhen Yuanbai pursed his lips like an old man, turning around and ignoring Shi Bufan. The latter walked around and rummaged through his pocket, taking out a strawberry candy magically. “Don’t cry. Here, eat this.”

“You’re still eating!” Zhen Yuanbai choked angrily and said, “We’re standing here because we can’t control our mouths…but you, you still…”

He couldn’t continue the words.

It was too embarrassing.

He had lived for a decade and more, but never had to endure this punishment. Even more, because of his ravenous need to eat. Lastly, he had to stand outside for the entire class with “Unoffendable.”

The more he thought about it, the more shameful he felt. Along with this, he couldn’t help but think about how this incident will spread to everyone’s ears and may even spread to his parents’ ears. This placed him in a restless and nervous mood, unable to stop his tears.

At this time, they heard loud voices. It was a certain class heading over for gym and Zhen Yuanbai’s legs weakened at the sight. He hurriedly wiped his tears and his body went rigid, remaining nervous and stressed.

Shi Bufan turned around to look at the group of people. His unhappy expression made the gym teacher avoid coming over and attempted not to offend him in any way. Instead, the teacher brought the students to the other side of the field to exercise.

Shi Bufan glanced at Zhen Yuanbai again and suddenly reached over to tug on the hem of his uniform. He lifted Zhen Yuanbai’s clothes up, but his sports shirt accidentally also ride up, revealing the sturdy muscle on his waist. It was immediately blocked in the next second.

Zhen Yuanbai felt a shadow looming over him and looked up to see the uniform still on him. It was just brought up a bit, with the inside facing out. Shi Bufan held the uniform for him, like an umbrella blocking the sunlight on them as well as the peeping gazes.

The young man moved towards him as well and said softly, “Don’t be scared. This Brother will block you from them and make sure they can’t see anything.”

Zhen Yuanbai’s moist eyelashes flickered before he quickly looked down again. He murmured, “Even if you block me from them, they still know that I’m standing here as punishment.”

Shi Bufan raised his arms to hold the uniform and he knitted his eyebrows again. “Then what should I do? Do you still want food tomorrow?”

“We’re still going to eat?!” Zhen Yuanbai forgot about shame for a second and admired him endlessly. He slightly widened his eyes, saying, “If you want to eat, you can eat by yourself. I’m too scared to eat anymore.”

Shi Bufan chuckled and said, “Our Congming is really a coward.”

“Don’t call me that.” Zhen Yuanbai immediately protested and declared, “My name is Zhen Yuanbai, not Zhen Congming.”

“Fine, Yuanbai. Zhen Yuanbai…” When Shi Bufan finished saying this, he continued, “I still think the other name is better, your name is Congming while my name is Bufan. We’re a match from heaven.”

Zhen Yuanbai furrowed his eyebrows and rubbed his nose, saying unhappily, “Who wants to be a match from heaven with you?”

He sunk into an upset mood again and Shi Bufan suddenly placed his chin on Zhen Yuanbai’s head. The latter lifted his head confused and heard him say, “I already opened the candy packet, so it will melt soon if you don’t eat it.”

Zhen Yuanbai has principles and said, “No.”

“Then take it out for me, so I can eat it.”

“Don’t you have hands?”

“But am I not holding the ‘umbrella’ for you?”

Zhen Yuanbai had no choice but to take the candy from him and hesitatingly brought it over to Shi Bufan’s mouth. “We’re being punished right now. Are you sure you want to eat now?”

“I need my sugar.” Shi Bufan nommed on the candy.

The Alps candy mixed with the scent of milk filled the air between the two. Zhen Yuanbai kept his head down, but he could hear the candy grinding against his teeth. He fiddled with his fingers and Shi Bufan suddenly laughed. “Liang Tu caught us too suddenly, so you probably haven’t finish eating, right?”

Zhen Yuanbai was quiet.

Shi Bufan said, “I have another one in my pocket, the original flavor. Do you want?”

“No.”

“You won’t be noticed.” Shi Bufan sucked on the candy and moved closer, purposefully making him smell it. “Just bite the candy off the lollipop stick and hide it in your pocket.”

Zhen Yuanbai was tempted to eat the forbidden fruit and acted in doubt. Shi Bufan continued, “We still need to stand for another half hour and what’s the point of just standing here doing nothing?”

Zhen Yuanbai pursed his lips, determined. “No.”

He turned around and wanted to walk out of Shi Bufan’s “umbrella.” But he had to admit that because Shi Bufan was doing this, the dim sunlight calmed his nervousness a bit, so he slowly moved back again.

At this time, Shi Bufan started to stir up trouble, saying, “Oh no, I’m a bit dizzy.”

Zhen Yuanbai immediately raised his head and before he could say anything, Shi Bufan fell down in front of him.

Zhen Yuanbai: !!!

Originally, the teacher didn’t plan on punishing Zhen Yuanbai anyway. Now that Shi Bufan fainted, this saved him the trouble. Right then, Liang Tu dismissed Zhen Yuanbai and he returned to class. Zhen Yuanbai couldn’t even care about how nervous he was as his mind was on Shi Bufan, wondering if there were any sequelaes from this. The entire time he was in class, he was distracted.

Thankfully, it’s art class…hm? Since when was it art class?

When class ended, Song Mo then said, “It’s all because you weren’t in class and Teacher Ji was scared that you may fall behind, so she had the english and art teacher swap classes…why do you do this to yourself, deciding to stand out in class with Shi Bufan?”

Zhen Yuanbai couldn’t answer,

While the class was on break, he wanted to see how Shi Bufan was in the infirmary. Before he got up, Shi Bufan walked back and Qiu Jin smiled when he saw him. “See? I knew that it’s just your trick. You clearly pretended to faint because you don’t want to keep standing outside.”

Zhen Yuanbai stared at Shi Bufan who was lazily strolling around, at a lack of words again.

He originally thought that Ji Yanping would talk to him because of this incident. Unexpectedly, she said nothing and his parents didn’t seem to know anything either. Zhen Yuanbai sighed in relief but felt apologetic towards his teacher and parents. Therefore, he worked harder in his studies and that evening, he punished himself and completed five pages of a practice exam. He didn’t rest until the morning.

The next day, the results for the monthly exam was up. Ji Yanping passed the report cards to each person and said, “Everyone should know what the rankings represent. That’s right. The seats in class are going to be changed again. Starting from the first person, Zhen Yuanbai, where do you want to sit?”

Zhen Yuanbai wasn’t a dominant person either. This month, he had chosen the best seat in the middle of the class, so he chose a spot in the corner this time. “I’ll sit by the window.”

This was the third row.

He started to pack his books and prepared to move his seat while Ji Yanping continued to read, “The second person…”

Song Mo sighed deeply and looked anxiously.

All the students in the school probably have the same thoughts. After being first, they would not want to be second anymore. Once someone gets second place, they wouldn’t want to be third. Song Mo usually picked his seat after Zhen Yuanbai and as long as the conditions allow him, he will definitely sit next to the first place.

However, although Zhen Yuanbai steadily got first place every time, it wasn’t the same for Song Mo.

“Second place, Song Mo, where do you want to sit?”

Song Mo sighed heavily and carried his books happily, saying, “I’m still sitting next to Zhen Yuanbai.”

He just followed Zhen Yuanbai over when he suddenly noticed a murderous gaze on him. He rigidly raised his head to notice the person chuckling strangely.

Song Mo was speechless.

He silently sat next to Zhen Yuanbai and felt sweat covering his back. He searched through his memory, wondering when he had offended Shi Bufan, until Ji Yanping called the last person. “Shi Bufan, your…nevermind, you don’t need to pick. The last seat is yours.”

She slapped a blank test on Shi Bufan’s desk.

There were some classmates in the classroom secretly laughing.

While the other students were choosing their seats, they made sure they wouldn’t sit where Shi Bufan had sat. Ever since he came to this class, he almost never changed his seat. After Ji Yanping was done passing out their tests, she was about to walk out of the classroom when Shi Bufan said, “I’ve been sitting here for two semesters. Teacher, please make an exception and let me move my seat.”

Ji Yanping found this to be a rare occurrence, so she turned around and asked, “Where do you want to sit then?”

The whole class suddenly became silent.

They all had one wish: please don’t sit next to me.