Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Approaching New Year's Day

“Xiao Lin, you’d better tell me the truth. How did you really get that injury on your face? If you don’t, don’t blame me for being rough with you!” Wang Yuqing raised her small fists and waved them at Xiao Lin, her delicate eyebrows knitted together in a feisty but adorable expression, the tips of her little tiger teeth peeking out, and the dimples in her cheeks deepening ever so slightly. She looked utterly charming and cute.

Looking at Wang Yuqing’s imperious yet endearing manner, Xiao Lin wanted to laugh but didn’t dare; he could only stifle it, clenching his jaw. No matter how Wang Yuqing tried to coax or threaten him, he stubbornly refused to admit that his facial injury was from a fight with Gao Zheng. He insisted that he’d simply tripped and fallen on his way back to the dorm last night. But Wang Yuqing didn’t believe a word of it—anyone could see that injury wasn’t from a fall. Still, the infuriating guy wouldn’t confess, so in her irritation, Wang Yuqing pinched Xiao Lin’s waist several times, making him wince in pain.

Noticing that his face was still badly swollen, her annoyance gave way to concern. “Does it still hurt?” she asked gently.

Xiao Lin, however, put on a proud front. “It’s nothing. Doesn’t hurt at all. Just a minor scratch.”

“Um, Yuqing, can I ask you something?” Seeing that Wang Yuqing had calmed down a bit, Xiao Lin sidled up to her with a sly grin.

“What is it? Just ask,” Wang Yuqing replied, though she eyed him warily, annoyed by his mischievous look.

“If Gao Zheng and I both tried to win your heart at the same time, who would you choose?” Xiao Lin suddenly turned serious.

“Huh?” Wang Yuqing hadn’t expected such a direct question. Her cheeks flushed red and she began to stammer, unable to get a word out. This silly guy—was he finally planning to pursue her after all? Secretly, Wang Yuqing was delighted.

“Haha, I was just saying ‘if.’ Tsk tsk, Yuqing, you’re blushing! Hahaha, so cute,” Xiao Lin laughed heartily, finding her blush the most beautiful thing about her. He could never resist teasing her.

“You’re impossible...” Wang Yuqing, who had just been secretly hoping for something more, was so annoyed by his next words that she grabbed her textbook from the desk and thumped him on the head.

Xiao Lin shrieked, clutching his head and falling silent at last.

Liu Xiaoming, the class monitor, glanced back at their antics and smiled wryly to himself. Seriously, you two, this is self-study period. Couldn’t you keep a lower profile? If any other students were chatting during self-study, Liu Xiaoming would have stepped in long ago, but with these two—especially Xiao Lin—he didn’t dare interfere, so he pretended not to notice. In truth, the whole class acted as if nothing was happening.

“Hey, hey, Boss Xiao, you didn’t finish your story last night. Tell me more about your duel with Gao Zheng!” As the self-study period ended, Yuan Weiye rushed to Xiao Lin’s desk, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Yuan Weiye…” Xiao Lin ground out the name through clenched teeth. This idiot—did he have any sense at all? Xiao Lin could have throttled him then and there.

But Yuan Weiye looked completely bewildered, unaware of the trouble his words had just caused.

“So, Xiao Lin, your injury really is from fighting Gao Zheng yesterday? And you dared to lie to me! I’ll beat you up!” Wang Yuqing’s face flushed with anger as she raised her fists and started pummeling Xiao Lin.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I won’t do it again, I promise!” Xiao Lin pleaded for mercy.

In the end, after omitting a large part of the truth, Xiao Lin told Wang Yuqing it was just a friendly sparring match between martial arts enthusiasts. Yuan Weiye, realizing his blunder, wisely chose to keep quiet. Though Wang Yuqing was still skeptical, she couldn’t get any more out of them, so with a few more threats, she let it go.

...

During the second period that afternoon, the homeroom teacher, Old Yan, brought some news to the class. “Everyone, I have an announcement. This year, we won’t be getting any days off for New Year’s Day.”

The classroom immediately erupted in groans and wails.

“This is terrible! No holiday—there goes my trip!”

“It’s not fair! My friend at No. 2 High gets three days off!”

“I protest! I’m going to report this to the Education Bureau!”

“Ahem, quiet down. I haven’t finished yet. Wait until I’m done, then you can decide if it’s good news or bad,” Old Yan said, a rare conspiratorial smile on his face as he kept them in suspense.

The class fell silent, ears pricked for what was to come.

“After much discussion among the school leaders, it’s been decided that on New Year’s night, our school will hold a New Year’s Gala.” He stretched out the words for emphasis.

A few seconds of stunned silence, and then the class exploded in cheers.

“Haha, that’s great! With a New Year’s Gala, who wants to go home anyway?”

“Definitely good news! I wonder who’ll be performing. The street dance club will for sure, right?”

“Awesome! I love galas. I’m going to put together my own performance!”

Seeing how happy the students were, Old Yan nodded in satisfaction. Clearly, the school leadership understood their students’ hearts. Well, letting them relax once in a while would help their studies, too.

“All right, save your excitement for New Year’s Day,” Old Yan called, gesturing for quiet. “Anyone who wants to perform should sign up at the arts center. And one more thing—I’ll allow you to participate in the show, but don’t let your studies slip. Remember, you’re seniors now…” He launched into his usual lecture about the college entrance exam.

The students sighed in resignation. With such a nagging homeroom teacher, they weren’t sure if they were lucky or unfortunate.

Five minutes later, Old Yan finally finished. Smacking his lips, he seemed reluctant to stop, but just then he remembered something.

“Yuqing, for this gala, Director Zhang from the arts center says he wants you as the female host. Any problems with that?” Old Yan asked, looking toward Wang Yuqing at the back.

“Host?” Wang Yuqing was startled. She had no experience as a host and was about to refuse, when she caught a glimpse of Xiao Lin beside her. For some reason, as if compelled by fate, she replied that she could do it. Her thoughts were simple: she wanted to prove to Xiao Lin that she was capable too. After all, Xiao Lin had been a host back at Donghai Affiliated High. Such are the mysterious workings of a girl’s heart.

“All right, I’ll tell Director Zhang you’ve agreed then,” Old Yan said, a bit disappointed—he’d expected her to refuse. This Old Zhang, of all the girls in school, why did he have to pick Wang Yuqing from their class? Old Yan grumbled to himself. Little did he know that Director Zhang had chosen Wang Yuqing at someone’s request.

“You actually agreed?” Xiao Lin asked in surprise.

“So what? You can be a host, but I can’t?” Wang Yuqing replied smugly.

“Uh…” Xiao Lin rubbed his nose, looking helpless. He knew she was referring to their junior high days.

“Well, now that’s settled, let’s get back to class. Turn to…” Old Yan said.

As the sound of pages turning filled the room, Xiao Lin and Wang Yuqing both sat up straight, ready to focus on the lesson.