Chapter 33: Xie Buchan Beats Lin Shu Like a Drum

"Come here," Xie Buchan said.

Lin Shu walked past the greenery, standing beside him with a look of exasperation. He tapped her on the crown of her head—a smooth, fluid motion.

*Thump.*

Lin Shu let out an "ah."

"Did you think I went out and sold myself just to pay for your karaoke session?" Xie Buchan asked.

Lin Shu paused, lifting her gaze. "Then where did you get the money? You’re covered in bruises. Don’t tell me you were brutally..."

"It was a wealthy guy," Xie Buchan corrected, completely shameless.

Lin Shu nearly fainted. Her savior, to take her out for fun, had actually resorted to... oh, heavens, was this for real? Even the trashiest online novellas wouldn't dare write this!

"That’s even worse than a sugar mommy!" Lin Shu shouted. "At least with a woman, you wouldn't get yelled at by nursing staff when you're old!"

"Huh?" The delinquent boy’s brain buffered. It took him a moment to understand what she meant. *Wait, who exactly is the real delinquent here? How does she know all this, and why is she being so euphemistic about it? Isn't she just saying that if you sell your soul, you won't be able to control your bowels in your old age?*

Xie Buchan started laughing again. Seeing him like this, Lin Shu assumed he had either confessed or gone mad, which only made her feel worse.

*Thump.*

Xie Buchan tapped her head again, pulled up his pant leg, and glanced at it. "This is from a bike crash. It didn't break the skin at the time, so I thought it was fine. I didn't realize there was internal bleeding."

"Who crashes a bike like that?!" Lin Shu didn't believe him, insisting she wasn't a three-year-old he could easily fool.

The delinquent boy put his foot down, fished his phone out of his bag, and played a video for her. It showed a cliff-like ramp. Xie Buchan rode his bike off the edge, performed two spins, even let go of the handlebars in mid-air, plummeted into a landing bag below, and flew out, kicking up a cloud of dust. It looked like a special effect. Just watching it made Lin Shu’s adrenaline spike.

He explained that he was fine during the official competition; he’d actually gotten the bruise from a minor spill while just messing around with friends. The money to take her out came from his prize winnings. It was indeed sponsored by a "wealthy guy"—the local beverage factory owner—who, in addition to the prize money, had given him three crates of sports drinks. He asked if she wanted some olive juice.

"Why are you... why are you crying?" Xie Buchan froze.

Lin Shu wiped her face, gritting her teeth. "I'd rather you had sold your soul... are you trying to get yourself killed?" *If your mother knew, how heartbroken would she be?* Lin Shu thought to herself, but she didn't dare say it out loud, because he no longer had a mother; she was in another world.

Tears welled up uncontrollably. He was standing right there, perfectly fine, yet Lin Shu felt a profound sense of sadness. *Because no one is looking after him, he just goes around doing life-threatening things, right? How can you not cherish your own life?*

"Stop crying." Xie Buchan tossed his bike aside and stood before her. His bony, distinct fingers cupped her face, his thumbs catching the transparent tears and gently wiping them away. He looked a bit flustered. He didn't understand how something he thought was cool could look so pathetic in Lin Shu's eyes—she was acting as if he were some tragic figure from a classic novel.

Aside from "stop crying," the only thing he managed to say was, "Lin Shu, your face is so small. I can cover it with one hand." *What on earth does she think about all day with such a tiny head?*

Lin Shu turned her head away to avoid his touch and punched him in the arm.

Xie Buchan pretended to be in great pain and stepped back, but Lin Shu wasn't buying it. He could only look at her, helpless.

Once Lin Shu had cried enough, she stopped. Her emotions were like a summer thunderstorm—quick to arrive, quick to dissipate. Xie Buchan stood up straight and said in a low voice, "I wear protective gear. It's not as dangerous as you think."

Lin Shu just glared at him, a glare so intense that Xie Buchan didn't dare argue back. Even with gear, you had to sign waivers for ramps like that; the danger was obvious. He hadn't touched the bike in a while, and he had indeed been tempted by the prize money. Had he known Lin Shu would react this strongly, he wouldn't have done it.

"Your teacher talked to mine," he said, "telling me not to distract you from your studies. They said you have great potential and are a 'seed candidate' for the top ten in the grade."

"You actually listen to what Mr. Gang says?" Lin Shu retorted. "My grades only improved after I started hanging out with you."

Xie Buchan looked completely convinced. "...Is that so?"

"Of course. Go check my previous rankings if you don't believe me."

"Oh."

"Don't 'oh' me."

"Oh."

That was all he said.

Lin Shu blew her nose vigorously into a tissue, feeling inexplicably irritable—the kind of anger and self-reproach one feels when a guardian hasn't looked after a child properly. Xie Buchan asked if she still wanted to go to karaoke. If she didn't, he’d have to invite someone else.

"I'm going," Lin Shu said, firm and decisive. This was money he had earned with his life... *ugh*, the thought made her eyes well up again.

*Thump.*

Xie Buchan, spotting the perfect moment, decisively tapped her on the head again, successfully preventing her from crying.

"See you then. That's it for tonight, hurry home." He picked up his bike, and despite his stiff leg, he rode away fast. It was as if he were fleeing.

*What an idiot.*

Actually, dealing with boys was quite simple. If you wanted them to listen, you just had to cry. Of course, if crying didn't work, then you shouldn't bother at all—they clearly didn't care about you.

Lin Shu was both angry and amused. She thought to herself that in her next life, she must be reincarnated as a tall, handsome man, so she could be the one tapping others on the head. So what if he was tall? The damn delinquent was making her cry—was he an idiot?

Yes, he was an idiot.

...

Ji Xingshen was indeed quite ill. It wasn't an act; he had caught the flu, and after entering the hospital, he picked up another infection, running a high fever of forty degrees. After the classmates visited him, Mr. Gang and the dean of students went to visit him the next day. *Sigh, what a precious little treasure.*

Whether it was because of the hospital visits or because the virus was already spreading through the school, within two days, the entire classroom was filled with the sound of coughing.

Lin Shu’s mind kept flashing to that one line: *If a man coughs too much, he won't be able to have children.*

Hm. :-D

Just as Lin Shu felt that she and Zhou Ya were about to be infected, the weekend arrived. A narrow escape. To celebrate her progress in the exams, at dinner time, Lin Shu slapped two meal vouchers onto the table. Zhou Ya tilted her head, looked, and then slammed her hand down on them.

Lin Shu beamed with pride.

Zhou Ya called her amazing. Lin Shu had given the other ticket to Xie Buchan, who hadn't even wanted it. *The nerve of him! When Lin Shu decides to give something, no one can refuse.*

"Let's go, let's go, time to eat! Braised pork, lion's head meatballs, and they have watermelon and oranges at that window..."

The two of them ran to the cafeteria, beaming. Xie Buchan was already in line. Lin Shu and Zhou Ya stood a short distance behind him. Not long after, Mr. Gang arrived and queued up behind them. He glanced at Zhou Ya—no surprise—then at Lin Shu—even less surprise—and then, upon seeing Xie Buchan, Mr. Gang’s face turned a sickly shade of green.

He coughed twice.

Zhou Ya frantically grabbed Lin Shu’s hand. Lin Shu was staring at the meat in the window and nudged Zhou Ya. "What’s wrong? It's almost our turn, and there's still some left. The pieces look huge today!"

"Lin Shu, Mr. Gang is right behind us!"

Lin Shu froze, refusing to turn around. It was Xie Buchan who heard Zhou Ya’s voice and turned. Seeing Mr. Gang—who had a face like Li Kui and shared the same surname, Li—standing behind them, he gave a slight nod. Mr. Gang paused, then nodded back.

...

The lady serving the food smiled from ear to ear at Xie Buchan, took his voucher, and scooped all the leanest pieces of braised pork into his bowl. *He really is a heartthrob for older women.*

Mr. Gang stared at those pieces of meat, adjusting his glasses in agitation. Zhou Ya squeezed Lin Shu’s hand hard, and Lin Shu desperately pretended not to notice. It was truly a classic scene.

...

"My god, I was scared to death. Mr. Gang was staring daggers at you and Xie Buchan. Lin Shu, did Mr. Gang give you those vouchers?"

"Yeah..."

"Did he reward you for your progress?"

"I extorted him. Who told him to make me deliver test papers to Ji Xingshen?"

"You've got real guts, extorting Mr. Gang... I’m impressed, I’m really impressed."

Zhou Ya was still in awe. Lin Shu looked around and saw Xie Buchan eating across the room, with some boys with permed hair trying to steal the braised pork from his tray. She lunged over, using her two fatty pieces to swap for his four pieces of lean-and-fat meat.

The boy with the permed hair howled, "Lin Shu, why are you acting like a bandit!"

...

Zhou Ya covered her face. It was the first time she felt a little embarrassed to be seen with Lin Shu. However, after Lin Shu shared two pieces with her, she felt grateful to be her friend after all.

"So good. Mr. Gang and the others have such good food, they even have yogurt," Zhou Ya said, wiping her mouth and still savoring the taste.

Lin Shu laughed and asked if Zhou Ya wanted to go to karaoke on the weekend.

"When? I have to be home by eight."

"Saturday. Just come for two hours after dinner."

"Who else is going?"

"Xie Buchan is treating. I don't know who else he’ll invite."

Zhou Ya’s eyes widened. She pursed her lips, held up a finger, opened her mouth slightly, and then pursed her lips again. Lin Shu knew exactly what she was going to say, so she preempted her: "We don't have that kind of relationship. I took him to the amusement park over the holidays, and he’s just returning the favor."

Zhou Ya’s jaw nearly hit the floor. "You went to an amusement park together? Why didn't you tell me?"

Lin Shu blinked.

Zhou Ya said, "And you don't think that means something?"

Lin Shu replied, "If you put aside the gender difference, isn't that just a normal thing to do?"

Zhou Ya was stunned, then looked at Lin Shu with a mix of laughter and tears.