Given that Luo Zhiyu was currently in his final year of high school, with a heavy academic workload and all sorts of thoughts running through a teenager’s mind, his father, mother, and older sister had unanimously concluded that he was probably going through a bit of a rebellious phase.
The plate of oranges in the picture looked remarkably fresh. The only thing they couldn’t figure out was why the picture of her boyfriend getting out of the shower that Luo Zhiyu had sent her was a plate of oranges.
Luo Sixue: “……”
Well, they really were round.
She had even gotten a little nervous out of politeness, only for Luo Zhiyu to show her this.
She hadn’t gotten a single piece of useful information out of it.
“It can’t be someone from a rival family,” Luo Yi said, putting everyone’s concerns to rest. “That guy was bragging about it during the New Year. He said his little bastard already had a boyfriend, and that they’d even started making preparations for their future wedding.”
“As long as Luo Zhiyu likes him, that’s what matters.” His older sister reached a conclusion. “We’d better not interfere. If he doesn’t want to tell us, he must have his reasons, or maybe he thinks the time isn’t right yet.”
“Fine. Let’s wait until he’s ready and let him surprise us.”
The rebellious Luo Zhiyu waited half a day without getting a reply. He even sent over a picture of “Boyfriend Getting Dressed,” another of “Boyfriend’s Home,” and one of “Angry Boyfriend.”
[Luo Sixue]: I won’t disturb you anymore. Go have fun.
[Luo Sixue]: Make your own decisions about your relationship. Besides, you wouldn’t agree to an arranged marriage even if we tried to find you a suitable match in the future.
[Luo Sixue]: You have our unconditional support. Go have fun. As long as you’re happy.
[Zhizhi]: Happy.
Luo Zhiyu noticed the word our in the chat history and casually took a screenshot, just in case he needed it someday.
The general education assignment wasn’t difficult. The lecturers had already covered most of the material in class. After finishing his conversation with his sister, Luo Zhiyu continued to half-heartedly work on Xiao Yan’s class assignment.
[Zhizhi]: [Photo] Does this count as me doing your homework for you this time?
[Zhizhi]: You there? IOU? Get it?
[Orange]: This doesn’t count. You just attended class for me. You were basically there to make up the numbers.
[Orange]: Fairy frowning.jpg Write more neatly on the assignment. Look at you! Apart from your boyfriend’s name, your other characters are practically illegible.
[Zhizhi]: Yan-Yan, you little punk. You’re pretty picky, huh?
[Orange]: An IOU won’t count. The difficulty levels aren’t equivalent.
[Zhizhi]: Fair enough. I won’t take advantage of you for nothing. Next time, give me something of equivalent difficulty. Any assignment will do.
[Orange]: Okay.
[Orange]: I’m almost done here. I’ll come downstairs to pick you up in a bit.
As soon as class ended, the teacher slung his bag over his shoulder and left the classroom. The room immediately descended into chaos as dozens of people turned around together, surrounding Luo Zhiyu in the center.
Luo Zhiyu: “……”
“What’s your name, little brother?” one of the girls from Xiao Yan’s class asked.
“Luo Zhiyu.”
“Such a nice name, and you’re so handsome, too.” The girls chattered excitedly. “You look even better than in the pictures!”
“I heard Xiao Yan say you get really good grades. Are you going to apply to our university next year?” someone else asked. “Then you can have your boyfriend meet you at the school gate.”
“I am.” Luo Zhiyu nodded. “I really like U University. Whenever I have time, I’ll come over here.”
“You two have such a good relationship. You even came to attend class for him.” One student sounded envious. “My boyfriend is in university, too, but when I ask him to attend a class for me, he starts making all sorts of demands.”
“It’s only right, it’s only right.” Luo Zhiyu was getting a little carried away by all the praise.
Whatever he said, these people believed him. Luo Zhiyu no longer wanted to leave. He wanted to chat with Xiao Yan’s friends a little longer.
The people at U University were just too nice. At No. 1 High School, Luo Zhiyu and Xiao Yan could only fight. Here, everyone had willingly started eating the dog food the two of them were serving—and they were chewing it with great enthusiasm.
“So that’s why I was waiting downstairs for ages.” Xiao Yan knocked on the classroom door. A whole crowd turned around at once. “Stop watching the show and give my boyfriend back to me!”
“Coming!” Luo Zhiyu grabbed his schoolbag, said goodbye to everyone in the classroom, and darted over to the front door in a few quick steps.
“Let’s go, Yan-Yan.” Luo Zhiyu handed his schoolbag to Xiao Yan. “Let’s have lunch.”
“You can call me that a couple of times while we’re chatting, but you’ve gotten addicted to it now, huh?” Xiao Yan paused as he took Luo Zhiyu’s bag. “Haven’t you?”
A high school student’s schoolbag really was heavy. Like everyone his age, Luo Zhiyu carried a huge bag full of books wherever he went. He might not necessarily read them or study from them, but having them on his back gave him a sense of courage. When he went out, he could play with a clear conscience.
“This thing weighs a ton.” Xiao Yan felt as though he were holding a bag of rocks. “Exactly how many books did you stuff in here?”
“It’s not that bad.” Luo Zhiyu soothed his boyfriend.
No one here cracked down on young love or kept an eye out for fights. Life was wonderfully carefree.
The two walked all the way to the school’s underground parking garage, where Xiao Yan’s car was parked.
Xiao Yan had bought the car a few years ago and had only gotten his driver’s license this summer. A certain high school student who was still too young to qualify for a license lounged across the entire back seat, looking extremely envious.
“Must be nice.” Luo Zhiyu sighed sarcastically, his envy getting the better of him.
“High school students should focus on studying. Stop being jealous of this and that.” Xiao Yan walked around to the driver’s seat.
“What are you so proud of? You were a high school student yourself just a few months ago.” Luo Zhiyu was deeply dissatisfied. The age gap between them wasn’t all that big, but the fact that one was in his final year of high school while the other was a university freshman made the difference feel especially subtle and awkward.
Xiao Yan, in particular, had discovered a new source of amusement in this situation. He flaunted his current status whenever he could, periodically checking his boyfriend’s homework and stopping Luo Zhiyu from scribbling all over his worksheets and assignments. He would seize on all kinds of tiny mistakes and trivial issues to tease him.
The temporary mark on the back of Luo Zhiyu’s neck, which had been replenished a few days earlier, was the result of exactly this sort of thing.
“Just wait a few more months. Then I’ll come find you,” Luo Zhiyu said. “Let’s see how smug you are then.”
“Where are we going?” Luo Zhiyu didn’t recognize the road. “Aren’t we going home? I have to return to school this afternoon.”
“Tang Yuan wants to treat you to a meal. He said he wants to thank you.”
Ever since Luo Zhiyu had casually helped Tang Yuan find an omega with dog-food-scented pheromones at the national high school English competition, Tang Yuan and the guy had been getting along well. His friendship points with Luo Zhiyu had shot up, too. Even the little fan Luo Zhiyu had brought along last time to watch the military training formation had been generously sponsored by Tang Yuan.
“Does anyone feed the orange cats at school?” Tang Yuan was more concerned about this.
Back at No. 1 High School, whenever their dormitory door opened, more than a dozen cats would be waiting outside. Xiao Yan and Fan Yue had to clear them away first, while Zhang Shu stood guard. Only then could Tang Yuan safely make his way out.
“They do,” Luo Zhiyu said. “There’s a first-year alpha this year whose pheromones smell like dried fish. He’s basically inherited your position as the king of the cat kingdom. The cats have already fallen for someone else, and he actually likes cats, too.”
Xiao Yan: “……”
Well, at least there was someone to carry on the legacy.
No. 1 High School was still just as lively as ever. It was just that Luo Zhiyu’s heart had already wandered far away.
Retiring early was not permitted. Recently, Director Wu had resumed his duties.
Every Friday, he stationed himself by the school wall to stop a certain outstanding graduate from staging yet another dramatic reunion with his alma mater, overcome by an unbearable reluctance to part.
But Xiao Yan always managed to avoid whichever corner of the wall Director Wu was watching, as if there were a mole inside No. 1 High School.
Director Wu couldn’t figure it out.
He found some time to discuss the problem with Luo Zhiyu. Luo Zhiyu’s eyes darted around, and his words came out haltingly, as though he deeply despised the traitor.
Director Wu had, after all, worked in education for more than ten years and was highly experienced in handling students. After a few weeks, he learned to pick Xiao Yan out of the crowd of third-year students at a glance, even when he was in disguise. He would then subject him to an educational lecture on the theme of unity and friendship.
After one or two encounters, Xiao Yan wised up. He dug out the uniforms he had worn in his first and second years of high school—red and white, or blue and white—and wore whichever one he felt like. Sometimes he climbed over the wall to get in; sometimes he entered through the main gate. His tactics were varied and highly deceptive.
One Friday after school, Director Wu happened to see Luo Zhiyu sneaking downstairs with a student wearing a first-year uniform. His first reaction was unexpectedly one of delight.
Had Luo Zhiyu made a new friend?
The next second, the “new friend” greeted him naturally.
“I just couldn’t bear to stay away from No. 1 High School, so I came back for a visit.”
“You people are way too persistent.” Director Wu had become numb to it all and decided to turn a blind eye.
In the days that followed, the school’s teachers also witnessed what it meant to be one of the notorious “local bosses” of No. 19 High School back in the day. The school didn’t open on weekends, but after behaving himself for two whole years, Luo Zhiyu had started climbing over the walls again. His agility, speed when making his escape, and sheer proficiency at breaking the rules left several teachers dumbfounded.
As a result, the homeroom teacher of Class Three reserved an entire package of events for him in advance for the autumn sports meet.
Luo Zhiyu, who usually avoided group activities, had accidentally been roped onto Class Three’s pirate ship this time. He could no longer use the three days of the sports meet to go hang out at U University.
[Zhizhi]: The turncoat really has betrayed me. He spent an entire week helping the teachers persuade me to participate in the short- and long-distance races.
[Orange]: I’ll come see you on Friday. I’ll watch you compete.
[Orange]: Looks like the teachers have finally discovered your hidden talent.
[Zhizhi]: Don’t you have classes on Friday?
[Zhizhi]: Someone’s guarding the northeast wall these days. Take another route.
[Orange]: Got it, got it.
[Orange]: I only have morning classes on Friday. My afternoon is free. Besides, the school will be partially open during this year’s sports meet, so I’ll walk in through the main gate and come find you openly and legitimately.
[Zhizhi]: Sounds good, sounds good.
Luo Zhiyu’s debut at the autumn sports meet attracted plenty of attention from people around the school. His gang of underlings who had followed him over from No. 19 High School even made him a giant banner covered in exaggerated praise. Since it showed excessive contempt for school regulations and wasn’t particularly civilized, the school banned them from hanging it up.
Wall-climbing expert Luo Zhiyu was escorted onto the 400-meter track by his teachers and classmates. Xiao Yan hadn’t arrived yet, and Luo Zhiyu was feeling thoroughly unmotivated.
“Teacher, you’ve got the wrong idea about me.” Luo Zhiyu spoke solemnly to the homeroom teacher of Class Three. “I’m not very good at sports. I’m afraid all I can manage is a reluctant jog. I won’t be able to bring glory to our class.”
“Participation is what matters.” An alpha student from the neighboring class said, “It’s just a sports meet. Enjoy the process. The results aren’t important.”
“Just finish the race and you’ll be fine.” The turncoat had switched sides and was now backing his deskmate. “Come on, you can do it. Just do your best.”
“I can’t do it. I have neither the motivation nor the ability.” Luo Zhiyu hopped twice on the spot to warm up. “Coming in last would be too embarrassing. I’ll settle for somewhere in the middle. Don’t even think about the top three.”
The competitor who had “lost before the battle even began” shuffled step by step toward the starting line. When he spotted a camera lens, he struck a reasonably proper starting pose. The starting pistol fired, and all the competitors surged forward along their respective lanes.
Luo Zhiyu followed the others without being either at the front or the back, maintaining a middle position for most of the race.
Over the school loudspeaker, Yan Zihan announced, “Currently in fifth place is Luo Zhiyu from Class Three, Grade Twelve. This is Luo Zhiyu’s first time participating in No. 1 High School’s sports meet. Although his running speed resembles someone out for a leisurely stroll, participation is what matters, and all he needs to do is try his best… We can see the runner in sixth place starting to speed up…”
“He’s already doing great!” the Class Three teacher said excitedly. “He’s already surpassed himself!”
The rankings changed when there was still a little less than half a lap left in the 400-meter race. Suddenly, another person appeared among Class Three’s cheer squad. The newcomer had a broom balanced on his shoulder and looked very much like he had come looking for trouble.
Over the school loudspeaker, Yan Zihan announced, “Class Three, Grade Twelve, has a very unique way of cheering Luo Zhiyu on… Ah, I’m blind! This is Xiao Yan, who graduated from No. 1 High School last year. On the day of the autumn sports meet, he has returned wearing a third-year high school uniform and carrying a broom from the sports field…”
Yan Zihan nudged the classmate beside him. The microphone was still on.
“I’m out of things to say. Why did he come back?”
Luo Zhiyu, who had been slacking off, spotted Xiao Yan in the crowd at a glance. It seemed that several of Xiao Yan’s university friends had come with him, too.
Luo Zhiyu’s sense of collective honor spontaneously came into existence.
“Hey, if you’re tired, just take it easy,” the competitor in the next lane said, pulling ahead of Luo Zhiyu. “We’re all just here to make up the numbers anyway.”
Before he had even finished speaking, a gust of wind swept through the lane beside him. The student who had been dawdling along, leisurely posing for pictures and slacking off to his heart’s content, suddenly shot forward. At incredible speed, he overtook several runners ahead of him and crossed the finish line without even slowing down. Then he charged straight toward the broom in the middle of the crowd, looking absolutely ferocious.
“Holy shit.” The neighboring competitor was stunned. “Is he going to fight someone? Why is he so aggressive?”
The last-place runner exclaimed, “Damn, Xiao Yan actually dares to come back!”
“Uh, we now interrupt this broadcast with a verbal announcement from the school administration,” Yan Zihan said over the loudspeaker. “Cheering is allowed, but fighting is not. Please put the four words ‘unity and friendship’ into practice, one by one.”