Chapter 32
Proofreader: Akimi
“What’s interesting about the movies?” Zhen Yuanbai refused right away, exclaiming how this bet didn’t attract him. Shi Bufan asked, “Then what do you want to do? If you can’t beat me, you can get a free beating from me?”
Zhen Yuanbai was very unhappy. “Can you stop thinking about beating people up?”
Shi Bufan nodded obediently and said, “Then if you beat me, you can kiss me. If I beat you, I can give you a kiss.”
“No.”
This was the second time Shi Bufan got refused and he was a bit impatient. Zhen Yuanbai quickly said, “If you beat me, you do 10 test papers. If I beat you, I’ll do 10 test papers.”
Shi Bufan knitted his eyebrows and said, “Let’s compromise. If I beat you, you kiss me. If you beat me, you do 10 test papers.”
“You do 10 test papers.”
“Ok, I’ll do it.”
Normally, Zhen Yuanbai would not be his match. After all, Shi Bufan could break the world records for Zhen Yuanbai. The latter was just about to run when Shi Bufan whooshed. A minute later, Shi Bufan stood by the tree they decided on, waving his arms, saying, “Quickly, Snail Zhen!”
Snail Zhen ran out of breath halfway and slowly walked over, immediately pressed into Shi Bufan’s arms. The latter intimately placed his face next to Zhen Yuanbai and said, “Now, let’s have our dear little sir fulfill his promise.”
Zhen Yuanbai had a red face and scolded, “Can’t you act like a student?”
“If you kiss me, I’ll do 10 test papers. How does that sound?”
Zhen Yuanbai paused and said, “Then you need to get into the top 100 for the next monthly exam.”
“Ok, I’ll listen to you.”
Zhen Yuanbai pursed his lips and raised his chin, rapidly kissing Shi Bufan’s face. “Ok, we’re done with the morning jogging. Let’s go back to studying.”
Shi Bufan touched his face, a bit displeased. Zhen Yuanbai turned his face around and said sternly, “If you can’t get into the top 200 grade ranks for this semester’s final exam, I’ll stop dating you.”
After much consideration, Zhen Yuanbai believed that he needed to end this fake dating the sooner the better. Otherwise, according to this development, everyone will end up knowing. Who knows how Zhen Youxiu regarded them right now. Then, there’s Mother Shi… It seems like she knows nothing
Shi Bufan followed and said, “What do you mean by you’re not going to date me anymore?”
Zhen Yuanbai said sternly, “I’m going to break up with you.”
Shi Bufan was confused and asked, “Why do you keep on mentioning about breaking up?”
“Because you weren’t listening.”
“You still want to control me, hm?”
“In short, don’t think that I’m joking.” Zhen Yuanbai whispered and scolded, “How many times have you dragged me down? You should help me gain face and compensate me. Otherwise, what use do I have of you? Just to lose my face?”
The little classmate wants his face. Shi Bufan couldn’t help but smile, saying, “Ok, I promise that I will make it into the top 200 for the final exam and not disappoint Teacher Zhen’s expectations.”
Zhen Yuanbai then turned around and glanced at Shi Bufan in approval.
Actually, even if Zhen Yuanbai didn’t say that, Shi Bufan also knew. Since the little classmate was already invited into his house, it’s one thing for his grades to improve, but his grades can’t fall. Even if he hadn’t talked to the Zhen parents, from Zhen Yuanbai’s reaction, he could tell that if he wanted to date Zhen Yuanbai under his parents’ support, he must improve his grades.
When they head back home, food was already prepared. Mother Shi immediately ladled rice for them and Zhen Yuanbai even thanked her. However, Shi Bufan just started to play on his phone, clearly not placing his parents in his eyes.
Zhen Yuanbai drank the porridge a bit sorrowfully and felt the atmosphere becoming awkward again.
While eating, Shi Xian gently asked Zhen Yuanbai some questions regarding his family like where his parents were working and whether it was tiring. When he heard that Zhen Yuanbai had a brother, Shi Xian asked about his grades and such. Zhen Yuanbai answered each question. Though, Shi Bufan suddenly snorted and said, “I didn’t know that you were investigating the residence. The money that you earned probably had to do with corruption, right?”
Shi Xian’s face turned green, but Ling Xuan stopped him from doing anything, laughing and saying, “The child’s just joking with you. Don’t be angry.”
Zhen Yuanbai felt extremely ill at ease being with the family of 3. In order to prevent the atmosphere from becoming more awkward, his hand slid down and gently tugged the hem of Shi Bufan’s shirt. The latter calmed down and reached over to pass a golden deep-fried breadstick over to Zhen Yuanbai.
Shi Xian knitted his eyebrows, but Ling Xuan’s eyes brightened.
After breakfast, Zhen Yuanbai responsibly took out his book and started to tutor Shi Bufan. The latter was also ambitious, burying his head to work on sophomore test papers, not thinking about dating him.
During this time, Mother Shi personally carried a tray of fruits up for them. Although Zhen Yuanbai focused on studying, whenever there was food by his side, he couldn’t control his hands at all. He always wanted to shove the food in his mouth. When he snapped out of his trance, the tray was almost empty. Shi Bufan was just staring at him as he said, “You like it that much that you won’t even leave me a few pieces of fruit?”
Zhen Yuanbai withdrew his hand and Shi Bufan shoved the last piece of cantaloupe into his mouth, ordering, “Say something good.”
“What do you mean?”
“Call me hubby and I’ll go down to cut you some more fruits.”
How stupid was he to compliment Shi Bufan for being ambitious in learning? Zhen Yuanbai reached over and grabbed the empty tray, retorting, “I have hands!”
He walked downstairs and Ling Xuan immediately asked, “Do you want some more? I’ll cut more.”
“Mhm.” Zhen Yuanbai added, “I accidentally finished it all and Shi Bufan didn’t eat any.”
Ling Xuan laughed and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll go make some more. You want some grapes and blueberries as well?”
Zhen Yuanbai nodded and walked in, following her. He planned on carrying the tray upstairs after she was done. Ling Xuan washed the fruits and gently asked, “Fanfan doesn’t have a good relationship with us. Did we scare you?”
Zhen Yuanbai immediately shook his head and said, “No.”
Actually, he planned on not coming next week since the atmosphere in the Shi Family was too strange and he felt like he didn’t belong.
Ling Xuan smiled and asked, “When are you coming next week?”
Zhen Yuanbai was stunned for 2 seconds before he replied, “I already agreed…Of course, I’m coming.”
After that, he looked down, a bit hesitant. Could Mother Shi tell what he was thinking? Could she read minds?
“I can tell that Fanfan likes you a lot. He normally doesn’t listen to anyone.”
The tip of Zhen Yuanbai’s ears turned red and he said, “No. He, he treats me like his benefactor…”
“Aren’t you guys good friends now?” Ling Xuan slightly smiled and passed the fruit tray over, saying, “Can I ask you for a favor?”
“Sure, tell me.”
“Can you talk kindly about this uncle and aunt in front of Fanfan? You don’t need to make it too obvious, but you can just casually mention it whenever.”
Zhen Yuanbai looked at her, questioning it, but nodded in the end.
Ling Xuan was unable to keep the smile on as Zhen Yuanbai was more obedient than she expected. “Aren’t you curious why?”
Zhen Yuanbai looked over and his sparkling eyes perfectly illustrated how curious he was. “Are you going to tell me?”
“It’s not like I can’t tell you.” Ling Xuan sighed and said, “But please don’t tell Fanfan. Compared to before he lost his memory, he…”
She suddenly paused and Zhen Yuanbai turned around, seeing Shi Bufan walk downstairs. He raised his eyebrows and said, “It takes you guys a long time to even wash the fruits. I don’t know how to do a question. Come here.”
Zhen Yuanbai walked over and Shi Bufan reached over to pinch the fruits in the tray, glancing at Ling Xuan. He said, “Don’t you know that my benefactor charges a fee by the minute for talking to him?”
Ling Xuan smiled gently and said, “Ok, I got it.”
Shi Bufan looked back and walked upstairs with Zhen Yuanbai. He reached over and sniffed him, squinted his eyes and said, “You have her perfume smell on you.”
Zhen Yuanbai didn’t want to talk to him. He was only a step away before his curiosity would be fulfilled. Now, he got nothing out of the conversation. Shi Bufan was really annoying, but the latter didn’t find Zhen Yuanbai to be annoying. After they got upstairs, Shi Bufan came over and kissed him, asking, “What did she say to you?”
“She said you’re a stupid boy and she wants me to be more patient. She wants me to hold in my urges of beating you up.”
“Humph.” Shi Bufan replied weirdly and said, “Precious, you’re quite spoiled. You even want to beat your boyfriend up now.”
Zhen Yuanbai’s eyelids twitched when he heard Shi Bufan calling him “precious,” and ignored him now.
Shi Bufan revealed a satisfied smile and sat next to Zhen Yuanbai’s side, twirling the pen in his hand, saying, “Do you know when your boyfriend’s birthday is?”
“I don’t want to know.”
“If you don’t know, I’m going to kiss you. I’m going to kiss you until you cry.”
He reached over and Zhen Yuanbai immediately moved back. Zhen Yuanbai pushed Shi Bufan back and said, “If you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to know?”
“It’s in a few days.” Shi Bufan said, “December 12th. I almost forgot.”
“Didn’t you lose your memory? You still remember your birthday.”
“I still have my ID.” Shi Bufan said, taking out his ID while he was at it and he said, “Do you think my ID photo looks handsome?”
Zhen Yuanbai glanced at him and believed that Shi Bufan must’ve taken the picture when he was 14-15. Shi Bufan was young and delicate back then, his hair smooth. He was clearly an obedient child back then,
Zhen Yuanbai immediately glanced back and forth between Shi Bufan and the ID photo, saying, “You’ve clearly grown the wrong way.”
Before he finished his words, he tugged the chair far away and it was a good thing that Shi Bufan didn’t bother with him. Otherwise, Zhen Yuanbai would’ve cried again.
Shi Bufan allowed them to be far away, asking, “How about you? Show me your ID.”
“I don’t want you to see.”
“If you don’t let me see, I’m going to come over.”
If the two sat together, Shi Bufan was going to get touchy with Zhen Yuanbai again. Therefore, the latter unwillingly took out his ID and pushed it towards Shi Bufan; he placed the two IDs together, thinking that they were quite a good match. Then, he saw Zhen Yuanbai’s birthday and said, “November 1st…Whoa. The whole world’s going to celebrate your birthday.”
“I’m older than you.”
Shi Bufan’s gaze landed on his birth year. Zhen Yuanbai couldn’t control his prideful smile, saying, “2 months. You need to call me elder brother.”
Shi Bufan couldn’t help but laugh, nodding. He said in a proper manner, “You’re right. Then… Elder brother?”
Zhen Yuanbai took a deep breath and felt the world blooming with flowers and the smell of happiness was everywhere. He politely curled his lips up while Shi Bufan said, “Can you explain the question to me now? Come over. I can’t hear.”
Zhen Yuanbai who obtained his respect tugged his chair back and the slight curly bangs on his forehead swayed. He brought out the elder brother’s imposing manner and said, “Ok. Tell me which question…”
Shi Bufan’s handsome face immediately moved closer to Zhen Yuanbai’s.
Zhen Yuanbai grabbed the back of the chair and placed a hand underneath the chair. He exerted force at the same time and directly turned Zhen Yuanbai around to face himself. The wooden chair let out a soft bang and Zhen Yuanbai was trapped firmly on the chair.
The room was silent.
Then, they suddenly heard Mother Shi’s voice outside, saying, “Your brother is doing homework with Fanfan in the room. You should notify this aunt and I can send a driver over to pick you up.”
Zhen Youxiu indifferently said, “Very sorry, I’m already here. But, you can send a driver over to send us back later, thanks.”