Chapter 15: Others Are Very Nice
According to the memories in my head, Dragon Brother (Male)—that’s me—was headed toward my humble abode.
The novel loved to spend countless pages describing the love story between the male and female protagonists.
As for the family situation of Dragon Brother? We can practically skip that.
Now, I’ve transmigrated here, and I don’t have the memories of the original owner.
All I can do is recall bits of the plot from my brain.
It seems that the reason for my character being so obsessive and paranoid is because my parents divorced when I was young.
But based on what the original story said…
My dad, in order to keep me in school—since I was basically an unmotivated slacker—pulled some strings and paid good money to force me into a vocational college.
From this, it’s clear: Dad actually cares about me, even if he seems to be a bit clueless.
And in the story’s ending, Dragon Brother fails because:
One, it’s required by the plot that the villain must lose.
Two, Dad, trying to persuade me to turn over a new leaf and stop messing around, ended up in a car accident on the way to talk sense into me—crushing my spirit instantly.
Now, I’ve just returned to the big yard.
Well, “big yard” is a bit of a stretch. It’s actually an old, dilapidated rental building.
I open the door, and the smell hits me like a freight train—stale cigarettes and booze everywhere.
Walking into the room.
Snoring so loud it echoes through the hallway.
There’s a middle-aged man sprawled out on the sofa, fast asleep. On the table next to him: a half-eaten pork ear, a plate of peanuts, and two empty bottles of white liquor.
This, of course, is Long Ba Tian—the father from the book—a pig slaughterer who also runs a butcher shop at the nearby market.
Dragon Brother (me, of course), sighs slightly.
Honestly, no wonder my personality’s so twisted—living in this mess.
“Dad, wake up, wake up…” I call twice but the old man refuses to budge.
So, I help him up. Luckily, I’m pretty strong, even if lifting an unconscious old man takes some effort.
Back in the living room, I open the window. The breeze blows out some of the stench.
Then I roll up my sleeves and start tidying up.
After cleaning the living room thoroughly,
I hit the bathroom for a shower.
Finally, I return to my bedroom.
Turn on the light.
There’s a hundred-yuan bill on the bed.
I glance back at the old man’s room, a smile creeping on my face, then close the door.
Lying on the bed, I flip the bill in my hand, scrutinizing it again and again.
Since I don’t know how to get back yet, I might as well enjoy life here, fully experiencing this world anew.
While changing Hu Yu Ying, I also plan to make some personal changes.
In the original story, the plot wasn’t just about the sweet romance between the leads but was also sprinkled with entrepreneurial storylines.
I can totally use these to my advantage.
Thoughts swirling, I drift off into sleep.
Next morning.
My phone alarm blares.
I turn it off, get up to wash up, and peek at the sleeping old man.
Then I walk out the door.
At the school cafeteria entrance.
Li Qian looks at Hu Yu Ying standing there and asks, “Hu Yu Ying, what are you doing just standing here?”
Hu Yu Ying raises her head at the sound, recalling what Brother Long told her yesterday.
She straightens her posture with a smile and says, “Classmate Li Qian, I’m waiting for someone.”
Before, Hu Yu Ying liked to always hunched over, with her head down, looking pretty gloomy and weighed down.
Now, she stands tall with a smile, facing others directly, and she seems so much more comfortable.
At just 18 years old, she should be a lot more cheerful.
“Waiting for someone?” Li Qian, who transferred here just yesterday, looked surprised.
Besides herself and two other girls, she hadn’t really talked to anyone else in this class.
Could it be…
Thinking back to last night’s study session where Hu Yu Ying helped Dragon Brother study, she exclaimed, “Are you perhaps waiting for Dragon Brother?”
“Oh, Hu Yu Ying, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what I told you?”
“Dragon Brother is temperamental. When he’s in a good mood, he’s much nicer. But if he’s in a bad mood, he’ll chase after dogs on the street just to slap them.”
“You should keep some distance from him.”
Li Qian, having gone to school with Dragon Brother for over two years, understands him better.
His past fights and conflicts? Still fresh in her mind.
“No, he’s not that bad,” Hu Yu Ying insists. “He’s actually pretty good to people.”
Thinking about how Dragon Brother helped her yesterday—preventing bullies, taking her under his wing, buying her meals, even encouraging her to change… She truly doesn’t think he’s all that terrible.
Though he always said he’d punch her, he never actually laid a hand on her.
Watching Hu Yu Ying talk about Dragon Brother, Li Qian rolls her eyes. “Don’t be fooled by his looks. Sure, he’s tall and handsome, but think about why everyone in the class is scared of him!”
“Why even Wang Shuo is afraid of him? Now that it’s senior year, you better not let him mess up your studies, or it’ll ruin your future.”
“Hmm, I got it,” Hu Yu Ying nods, understanding that Li Qian is speaking out of concern.
But she trusts her own judgment.
When everyone else was afraid to step up and help her, it was Brother Long who extended a hand.
Sure, people say he’s no good, that he’s trouble—yet she simply can’t bring herself to say anything bad about him.
Maybe Brother Long’s reputation isn’t great among them, but what he means to her is crystal clear.
Li Qian sighs helplessly. “I’m heading to the cafeteria first.”
“Alright.” After saying that, Hu Yu Ying momentarily zones out, then adds, “See you in the classroom.”
Li Qian, already walking away, turns back with a smile and says, “See you in the classroom.”
Watching Li Qian’s cheerful expression, Hu Yu Ying feels inexplicably better.
Her mood lightens, and an involuntary smile appears on her face.
“Talking to others isn’t really that hard, is it?”
At that moment, Hu Yu Ying’s surprise turns to delight as she hears this voice.
Turning around happily, she sees it’s really Dragon Brother.
Her smile becomes even more charming as she exclaims, “Brother Long!”
Almost immediately, she wonders: has Brother Long been here the whole time? Did he hear everything she just said about Li Qian?
She quickly tries to peek at him, worried he might be upset.
“Why are you overthinking? Your Brother Long isn’t that petty,” Dragon Brother—meaning me—says with a smirk, noticing her mischievous look.
And Li Qian? Well, she didn’t lie.
If I hadn’t transmigrated here, according to how the original story goes, Hu Yu Ying would probably be scared to d*ath upon seeing me—the typical trembling, shivering, hiding kind.
But now? Everything’s different.