Chapter 34: Don’t Hit Me, I’ll Behave!
Time: Sunday afternoon, 3:30 PM.
Location: Hu Yu Ying’s house.
Staring at the chat box on her phone screen, Hu Yu Ying’s fingertip hovered over it, then withdrew.
Taking a deep breath, she looked into the mirror before her: “Hu Yu Ying, you need to learn to be shameless. Even if you’re rejected, it doesn’t matter!”
“And plus, Long Ge also said I can contact him anytime I have nothing to do!”
“Come on! Come on! Come on!”
Gathering her courage, she swiftly typed and sent: “Long Ge, what time are you going to school?”
“Can we go together?”
With all messages sent, Hu Yu Ying suddenly felt like all her strength had been drained.
Lying on her bed, her delicate white face contrasted sharply with the long black hair scattered behind her, giving off a sort of torn but tender vibe.
Ding dong~
The uniquely attentive notification sound rang out.
Hu Yu Ying froze for a moment, then took a deep breath and picked up her phone.
Seeing Long Ge’s reply, her beautiful eyes curved into little crescent moons, and she hurriedly responded: “Hmm hmm, I’ve arrived, waiting for you.”
After sending that message, she quickly got up, took off her clothes, and swapped into her school uniform.
Then she headed to the living room, packed up her books and practice questions, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out the door.
There are two routes Hu Yu Ying takes to school: One from the west side of the alley, passing through the vegetable market and the courtyard tenants’ building, where her elder brother’s house resides—so that route is quite convenient.
The other, the route she usually takes from the east side of the alley, passes by a railway crossing; it’s a bit more populated, and slightly shorter, but in the opposite direction of Long Ge.
She turned off her phone. Long Ao Tian also changed into his school uniform, waiting about ten minutes before heading downstairs.
At the courtyard entrance, he waited in the shade beside a signboard.
“Long Ge.”
His voice was tinged with a hint of joy.
Long Ao Tian turned to see Hu Yu Ying vigorously waving from nearby.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay.” She still loved following Long Ao Tian like a little tail.
Suddenly, Long Ao Tian stopped in his tracks. Hu Yu Ying, behind him, couldn’t dodge in time and accidentally bumped her head against Long Ao Tian’s back.
“Sorry, Long Ge, I didn’t see you,” Hu Yu Ying immediately apologized.
Long Ao Tian looked at her with amused eyes: “What are you doing always sticking to me?”
Hearing this, Hu Yu Ying moved a step to the right and timidly asked, “Can I walk here?”
“No.”
Just as she tried to step to the left, Long Ao Tian grabbed her arm and pulled her beside him: “Come here.”
Two figures of different heights under the setting sun looked particularly adorable in their contrast.
Hu Yu Ying looked puzzled: “But Long Ge, I’ve seen other little followers stick behind their big brothers.”
“No worries, I’m more democratic.” The words ‘followers’ just slipped out, but in his heart, Long Ao Tian never seriously intended for her to be his sidekick.
This girl was surprisingly earnest about it.
“Long Ge, you’re so nice.”
Looking at the pure innocence shining in Hu Yu Ying’s eyes, Long Ao Tian felt he needed to say a few more words.
He paused, solemnly facing her.
Hu Yu Ying, who was walking shoulder to shoulder with him before, hastily took two steps back when he stopped, then matched his pace again, raising her gaze to look at him.
“There are lots of good people in the world, but plenty of bad ones too. Don’t trust someone’s little bit of kindness and think they’re all good, got it?”
At school, fine; but in society, there are bad people who will exploit the kindness of others and do disgusting, goddamn things.
Hu Yu Ying, who looked easy to bully, didn’t have much worldly wisdom—that girl could be duped until she was left with nothing but her pants!
“Mm hmm.”
“Although I don’t want to think badly of people, you’ve got to have a guard up, understand?”
“Mm hmm.”
Seeing her innocent little face, Long Ao Tian suddenly had the feeling of teaching his daughter not to be lured away by some yellow-haired guy!
“And stop always saying ‘mm hmm.’ If you have any doubts, learn to refuse, understand?”
Hu Yu Ying nodded vigorously, then replied: “Mm hmm.”
“Very good.”
Then he continued toward the school.
“The first shameless task isn’t finished yet. Are you ready?”
“Ready.”
“Good. Just follow my cue when the time comes.”
“Mm hmm.”
“Stop saying ‘mm hm.’”
“Okay.”
“Want me to punch you?”
“Don’t punch me! I’ll behave, I promise.”
When they arrived at the classroom,
Long Ao Tian looked at the girls in the front row discussing math formulas and nudged Hu Yu Ying with his shoulder: “Your first shameless task today is to join those girls’ discussion group.”
“You’re good at math and science. You need to show everyone what you’ve got.”
Hu Yu Ying looked at the girls studying math in front of her, still instinctively nervous to interact with so many people.
It’s just her personality—she wasn’t unwilling, but facing a lot of people, she automatically tensed up and spoke falteringly.
And those girls, they’re concentrating so well, she didn’t even know how to start.
“Don’t be scared, or I’ll punch you!”
“Go on!”
Under the threat of Long Ao Tian’s fist, Hu Yu Ying grabbed her practice book, nervously turned around and took a few steps toward the girls’ group.
Every time she looked back, Long Ao Tian made a motion like he was going to hit.
Finally, she mustered her courage and approached the group.
Her small hand clenched tight, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, unsure how to speak.
She looked back at Long Ao Tian, who signaled her encouragement with a thumbs-up.
Seeing her brother giving her support from behind, Hu Yu Ying steadied herself: “Um…”
Just as she started to speak, the girls in the discussion turned to look at her with puzzled expressions.
Hearing all those eyes on her, Hu Yu Ying stiffened, forgetting what she wanted to say, and instinctively lowered her head.
“Is there something you want to say?” one of the girls asked.
Her heart pounding, Hu Yu Ying forced herself not to look down, to be shameless.
“Can I, um, join you guys for a math discussion?”
“Of course!” the girls replied with smiles. “Look at this question. Do you think there’s a simpler method?”
Hu Yu Ying hadn’t expected that, since at Second High, she was often rejected.
Now, her new classmates not only welcomed her but invited her to join.
She nodded happily and joined their discussion.
“Wow, Hu Tong Xue, your understanding of this problem is really clear.”
“Mm hmm, using this shortcut on similar questions is quick and saves time.”
“Hu Tong Xue, your math grades must be excellent, right?”
Faced with their sincere smiles and questions, Hu Yu Ying’s nervousness gradually eased, and she started talking more naturally.
Though mostly she answered their questions, it was already much better than before.
On the way back to her seat, Long Ao Tian gave her a thumbs-up.
Hu Yu Ying just smiled dumbly…
Seems talking to people isn’t as scary as she thought…
