Chapter Four: A Show-Off Cuts in Along the Way

After getting through the final year of middle school, the first year of high school was, comparatively speaking, carefree. Life went by pleasantly and with little trouble. More importantly, the boys with lively minds had begun to choose girlfriends with clear intent. At sixteen, in the springtime of youth, boys and girls with hearts just awakening to love inevitably began carrying on covert activities like secret agents meeting by prearranged signal. Love letters, little notes, things of that sort began to pass quietly from hand to hand. As for our Brother Nan, with a face that handsome, if he had not received a love letter, he might as well have lived for nothing. But the girls who wrote to him were truly something else... no need to say more. They were probably on par with the most notorious of them all.

Among the boys, the one who received the most love letters was undoubtedly the class monitor, Lu Zihan. That pretty-boy face of his would have been a waste if no one had been throwing herself at him. Among the girls, of course, the class beauty Zhao Jiawen was the most popular. Unfortunately, that girl did not seem terribly interested in such matters. Aside from classes, she spent her days attending the music club organized by the school.

Tonight was a special night. Of course, “special” was only a relative term; it was certainly not what everyone was imagining, that Brother Nan was about to charge into battle again. Rather, it was that Yang Yilin would officially step down as deputy general manager of Longhua Leisure Entertainment Company and take over as general manager of the newly established Longhua Investment Company. Tonight, Zhuo Nan and the old guard like Long Kun would hold a small gathering for her at the bar. By then, all the key members under Zhuo Nan would be present, including Du Fanhao and his wife. The matter of QQ was already nearing its end, and the official release was expected next week. In advance, news reports about it had already begun appearing in major mainstream media outlets. One might say everything was ready, lacking only QQ.

The bell had barely finished ringing when Zhuo Nan swaggered out of the classroom. Having changed to a new environment, Brother Nan had still not quite blended in. When the other students walked off in twos and threes, he always left alone, quietly.

Just as he reached the end of the corridor and was about to turn and head down the stairs, a girl suddenly rushed out from the side and crashed squarely into him with a dull thud. Zhuo Nan was knocked back two steps, while the girl plopped onto the floor with a painful grimace. He hurried over to help her up and asked, “Classmate, are you all right?”

At first the girl had kept her head lowered, so Zhuo Nan had not noticed her features. But when she looked up after hearing him, he saw a ponytail, an oval face, and a pair of large eyes that seemed almost able to speak. Zhuo Nan blurted out in astonishment, “The crazy girl, it’s you again...”

The girl felt somewhat guilty for having stumbled into him so carelessly, but upon hearing his words she looked at him in surprise, at a loss for how to answer. This was the same little delinquent girl Zhuo Nan had met when he came to report on his first day at school, only today she was dressed entirely differently. A pale green dress with butterfly patterns gave her a fresh, bright air that was easy on the eyes.

Very cautiously, the girl asked, “Classmate, do I know you?”

Zhuo Nan thought, “Putting on an act? Keep acting, you little minx. So what if you’re pretty? My two wives are both beauties.”

Aloud, he said, “No, you don’t. Forget it. Bye.”

Since the girl was pretending not to know him, why should Zhuo Nan bother entangling himself with her any further? It would only be trouble if, in a moment of brainless impulse, she stopped him again.

The girl found this very strange. “Did this boy break his head or something? He was just being polite a second ago. Why does he suddenly look at me like I’m his enemy?” After thinking it over, she understood roughly seven or eight parts of it.

What had been nothing more than a small accident, something neither of them had taken seriously, was now being complicated by someone who liked to puff himself up...

“Ruijia, what happened? Did he bump into you?” Following the voice, the pretty-boy Lu Zihan had appeared.

Zhuo Nan watched the scene and found it amusing. This little delinquent girl was actually rather likable. Last time Zhang Fei had stood up for her; this time she had run into Lu Zihan... Yet Zhuo Nan unexpectedly caught a trace of disgust in the girl’s eyes and immediately understood. In refined language, one might say, the blossoms had feelings while the flowing water was indifferent. In plain language: the girl simply did not fancy him.

The girl said, “Classmate Lu Zihan, please address me as Lin Ruijia, or classmate Lin Ruijia. Thank you.”

Zhuo Nan thought, “So this little delinquent is called Lin Ruijia. Not a bad name, though her character leaves something to be desired.”

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Lu Zihan’s face, but this fellow had a thick enough skin and did not continue bothering Lin Ruijia about it. Instead, he said sternly to Zhuo Nan, “Zhuo Nan, you bumped into Lin Ruijia. You should apologize to her at once.”

Zhuo Nan looked at him sideways, a sliver of disdain in his glance. “Tch...” No further words were needed. He turned and walked off.

Lu Zihan thought, “I’m the class monitor, and you’re making me lose face like this? What’s more, there’s a beauty standing right here. You’re clearly forcing me into an impossible position. How could I let you walk away so easily?”

“Zhuo Nan, stop right there!” Lu Zihan shouted. The corridor was narrow to begin with, and the echo was strong; his roar drew the attention of every student who had not yet left. That was precisely the effect Lu Zihan wanted, so he could show off the authority of the class monitor before everyone.

Zhuo Nan turned back with a smile at the corners of his mouth, thinking, “I’ve been reborn. Putting on a show is mandatory. Which rebirth novel doesn’t have its protagonist putting on a show? That would be disrespectful to the readers, wouldn’t it? But what right do you have to show off in front of me? Just because you look like a pretty boy, or because yours is big enough?”

If this were written out the way it ought to be, it would go something like this: with that graceful turn of the head and faint smile, an overwhelming aura burst forth. The young girls were stunned as though a god had descended, and in an instant they all knelt in unison between Zhuo Nan’s legs, singing together: “What a mighty pillar... it fills my room...” Lin Ruijia herself would have leaned against Zhuo Nan’s shoulder on the spot, cheeks flushed, half-drunk, and whispered tenderly, “Classmate, you have such presence...” But of course, all of that was fantasy. Fantasy...

Lu Zihan was not short, about five feet nine or so. But ever since Brother Nan began practicing that fighting art that cost forty yuan a copy, his energy channels had long since been unblocked. And since Brother Nan already possessed unusually fine bones and great natural aptitude, those last few words were pure nonsense... He was a once-in-a-millennium reborn talent. Within half a year of his return, he had already grown to about five feet ten. At this rate, he might even get taller. One could not say he was rivaling the great Yao, but stepping on kindergarten children would probably still be no problem...

Brother Nan strolled unhurriedly up to Lu Zihan. Lu Zihan was also scared inside. Zhuo Nan usually did not talk much in class, nor did he have many friends. He always liked to do things alone, and Lu Zihan knew nothing at all about his temperament. If Zhuo Nan really decided to beat him up, that would be a humiliating disaster.

Lu Zihan knew perfectly well that he was nothing more than a hollow showpiece. He had slept with women since the age of thirteen, and for the past two years someone had been keeping him company almost every day. His body, never fully developed to begin with, had long since been emptied out by women. If Zhuo Nan really started swinging, he would certainly be the one taking the beating.

Beat him up? Damn... what did Brother Nan take him for? Neither a bandit nor a thug, nor a street punk. A man of culture, understand? The nearby students, who knew nothing of the situation, saw two boys and a girl gathered together, with the girl standing between the two boys. According to the usual script, this should have been two men fighting over one woman. At this point Zhuo Nan ought to have slammed a fist into Lu Zihan’s face, then Lu Zihan would have swung back, the two would have gone at it fiercely, and in the end they would have gone to the teacher’s office and played the submissive little grandson...

But when Brother Nan reached Lu Zihan’s side and looked him in the eye, he spoke slowly: “Monitor, did you call me back because you’re inviting me to dinner tonight?”

“Crash... clatter...” Spectacles shattered all over the floor. Lin Ruijia, standing nearby, covered her mouth and giggled. This boy was really interesting. That line had more punch than giving Lu Zihan a fist to the face.

Lu Zihan’s eyes nearly bulged with fury. “This Zhuo Nan is clearly not giving me any face. Does he think my words are just fart?” Glancing at Lin Ruijia and seeing that even she was smiling so brightly, Lu Zihan drew a deep breath, forced down the fire in his chest, and said, “Zhuo Nan, as long as you apologize to Lin Ruijia, I’ll have no problem inviting you to dinner.”

With one simple sentence, he pushed all the responsibility onto Zhuo Nan.

Zhuo Nan had not expected this boy to have some brains after all. Not dumb. He turned to look at Lin Ruijia. This little delinquent was acting very quietly today, unlike how she had been the last time they met. With the intention of testing her, he asked, “Classmate Lin Ruijia, do I need to apologize to you?”

Lin Ruijia first froze, then immediately recovered and said with a trace of apology, “No, no, it was my fault. I was too anxious just now and ran into you.”

Hearing that, Zhuo Nan breathed a long sigh of relief. This little delinquent was at least reasonable...

But Lu Zihan was not pleased. He said anxiously, “Ruijia, I’m helping you here...”

Before Lin Ruijia could speak, Zhuo Nan cut in first: “Monitor, I address you as monitor because I think highly of you. If I don’t, then you’re nothing but air. Keep your eyes peeled, will you? If you’re not convinced, then let’s have a one-on-one. Whoever loses is the grandson.”

Splendid... Brother Nan, why bother pretending to be a man of culture when there’s nothing to be gained? A little punk is still a little punk; even wearing a dragon robe, he still looks nothing like a prince.

The surrounding students had waited a long time before hearing the words they actually wanted. Some busybodies had already begun to fan the flames. “Monitor, go for it! We support you!”

Character. This was character. Their Brother Nan did not even have a single classmate supporting him...

But Zhuo Nan did not care. A rival like Lu Zihan could basically be sent to the hospital for three months with one punch.

Still, the face of the class monitor darkened. When it came to fighting, he was no good. But now the students all placed high hopes on him. Then a thought flashed through his mind, and he quickly came up with an idea. “One-on-one it is. Who’s afraid of who?”

As soon as he said it, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. If one were speaking of fan support, Brother Nan had already lost a round.

Then Lu Zihan changed tack. “But not by fighting. We’re students. At the end of the month there’s a test. Let’s see whose total score is higher. How about that?”

The confidence on Lu Zihan’s face made Zhuo Nan want to laugh. “I’m versed in both letters and arms. These days, you’re not afraid of thugs who can fight. You’re afraid of thugs with an education.” The students around them had originally been excited to see a duel, but now that the contest had turned from martial to academic, the excitement had clearly dropped. The enthusiasm of the fan club cooled as well.

Zhuo Nan said indifferently, “Fine. Whatever you want to compare. But I’ll say it again: whoever loses is the grandson.”

Lu Zihan said viciously, “The one who loses has to call the other one Grandfather when he sees him.”

Zhuo Nan answered without thinking, “Sure thing, good grandson.”

“Hahaha...” The crowd burst into laughter.

“You...” Lu Zihan glared, pointing at Zhuo Nan, so angry he could not speak.

In contrast, Zhuo Nan smiled and said, “Since you’ve called me that already, I’ll just have to accept it.”

Lu Zihan let out a cold snort, clasped his hands behind his back, and said, “Never mind, Zhuo Nan. Just you wait...” With that, he turned and walked away without looking back.

The show was over, so naturally the audience had to disperse. Surely they were not going to stay and mop the floor here.

Zhuo Nan turned and met Lin Ruijia’s eyes. At this moment, he found that she did not seem nearly as annoying as she had the last time they met.

“What’s your name?” Lin Ruijia asked softly.

“Zhuo Nan...”

“Sorry about what happened today...” Lin Ruijia said apologetically.

Her attitude made it impossible for Zhuo Nan to connect her with the image of a little delinquent girl. He thought to himself, They say women are fickle. Could it be that girls are fickle too? Just as he was about to speak, a familiar voice came from behind him: “Sis, didn’t you say you were coming to look for me? Why are you still here...”

The voice sounded familiar. Zhuo Nan turned around and was instantly stunned, crying out in surprise, “It’s you...”