There is no why in happiness, only me.
—The Pursuit of Happyness
This was a fickle season. After heat waves swept through every corner, torrential rain began to fall, washing over the sky, the grass, the classrooms, and the colorful umbrellas. Water splashed up beneath shoes and soaked the hems of pants. Ke Bu raised his umbrella slightly. This sudden shower had come at just the right time, damp and cool.
Even knowing that Zhi Li definitely would not like others helping him celebrate his birthday; even knowing that he would definitely speak coldly and sarcastically; even knowing that he definitely would not appreciate it, on this special day, Ke Bu wanted to give to him, keep giving to him; spoil him, keep spoiling him. That feeling could not be restrained, surging wildly and crashing through his body.
He put away his umbrella and shook off the water droplets scattered over it, then rolled up his pant legs. The canvas shoes he had just bought were soaked through, and his feet felt stuffy and uncomfortable inside them, so Ke Bu simply took off his shoes, slung them over his shoulder, and walked toward the classroom. The moment he reached the door, the classroom was very lively. Zhi Li sat there expressionlessly, surrounded by several flies. Ying Xiu Jie and Chu Hao Yu were even wearing suits that looked extremely awkward on them. Zhou Xin He had a large bag slung over her shoulder. “Lord Zhi Li, you haven’t eaten breakfast yet, right? This is soy milk, fried dough sticks, dumplings, soup dumplings, milk, porridge, noodles, spicy rice noodles…” She kept taking all sorts of things out of the bag and placing them on the desk. Just how many things had she made? This was not a portion meant for a human being. When Zhi Li’s desk could no longer hold anything, Ying Xiu Jie pushed away the books on the desk of the person beside Zhi Li. “Kid, you definitely won’t mind if we requisition your desk, right?”
“U-Use it as much as you want.” After saying that, the person hugged his books and hid far away. Chu Hao Yu stood behind Zhi Li. “Friend, does your waist or back feel sore? Let me rub it for you.”
Gong Zhu carefully helped Zhi Li organize his notes, and while he was at it, cautiously pressed flat the corners of the books that had gotten a little wrinkled. Ying Xiu Jie kept asking from the side, “Are you thirsty? Hot? Cold? I’ll pour water for you.” This group of overly attentive people all wanted to give Zhi Li the best treatment today.
“Wait.” Ke Bu spoke unhappily. “It’s not that I don’t understand how you feel, but doing this will only trouble Zhi Li, do you know that? Why are none of you sensible at all?” Ke Bu walked over, snatched the cup from Ying Xiu Jie’s hand, and put on a flattering smile. “Lord Zhi Li, you should still let me pour water for you. The water they pour doesn’t taste good.”
Ying Xiu Jie folded his arms and looked Ke Bu up and down from the corner of his eye: bare feet, shoes hanging from his shoulder, pant legs rolled up. “Yo, Ke Bu, did you just come back from farming?” Before his voice even fell, a fiery red figure appeared outside the window. Snow-white translucent skin paired with bright red clothes, beautiful and bewitching. Su You Yan walked in under everyone’s astonished gazes, wearing a skirt, a red flower tied in her hair, and a phoenix embroidered on her skirt.
Ke Bu looked her up and down, especially staring at those red shoes for a long while. “You Yan, are you… preparing to get married?”
“What do you know? It’s festive.” Even Su You Yan had gone this far!!
Zhi Li’s expression remained flat as he swept his gaze over the group. They immediately piled on smiles, and even Su You Yan, who rarely smiled, was desperately trying to pull up the corners of her mouth. Zhi Li spoke lightly. “Am I about to die?” Couldn’t he think of another reason?!!
“Pah, pah, pah! Don’t say such unlucky things!!”
“Anyway, don’t worry about anything today. Leave everything to us. Whether you’re going to the bathroom or buying something, just send a message in the group, and we’ll immediately come over and carry you there.”
“How many days does the doctor say I have left?”
“I told you not to think in that direction!!” Ke Bu shouted, then suddenly realized something. He lowered his tone and awkwardly stomped his foot while pretending to act spoiled. “I already told you not to think that way~~ okay~~” Never mind other people, even he himself was about to throw up.
For the rest of the time, as long as Zhi Li stepped out of the classroom, Ying Xiu Jie would appear at the door in a black suit and sunglasses, gesturing commandingly in front of Zhi Li. “You there, move aside. You over there, move aside too. Don’t bump into Zhi Li.”
Ke Bu waited outside the restroom door. When he saw Zhi Li arrive, he made a welcoming gesture. “Please enter.” He walked into the restroom and stood there. Zhi Li pulled open the zipper of his pants, while Ke Bu stood beside him with both hands placed in front of him, smiling brightly as he watched his movements. Zhi Li coldly stared at Ke Bu. “You want to watch that badly?”
“Why aren’t you continuing? Do you want me to pat your back for you?” Ke Bu asked kindly.
“Do you want me to give you a slap? Get out.”
“As you command. I’ll go out right away. Don’t worry, I’ll guard the door, so no perverts get in.”
“I think you look more like the pervert.”
As soon as Zhi Li came out, Zhou Xin He was already waiting at the restroom entrance. “Lord Zhi Li, are you hungry?” This sentence appeared almost once every ten minutes.
“Do I look very hungry?”
“I’m worried you’re malnourished.”
“I’m worried I’m overnourished.”
After the second morning class, there was no class until the fourth period, so Zhi Li walked toward the school building. Just as he was about to step out of the teaching building, Ying Xiu Jie and Gong Zhu caught up. Ying Xiu Jie opened the huge, extremely huge parasol in his hand. “Come, I’ll hold the umbrella for you.”
Zhi Li said nothing. Gong Zhu suddenly turned pale and cried out in alarm, “Careful!!” He pointed at the ground. “There’s a puddle. Don’t step there!”
After finally reaching the school building, the others were already waiting there. Zhi Li picked up his sketchbook. Aside from Su You Yan, the others propped up their chins and watched him. The pen in Zhi Li’s hand stopped on the sketchbook, showing no intention of drawing at all. Ke Bu poked his head over. “What’s wrong? Do you have no inspiration? Or is today’s scenery not pretty enough?” Chu Hao Yu dragged over a stool and gave Ke Bu a look. Ke Bu nodded in understanding, unbuttoned his clothes, exposed one shoulder, and sat on the stool. “Come, artist, draw me. I’ll be your model. Draw as much as you want. Like Titanic, I promise I won’t move. Give full play to your talent.”
Zhi Li turned around without changing expression, putting his back to Ke Bu.
Chu Hao Yu blamed Ke Bu. “It’s all your fault. You look so vulgar that Zhi Li doesn’t want to look.”
“That’s because ugly melons and cracked dates like you people are standing beside me and affecting his aesthetics.”
Zhi Li finally began drawing, his head lowered. “Are you taking pleasure in this?” Su You Yan pushed up her glasses and turned a page of her book. “They do mean well. How could I have the nerve to pour cold water on them?”
The rain gradually stopped, and the sun revealed its whole face from behind the dark clouds. The refreshing weather did not last long before the stuffy heat attacked again. The group in the school building was still making noise when Zhi Li’s icy voice came over. “You bastards, are you done yet?” He stood up, his fingers pressed on his sketchbook as he looked at the group. B-Bad! He narrowed his eyes. “You’ll agree to anything I say?”
“Absolute obedience to superior orders!” Ying Xiu Jie saluted like a soldier.
“Then…” Zhi Li’s tone carried deep meaning. A dangerous instinct shot into Ying Xiu Jie’s head. Zhi Li continued, “You and Hao Yu hold hands and happily walk one circle around the school.”
“What? This…” The two of them widened their eyes in horror.
Ke Bu laughed until his stomach hurt, slapping the table. “Hurry up! Didn’t you hear what Zhi Li said? Hahaha~~ Hurry, I can’t take it anymore~~ haha.”
Ying Xiu Jie and Chu Hao Yu looked at each other like enemies, and in the end, stiffly held hands. The group followed Chu Hao Yu and Ying Xiu Jie out. The moment they went downstairs, the students’ gazes were instantly drawn over. The two of them looked awful. Zhi Li stood upstairs. “I said happily. Did you not understand?”
Chu Hao Yu and Ying Xiu Jie laughed dryly. “The weather is really nice today.”
“I’m in a pretty good mood today. Haha, we’re good brothers.”
“Right, let’s stroll around campus together.” Although the expressions on their faces had softened, the hands they held together seemed as if they were trying to twist each other to death. Ke Bu laughed until he could hardly breathe. Zhi Li turned his head. “Is it funny?” Ke Bu immediately put away his smile and shook his head solemnly. “Not funny at all.”
“Put your pant legs down and put on your shoes.”
“But my shoes are wet.”
“Then roll back and change them.” Zhi Li turned toward the fiery red Su You Yan. “And you, go change your clothes. You’re dazzling my eyes until they hurt.”
Su You Yan pursed her lips, but still stood up.
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