After finally managing to placate Zhi Li, Ke Bu felt completely exhausted. He was still young, yet he lived like an old man. A little exercise left him panting, too much left his muscles sore, and once he sat down somewhere, he often had no desire to move again. Just when he thought he could enjoy a few peaceful days, trouble came knocking again. The student council sent a notice to every club, requiring each one to film a short video showing its usual learning activities and submit it for student council review. Any club that failed would be dissolved immediately.
Lying across the hammock, Ke Bu waved the sheet of paper in one hand. “The student council is starting another purge.”
“Of course the school doesn’t want clubs that do absolutely nothing occupying club buildings.”
“Speaking of which, what exactly does our club do?”
“Nothing.”
“Then we’re in danger. The student council already targeted us during the last purge, and we got dragged into all kinds of trouble. This time, let’s behave ourselves and just bluff our way through the inspection.” They weren’t as reckless as they had been in their first year, when they caused trouble at every opportunity. By now, they had gradually figured out Sheng Jie Academy’s rules for survival. When it came to filming a short video, Zhang Luo was the most enthusiastic. He opened his laptop. “Props, locations, script—I’ll handle everything. You guys only need to cooperate and act.”
“Don’t include me. More importantly, this would be a perfect opportunity to change the club’s name,” Ke Bu said.
“Change it to what? What’s wrong with the name Quick Club?!” Chu Hao Yu, who had named it in the first place, was extremely satisfied with his creation. Gong Zhu rubbed his chin. “The people who dance hip-hop call themselves the Hip-Hop Club. The people who play badminton call themselves the Badminton Club. Our club’s name really does make it hard to bluff our way through.”
“I’m not changing it. Absolutely not.”
Overflowing with confidence, Zhang Luo reassured them again. “Relax and leave everything to me. I already have an idea. We’ll make it like a promotional video and advertise the club while we’re at it. Let’s see who dares look down on us after that.” Ke Bu objected again. “We only need to put on an act and casually film something on a phone. What ridiculous idea did you come up with this time?”
“I need to go home and get my digital camcorder.” Zhang Luo was no longer listening to anyone. He had fallen completely into the excitement of becoming a director.
“Is your family rich or something?” Gong Zhu asked. It wasn’t simply because Zhang Luo owned a camcorder. Every time they organized some event or made a bet, Zhang Luo could casually order piles of props online. There had also been the voice recorder last time, and he regularly bought himself all sorts of electronics and gadgets.
“You couldn’t tell? My family is fairly well-off.”
“How could anyone tell when you go weeks without changing clothes and even borrow other people’s underwear?”
“Don’t worry about minor details. I’m leaving.” Before he went, Zhang Luo looked at Zhi Li. “Zhi Li, you absolutely have to appear. I have a role written especially for you!” Zhang Luo was almost vibrating with excitement. Zhi Li, who was drawing, merely nodded. Ke Bu turned toward him too. “Can you have even a little sense of self-preservation? You agreed without even reading the script. What if there’s something weird in it and the student council laughs at you?”
“What’s self-preservation?”
Ke Bu wanted to tear that naturally innocent expression right off Zhi Li’s face.
“Ke Bu, stop trying to sow discord.”
“This is called normal analysis. Zhi Li, don’t say I didn’t warn you. You still have time to refuse.”
“Anything is fine.” Zhi Li tapped his pencil against the table. Su You Yan stepped over, took it from him, and pulled a pencil sharpener from her bag. Ke Bu immediately snatched both the pencil and sharpener away. “Make him sharpen it himself. If you keep encouraging habits like this, I’m the one who suffers in the end. If you and Xin He both get married someday, won’t all of this fall on me? Zhi Li, do it yourself!” Zhi Li held the pencil out to Su You Yan again. “Then when we’re in bed, you can do it yourself too.”
“You said it. Just wait and see.” With Zhou Xin He present, Ke Bu had no intention of continuing that topic. Chu Hao Yu suggested, “We have nothing to do this weekend anyway. Why don’t we all go see Zhang Luo’s house?”
“Forget it. My family only has a little money. There’s nothing worth seeing.”
“Do you realize how much that makes people want to hit you?”
In the end, the whole group spontaneously decided to visit Zhang Luo’s home. Still worried about the short video, Ke Bu headed toward the classroom. He had something left there and had arranged to meet the others at the school gate in fifteen minutes. If Zhang Luo’s script has some scene of Zhi Li coming out of the bath, I’m tearing the whole thing to pieces. Ke Bu’s mind kept running through every possibility, and he failed to notice the person running toward him. The two collided. Ke Bu stared at the girl who kept apologizing. Are we filming an idol drama? What are the odds? She actually ran into me again. Does she like me and she’s doing it deliberately?
The girl looked up and recognized Ke Bu. “It’s you! Look at me, I actually bumped into you again!” Her shocked expression made Ke Bu realize he had been overthinking it. Good. He had no desire to attract unnecessary trouble. He was about to leave without saying anything when the girl grabbed him. “Senior, are you angry? I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“I know you didn’t. Let go. Zhi Li should be somewhere behind me, so please don’t get me killed.”
“What’s wrong with Senior Zhi Li? I don’t understand. I already felt terrible about last time, and now I bumped into you again. Let me treat you to a meal as an apology. Senior, what’s your name? I’m Shi Chan.” Shi Chan tightly gripped Ke Bu’s sleeve. She was far too enthusiastic. Ke Bu struggled to pull away and was startled by how strong she was. “You don’t actually like me, do you?”
Just like last time, Shi Chan burst out laughing. “Senior, you’re so direct. That’s hilarious. I genuinely just want to apologize.” The two continued tugging back and forth. Ke Bu’s sleeve tore.
“Oh? Ke Bu, what are you doing with a girl?” Ying Xiu Jie’s voice sounded nearby. Ke Bu turned his head while answering, “Nothing. Pretend you didn’t see anything. Whatever you do, don’t tell Zhi—” He should have kept his mouth shut. Zhi Li was standing right beside Ying Xiu Jie.
Zhi Li tilted his head. “What was it you said a few days ago?”
“I was trying to leave. She grabbed me.”
“I don’t want to hear excuses.”
“It isn’t an excuse! It’s the truth! Believe me!”
“I don’t.”
Shi Chan looked from Ke Bu to Zhi Li. “Seniors, do you two have a bad relationship? Why are you arguing every time I see you?”
“Who do you think causes it?!” All the effort Ke Bu had put in over the past several days had gone to waste. Zhi Li was sulking again. Admittedly, seeing almost the exact same scene twice within a few days made it easy to misunderstand, but Ke Bu was a victim too! Zhi Li approached them step by step, staring at the hand Shi Chan still had around Ke Bu’s sleeve. Ke Bu kept shaking his arm. “Where does all that strength come from?”
“My mom always said I was stronger than men even when I was little. Haha.” How could she still laugh at a time like this? Expressionlessly, Zhi Li grabbed Ke Bu’s jacket by the shoulder and pulled. Ke Bu’s sleeve came off. Before Ke Bu had time to say anything, Zhi Li grabbed him by the back of the collar and dragged him away. Shi Chan called after them, “I still wanted to treat Senior to dinner! Senior Zhi Li, you can come too!” She tried to follow, but Su You Yan arrived and stopped her.
Once they reached the corner, Zhi Li released Ke Bu. The two stood face-to-face. Ke Bu thought that Zhi Li probably understood Shi Chan was simply an ordinary girl, not another Xiong Le Le. She posed no threat to Ke Bu, so Zhi Li had never genuinely intended to hurt her. That made sense. If Ke Bu attacked everyone who tried to get close to Zhi Li, how many of Zhi Li’s admirers would he have to beat up?
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