14 Early Romance
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Xie Guilan refused to accept his transfers; Cen Wu sent several more, but in the end, Xie Guilan only accepted thirty yuan from him.
Cen Wu: “...”
So difficult to deal with.
Cen Wu stayed at the Xie family estate for two days without seeing Xie Guilan again and had to hang out with Xie Shangjing and the others instead.
Xie’s father was away, and Xie Shangjing’s mother, Zhou Li, lived alone in a small building behind the manor. She rarely came out or managed anything, so Xie Shangjing often brought people home.
Cen Wu didn’t want to join them; he put on a cold expression. Xie Shangjing thought he was still upset and ignored him, hoping Cen Wu would cool down and take the initiative to reconcile.
It was always like this.
He didn’t know the original owner felt particularly guilty about usurping someone else’s place and dared not argue with him. He only thought Cen Wu loved him so much that he couldn’t bear to be angry with him.
Cen Wu: “...”
Buddy, you’re something else.
The Xie estate kept several horses, and there was a meadow by the lake. Though smaller than a dedicated riding ground, it was enough for a few laps. Xie Shangjing went horseback riding with Chu Zijian and others, and Cen Wu secretly messaged Xie Guilan.
[Cen Wu: Suddenly appearing.jpg]
[Cen Wu: What time are you going to school the day after tomorrow? I want to go with you, just to have you accompany me on the ride. I’ll pay you a hardship fee.]
[Cen Wu: Transferring 3,000 yuan to you.]
Xie Guilan still ignored him. Cen Wu didn’t give up; he refused to believe the money couldn’t be transferred.
[Cen Wu: Shocked by my own ruthlessness, I actually threatened you. Tears.jpg]
[Cen Wu: Transferring 5,000 yuan to you.]
Xie Guilan: “...”
The hospital was crowded early in the morning. Xie Guilan queued to collect Song Lingwei’s test results when his phone kept buzzing. He picked it up and saw Cen Wu’s messages again.
Cen Wu was going crazy, never straightforwardly saying, “I want to give you money,” nor hinting shyly about being poor and needing it, thus avoiding any shame of receiving charity.
Whether refused or accepted, neither party would feel awkward.
But in any case, Xie Guilan would never take anyone’s money. His dark, peach-blossom eyes lowered as he stared at the last cute cat bowing emoji Cen Wu sent.
Then he coldly turned off his phone.
Cen Wu waited for a message from Xie Guilan but received none. Xie Guilan left the Xie family on Sunday night. After lingering a bit and confirming he was gone, Cen Wu went home to sleep.
He didn’t return to class until Monday. The class representative came in holding the grade report: “Everyone, the weekly test results are out. I’ve posted them where usual. Come check if you want.”
Already, over a dozen classmates crowded around eagerly. Lu Wang peeked too.
He returned to his seat in a daze, sniffing, “You’re really secretly studying.”
Cen Wu scored 139 in English, third in the class, and 39 in Chemistry, third from last, but at least no longer second to last overall.
“I told you,” Cen Wu stammered, “you... you didn’t believe me.”
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Lu Wang wasn’t unwilling to see Cen Wu do well; he just felt Cen Wu told him everything, but Cen Wu was secretly studying behind his back. Friend in the pocket, friend kicking him in the ditch.
When the crowd by the podium thinned, Cen Wu went over, glanced at the grades, and even took a photo to show Xie Guilan later—proof of his rebirth as a better person.
The boy sitting in front of Cen Wu turned around excitedly. “Second young master, how did you study? When did you find the time?”
No one suspected Cen Wu cheated. After all, those around him didn’t score as high in English, including Xie Guilan, who skipped the essay and usually ranked mid-class in weekly tests.
“I... I,” Cen Wu was startled, nervous, and stumbled, “I... studied in my past life.”
The boy: “...”
“Old Hou’s here!” someone outside the classroom shouted. The students gathered around the grade reports quickly returned to their seats as the morning self-study bell rang.
The substitute teacher rotated daily, and today it was Chemistry teacher Hou Zhong, in his forties, carrying a briefcase, with a naturally stern face.
Hou Zhong was strict with teaching; no one in class dared offend him, and chemistry homework was always submitted on time.
Hou Zhong had just reached the podium when Xie Guilan entered through the back door carrying his bag. Hou Zhong’s mouth twitched downward; he never liked Xie Guilan.
To him, good grades meant nothing; no matter how many first-place rankings Xie Guilan had, he could never climb into a prestigious family like the Xies.
If not for the grade head assigning him to coach this year’s chemistry competition, he wouldn’t bother training Xie Guilan.
“Good grades now don’t guarantee good grades later,” Hou Zhong snorted coldly. “Some students think a few high test scores mean they can skip school and not hand in homework.”
He shared an office with Meng Liangping and knew roughly about Xie Guilan’s situation—hospital visits daily before rushing to school.
But he didn’t care; what did it matter to him? Not every student has seriously ill parents for him to be responsible.
Xie Guilan lowered his eyelids, his long lashes shadowing coldly. Hou Zhong met those eyes and grew more displeased—what kind of attitude was that? No respect for a teacher.
“You...” Hou Zhong cleared his throat, ready to scold Xie Guilan more, to teach him some humility.
Suddenly, a pale white arm trembled in the classroom, raised.
Cen Wu shook but defiantly interrupted, “Teacher, I... I haven’t... handed in my homework either.”
“Are you crazy?” Lu Wang widened his eyes beside him, whispering, “I just helped you submit it!”
Cen Wu stubbornly said, “I... simply didn’t hand it in.”
Hou Zhong: “...”
Hou Zhong choked on his words. What was this sudden interruption for? If the homework wasn’t submitted, so be it—could he call Cen Wu’s parents?
But the whole class was watching. He couldn’t criticize Xie Guilan but ignore Cen Wu.
Wasn’t that plainly targeting Xie Guilan?
“Everyone out!” Hou Zhong irritably waved his hand. “Stand outside and reflect properly!”
Xie Guilan said nothing, put down his bag, took a test paper, and left the classroom.
Cen Wu followed behind him.
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Xie Guilan lowered his head to do the test; Cen Wu also took a junior high chemistry test paper. He couldn’t help but glance at Xie Guilan’s questions. Xie Guilan’s brow cast a cold shadow as he looked back; Cen Wu obediently moved a few steps away.
Cen Wu’s eyes were strikingly beautiful—pupils dark and full, long lashes like a sparrow about to take flight.
But his lips were red and pressed tightly, his whole demeanor shy and timid, always bowing his head with a hint of dull confusion.
Xie Guilan: “...”
He suppressed the cold bitterness and irritation in his eyes. He felt he couldn’t keep going with Cen Wu like this—this spoiled waste who would rather be punished standing than be apart from him.
Cen Wu wanted to help him out of trouble, and there were many ways to do it—not necessarily by going out to be punished.
Besides, he didn’t need Cen Wu’s help—whether money or otherwise, whether Cen Wu liked him or had other motives, he didn’t need it.
Cen Wu picked a balancing equation problem but was completely lost. He gently tugged Xie Guilan’s sleeve, “Can... can you teach me this?”
Xie Guilan took his paper. He had gotten eight out of ten multiple-choice questions wrong, and two were marked “guessed” beside them.
Xie Guilan: “...”
He sighed quietly; Cen Wu shrank back but hadn’t spoken when a furious voice came from downstairs.
“PDA! PDA!” the head teacher shouted angrily. “Can’t stop kissing, huh? I caught you two in the grove last night. I let it slide because you got home late, but now again?!”
Young love, huh.
Cen Wu peeked; the head teacher was scolding a boy and a girl standing with bowed heads.
Xie Guilan suddenly called him, “Young master.”
“Hmm?” Cen Wu quickly turned; rare for Xie Guilan to initiate conversation.
Xie Guilan asked abruptly, “Do you know what rule thirteen of the school regulations is?”
Cen Wu: ???
Of course not; who memorizes school rules? He pursed his lips, puzzled why Xie Guilan suddenly brought it up. He suspected Xie Guilan wanted to show off knowing the rules while he was a fool.
“School rules!” The head teacher grew angrier. “Do you know rule thirteen? Strictly prohibits young love!”
The boy cried; the girl cried too. They hugged their heads and sobbed as the head teacher furiously pulled them apart.
They tugged and scrambled in chaos.
Xie Guilan turned his head, his cold youthful eyes lowering as he stared at the chaos below. His voice was cool and indirect, “Young master, what do you make of this?”
Young love ends in such disgrace. If you want to be a decent person, don’t mess around with nonsense.
Cen Wu was bewildered. Xie Guilan had just been scolded by the teacher—probably didn’t like him. He was supposed to stand with Xie Guilan, so after thinking, he lamented, “What a pair of star-crossed lovers.”
Xie Guilan: “...”