YMW CH 16

Rebellion

“Zhang Yuanzhou, it’s you again,” the dean glared, his face dark as thunder. “How many times have I caught you this year? You’re supposed to be a top student, yet all you do is slack off!”

Zhang Yuanzhou opened his mouth to defend himself, but before he could say a word, the dean angrily raised his hand, pointing—not at him—but at a chubby boy standing nearby.

“And you! What class are you in? Hugging each other after school like this—what do you think you’re doing?!”

Zhang Yuanzhou was dumbfounded. Humiliated, he blurted out, “Sir, you can scold me for playing games, for being bad, for being useless, but you can’t tarnish my reputation like this!”

What the hell? He wasn’t into just anyone, okay?!

The chubby boy scratched his head awkwardly. “I’m from Thirteenth Middle School next door,” he muttered.

Huai Jing No. 1 High School and Thirteenth Middle School were only separated by a street. Thirteenth’s students often came over to hang out, especially for the milk tea shops nearby.

Hearing that, Zhang Yuanzhou almost exploded. “What are you even doing here?! It’s not your teacher catching us!”

“I got scared, okay?” The chubby boy looked wronged. “It’s so dark in the internet café—how was I supposed to know if it was my teacher or not?”

The dean’s forehead veins bulged visibly. “Shut up, both of you!” he bellowed.

Zhang Yuanzhou and the chubby boy immediately clamped their mouths shut, their heads drooping in silence.

Turning sharply, the dean directed his glare at Cen Wu and Xie Guilan. “And you two? Care to explain yourselves?”

The dean was baffled. How did these two end up together? Xie Guilan, the school’s top student, was a regular face in promotional materials. Cen Wu, on the other hand, was a different story—wealthy, flashy, and always surrounded by lackeys. A potential troublemaker the dean had to keep an eye on.

“Are you two dating?” Lu Wang, standing nearby, whispered to Cen Wu, poking him.

Cen Wu turned crimson, his face burning red, ears practically glowing. His mind went blank, and he couldn’t get a single word out.

“…Pfft.”

A few boys nearby couldn’t hold back their laughter. The dean had already caught over a dozen students that evening, but Cen Wu and Xie Guilan had been the last to be found, ensuring a full audience for their “moment.”

Cen Wu wanted to die on the spot. Was it too late to buy a one-way ticket to leave Earth?

“This is a misunderstanding, sir, definitely a misunderstanding,” Meng Liangping stepped in quickly to protect Xie Guilan from any potential trouble. Turning to him, he asked, “Xie, what were you doing at the internet café?”

Xie Guilan’s voice was calm as ever. “Studying.”

It sounded ridiculous, but coming from Xie Guilan, it carried weight. The dean, though skeptical, leaned over to check Xie Guilan’s computer. Sure enough, while a game was idling in the background, the screen also displayed a carefully compiled set of competition problems.

“You lot,” the dean snapped, pointing at everyone except Xie Guilan, “three-thousand-word self-reflections on my desk tomorrow morning. Understood?”

“Y-yes, sir,” they mumbled.

With other internet cafés to raid, the dean didn’t linger, but no one dared to stay at this one either. Bags were packed, and they all quickly filed out.

Xie Guilan also grabbed his bag and headed out. Near the back gate of the school, his phone buzzed with messages from Ji Changyu.

【Ji Changyu: Hey, Old Xie, where are you? The internet café guy said your dean showed up. Are you okay?】
【Ji Changyu: I asked you to finish that dungeon for me—why didn’t you? Is this takeout yours? If you’re not eating it, I will.】
【Ji Changyu: Answer me, you ghost!】
【Xie Guilan: .】

Ji Changyu, also from Thirteenth Middle School, had a complicated family situation. After his parents divorced, he lived with his dad, who barely cared about him. If he wasn’t at Blue Night, he was at the internet café, where Xie Guilan occasionally borrowed his computer.

Xie Guilan lowered his eyes, sent a quick reply to the message, and put away his phone.

Trailing behind him, Cen Wu looked utterly dejected. He had assumed Xie Guilan had come to the internet café to play games and, fearing the dean’s wrath, had brought him along to hide. Who would have thought it would end in such public humiliation?

“I’m starving,” Zhang Yuanzhou groaned, rubbing his stomach. “Let’s grab a bite before heading home. Barbecue?”

There was a popular barbecue stand near the school that was a favorite spot for students. It was already past 8 p.m., so Cen Wu figured they might as well go and joined the group.

To his surprise, Xie Guilan also headed toward the barbecue stand. That’s when Cen Wu remembered: Blue Night had a rotating schedule. Xie Guilan didn’t work there every evening, and when he didn’t, he took part-time jobs near the school.

Under the faint glow of a clear, starry night, they found a corner table and sat down. Cen Wu, dragging his book bag, tucked himself into the furthest corner, beside Lu Wang, which made him feel more at ease.

Lu Wang had a simple, almost animal-like innocence. Around him, Cen Wu didn’t feel his usual social anxiety.

Zhang Yuanzhou raised a hand. “Brother Xie! A few sodas first!”

The barbecue stand was brightly lit, but the warm lights didn’t soften Xie Guilan’s cool demeanor. His deep, almond-shaped eyes remained cold and distant as ever. He brought over a few bottles of soda, set them on the table, and handed the menu to Cen Wu.

Wide-eyed, Cen Wu took the menu and grabbed a bottle of lychee soda. The chilled bottle startled his fingers, making him flinch slightly.

Leaning over, he and Lu Wang looked at the menu together. Cen Wu wanted everything—one of this, one of that—he couldn’t decide.

Zhang Yuanzhou, who was over six feet tall and had a hearty appetite, joined in, and the group ordered a massive platter of skewers.

“Is Brother Xie working tonight?” Zhang Yuanzhou whispered as soon as Xie Guilan walked away.

Cen Wu stayed silent. Apart from their homeroom teacher, few in their class knew about Xie Guilan’s difficult family circumstances—a struggling household and a seriously ill mother. Cen Wu didn’t want anyone to wound his pride.

Lu Wang, meanwhile, rested his chin on his hands and said enviously, “That’s so impressive. I wish I could get a job too.”

He knew he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. His family had no expectations of him, nor did his teachers. As long as he stayed out of trouble at school, that was good enough.

Even tonight, when the dean scolded everyone else, Lu Wang had somehow escaped unscathed.

Though he didn’t know Xie Guilan well, Lu Wang always admired his air of freedom—unaware of the heavy cost behind it.

“Forget it, who cares,” Zhang Yuanzhou said, clinking soda bottles with them. “Who hasn’t been punished with a self-reflection essay a few times?”

Gradually recovering from his mortification, Cen Wu was calmer now. He took a gulp of soda.

Xie Guilan was busy delivering food and clearing tables. In the humid summer night, sweat glistened on the pale skin of his neck, trickling along his collarbone before disappearing into his shirt. His lean figure and sharp edges made him look as cold as ever, like an icicle that wouldn’t melt.

Cen Wu’s gaze unconsciously followed him—his dark, slightly damp hair tips, in particular—until Xie Guilan turned his head, and Cen Wu quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in Zhang Yuanzhou and Lu Wang’s conversation.

After finishing their meal, everyone went their separate ways. Lu Wang’s family sent a driver to pick him up. A sleek black Cayenne pulled up beside the barbecue stand, and the driver, dressed in a full suit despite the late hour, stepped out to open the door for him.

Even though Zhang Yuanzhou knew the Lu family was wealthy—they owned the largest commercial center in Huai Jing—he couldn’t help but gape at the car. What a life for the young master.

If Lu Wang was like this, Zhang Yuanzhou couldn’t begin to imagine how wealthy Cen Wu’s family was. The Gemini Towers, owned by the Cen family, had stood tall in the city’s most bustling district for decades, untouchably grand.

“Bye, Wu Wu, Zhang Yuanzhou,” Lu Wang waved at them. “I’m heading out!”

Cen Wu waved back with a small smile.

Zhang Yuanzhou’s house was far from school, but his parents had rented a place nearby so he could attend. They worked late shifts and wouldn’t get off until after 10 p.m., which gave Zhang Yuanzhou the chance to sneak out and hang with friends for a bit.

Cen Wu stayed behind after the others left, buying another soda. With fewer people at the barbecue stand, he settled into a quiet spot and pulled out his workbook to start on homework.

Barely a few questions in, his phone buzzed, pulling his attention away. Zhang Yuanzhou had added him and a few others to a new group chat.

Surprisingly, Xie Guilan was also added.

Zhang Yuanzhou hadn’t initially planned to include Xie Guilan, considering he wasn’t one of the students needing to write a self-reflection essay. But leaving him out felt like an act of exclusion, so he decided to invite him.

【Zhang Yuanzhou: “Crap, guys, I forgot. We’ll probably have to read our self-reflections out loud tomorrow.”】

Cen Wu’s hand trembled as he hurriedly typed.

【Cen Wu: “Why? The dean said we just had to turn them in to his office.”】

【Lu Wang: “That’s how he always is. After we hand them in, he’ll scold us again and then make us read them during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony or before morning exercises.”】

【Cen Wu: cat shaking.gif】

【Zhang Yuanzhou: “We’re doomed. The dean caught so many of us this time—no way we’re getting off easy.”】

【Cen Wu: cat trembling violently.gif】

【Zhang Yuanzhou: “Anyway, I can’t talk. I still have homework and no time to write the essay. I’ll just hire someone on the school forum. Wonder if Brother Xie still takes commissions. @XieGuilan”】

Xie Guilan, busy clearing tables, ignored the tag.

Back in their first year, Zhang Yuanzhou had discovered on the school forum that Xie Guilan sometimes ghostwrote essays, including self-reflections. One time, after hiring a writer online, Zhang was shocked to see Xie Guilan coldly drop the completed essay on his desk. That’s when he realized who he’d hired.

By the time Cen Wu finished his homework, it was already midnight, and Xie Guilan had just clocked out.

Expressionless, Xie Guilan removed his gloves, washed his hands, and prepared to eat his dinner. He had been working at the barbecue stand since middle school, and the boss, familiar with him, often made him a bowl of noodles at the end of his shift.

“Xie… Xie Guilan,” Cen Wu called out, his tone unsteady but forceful. “Can you help… help me write my self-reflection? I’ll pay you.”

“…”

Xie Guilan, about to eat, paused. The boss, thinking the two knew each other, brought his noodles over to Cen Wu’s table.

After a moment’s hesitation, Xie Guilan sat down, his face unreadable. Picking up his chopsticks, he asked, “How much?”

Cen Wu nervously opened a bottle of soy milk and placed it next to him. Testing the waters, he said, “Three… three thousand?”

Xie Guilan’s face darkened instantly. “Pay the standard rate.”

Cen Wu was baffled. He’d never been fined for a self-reflection essay before and had no idea what the “standard rate” was.

“Thirty’s fine,” Xie Guilan said quietly, his eyelashes lowering as he spoke.

Thirty? That seemed absurdly cheap to Cen Wu. He wasn’t trying to waste Xie Guilan’s time—he genuinely wanted him to make some money.

“That won’t do! It’s too cheap. What if you don’t put in any effort and I get scolded?” Cen Wu huffed, trying to look tough. “I’ll give you three hundred!”

Despite his bold words, his demeanor faltered. He stole a glance at Xie Guilan, unsure how he’d react. His pale cheeks, smudged with a bit of ash, flushed slightly, and his eyes shimmered with an almost tearful haze, undermining his attempts at intimidation.

The warm lights of the barbecue stand reflected in his eyes, tiny, glowing reflections of comfort.

Xie Guilan lifted his gaze, and for a fleeting moment, those reflections danced in his own dark eyes before he quickly looked away.

“…”

After a brief silence, Xie Guilan muttered, “Do whatever you want.”