YMW CH 14

Puppy Love

Xie Guilan refused most of the transfers from Cen Wu, only accepting 30 yuan in the end.

Cen Wu: “…”

So difficult.

For two days, Cen Wu stayed at the Xie family estate but didn’t see Xie Guilan again. He had no choice but to hang out with Xie Shangjing and his group.

Father Xie wasn’t home, and Xie Shangjing’s mother, Zhou Li, rarely left the small building at the back of the estate. She didn’t involve herself in anything, so Xie Shangjing often invited people over.

Cen Wu wasn’t in the mood to join their games and wore a cold expression. Xie Shangjing thought he was still sulking and decided to leave him alone, figuring Cen Wu would eventually come around.

After all, that was always the case.

Xie Shangjing didn’t realize that Cen Wu felt guilty about “taking over someone else’s life.” He thought Cen Wu just loved him too much to stay angry.

Cen Wu: “…”

Bro, seriously?

The Xie estate had a few horses and a small pasture near the lake. It wasn’t as large as a proper riding ground, but a few laps were enough. While Xie Shangjing and Chu Zijian went riding, Cen Wu secretly texted Xie Guilan.

【Cen Wu: Surprise appearance.jpg】

【Cen Wu: What time are you heading to school the day after tomorrow? I want to go with you. Just think of it as keeping me company—I’ll pay you for the trouble.】

【Cen Wu: Transferred 3,000 yuan.】

Xie Guilan ignored him again, but Cen Wu refused to give up. He was determined to get the money to him somehow.

【Cen Wu: I can’t believe how evil I am, forcing you like this. Crying emoji.jpg】

【Cen Wu: Transferred 5,000 yuan.】

Xie Guilan: “…”

The hospital was already packed early in the morning. While waiting in line to pick up Song Lingwei’s test results, Xie Guilan’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. He picked it up and saw more messages from Cen Wu.

Cen Wu didn’t say outright that he wanted to give him money. Instead, his playful tone avoided pity or shame. It didn’t feel like charity, and rejecting or accepting it wouldn’t cause embarrassment.

Still, Xie Guilan never accepted money from others. His dark eyes fell on Cen Wu’s last message: a kneeling cat emoji begging for forgiveness.

Expressionless, he turned off his phone.

On Sunday night, Xie Guilan left the estate. Cen Wu, after confirming his departure, finally went home to sleep.

On Monday, when he entered class, the class representative walked in holding the test results. “Alright, everyone, the exam results are out. I’ve posted them in the usual spot—check them out if you dare!”

Several students ran to look. Lu Wang peeked over, then slumped back to his seat, looking betrayed. “You’ve actually been studying behind my back!”

Cen Wu scored 139 in English, ranking third in the class. Chemistry, however, was still a disaster at 39—third from the bottom. But at least he wasn’t second-to-last anymore!

“I told you,” Cen Wu stammered, “You… you didn’t believe me.”

Lu Wang wasn’t mad that Cen Wu did well; he was just hurt. He told Cen Wu everything, but Cen Wu studied behind his back. Lu Wang had trusted him as a brother, but Cen Wu threw him under the bus.

When fewer people surrounded the board, Cen Wu checked his scores and even took a photo to send to Xie Guilan. It was proof that he was “turning over a new leaf.”

A boy sitting in front of him turned around excitedly. “Second Young Master, how did you study? When did you even study?”

No one suspected Cen Wu of cheating. After all, everyone around him—including Xie Guilan—scored lower in English. Xie Guilan usually ranked in the middle because he skipped writing essays.

“I… uh…” Cen Wu panicked under the attention. He blurted nervously, “I studied in my past life.”

The boy: “…”

“Teacher Hou is coming!” someone shouted from outside. The students around the board scattered back to their seats just as the morning bell rang.

Every day, different substitute teachers watched over morning study. Today it was Hou Zhong, the chemistry teacher. He walked in with his briefcase, face stern as usual.

Hou Zhong was strict and intimidating. Students always submitted chemistry homework on time.

As he reached the podium, Xie Guilan entered the classroom through the back door, bag in hand. Hou Zhong frowned immediately. He had always disapproved of Xie Guilan.

To him, good grades didn’t mean much. No matter how many times Xie Guilan came in first, it wouldn’t make him good enough for a family like the Xie clan.

If the head of year hadn’t assigned him to coach Xie Guilan for the chemistry competition, he wouldn’t have bothered.

“Being top of the class now doesn’t mean you’ll be top forever,” Hou Zhong sneered. “Some students think a few good scores let them skip school and ignore homework.”

Hou Zhong knew about Xie Guilan’s situation—how he spent time at the hospital before rushing to class—but he didn’t care. It wasn’t his problem. After all, he couldn’t take responsibility for every student with a sick parent.

Xie Guilan kept his eyes half-lidded, his long lashes casting a cool shadow. When his gaze met Hou Zhong’s, the teacher grew increasingly annoyed. No respect for authority—what kind of attitude was that?

Hou Zhong cleared his throat, intending to scold Xie Guilan further, to remind him of his place. But suddenly, a trembling, pale arm shot up from the classroom.

Cen Wu, uncharacteristically defiant and anxious, interrupted, “Teacher, I… I didn’t… didn’t hand in my homework.”

“Are you crazy?” Lu Wang’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I literally helped you turn it in just now!”

Cen Wu shot back stubbornly, “I… I didn’t hand it in.”

Hou Zhong was completely at a loss. What was Cen Wu doing suddenly butting in? If he didn’t hand in his homework, so be it—was Hou Zhong supposed to call Cen Wu’s parents now?

But the entire class was watching, and Hou Zhong couldn’t scold Xie Guilan and ignore Cen Wu. That would make it seem like he had it out for Xie Guilan.

“All of you, get out!” Hou Zhong waved his hand irritably. “Stand outside and reflect on this!”

Xie Guilan said nothing, placing his bag down and grabbing a test paper as he walked out.

Cen Wu trailed after him.

Inside the hallway, Xie Guilan bent over his test, while Cen Wu pulled out an old chemistry test from middle school. He glanced at Xie Guilan’s paper, then quickly averted his eyes when Xie Guilan glanced back at him.

Cen Wu’s gaze was cold and sharp—dark, full eyes framed by long lashes, resembling a restless bird. Yet his lips were full and red, and his whole demeanor appeared timid and dull, his head always slightly bowed.

Xie Guilan sighed, lowering his gaze. He couldn’t keep going down this road with Cen Wu—this pampered, spoiled waste who would rather stand in the hallway than be away from him.

Cen Wu could’ve helped in other ways—he didn’t need to stand here getting scolded. Whether it was money or something else, Xie Guilan didn’t need it, no matter whether Cen Wu liked him or had some hidden agenda.

Cen Wu struggled with a balancing equation but couldn’t make sense of it. He hesitated and lightly tugged on Xie Guilan’s sleeve. “Can… Can you help me with this?”

Xie Guilan took his paper, saw that Cen Wu had gotten nearly every tenth question wrong and left two answers blank, marked simply as “guessed.”

Xie Guilan exhaled quietly, making Cen Wu shrink back in embarrassment. Before Xie Guilan could speak, a loud, angry voice suddenly echoed from below.

“Hey! Hey! Hey!” The disciplinary teacher’s voice rang out furiously. “Still holding hands, huh? I caught you two in the woods last night. I didn’t say anything since it was late, but now you’re at it again?!”

Early love.

Cen Wu couldn’t help but lean his head out, staring at the sight of a boy and girl standing before the angry teacher, both heads bowed and tears streaming down their faces.

Xie Guilan suddenly called out, “Young Master.”

“Hmm?” Cen Wu turned quickly, surprised to hear Xie Guilan speak to him for once.

But instead of addressing the situation, Xie Guilan asked, “Do you know what Rule 13 of the school regulations is?”

Cen Wu was confused. Of course, he didn’t know. Who memorized school regulations? He pursed his lips, puzzled. What was Xie Guilan suddenly getting at? Did he think he was showing off his knowledge of the rules while Cen Wu was just a fool?

“Regulations!” the disciplinary teacher yelled again, growing even angrier. “Do you know what Rule 13 is? No early love!”

The boy and girl in front of them were now openly sobbing, hugging each other in despair as the teacher ranted, shoving them away.

It was a chaotic mess.

Xie Guilan turned his head, his cold, distant gaze falling on the chaos below. His voice was flat and uninterested as he leaned toward Cen Wu. “Young Master, did you notice anything?”

Early love always ends in humiliation. If you want to be a respectable person, don’t get involved in pointless nonsense like this.

Cen Wu remained confused. Xie Guilan had just been scolded by the teacher, so he probably didn’t like him either. Cen Wu figured he’d take Xie Guilan’s side and sighed, “A truly pitiful pair of fated souls.”

Xie Guilan: “…”