21.
The next day, the freshmen officially sat in their classrooms, gave self-introductions, had the homeroom teachers speak, and went through a series of procedures.
After finishing everything, the morning was over. With Liang Pei’s face, he could probably be a contender for the school heartthrob, not to mention the class heartthrob.
When Zhou Mengyu arrived at the door of Liang Pei’s class, he saw this scene: Liang Pei was surrounded by the few girls in their class. These girls were quite well-mannered, queuing up behind him as Liang Pei talked to the teacher.
It was like getting a number for love.
Zhou Mengyu was speechless. He couldn’t help but question why the young and beautiful teacher had been talking to a freshman for so long.
Liang Pei’s gaze drifted outward, and Zhou Mengyu immediately waved.
Then, judging from Liang Pei’s lip movements, it seems like he said an apology, followed by something else, before picking up his schoolbag and coming out.
He didn’t even glance at the people behind him who were queuing up with their love number tickets.
22.
Zhou Mengyu couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Did your teacher want to see you about something?”
It’s no wonder he was curious. It was the first day of school, and he wasn’t running for the class committee. Liang Pei wasn’t the mayor’s son, so the teacher wouldn’t have approached him for no reason. There must have been something going on.
“They suggested I be the class monitor,” Liang Pei replied.
As the vice president of the student council and a class monitor for two years and a few days, Zhou Mengyu had some understanding of university life. How could he not know that there was a process where homeroom teachers personally persuaded a student to become the class monitor at the beginning of the semester? He said indignantly, “She just thinks you’re good-looking. The homeroom teacher and the class monitor spend more time together. Don’t be fooled.”
Liang Pei gave a faint “hmm” and, after a while, asked, “Isn’t being the class monitor a good thing?”
Zhou Mengyu immediately simmered down. Well… there wasn’t really anything wrong with it… He’s been the class monitor since freshman year…
Zhou Mengyu cleared his throat. “What I mean is, only take the job if you really want to. Don’t do it just because she’s coaxing you.”
Zhouo Mengyu heard Liang Pei chuckle and then say, “Okay.”
He suddenly felt that something was off. Ah!
His face felt a little hot.
It was because he had just randomly didn’t want Liang Pei to be the class monitor. He didn’t mean anything by it; he just felt that the teacher had ulterior motives and was definitely after Liang Pei’s good looks! But just like his desire for Liang Pei to be a model in the art studio, humans are all drawn to beauty.
Zhou Mengyu comforted himself, saying that all humans love beauty; he loved, the teacher also loved.
There is no difference.
23.
Since Zhou Mengyu was going to invite Liang Pei to dinner, he chose a rather special place.
The second canteen.
Zhou Mengyu was quite self-assured when he chose this place. As a college student, where else could he eat but the cafeteria? However, when he led Liang Pei up the cafeteria steps, he couldn’t help but feel guilty and explained, “The second cafeteria is the best and most expensive.”
Liang Pei didn’t seem to care much about what he ate. After all, he had pot last night, so even if he were to eat a very lavish meal at noon, he wouldn’t really want to eat.
The second canteen did have a better environment; the tables aren’t like those in ordinary canteens, covered with a layer of oil that can’t be wiped off.
Zhou Mengyu ate in the cafeteria for two years. The young man was prettier than the girls, and many people knew him. When waiting for food, many people would greet him, so the aunties and uncles at the window all knew him and called him affectionately.
“Little Fish![mfn]Xiaoyu. A play on Xiao Yu (Little Yu) from his name[/mfn] Curry rice or beef noodles?”
Zhou Mengyu was very generous. He greeted them with a smile, ordered two curry rice dishes, and paid by card. Each dish included a huge chicken leg.
When he returned with the food, he saw Liang Pei raise his eyebrows. “Little Fish?”
Holy crap! Zhou Mengyu almost dropped the chicken leg on the ground.
“Don’t shout.”
24.
Liang Pei looked dissatisfied. “I just heard it.”
Zhou Mengyu pushed a plate of curry rice in front of him, “Don’t you know how to respect the elderly and care for the young? They call me Xiaoyu because they’re elders, but I’m your senior!”
Liang Pei raised an eyebrow again, which Zhou Mengyu interpreted as: You’re right, I can’t find any words to refute you.
Zhou Mengyu went to get chopsticks again, and on the way, he ran into an acquaintance, the head of the art college student council’s publicity department, a short-haired girl with a grumpy demeanor.
The two chatted casually. The girl, having finished her meal, said she was heading back to the dorm. Zhou Mengyu stopped in front of Liang Pei, “You go ahead, I haven’t eaten yet.”
Her eyes instantly shifted to Liang Pei.
“Oohh, together with him?”
“Uh-huh”
“Is that the one from the physical education department who was assigned to your dorm?”
“Uh-huh”
“So you got to know each other quickly, huh? You’re quite fast.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Uh…. huh?” Zhou Mengyu abruptly raised his voice pitch.
25.
Zhou Mengyu was on the verge of tears: “Please believe I’m a straight guy.”
Liang Pei has a very straight-guy look; it’s hard to put into words, but basically, just like how he looks very gay–Liang Pei looks very straight. Zhou Mengyu always thought that if there was anyone in the world who believed he was straight, it would be Liang Pei.
“I just braid my hair, make dresses, and am a little good-looking. Who says I have to be gay?”
Zhou Mengyu was filled with grief and indignation.
He asked Liang Pei, “The key point is that it can’t be proven. I don’t know how to prove I’m a straight guy, just like how you’re a straight guy, but you can’t prove you’re not gay, right?”
Liang Pei watched him with interest, saying nothing.
Zhou Mengyu immediately followed up, “See, right? You can’t prove it either.”
26.
Liang Pei was a freshman. Freshmen are usually very relaxed before military training begins, with nothing to do.
But this leisurely period only lasts a day or two. Once the military training uniforms are issued, their hell begins: long sleeves and long pants in the sweltering summer heat.
Liang Pei tried on his military training uniform in the dormitory that night, just as Zhou Mengyu returned from the student council. As soon as Zhou Mengyu opened the door, he saw a green figure.
“Are the good days over?” Zhou Mengyu said.
Liang Pei looks great in his uniform; it’s amazing that someone can look so good in a military training uniform!
The thing was so big and baggy that even with Zhou Mengyu’s face, he couldn’t pull it off; it was barely passable. It seems it really comes down to body shape.
Zhou Mengyu spun Lian Pei around twice, looked down at his shoes, and asked seriously, “Did you bring sanitary pads?”
27.
The dorm was silent for five seconds.
Liang Pei calmly replied, “I probably won’t need that.”
Zhou Mengyu looked as if he thought youth equated to ignorance, “You clearly haven’t prepared properly! You need to put sanitary pads inside these shoes for comfort– they also absorb sweat. Otherwise, standing on the sports field for a whole day will be too hot. Have you even bought sunscreen?”
Liang Pei nodded sincerely.
“It’s okay, just borrow some sunscreen from any girl tomorrow, they all carry it with them. Pads, you’ll have to buy yourself. If you’re embarrassed, I can go with you?” Zhou Mengyu said enthusiastically.
Liang Pei looked at him: “You and me, buying pads?”
Zhou Mengyu blinked and turned to look at the junior student: “It’s a bit weird, junior, this glorious task is yours. Great 0, go for it!”
The younger student, holding a piece of watermelon, growled: “What’s 0 got to do with it! What does 0 have to do with it! I don’t even use it normally! I don’t!”
LOL! This was such a fun chapter to translate. It was so random and chaotic, and we’re seeing more of Zhou Mengyu’s ‘straight guy’ behavior. Anyways, if you notice any typos or errors, let me know!
