Chapter 11: Different Paths

“Second National Radio Calisthenics for Middle School Students, Era is Calling…”

The strained broadcast voice echoed across the playground.

Shen Yao didn’t like doing radio calisthenics.

At times like this, his only amusement was observing the Fat Classmate’s exercise posture ahead.

There was no malice in it; he simply found the classmate’s movements amusing.

He suddenly realized something and turned to look for the red-haired figure.

Of course, there was nothing.

As expected, Qiao Yunxue had ignored the school rules again.

To avoid attracting the teacher’s attention, Shen Yao tried to keep his distance from Qiao Yunxue at school.

The other party was just as tacit, deliberately ignoring him as well.

To outsiders, these two—one male and one female—were extremes within the class, and no one would ever suspect that they were secretly conspiring on some earth-shattering plan.

When the radio calisthenics ended, each class returned to their rooms in order.

Shen Yao asked for leave and went to the bathroom.

The high school bathrooms had no doors.

Each stall shared a long water channel, flushed every ten minutes or so by the janitors.

Shen Yao had just pulled down his pants when he heard a commotion outside.

The Fat Classmate—usually his only amusement during calisthenics—staggered into the bathroom in distress.

Three boys with slanted bangs and long hair, cigarettes dangling from their lips, walked in after him.

In this era, chaos was everywhere.

There were biker gangs on the streets, gangs of robbers at train stations, even muggers with knives on city buses.

It was normal for schools to have delinquents.

If anything, students took pride in being “mixed up in society,” and young girls felt an inexplicable attraction toward these tough guys.

Shen Yao didn’t spare them a glance, focusing on relieving himself.

The Fat Classmate was shoved against the wall of a stall by the three delinquents, face pale as paper.

“I’m sorry… I really can’t…”

The delinquent on the left, hair dyed yellow at the temples, sneered.

“We told you to put your test paper down during the monthly exam so we could copy. Why didn’t you listen? Now we’ve failed several times—do you think a simple sorry is enough?”

“I’m sorry… Wei, I really can’t. I’m afraid, afraid of the teacher…”

The one on the right pinched his ear.

“Afraid of the teacher? So you’re not afraid of us? Don’t you know who’s in charge of Class Three?”

Shen Yao shook off, slowly pulling up his pants.

He frowned at the lingering smoke in the air and coughed lightly.

The delinquents noticed him but paid no mind.

The one in the middle patted the Fat Classmate’s face.

“If we don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll never learn.”

The Fat Classmate’s legs buckled in fear.

“Please, I’ll listen next time, I promise… I have a yuan and a half in pocket money—take it, all of it…”

Wasn’t this sort of thing common in this school? Or rather, wasn’t it common in society as a whole?

The strong preying on the weak.

“Cough, cough…”

Shen Yao turned.

“I say, don’t you guys know smoking is prohibited in the bathroom?”

The delinquents looked up at him.

Of course they recognized him—this guy was always on stage receiving awards.

“Honor student, this has nothing to do with you, right?”

The Fat Classmate, seeing hope, rushed toward Shen Yao.

“Shen Yao, please help—”

Shen Yao ignored him, fixing his gaze on the three delinquents.

“The cheap cigarettes you’re smoking are choking me. How does this have nothing to do with me? I’m curious—your parents work hard every month to send you to school, and you spend their money on cigarettes and hair dye. Do they know?”

“Bastard, are you looking for a fight?”

The question seemed to hit a nerve.

The three delinquents glared at him.

Shen Yao rolled up his sleeves.

“If you want to fight, I won’t stop you. But I’ll warn you now—afterwards, I’ll report everything you’ve done to Zhou, and what Zhou decides to do with you is out of my hands.”

A delinquent snarled.

“If you fight with us, you think you won’t be punished too?”

Shen Yao retorted.

“Do you think Zhou will believe an honor student like me, or you?”

The three were speechless.

Shen Yao spoke coldly.

“The other option is to stub out your cigarettes and leave now. Then I won’t report your behavior to the disciplinary office. Choose, classmates.”

The three exchanged glances, cursed “bastard” at Shen Yao, pointed at the Fat Classmate with a “you just wait,” then stubbed out their cigarettes and left the bathroom.

The Fat Classmate was teary with gratitude.

Shen Yao pushed him away.

“If you don’t want trouble later, you’d better stay away from me. We’re not close.”

He washed his hands at the sink, patted his clothes, and tried to shake off the smoke smell.

Outside under the willow tree, he spotted a familiar figure.

Cheng Cheng was leaning against the tree, sleeves rolled up.

She seemed to be muttering to herself.

“I thought there was going to be another fight.”

Shen Yao smiled.

Between the two of them, no explanations were needed.

They simply walked side by side.

“It’s not like in middle school anymore—the school’s stricter now. Why would anyone fight? Besides, I don’t like fighting.”

Cheng Cheng tilted her head at him.

“Did you forget about the time you split someone’s head open?”

“I was immature back then. Didn’t know my own strength.”

Aside from his academic ability, Shen Yao was physically gifted.

In middle school, several PE teachers had tried to recruit him for sports, but his aunt always said sports had no future, and by your twenties you’d be useless.

Better to get into college and become an official.

“Why were you waiting outside the bathroom?”

“I was afraid you’d be all alone.”

Cheng Cheng replied.

“You really shouldn’t fight anymore.”

“Why not? Didn’t we always fight side by side before?”

“You’re a girl now.”

Cheng Cheng giggled.

“Wasn’t I always?”

“Before was before.”

Cheng Cheng’s smile faded, then returned.

“That’s gender discrimination, you know.”

Shen Yao looked at her.

“I thought it was gentlemanly.”

He paused.

“Did you give me a gift?”

At the same time, Cheng Cheng asked, “What have you been busy with lately?”

Her question came faster, drowning out Shen Yao’s.

She continued.

“I haven’t seen you after school lately…”

She nudged him with her elbow, grinning mischievously.

“Did you confess the other day? Been so happy you forgot about everything else?”

The mention of Qiao Yunxue made Shen Yao a bit dejected, especially recalling how he’d gotten involved in such a bizarre event.

“No… How could Qiao Yunxue be interested in me?”

Cheng Cheng walked ahead, hands behind her back, tiptoeing.

“Is that so…”

She asked again.

“So where have you been?”

The question was a bit abrupt, even a little too prying, but Shen Yao didn’t notice.

“Helping my aunt collect material.”

He answered casually, not wanting to involve Cheng Cheng in anything supernatural.

“You know, she works at the Publisher. She’s been preparing a paranormal Editorial Column.”

Cheng Cheng let out an “oh,” moving so fast all Shen Yao could see was the back of her head.

He couldn’t see her expression.

“So you’re collecting ghost stories?”

“Something like that.”

“Need my help?”

“No, I can manage.”

“Mmhm~”

Cheng Cheng made a vague sound.

They reached the stairwell.

Their classrooms were on opposite sides; it was time for a brief parting.

Shen Yao waved, turned away, and had only walked a few steps when Cheng Cheng called out behind him.

“I never gave you a gift, you know.”

Shen Yao paused, nodded, and parted ways with her.