《Childhood Chronicles》


 CH 1

    Before he had turned thirty, Ye Cheng''s father had remarried, and his partner this time around was a young businesswoman who had started her own toy company. Upon her first meeting with Ye Cheng, she had gifted the boy a teddy bear so enormous, he couldn''t manage so much as to wrap his arms around it.


    Ye Cheng, this sensible lad, was well aware his father had wanted a new woman of the household, someone similar to himself. That way, Ye Chenghui never had to again grumble about trivial household chores. So when Zhou Ni arrived, Ye Cheng exhausted all his strength to a considerable degree to accept her.


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    Zhou Ni was a woman with a frank and outspoken character. After all, being an introverted woman in the business world would not be good in any respect. So following her marriage to Ye Chenghui, the two quickly discussing the matter of getting Ye Cheng transferred from school, a matter which was to be regarded as her first step into being assimilated in the new family unit. Her way of thinking was quite clear, herself and Ye Cheng were both still young and son they would have a child of their own. Such a thing would be good for Ye Cheng as it would also be good for their family. These goals of Zhou Ni were neither short term nor shallow.


    And for this gift, Ye Cheng had given her his sincere thanks.


    "What does a little kid like him know? If we gave him a choice he would not want to even go to school half the time and that playing around like mad would be best." Ye Chenghui made this choice on his son''s behalf with nary a second thought, and this newly found wife of his could not be any more satisfied.


    For the eleven year old boy, his reaction towards his family again becoming one of three people was nothing especially big¡ªat least, not as big as his father, Ye Chenghui, had expected. Apart from his son not calling his new wife mother at the time, an act which as completely natural, he had thought the boy would at the very least cry a little, maybe also scream a bit, too.


    "Ye Cheng, you can take a seat in the first group of that row in the back." She used the hand holding the chalk to point towards the seat near the window, the only one within the class which as empty.


    "The affiliated experimental middle school has teachers and facilities which are much better than Chengcheng''s current school. We can''t allow the boy to lose at the starting now, can we? It won''t be long before school starts back up again, so it''ll be done before in time for him to start classes."


    Those curious words of his were no exaggeration, as the ability to have a child attend to that school requires parents who quite capable.


    But all this assertion of his proved was that this man did not understand his son, Ye Cheng, as the one who understood the boy best was his own mother. A woman who always declared, her son was a sensible and intelligent child.


    Zhou Ni did indeed find a connection rather quickly. Then no more than half a month had passed from since the two had decided the matter before Ye Cheng was standing in the classroom of his new school with a book-bag on his back.


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    The bell announcing the resumption of classes rung, and Tao Lu turned back around. The class was also a Language Arts class, so, naturally shifting to his left, Ye Cheng then asked, "Um... can you share your book with me?"


    Ye Cheng droned through that lesson no differently as he would if listening to tongues. The task was no easy feat to endure, as only until the bell tolled to announce the end of class was he finally able to relax.


    "Ye Cheng, you can take a seat in the first group of that row in the back." She used the hand holding the chalk to point towards the seat near the window, the only one within the class which as empty.


    But two years ago, this woman, Ye Cheng''s mother, had suddenly left.


    "My name is Gu Shaofan."


    Ye Cheng, this sensible lad, was well aware his father had wanted a new woman of the household, someone similar to himself. That way, Ye Chenghui never had to again grumble about trivial household chores. So when Zhou Ni arrived, Ye Cheng exhausted all his strength to a considerable degree to accept her.


    Unknowing of whether it was simply his own misconception or not, Ye Cheng swore he could sense the curious expressions on practically every child on him as far as he could see.


    As a person local to the area, Ye Cheng had also surely known of that school, and it was indeed an excellent school. Students from its main affiliated elementary school had an easier time when entering it, and it was one of the key middle-schools in the city.


    Hearing his name called suddenly, Ye Cheng jumped in fright. He was only a bit familiar with this language class, so how would he know where the answer in that paragraph was?


    Ye Cheng then mouthed a thank you to the other boy, he was ignored by the other, but cared little about that. After class was done, Ye Cheng blabbered away at his deskmate. "How did you know where the answer was? Did you study ahead? No wonder you gave me your book and never looked at it. At first, I thought you were just embarrassed about sharing your book with me. But what''s there to be embarrassed about, we''re all boys here. So um... did you just study ahead for that class or have you done it for the other classes too? I can''t believe there really are people who do that nowadays. I just thought it was just something teachers said to trick me. Right, Tao Lu?"


    Somewhat frigidly, Ye Cheng rose to his feet with little haste. Biting his lips, he scanned through the book idly. He was so nervous he couldn''t even pick up the book. But out of nowhere, the page of the book turned, and a rather graceful finger pointed towards a paragraph.


    Zhou Ni was a woman with a frank and outspoken character. After all, being an introverted woman in the business world would not be good in any respect. So following her marriage to Ye Chenghui, the two quickly discussing the matter of getting Ye Cheng transferred from school, a matter which was to be regarded as her first step into being assimilated in the new family unit. Her way of thinking was quite clear, herself and Ye Cheng were both still young and son they would have a child of their own. Such a thing would be good for Ye Cheng as it would also be good for their family. These goals of Zhou Ni were neither short term nor shallow.


    And for this gift, Ye Cheng had given her his sincere thanks.


    "What does a little kid like him know? If we gave him a choice he would not want to even go to school half the time and that playing around like mad would be best." Ye Chenghui made this choice on his son''s behalf with nary a second thought, and this newly found wife of his could not be any more satisfied.


    Unknowing of whether it was simply his own misconception or not, Ye Cheng swore he could sense the curious expressions on practically every child on him as far as he could see.


    "The affiliated experimental middle school has teachers and facilities which are much better than Chengcheng''s current school. We can''t allow the boy to lose at the starting now, can we? It won''t be long before school starts back up again, so it''ll be done before in time for him to start classes."


    School Transfer


    "I''ll be getting mine next semester. The teacher said it''ll be coming with the next batch. Do you guys have to buy a new uniform every semester?"


    "I''ll be getting mine next semester. The teacher said it''ll be coming with the next batch. Do you guys have to buy a new uniform every semester?"


    As a person local to the area, Ye Cheng had also surely known of that school, and it was indeed an excellent school. Students from its main affiliated elementary school had an easier time when entering it, and it was one of the key middle-schools in the city.


    Ye Cheng then mouthed a thank you to the other boy, he was ignored by the other, but cared little about that. After class was done, Ye Cheng blabbered away at his deskmate. "How did you know where the answer was? Did you study ahead? No wonder you gave me your book and never looked at it. At first, I thought you were just embarrassed about sharing your book with me. But what''s there to be embarrassed about, we''re all boys here. So um... did you just study ahead for that class or have you done it for the other classes too? I can''t believe there really are people who do that nowadays. I just thought it was just something teachers said to trick me. Right, Tao Lu?"


    Ye Cheng reacted very quickly, immediately picking up the book and smoothly read out the contents of the paragraph, before casting a pair of wide blinking eyes towards Miss Sun. Miss Sun frowned, but said nothing else about it. "Alright. Please return to your seat."


    It made Ye Cheng feel slightly depressed. Did he not like me? In my old school, I had a lot of friends, you know!


    Zhou Ni was a woman with a frank and outspoken character. After all, being an introverted woman in the business world would not be good in any respect. So following her marriage to Ye Chenghui, the two quickly discussing the matter of getting Ye Cheng transferred from school, a matter which was to be regarded as her first step into being assimilated in the new family unit. Her way of thinking was quite clear, herself and Ye Cheng were both still young and son they would have a child of their own. Such a thing would be good for Ye Cheng as it would also be good for their family. These goals of Zhou Ni were neither short term nor shallow.


    Ye Chenghui thought it over for a while. "Would getting him transferred to that school not be difficult?"


    Ye Chenghui thought it over for a while. "Would getting him transferred to that school not be difficult?"


    But after he spoke, Tao Lu''s brows raised strangely. It seemed as if he wanted to say something, but all he did was frown and let it go. "Oh, is that so. Well, if you need anything just ask me, okay?"


    School Transfer


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    Those curious words of his were no exaggeration, as the ability to have a child attend to that school requires parents who quite capable.


    "Huh? You don''t have to..." Ye Cheng shook his head. "I can just share with my deskmate, right?"


    Zhou Ni let out a laugh. "So long as Chengcheng is willing, I will find a way. Connections are a thing one can always find." Her brows then drew into a slight knit, her mind clearly in thought. "However, Chengcheng is doing just fine in his current school, so transferring him with such little notice might make him unwilling, wouldn''t it?"


    Ye Cheng reacted very quickly, immediately picking up the book and smoothly read out the contents of the paragraph, before casting a pair of wide blinking eyes towards Miss Sun. Miss Sun frowned, but said nothing else about it. "Alright. Please return to your seat."


    Ye Cheng, this sensible lad, was well aware his father had wanted a new woman of the household, someone similar to himself. That way, Ye Chenghui never had to again grumble about trivial household chores. So when Zhou Ni arrived, Ye Cheng exhausted all his strength to a considerable degree to accept her.


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    "Yeah. My uniform from last semester can''t fit me any more." The boy let out two giggles. "My mom said I''m growing too fast, and clothes are expensive."


    Breathing out a long sigh, Ye Cheng then turned to his deskmate with a grin, the little dimple on the left side of his face giving his smiling face a hint of mischief.


    "What does a little kid like him know? If we gave him a choice he would not want to even go to school half the time and that playing around like mad would be best." Ye Chenghui made this choice on his son''s behalf with nary a second thought, and this newly found wife of his could not be any more satisfied.


    N/A


    "Huh? You don''t have to..." Ye Cheng shook his head. "I can just share with my deskmate, right?"


    "Hey, which school did you go to before this one?"


    Noticing the movement from that direction, Miss Sun felt a bit irritated. Why did this child come here? Did he come just to make small talk during class? "Ye Cheng, stand up and answer this question."


    Before he had turned thirty, Ye Cheng''s father had remarried, and his partner this time around was a young businesswoman who had started her own toy company. Upon her first meeting with Ye Cheng, she had gifted the boy a teddy bear so enormous, he couldn''t manage so much as to wrap his arms around it.


    Zhou Ni did indeed find a connection rather quickly. Then no more than half a month had passed from since the two had decided the matter before Ye Cheng was standing in the classroom of his new school with a book-bag on his back.


    "Oh, by the way, I still don''t know your name. My name is Ye Cheng." Although it wasn''t long since he had introduced himself, Ye Cheng took a notebook and very very carefully wrote the two characters of his name. "It''s a nice name, right?"


    Zhou Ni let out a laugh. "So long as Chengcheng is willing, I will find a way. Connections are a thing one can always find." Her brows then drew into a slight knit, her mind clearly in thought. "However, Chengcheng is doing just fine in his current school, so transferring him with such little notice might make him unwilling, wouldn''t it?"


    But two years ago, this woman, Ye Cheng''s mother, had suddenly left.


    "This is our new transfer student, and he will be studying in the same class as you all from now on. So you should all help one another, understood? Come along no, introduce yourself." The last sentence was directed towards Ye Cheng. The home room teacher was now done speaking, so everyone''s attention was now focused on the Ye Cheng.


    The bell announcing the resumption of classes rung, and Tao Lu turned back around. The class was also a Language Arts class, so, naturally shifting to his left, Ye Cheng then asked, "Um... can you share your book with me?"


    "What does a little kid like him know? If we gave him a choice he would not want to even go to school half the time and that playing around like mad would be best." Ye Chenghui made this choice on his son''s behalf with nary a second thought, and this newly found wife of his could not be any more satisfied.


    Ye Chenghui thought it over for a while. "Would getting him transferred to that school not be difficult?"


    Ye Cheng''s ears flushed, but he still managed to maintain a straight face as he spoke. "Hi, everyone. My name is Ye Cheng. The Ye, from yezi (leaf), and the Cheng from chenggong (success). I hope we can all be friends in the future."


    Zhou Ni let out a laugh. "So long as Chengcheng is willing, I will find a way. Connections are a thing one can always find." Her brows then drew into a slight knit, her mind clearly in thought. "However, Chengcheng is doing just fine in his current school, so transferring him with such little notice might make him unwilling, wouldn''t it?"


    As he spoke, Miss Sun immediately wrote Ye Cheng''s name on the blackboard. After she was done, with the chalk in hand, she scanned the classroom.


    As a result, he focused the entirety of his attention on his deskmate. Naturally, he believed having a friendship between was important, but being friends with a deskmate was even more so. After being suddenly thrust into this new environment, and having to say goodbye to all the teachers he knew and all the classmates he was close with, saying Ye Cheng wasn''t the least bit upset about it would be a lie. However, Ye Cheng had taken after his mother, his character was one quite cheerful and lively. So as long as he was willing, there would never be any awkward silences, This skill of his made him able to always quickly make friends out of strangers.


    The baby fat of the little boys cheeks shook as he laughed happily. "Then... why aren''t you wearing one now, too?"


    Ye Cheng soon began chatting with that boy named Tao Lu in a friendly manner. even managing to ask about the matter regarding the textbooks at some point.


    "Ye Cheng, you can take a seat in the first group of that row in the back." She used the hand holding the chalk to point towards the seat near the window, the only one within the class which as empty.


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    Unknowing of whether it was simply his own misconception or not, Ye Cheng swore he could sense the curious expressions on practically every child on him as far as he could see.


    Maybe it was because his voice was nearly a whisper, or maybe it was because the way he spoke slower than most, because Ye Cheng felt as though his voice sounded like it had been soaked in iced water: frigid and cheerless, yet unusually crisp.


    The bell announcing the resumption of classes rung, and Tao Lu turned back around. The class was also a Language Arts class, so, naturally shifting to his left, Ye Cheng then asked, "Um... can you share your book with me?"


    As he spoke, Miss Sun immediately wrote Ye Cheng''s name on the blackboard. After she was done, with the chalk in hand, she scanned the classroom.


    With quickness, he obediently made his way over to the seat the teacher had pointed to, his Micky Mouse book-bag on his back. Then he tried as best he could to pull out his pencil case case and books while making as little noise as possible. He had received his course schedule earlier, and the first class he had that day was Language Arts. During the entire process, his new deskmate never turned to face at him once. It was only when Ye Cheng turned to him to give a friendly hello, did he finally turned slightly in Ye Cheng''s direction, whispering a hello to him in return.


    "I''ll be getting mine next semester. The teacher said it''ll be coming with the next batch. Do you guys have to buy a new uniform every semester?"


    The baby fat of the little boys cheeks shook as he laughed happily. "Then... why aren''t you wearing one now, too?"


    "One that''s not too far from here, actually. The one on Lotus Street. I used to see students from your school around all the time. I even thought your uniform looked way better than mine¡ªthe quality was really nice too."


    As a result, he focused the entirety of his attention on his deskmate. Naturally, he believed having a friendship between was important, but being friends with a deskmate was even more so. After being suddenly thrust into this new environment, and having to say goodbye to all the teachers he knew and all the classmates he was close with, saying Ye Cheng wasn''t the least bit upset about it would be a lie. However, Ye Cheng had taken after his mother, his character was one quite cheerful and lively. So as long as he was willing, there would never be any awkward silences, This skill of his made him able to always quickly make friends out of strangers.


    Ye Cheng soon began chatting with that boy named Tao Lu in a friendly manner. even managing to ask about the matter regarding the textbooks at some point.


    That little adult-like kid, the way he acted made Ye Cheng quite fascinated.


    Ye Cheng soon began chatting with that boy named Tao Lu in a friendly manner. even managing to ask about the matter regarding the textbooks at some point.


    Ye Cheng then mouthed a thank you to the other boy, he was ignored by the other, but cared little about that. After class was done, Ye Cheng blabbered away at his deskmate. "How did you know where the answer was? Did you study ahead? No wonder you gave me your book and never looked at it. At first, I thought you were just embarrassed about sharing your book with me. But what''s there to be embarrassed about, we''re all boys here. So um... did you just study ahead for that class or have you done it for the other classes too? I can''t believe there really are people who do that nowadays. I just thought it was just something teachers said to trick me. Right, Tao Lu?"


    It made Ye Cheng feel slightly depressed. Did he not like me? In my old school, I had a lot of friends, you know!


    Done with introducing the new student, Miss Sun began her class. Turning around, she erased Ye Cheng''s name from the board then wrote the subject the day''s class.


    "Hey, which school did you go to before this one?"


    Ye Cheng soon began chatting with that boy named Tao Lu in a friendly manner. even managing to ask about the matter regarding the textbooks at some point.


    "This is our new transfer student, and he will be studying in the same class as you all from now on. So you should all help one another, understood? Come along no, introduce yourself." The last sentence was directed towards Ye Cheng. The home room teacher was now done speaking, so everyone''s attention was now focused on the Ye Cheng.


    As a result, he focused the entirety of his attention on his deskmate. Naturally, he believed having a friendship between was important, but being friends with a deskmate was even more so. After being suddenly thrust into this new environment, and having to say goodbye to all the teachers he knew and all the classmates he was close with, saying Ye Cheng wasn''t the least bit upset about it would be a lie. However, Ye Cheng had taken after his mother, his character was one quite cheerful and lively. So as long as he was willing, there would never be any awkward silences, This skill of his made him able to always quickly make friends out of strangers.


    "Hey, which school did you go to before this one?"


    Ye Cheng looked at the subject and was left confused. Why was it not the same as the one in my textbook? It clearly stated Lesson Eighteen there too. He stole a glance at the textbook belonging to his deskmate, noticing the book book the other boy had was different from his own.


    "The affiliated experimental middle school has teachers and facilities which are much better than Chengcheng''s current school. We can''t allow the boy to lose at the starting now, can we? It won''t be long before school starts back up again, so it''ll be done before in time for him to start classes."


    "Oh, by the way, I still don''t know your name. My name is Ye Cheng." Although it wasn''t long since he had introduced himself, Ye Cheng took a notebook and very very carefully wrote the two characters of his name. "It''s a nice name, right?"


    That little adult-like kid, the way he acted made Ye Cheng quite fascinated.


    Ye Cheng, this sensible lad, was well aware his father had wanted a new woman of the household, someone similar to himself. That way, Ye Chenghui never had to again grumble about trivial household chores. So when Zhou Ni arrived, Ye Cheng exhausted all his strength to a considerable degree to accept her.


    Glancing at him, his deskmate then took his own black rollerball pen and neatly wrote three characters below Ye Cheng''s, stroke by stroke. They were both still young, so the characters he write couldn''t be said to have any sort of style, but his penmanship was incredibly neat.


    The blame for this could only be laid on Ye Cheng and his parents, who should''ve made sure beforehand whether the books used by affiliate primary schools were the same as those stipulated for use in compulsory education courses. The contents in the other textbook was far more expansive than those commonly used, and the difficulty was also more advanced.


    Hearing his name called suddenly, Ye Cheng jumped in fright. He was only a bit familiar with this language class, so how would he know where the answer in that paragraph was?


    Ye Cheng droned through that lesson no differently as he would if listening to tongues. The task was no easy feat to endure, as only until the bell tolled to announce the end of class was he finally able to relax.


    Ye Cheng hurriedly ran his finger over the page, "Here, here¡ªlook here." After saying this he slid the book a bit more in between them, inching towards the other until they were quite close, close enough for them to clearly make out the fine hairs on his ear. But Ye Cheng paid no mind to any of this, his only worry being the boy beside would be unable to study properly since he had their book.


    Towards this new transfer student, the young students were thick with curiosity. Especially since a student transferring to that elementary school was something that almost never happened. There was a ten minute breaks between classes, and for nearly half of it, the boy sitting in front of Ye Cheng couldn''t help himself from turning around, his eyes fixed on Ye Cheng''s face.


    "One that''s not too far from here, actually. The one on Lotus Street. I used to see students from your school around all the time. I even thought your uniform looked way better than mine¡ªthe quality was really nice too."


    "Hey, which school did you go to before this one?"


    Ye Cheng looked at the subject and was left confused. Why was it not the same as the one in my textbook? It clearly stated Lesson Eighteen there too. He stole a glance at the textbook belonging to his deskmate, noticing the book book the other boy had was different from his own.


    As he spoke, Miss Sun immediately wrote Ye Cheng''s name on the blackboard. After she was done, with the chalk in hand, she scanned the classroom.


    His deskmate had most likely heard everything he and Tao Lu just spoke of, so Ye Cheng did not have to explain the situation again. Pausing for only a few seconds, that deskmate of his then silently pushed over his book. But Ye Cheng was surprised by the other person''s apparent unwillingness to look at the book together with him. The book was lent to him while his deskmate only looked at the blackboard, as though he had no intention to look down and read from the book again. Anything Ye Cheng thought of, he simply asked directly. "Why won''t you look at the book, huh?"


    "One that''s not too far from here, actually. The one on Lotus Street. I used to see students from your school around all the time. I even thought your uniform looked way better than mine¡ªthe quality was really nice too."


    As he spoke, Miss Sun immediately wrote Ye Cheng''s name on the blackboard. After she was done, with the chalk in hand, she scanned the classroom.


    Unknowing of whether it was simply his own misconception or not, Ye Cheng swore he could sense the curious expressions on practically every child on him as far as he could see.


    But just then, the teacher walked in and everyone was asked to look at the a last exercise.


    As a result, he focused the entirety of his attention on his deskmate. Naturally, he believed having a friendship between was important, but being friends with a deskmate was even more so. After being suddenly thrust into this new environment, and having to say goodbye to all the teachers he knew and all the classmates he was close with, saying Ye Cheng wasn''t the least bit upset about it would be a lie. However, Ye Cheng had taken after his mother, his character was one quite cheerful and lively. So as long as he was willing, there would never be any awkward silences, This skill of his made him able to always quickly make friends out of strangers.


    Ye Cheng looked at the subject and was left confused. Why was it not the same as the one in my textbook? It clearly stated Lesson Eighteen there too. He stole a glance at the textbook belonging to his deskmate, noticing the book book the other boy had was different from his own.


    The affiliated school uniform was also tracksuits, but its overall design wasn''t done as haphazardly. Its simple blue and white design made the kids look as though they actually had some spirit.


    His deskmate had most likely heard everything he and Tao Lu just spoke of, so Ye Cheng did not have to explain the situation again. Pausing for only a few seconds, that deskmate of his then silently pushed over his book. But Ye Cheng was surprised by the other person''s apparent unwillingness to look at the book together with him. The book was lent to him while his deskmate only looked at the blackboard, as though he had no intention to look down and read from the book again. Anything Ye Cheng thought of, he simply asked directly. "Why won''t you look at the book, huh?"


    The affiliated school uniform was also tracksuits, but its overall design wasn''t done as haphazardly. Its simple blue and white design made the kids look as though they actually had some spirit.


    "My name is Gu Shaofan."


    The baby fat of the little boys cheeks shook as he laughed happily. "Then... why aren''t you wearing one now, too?"


    Ye Cheng''s ears flushed, but he still managed to maintain a straight face as he spoke. "Hi, everyone. My name is Ye Cheng. The Ye, from yezi (leaf), and the Cheng from chenggong (success). I hope we can all be friends in the future."


    With quickness, he obediently made his way over to the seat the teacher had pointed to, his Micky Mouse book-bag on his back. Then he tried as best he could to pull out his pencil case case and books while making as little noise as possible. He had received his course schedule earlier, and the first class he had that day was Language Arts. During the entire process, his new deskmate never turned to face at him once. It was only when Ye Cheng turned to him to give a friendly hello, did he finally turned slightly in Ye Cheng''s direction, whispering a hello to him in return.


    Zhou Ni was a woman with a frank and outspoken character. After all, being an introverted woman in the business world would not be good in any respect. So following her marriage to Ye Chenghui, the two quickly discussing the matter of getting Ye Cheng transferred from school, a matter which was to be regarded as her first step into being assimilated in the new family unit. Her way of thinking was quite clear, herself and Ye Cheng were both still young and son they would have a child of their own. Such a thing would be good for Ye Cheng as it would also be good for their family. These goals of Zhou Ni were neither short term nor shallow.


    "I''ll be getting mine next semester. The teacher said it''ll be coming with the next batch. Do you guys have to buy a new uniform every semester?"


    That little adult-like kid, the way he acted made Ye Cheng quite fascinated.


    "Yeah. My uniform from last semester can''t fit me any more." The boy let out two giggles. "My mom said I''m growing too fast, and clothes are expensive."


    Ye Chenghui thought it over for a while. "Would getting him transferred to that school not be difficult?"


    Ye Cheng hurriedly ran his finger over the page, "Here, here¡ªlook here." After saying this he slid the book a bit more in between them, inching towards the other until they were quite close, close enough for them to clearly make out the fine hairs on his ear. But Ye Cheng paid no mind to any of this, his only worry being the boy beside would be unable to study properly since he had their book.


    Ye Cheng droned through that lesson no differently as he would if listening to tongues. The task was no easy feat to endure, as only until the bell tolled to announce the end of class was he finally able to relax.


    Ye Cheng soon began chatting with that boy named Tao Lu in a friendly manner. even managing to ask about the matter regarding the textbooks at some point.


    Towards this new transfer student, the young students were thick with curiosity. Especially since a student transferring to that elementary school was something that almost never happened. There was a ten minute breaks between classes, and for nearly half of it, the boy sitting in front of Ye Cheng couldn''t help himself from turning around, his eyes fixed on Ye Cheng''s face.


    With quickness, he obediently made his way over to the seat the teacher had pointed to, his Micky Mouse book-bag on his back. Then he tried as best he could to pull out his pencil case case and books while making as little noise as possible. He had received his course schedule earlier, and the first class he had that day was Language Arts. During the entire process, his new deskmate never turned to face at him once. It was only when Ye Cheng turned to him to give a friendly hello, did he finally turned slightly in Ye Cheng''s direction, whispering a hello to him in return.


    His deskmate had most likely heard everything he and Tao Lu just spoke of, so Ye Cheng did not have to explain the situation again. Pausing for only a few seconds, that deskmate of his then silently pushed over his book. But Ye Cheng was surprised by the other person''s apparent unwillingness to look at the book together with him. The book was lent to him while his deskmate only looked at the blackboard, as though he had no intention to look down and read from the book again. Anything Ye Cheng thought of, he simply asked directly. "Why won''t you look at the book, huh?"


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    As a person local to the area, Ye Cheng had also surely known of that school, and it was indeed an excellent school. Students from its main affiliated elementary school had an easier time when entering it, and it was one of the key middle-schools in the city.


    "Huh? You don''t have to..." Ye Cheng shook his head. "I can just share with my deskmate, right?"


    Zhou Ni was a woman with a frank and outspoken character. After all, being an introverted woman in the business world would not be good in any respect. So following her marriage to Ye Chenghui, the two quickly discussing the matter of getting Ye Cheng transferred from school, a matter which was to be regarded as her first step into being assimilated in the new family unit. Her way of thinking was quite clear, herself and Ye Cheng were both still young and son they would have a child of their own. Such a thing would be good for Ye Cheng as it would also be good for their family. These goals of Zhou Ni were neither short term nor shallow.


    N/A


    Ye Cheng droned through that lesson no differently as he would if listening to tongues. The task was no easy feat to endure, as only until the bell tolled to announce the end of class was he finally able to relax.


    "Huh? You don''t have to..." Ye Cheng shook his head. "I can just share with my deskmate, right?"


    Ye Cheng''s ears flushed, but he still managed to maintain a straight face as he spoke. "Hi, everyone. My name is Ye Cheng. The Ye, from yezi (leaf), and the Cheng from chenggong (success). I hope we can all be friends in the future."


    There''s no need for me to trouble the person up in front.


    iana: I wanted to translate this after Contract Marriage, but I got this weird head cannon to translate stories using ''[love], [marriage], then [baby carriage]'' so CM and Unmarried Dad felt right to do back to back. But what comes after the [carriage], a childhood romance, of course! Putting everything right back to [love], and bring it full circle or whatever. I''m done with my babbling. This work is from the same author as The Long Road Ahead, btw.


    But just then, the teacher walked in and everyone was asked to look at the a last exercise.


    Before he had turned thirty, Ye Cheng''s father had remarried, and his partner this time around was a young businesswoman who had started her own toy company. Upon her first meeting with Ye Cheng, she had gifted the boy a teddy bear so enormous, he couldn''t manage so much as to wrap his arms around it.


    But after he spoke, Tao Lu''s brows raised strangely. It seemed as if he wanted to say something, but all he did was frown and let it go. "Oh, is that so. Well, if you need anything just ask me, okay?"


    The affiliated school uniform was also tracksuits, but its overall design wasn''t done as haphazardly. Its simple blue and white design made the kids look as though they actually had some spirit.


    The bell announcing the resumption of classes rung, and Tao Lu turned back around. The class was also a Language Arts class, so, naturally shifting to his left, Ye Cheng then asked, "Um... can you share your book with me?"


    "This is our new transfer student, and he will be studying in the same class as you all from now on. So you should all help one another, understood? Come along no, introduce yourself." The last sentence was directed towards Ye Cheng. The home room teacher was now done speaking, so everyone''s attention was now focused on the Ye Cheng.


    His deskmate had most likely heard everything he and Tao Lu just spoke of, so Ye Cheng did not have to explain the situation again. Pausing for only a few seconds, that deskmate of his then silently pushed over his book. But Ye Cheng was surprised by the other person''s apparent unwillingness to look at the book together with him. The book was lent to him while his deskmate only looked at the blackboard, as though he had no intention to look down and read from the book again. Anything Ye Cheng thought of, he simply asked directly. "Why won''t you look at the book, huh?"


    Those curious words of his were no exaggeration, as the ability to have a child attend to that school requires parents who quite capable.


    But just then, the teacher walked in and everyone was asked to look at the a last exercise.


    But all this assertion of his proved was that this man did not understand his son, Ye Cheng, as the one who understood the boy best was his own mother. A woman who always declared, her son was a sensible and intelligent child.


    Ye Cheng hurriedly ran his finger over the page, "Here, here¡ªlook here." After saying this he slid the book a bit more in between them, inching towards the other until they were quite close, close enough for them to clearly make out the fine hairs on his ear. But Ye Cheng paid no mind to any of this, his only worry being the boy beside would be unable to study properly since he had their book.


    Ye Cheng droned through that lesson no differently as he would if listening to tongues. The task was no easy feat to endure, as only until the bell tolled to announce the end of class was he finally able to relax.


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    Maybe it was because his voice was nearly a whisper, or maybe it was because the way he spoke slower than most, because Ye Cheng felt as though his voice sounded like it had been soaked in iced water: frigid and cheerless, yet unusually crisp.


    Ye Cheng hurriedly ran his finger over the page, "Here, here¡ªlook here." After saying this he slid the book a bit more in between them, inching towards the other until they were quite close, close enough for them to clearly make out the fine hairs on his ear. But Ye Cheng paid no mind to any of this, his only worry being the boy beside would be unable to study properly since he had their book.


    N/A


    Noticing the movement from that direction, Miss Sun felt a bit irritated. Why did this child come here? Did he come just to make small talk during class? "Ye Cheng, stand up and answer this question."


    There''s no need for me to trouble the person up in front.


    Hearing his name called suddenly, Ye Cheng jumped in fright. He was only a bit familiar with this language class, so how would he know where the answer in that paragraph was?


    Somewhat frigidly, Ye Cheng rose to his feet with little haste. Biting his lips, he scanned through the book idly. He was so nervous he couldn''t even pick up the book. But out of nowhere, the page of the book turned, and a rather graceful finger pointed towards a paragraph.


    iana: I wanted to translate this after Contract Marriage, but I got this weird head cannon to translate stories using ''[love], [marriage], then [baby carriage]'' so CM and Unmarried Dad felt right to do back to back. But what comes after the [carriage], a childhood romance, of course! Putting everything right back to [love], and bring it full circle or whatever. I''m done with my babbling. This work is from the same author as The Long Road Ahead, btw.


    Done with introducing the new student, Miss Sun began her class. Turning around, she erased Ye Cheng''s name from the board then wrote the subject the day''s class.


    Somewhat frigidly, Ye Cheng rose to his feet with little haste. Biting his lips, he scanned through the book idly. He was so nervous he couldn''t even pick up the book. But out of nowhere, the page of the book turned, and a rather graceful finger pointed towards a paragraph.


    Done with introducing the new student, Miss Sun began her class. Turning around, she erased Ye Cheng''s name from the board then wrote the subject the day''s class.


    Ye Cheng droned through that lesson no differently as he would if listening to tongues. The task was no easy feat to endure, as only until the bell tolled to announce the end of class was he finally able to relax.


    Somewhat frigidly, Ye Cheng rose to his feet with little haste. Biting his lips, he scanned through the book idly. He was so nervous he couldn''t even pick up the book. But out of nowhere, the page of the book turned, and a rather graceful finger pointed towards a paragraph.


    Ye Cheng reacted very quickly, immediately picking up the book and smoothly read out the contents of the paragraph, before casting a pair of wide blinking eyes towards Miss Sun. Miss Sun frowned, but said nothing else about it. "Alright. Please return to your seat."


    Before he had turned thirty, Ye Cheng''s father had remarried, and his partner this time around was a young businesswoman who had started her own toy company. Upon her first meeting with Ye Cheng, she had gifted the boy a teddy bear so enormous, he couldn''t manage so much as to wrap his arms around it.


    Those curious words of his were no exaggeration, as the ability to have a child attend to that school requires parents who quite capable.


    Ye Cheng reacted very quickly, immediately picking up the book and smoothly read out the contents of the paragraph, before casting a pair of wide blinking eyes towards Miss Sun. Miss Sun frowned, but said nothing else about it. "Alright. Please return to your seat."


    Breathing out a long sigh, Ye Cheng then turned to his deskmate with a grin, the little dimple on the left side of his face giving his smiling face a hint of mischief.


    But just then, the teacher walked in and everyone was asked to look at the a last exercise.


    With quickness, he obediently made his way over to the seat the teacher had pointed to, his Micky Mouse book-bag on his back. Then he tried as best he could to pull out his pencil case case and books while making as little noise as possible. He had received his course schedule earlier, and the first class he had that day was Language Arts. During the entire process, his new deskmate never turned to face at him once. It was only when Ye Cheng turned to him to give a friendly hello, did he finally turned slightly in Ye Cheng''s direction, whispering a hello to him in return.


    But just then, the teacher walked in and everyone was asked to look at the a last exercise.


    Ye Cheng hurriedly ran his finger over the page, "Here, here¡ªlook here." After saying this he slid the book a bit more in between them, inching towards the other until they were quite close, close enough for them to clearly make out the fine hairs on his ear. But Ye Cheng paid no mind to any of this, his only worry being the boy beside would be unable to study properly since he had their book.


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    Ye Cheng then mouthed a thank you to the other boy, he was ignored by the other, but cared little about that. After class was done, Ye Cheng blabbered away at his deskmate. "How did you know where the answer was? Did you study ahead? No wonder you gave me your book and never looked at it. At first, I thought you were just embarrassed about sharing your book with me. But what''s there to be embarrassed about, we''re all boys here. So um... did you just study ahead for that class or have you done it for the other classes too? I can''t believe there really are people who do that nowadays. I just thought it was just something teachers said to trick me. Right, Tao Lu?"


    Noticing the movement from that direction, Miss Sun felt a bit irritated. Why did this child come here? Did he come just to make small talk during class? "Ye Cheng, stand up and answer this question."


    There''s no need for me to trouble the person up in front.


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    Ye Cheng turned to the front, but Tao Lu never looked back. Ye Cheng was shocked by this for a bit, but then figured the other boy must''ve been busy taking notes or something and had no time to turn back just to talk with him, thus never taking the matter to heart.


    For the eleven year old boy, his reaction towards his family again becoming one of three people was nothing especially big¡ªat least, not as big as his father, Ye Chenghui, had expected. Apart from his son not calling his new wife mother at the time, an act which as completely natural, he had thought the boy would at the very least cry a little, maybe also scream a bit, too.


    But after he spoke, Tao Lu''s brows raised strangely. It seemed as if he wanted to say something, but all he did was frown and let it go. "Oh, is that so. Well, if you need anything just ask me, okay?"


    Before he had turned thirty, Ye Cheng''s father had remarried, and his partner this time around was a young businesswoman who had started her own toy company. Upon her first meeting with Ye Cheng, she had gifted the boy a teddy bear so enormous, he couldn''t manage so much as to wrap his arms around it.


    As a result, he focused the entirety of his attention on his deskmate. Naturally, he believed having a friendship between was important, but being friends with a deskmate was even more so. After being suddenly thrust into this new environment, and having to say goodbye to all the teachers he knew and all the classmates he was close with, saying Ye Cheng wasn''t the least bit upset about it would be a lie. However, Ye Cheng had taken after his mother, his character was one quite cheerful and lively. So as long as he was willing, there would never be any awkward silences, This skill of his made him able to always quickly make friends out of strangers.


    Glancing at him, his deskmate then took his own black rollerball pen and neatly wrote three characters below Ye Cheng''s, stroke by stroke. They were both still young, so the characters he write couldn''t be said to have any sort of style, but his penmanship was incredibly neat.


    Done with introducing the new student, Miss Sun began her class. Turning around, she erased Ye Cheng''s name from the board then wrote the subject the day''s class.


    Ye Cheng reacted very quickly, immediately picking up the book and smoothly read out the contents of the paragraph, before casting a pair of wide blinking eyes towards Miss Sun. Miss Sun frowned, but said nothing else about it. "Alright. Please return to your seat."


    But from what Ye Cheng has seen, his deskmate was a person of few words. While he chatter on for long stretches of time, the boy beside him would only utter an ''Mn'' in return. In addition, his expression was also rather cold.


    The blame for this could only be laid on Ye Cheng and his parents, who should''ve made sure beforehand whether the books used by affiliate primary schools were the same as those stipulated for use in compulsory education courses. The contents in the other textbook was far more expansive than those commonly used, and the difficulty was also more advanced.


    Ye Cheng then mouthed a thank you to the other boy, he was ignored by the other, but cared little about that. After class was done, Ye Cheng blabbered away at his deskmate. "How did you know where the answer was? Did you study ahead? No wonder you gave me your book and never looked at it. At first, I thought you were just embarrassed about sharing your book with me. But what''s there to be embarrassed about, we''re all boys here. So um... did you just study ahead for that class or have you done it for the other classes too? I can''t believe there really are people who do that nowadays. I just thought it was just something teachers said to trick me. Right, Tao Lu?"


    Ye Cheng soon began chatting with that boy named Tao Lu in a friendly manner. even managing to ask about the matter regarding the textbooks at some point.


    It made Ye Cheng feel slightly depressed. Did he not like me? In my old school, I had a lot of friends, you know!


    It made Ye Cheng feel slightly depressed. Did he not like me? In my old school, I had a lot of friends, you know!


    "Oh, by the way, I still don''t know your name. My name is Ye Cheng." Although it wasn''t long since he had introduced himself, Ye Cheng took a notebook and very very carefully wrote the two characters of his name. "It''s a nice name, right?"


    Ye Cheng turned to the front, but Tao Lu never looked back. Ye Cheng was shocked by this for a bit, but then figured the other boy must''ve been busy taking notes or something and had no time to turn back just to talk with him, thus never taking the matter to heart.


    But all this assertion of his proved was that this man did not understand his son, Ye Cheng, as the one who understood the boy best was his own mother. A woman who always declared, her son was a sensible and intelligent child.


    N/A


    Glancing at him, his deskmate then took his own black rollerball pen and neatly wrote three characters below Ye Cheng''s, stroke by stroke. They were both still young, so the characters he write couldn''t be said to have any sort of style, but his penmanship was incredibly neat.


    ''Gu Shao-fan.''


    ''Gu Shao-fan.''


    With quickness, he obediently made his way over to the seat the teacher had pointed to, his Micky Mouse book-bag on his back. Then he tried as best he could to pull out his pencil case case and books while making as little noise as possible. He had received his course schedule earlier, and the first class he had that day was Language Arts. During the entire process, his new deskmate never turned to face at him once. It was only when Ye Cheng turned to him to give a friendly hello, did he finally turned slightly in Ye Cheng''s direction, whispering a hello to him in return.


    "I''ll be getting mine next semester. The teacher said it''ll be coming with the next batch. Do you guys have to buy a new uniform every semester?"


    "My name is Gu Shaofan."


    Maybe it was because his voice was nearly a whisper, or maybe it was because the way he spoke slower than most, because Ye Cheng felt as though his voice sounded like it had been soaked in iced water: frigid and cheerless, yet unusually crisp.


    Breathing out a long sigh, Ye Cheng then turned to his deskmate with a grin, the little dimple on the left side of his face giving his smiling face a hint of mischief.


    The next class was also Language Arts, and it wasn''t just this language class, Ye Cheng had none of the books for any of the other classes. When Tao Lu saw Ye Cheng''s book wasn''t the right one, he enthusiastically expressed his intention to lend Ye Cheng his while he, himself, would just share with his deskmate.


    Those curious words of his were no exaggeration, as the ability to have a child attend to that school requires parents who quite capable.


    Maybe it was because his voice was nearly a whisper, or maybe it was because the way he spoke slower than most, because Ye Cheng felt as though his voice sounded like it had been soaked in iced water: frigid and cheerless, yet unusually crisp.


    "Oh, by the way, I still don''t know your name. My name is Ye Cheng." Although it wasn''t long since he had introduced himself, Ye Cheng took a notebook and very very carefully wrote the two characters of his name. "It''s a nice name, right?"


    "My name is Gu Shaofan."


    "Yeah. My uniform from last semester can''t fit me any more." The boy let out two giggles. "My mom said I''m growing too fast, and clothes are expensive."


    But just then, the teacher walked in and everyone was asked to look at the a last exercise.


    Ye Cheng soon began chatting with that boy named Tao Lu in a friendly manner. even managing to ask about the matter regarding the textbooks at some point.


    Ye Cheng looked at the subject and was left confused. Why was it not the same as the one in my textbook? It clearly stated Lesson Eighteen there too. He stole a glance at the textbook belonging to his deskmate, noticing the book book the other boy had was different from his own.


    For the eleven year old boy, his reaction towards his family again becoming one of three people was nothing especially big¡ªat least, not as big as his father, Ye Chenghui, had expected. Apart from his son not calling his new wife mother at the time, an act which as completely natural, he had thought the boy would at the very least cry a little, maybe also scream a bit, too.

 CH 2

    The fourth period soon arrived and the next class scheduled was Physical Education. Everyone else had long put away their things and slowly made their way to the playground. But Ye Cheng noticed Gu Shaofan was putting away his things in a manner that was neither slow, nor in a rush, and naturally urged the other, "Come on, let''s go."


    When Ye Cheng and company arrived, there was already a lot of people waiting at the entrance of the gymnasium. Ye Cheng''s eyes were sharp, so upon first glance, he had spotted the not short at all Tao Lu standing at the outermost side of the last row. At the same time, Tao Lu also saw Ye Cheng, but he looked hesitant to wave the other boy over.


    The fourth period soon arrived and the next class scheduled was Physical Education. Everyone else had long put away their things and slowly made their way to the playground. But Ye Cheng noticed Gu Shaofan was putting away his things in a manner that was neither slow, nor in a rush, and naturally urged the other, "Come on, let''s go."


    This act of his made Ye Cheng suddenly feel embarrassed, so after scratching his chin, he walked right over to take the ball from Gu Shaofan''s hands, then walked right back to his original place. "I''ll pass it." Ye Cheng then thought back to the main points of the movement given by the teacher, and felt himself a bit nervous for some reason.


    Gu Shaofan grunted a yes in return, then, in rare moment, opened his mouth to explain, "In the gym."


    "How is that freezing out?" Tao Lu looked at Ye Cheng contemptuously. "Gangsters are bad guys, aren''t they?"


    This resulted in Gu Shaofan looking at Ye Cheng, his expression clearly a bit confused.


    Gu Shaofan nodded, but Ye Cheng was standing a little too far, and had not used enough strength. So when the ball was tossed it went straight for Gu Shaofan''s crotch, and when he bent in an attempt to catch it, he missed, allowing the ball to bounce merrily as it went to the place behind them.


    "The next class is PE, right?" Ye Cheng also scrunched his face up in confusion, thinking he should''ve remembered the timetable correctly, and there were students leaving the classroom.


    He lifted the ball so all the students could see his hands more clearly, then returned to ball to it''s original position over his chest. "When you pass the ball, take a step forward, rotate your fingers downwards a bit and push upwards, then as you throw, release your fingers as you push up and out."


    In response to him, Ye Cheng frowned, but Tao Lu didn''t pay attention to the look on his face to bounce the ball a couple times before saying, "Spread out and we''ll get started."


    The only thing Ye Cheng could feel in his chest was pain. That pass was strong, so strong, he couldn''t catch the ball with just his hands so he had to hug the ball to his chest. Ye Cheng smiled with a grimace, the little dimple on the left side of his cheek twitching. "Are you trying to pass the ball to me, or are you trying to use it to crush me?"


    Looking at the watch on his wrist, Ye Cheng saw that there was only two minutes left before the next class began, and so he couldn''t help but urge Gu Shaofan once more, "We gotta go! The class is starting!"


    This is so heartbreaking! Ye Cheng''s worst fear was that no one would talk to him.


    The place where Gu Shaofan was standing was not far away, and Ye Cheng doing some warm up stretches with such big movements was enough to give the other boy no choice but to pay attention to him. Seeing Gu Shaofan looking his way, Ye Cheng spread his feet apart slightly and readied himself to catch the ball. "Throw it here."


    After having everyone run a couple laps around the gym to warm up, the PE teacher then chose Tao Lu to come over so he could demonstrate a pass.


    Deskmate


    "Then this is over."


    This time, Gu Shaofan stood up and walked to the door of the class, and behind him, Ye Cheng again began blabbering away. "Is the PE class going to be on the sports grounds next to greenway? Just as I thought, this school''s playing field and stuff are way, way, better than the ones at my old school. There''s a standard eight hundred metre track and the greens at the centre, from what I could see, looks like it''s probably real grass! It is real grass, right?"


    But this feeling was not the same for Gu Shaofan, he was not someone fond of playing around with others. But Ye Cheng could no longer stand the sight of it. In his imagination he saw Gu Shao''s mind being currently filled with gloom and loneliness! He even imagined a voice over playing as he looked as Gu Shaofan saying: This lonely boy, blah blah blah, something, something...


    Gu Shaofan grunted a yes in return, then, in rare moment, opened his mouth to explain, "In the gym."


    Gu Shaofan nodded, but Ye Cheng was standing a little too far, and had not used enough strength. So when the ball was tossed it went straight for Gu Shaofan''s crotch, and when he bent in an attempt to catch it, he missed, allowing the ball to bounce merrily as it went to the place behind them.


    "How is that freezing out?" Tao Lu looked at Ye Cheng contemptuously. "Gangsters are bad guys, aren''t they?"


    It was obviously only nothing but speculation, but in the young mind of a primary school-aged child, such rumours were enough of a reason for them to avoid to avoid another child. The way children thought was always direct, after all, and only capable of using the logic of simple substitution. So if the influence of adults is added to this, a situation like the one present is not at all impossible.


    That sentence of his had no lead out or out but Ye Cheng was still able to immediately understand it. Sucking his teeth for a good while, Ye Cheng then said in awe, "Geez, no wonder my dad wanted to squeeze me into this place. It even has a gymnasium! What kind of five-star treatment is this?!"


    "Hey, you can just come practise with us, alright?" Tao Lu then lifted his chin to pint as he spoke. "I''ll pass the ball to Liu Qin, he''ll pass it to you, and you''ll pass it back to me, OK?"


    As a result, with his heart overflowing with a river of sympathy, Ye Cheng declared, "You know what, forget it! You two can team up on your own, so I''m going to join Gu Shaofan."


    Tao Lu shook his head. "Not that I''ve heard."


    Just as he was standing there in hesitation, Ye Cheng was grabbed by Tao Lu and pulled into his spot of the line before the other boy began scolding. "Why would you team up with him?!"


    Ye Cheng didn''t spread out, his gaze instead focused on the person standing somewhat apart from the other groups in the distance, GU Shaofan. In that boy''s hand was a basketball, and there was obviously no one who wanted to team up with him. He stood there alone, his head pointed downwards, staring at the ball in his hands, only bouncing it a couple times every now and again. He was no more than a few metres away from the other group of kids, but to Ye Cheng, such a distance seemed incredibly far away, and even more so, it seemed lonely.


    In an instant, a mocking smirk spread on Ye Cheng''s face as he stared at Tao Lu and replied, "Oh, I get it. You''ve been watching too much Young and Dangerous, haven''t you?"


    The gymnasium was on the opposite side of the sports grounds, through the greenway. The reason the class was not held on the sports ground was because the students of the Fifth Year Class C have recently been scheduled to play basketball.


    Gu Shaofan grunted a yes in return, then, in rare moment, opened his mouth to explain, "In the gym."


    Just as he was standing there in hesitation, Ye Cheng was grabbed by Tao Lu and pulled into his spot of the line before the other boy began scolding. "Why would you team up with him?!"


    It was called basketball, but it was just lectures about dribbling. Dribbling while running and three-step layups were considered very high level skills. As after all, no one was expecting to train a bunch of kids green behind the ears lke elite athletes.


    This is so heartbreaking! Ye Cheng''s worst fear was that no one would talk to him.


    Oh my god, how impressive.


    Tao Lu''s face twisted into an expression that seemed to ask "are you insane," and Liu in said nothing. After walking away, Ye Cheng looked back to Tao Lu and gave his thanks. In any case, Tao Lu was a nice guy.


    In an instant, a mocking smirk spread on Ye Cheng''s face as he stared at Tao Lu and replied, "Oh, I get it. You''ve been watching too much Young and Dangerous, haven''t you?"


    It was obviously only nothing but speculation, but in the young mind of a primary school-aged child, such rumours were enough of a reason for them to avoid to avoid another child. The way children thought was always direct, after all, and only capable of using the logic of simple substitution. So if the influence of adults is added to this, a situation like the one present is not at all impossible.


    When Ye Cheng and company arrived, there was already a lot of people waiting at the entrance of the gymnasium. Ye Cheng''s eyes were sharp, so upon first glance, he had spotted the not short at all Tao Lu standing at the outermost side of the last row. At the same time, Tao Lu also saw Ye Cheng, but he looked hesitant to wave the other boy over.


    This time, Gu Shaofan stood up and walked to the door of the class, and behind him, Ye Cheng again began blabbering away. "Is the PE class going to be on the sports grounds next to greenway? Just as I thought, this school''s playing field and stuff are way, way, better than the ones at my old school. There''s a standard eight hundred metre track and the greens at the centre, from what I could see, looks like it''s probably real grass! It is real grass, right?"


    This act of his made Ye Cheng suddenly feel embarrassed, so after scratching his chin, he walked right over to take the ball from Gu Shaofan''s hands, then walked right back to his original place. "I''ll pass it." Ye Cheng then thought back to the main points of the movement given by the teacher, and felt himself a bit nervous for some reason.


    After having everyone run a couple laps around the gym to warm up, the PE teacher then chose Tao Lu to come over so he could demonstrate a pass.


    "Let''s go stand over there." Ye Cheng said this to Gu Shaofan, but the other boy paid him no mind and made his way to the directly to the tail end of the group with an expressionless face where he stuck out on his his own.


    After having everyone run a couple laps around the gym to warm up, the PE teacher then chose Tao Lu to come over so he could demonstrate a pass.


    ...why does he resemble a dog so much right now?


    The only thing Ye Cheng could feel in his chest was pain. That pass was strong, so strong, he couldn''t catch the ball with just his hands so he had to hug the ball to his chest. Ye Cheng smiled with a grimace, the little dimple on the left side of his cheek twitching. "Are you trying to pass the ball to me, or are you trying to use it to crush me?"


    Hearing this, Ye Cheng unexpectedly flashed a grin. It was exactly as he had thought, Gu Shaofan wasn''t hard to get along with. So as classmates and friends, there was potential for them to have a great relationship.


    "Has he ever tried to blackmail anyone?"


    "Are you okay?" This was also the first time he heard Gu Shaofan speak in such a voice. The comparison this one had to that was a far apart as night and day, even the sense of desolation within it felt a bit more weighted. "I''m sorry."


    It''s easy to follow the crowd and believe the rumours, but doing the opposite does require a lot of courage.


    Gu Shaofan nodded, but Ye Cheng was standing a little too far, and had not used enough strength. So when the ball was tossed it went straight for Gu Shaofan''s crotch, and when he bent in an attempt to catch it, he missed, allowing the ball to bounce merrily as it went to the place behind them.


    Just as he was standing there in hesitation, Ye Cheng was grabbed by Tao Lu and pulled into his spot of the line before the other boy began scolding. "Why would you team up with him?!"


    In the gymnasium, the continuous sound of thudding balls could be heard. Gu Shaofan and Ye Cheng both practised quite seriously, the ball flying between them.


    But Tao Lu only clicked his tongue in response before continuing, "You don''t believe me, but I''m pretty sure the entire school knows about it. I''m telling you, you will never, ever, see his dad come pick him up. It''s always some ''underling'' dude wearing shades and a western-styled suit. You''re new here, so do you understand now? You seriously got dealt a bad hand, you know? Like, how can you end up sitting next to him of all things?" After saying this, Tao Lu hugged himself and shivered. "Just sitting in front of him alone makes my heart tremble. You poor guy."


    Ye Cheng then pondered for a bit before asking, "Has Gu Shaofan ever hit anyone?"


    "Hey, didn''t I tell you? Gangsters are really, really scary. My mom and dad both warned me about them."


    In an instant, a mocking smirk spread on Ye Cheng''s face as he stared at Tao Lu and replied, "Oh, I get it. You''ve been watching too much Young and Dangerous, haven''t you?"


    "Huh?" Ye Cheng was confused. What are you talking about? ''Him'' who? And what''s wrong with teaming up?


    Deskmate


    "Then this is over."


    It was as though a message was being carried from one to the other, as that ball made its journey to and fro without end.


    It''s easy to follow the crowd and believe the rumours, but doing the opposite does require a lot of courage.


    Tao Lu scrunched up his lips and pointed. From the the angle where they stood, only the top of Gu Shaofan''s was visible, and it wasn''t very clear either, but it was still enough for Ye Cheng to understand who Tao Lu was referring to. "Gu Shaofan! That guy''s family are gangsters! So if you get close to him there might come a day where he''ll sell you! Freaking gangsters! Killers!"


    So at the very least, Ye Cheng knew not to readily believe the false rumours circulating that harmed someone.


    "The next class is PE, right?" Ye Cheng also scrunched his face up in confusion, thinking he should''ve remembered the timetable correctly, and there were students leaving the classroom.


    "Are you okay?" This was also the first time he heard Gu Shaofan speak in such a voice. The comparison this one had to that was a far apart as night and day, even the sense of desolation within it felt a bit more weighted. "I''m sorry."


    In an instant, a mocking smirk spread on Ye Cheng''s face as he stared at Tao Lu and replied, "Oh, I get it. You''ve been watching too much Young and Dangerous[1], haven''t you?"


    Just as he was standing there in hesitation, Ye Cheng was grabbed by Tao Lu and pulled into his spot of the line before the other boy began scolding. "Why would you team up with him?!"


    He had only said that sentence ns a joke, so he never expected Gu Shaofan to stride over with his lips pursed, and his little kid forehead creased into prominent folds. At such a sight, Ye Cheng blinked his eyes, finding such a scene quite amusing.


    "Has he ever tried to blackmail anyone?"


    But Tao Lu only clicked his tongue in response before continuing, "You don''t believe me, but I''m pretty sure the entire school knows about it. I''m telling you, you will never, ever, see his dad come pick him up. It''s always some ''underling'' dude wearing shades and a western-styled suit. You''re new here, so do you understand now? You seriously got dealt a bad hand, you know? Like, how can you end up sitting next to him of all things?" After saying this, Tao Lu hugged himself and shivered. "Just sitting in front of him alone makes my heart tremble. You poor guy."


    The gymnasium was on the opposite side of the sports grounds, through the greenway. The reason the class was not held on the sports ground was because the students of the Fifth Year Class C have recently been scheduled to play basketball.


    With a sympathetic look, Ye Cheng replied simply, "Wasn''t there only one free seat in the entire class?" But after he did, he had a sudden realisation. "Did you guys freeze him out?"


    Tao Lu said ''OK'' so many times, it would make a person believe he was speaking English.


    If a friendly kid like Tao Lu has such an averse attitude towards Gu Shaofan, then the others'' attitude must be considerable worse.


    "Huh?" Ye Cheng was confused. What are you talking about? ''Him'' who? And what''s wrong with teaming up?


    But this feeling was not the same for Gu Shaofan, he was not someone fond of playing around with others. But Ye Cheng could no longer stand the sight of it. In his imagination he saw Gu Shao''s mind being currently filled with gloom and loneliness! He even imagined a voice over playing as he looked as Gu Shaofan saying: This lonely boy, blah blah blah, something, something...


    "How is that freezing out?" Tao Lu looked at Ye Cheng contemptuously. "Gangsters are bad guys, aren''t they?"


    "How is that freezing out?" Tao Lu looked at Ye Cheng contemptuously. "Gangsters are bad guys, aren''t they?"


    "Has he ever tried to blackmail anyone?"


    Gu Shaofan did not move, however, his expression still unchanged, except for his brows revealing a faint wrinkle. It was not that he was unhappy at being disturbed, but more of him honestly having no idea what was currently happening.


    "Anybody found yapping away from now on will give me ten laps around the sports ground!" The loud bellow of the Physical Education teacher shocked the entire crowd into fright. So after this, both Ye Cheng and Tao Lu heroically sealed their lips.


    In this aspect, it must be said that Ye Cheng was thought quite well by his parents. Most notably, Ye Cheng''s mother, who despite not having read a large number of books, had her own special understanding of life. She was intelligent and down to earth, clever and knew how to enjoy life. Despite her only having nine years with her son, the greater part of Ye Cheng''s character was influenced by her the most.


    It was called basketball, but it was just lectures about dribbling. Dribbling while running and three-step layups were considered very high level skills. As after all, no one was expecting to train a bunch of kids green behind the ears lke elite athletes.


    Ye Cheng then pondered for a bit before asking, "Has Gu Shaofan ever hit anyone?"


    N/A


    The only thing Ye Cheng could feel in his chest was pain. That pass was strong, so strong, he couldn''t catch the ball with just his hands so he had to hug the ball to his chest. Ye Cheng smiled with a grimace, the little dimple on the left side of his cheek twitching. "Are you trying to pass the ball to me, or are you trying to use it to crush me?"


    The left hanging Ye Cheng scratched his nose and thought to himself how strange that guy''s character seemed to be. If he was hard to get close to, then why would lend me his his book without any complaints? And on top of that, why would he have helped me? But if he was easy to get close to, then why does he seem so passive?


    The gymnasium was on the opposite side of the sports grounds, through the greenway. The reason the class was not held on the sports ground was because the students of the Fifth Year Class C have recently been scheduled to play basketball.


    "Um... I don''t think so?"


    This act of his made Ye Cheng suddenly feel embarrassed, so after scratching his chin, he walked right over to take the ball from Gu Shaofan''s hands, then walked right back to his original place. "I''ll pass it." Ye Cheng then thought back to the main points of the movement given by the teacher, and felt himself a bit nervous for some reason.


    It was as though a message was being carried from one to the other, as that ball made its journey to and fro without end.


    In this aspect, it must be said that Ye Cheng was thought quite well by his parents. Most notably, Ye Cheng''s mother, who despite not having read a large number of books, had her own special understanding of life. She was intelligent and down to earth, clever and knew how to enjoy life. Despite her only having nine years with her son, the greater part of Ye Cheng''s character was influenced by her the most.


    "Has he ever tried to blackmail anyone?"


    Tao Lu shook his head. "Not that I''ve heard."


    He glanced at Gu Shaofan again, unable to help the feeling the other boy''s mind had wandered off a bit. "I''m seriously going to pass it, okay?"


    ...why does he resemble a dog so much right now?


    Tao Lu shook his head. "Not that I''ve heard."


    This act of his made Ye Cheng suddenly feel embarrassed, so after scratching his chin, he walked right over to take the ball from Gu Shaofan''s hands, then walked right back to his original place. "I''ll pass it." Ye Cheng then thought back to the main points of the movement given by the teacher, and felt himself a bit nervous for some reason.


    "Hey, didn''t I tell you? Gangsters are really, really scary. My mom and dad both warned me about them."


    "Then this is over."


    "Anybody found yapping away from now on will give me ten laps around the sports ground!" The loud bellow of the Physical Education teacher shocked the entire crowd into fright. So after this, both Ye Cheng and Tao Lu heroically sealed their lips.


    He lifted the ball so all the students could see his hands more clearly, then returned to ball to it''s original position over his chest. "When you pass the ball, take a step forward, rotate your fingers downwards a bit and push upwards, then as you throw, release your fingers as you push up and out."


    Tao Lu scrunched up his lips and pointed. From the the angle where they stood, only the top of Gu Shaofan''s was visible, and it wasn''t very clear either, but it was still enough for Ye Cheng to understand who Tao Lu was referring to. "Gu Shaofan! That guy''s family are gangsters! So if you get close to him there might come a day where he''ll sell you! Freaking gangsters! Killers!"


    The fourth period soon arrived and the next class scheduled was Physical Education. Everyone else had long put away their things and slowly made their way to the playground. But Ye Cheng noticed Gu Shaofan was putting away his things in a manner that was neither slow, nor in a rush, and naturally urged the other, "Come on, let''s go."


    This resulted in Gu Shaofan looking at Ye Cheng, his expression clearly a bit confused.


    The left hanging Ye Cheng scratched his nose and thought to himself how strange that guy''s character seemed to be. If he was hard to get close to, then why would lend me his his book without any complaints? And on top of that, why would he have helped me? But if he was easy to get close to, then why does he seem so passive?


    After having everyone run a couple laps around the gym to warm up, the PE teacher then chose Tao Lu to come over so he could demonstrate a pass.


    "The next class is PE, right?" Ye Cheng also scrunched his face up in confusion, thinking he should''ve remembered the timetable correctly, and there were students leaving the classroom.


    "In basketball, there are two commonly used types of passes. This one is called the chest pass." The teacher then held the ball with both hands to his chest, explaining the pass as he moved. "Stand with both your feet apart, lift your heads up, and spread all your fingers on the ball."


    It''s easy to follow the crowd and believe the rumours, but doing the opposite does require a lot of courage.


    "Then this is over."


    "Good." The PE teacher clapped, making everyone turn their attention back on him. "Now go find a partner to practice with, and if anyone has a part they didn''t understand, just come ask me."


    He lifted the ball so all the students could see his hands more clearly, then returned to ball to it''s original position over his chest. "When you pass the ball, take a step forward, rotate your fingers downwards a bit and push upwards, then as you throw, release your fingers as you push up and out."


    Thinking of this made embarrassed for so long, Gu Shaofan had already come back and stood facing him. Ye Cheng trained all his focus on the ball this time around, and Gu Shaofan''s movements was almost the same as the teachers. The ball was flew beautifully with an almost perfect curve and went straight for Ye Cheng''s chest.


    Thinking of this made embarrassed for so long, Gu Shaofan had already come back and stood facing him. Ye Cheng trained all his focus on the ball this time around, and Gu Shaofan''s movements was almost the same as the teachers. The ball was flew beautifully with an almost perfect curve and went straight for Ye Cheng''s chest.


    Sending a wink over to Tao Lu, he indicated he was about to pass the ball. "The receiver should also hold themselves in this position." As his voice fell, the ball was thrown towards Tao Lu with a force in the blink of an eye before landing firmly in Tao Lu''s waiting hands.


    Looking at the watch on his wrist, Ye Cheng saw that there was only two minutes left before the next class began, and so he couldn''t help but urge Gu Shaofan once more, "We gotta go! The class is starting!"


    "Huh?" Ye Cheng was confused. What are you talking about? ''Him'' who? And what''s wrong with teaming up?


    The only thing Ye Cheng could feel in his chest was pain. That pass was strong, so strong, he couldn''t catch the ball with just his hands so he had to hug the ball to his chest. Ye Cheng smiled with a grimace, the little dimple on the left side of his cheek twitching. "Are you trying to pass the ball to me, or are you trying to use it to crush me?"


    The only thing Ye Cheng could feel in his chest was pain. That pass was strong, so strong, he couldn''t catch the ball with just his hands so he had to hug the ball to his chest. Ye Cheng smiled with a grimace, the little dimple on the left side of his cheek twitching. "Are you trying to pass the ball to me, or are you trying to use it to crush me?"


    "Good." The PE teacher clapped, making everyone turn their attention back on him. "Now go find a partner to practice with, and if anyone has a part they didn''t understand, just come ask me."


    "In basketball, there are two commonly used types of passes. This one is called the chest pass." The teacher then held the ball with both hands to his chest, explaining the pass as he moved. "Stand with both your feet apart, lift your heads up, and spread all your fingers on the ball."


    Tao Lu said ''OK'' so many times, it would make a person believe he was speaking English.


    It''s easy to follow the crowd and believe the rumours, but doing the opposite does require a lot of courage.


    Just as he was standing there in hesitation, Ye Cheng was grabbed by Tao Lu and pulled into his spot of the line before the other boy began scolding. "Why would you team up with him?!"


    Tao Lu scrunched up his lips and pointed. From the the angle where they stood, only the top of Gu Shaofan''s was visible, and it wasn''t very clear either, but it was still enough for Ye Cheng to understand who Tao Lu was referring to. "Gu Shaofan! That guy''s family are gangsters! So if you get close to him there might come a day where he''ll sell you! Freaking gangsters! Killers!"


    At the teacher''s words, the students began moving about. Some went to go get a basketball from the basket, while others waited for someone to come team up with them. Most of the children found their friends, having a tacit understanding between one another. Then after a short while passed, pair after par had begin practising. Ye Cheng was about to walk over to Gu Shaofan, but Tao Lu pulled him back quietly.


    The fourth period soon arrived and the next class scheduled was Physical Education. Everyone else had long put away their things and slowly made their way to the playground. But Ye Cheng noticed Gu Shaofan was putting away his things in a manner that was neither slow, nor in a rush, and naturally urged the other, "Come on, let''s go."


    "Then this is over."


    Ye Cheng then pondered for a bit before asking, "Has Gu Shaofan ever hit anyone?"


    Just as he was standing there in hesitation, Ye Cheng was grabbed by Tao Lu and pulled into his spot of the line before the other boy began scolding. "Why would you team up with him?!"


    "Hey, you can just come practise with us, alright?" Tao Lu then lifted his chin to pint as he spoke. "I''ll pass the ball to Liu Qin, he''ll pass it to you, and you''ll pass it back to me, OK?"


    Sending a wink over to Tao Lu, he indicated he was about to pass the ball. "The receiver should also hold themselves in this position." As his voice fell, the ball was thrown towards Tao Lu with a force in the blink of an eye before landing firmly in Tao Lu''s waiting hands.


    Tao Lu said ''OK'' so many times, it would make a person believe he was speaking English.


    Ye Cheng then pondered for a bit before asking, "Has Gu Shaofan ever hit anyone?"


    Gu Shaofan nodded, but Ye Cheng was standing a little too far, and had not used enough strength. So when the ball was tossed it went straight for Gu Shaofan''s crotch, and when he bent in an attempt to catch it, he missed, allowing the ball to bounce merrily as it went to the place behind them.


    "In basketball, there are two commonly used types of passes. This one is called the chest pass." The teacher then held the ball with both hands to his chest, explaining the pass as he moved. "Stand with both your feet apart, lift your heads up, and spread all your fingers on the ball."


    Looking at the watch on his wrist, Ye Cheng saw that there was only two minutes left before the next class began, and so he couldn''t help but urge Gu Shaofan once more, "We gotta go! The class is starting!"


    In response to him, Ye Cheng frowned, but Tao Lu didn''t pay attention to the look on his face to bounce the ball a couple times before saying, "Spread out and we''ll get started."


    The only thing Ye Cheng could feel in his chest was pain. That pass was strong, so strong, he couldn''t catch the ball with just his hands so he had to hug the ball to his chest. Ye Cheng smiled with a grimace, the little dimple on the left side of his cheek twitching. "Are you trying to pass the ball to me, or are you trying to use it to crush me?"


    Tao Lu scrunched up his lips and pointed. From the the angle where they stood, only the top of Gu Shaofan''s was visible, and it wasn''t very clear either, but it was still enough for Ye Cheng to understand who Tao Lu was referring to. "Gu Shaofan! That guy''s family are gangsters! So if you get close to him there might come a day where he''ll sell you! Freaking gangsters! Killers!"


    Tao Lu shook his head. "Not that I''ve heard."


    With a sympathetic look, Ye Cheng replied simply, "Wasn''t there only one free seat in the entire class?" But after he did, he had a sudden realisation. "Did you guys freeze him out?"


    Ye Cheng didn''t spread out, his gaze instead focused on the person standing somewhat apart from the other groups in the distance, GU Shaofan. In that boy''s hand was a basketball, and there was obviously no one who wanted to team up with him. He stood there alone, his head pointed downwards, staring at the ball in his hands, only bouncing it a couple times every now and again. He was no more than a few metres away from the other group of kids, but to Ye Cheng, such a distance seemed incredibly far away, and even more so, it seemed lonely.


    As a result, with his heart overflowing with a river of sympathy, Ye Cheng declared, "You know what, forget it! You two can team up on your own, so I''m going to join Gu Shaofan."


    Hearing this, Ye Cheng unexpectedly flashed a grin. It was exactly as he had thought, Gu Shaofan wasn''t hard to get along with. So as classmates and friends, there was potential for them to have a great relationship.


    So at the very least, Ye Cheng knew not to readily believe the false rumours circulating that harmed someone.


    It was called basketball, but it was just lectures about dribbling. Dribbling while running and three-step layups were considered very high level skills. As after all, no one was expecting to train a bunch of kids green behind the ears lke elite athletes.


    But this feeling was not the same for Gu Shaofan, he was not someone fond of playing around with others. But Ye Cheng could no longer stand the sight of it. In his imagination he saw Gu Shao''s mind being currently filled with gloom and loneliness! He even imagined a voice over playing as he looked as Gu Shaofan saying: This lonely boy, blah blah blah, something, something...


    The left hanging Ye Cheng scratched his nose and thought to himself how strange that guy''s character seemed to be. If he was hard to get close to, then why would lend me his his book without any complaints? And on top of that, why would he have helped me? But if he was easy to get close to, then why does he seem so passive?


    Tao Lu shook his head. "Not that I''ve heard."


    As a result, with his heart overflowing with a river of sympathy, Ye Cheng declared, "You know what, forget it! You two can team up on your own, so I''m going to join Gu Shaofan."


    "Let''s go stand over there." Ye Cheng said this to Gu Shaofan, but the other boy paid him no mind and made his way to the directly to the tail end of the group with an expressionless face where he stuck out on his his own.


    Hearing this, Ye Cheng unexpectedly flashed a grin. It was exactly as he had thought, Gu Shaofan wasn''t hard to get along with. So as classmates and friends, there was potential for them to have a great relationship.


    "Good." The PE teacher clapped, making everyone turn their attention back on him. "Now go find a partner to practice with, and if anyone has a part they didn''t understand, just come ask me."


    Ye Cheng then pondered for a bit before asking, "Has Gu Shaofan ever hit anyone?"


    Ye Cheng was embarrassed right then, but Gu Shaofan jogged quickly to go retrieve the basketball.


    This is so heartbreaking! Ye Cheng''s worst fear was that no one would talk to him.


    At the teacher''s words, the students began moving about. Some went to go get a basketball from the basket, while others waited for someone to come team up with them. Most of the children found their friends, having a tacit understanding between one another. Then after a short while passed, pair after par had begin practising. Ye Cheng was about to walk over to Gu Shaofan, but Tao Lu pulled him back quietly.


    It was called basketball, but it was just lectures about dribbling. Dribbling while running and three-step layups were considered very high level skills. As after all, no one was expecting to train a bunch of kids green behind the ears lke elite athletes.


    But this feeling was not the same for Gu Shaofan, he was not someone fond of playing around with others. But Ye Cheng could no longer stand the sight of it. In his imagination he saw Gu Shao''s mind being currently filled with gloom and loneliness! He even imagined a voice over playing as he looked as Gu Shaofan saying: This lonely boy, blah blah blah, something, something...


    If a friendly kid like Tao Lu has such an averse attitude towards Gu Shaofan, then the others'' attitude must be considerable worse.


    This resulted in Gu Shaofan looking at Ye Cheng, his expression clearly a bit confused.


    As a result, with his heart overflowing with a river of sympathy, Ye Cheng declared, "You know what, forget it! You two can team up on your own, so I''m going to join Gu Shaofan."


    He had only said that sentence ns a joke, so he never expected Gu Shaofan to stride over with his lips pursed, and his little kid forehead creased into prominent folds. At such a sight, Ye Cheng blinked his eyes, finding such a scene quite amusing.


    It''s easy to follow the crowd and believe the rumours, but doing the opposite does require a lot of courage.


    It was called basketball, but it was just lectures about dribbling. Dribbling while running and three-step layups were considered very high level skills. As after all, no one was expecting to train a bunch of kids green behind the ears lke elite athletes.


    Tao Lu''s face twisted into an expression that seemed to ask "are you insane," and Liu in said nothing. After walking away, Ye Cheng looked back to Tao Lu and gave his thanks. In any case, Tao Lu was a nice guy.


    "Hey, didn''t I tell you? Gangsters are really, really scary. My mom and dad both warned me about them."


    Hearing this, Ye Cheng unexpectedly flashed a grin. It was exactly as he had thought, Gu Shaofan wasn''t hard to get along with. So as classmates and friends, there was potential for them to have a great relationship.


    ...why does he resemble a dog so much right now?


    It was obviously only nothing but speculation, but in the young mind of a primary school-aged child, such rumours were enough of a reason for them to avoid to avoid another child. The way children thought was always direct, after all, and only capable of using the logic of simple substitution. So if the influence of adults is added to this, a situation like the one present is not at all impossible.


    It''s easy to follow the crowd and believe the rumours, but doing the opposite does require a lot of courage.


    Thinking of this made embarrassed for so long, Gu Shaofan had already come back and stood facing him. Ye Cheng trained all his focus on the ball this time around, and Gu Shaofan''s movements was almost the same as the teachers. The ball was flew beautifully with an almost perfect curve and went straight for Ye Cheng''s chest.


    Tao Lu shook his head. "Not that I''ve heard."


    In this aspect, it must be said that Ye Cheng was thought quite well by his parents. Most notably, Ye Cheng''s mother, who despite not having read a large number of books, had her own special understanding of life. She was intelligent and down to earth, clever and knew how to enjoy life. Despite her only having nine years with her son, the greater part of Ye Cheng''s character was influenced by her the most.


    Gu Shaofan only realised he had said those two words after saying them, it left him stunned for a moment, but he then quickly added, "I have a bit of a heavy hand."


    So at the very least, Ye Cheng knew not to readily believe the false rumours circulating that harmed someone.


    It was as though a message was being carried from one to the other, as that ball made its journey to and fro without end.


    He glanced at Gu Shaofan again, unable to help the feeling the other boy''s mind had wandered off a bit. "I''m seriously going to pass it, okay?"


    The place where Gu Shaofan was standing was not far away, and Ye Cheng doing some warm up stretches with such big movements was enough to give the other boy no choice but to pay attention to him. Seeing Gu Shaofan looking his way, Ye Cheng spread his feet apart slightly and readied himself to catch the ball. "Throw it here."


    "Um... I don''t think so?"


    Gu Shaofan did not move, however, his expression still unchanged, except for his brows revealing a faint wrinkle. It was not that he was unhappy at being disturbed, but more of him honestly having no idea what was currently happening.


    Ye Cheng was embarrassed right then, but Gu Shaofan jogged quickly to go retrieve the basketball.


    The place where Gu Shaofan was standing was not far away, and Ye Cheng doing some warm up stretches with such big movements was enough to give the other boy no choice but to pay attention to him. Seeing Gu Shaofan looking his way, Ye Cheng spread his feet apart slightly and readied himself to catch the ball. "Throw it here."


    When Ye Cheng and company arrived, there was already a lot of people waiting at the entrance of the gymnasium. Ye Cheng''s eyes were sharp, so upon first glance, he had spotted the not short at all Tao Lu standing at the outermost side of the last row. At the same time, Tao Lu also saw Ye Cheng, but he looked hesitant to wave the other boy over.


    It was as though a message was being carried from one to the other, as that ball made its journey to and fro without end.


    Gu Shaofan only realised he had said those two words after saying them, it left him stunned for a moment, but he then quickly added, "I have a bit of a heavy hand."


    This act of his made Ye Cheng suddenly feel embarrassed, so after scratching his chin, he walked right over to take the ball from Gu Shaofan''s hands, then walked right back to his original place. "I''ll pass it." Ye Cheng then thought back to the main points of the movement given by the teacher, and felt himself a bit nervous for some reason.


    ¹Å»ó×Ð is a [email protected] manhua series started in the 90s called ¹Å»ó×ÐTeddyboy" (over 2000 chapters long); turned 90s Hong Kong gangster movie series (Young and Dangerous).


    He glanced at Gu Shaofan again, unable to help the feeling the other boy''s mind had wandered off a bit. "I''m seriously going to pass it, okay?"


    It was obviously only nothing but speculation, but in the young mind of a primary school-aged child, such rumours were enough of a reason for them to avoid to avoid another child. The way children thought was always direct, after all, and only capable of using the logic of simple substitution. So if the influence of adults is added to this, a situation like the one present is not at all impossible.


    At the teacher''s words, the students began moving about. Some went to go get a basketball from the basket, while others waited for someone to come team up with them. Most of the children found their friends, having a tacit understanding between one another. Then after a short while passed, pair after par had begin practising. Ye Cheng was about to walk over to Gu Shaofan, but Tao Lu pulled him back quietly.


    Looking at the watch on his wrist, Ye Cheng saw that there was only two minutes left before the next class began, and so he couldn''t help but urge Gu Shaofan once more, "We gotta go! The class is starting!"


    Gu Shaofan nodded, but Ye Cheng was standing a little too far, and had not used enough strength. So when the ball was tossed it went straight for Gu Shaofan''s crotch, and when he bent in an attempt to catch it, he missed, allowing the ball to bounce merrily as it went to the place behind them.


    "Thud!"


    "Anybody found yapping away from now on will give me ten laps around the sports ground!" The loud bellow of the Physical Education teacher shocked the entire crowd into fright. So after this, both Ye Cheng and Tao Lu heroically sealed their lips.


    But Tao Lu only clicked his tongue in response before continuing, "You don''t believe me, but I''m pretty sure the entire school knows about it. I''m telling you, you will never, ever, see his dad come pick him up. It''s always some ''underling'' dude wearing shades and a western-styled suit. You''re new here, so do you understand now? You seriously got dealt a bad hand, you know? Like, how can you end up sitting next to him of all things?" After saying this, Tao Lu hugged himself and shivered. "Just sitting in front of him alone makes my heart tremble. You poor guy."


    "In basketball, there are two commonly used types of passes. This one is called the chest pass." The teacher then held the ball with both hands to his chest, explaining the pass as he moved. "Stand with both your feet apart, lift your heads up, and spread all your fingers on the ball."


    In response to him, Ye Cheng frowned, but Tao Lu didn''t pay attention to the look on his face to bounce the ball a couple times before saying, "Spread out and we''ll get started."


    After having everyone run a couple laps around the gym to warm up, the PE teacher then chose Tao Lu to come over so he could demonstrate a pass.


    "Thud!"


    ...why does he resemble a dog so much right now?


    This resulted in Gu Shaofan looking at Ye Cheng, his expression clearly a bit confused.


    It was obviously only nothing but speculation, but in the young mind of a primary school-aged child, such rumours were enough of a reason for them to avoid to avoid another child. The way children thought was always direct, after all, and only capable of using the logic of simple substitution. So if the influence of adults is added to this, a situation like the one present is not at all impossible.


    Ye Cheng was embarrassed right then, but Gu Shaofan jogged quickly to go retrieve the basketball.


    Gu Shaofan nodded, but Ye Cheng was standing a little too far, and had not used enough strength. So when the ball was tossed it went straight for Gu Shaofan''s crotch, and when he bent in an attempt to catch it, he missed, allowing the ball to bounce merrily as it went to the place behind them.


    "Let''s go stand over there." Ye Cheng said this to Gu Shaofan, but the other boy paid him no mind and made his way to the directly to the tail end of the group with an expressionless face where he stuck out on his his own.


    Tao Lu shook his head. "Not that I''ve heard."


    Gu Shaofan nodded, but Ye Cheng was standing a little too far, and had not used enough strength. So when the ball was tossed it went straight for Gu Shaofan''s crotch, and when he bent in an attempt to catch it, he missed, allowing the ball to bounce merrily as it went to the place behind them.


    "Has he ever tried to blackmail anyone?"


    "Thud!"


    Thinking of this made embarrassed for so long, Gu Shaofan had already come back and stood facing him. Ye Cheng trained all his focus on the ball this time around, and Gu Shaofan''s movements was almost the same as the teachers. The ball was flew beautifully with an almost perfect curve and went straight for Ye Cheng''s chest.


    With a sympathetic look, Ye Cheng replied simply, "Wasn''t there only one free seat in the entire class?" But after he did, he had a sudden realisation. "Did you guys freeze him out?"


    The place where Gu Shaofan was standing was not far away, and Ye Cheng doing some warm up stretches with such big movements was enough to give the other boy no choice but to pay attention to him. Seeing Gu Shaofan looking his way, Ye Cheng spread his feet apart slightly and readied himself to catch the ball. "Throw it here."


    "Are you okay?" This was also the first time he heard Gu Shaofan speak in such a voice. The comparison this one had to that was a far apart as night and day, even the sense of desolation within it felt a bit more weighted. "I''m sorry."


    "Thud!"


    That sentence of his had no lead out or out but Ye Cheng was still able to immediately understand it. Sucking his teeth for a good while, Ye Cheng then said in awe, "Geez, no wonder my dad wanted to squeeze me into this place. It even has a gymnasium! What kind of five-star treatment is this?!"


    The only thing Ye Cheng could feel in his chest was pain. That pass was strong, so strong, he couldn''t catch the ball with just his hands so he had to hug the ball to his chest. Ye Cheng smiled with a grimace, the little dimple on the left side of his cheek twitching. "Are you trying to pass the ball to me, or are you trying to use it to crush me?"


    After having everyone run a couple laps around the gym to warm up, the PE teacher then chose Tao Lu to come over so he could demonstrate a pass.


    He had only said that sentence ns a joke, so he never expected Gu Shaofan to stride over with his lips pursed, and his little kid forehead creased into prominent folds. At such a sight, Ye Cheng blinked his eyes, finding such a scene quite amusing.


    Ye Cheng didn''t spread out, his gaze instead focused on the person standing somewhat apart from the other groups in the distance, GU Shaofan. In that boy''s hand was a basketball, and there was obviously no one who wanted to team up with him. He stood there alone, his head pointed downwards, staring at the ball in his hands, only bouncing it a couple times every now and again. He was no more than a few metres away from the other group of kids, but to Ye Cheng, such a distance seemed incredibly far away, and even more so, it seemed lonely.


    In this aspect, it must be said that Ye Cheng was thought quite well by his parents. Most notably, Ye Cheng''s mother, who despite not having read a large number of books, had her own special understanding of life. She was intelligent and down to earth, clever and knew how to enjoy life. Despite her only having nine years with her son, the greater part of Ye Cheng''s character was influenced by her the most.


    He lifted the ball so all the students could see his hands more clearly, then returned to ball to it''s original position over his chest. "When you pass the ball, take a step forward, rotate your fingers downwards a bit and push upwards, then as you throw, release your fingers as you push up and out."


    Oh my god, how impressive.


    But Tao Lu only clicked his tongue in response before continuing, "You don''t believe me, but I''m pretty sure the entire school knows about it. I''m telling you, you will never, ever, see his dad come pick him up. It''s always some ''underling'' dude wearing shades and a western-styled suit. You''re new here, so do you understand now? You seriously got dealt a bad hand, you know? Like, how can you end up sitting next to him of all things?" After saying this, Tao Lu hugged himself and shivered. "Just sitting in front of him alone makes my heart tremble. You poor guy."


    "Then this is over."


    "Are you okay?" This was also the first time he heard Gu Shaofan speak in such a voice. The comparison this one had to that was a far apart as night and day, even the sense of desolation within it felt a bit more weighted. "I''m sorry."


    With a sympathetic look, Ye Cheng replied simply, "Wasn''t there only one free seat in the entire class?" But after he did, he had a sudden realisation. "Did you guys freeze him out?"


    Gu Shaofan only realised he had said those two words after saying them, it left him stunned for a moment, but he then quickly added, "I have a bit of a heavy hand."


    Hearing this, Ye Cheng unexpectedly flashed a grin. It was exactly as he had thought, Gu Shaofan wasn''t hard to get along with. So as classmates and friends, there was potential for them to have a great relationship.


    He glanced at Gu Shaofan again, unable to help the feeling the other boy''s mind had wandered off a bit. "I''m seriously going to pass it, okay?"


    That sentence of his had no lead out or out but Ye Cheng was still able to immediately understand it. Sucking his teeth for a good while, Ye Cheng then said in awe, "Geez, no wonder my dad wanted to squeeze me into this place. It even has a gymnasium! What kind of five-star treatment is this?!"


    At the teacher''s words, the students began moving about. Some went to go get a basketball from the basket, while others waited for someone to come team up with them. Most of the children found their friends, having a tacit understanding between one another. Then after a short while passed, pair after par had begin practising. Ye Cheng was about to walk over to Gu Shaofan, but Tao Lu pulled him back quietly.


    "In basketball, there are two commonly used types of passes. This one is called the chest pass." The teacher then held the ball with both hands to his chest, explaining the pass as he moved. "Stand with both your feet apart, lift your heads up, and spread all your fingers on the ball."


    The place where Gu Shaofan was standing was not far away, and Ye Cheng doing some warm up stretches with such big movements was enough to give the other boy no choice but to pay attention to him. Seeing Gu Shaofan looking his way, Ye Cheng spread his feet apart slightly and readied himself to catch the ball. "Throw it here."


    "Hey, are you trying to sow off how strong you are or something?" Holding the ball in one hand, Ye Cheng waved him back with the other. "Back it on up¡ªback, back, back. Let''s carry on with the practise, yeah?"


    "Hey, didn''t I tell you? Gangsters are really, really scary. My mom and dad both warned me about them."


    Sending a wink over to Tao Lu, he indicated he was about to pass the ball. "The receiver should also hold themselves in this position." As his voice fell, the ball was thrown towards Tao Lu with a force in the blink of an eye before landing firmly in Tao Lu''s waiting hands.


    "Are you okay?" This was also the first time he heard Gu Shaofan speak in such a voice. The comparison this one had to that was a far apart as night and day, even the sense of desolation within it felt a bit more weighted. "I''m sorry."


    In the gymnasium, the continuous sound of thudding balls could be heard. Gu Shaofan and Ye Cheng both practised quite seriously, the ball flying between them.


    In the gymnasium, the continuous sound of thudding balls could be heard. Gu Shaofan and Ye Cheng both practised quite seriously, the ball flying between them.


    It was as though a message was being carried from one to the other, as that ball made its journey to and fro without end.


    He had only said that sentence ns a joke, so he never expected Gu Shaofan to stride over with his lips pursed, and his little kid forehead creased into prominent folds. At such a sight, Ye Cheng blinked his eyes, finding such a scene quite amusing.


    He glanced at Gu Shaofan again, unable to help the feeling the other boy''s mind had wandered off a bit. "I''m seriously going to pass it, okay?"


    Thinking of this made embarrassed for so long, Gu Shaofan had already come back and stood facing him. Ye Cheng trained all his focus on the ball this time around, and Gu Shaofan''s movements was almost the same as the teachers. The ball was flew beautifully with an almost perfect curve and went straight for Ye Cheng''s chest.

 CH 3

    Ye Cheng was right, his previous school and his current one were not that far from one another, but taking the bus was a whole other issue since it would require going half way around the ringed highway of the city.


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    "Hey, your mom''s, like, super talented." Ye Cheng drank every last drop of the rock sugar snow pear drink, and as he did, Gu Shaofan helped him refill the cup again. In the twinkling of an eyes, half of the flask''s contents had made its way into Ye Cheng''s tummy. "The sandwiches too. My mom could never make stuff like this."


    "I don''t know." Gu Shaofan took out the flask and unscrewed it, using the cover as a cup to pour out some of the contents. In the cup, there were small cut pieces of a white fruit floating on the top, that Ye Cheng happened to get a familiar whiff of. "Oh, it looks like pear."


    "I don''t know." Gu Shaofan took out the flask and unscrewed it, using the cover as a cup to pour out some of the contents. In the cup, there were small cut pieces of a white fruit floating on the top, that Ye Cheng happened to get a familiar whiff of. "Oh, it looks like pear."


    "Hey, your mom''s, like, super talented." Ye Cheng drank every last drop of the rock sugar snow pear drink, and as he did, Gu Shaofan helped him refill the cup again. In the twinkling of an eyes, half of the flask''s contents had made its way into Ye Cheng''s tummy. "The sandwiches too. My mom could never make stuff like this."


    Zhou Ni proposed that Ye Cheng be bought a bicycle to allow him to get to and from school easily, but it seemed as though she had not considered Ye Cheng was still just an eleven year old boy, and it would not be safe for him on the road. Ye Chenghui also gave this idea and its shortcomings some consideration too, but in the end he felt as though such things would be alright since Ye Cheng was a boy.


    With even a smile no longer on his face, Ye Cheng asked the boy before him with suspicion, "Is your family really..."


    A person has to be alone to be isolated, don''t they?


    N/A


    The concept of rich and poor was not something children had a good understanding of, but Ye Cheng knew that any family that could hire a maid would naturally not be poor. In addition that that, with the sandwiches and rock sugar snow pear drink, he figured that Gu Shaofan''s family was very caring and considerate. The thought caused him to suddenly let out a laugh and say, "People are saying that your family was actually gangsters, isn''t that hilarious? Gangsters hiring a maid to stew snow pears into a drink... Hahaha... How could you family be gangsters? Hahaha..."


    Ye Cheng: "!"


    For a long time, Gu Shaofan''s expression remained blank, before his head gave a light nod in response.


    Ye Cheng had that sandwich fixed in his sights, his voice faltering as he spoke. "Then... I''m really sorry."


    When this matter was discussed the entire family had sat themselves in the living room eating dinner, a meal Zhou Ni had made. Ever since that woman had entered their family, Ye Chenghui, as any man naturally would, had kept his distance from the kitchen. But, in all honesty, Zhou Ni was not much of a cook either, Yet, perhaps it was on account of women being more attentive by nature, because in addition to making food for her new husband, she was also willing to give her best effort in learning. Her stir-fries were also passable.


    Ye Cheng also was not one to trouble others, so after taking the sandwich, he peeled off the wrapping himself. This time, the sandwich was not made of ham but of eggs, and instead of lettuce, there were cucumber slices. And, of course, it was just as delicious as well.


    The concept of rich and poor was not something children had a good understanding of, but Ye Cheng knew that any family that could hire a maid would naturally not be poor. In addition that that, with the sandwiches and rock sugar snow pear drink, he figured that Gu Shaofan''s family was very caring and considerate. The thought caused him to suddenly let out a laugh and say, "People are saying that your family was actually gangsters, isn''t that hilarious? Gangsters hiring a maid to stew snow pears into a drink... Hahaha... How could you family be gangsters? Hahaha..."


    When Ye Cheng mentioned his mom, he was not referring to Zhou Ni. It had been a long time since he last talked about his mother. She was someone who must must never be brought up while he was with his father and Zhou Ni, otherwise, the atmosphere around them would become somewhat strange.


    Originally, Ye Cheng seriously thought buying such a bike was completely unnecessary. Teacher did say hard work and frugality were virtues after all... What''s more, this bike has no fender on the back of it, so if it rained, it would definitely splatter mud all over my back... Thinking about this made the Ye Cheng, who pretended he was more mature than his years, find himself disliking that over two-thousand yuan mountain bike.


    "But can you even ride a bike, Chengcheng?" While passing him a chopstick full of fried eggs and tomatoes, eggs which were not all that soft but they were not burnt, Zhou Ni asked. "Well, if you ca not, Chenghui will just teach you how."


    "It was not."


    Obviously Ye Cheng did not know how to ride, but Ye Chenghui also did not possess enough patience to teach him. True to her word, Zhou Ni did buy him a GIANTTN: A popular bicycle brand that was started in Taiwan. mountain bike without delay. The bike was a beautiful mauve colour, the gear-shift and handlebars both had florescent markings, and the overall shape was slightly exaggerated. Upon seeing it, someone would notice it was different than other people''s bikes, as well as the subtle feeling of it being more expensive.


    Ye Cheng: "..."


    The next day when he went to school, he babbled to Gu Shaofan all about his bike, a small part of the reason being to show off. After all, there were not that many middle schoolers who could ride a bike on their own in this day age since everyone was an only childT/N: China instituted a one child policy that lasted from 1979-2015. and parents, for the most part, were far too worried.


    Seeing this, Gu Shaofan pulled out a flask from under his desk, opening it quickly before handing it to Ye Cheng. Inside it was liquid still as cold as it was if it were just taken out from the refrigerator, and Ye Cheng took himself a huge gulp, using the cool and tasty beverage to ease the passage of the food going down his throat.


    When their class was done, Ye Cheng curiously asked, "Gu Shaofan, what''s that stuff in your flask?"


    Gu Shaofan did not say anything in reply, but over the past few days Ye Cheng had these silent responses figured out. For instance, when he remained silent like this, it was an indication of his consent. And that sandwich was a very beautiful looking creation, made up of a bright yellow cheese, emerald green lettuce, pink slices of ham, and a delectably thick sauce.


    Originally, Ye Cheng seriously thought buying such a bike was completely unnecessary. Teacher did say hard work and frugality were virtues after all... What''s more, this bike has no fender on the back of it, so if it rained, it would definitely splatter mud all over my back... Thinking about this made the Ye Cheng, who pretended he was more mature than his years, find himself disliking that over two-thousand yuan mountain bike.


    While he relayed this, his mouth was also preoccupied with chewing piece of a ham sandwich Gu Shaofan had brought. It was a morning snack Gu Shaofan was made to bring by his family, and Ye Cheng''s curiosity fuelled question or two about the snack had resulted in Gu Shaofan directly giving the entire meal to him.


    After receiving another no from Gu Shaofan, Ye Cheng waited a long time before realising Gu Shaofan had no intention of giving an answer. So with eyes burning of curiosity, he stared at the side of Gu Shaofan;s face.


    Just then, Miss Sun had entered. So, after taking the cover from Gu Shaofan''s hand and closing the flask, he stood up upon hearing the command from the student on duty and greeted Miss Sun with everyone.


    But he was still just a child, and that bike really did look quite cool. So once Ye Cheng took a moment to imagine the envy in everyone''s eyes when he rode to school on such a cool looking bike, he magically found himself feeling rather happy. As a result, everyday after dinner when he had some spare time, he held on to a wall and diligently practised around the neighbourhood. He gave all he had to get that high-profile bike of his on the road as soon as possible.


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    iana: Because its population was growing too large, too fast, China instituted a one child policy in 1979 that got enforced from 1980 to 2015. Please note that this story was written in 2013. Anyhow, in 2016 two children were allowed, and 2021 as much as three kids is possible. So having all their "egg" in one basket is why most parents would not risk their kids riding bikes to school.[]The jjwxc raw link is no longer active since the novel has been completely locked now T_T (I already got the raws so it''s not going affect this translation, you guys just won''t be able to read it officially any more.)


    Ye Cheng was right, his previous school and his current one were not that far from one another, but taking the bus was a whole other issue since it would require going half way around the ringed highway of the city.


    After taking his seat, Ye Cheng remembered how Gu Shaofan had peeled off the wrapping of his sandwich before giving it to him the day before, so likewise, he peeled the shell off the egg. Once he was done, he again presented his gift towards Gu Shaofan with a shake. "Go on, take it. You gave me a sandwich yesterday, so here you go."


    Ye Cheng: "..."


    The next day when he went to school, he babbled to Gu Shaofan all about his bike, a small part of the reason being to show off. After all, there were not that many middle schoolers who could ride a bike on their own in this day age since everyone was an only childT/N: China instituted a one child policy that lasted from 1979-2015. and parents, for the most part, were far too worried.


    After Zhou Ni left the kitchen and saw there was no egg in the bowl, she thought it was a bit strange, and wondered who ate more than one egg that day. But it was still only just a single egg, so she gave the incident no more thought after that.


    "Hey, your mom''s, like, super talented." Ye Cheng drank every last drop of the rock sugar snow pear drink, and as he did, Gu Shaofan helped him refill the cup again. In the twinkling of an eyes, half of the flask''s contents had made its way into Ye Cheng''s tummy. "The sandwiches too. My mom could never make stuff like this."


    After taking his seat, Ye Cheng remembered how Gu Shaofan had peeled off the wrapping of his sandwich before giving it to him the day before, so likewise, he peeled the shell off the egg. Once he was done, he again presented his gift towards Gu Shaofan with a shake. "Go on, take it. You gave me a sandwich yesterday, so here you go."


    When their class was done, Ye Cheng curiously asked, "Gu Shaofan, what''s that stuff in your flask?"


    While he relayed this, his mouth was also preoccupied with chewing piece of a ham sandwich Gu Shaofan had brought. It was a morning snack Gu Shaofan was made to bring by his family, and Ye Cheng''s curiosity fuelled question or two about the snack had resulted in Gu Shaofan directly giving the entire meal to him.


    Oh my gosh!


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    Obviously Ye Cheng did not know how to ride, but Ye Chenghui also did not possess enough patience to teach him. True to her word, Zhou Ni did buy him a GIANTTN: A popular bicycle brand that was started in Taiwan. mountain bike without delay. The bike was a beautiful mauve colour, the gear-shift and handlebars both had florescent markings, and the overall shape was slightly exaggerated. Upon seeing it, someone would notice it was different than other people''s bikes, as well as the subtle feeling of it being more expensive.


    During class, Ye Cheng''s mind would often wander off, but it was honestly not something he was fond of, it was simply because his propensity for divergent thoughts was far too severe. For instance, if the Chinese Literature teacher read from a poem in the textbook, he mind could make up a story about it from beginning to end. He just had no control over his daydreaming mind at all.


    During class, Ye Cheng''s mind would often wander off, but it was honestly not something he was fond of, it was simply because his propensity for divergent thoughts was far too severe. For instance, if the Chinese Literature teacher read from a poem in the textbook, he mind could make up a story about it from beginning to end. He just had no control over his daydreaming mind at all.


    When Ye Cheng mentioned his mom, he was not referring to Zhou Ni. It had been a long time since he last talked about his mother. She was someone who must must never be brought up while he was with his father and Zhou Ni, otherwise, the atmosphere around them would become somewhat strange.


    "Are you sure you do not want any?" Ye Cheng, for the most part, had only eaten authentic Chinese food growing up. His dad hated foreign fast food and asked his son to not have anything to do with Grandpa Kentucky and Uncle McDonald, too. So, at present, it was a rare occurrence for Ye Cheng to even lay eyes on something like a sandwich up close.


    Ye Cheng still took the bus school since his bike riding skills were still not up to par. Once he got to class, bouncing his way there, he saw Gu Shaofan had already arrived, so after making his way over there, he immediately pulled out the egg and gifted it to his desk partner.


    But with Gu Shaofan, he felt as though he could speak about her freely, and as far as he could remember, his mother really did never make any foods similar those Gu Shaofan had brought.


    Ye Cheng was quite perceptive and noticed that much.


    "It was not."


    Gu Shaofan did not say anything in reply, but over the past few days Ye Cheng had these silent responses figured out. For instance, when he remained silent like this, it was an indication of his consent. And that sandwich was a very beautiful looking creation, made up of a bright yellow cheese, emerald green lettuce, pink slices of ham, and a delectably thick sauce.


    Then once it was done, he heaved a long sigh then licked his lips before asking, "How come it''s so sweet?"


    For Ye Cheng who was still forbidden to touch the stove at his age, such a thing was simply amazing. But Gu Shaofan gain replied in the negative, saying, "No, it wasn''t."


    Ye Cheng grinned in response while giving his thanks, the took the cup and took a sip. "It definitely has sugar in it, it''s so sweet."


    After saying this, he too a large gulp and chewed on a piece of the snow pear. As he chewed, his pink lips became covered in the sugary juices, making them shiny and moistiana: this line sounds sus (>?), and as pretty as glazed porcelain.


    The corners of Gu Shaofan''s lips tugged at the sight of Ye Cheng''s eyes widening in awe, prompting him to take the initiative to remove the wrapping from the sandwich before handing it over. And Ye Cheng was not one to put on airs, so after reaching out to take it, he chomped down to take a big bite. The taste was naturally nothing like a meat bun, but to Ye Cheng''s surprise, it was to his liking, and he was able to quickly finish every last bite before their next class.


    Ye Cheng had that sandwich fixed in his sights, his voice faltering as he spoke. "Then... I''m really sorry."


    After which, he gulped.


    Seeing this, Gu Shaofan pulled out a flask from under his desk, opening it quickly before handing it to Ye Cheng. Inside it was liquid still as cold as it was if it were just taken out from the refrigerator, and Ye Cheng took himself a huge gulp, using the cool and tasty beverage to ease the passage of the food going down his throat.


    Then once it was done, he heaved a long sigh then licked his lips before asking, "How come it''s so sweet?"


    "A hired Auntie? A nanny? A maid?" Ye Cheng tilted his head to side and began imagining the villas and young masters related to such professions he saw on television, feeling quite happy. "Your family has maids too! That''s really western."


    Ye Chenghui had gone to several book stores to find the textbooks used by the affiliated middle school, but the school was not common there were not usually that many books ordered, so they were all sold out. This dragged on for two weeks, but Ye Cheng did not think it was a big deal since he could always sponge a peek at the textbook from Gu Shaofan, and the class notes recorded in notebooks organised by subject. What''s more, Ye Cheng had discovered that Gu Shaofan really did study ahead for every subject, and with Gu Shaofan as his advisor, he was no long afraid of being called on by the teacher in class.


    After saying this, he too a large gulp and chewed on a piece of the snow pear. As he chewed, his pink lips became covered in the sugary juices, making them shiny and moistiana: this line sounds sus (>?), and as pretty as glazed porcelain.


    "I don''t know." Gu Shaofan took out the flask and unscrewed it, using the cover as a cup to pour out some of the contents. In the cup, there were small cut pieces of a white fruit floating on the top, that Ye Cheng happened to get a familiar whiff of. "Oh, it looks like pear."


    The corners of Gu Shaofan''s lips tugged at the sight of Ye Cheng''s eyes widening in awe, prompting him to take the initiative to remove the wrapping from the sandwich before handing it over. And Ye Cheng was not one to put on airs, so after reaching out to take it, he chomped down to take a big bite. The taste was naturally nothing like a meat bun, but to Ye Cheng''s surprise, it was to his liking, and he was able to quickly finish every last bite before their next class.


    Just then, Miss Sun had entered. So, after taking the cover from Gu Shaofan''s hand and closing the flask, he stood up upon hearing the command from the student on duty and greeted Miss Sun with everyone.


    "Gu Shaofan: "?"


    When Ye Cheng mentioned his mom, he was not referring to Zhou Ni. It had been a long time since he last talked about his mother. She was someone who must must never be brought up while he was with his father and Zhou Ni, otherwise, the atmosphere around them would become somewhat strange.


    For a long time, Gu Shaofan''s expression remained blank, before his head gave a light nod in response.


    The next day when he went to school, he babbled to Gu Shaofan all about his bike, a small part of the reason being to show off. After all, there were not that many middle schoolers who could ride a bike on their own in this day age since everyone was an only childT/N: China instituted a one child policy that lasted from 1979-2015. and parents, for the most part, were far too worried.


    When their class was done, Ye Cheng curiously asked, "Gu Shaofan, what''s that stuff in your flask?"


    "It wasn''t my mom who made them." Seeing Ye Cheng no longer wanted to drink, he screwed the flask close.


    Ye Cheng was quite perceptive and noticed that much.


    As Confucius said, it was impolite to give back when one receives, but those were words wisdom Ye Cheng had yet to learn. Luckily, Ye Cheng''s EQ was developed enough to understand that between friends it was necessary for there to be a level of give and take. So early the next morning, as soon as he was done eating breakfast and had wiped his mouth, while Ye Chenghui was reading the newspapers and Zhou Ni was still in the kitchen cleaning up, he snatched a boiled egg and stuffed it into his bookbag.


    As a result, he choked.


    After Zhou Ni left the kitchen and saw there was no egg in the bowl, she thought it was a bit strange, and wondered who ate more than one egg that day. But it was still only just a single egg, so she gave the incident no more thought after that.


    "But can you even ride a bike, Chengcheng?" While passing him a chopstick full of fried eggs and tomatoes, eggs which were not all that soft but they were not burnt, Zhou Ni asked. "Well, if you ca not, Chenghui will just teach you how."


    While one held a sandwich with a perfect balance of flavour and visual appeal, the other head an egg with a few splits and ruptures, and both of them, to these meals, too a huge bite.


    After receiving another no from Gu Shaofan, Ye Cheng waited a long time before realising Gu Shaofan had no intention of giving an answer. So with eyes burning of curiosity, he stared at the side of Gu Shaofan;s face.


    Then once it was done, he heaved a long sigh then licked his lips before asking, "How come it''s so sweet?"


    As a result, he choked.


    Gu Shaofan did not say anything in reply, but over the past few days Ye Cheng had these silent responses figured out. For instance, when he remained silent like this, it was an indication of his consent. And that sandwich was a very beautiful looking creation, made up of a bright yellow cheese, emerald green lettuce, pink slices of ham, and a delectably thick sauce.


    Zhou Ni proposed that Ye Cheng be bought a bicycle to allow him to get to and from school easily, but it seemed as though she had not considered Ye Cheng was still just an eleven year old boy, and it would not be safe for him on the road. Ye Chenghui also gave this idea and its shortcomings some consideration too, but in the end he felt as though such things would be alright since Ye Cheng was a boy.


    While one held a sandwich with a perfect balance of flavour and visual appeal, the other head an egg with a few splits and ruptures, and both of them, to these meals, too a huge bite.


    The concept of rich and poor was not something children had a good understanding of, but Ye Cheng knew that any family that could hire a maid would naturally not be poor. In addition that that, with the sandwiches and rock sugar snow pear drink, he figured that Gu Shaofan''s family was very caring and considerate. The thought caused him to suddenly let out a laugh and say, "People are saying that your family was actually gangsters, isn''t that hilarious? Gangsters hiring a maid to stew snow pears into a drink... Hahaha... How could you family be gangsters? Hahaha..."


    Ye Cheng still took the bus school since his bike riding skills were still not up to par. Once he got to class, bouncing his way there, he saw Gu Shaofan had already arrived, so after making his way over there, he immediately pulled out the egg and gifted it to his desk partner.


    Zhou Ni proposed that Ye Cheng be bought a bicycle to allow him to get to and from school easily, but it seemed as though she had not considered Ye Cheng was still just an eleven year old boy, and it would not be safe for him on the road. Ye Chenghui also gave this idea and its shortcomings some consideration too, but in the end he felt as though such things would be alright since Ye Cheng was a boy.


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    As Confucius said, it was impolite to give back when one receives, but those were words wisdom Ye Cheng had yet to learn. Luckily, Ye Cheng''s EQ was developed enough to understand that between friends it was necessary for there to be a level of give and take. So early the next morning, as soon as he was done eating breakfast and had wiped his mouth, while Ye Chenghui was reading the newspapers and Zhou Ni was still in the kitchen cleaning up, he snatched a boiled egg and stuffed it into his bookbag.


    Ye Cheng was right, his previous school and his current one were not that far from one another, but taking the bus was a whole other issue since it would require going half way around the ringed highway of the city.


    Ye Cheng: "!"


    "Gu Shaofan: "?"


    As a result, he choked.


    After taking his seat, Ye Cheng remembered how Gu Shaofan had peeled off the wrapping of his sandwich before giving it to him the day before, so likewise, he peeled the shell off the egg. Once he was done, he again presented his gift towards Gu Shaofan with a shake. "Go on, take it. You gave me a sandwich yesterday, so here you go."


    "Gu Shaofan: "?"


    After taking his seat, Ye Cheng remembered how Gu Shaofan had peeled off the wrapping of his sandwich before giving it to him the day before, so likewise, he peeled the shell off the egg. Once he was done, he again presented his gift towards Gu Shaofan with a shake. "Go on, take it. You gave me a sandwich yesterday, so here you go."


    The egg in Ye Cheng''s hand, because it was stuck inside of his backpack pocket and got squeezed on the bus ride there, had its shell broken so there were little cracks that left some of the white parts exposed. Yet, despite this, he still presented this gift before Gu Shaofan with bounds of generosity as he said cheerfully, "I brought this egg for you."


    But, oddly enough, Gu Shaofan had not joined him in this laughing spell, he actually said nothing to him at all, he just looked at Ye Cheng in the eyes while wearing a serious expression. Ye Cheng no longer laughed. Before, he never brought up the rumours because he saw no need in mentioning it. But this reaction from Gu Shaofan was too strange.


    While he relayed this, his mouth was also preoccupied with chewing piece of a ham sandwich Gu Shaofan had brought. It was a morning snack Gu Shaofan was made to bring by his family, and Ye Cheng''s curiosity fuelled question or two about the snack had resulted in Gu Shaofan directly giving the entire meal to him.


    Using his small fists, Ye Cheng began pounding his little chest chaotically.


    With even a smile no longer on his face, Ye Cheng asked the boy before him with suspicion, "Is your family really..."


    When their class was done, Ye Cheng curiously asked, "Gu Shaofan, what''s that stuff in your flask?"


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    Glancing at the broken white surface of the egg, then at the flushed white skin of Ye Cheng, Gu Shaofan still reached out to take the treat. Then after thinking for a moment, he reached under his desk to pull out another sandwich. Ye Cheng''s eyes gleamed, with him them asking, "Is that for me?"


    "It was not."


    A person has to be alone to be isolated, don''t they?


    After taking his seat, Ye Cheng remembered how Gu Shaofan had peeled off the wrapping of his sandwich before giving it to him the day before, so likewise, he peeled the shell off the egg. Once he was done, he again presented his gift towards Gu Shaofan with a shake. "Go on, take it. You gave me a sandwich yesterday, so here you go."


    Ye Cheng grinned in response while giving his thanks, the took the cup and took a sip. "It definitely has sugar in it, it''s so sweet."


    After which, he gulped.


    Obviously Ye Cheng did not know how to ride, but Ye Chenghui also did not possess enough patience to teach him. True to her word, Zhou Ni did buy him a GIANTTN: A popular bicycle brand that was started in Taiwan. mountain bike without delay. The bike was a beautiful mauve colour, the gear-shift and handlebars both had florescent markings, and the overall shape was slightly exaggerated. Upon seeing it, someone would notice it was different than other people''s bikes, as well as the subtle feeling of it being more expensive.


    Oh my gosh!


    "Hey, your mom''s, like, super talented." Ye Cheng drank every last drop of the rock sugar snow pear drink, and as he did, Gu Shaofan helped him refill the cup again. In the twinkling of an eyes, half of the flask''s contents had made its way into Ye Cheng''s tummy. "The sandwiches too. My mom could never make stuff like this."


    During class, Ye Cheng''s mind would often wander off, but it was honestly not something he was fond of, it was simply because his propensity for divergent thoughts was far too severe. For instance, if the Chinese Literature teacher read from a poem in the textbook, he mind could make up a story about it from beginning to end. He just had no control over his daydreaming mind at all.


    Just then, Miss Sun had entered. So, after taking the cover from Gu Shaofan''s hand and closing the flask, he stood up upon hearing the command from the student on duty and greeted Miss Sun with everyone.


    Seeing this, Gu Shaofan pulled out a flask from under his desk, opening it quickly before handing it to Ye Cheng. Inside it was liquid still as cold as it was if it were just taken out from the refrigerator, and Ye Cheng took himself a huge gulp, using the cool and tasty beverage to ease the passage of the food going down his throat.


    As a result, he choked.


    Glancing at the broken white surface of the egg, then at the flushed white skin of Ye Cheng, Gu Shaofan still reached out to take the treat. Then after thinking for a moment, he reached under his desk to pull out another sandwich. Ye Cheng''s eyes gleamed, with him them asking, "Is that for me?"


    Obviously Ye Cheng did not know how to ride, but Ye Chenghui also did not possess enough patience to teach him. True to her word, Zhou Ni did buy him a GIANTTN: A popular bicycle brand that was started in Taiwan. mountain bike without delay. The bike was a beautiful mauve colour, the gear-shift and handlebars both had florescent markings, and the overall shape was slightly exaggerated. Upon seeing it, someone would notice it was different than other people''s bikes, as well as the subtle feeling of it being more expensive.


    Gu Shafan: "...mn."


    Ye Cheng also was not one to trouble others, so after taking the sandwich, he peeled off the wrapping himself. This time, the sandwich was not made of ham but of eggs, and instead of lettuce, there were cucumber slices. And, of course, it was just as delicious as well.


    As Confucius said, it was impolite to give back when one receives, but those were words wisdom Ye Cheng had yet to learn. Luckily, Ye Cheng''s EQ was developed enough to understand that between friends it was necessary for there to be a level of give and take. So early the next morning, as soon as he was done eating breakfast and had wiped his mouth, while Ye Chenghui was reading the newspapers and Zhou Ni was still in the kitchen cleaning up, he snatched a boiled egg and stuffed it into his bookbag.


    "Gu Shaofan: "?"


    After receiving another no from Gu Shaofan, Ye Cheng waited a long time before realising Gu Shaofan had no intention of giving an answer. So with eyes burning of curiosity, he stared at the side of Gu Shaofan;s face.


    Ye Chenghui had gone to several book stores to find the textbooks used by the affiliated middle school, but the school was not common there were not usually that many books ordered, so they were all sold out. This dragged on for two weeks, but Ye Cheng did not think it was a big deal since he could always sponge a peek at the textbook from Gu Shaofan, and the class notes recorded in notebooks organised by subject. What''s more, Ye Cheng had discovered that Gu Shaofan really did study ahead for every subject, and with Gu Shaofan as his advisor, he was no long afraid of being called on by the teacher in class.


    While one held a sandwich with a perfect balance of flavour and visual appeal, the other head an egg with a few splits and ruptures, and both of them, to these meals, too a huge bite.


    Ye Cheng was quite perceptive and noticed that much.


    As a result, he choked.


    There was a lot less egg than there was sandwich, so Gu Shaofan finished his in a couple bites. Ye Cheng, on the other hand, was still busy chewing. The first class of the day was with the homeroom teacher, and it was not until the bell announcing the start class had rung that was he able to desperately stuff the last bites into his mouth.


    For a long time, Gu Shaofan''s expression remained blank, before his head gave a light nod in response.


    Ye Cheng smacked his lips as he thought, while also absent-mindedly twirling the pen around his fingers. His hand was small, so after less than two turns the pen had slipped from his fingers to fall under the desk with a clatter. Only then did Ye Cheng realise his thoughts had left him again, and when when he caught himself, Gu Shaofan was staring right at him. The other boy''s eyes shone under the peeking in from the windows, making them seem magical. Then, to him, Ye Cheng gave an apologetic smile before again turning his attention tot he blackboard.


    Gu Shafan: "...mn."


    Then once it was done, he heaved a long sigh then licked his lips before asking, "How come it''s so sweet?"


    After Zhou Ni left the kitchen and saw there was no egg in the bowl, she thought it was a bit strange, and wondered who ate more than one egg that day. But it was still only just a single egg, so she gave the incident no more thought after that.


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    With even a smile no longer on his face, Ye Cheng asked the boy before him with suspicion, "Is your family really..."


    As a result, he choked.


    Ye Cheng also was not one to trouble others, so after taking the sandwich, he peeled off the wrapping himself. This time, the sandwich was not made of ham but of eggs, and instead of lettuce, there were cucumber slices. And, of course, it was just as delicious as well.


    All in all, Ye Cheng never believed these things. Because he usually hung out with Gu Shaofan, the others in the class, including Tao Lu, did not associate with him. But some people are just have their own innate tastes, and even though he had only known him for a couple of weeks, Ye Cheng thought Gu Shaofan was someone quite compatible with him, and didn''t take everyone isolating him to heart in the slightest.


    Ye Cheng: "..."


    "Gu Shaofan: "?"


    A Serious Problem


    Using his small fists, Ye Cheng began pounding his little chest chaotically.


    The concept of rich and poor was not something children had a good understanding of, but Ye Cheng knew that any family that could hire a maid would naturally not be poor. In addition that that, with the sandwiches and rock sugar snow pear drink, he figured that Gu Shaofan''s family was very caring and considerate. The thought caused him to suddenly let out a laugh and say, "People are saying that your family was actually gangsters, isn''t that hilarious? Gangsters hiring a maid to stew snow pears into a drink... Hahaha... How could you family be gangsters? Hahaha..."


    While he relayed this, his mouth was also preoccupied with chewing piece of a ham sandwich Gu Shaofan had brought. It was a morning snack Gu Shaofan was made to bring by his family, and Ye Cheng''s curiosity fuelled question or two about the snack had resulted in Gu Shaofan directly giving the entire meal to him.


    A person has to be alone to be isolated, don''t they?


    Seeing this, Gu Shaofan pulled out a flask from under his desk, opening it quickly before handing it to Ye Cheng. Inside it was liquid still as cold as it was if it were just taken out from the refrigerator, and Ye Cheng took himself a huge gulp, using the cool and tasty beverage to ease the passage of the food going down his throat.


    "A hired Auntie? A nanny? A maid?" Ye Cheng tilted his head to side and began imagining the villas and young masters related to such professions he saw on television, feeling quite happy. "Your family has maids too! That''s really western."


    Then once it was done, he heaved a long sigh then licked his lips before asking, "How come it''s so sweet?"


    The stuff in that flask I just drank was really tasty. I wonder what it was. I tasted like there was pieces of fruit inside it.


    Gu Shaofan looked at him. "Do you want to drink some again?"


    A person has to be alone to be isolated, don''t they?


    After taking his seat, Ye Cheng remembered how Gu Shaofan had peeled off the wrapping of his sandwich before giving it to him the day before, so likewise, he peeled the shell off the egg. Once he was done, he again presented his gift towards Gu Shaofan with a shake. "Go on, take it. You gave me a sandwich yesterday, so here you go."


    "But can you even ride a bike, Chengcheng?" While passing him a chopstick full of fried eggs and tomatoes, eggs which were not all that soft but they were not burnt, Zhou Ni asked. "Well, if you ca not, Chenghui will just teach you how."


    Just then, Miss Sun had entered. So, after taking the cover from Gu Shaofan''s hand and closing the flask, he stood up upon hearing the command from the student on duty and greeted Miss Sun with everyone.


    Ye Cheng was right, his previous school and his current one were not that far from one another, but taking the bus was a whole other issue since it would require going half way around the ringed highway of the city.


    Ye Cheng: "!!"


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    While one held a sandwich with a perfect balance of flavour and visual appeal, the other head an egg with a few splits and ruptures, and both of them, to these meals, too a huge bite.


    After Zhou Ni left the kitchen and saw there was no egg in the bowl, she thought it was a bit strange, and wondered who ate more than one egg that day. But it was still only just a single egg, so she gave the incident no more thought after that.


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    During class, Ye Cheng''s mind would often wander off, but it was honestly not something he was fond of, it was simply because his propensity for divergent thoughts was far too severe. For instance, if the Chinese Literature teacher read from a poem in the textbook, he mind could make up a story about it from beginning to end. He just had no control over his daydreaming mind at all.


    Ye Chenghui had gone to several book stores to find the textbooks used by the affiliated middle school, but the school was not common there were not usually that many books ordered, so they were all sold out. This dragged on for two weeks, but Ye Cheng did not think it was a big deal since he could always sponge a peek at the textbook from Gu Shaofan, and the class notes recorded in notebooks organised by subject. What''s more, Ye Cheng had discovered that Gu Shaofan really did study ahead for every subject, and with Gu Shaofan as his advisor, he was no long afraid of being called on by the teacher in class.


    iana: Because its population was growing too large, too fast, China instituted a one child policy in 1979 that got enforced from 1980 to 2015. Please note that this story was written in 2013. Anyhow, in 2016 two children were allowed, and 2021 as much as three kids is possible. So having all their "egg" in one basket is why most parents would not risk their kids riding bikes to school.[]The jjwxc raw link is no longer active since the novel has been completely locked now T_T (I already got the raws so it''s not going affect this translation, you guys just won''t be able to read it officially any more.)


    During class, Ye Cheng''s mind would often wander off, but it was honestly not something he was fond of, it was simply because his propensity for divergent thoughts was far too severe. For instance, if the Chinese Literature teacher read from a poem in the textbook, he mind could make up a story about it from beginning to end. He just had no control over his daydreaming mind at all.


    "It wasn''t my mom who made them." Seeing Ye Cheng no longer wanted to drink, he screwed the flask close.


    Ye Cheng also was not one to trouble others, so after taking the sandwich, he peeled off the wrapping himself. This time, the sandwich was not made of ham but of eggs, and instead of lettuce, there were cucumber slices. And, of course, it was just as delicious as well.


    All in all, Ye Cheng never believed these things. Because he usually hung out with Gu Shaofan, the others in the class, including Tao Lu, did not associate with him. But some people are just have their own innate tastes, and even though he had only known him for a couple of weeks, Ye Cheng thought Gu Shaofan was someone quite compatible with him, and didn''t take everyone isolating him to heart in the slightest.


    But, oddly enough, Gu Shaofan had not joined him in this laughing spell, he actually said nothing to him at all, he just looked at Ye Cheng in the eyes while wearing a serious expression. Ye Cheng no longer laughed. Before, he never brought up the rumours because he saw no need in mentioning it. But this reaction from Gu Shaofan was too strange.


    Ye Cheng was now shocked upon shocked. The image his mind conjured up this time was of Gu Shaofan''s ever stoic face boiling the sugar water. "Was it you, then?!"


    The stuff in that flask I just drank was really tasty. I wonder what it was. I tasted like there was pieces of fruit inside it.


    Ye Cheng: "!!"


    Ye Cheng smacked his lips as he thought, while also absent-mindedly twirling the pen around his fingers. His hand was small, so after less than two turns the pen had slipped from his fingers to fall under the desk with a clatter. Only then did Ye Cheng realise his thoughts had left him again, and when when he caught himself, Gu Shaofan was staring right at him. The other boy''s eyes shone under the peeking in from the windows, making them seem magical. Then, to him, Ye Cheng gave an apologetic smile before again turning his attention tot he blackboard.


    "But can you even ride a bike, Chengcheng?" While passing him a chopstick full of fried eggs and tomatoes, eggs which were not all that soft but they were not burnt, Zhou Ni asked. "Well, if you ca not, Chenghui will just teach you how."


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    With even a smile no longer on his face, Ye Cheng asked the boy before him with suspicion, "Is your family really..."


    "A hired Auntie? A nanny? A maid?" Ye Cheng tilted his head to side and began imagining the villas and young masters related to such professions he saw on television, feeling quite happy. "Your family has maids too! That''s really western."


    There was a lot less egg than there was sandwich, so Gu Shaofan finished his in a couple bites. Ye Cheng, on the other hand, was still busy chewing. The first class of the day was with the homeroom teacher, and it was not until the bell announcing the start class had rung that was he able to desperately stuff the last bites into his mouth.


    There was a lot less egg than there was sandwich, so Gu Shaofan finished his in a couple bites. Ye Cheng, on the other hand, was still busy chewing. The first class of the day was with the homeroom teacher, and it was not until the bell announcing the start class had rung that was he able to desperately stuff the last bites into his mouth.


    Using his small fists, Ye Cheng began pounding his little chest chaotically.


    "Are you sure you do not want any?" Ye Cheng, for the most part, had only eaten authentic Chinese food growing up. His dad hated foreign fast food and asked his son to not have anything to do with Grandpa Kentucky and Uncle McDonald, too. So, at present, it was a rare occurrence for Ye Cheng to even lay eyes on something like a sandwich up close.


    When their class was done, Ye Cheng curiously asked, "Gu Shaofan, what''s that stuff in your flask?"


    The next day when he went to school, he babbled to Gu Shaofan all about his bike, a small part of the reason being to show off. After all, there were not that many middle schoolers who could ride a bike on their own in this day age since everyone was an only childT/N: China instituted a one child policy that lasted from 1979-2015. and parents, for the most part, were far too worried.


    When Ye Cheng mentioned his mom, he was not referring to Zhou Ni. It had been a long time since he last talked about his mother. She was someone who must must never be brought up while he was with his father and Zhou Ni, otherwise, the atmosphere around them would become somewhat strange.


    When this matter was discussed the entire family had sat themselves in the living room eating dinner, a meal Zhou Ni had made. Ever since that woman had entered their family, Ye Chenghui, as any man naturally would, had kept his distance from the kitchen. But, in all honesty, Zhou Ni was not much of a cook either, Yet, perhaps it was on account of women being more attentive by nature, because in addition to making food for her new husband, she was also willing to give her best effort in learning. Her stir-fries were also passable.


    Gu Shaofan looked at him. "Do you want to drink some again?"


    When Ye Cheng mentioned his mom, he was not referring to Zhou Ni. It had been a long time since he last talked about his mother. She was someone who must must never be brought up while he was with his father and Zhou Ni, otherwise, the atmosphere around them would become somewhat strange.


    "I don''t know." Gu Shaofan took out the flask and unscrewed it, using the cover as a cup to pour out some of the contents. In the cup, there were small cut pieces of a white fruit floating on the top, that Ye Cheng happened to get a familiar whiff of. "Oh, it looks like pear."


    Ye Cheng was very shocked. The image of his father''s wooden expression as he boiled sugar water was conjured up by his mind, and causing him to ask, "Was it your dad?"


    The concept of rich and poor was not something children had a good understanding of, but Ye Cheng knew that any family that could hire a maid would naturally not be poor. In addition that that, with the sandwiches and rock sugar snow pear drink, he figured that Gu Shaofan''s family was very caring and considerate. The thought caused him to suddenly let out a laugh and say, "People are saying that your family was actually gangsters, isn''t that hilarious? Gangsters hiring a maid to stew snow pears into a drink... Hahaha... How could you family be gangsters? Hahaha..."


    "It was not."


    Ye Cheng had that sandwich fixed in his sights, his voice faltering as he spoke. "Then... I''m really sorry."


    As a result, he choked.


    Gu Shaofan looked at him. "Do you want to drink some again?"


    Ye Cheng still took the bus school since his bike riding skills were still not up to par. Once he got to class, bouncing his way there, he saw Gu Shaofan had already arrived, so after making his way over there, he immediately pulled out the egg and gifted it to his desk partner.


    Ye Cheng grinned in response while giving his thanks, the took the cup and took a sip. "It definitely has sugar in it, it''s so sweet."


    After saying this, he too a large gulp and chewed on a piece of the snow pear. As he chewed, his pink lips became covered in the sugary juices, making them shiny and moistiana: this line sounds sus (>?), and as pretty as glazed porcelain.


    The egg in Ye Cheng''s hand, because it was stuck inside of his backpack pocket and got squeezed on the bus ride there, had its shell broken so there were little cracks that left some of the white parts exposed. Yet, despite this, he still presented this gift before Gu Shaofan with bounds of generosity as he said cheerfully, "I brought this egg for you."


    The egg in Ye Cheng''s hand, because it was stuck inside of his backpack pocket and got squeezed on the bus ride there, had its shell broken so there were little cracks that left some of the white parts exposed. Yet, despite this, he still presented this gift before Gu Shaofan with bounds of generosity as he said cheerfully, "I brought this egg for you."


    "It wasn''t my mom who made them." Seeing Ye Cheng no longer wanted to drink, he screwed the flask close.


    After saying this, he too a large gulp and chewed on a piece of the snow pear. As he chewed, his pink lips became covered in the sugary juices, making them shiny and moistiana: this line sounds sus (>?), and as pretty as glazed porcelain.


    Ye Cheng: "!"


    "But can you even ride a bike, Chengcheng?" While passing him a chopstick full of fried eggs and tomatoes, eggs which were not all that soft but they were not burnt, Zhou Ni asked. "Well, if you ca not, Chenghui will just teach you how."


    Then once it was done, he heaved a long sigh then licked his lips before asking, "How come it''s so sweet?"


    "Gu Shaofan: "?"


    Gu Shaofan did not say anything in reply, but over the past few days Ye Cheng had these silent responses figured out. For instance, when he remained silent like this, it was an indication of his consent. And that sandwich was a very beautiful looking creation, made up of a bright yellow cheese, emerald green lettuce, pink slices of ham, and a delectably thick sauce.


    Ye Cheng: "..."


    "Hey, your mom''s, like, super talented." Ye Cheng drank every last drop of the rock sugar snow pear drink, and as he did, Gu Shaofan helped him refill the cup again. In the twinkling of an eyes, half of the flask''s contents had made its way into Ye Cheng''s tummy. "The sandwiches too. My mom could never make stuff like this."


    But, oddly enough, Gu Shaofan had not joined him in this laughing spell, he actually said nothing to him at all, he just looked at Ye Cheng in the eyes while wearing a serious expression. Ye Cheng no longer laughed. Before, he never brought up the rumours because he saw no need in mentioning it. But this reaction from Gu Shaofan was too strange.


    All in all, Ye Cheng never believed these things. Because he usually hung out with Gu Shaofan, the others in the class, including Tao Lu, did not associate with him. But some people are just have their own innate tastes, and even though he had only known him for a couple of weeks, Ye Cheng thought Gu Shaofan was someone quite compatible with him, and didn''t take everyone isolating him to heart in the slightest.


    When Ye Cheng mentioned his mom, he was not referring to Zhou Ni. It had been a long time since he last talked about his mother. She was someone who must must never be brought up while he was with his father and Zhou Ni, otherwise, the atmosphere around them would become somewhat strange.


    The corners of Gu Shaofan''s lips tugged at the sight of Ye Cheng''s eyes widening in awe, prompting him to take the initiative to remove the wrapping from the sandwich before handing it over. And Ye Cheng was not one to put on airs, so after reaching out to take it, he chomped down to take a big bite. The taste was naturally nothing like a meat bun, but to Ye Cheng''s surprise, it was to his liking, and he was able to quickly finish every last bite before their next class.


    Ye Cheng was quite perceptive and noticed that much.


    "I don''t know." Gu Shaofan took out the flask and unscrewed it, using the cover as a cup to pour out some of the contents. In the cup, there were small cut pieces of a white fruit floating on the top, that Ye Cheng happened to get a familiar whiff of. "Oh, it looks like pear."


    After saying this, he too a large gulp and chewed on a piece of the snow pear. As he chewed, his pink lips became covered in the sugary juices, making them shiny and moistiana: this line sounds sus (>?), and as pretty as glazed porcelain.


    Glancing at the broken white surface of the egg, then at the flushed white skin of Ye Cheng, Gu Shaofan still reached out to take the treat. Then after thinking for a moment, he reached under his desk to pull out another sandwich. Ye Cheng''s eyes gleamed, with him them asking, "Is that for me?"


    But with Gu Shaofan, he felt as though he could speak about her freely, and as far as he could remember, his mother really did never make any foods similar those Gu Shaofan had brought.


    "It wasn''t my mom who made them." Seeing Ye Cheng no longer wanted to drink, he screwed the flask close.


    While one held a sandwich with a perfect balance of flavour and visual appeal, the other head an egg with a few splits and ruptures, and both of them, to these meals, too a huge bite.


    Ye Cheng grinned in response while giving his thanks, the took the cup and took a sip. "It definitely has sugar in it, it''s so sweet."


    "It wasn''t my mom who made them." Seeing Ye Cheng no longer wanted to drink, he screwed the flask close.


    Using his small fists, Ye Cheng began pounding his little chest chaotically.


    After which, he gulped.


    A person has to be alone to be isolated, don''t they?


    Ye Chenghui had gone to several book stores to find the textbooks used by the affiliated middle school, but the school was not common there were not usually that many books ordered, so they were all sold out. This dragged on for two weeks, but Ye Cheng did not think it was a big deal since he could always sponge a peek at the textbook from Gu Shaofan, and the class notes recorded in notebooks organised by subject. What''s more, Ye Cheng had discovered that Gu Shaofan really did study ahead for every subject, and with Gu Shaofan as his advisor, he was no long afraid of being called on by the teacher in class.


    Ye Cheng was right, his previous school and his current one were not that far from one another, but taking the bus was a whole other issue since it would require going half way around the ringed highway of the city.


    Just then, Miss Sun had entered. So, after taking the cover from Gu Shaofan''s hand and closing the flask, he stood up upon hearing the command from the student on duty and greeted Miss Sun with everyone.


    Ye Cheng: "!"


    After which, he gulped.


    Ye Cheng was very shocked. The image of his father''s wooden expression as he boiled sugar water was conjured up by his mind, and causing him to ask, "Was it your dad?"


    Ye Cheng smacked his lips as he thought, while also absent-mindedly twirling the pen around his fingers. His hand was small, so after less than two turns the pen had slipped from his fingers to fall under the desk with a clatter. Only then did Ye Cheng realise his thoughts had left him again, and when when he caught himself, Gu Shaofan was staring right at him. The other boy''s eyes shone under the peeking in from the windows, making them seem magical. Then, to him, Ye Cheng gave an apologetic smile before again turning his attention tot he blackboard.


    "It was not."


    Ye Cheng was now shocked upon shocked. The image his mind conjured up this time was of Gu Shaofan''s ever stoic face boiling the sugar water. "Was it you, then?!"


    "I don''t know." Gu Shaofan took out the flask and unscrewed it, using the cover as a cup to pour out some of the contents. In the cup, there were small cut pieces of a white fruit floating on the top, that Ye Cheng happened to get a familiar whiff of. "Oh, it looks like pear."


    Ye Cheng still took the bus school since his bike riding skills were still not up to par. Once he got to class, bouncing his way there, he saw Gu Shaofan had already arrived, so after making his way over there, he immediately pulled out the egg and gifted it to his desk partner.


    "Gu Shaofan: "?"


    "I don''t know." Gu Shaofan took out the flask and unscrewed it, using the cover as a cup to pour out some of the contents. In the cup, there were small cut pieces of a white fruit floating on the top, that Ye Cheng happened to get a familiar whiff of. "Oh, it looks like pear."


    Ye Cheng: "!!"


    When Ye Cheng mentioned his mom, he was not referring to Zhou Ni. It had been a long time since he last talked about his mother. She was someone who must must never be brought up while he was with his father and Zhou Ni, otherwise, the atmosphere around them would become somewhat strange.


    Ye Cheng: "!"


    Obviously Ye Cheng did not know how to ride, but Ye Chenghui also did not possess enough patience to teach him. True to her word, Zhou Ni did buy him a GIANTTN: A popular bicycle brand that was started in Taiwan. mountain bike without delay. The bike was a beautiful mauve colour, the gear-shift and handlebars both had florescent markings, and the overall shape was slightly exaggerated. Upon seeing it, someone would notice it was different than other people''s bikes, as well as the subtle feeling of it being more expensive.


    A Serious Problem


    Ye Cheng was quite perceptive and noticed that much.


    Ye Cheng was now shocked upon shocked. The image his mind conjured up this time was of Gu Shaofan''s ever stoic face boiling the sugar water. "Was it you, then?!"


    After receiving another no from Gu Shaofan, Ye Cheng waited a long time before realising Gu Shaofan had no intention of giving an answer. So with eyes burning of curiosity, he stared at the side of Gu Shaofan;s face.


    Oh my gosh!


    A Serious Problem


    When this matter was discussed the entire family had sat themselves in the living room eating dinner, a meal Zhou Ni had made. Ever since that woman had entered their family, Ye Chenghui, as any man naturally would, had kept his distance from the kitchen. But, in all honesty, Zhou Ni was not much of a cook either, Yet, perhaps it was on account of women being more attentive by nature, because in addition to making food for her new husband, she was also willing to give her best effort in learning. Her stir-fries were also passable.


    Ye Cheng was very shocked. The image of his father''s wooden expression as he boiled sugar water was conjured up by his mind, and causing him to ask, "Was it your dad?"


    But he was still just a child, and that bike really did look quite cool. So once Ye Cheng took a moment to imagine the envy in everyone''s eyes when he rode to school on such a cool looking bike, he magically found himself feeling rather happy. As a result, everyday after dinner when he had some spare time, he held on to a wall and diligently practised around the neighbourhood. He gave all he had to get that high-profile bike of his on the road as soon as possible.


    Ye Cheng was quite perceptive and noticed that much.


    Glancing at the broken white surface of the egg, then at the flushed white skin of Ye Cheng, Gu Shaofan still reached out to take the treat. Then after thinking for a moment, he reached under his desk to pull out another sandwich. Ye Cheng''s eyes gleamed, with him them asking, "Is that for me?"


    But, oddly enough, Gu Shaofan had not joined him in this laughing spell, he actually said nothing to him at all, he just looked at Ye Cheng in the eyes while wearing a serious expression. Ye Cheng no longer laughed. Before, he never brought up the rumours because he saw no need in mentioning it. But this reaction from Gu Shaofan was too strange.


    But, oddly enough, Gu Shaofan had not joined him in this laughing spell, he actually said nothing to him at all, he just looked at Ye Cheng in the eyes while wearing a serious expression. Ye Cheng no longer laughed. Before, he never brought up the rumours because he saw no need in mentioning it. But this reaction from Gu Shaofan was too strange.


    For Ye Cheng who was still forbidden to touch the stove at his age, such a thing was simply amazing. But Gu Shaofan gain replied in the negative, saying, "No, it wasn''t."


    Originally, Ye Cheng seriously thought buying such a bike was completely unnecessary. Teacher did say hard work and frugality were virtues after all... What''s more, this bike has no fender on the back of it, so if it rained, it would definitely splatter mud all over my back... Thinking about this made the Ye Cheng, who pretended he was more mature than his years, find himself disliking that over two-thousand yuan mountain bike.


    When this matter was discussed the entire family had sat themselves in the living room eating dinner, a meal Zhou Ni had made. Ever since that woman had entered their family, Ye Chenghui, as any man naturally would, had kept his distance from the kitchen. But, in all honesty, Zhou Ni was not much of a cook either, Yet, perhaps it was on account of women being more attentive by nature, because in addition to making food for her new husband, she was also willing to give her best effort in learning. Her stir-fries were also passable.


    Ye Cheng grinned in response while giving his thanks, the took the cup and took a sip. "It definitely has sugar in it, it''s so sweet."


    Zhou Ni proposed that Ye Cheng be bought a bicycle to allow him to get to and from school easily, but it seemed as though she had not considered Ye Cheng was still just an eleven year old boy, and it would not be safe for him on the road. Ye Chenghui also gave this idea and its shortcomings some consideration too, but in the end he felt as though such things would be alright since Ye Cheng was a boy.


    After which, he gulped.


    N/A


    The egg in Ye Cheng''s hand, because it was stuck inside of his backpack pocket and got squeezed on the bus ride there, had its shell broken so there were little cracks that left some of the white parts exposed. Yet, despite this, he still presented this gift before Gu Shaofan with bounds of generosity as he said cheerfully, "I brought this egg for you."


    After receiving another no from Gu Shaofan, Ye Cheng waited a long time before realising Gu Shaofan had no intention of giving an answer. So with eyes burning of curiosity, he stared at the side of Gu Shaofan;s face.


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    Just then, Miss Sun had entered. So, after taking the cover from Gu Shaofan''s hand and closing the flask, he stood up upon hearing the command from the student on duty and greeted Miss Sun with everyone.


    After which, he gulped.


    Seeing this, Gu Shaofan pulled out a flask from under his desk, opening it quickly before handing it to Ye Cheng. Inside it was liquid still as cold as it was if it were just taken out from the refrigerator, and Ye Cheng took himself a huge gulp, using the cool and tasty beverage to ease the passage of the food going down his throat.


    The concept of rich and poor was not something children had a good understanding of, but Ye Cheng knew that any family that could hire a maid would naturally not be poor. In addition that that, with the sandwiches and rock sugar snow pear drink, he figured that Gu Shaofan''s family was very caring and considerate. The thought caused him to suddenly let out a laugh and say, "People are saying that your family was actually gangsters, isn''t that hilarious? Gangsters hiring a maid to stew snow pears into a drink... Hahaha... How could you family be gangsters? Hahaha..."


    Ye Cheng: "..."


    "Are you sure you do not want any?" Ye Cheng, for the most part, had only eaten authentic Chinese food growing up. His dad hated foreign fast food and asked his son to not have anything to do with Grandpa Kentucky and Uncle McDonald, too. So, at present, it was a rare occurrence for Ye Cheng to even lay eyes on something like a sandwich up close.


    For a long time, Gu Shaofan''s expression remained blank, before his head gave a light nod in response.


    Persuaded by him, Gu Shaofan pursed his lips and replied, "It was a hired Auntie."


    Gu Shafan: "...mn."


    While one held a sandwich with a perfect balance of flavour and visual appeal, the other head an egg with a few splits and ruptures, and both of them, to these meals, too a huge bite.


    "A hired Auntie? A nanny? A maid?" Ye Cheng tilted his head to side and began imagining the villas and young masters related to such professions he saw on television, feeling quite happy. "Your family has maids too! That''s really western."


    A person has to be alone to be isolated, don''t they?


    "Hey, your mom''s, like, super talented." Ye Cheng drank every last drop of the rock sugar snow pear drink, and as he did, Gu Shaofan helped him refill the cup again. In the twinkling of an eyes, half of the flask''s contents had made its way into Ye Cheng''s tummy. "The sandwiches too. My mom could never make stuff like this."


    Ye Cheng grinned in response while giving his thanks, the took the cup and took a sip. "It definitely has sugar in it, it''s so sweet."


    The concept of rich and poor was not something children had a good understanding of, but Ye Cheng knew that any family that could hire a maid would naturally not be poor. In addition that that, with the sandwiches and rock sugar snow pear drink, he figured that Gu Shaofan''s family was very caring and considerate. The thought caused him to suddenly let out a laugh and say, "People are saying that your family was actually gangsters, isn''t that hilarious? Gangsters hiring a maid to stew snow pears into a drink... Hahaha... How could you family be gangsters? Hahaha..."


    Ye Cheng also was not one to trouble others, so after taking the sandwich, he peeled off the wrapping himself. This time, the sandwich was not made of ham but of eggs, and instead of lettuce, there were cucumber slices. And, of course, it was just as delicious as well.


    After saying this, he too a large gulp and chewed on a piece of the snow pear. As he chewed, his pink lips became covered in the sugary juices, making them shiny and moistiana: this line sounds sus (>?), and as pretty as glazed porcelain.


    "Hey, your mom''s, like, super talented." Ye Cheng drank every last drop of the rock sugar snow pear drink, and as he did, Gu Shaofan helped him refill the cup again. In the twinkling of an eyes, half of the flask''s contents had made its way into Ye Cheng''s tummy. "The sandwiches too. My mom could never make stuff like this."


    Ye Cheng was now shocked upon shocked. The image his mind conjured up this time was of Gu Shaofan''s ever stoic face boiling the sugar water. "Was it you, then?!"


    The concept of rich and poor was not something children had a good understanding of, but Ye Cheng knew that any family that could hire a maid would naturally not be poor. In addition that that, with the sandwiches and rock sugar snow pear drink, he figured that Gu Shaofan''s family was very caring and considerate. The thought caused him to suddenly let out a laugh and say, "People are saying that your family was actually gangsters, isn''t that hilarious? Gangsters hiring a maid to stew snow pears into a drink... Hahaha... How could you family be gangsters? Hahaha..."


    Ye Cheng had that sandwich fixed in his sights, his voice faltering as he spoke. "Then... I''m really sorry."


    Gu Shaofan did not say anything in reply, but over the past few days Ye Cheng had these silent responses figured out. For instance, when he remained silent like this, it was an indication of his consent. And that sandwich was a very beautiful looking creation, made up of a bright yellow cheese, emerald green lettuce, pink slices of ham, and a delectably thick sauce.


    "Hey, your mom''s, like, super talented." Ye Cheng drank every last drop of the rock sugar snow pear drink, and as he did, Gu Shaofan helped him refill the cup again. In the twinkling of an eyes, half of the flask''s contents had made its way into Ye Cheng''s tummy. "The sandwiches too. My mom could never make stuff like this."


    N/A


    Ye Cheng: "..."


    Persuaded by him, Gu Shaofan pursed his lips and replied, "It was a hired Auntie."


    Zhou Ni proposed that Ye Cheng be bought a bicycle to allow him to get to and from school easily, but it seemed as though she had not considered Ye Cheng was still just an eleven year old boy, and it would not be safe for him on the road. Ye Chenghui also gave this idea and its shortcomings some consideration too, but in the end he felt as though such things would be alright since Ye Cheng was a boy.


    Persuaded by him, Gu Shaofan pursed his lips and replied, "It was a hired Auntie."


    For Ye Cheng who was still forbidden to touch the stove at his age, such a thing was simply amazing. But Gu Shaofan gain replied in the negative, saying, "No, it wasn''t."


    All in all, Ye Cheng never believed these things. Because he usually hung out with Gu Shaofan, the others in the class, including Tao Lu, did not associate with him. But some people are just have their own innate tastes, and even though he had only known him for a couple of weeks, Ye Cheng thought Gu Shaofan was someone quite compatible with him, and didn''t take everyone isolating him to heart in the slightest.


    For Ye Cheng who was still forbidden to touch the stove at his age, such a thing was simply amazing. But Gu Shaofan gain replied in the negative, saying, "No, it wasn''t."


    Gu Shaofan looked at him. "Do you want to drink some again?"


    Ye Cheng also was not one to trouble others, so after taking the sandwich, he peeled off the wrapping himself. This time, the sandwich was not made of ham but of eggs, and instead of lettuce, there were cucumber slices. And, of course, it was just as delicious as well.


    When this matter was discussed the entire family had sat themselves in the living room eating dinner, a meal Zhou Ni had made. Ever since that woman had entered their family, Ye Chenghui, as any man naturally would, had kept his distance from the kitchen. But, in all honesty, Zhou Ni was not much of a cook either, Yet, perhaps it was on account of women being more attentive by nature, because in addition to making food for her new husband, she was also willing to give her best effort in learning. Her stir-fries were also passable.


    Ye Cheng was now shocked upon shocked. The image his mind conjured up this time was of Gu Shaofan''s ever stoic face boiling the sugar water. "Was it you, then?!"


    A person has to be alone to be isolated, don''t they?


    A person has to be alone to be isolated, don''t they?


    All in all, Ye Cheng never believed these things. Because he usually hung out with Gu Shaofan, the others in the class, including Tao Lu, did not associate with him. But some people are just have their own innate tastes, and even though he had only known him for a couple of weeks, Ye Cheng thought Gu Shaofan was someone quite compatible with him, and didn''t take everyone isolating him to heart in the slightest.


    A person has to be alone to be isolated, don''t they?


    Gu Shaofan: "..."


    But, oddly enough, Gu Shaofan had not joined him in this laughing spell, he actually said nothing to him at all, he just looked at Ye Cheng in the eyes while wearing a serious expression. Ye Cheng no longer laughed. Before, he never brought up the rumours because he saw no need in mentioning it. But this reaction from Gu Shaofan was too strange.


    Persuaded by him, Gu Shaofan pursed his lips and replied, "It was a hired Auntie."


    The stuff in that flask I just drank was really tasty. I wonder what it was. I tasted like there was pieces of fruit inside it.


    The corners of Gu Shaofan''s lips tugged at the sight of Ye Cheng''s eyes widening in awe, prompting him to take the initiative to remove the wrapping from the sandwich before handing it over. And Ye Cheng was not one to put on airs, so after reaching out to take it, he chomped down to take a big bite. The taste was naturally nothing like a meat bun, but to Ye Cheng''s surprise, it was to his liking, and he was able to quickly finish every last bite before their next class.


    Gu Shaofan looked at him. "Do you want to drink some again?"


    The egg in Ye Cheng''s hand, because it was stuck inside of his backpack pocket and got squeezed on the bus ride there, had its shell broken so there were little cracks that left some of the white parts exposed. Yet, despite this, he still presented this gift before Gu Shaofan with bounds of generosity as he said cheerfully, "I brought this egg for you."


    With even a smile no longer on his face, Ye Cheng asked the boy before him with suspicion, "Is your family really..."


    When their class was done, Ye Cheng curiously asked, "Gu Shaofan, what''s that stuff in your flask?"


    For Ye Cheng who was still forbidden to touch the stove at his age, such a thing was simply amazing. But Gu Shaofan gain replied in the negative, saying, "No, it wasn''t."


    The next day when he went to school, he babbled to Gu Shaofan all about his bike, a small part of the reason being to show off. After all, there were not that many middle schoolers who could ride a bike on their own in this day age since everyone was an only childT/N: China instituted a one child policy that lasted from 1979-2015. and parents, for the most part, were far too worried.


    For a long time, Gu Shaofan''s expression remained blank, before his head gave a light nod in response.


    Then once it was done, he heaved a long sigh then licked his lips before asking, "How come it''s so sweet?"


    All in all, Ye Cheng never believed these things. Because he usually hung out with Gu Shaofan, the others in the class, including Tao Lu, did not associate with him. But some people are just have their own innate tastes, and even though he had only known him for a couple of weeks, Ye Cheng thought Gu Shaofan was someone quite compatible with him, and didn''t take everyone isolating him to heart in the slightest.

 CH 4

    Ye Cheng''s thoughts instantly became tangled, and he said nothing further.


    Headache


    Afterwards, Gu Yun had put all his efforts towards completely scrubbing his entire gang clean to transform his gang leader self into an industrialist. It was a process that required patience, and it wasn''t until Gu Shaofan was born that he had gotten everything on the right track. But Gu Shaofan was only an elementary school student, and his parents weren''t keen on telling their youngest about such things, so with regard to his family situation, Gu Shaofan was basically clueless.


    He pulled the brakes and put one foot on the ground then curiously looked at the two people before him. Neither of them looked older than him, so Ye Cheng guessed they were about his own age. His mind turned and turned trying to confirm whether he knew those boys, as they were not wearing the uniform of his school either.


    And to this, Gu Shaofan simply gave a light nod in return. Ye Cheng found himself hesitating for a moment, still wanting to say something more. But, in the end, he just tugged the straps of his backpack then bolted out of the room.


    Then after a while had passed, Gu Shaofan then explained with a stammer, "They''re not now... not completely."


    The servant sighed. The little young master only listened to the Madame, after all.


    The tasks of the ones on duty included sweeping the classroom and organising the supplies. As he swept, Gu Shaofan said nothing, seeming completely absorbed in his task. As for Ye Cheng, he went up to the podium and started cleaning the blackboard, then emptied out the chalk dust pooled in the slot beneath it before finally organising the chalk themselves. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Gu Shaofan had already swept the back of the classroom and was now straightening the desks and chairs. He did it all so quickly that Ye Cheng did not need to do anything after he was done. Saying nothing, he awkwardly stared at Gu Shaofan as he swept. Neither of the two had said so much as a word to the other. It was difficult for him to wait until Gu Shaofan was done emptying the trash bins, so after Gu Shaofan lifted up the garbage bags, Ye Cheng''s eyes lit up.


    Gu Shaofan lowered his eyes, still not uttering a word, prompting Wang Juan to pinch her son''s cheeks. "Alright then. I''ll take a guess. Did something happen between you and your new friend?"


    What does that mean?


    After looking round, the other boy pulled Ye Cheng by the arm. "Then you can just get to know us know. My older brother is waiting for you over there."


    I can leave right now.


    For some unknown reason, he felt that uncomfortable feeling once more, the one that made his heart feel strange. Ye Cheng felt more depressed as the day went on. But with him and Gu Shaofan no longer getting along, Tao Lu had begun talking to him again.


    But Ye Cheng honestly did not feel that scared, Gu Shaofan was still his first friend at that school. What''s more, because of Gu Shaofan''s relationships, he was that boys only friend too. Gu Shaofan was the one who let him borrow his books, gave him the right answers, and also brought him yummy food¡ªand none of these had anything to do with dangerous elements. But... in that child heart of his still, there still an uncomfortable sense of betrayal. He felt as though he was seen as a joke. That his entire class must have definitely been watching him and laughing.


    Lifting her head to look at her son, Wang Juan''s eyebrows lifted.


    Ye Cheng obviously could not understand, because even Gu Shaofan did not properly understand the situation. People who spoke of the underworld said that Gu Shaofan''s father, Gu Yun was a gangster in the past. In the man''s youth, it was said he used to dare chop people on the street with a watermelon and not give a damn, so much so, that even with half his head covered in blood, he would still squat on a curb while munching on piece of watermelon. He relied on his cruelty to get him to up the ranks, but it was not that Gu Yun was simply an aggressive hothead, more than anything, he was smart. He had the eye of a gang lord, allowing him to take the helm of his gang at a very young age. Under his leadership, his small gang was able to grow exponentially. So by the time he had met his future wife, the influence his organisation had developed was enough to touch everything under the sun, allowing them to get along with both those who work in the light and the dark in A-City.


    ...really sad.


    Then after a while had passed, Gu Shaofan then explained with a stammer, "They''re not now... not completely."


    The two boys then approached him, with one of the boys grabbing hold of the handlebar of Ye Cheng''s bike, while his face split open in a grin. "Hey, buddy, we got something to talk to you about, so you mind staying back for a while?


    He was under a lot of pressure when he made friends with Gu Shaofan, but in the end, the truth was actually what everyone had been saying. Gu Shaofan''s family were in fact made up of dangerous elements.


    But the name Ye Cheng was one both she and her husband had no choice but to pay attention to, because for the first time in his life, their baby boy had brought up another kid his age, and asked them to help him take a sandwich to school for a boy named Ye Cheng.


    Afterwards, Gu Yun had put all his efforts towards completely scrubbing his entire gang clean to transform his gang leader self into an industrialist. It was a process that required patience, and it wasn''t until Gu Shaofan was born that he had gotten everything on the right track. But Gu Shaofan was only an elementary school student, and his parents weren''t keen on telling their youngest about such things, so with regard to his family situation, Gu Shaofan was basically clueless.


    iana: In case you''re wondering how the Gu''s have two sons. Before the 2016 repeal, the one child policy did have some "allowances." Having a second child got you fined a year''s worth of your salary or something along those lines. Another was that a remarried couple could have a second child as long as one of them had never had any children of their own.


    N/A


    For some unknown reason, he felt that uncomfortable feeling once more, the one that made his heart feel strange. Ye Cheng felt more depressed as the day went on. But with him and Gu Shaofan no longer getting along, Tao Lu had begun talking to him again.


    Wang Juan had found out about Ye Cheng from her son''s own mouth, and after she told that story to her husband, the two parents felt an incomparable amount of joy. Their son had finally found a friend. What''s more, their son who had never spoke much before had obviously levelled up his communication skills when speaking with this Ye Cheng. So Wang Juan now wondered if the trouble between them happened during the past couple of weeks.


    ...really sad.


    Ye Cheng let out an "oh," but said nothing else after that. Gu Shaofan thought he should say something, anything, but he was never good at speaking so he could only stare at Ye Cheng with him lips sealed shut. His staring made Ye Cheng feel awkward, whose hands moved to scratch his head nervously. So upon sensing the other boy''s mood, Gu Shaofan turned his gaze towards his desk.


    Headache


    Gu Shaofan was depressed. In his short existence, this was the first time he had ever found himself feeling such a level of sadness.


    Ye Cheng''s head was all question marks, so he said in return, "I don''t know you guys."


    But the name Ye Cheng was one both she and her husband had no choice but to pay attention to, because for the first time in his life, their baby boy had brought up another kid his age, and asked them to help him take a sandwich to school for a boy named Ye Cheng.


    Neither of them said another word to the other for the rest of that day.


    Ye Cheng''s head was all question marks, so he said in return, "I don''t know you guys."


    So Ye Cheng felt depressed, quite depressed in fact.


    Ye Cheng obviously could not understand, because even Gu Shaofan did not properly understand the situation. People who spoke of the underworld said that Gu Shaofan''s father, Gu Yun was a gangster in the past. In the man''s youth, it was said he used to dare chop people on the street with a watermelon and not give a damn, so much so, that even with half his head covered in blood, he would still squat on a curb while munching on piece of watermelon. He relied on his cruelty to get him to up the ranks, but it was not that Gu Yun was simply an aggressive hothead, more than anything, he was smart. He had the eye of a gang lord, allowing him to take the helm of his gang at a very young age. Under his leadership, his small gang was able to grow exponentially. So by the time he had met his future wife, the influence his organisation had developed was enough to touch everything under the sun, allowing them to get along with both those who work in the light and the dark in A-City.


    Gu Shaofan, still expressing nothing, tried to shake himself free, and Wang Juan simply let him go before calling out to the servant downstairs. "Xiao Liu, go get dinner started, please." Then turning back to her son she said, "Go put your backpack away then come down for diner. Your dad called ahead to tell us not to wait for him tonight."


    Tao Lu was quite happy Ye Cheng was no longer hanging around Gu Shaofan. The large boy was very popular amongst his classmates, so once he started dragging Ye Cheng around all over, the way the entire class changed their attitude towards Ye Cheng was a breakneck speed. After his classes were done, during the break period, Ye Cheng had also stopped sitting in his seat, always choosing to go sit by someone else to chatter away.


    "Tsk. You were in a good mood recently, so did something happen today?" Wang Juan gently lifted her son''s face by the chin and looked him over." You look like if somebody owes you a lot of money. Come on, love, tell mama what''s wrong."


    Gu Shaofan was depressed. In his short existence, this was the first time he had ever found himself feeling such a level of sadness.


    And to this, Gu Shaofan simply gave a light nod in return. Ye Cheng found himself hesitating for a moment, still wanting to say something more. But, in the end, he just tugged the straps of his backpack then bolted out of the room.


    Walking two blocks to where his family''s car was waiting to pick him up and take him home. Ye Cheng''s guess before as actually correct, though, his family did indeed live in a villa near the suburbs. Counting the attic, it had a total of four floors, and because it was on a slope, the main entrance was on the second floor. While walking up the stairs, Gu Shaofan glanced over the mahogany railing to the hall on the first floor, seeing that neither Gu Yun nor Gu Shaoqing were home. Only his mother was there, having made her way from the greenhouse with a servant hurriedly helping her in removing her gardening gloves.


    Their strange situation continued like this for about half a month, until the day it was both he and Gu Shaofan''s turn to be on duty after classes were all over. The students on duty were assigned via seating chart, so it was always grouped together by the two deskmates. Before he left, Tao Lu sent a wink Ye Cheng''s way, gloating at his new friend''s misfortune.


    Ye Cheng obviously could not understand, because even Gu Shaofan did not properly understand the situation. People who spoke of the underworld said that Gu Shaofan''s father, Gu Yun was a gangster in the past. In the man''s youth, it was said he used to dare chop people on the street with a watermelon and not give a damn, so much so, that even with half his head covered in blood, he would still squat on a curb while munching on piece of watermelon. He relied on his cruelty to get him to up the ranks, but it was not that Gu Yun was simply an aggressive hothead, more than anything, he was smart. He had the eye of a gang lord, allowing him to take the helm of his gang at a very young age. Under his leadership, his small gang was able to grow exponentially. So by the time he had met his future wife, the influence his organisation had developed was enough to touch everything under the sun, allowing them to get along with both those who work in the light and the dark in A-City.


    What does that mean?


    Ye Cheng was flung so hard that his hand slammed into the small stove outside the restaurant crossways and knocked over one of the large pots with a clank, causing all the soup within it to pour all over Ye Cheng.


    Gu Shaofan, still expressing nothing, tried to shake himself free, and Wang Juan simply let him go before calling out to the servant downstairs. "Xiao Liu, go get dinner started, please." Then turning back to her son she said, "Go put your backpack away then come down for diner. Your dad called ahead to tell us not to wait for him tonight."


    "Your older brother?" While Ye Cheng sat on his bike, with one pulling the bike and the other pulling him, he was dragged forward on the road by a short distance, then about taken down an alleyway. He flung his arms about impatiently as he was dragged, screaming, "I don''t know your brother! Let me go! I want to go home!"


    Lifting her head to look at her son, Wang Juan''s eyebrows lifted.


    And it wasn''t just Gu Shaofan, all the males in the Gu family, both the big and small, feared Wang Juan, Gu Yun included.


    With this, there was no reason for the two boys to group together during class.


    He was under a lot of pressure when he made friends with Gu Shaofan, but in the end, the truth was actually what everyone had been saying. Gu Shaofan''s family were in fact made up of dangerous elements.


    Ye Cheng''s thoughts instantly became tangled, and he said nothing further.


    "Your older brother?" While Ye Cheng sat on his bike, with one pulling the bike and the other pulling him, he was dragged forward on the road by a short distance, then about taken down an alleyway. He flung his arms about impatiently as he was dragged, screaming, "I don''t know your brother! Let me go! I want to go home!"


    She was forty years old and had taken great care of her health, leaving her skin free of any noticeable wrinkles. Locking sights with that little boy of hers whose face was engraved with bitterness, she went up the stairs and called out, "Shaofan, hold it right there mister."


    Ye Cheng immediately realised he was in trouble, so grabbing the handlebars, he used all his might to pedal while yelling, "Get out the way!"


    Gu Shaofan stiffened, his steps coming to a halt.


    Then after a while had passed, Gu Shaofan then explained with a stammer, "They''re not now... not completely."


    At the entrance of the alley, there was a small eatery, which had a bunch of small portable stoves with aluminium pots stacked on top. A waiter had even just come out of the small establishment, and without so much as glancing at the fighting kids less than a step away, they opened up one of the large pots with the simmering food being cooked, scooped out a portion that dish, then went to deliver it to a customer.


    Walking two blocks to where his family''s car was waiting to pick him up and take him home. Ye Cheng''s guess before as actually correct, though, his family did indeed live in a villa near the suburbs. Counting the attic, it had a total of four floors, and because it was on a slope, the main entrance was on the second floor. While walking up the stairs, Gu Shaofan glanced over the mahogany railing to the hall on the first floor, seeing that neither Gu Yun nor Gu Shaoqing were home. Only his mother was there, having made her way from the greenhouse with a servant hurriedly helping her in removing her gardening gloves.


    She was forty years old and had taken great care of her health, leaving her skin free of any noticeable wrinkles. Locking sights with that little boy of hers whose face was engraved with bitterness, she went up the stairs and called out, "Shaofan, hold it right there mister."


    Gu Shaofan displayed no special reaction to all this, still doing things just as he had before, coming and going on his own. Sometimes Ye Cheng wondered how on earth things had become like this. And seeing Gu Shaofan''s lonely form made his heart ache. He was a child with a very strong ability of imagining himself in someone else''s shoes, so when thinking of himself being in such a position, he found it...


    The servant sighed. The little young master only listened to the Madame, after all.


    She was forty years old and had taken great care of her health, leaving her skin free of any noticeable wrinkles. Locking sights with that little boy of hers whose face was engraved with bitterness, she went up the stairs and called out, "Shaofan, hold it right there mister."


    After saying this, she gave him a smile and added, "Serious though, what''s wrong, honey? Can''t you give your mama just one smile?"


    Ye Cheng: "?"


    Ye Cheng obviously could not understand, because even Gu Shaofan did not properly understand the situation. People who spoke of the underworld said that Gu Shaofan''s father, Gu Yun was a gangster in the past. In the man''s youth, it was said he used to dare chop people on the street with a watermelon and not give a damn, so much so, that even with half his head covered in blood, he would still squat on a curb while munching on piece of watermelon. He relied on his cruelty to get him to up the ranks, but it was not that Gu Yun was simply an aggressive hothead, more than anything, he was smart. He had the eye of a gang lord, allowing him to take the helm of his gang at a very young age. Under his leadership, his small gang was able to grow exponentially. So by the time he had met his future wife, the influence his organisation had developed was enough to touch everything under the sun, allowing them to get along with both those who work in the light and the dark in A-City.


    And it wasn''t just Gu Shaofan, all the males in the Gu family, both the big and small, feared Wang Juan, Gu Yun included.


    As luck would have it, those never in stock textbook of his had coincidentally been bought that very night. Ye Chenghui still cared about his son''s education, and had gone to the book store every day to inquire about any new books. So when he went there earlier that day and saw that they were in stock, he had bought them all immediately.


    Caught in the stream of students making their way down the four storeys, Ye Cheng thought about what he was going to do for lunch at noon. Am I not going to eat with Gu Shaofan again too? Okay, fine. I''ll just eat alone, on my own...


    There was nothing they could really do to help their son since adults could not interfere in such matters amongst children. Besides, Wang Juan also held the proud belief that if friends didn''t gather around her son, then just let them keep their distance. After all, you never see male lions grouping up with other male lions, do you? Stuff like that was common amongst mice. Anyhow, she always made her kids train because the was one thing she would never allow, and that was for her children to be beaten up.


    Their strange situation continued like this for about half a month, until the day it was both he and Gu Shaofan''s turn to be on duty after classes were all over. The students on duty were assigned via seating chart, so it was always grouped together by the two deskmates. Before he left, Tao Lu sent a wink Ye Cheng''s way, gloating at his new friend''s misfortune.


    As luck would have it, those never in stock textbook of his had coincidentally been bought that very night. Ye Chenghui still cared about his son''s education, and had gone to the book store every day to inquire about any new books. So when he went there earlier that day and saw that they were in stock, he had bought them all immediately.


    Gu Shaofan was depressed. In his short existence, this was the first time he had ever found himself feeling such a level of sadness.


    Wang Juan made her way to the second floor with a smile. "What''s got you all moody?"


    She then turned to walk the stairs, but from behind her, she heard Gu Shaofan whisper, "But mom, I feel a bit... sad."


    Gu Shaofan''s face grew even more expressionless than usual, but even if he did not show any emotion on his face, Wang Juan still possessed the ability to understand the little boy she gave birth to.


    Ye Cheng: "?"


    Wang Juan made her way to the second floor with a smile. "What''s got you all moody?"


    She was well aware what was happening to her son at school, as was her husband, because their first son, Gu Shaoqing, had experienced the same thing. But Gu Shaoqing had a more agreeable personality than Gu Shaofan, and he people skills was quite good, so when he when he was being shunned by his classmates, it did not last for too long.


    Ye Cheng let out an "oh," but said nothing else after that. Gu Shaofan thought he should say something, anything, but he was never good at speaking so he could only stare at Ye Cheng with him lips sealed shut. His staring made Ye Cheng feel awkward, whose hands moved to scratch his head nervously. So upon sensing the other boy''s mood, Gu Shaofan turned his gaze towards his desk.


    Gu Shaofan''s face grew even more expressionless than usual, but even if he did not show any emotion on his face, Wang Juan still possessed the ability to understand the little boy she gave birth to.


    Gu Shaofan displayed no special reaction to all this, still doing things just as he had before, coming and going on his own. Sometimes Ye Cheng wondered how on earth things had become like this. And seeing Gu Shaofan''s lonely form made his heart ache. He was a child with a very strong ability of imagining himself in someone else''s shoes, so when thinking of himself being in such a position, he found it...


    Ye Cheng''s thoughts instantly became tangled, and he said nothing further.


    Gu Shaofan stiffened, his steps coming to a halt.


    "Tsk. You were in a good mood recently, so did something happen today?" Wang Juan gently lifted her son''s face by the chin and looked him over." You look like if somebody owes you a lot of money. Come on, love, tell mama what''s wrong."


    But the name Ye Cheng was one both she and her husband had no choice but to pay attention to, because for the first time in his life, their baby boy had brought up another kid his age, and asked them to help him take a sandwich to school for a boy named Ye Cheng.


    He was under a lot of pressure when he made friends with Gu Shaofan, but in the end, the truth was actually what everyone had been saying. Gu Shaofan''s family were in fact made up of dangerous elements.


    After looking round, the other boy pulled Ye Cheng by the arm. "Then you can just get to know us know. My older brother is waiting for you over there."


    Gu Shaofan, still expressing nothing, tried to shake himself free, and Wang Juan simply let him go before calling out to the servant downstairs. "Xiao Liu, go get dinner started, please." Then turning back to her son she said, "Go put your backpack away then come down for diner. Your dad called ahead to tell us not to wait for him tonight."


    The two boys then approached him, with one of the boys grabbing hold of the handlebar of Ye Cheng''s bike, while his face split open in a grin. "Hey, buddy, we got something to talk to you about, so you mind staying back for a while?


    After looking round, the other boy pulled Ye Cheng by the arm. "Then you can just get to know us know. My older brother is waiting for you over there."


    There was nothing they could really do to help their son since adults could not interfere in such matters amongst children. Besides, Wang Juan also held the proud belief that if friends didn''t gather around her son, then just let them keep their distance. After all, you never see male lions grouping up with other male lions, do you? Stuff like that was common amongst mice. Anyhow, she always made her kids train because the was one thing she would never allow, and that was for her children to be beaten up.


    After saying this, she gave him a smile and added, "Serious though, what''s wrong, honey? Can''t you give your mama just one smile?"


    "It''s really normal for friends to have disagreements, sweetheart. So just give it a few days and everything will work out." Wang Juan tried to cheer him up, but Gu Shaofan remained silent for a while before suddenly saying, "I told him about our family."


    Gu Shaofan lowered his eyes, still not uttering a word, prompting Wang Juan to pinch her son''s cheeks. "Alright then. I''ll take a guess. Did something happen between you and your new friend?"


    I can leave right now.


    Wang Juan was stunned, obviously understanding what the main issue now was. This made thing''s difficult, because before when Gu Shaofan was ostracized by those kids, it was based on nothing but groundless speculation. But this time, Gu Shaofan had admitting it himself, making it so that those children weren''t just exaggerating.


    But the name Ye Cheng was one both she and her husband had no choice but to pay attention to, because for the first time in his life, their baby boy had brought up another kid his age, and asked them to help him take a sandwich to school for a boy named Ye Cheng.


    She was well aware what was happening to her son at school, as was her husband, because their first son, Gu Shaoqing, had experienced the same thing. But Gu Shaoqing had a more agreeable personality than Gu Shaofan, and he people skills was quite good, so when he when he was being shunned by his classmates, it did not last for too long.


    For some unknown reason, he felt that uncomfortable feeling once more, the one that made his heart feel strange. Ye Cheng felt more depressed as the day went on. But with him and Gu Shaofan no longer getting along, Tao Lu had begun talking to him again.


    She then turned to walk the stairs, but from behind her, she heard Gu Shaofan whisper, "But mom, I feel a bit... sad."


    Wang Juan was stunned, obviously understanding what the main issue now was. This made thing''s difficult, because before when Gu Shaofan was ostracized by those kids, it was based on nothing but groundless speculation. But this time, Gu Shaofan had admitting it himself, making it so that those children weren''t just exaggerating.


    Wang Juan turned her head back in horror. Gu Shaofan''s face still had its trademark expressionlessness, but upon closer inspection, between those brows of him was a little crinkle expressing his woe. Before then, his classmates ignoring him had never been like this, because with nothing to compare it to, there was no feeling of loss.


    There was nothing they could really do to help their son since adults could not interfere in such matters amongst children. Besides, Wang Juan also held the proud belief that if friends didn''t gather around her son, then just let them keep their distance. After all, you never see male lions grouping up with other male lions, do you? Stuff like that was common amongst mice. Anyhow, she always made her kids train because the was one thing she would never allow, and that was for her children to be beaten up.


    He was under a lot of pressure when he made friends with Gu Shaofan, but in the end, the truth was actually what everyone had been saying. Gu Shaofan''s family were in fact made up of dangerous elements.


    So Ye Cheng felt depressed, quite depressed in fact.


    Caught in the stream of students making their way down the four storeys, Ye Cheng thought about what he was going to do for lunch at noon. Am I not going to eat with Gu Shaofan again too? Okay, fine. I''ll just eat alone, on my own...


    What does that mean?


    Walking two blocks to where his family''s car was waiting to pick him up and take him home. Ye Cheng''s guess before as actually correct, though, his family did indeed live in a villa near the suburbs. Counting the attic, it had a total of four floors, and because it was on a slope, the main entrance was on the second floor. While walking up the stairs, Gu Shaofan glanced over the mahogany railing to the hall on the first floor, seeing that neither Gu Yun nor Gu Shaoqing were home. Only his mother was there, having made her way from the greenhouse with a servant hurriedly helping her in removing her gardening gloves.


    But the name Ye Cheng was one both she and her husband had no choice but to pay attention to, because for the first time in his life, their baby boy had brought up another kid his age, and asked them to help him take a sandwich to school for a boy named Ye Cheng.


    Gu Shaofan lowered his eyes, still not uttering a word, prompting Wang Juan to pinch her son''s cheeks. "Alright then. I''ll take a guess. Did something happen between you and your new friend?"


    Wang Juan made her way to the second floor with a smile. "What''s got you all moody?"


    Tao Lu was quite happy Ye Cheng was no longer hanging around Gu Shaofan. The large boy was very popular amongst his classmates, so once he started dragging Ye Cheng around all over, the way the entire class changed their attitude towards Ye Cheng was a breakneck speed. After his classes were done, during the break period, Ye Cheng had also stopped sitting in his seat, always choosing to go sit by someone else to chatter away.


    Wang Juan had found out about Ye Cheng from her son''s own mouth, and after she told that story to her husband, the two parents felt an incomparable amount of joy. Their son had finally found a friend. What''s more, their son who had never spoke much before had obviously levelled up his communication skills when speaking with this Ye Cheng. So Wang Juan now wondered if the trouble between them happened during the past couple of weeks.


    The two boys then approached him, with one of the boys grabbing hold of the handlebar of Ye Cheng''s bike, while his face split open in a grin. "Hey, buddy, we got something to talk to you about, so you mind staying back for a while?


    She was forty years old and had taken great care of her health, leaving her skin free of any noticeable wrinkles. Locking sights with that little boy of hers whose face was engraved with bitterness, she went up the stairs and called out, "Shaofan, hold it right there mister."


    But Ye Cheng honestly did not feel that scared, Gu Shaofan was still his first friend at that school. What''s more, because of Gu Shaofan''s relationships, he was that boys only friend too. Gu Shaofan was the one who let him borrow his books, gave him the right answers, and also brought him yummy food¡ªand none of these had anything to do with dangerous elements. But... in that child heart of his still, there still an uncomfortable sense of betrayal. He felt as though he was seen as a joke. That his entire class must have definitely been watching him and laughing.


    "It''s really normal for friends to have disagreements, sweetheart. So just give it a few days and everything will work out." Wang Juan tried to cheer him up, but Gu Shaofan remained silent for a while before suddenly saying, "I told him about our family."


    Wang Juan was stunned, obviously understanding what the main issue now was. This made thing''s difficult, because before when Gu Shaofan was ostracized by those kids, it was based on nothing but groundless speculation. But this time, Gu Shaofan had admitting it himself, making it so that those children weren''t just exaggerating.


    Tao Lu was quite happy Ye Cheng was no longer hanging around Gu Shaofan. The large boy was very popular amongst his classmates, so once he started dragging Ye Cheng around all over, the way the entire class changed their attitude towards Ye Cheng was a breakneck speed. After his classes were done, during the break period, Ye Cheng had also stopped sitting in his seat, always choosing to go sit by someone else to chatter away.


    Brother Qiang didn''t mince words with the struggling Ye Cheng either, as he walked right up to the younger boy and kicked him in the shin. Ye Cheng was so taken aback by the blow, his reaction to the pain was secondary. It was the first time in his life he had found himself in such a situation that all he could feel was fear.


    "That''s also fine." Wang Juan waved her hands as she gave a final thoughts. "Your school is just full of cowards, then, and there no reason to keep associating with them."


    Gu Shaofan''s face grew even more expressionless than usual, but even if he did not show any emotion on his face, Wang Juan still possessed the ability to understand the little boy she gave birth to.


    Ye Cheng obviously could not understand, because even Gu Shaofan did not properly understand the situation. People who spoke of the underworld said that Gu Shaofan''s father, Gu Yun was a gangster in the past. In the man''s youth, it was said he used to dare chop people on the street with a watermelon and not give a damn, so much so, that even with half his head covered in blood, he would still squat on a curb while munching on piece of watermelon. He relied on his cruelty to get him to up the ranks, but it was not that Gu Yun was simply an aggressive hothead, more than anything, he was smart. He had the eye of a gang lord, allowing him to take the helm of his gang at a very young age. Under his leadership, his small gang was able to grow exponentially. So by the time he had met his future wife, the influence his organisation had developed was enough to touch everything under the sun, allowing them to get along with both those who work in the light and the dark in A-City.


    The fragrance of the food being cooked in the kitchen gradually began filling the air. Taking hold of the railing, Wang Juan took a look downstairs at the dining room table which was of course hidden from her current line of sight. She then instructed her son, "Go put your stuff down then come downstairs for dinner."


    After this incident, from that alleyway, two shrill screams rang out.


    Gu Shaofan stiffened, his steps coming to a halt.


    She then turned to walk the stairs, but from behind her, she heard Gu Shaofan whisper, "But mom, I feel a bit... sad."


    Gu Shaofan, still expressing nothing, tried to shake himself free, and Wang Juan simply let him go before calling out to the servant downstairs. "Xiao Liu, go get dinner started, please." Then turning back to her son she said, "Go put your backpack away then come down for diner. Your dad called ahead to tell us not to wait for him tonight."


    Gu Shaofan had the keys, and he did always reach to school rather early, after all. So grabbing his bookbag that was long packed and laying on the desk, Ye Cheng swung it over his back as he said, "I''ll be leaving first, then. Bye!"


    Walking two blocks to where his family''s car was waiting to pick him up and take him home. Ye Cheng''s guess before as actually correct, though, his family did indeed live in a villa near the suburbs. Counting the attic, it had a total of four floors, and because it was on a slope, the main entrance was on the second floor. While walking up the stairs, Gu Shaofan glanced over the mahogany railing to the hall on the first floor, seeing that neither Gu Yun nor Gu Shaoqing were home. Only his mother was there, having made her way from the greenhouse with a servant hurriedly helping her in removing her gardening gloves.


    There was nothing they could really do to help their son since adults could not interfere in such matters amongst children. Besides, Wang Juan also held the proud belief that if friends didn''t gather around her son, then just let them keep their distance. After all, you never see male lions grouping up with other male lions, do you? Stuff like that was common amongst mice. Anyhow, she always made her kids train because the was one thing she would never allow, and that was for her children to be beaten up.


    The servant sighed. The little young master only listened to the Madame, after all.


    Wang Juan turned her head back in horror. Gu Shaofan''s face still had its trademark expressionlessness, but upon closer inspection, between those brows of him was a little crinkle expressing his woe. Before then, his classmates ignoring him had never been like this, because with nothing to compare it to, there was no feeling of loss.


    Looking at her that son of hers from top to bottom, Wang Juan sighed, then poked that crinkled place belonging to her baby boy. "This is progress."


    Looking at her that son of hers from top to bottom, Wang Juan sighed, then poked that crinkled place belonging to her baby boy. "This is progress."


    Tao Lu was quite happy Ye Cheng was no longer hanging around Gu Shaofan. The large boy was very popular amongst his classmates, so once he started dragging Ye Cheng around all over, the way the entire class changed their attitude towards Ye Cheng was a breakneck speed. After his classes were done, during the break period, Ye Cheng had also stopped sitting in his seat, always choosing to go sit by someone else to chatter away.


    Neither of them said another word to the other for the rest of that day.


    On the other side, Ye Cheng was also quite sad himself.


    He was under a lot of pressure when he made friends with Gu Shaofan, but in the end, the truth was actually what everyone had been saying. Gu Shaofan''s family were in fact made up of dangerous elements.


    "Tsk. You were in a good mood recently, so did something happen today?" Wang Juan gently lifted her son''s face by the chin and looked him over." You look like if somebody owes you a lot of money. Come on, love, tell mama what''s wrong."


    But Ye Cheng honestly did not feel that scared, Gu Shaofan was still his first friend at that school. What''s more, because of Gu Shaofan''s relationships, he was that boys only friend too. Gu Shaofan was the one who let him borrow his books, gave him the right answers, and also brought him yummy food¡ªand none of these had anything to do with dangerous elements. But... in that child heart of his still, there still an uncomfortable sense of betrayal. He felt as though he was seen as a joke. That his entire class must have definitely been watching him and laughing.


    Ye Cheng let out an "oh," but said nothing else after that. Gu Shaofan thought he should say something, anything, but he was never good at speaking so he could only stare at Ye Cheng with him lips sealed shut. His staring made Ye Cheng feel awkward, whose hands moved to scratch his head nervously. So upon sensing the other boy''s mood, Gu Shaofan turned his gaze towards his desk.


    So Ye Cheng felt depressed, quite depressed in fact.


    Tao Lu was quite happy Ye Cheng was no longer hanging around Gu Shaofan. The large boy was very popular amongst his classmates, so once he started dragging Ye Cheng around all over, the way the entire class changed their attitude towards Ye Cheng was a breakneck speed. After his classes were done, during the break period, Ye Cheng had also stopped sitting in his seat, always choosing to go sit by someone else to chatter away.


    There was nothing they could really do to help their son since adults could not interfere in such matters amongst children. Besides, Wang Juan also held the proud belief that if friends didn''t gather around her son, then just let them keep their distance. After all, you never see male lions grouping up with other male lions, do you? Stuff like that was common amongst mice. Anyhow, she always made her kids train because the was one thing she would never allow, and that was for her children to be beaten up.


    As luck would have it, those never in stock textbook of his had coincidentally been bought that very night. Ye Chenghui still cared about his son''s education, and had gone to the book store every day to inquire about any new books. So when he went there earlier that day and saw that they were in stock, he had bought them all immediately.


    With this, there was no reason for the two boys to group together during class.


    Ye Cheng''s thoughts instantly became tangled, and he said nothing further.


    Looking at her that son of hers from top to bottom, Wang Juan sighed, then poked that crinkled place belonging to her baby boy. "This is progress."


    iana: In case you''re wondering how the Gu''s have two sons. Before the 2016 repeal, the one child policy did have some "allowances." Having a second child got you fined a year''s worth of your salary or something along those lines. Another was that a remarried couple could have a second child as long as one of them had never had any children of their own.


    There was nothing they could really do to help their son since adults could not interfere in such matters amongst children. Besides, Wang Juan also held the proud belief that if friends didn''t gather around her son, then just let them keep their distance. After all, you never see male lions grouping up with other male lions, do you? Stuff like that was common amongst mice. Anyhow, she always made her kids train because the was one thing she would never allow, and that was for her children to be beaten up.


    She was well aware what was happening to her son at school, as was her husband, because their first son, Gu Shaoqing, had experienced the same thing. But Gu Shaoqing had a more agreeable personality than Gu Shaofan, and he people skills was quite good, so when he when he was being shunned by his classmates, it did not last for too long.


    Walking two blocks to where his family''s car was waiting to pick him up and take him home. Ye Cheng''s guess before as actually correct, though, his family did indeed live in a villa near the suburbs. Counting the attic, it had a total of four floors, and because it was on a slope, the main entrance was on the second floor. While walking up the stairs, Gu Shaofan glanced over the mahogany railing to the hall on the first floor, seeing that neither Gu Yun nor Gu Shaoqing were home. Only his mother was there, having made her way from the greenhouse with a servant hurriedly helping her in removing her gardening gloves.


    Wearing his bookbag on his back, for the first time ever, Ye Cheng rode to school on that beautiful and ostentatious bike of his school. But because of that issue weighing down on his heart that made him always feel unhappy, he felt no excitement from riding that bike of his to school at all.


    Gu Shaofan had the keys, and he did always reach to school rather early, after all. So grabbing his bookbag that was long packed and laying on the desk, Ye Cheng swung it over his back as he said, "I''ll be leaving first, then. Bye!"


    Wang Juan was stunned, obviously understanding what the main issue now was. This made thing''s difficult, because before when Gu Shaofan was ostracized by those kids, it was based on nothing but groundless speculation. But this time, Gu Shaofan had admitting it himself, making it so that those children weren''t just exaggerating.


    She then turned to walk the stairs, but from behind her, she heard Gu Shaofan whisper, "But mom, I feel a bit... sad."


    Once he arrived at class, as usual, he noticed Gu Shaofan had gotten there first. But Ye Cheng did not go greet him, instead he diligently sat in his seat then took out the textbook for the English class that was set for their first period before neatly organising the stuff on his desk.


    The atmosphere between the two was extremely oppressive. It was so stark that Ye Cheng didn''t have he wherewithal to stand it, forcing him to flip open his textbook and begin taking notes. There was nothing for him to do, so he just found something. Things had gotten a little better during class then when the bell When the bell for second period rang, everyone went t the sports ground for morning exercises. Ye Cheng didn''t go there together with Gu Shaofan as usual either. Upon hearing the first ring of the bell, he stood up awkwardly then hurried out of the classroom.


    Ye Cheng was flung so hard that his hand slammed into the small stove outside the restaurant crossways and knocked over one of the large pots with a clank, causing all the soup within it to pour all over Ye Cheng.


    Once he arrived at class, as usual, he noticed Gu Shaofan had gotten there first. But Ye Cheng did not go greet him, instead he diligently sat in his seat then took out the textbook for the English class that was set for their first period before neatly organising the stuff on his desk.


    Once he arrived at class, as usual, he noticed Gu Shaofan had gotten there first. But Ye Cheng did not go greet him, instead he diligently sat in his seat then took out the textbook for the English class that was set for their first period before neatly organising the stuff on his desk.


    The atmosphere between the two was extremely oppressive. It was so stark that Ye Cheng didn''t have he wherewithal to stand it, forcing him to flip open his textbook and begin taking notes. There was nothing for him to do, so he just found something. Things had gotten a little better during class then when the bell When the bell for second period rang, everyone went t the sports ground for morning exercises. Ye Cheng didn''t go there together with Gu Shaofan as usual either. Upon hearing the first ring of the bell, he stood up awkwardly then hurried out of the classroom.


    There was nothing they could really do to help their son since adults could not interfere in such matters amongst children. Besides, Wang Juan also held the proud belief that if friends didn''t gather around her son, then just let them keep their distance. After all, you never see male lions grouping up with other male lions, do you? Stuff like that was common amongst mice. Anyhow, she always made her kids train because the was one thing she would never allow, and that was for her children to be beaten up.


    Gu Shaofan lowered his eyes, still not uttering a word, prompting Wang Juan to pinch her son''s cheeks. "Alright then. I''ll take a guess. Did something happen between you and your new friend?"


    Caught in the stream of students making their way down the four storeys, Ye Cheng thought about what he was going to do for lunch at noon. Am I not going to eat with Gu Shaofan again too? Okay, fine. I''ll just eat alone, on my own...


    Afterwards, Gu Yun had put all his efforts towards completely scrubbing his entire gang clean to transform his gang leader self into an industrialist. It was a process that required patience, and it wasn''t until Gu Shaofan was born that he had gotten everything on the right track. But Gu Shaofan was only an elementary school student, and his parents weren''t keen on telling their youngest about such things, so with regard to his family situation, Gu Shaofan was basically clueless.


    The atmosphere between the two was extremely oppressive. It was so stark that Ye Cheng didn''t have he wherewithal to stand it, forcing him to flip open his textbook and begin taking notes. There was nothing for him to do, so he just found something. Things had gotten a little better during class then when the bell When the bell for second period rang, everyone went t the sports ground for morning exercises. Ye Cheng didn''t go there together with Gu Shaofan as usual either. Upon hearing the first ring of the bell, he stood up awkwardly then hurried out of the classroom.


    Gu Shaofan''s face grew even more expressionless than usual, but even if he did not show any emotion on his face, Wang Juan still possessed the ability to understand the little boy she gave birth to.


    For some unknown reason, he felt that uncomfortable feeling once more, the one that made his heart feel strange. Ye Cheng felt more depressed as the day went on. But with him and Gu Shaofan no longer getting along, Tao Lu had begun talking to him again.


    For some unknown reason, he felt that uncomfortable feeling once more, the one that made his heart feel strange. Ye Cheng felt more depressed as the day went on. But with him and Gu Shaofan no longer getting along, Tao Lu had begun talking to him again.


    Ye Cheng let out an "oh," but said nothing else after that. Gu Shaofan thought he should say something, anything, but he was never good at speaking so he could only stare at Ye Cheng with him lips sealed shut. His staring made Ye Cheng feel awkward, whose hands moved to scratch his head nervously. So upon sensing the other boy''s mood, Gu Shaofan turned his gaze towards his desk.


    The atmosphere between the two was extremely oppressive. It was so stark that Ye Cheng didn''t have he wherewithal to stand it, forcing him to flip open his textbook and begin taking notes. There was nothing for him to do, so he just found something. Things had gotten a little better during class then when the bell When the bell for second period rang, everyone went t the sports ground for morning exercises. Ye Cheng didn''t go there together with Gu Shaofan as usual either. Upon hearing the first ring of the bell, he stood up awkwardly then hurried out of the classroom.


    Tao Lu was quite happy Ye Cheng was no longer hanging around Gu Shaofan. The large boy was very popular amongst his classmates, so once he started dragging Ye Cheng around all over, the way the entire class changed their attitude towards Ye Cheng was a breakneck speed. After his classes were done, during the break period, Ye Cheng had also stopped sitting in his seat, always choosing to go sit by someone else to chatter away.


    "Your bike looks really sweet, bro. Can I borrow it for a couple days?" As he said this, he yanked Ye Cheng with all his strength, and because Ye Cheng was still paralysed with fear at the time, being pulled like made him fall to the ground head first.


    Gu Shaofan displayed no special reaction to all this, still doing things just as he had before, coming and going on his own. Sometimes Ye Cheng wondered how on earth things had become like this. And seeing Gu Shaofan''s lonely form made his heart ache. He was a child with a very strong ability of imagining himself in someone else''s shoes, so when thinking of himself being in such a position, he found it...


    At his reaction, the two boys stared at each other for a while, seeming to not know what they should do and had guilty expressions were written all over their faces. The one who was holding on to Ye Cheng''s wrist had let go at this point, but he then called out to his Brother Qiang who was waiting nearby. A figure with dishevelled hair covering their eyes and clothes that were just as unkempt, had sauntered out from within that alleyway. By the looks of him, compared to Ye Cheng, he seemed no more than a few years older. But with the slight hunch in his posture and his bad attitude, coupled with the malevolent grin spread across his face, the way he looked was unsettling.


    Gu Shaofan was depressed. In his short existence, this was the first time he had ever found himself feeling such a level of sadness.


    Headache


    Gu Shaofan had the keys, and he did always reach to school rather early, after all. So grabbing his bookbag that was long packed and laying on the desk, Ye Cheng swung it over his back as he said, "I''ll be leaving first, then. Bye!"


    ...really sad.


    With this, there was no reason for the two boys to group together during class.


    Gu Shaofan lowered his eyes, still not uttering a word, prompting Wang Juan to pinch her son''s cheeks. "Alright then. I''ll take a guess. Did something happen between you and your new friend?"


    What does that mean?


    Wang Juan was stunned, obviously understanding what the main issue now was. This made thing''s difficult, because before when Gu Shaofan was ostracized by those kids, it was based on nothing but groundless speculation. But this time, Gu Shaofan had admitting it himself, making it so that those children weren''t just exaggerating.


    Their strange situation continued like this for about half a month, until the day it was both he and Gu Shaofan''s turn to be on duty after classes were all over. The students on duty were assigned via seating chart, so it was always grouped together by the two deskmates. Before he left, Tao Lu sent a wink Ye Cheng''s way, gloating at his new friend''s misfortune.


    Brother Qiang didn''t mince words with the struggling Ye Cheng either, as he walked right up to the younger boy and kicked him in the shin. Ye Cheng was so taken aback by the blow, his reaction to the pain was secondary. It was the first time in his life he had found himself in such a situation that all he could feel was fear.


    Walking two blocks to where his family''s car was waiting to pick him up and take him home. Ye Cheng''s guess before as actually correct, though, his family did indeed live in a villa near the suburbs. Counting the attic, it had a total of four floors, and because it was on a slope, the main entrance was on the second floor. While walking up the stairs, Gu Shaofan glanced over the mahogany railing to the hall on the first floor, seeing that neither Gu Yun nor Gu Shaoqing were home. Only his mother was there, having made her way from the greenhouse with a servant hurriedly helping her in removing her gardening gloves.


    At his reaction, the two boys stared at each other for a while, seeming to not know what they should do and had guilty expressions were written all over their faces. The one who was holding on to Ye Cheng''s wrist had let go at this point, but he then called out to his Brother Qiang who was waiting nearby. A figure with dishevelled hair covering their eyes and clothes that were just as unkempt, had sauntered out from within that alleyway. By the looks of him, compared to Ye Cheng, he seemed no more than a few years older. But with the slight hunch in his posture and his bad attitude, coupled with the malevolent grin spread across his face, the way he looked was unsettling.


    Ye Cheng was flung so hard that his hand slammed into the small stove outside the restaurant crossways and knocked over one of the large pots with a clank, causing all the soup within it to pour all over Ye Cheng.


    The tasks of the ones on duty included sweeping the classroom and organising the supplies. As he swept, Gu Shaofan said nothing, seeming completely absorbed in his task. As for Ye Cheng, he went up to the podium and started cleaning the blackboard, then emptied out the chalk dust pooled in the slot beneath it before finally organising the chalk themselves. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Gu Shaofan had already swept the back of the classroom and was now straightening the desks and chairs. He did it all so quickly that Ye Cheng did not need to do anything after he was done. Saying nothing, he awkwardly stared at Gu Shaofan as he swept. Neither of the two had said so much as a word to the other. It was difficult for him to wait until Gu Shaofan was done emptying the trash bins, so after Gu Shaofan lifted up the garbage bags, Ye Cheng''s eyes lit up.


    At the entrance of the alley, there was a small eatery, which had a bunch of small portable stoves with aluminium pots stacked on top. A waiter had even just come out of the small establishment, and without so much as glancing at the fighting kids less than a step away, they opened up one of the large pots with the simmering food being cooked, scooped out a portion that dish, then went to deliver it to a customer.


    Gu Shaofan was depressed. In his short existence, this was the first time he had ever found himself feeling such a level of sadness.


    Their strange situation continued like this for about half a month, until the day it was both he and Gu Shaofan''s turn to be on duty after classes were all over. The students on duty were assigned via seating chart, so it was always grouped together by the two deskmates. Before he left, Tao Lu sent a wink Ye Cheng''s way, gloating at his new friend''s misfortune.


    At the entrance of the alley, there was a small eatery, which had a bunch of small portable stoves with aluminium pots stacked on top. A waiter had even just come out of the small establishment, and without so much as glancing at the fighting kids less than a step away, they opened up one of the large pots with the simmering food being cooked, scooped out a portion that dish, then went to deliver it to a customer.


    "Tsk. You were in a good mood recently, so did something happen today?" Wang Juan gently lifted her son''s face by the chin and looked him over." You look like if somebody owes you a lot of money. Come on, love, tell mama what''s wrong."


    I can leave right now.


    Ye Cheng was flung so hard that his hand slammed into the small stove outside the restaurant crossways and knocked over one of the large pots with a clank, causing all the soup within it to pour all over Ye Cheng.


    Their strange situation continued like this for about half a month, until the day it was both he and Gu Shaofan''s turn to be on duty after classes were all over. The students on duty were assigned via seating chart, so it was always grouped together by the two deskmates. Before he left, Tao Lu sent a wink Ye Cheng''s way, gloating at his new friend''s misfortune.


    Wearing his bookbag on his back, for the first time ever, Ye Cheng rode to school on that beautiful and ostentatious bike of his school. But because of that issue weighing down on his heart that made him always feel unhappy, he felt no excitement from riding that bike of his to school at all.


    Tao Lu was quite happy Ye Cheng was no longer hanging around Gu Shaofan. The large boy was very popular amongst his classmates, so once he started dragging Ye Cheng around all over, the way the entire class changed their attitude towards Ye Cheng was a breakneck speed. After his classes were done, during the break period, Ye Cheng had also stopped sitting in his seat, always choosing to go sit by someone else to chatter away.


    Ye Cheng immediately realised he was in trouble, so grabbing the handlebars, he used all his might to pedal while yelling, "Get out the way!"


    iana: In case you''re wondering how the Gu''s have two sons. Before the 2016 repeal, the one child policy did have some "allowances." Having a second child got you fined a year''s worth of your salary or something along those lines. Another was that a remarried couple could have a second child as long as one of them had never had any children of their own.


    Gu Shaofan lowered his eyes, still not uttering a word, prompting Wang Juan to pinch her son''s cheeks. "Alright then. I''ll take a guess. Did something happen between you and your new friend?"


    "Tsk. You were in a good mood recently, so did something happen today?" Wang Juan gently lifted her son''s face by the chin and looked him over." You look like if somebody owes you a lot of money. Come on, love, tell mama what''s wrong."


    N/A


    Wang Juan had found out about Ye Cheng from her son''s own mouth, and after she told that story to her husband, the two parents felt an incomparable amount of joy. Their son had finally found a friend. What''s more, their son who had never spoke much before had obviously levelled up his communication skills when speaking with this Ye Cheng. So Wang Juan now wondered if the trouble between them happened during the past couple of weeks.


    Gu Shaofan had the keys, and he did always reach to school rather early, after all. So grabbing his bookbag that was long packed and laying on the desk, Ye Cheng swung it over his back as he said, "I''ll be leaving first, then. Bye!"


    Gu Shaofan had the keys, and he did always reach to school rather early, after all. So grabbing his bookbag that was long packed and laying on the desk, Ye Cheng swung it over his back as he said, "I''ll be leaving first, then. Bye!"


    Ye Cheng: "?"


    And to this, Gu Shaofan simply gave a light nod in return. Ye Cheng found himself hesitating for a moment, still wanting to say something more. But, in the end, he just tugged the straps of his backpack then bolted out of the room.


    There weren''t a lot of students who rode their bikes to school, so Ye Cheng''s bike was parked together with the teachers and staff''s. After opening the two locks and hanging then on the bars, he walked his bike to the school gates. It was an Indian summer, so the autumn air was not one bit cool, and at that hour there was already no sign of other students around the school. So as soon as Ye Cheng made it out the gates, he jumped on his bike and glided on his way. But before he had even made it a few metres, he saw two people waving over and over for him to stop while they blocked his way.


    But the name Ye Cheng was one both she and her husband had no choice but to pay attention to, because for the first time in his life, their baby boy had brought up another kid his age, and asked them to help him take a sandwich to school for a boy named Ye Cheng.


    Caught in the stream of students making their way down the four storeys, Ye Cheng thought about what he was going to do for lunch at noon. Am I not going to eat with Gu Shaofan again too? Okay, fine. I''ll just eat alone, on my own...


    The servant sighed. The little young master only listened to the Madame, after all.


    Wang Juan was stunned, obviously understanding what the main issue now was. This made thing''s difficult, because before when Gu Shaofan was ostracized by those kids, it was based on nothing but groundless speculation. But this time, Gu Shaofan had admitting it himself, making it so that those children weren''t just exaggerating.


    There was nothing they could really do to help their son since adults could not interfere in such matters amongst children. Besides, Wang Juan also held the proud belief that if friends didn''t gather around her son, then just let them keep their distance. After all, you never see male lions grouping up with other male lions, do you? Stuff like that was common amongst mice. Anyhow, she always made her kids train because the was one thing she would never allow, and that was for her children to be beaten up.


    She then turned to walk the stairs, but from behind her, she heard Gu Shaofan whisper, "But mom, I feel a bit... sad."


    There weren''t a lot of students who rode their bikes to school, so Ye Cheng''s bike was parked together with the teachers and staff''s. After opening the two locks and hanging then on the bars, he walked his bike to the school gates. It was an Indian summer, so the autumn air was not one bit cool, and at that hour there was already no sign of other students around the school. So as soon as Ye Cheng made it out the gates, he jumped on his bike and glided on his way. But before he had even made it a few metres, he saw two people waving over and over for him to stop while they blocked his way.


    Brother Qiang didn''t mince words with the struggling Ye Cheng either, as he walked right up to the younger boy and kicked him in the shin. Ye Cheng was so taken aback by the blow, his reaction to the pain was secondary. It was the first time in his life he had found himself in such a situation that all he could feel was fear.


    Wang Juan had found out about Ye Cheng from her son''s own mouth, and after she told that story to her husband, the two parents felt an incomparable amount of joy. Their son had finally found a friend. What''s more, their son who had never spoke much before had obviously levelled up his communication skills when speaking with this Ye Cheng. So Wang Juan now wondered if the trouble between them happened during the past couple of weeks.


    There weren''t a lot of students who rode their bikes to school, so Ye Cheng''s bike was parked together with the teachers and staff''s. After opening the two locks and hanging then on the bars, he walked his bike to the school gates. It was an Indian summer, so the autumn air was not one bit cool, and at that hour there was already no sign of other students around the school. So as soon as Ye Cheng made it out the gates, he jumped on his bike and glided on his way. But before he had even made it a few metres, he saw two people waving over and over for him to stop while they blocked his way.


    Afterwards, Gu Yun had put all his efforts towards completely scrubbing his entire gang clean to transform his gang leader self into an industrialist. It was a process that required patience, and it wasn''t until Gu Shaofan was born that he had gotten everything on the right track. But Gu Shaofan was only an elementary school student, and his parents weren''t keen on telling their youngest about such things, so with regard to his family situation, Gu Shaofan was basically clueless.


    Once he arrived at class, as usual, he noticed Gu Shaofan had gotten there first. But Ye Cheng did not go greet him, instead he diligently sat in his seat then took out the textbook for the English class that was set for their first period before neatly organising the stuff on his desk.


    Ye Cheng: "?"


    Wang Juan had found out about Ye Cheng from her son''s own mouth, and after she told that story to her husband, the two parents felt an incomparable amount of joy. Their son had finally found a friend. What''s more, their son who had never spoke much before had obviously levelled up his communication skills when speaking with this Ye Cheng. So Wang Juan now wondered if the trouble between them happened during the past couple of weeks.


    Neither of them said another word to the other for the rest of that day.


    N/A


    Wearing his bookbag on his back, for the first time ever, Ye Cheng rode to school on that beautiful and ostentatious bike of his school. But because of that issue weighing down on his heart that made him always feel unhappy, he felt no excitement from riding that bike of his to school at all.


    What does that mean?


    He pulled the brakes and put one foot on the ground then curiously looked at the two people before him. Neither of them looked older than him, so Ye Cheng guessed they were about his own age. His mind turned and turned trying to confirm whether he knew those boys, as they were not wearing the uniform of his school either.


    The tasks of the ones on duty included sweeping the classroom and organising the supplies. As he swept, Gu Shaofan said nothing, seeming completely absorbed in his task. As for Ye Cheng, he went up to the podium and started cleaning the blackboard, then emptied out the chalk dust pooled in the slot beneath it before finally organising the chalk themselves. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Gu Shaofan had already swept the back of the classroom and was now straightening the desks and chairs. He did it all so quickly that Ye Cheng did not need to do anything after he was done. Saying nothing, he awkwardly stared at Gu Shaofan as he swept. Neither of the two had said so much as a word to the other. It was difficult for him to wait until Gu Shaofan was done emptying the trash bins, so after Gu Shaofan lifted up the garbage bags, Ye Cheng''s eyes lit up.


    So Ye Cheng felt depressed, quite depressed in fact.


    Gu Shaofan stiffened, his steps coming to a halt.


    The two boys then approached him, with one of the boys grabbing hold of the handlebar of Ye Cheng''s bike, while his face split open in a grin. "Hey, buddy, we got something to talk to you about, so you mind staying back for a while?


    There weren''t a lot of students who rode their bikes to school, so Ye Cheng''s bike was parked together with the teachers and staff''s. After opening the two locks and hanging then on the bars, he walked his bike to the school gates. It was an Indian summer, so the autumn air was not one bit cool, and at that hour there was already no sign of other students around the school. So as soon as Ye Cheng made it out the gates, he jumped on his bike and glided on his way. But before he had even made it a few metres, he saw two people waving over and over for him to stop while they blocked his way.


    Gu Shaofan''s face grew even more expressionless than usual, but even if he did not show any emotion on his face, Wang Juan still possessed the ability to understand the little boy she gave birth to.


    He pulled the brakes and put one foot on the ground then curiously looked at the two people before him. Neither of them looked older than him, so Ye Cheng guessed they were about his own age. His mind turned and turned trying to confirm whether he knew those boys, as they were not wearing the uniform of his school either.


    Ye Cheng''s head was all question marks, so he said in return, "I don''t know you guys."


    The atmosphere between the two was extremely oppressive. It was so stark that Ye Cheng didn''t have he wherewithal to stand it, forcing him to flip open his textbook and begin taking notes. There was nothing for him to do, so he just found something. Things had gotten a little better during class then when the bell When the bell for second period rang, everyone went t the sports ground for morning exercises. Ye Cheng didn''t go there together with Gu Shaofan as usual either. Upon hearing the first ring of the bell, he stood up awkwardly then hurried out of the classroom.


    Ye Cheng was flung so hard that his hand slammed into the small stove outside the restaurant crossways and knocked over one of the large pots with a clank, causing all the soup within it to pour all over Ye Cheng.


    The atmosphere between the two was extremely oppressive. It was so stark that Ye Cheng didn''t have he wherewithal to stand it, forcing him to flip open his textbook and begin taking notes. There was nothing for him to do, so he just found something. Things had gotten a little better during class then when the bell When the bell for second period rang, everyone went t the sports ground for morning exercises. Ye Cheng didn''t go there together with Gu Shaofan as usual either. Upon hearing the first ring of the bell, he stood up awkwardly then hurried out of the classroom.


    Ye Cheng was flung so hard that his hand slammed into the small stove outside the restaurant crossways and knocked over one of the large pots with a clank, causing all the soup within it to pour all over Ye Cheng.


    After looking round, the other boy pulled Ye Cheng by the arm. "Then you can just get to know us know. My older brother is waiting for you over there."


    The fragrance of the food being cooked in the kitchen gradually began filling the air. Taking hold of the railing, Wang Juan took a look downstairs at the dining room table which was of course hidden from her current line of sight. She then instructed her son, "Go put your stuff down then come downstairs for dinner."


    The fragrance of the food being cooked in the kitchen gradually began filling the air. Taking hold of the railing, Wang Juan took a look downstairs at the dining room table which was of course hidden from her current line of sight. She then instructed her son, "Go put your stuff down then come downstairs for dinner."


    Their strange situation continued like this for about half a month, until the day it was both he and Gu Shaofan''s turn to be on duty after classes were all over. The students on duty were assigned via seating chart, so it was always grouped together by the two deskmates. Before he left, Tao Lu sent a wink Ye Cheng''s way, gloating at his new friend''s misfortune.


    She was forty years old and had taken great care of her health, leaving her skin free of any noticeable wrinkles. Locking sights with that little boy of hers whose face was engraved with bitterness, she went up the stairs and called out, "Shaofan, hold it right there mister."


    "Your older brother?" While Ye Cheng sat on his bike, with one pulling the bike and the other pulling him, he was dragged forward on the road by a short distance, then about taken down an alleyway. He flung his arms about impatiently as he was dragged, screaming, "I don''t know your brother! Let me go! I want to go home!"


    After saying this, she gave him a smile and added, "Serious though, what''s wrong, honey? Can''t you give your mama just one smile?"


    There weren''t a lot of students who rode their bikes to school, so Ye Cheng''s bike was parked together with the teachers and staff''s. After opening the two locks and hanging then on the bars, he walked his bike to the school gates. It was an Indian summer, so the autumn air was not one bit cool, and at that hour there was already no sign of other students around the school. So as soon as Ye Cheng made it out the gates, he jumped on his bike and glided on his way. But before he had even made it a few metres, he saw two people waving over and over for him to stop while they blocked his way.


    He was under a lot of pressure when he made friends with Gu Shaofan, but in the end, the truth was actually what everyone had been saying. Gu Shaofan''s family were in fact made up of dangerous elements.


    At his reaction, the two boys stared at each other for a while, seeming to not know what they should do and had guilty expressions were written all over their faces. The one who was holding on to Ye Cheng''s wrist had let go at this point, but he then called out to his Brother Qiang who was waiting nearby. A figure with dishevelled hair covering their eyes and clothes that were just as unkempt, had sauntered out from within that alleyway. By the looks of him, compared to Ye Cheng, he seemed no more than a few years older. But with the slight hunch in his posture and his bad attitude, coupled with the malevolent grin spread across his face, the way he looked was unsettling.


    Wearing his bookbag on his back, for the first time ever, Ye Cheng rode to school on that beautiful and ostentatious bike of his school. But because of that issue weighing down on his heart that made him always feel unhappy, he felt no excitement from riding that bike of his to school at all.


    Wang Juan had found out about Ye Cheng from her son''s own mouth, and after she told that story to her husband, the two parents felt an incomparable amount of joy. Their son had finally found a friend. What''s more, their son who had never spoke much before had obviously levelled up his communication skills when speaking with this Ye Cheng. So Wang Juan now wondered if the trouble between them happened during the past couple of weeks.


    On the other side, Ye Cheng was also quite sad himself.


    He was under a lot of pressure when he made friends with Gu Shaofan, but in the end, the truth was actually what everyone had been saying. Gu Shaofan''s family were in fact made up of dangerous elements.


    So Ye Cheng felt depressed, quite depressed in fact.


    He pulled the brakes and put one foot on the ground then curiously looked at the two people before him. Neither of them looked older than him, so Ye Cheng guessed they were about his own age. His mind turned and turned trying to confirm whether he knew those boys, as they were not wearing the uniform of his school either.


    At his reaction, the two boys stared at each other for a while, seeming to not know what they should do and had guilty expressions were written all over their faces. The one who was holding on to Ye Cheng''s wrist had let go at this point, but he then called out to his Brother Qiang who was waiting nearby. A figure with dishevelled hair covering their eyes and clothes that were just as unkempt, had sauntered out from within that alleyway. By the looks of him, compared to Ye Cheng, he seemed no more than a few years older. But with the slight hunch in his posture and his bad attitude, coupled with the malevolent grin spread across his face, the way he looked was unsettling.


    Wearing his bookbag on his back, for the first time ever, Ye Cheng rode to school on that beautiful and ostentatious bike of his school. But because of that issue weighing down on his heart that made him always feel unhappy, he felt no excitement from riding that bike of his to school at all.


    Wang Juan made her way to the second floor with a smile. "What''s got you all moody?"


    Ye Cheng immediately realised he was in trouble, so grabbing the handlebars, he used all his might to pedal while yelling, "Get out the way!"


    And it wasn''t just Gu Shaofan, all the males in the Gu family, both the big and small, feared Wang Juan, Gu Yun included.


    Ye Cheng''s thoughts instantly became tangled, and he said nothing further.


    But Ye Cheng honestly did not feel that scared, Gu Shaofan was still his first friend at that school. What''s more, because of Gu Shaofan''s relationships, he was that boys only friend too. Gu Shaofan was the one who let him borrow his books, gave him the right answers, and also brought him yummy food¡ªand none of these had anything to do with dangerous elements. But... in that child heart of his still, there still an uncomfortable sense of betrayal. He felt as though he was seen as a joke. That his entire class must have definitely been watching him and laughing.


    At the entrance of the alley, there was a small eatery, which had a bunch of small portable stoves with aluminium pots stacked on top. A waiter had even just come out of the small establishment, and without so much as glancing at the fighting kids less than a step away, they opened up one of the large pots with the simmering food being cooked, scooped out a portion that dish, then went to deliver it to a customer.


    Lifting her head to look at her son, Wang Juan''s eyebrows lifted.


    At the entrance of the alley, there was a small eatery, which had a bunch of small portable stoves with aluminium pots stacked on top. A waiter had even just come out of the small establishment, and without so much as glancing at the fighting kids less than a step away, they opened up one of the large pots with the simmering food being cooked, scooped out a portion that dish, then went to deliver it to a customer.


    After looking round, the other boy pulled Ye Cheng by the arm. "Then you can just get to know us know. My older brother is waiting for you over there."


    Brother Qiang didn''t mince words with the struggling Ye Cheng either, as he walked right up to the younger boy and kicked him in the shin. Ye Cheng was so taken aback by the blow, his reaction to the pain was secondary. It was the first time in his life he had found himself in such a situation that all he could feel was fear.


    She was well aware what was happening to her son at school, as was her husband, because their first son, Gu Shaoqing, had experienced the same thing. But Gu Shaoqing had a more agreeable personality than Gu Shaofan, and he people skills was quite good, so when he when he was being shunned by his classmates, it did not last for too long.


    What does that mean?


    Ye Cheng: "?"


    Ye Cheng''s head was all question marks, so he said in return, "I don''t know you guys."


    "Your older brother?" While Ye Cheng sat on his bike, with one pulling the bike and the other pulling him, he was dragged forward on the road by a short distance, then about taken down an alleyway. He flung his arms about impatiently as he was dragged, screaming, "I don''t know your brother! Let me go! I want to go home!"


    "Your bike looks really sweet, bro. Can I borrow it for a couple days?" As he said this, he yanked Ye Cheng with all his strength, and because Ye Cheng was still paralysed with fear at the time, being pulled like made him fall to the ground head first.


    On the other side, Ye Cheng was also quite sad himself.


    Ye Cheng was flung so hard that his hand slammed into the small stove outside the restaurant crossways and knocked over one of the large pots with a clank, causing all the soup within it to pour all over Ye Cheng.


    Once he arrived at class, as usual, he noticed Gu Shaofan had gotten there first. But Ye Cheng did not go greet him, instead he diligently sat in his seat then took out the textbook for the English class that was set for their first period before neatly organising the stuff on his desk.


    She then turned to walk the stairs, but from behind her, she heard Gu Shaofan whisper, "But mom, I feel a bit... sad."


    But the name Ye Cheng was one both she and her husband had no choice but to pay attention to, because for the first time in his life, their baby boy had brought up another kid his age, and asked them to help him take a sandwich to school for a boy named Ye Cheng.


    So Ye Cheng felt depressed, quite depressed in fact.


    After this incident, from that alleyway, two shrill screams rang out.


    Gu Shaofan stiffened, his steps coming to a halt.


    There was nothing they could really do to help their son since adults could not interfere in such matters amongst children. Besides, Wang Juan also held the proud belief that if friends didn''t gather around her son, then just let them keep their distance. After all, you never see male lions grouping up with other male lions, do you? Stuff like that was common amongst mice. Anyhow, she always made her kids train because the was one thing she would never allow, and that was for her children to be beaten up.


    Walking two blocks to where his family''s car was waiting to pick him up and take him home. Ye Cheng''s guess before as actually correct, though, his family did indeed live in a villa near the suburbs. Counting the attic, it had a total of four floors, and because it was on a slope, the main entrance was on the second floor. While walking up the stairs, Gu Shaofan glanced over the mahogany railing to the hall on the first floor, seeing that neither Gu Yun nor Gu Shaoqing were home. Only his mother was there, having made her way from the greenhouse with a servant hurriedly helping her in removing her gardening gloves.


    I can leave right now.


    At his reaction, the two boys stared at each other for a while, seeming to not know what they should do and had guilty expressions were written all over their faces. The one who was holding on to Ye Cheng''s wrist had let go at this point, but he then called out to his Brother Qiang who was waiting nearby. A figure with dishevelled hair covering their eyes and clothes that were just as unkempt, had sauntered out from within that alleyway. By the looks of him, compared to Ye Cheng, he seemed no more than a few years older. But with the slight hunch in his posture and his bad attitude, coupled with the malevolent grin spread across his face, the way he looked was unsettling.


    "Your older brother?" While Ye Cheng sat on his bike, with one pulling the bike and the other pulling him, he was dragged forward on the road by a short distance, then about taken down an alleyway. He flung his arms about impatiently as he was dragged, screaming, "I don''t know your brother! Let me go! I want to go home!"


    The servant sighed. The little young master only listened to the Madame, after all.