Is there really such a thing as immortals in this world? Li Yundong used to be absolutely certain about this question, but after a string of unbelievable events appeared in his life and happened to him, even his firm conviction began to waver. “The Southern School of Daoism, Longhu Mountain, what sect, what kind of Orthodox Unity Sect, which generation disciple under the True Person Wang of the Spirit [unclear character] Sect, Ruan Hongling?” Li Yundong murmured, his expression odd. “What nonsense is this? They speak of it with such seriousness, like something out of a Wuxia novel?”
After seeing off the uninvited guest, Li Yundong found that the mood and atmosphere for flirting with the young girl had completely vanished, and Su Chan refused to come out of her room no matter what.
Bored, Li Yundong picked up his history textbook for the upcoming exam and started flipping through it. After reading for a while, his mind felt too cluttered; he couldn't absorb anything, so he tossed the history book aside again and collapsed onto the living room sofa, staring blankly into space.
“What exactly is Su Chan’s background? Where did this strange power in my body come from? And what was up with that girl just now?” Li Yundong vaguely felt as if inexplicable presences were slowly closing in around him, enveloping him tightly.
“Forget it, I won’t worry about it,” Li Yundong sighed after agonizing over it without finding any answers. He picked up his textbook on Ancient Chinese Literature instead and started diligently memorizing lines. “I’d better figure out how to survive the final exams first.”
Another day passed in a haze, and the little girl, frightened and anxious all day long, finally did not experience the disaster she had feared.
Li Yundong and Su Chan left the house a little after seven, arriving at school past eight. The campus was teeming with students heading to class, moving back and forth like weaving threads.
“Li Yundong!” Just as they reached the base of the teaching building, Feng Na waved at him from a short distance away.
“Good morning!” Li Yundong greeted her with a smile.
Feng Na trotted over to Li Yundong, nodded kindly at Su Chan, then thrust a recorded optical disc into Li Yundong’s hand, saying tensely, “Keep this safe for me!”
Li Yundong’s expression instantly became very colorful. He winked slyly at Feng Na and asked, “What film is it? Don't tell me it's one of those adult action movies?”
Feng Na shot him a look. Before she could explain, a loud shout was heard: “Nana, you’re being awful! What’s the big deal about lending it to me for a look?”
Cheng Cheng chased after them, shouting loudly. She paused when she saw Li Yundong and Su Chan, nodded to them, and then grabbed Feng Na again, pinching and pulling her arm. “So stingy! You won’t even let me borrow it for two days?”
Feng Na offered a strained smile while pleading, “Oh, I already told you I lent it out! Don’t you believe me! Besides, I haven't even watched this disc myself!”
Cheng Cheng was skeptical. “Lent it out? To whom?”
Feng Na feigned composure. “Someone you don’t know, a senior from the fourth year.” As she spoke, she glanced nervously at Li Yundong.
Cheng Cheng naturally followed Feng Na’s gaze to Li Yundong. Seeing the disc still in his hand, deep suspicion arose. “What’s that?” she asked Feng Na, looking at her with confusion. “Could this be the fourth-year senior you were talking about?”
Feng Na’s face stiffened. “Do you think I’d lie to your face?”
Cheng Cheng turned to Li Yundong. “Tell me the truth, what’s in your hand?”
Li Yundong had largely figured out what drama was unfolding between the two sisters. Always possessing a mischievous streak, he coughed dryly, leaned close to Cheng Cheng, lowered his voice, and said with a mysterious air, “Big Sister, want a disc?”
Cheng Cheng froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. “What disc do you have?”
Li Yundong spoke with animated enthusiasm. “I have Western ones, Japanese ones, ones with codes, the explicit kind—which one do you want?”
Cheng Cheng’s cheeks flushed slightly. She spat, “Pah! Give you an inch and you take a mile! You have no shame!” With that, she stamped her foot and angrily told Feng Na, “If you won’t lend it to me, I’ll go look for it myself! I don’t believe you can hide it anywhere!”
Saying this, she turned and ran off.
Feng Na finally let out a sigh of relief, gave Li Yundong a thumbs-up, and said with undisguised admiration, “My esteemed elder, you are truly quick-witted, brave, and utterly composed. Back in the day, you would have been a truly excellent underground agent! I’m impressed, deeply impressed!”
Li Yundong chuckled dismissively, turning the disc over in his hand. “What kind of film is this anyway? Makes everyone act so secretive and mysterious?”
Feng Na giggled. “The kind girls like to watch. You wouldn’t enjoy it.”
Li Yundong deliberately put on a stern face. “Who says? I’m a very open-minded person! I hereby confiscate this disc on behalf of the Nationalist Army! I’ll go back and study its contents before returning it to you!”
Feng Na never imagined escaping the wolf’s jaws only to land in the tiger’s mouth. She was stunned speechless, then exclaimed in shock and anger, “Hey, you’re being too harsh! I just managed to snatch this from a classmate, and you take it? No, no, give it back immediately, or I’ll shout indecent assault!”
Li Yundong laughed heartily. “No need for you to shout, I’ll do it for you.” With that, he called out loudly toward Cheng Cheng in the distance, “Hey, Cheng Cheng!” while waving the disc in his hand.
Cheng Cheng turned around, replying irritably, “What?”
Li Yundong didn't answer, just shot Feng Na a sly glance. Feng Na stamped her foot and gritted her teeth. “Fine, you win this round! You can borrow it for one day at most!”
Li Yundong smiled. “Thank you kindly then!”
Feng Na shot him a look of playful annoyance. “Consider me unlucky today, walking right into a trap!” With that, she turned and walked away.
Only then did Li Yundong call loudly to Cheng Cheng, “Nothing! The Party and the People asked me to send you their regards!”
Cheng Cheng spat, laughing, “Pah!” Then she, too, hurried away.
Li Yundong had unexpectedly gained a disc as a spoil of war. He examined it with amusement, his curiosity thoroughly piqued. He couldn’t help but murmur, “What secret are those two girls scheming? What’s really on this? Could it actually be a Japanese explicit romance film? Do girls watch that stuff?”
As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. Li Yundong spent the entire morning puzzling over the disc’s contents. Finally, when the morning session ended, he called out to Su Chan, who had just woken up drowsily beside him, “Alright, sleepyhead, class is over. What shall we eat for lunch?”
Su Chan had been anxious and fearful all night since Ruan Hongling’s sudden visit, and now she naturally looked a bit listless. She rubbed her eyes and said, “I don’t know. Let’s just grab something quick.”
At that moment, Zhou Qin, who sat in the row ahead, walked over and said with a smile, “Want to eat together? My treat?”
Li Yundong laughed. “You’re treating again? I’d be too embarrassed. We have afternoon classes, let’s just keep it simple.”
Zhou Qin chuckled. “It wasn't me treating yesterday; that was thanks to Liu Chuan, and Chef Li himself cooked! I didn't lift a finger.”
Speaking of that big spender, Liu Chuan, Li Yundong couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit bad about making him spend so extravagantly!”
Zhou Qin, recalling Liu Chuan’s dramatic performance yesterday, couldn't help but purse her lips into a smile. “It’s fine, he’s a rich man; he won’t go bankrupt over one meal.”
As the two were talking, they suddenly saw a male student approaching them, holding a bouquet of roses so large it covered his entire upper torso.
Zhou Qin frowned slightly. “Speak of the devil and they appear!”
Before Li Yundong could react, the young man lowered the bouquet slightly as he reached them, revealing a handsome and striking face—it was Liu Chuan.
Upon seeing Liu Chuan, Li Yundong couldn’t help but grin. He forcibly suppressed his laughter and said, “Hey, Liu Chuan, are you treating us to lunch today?”
Liu Chuan’s eye twitched. He acted as if he hadn’t seen Li Yundong, instead kneeling on one knee before Su Chan, holding the flowers high, and shouting, “Su Chan, your beauty is unparalleled in this world, your purity unmatched by any. Please accept these nine hundred and ninety-nine roses; they represent my undying adoration for you!”
Both Li Yundong and Su Chan were startled. Fury brewed darkly in Li Yundong’s heart; his eyebrows slowly rose, and his voice held a distinct edge of anger. “Hey, do you know what you’re doing?”
Liu Chuan cast a disdainful glance at Li Yundong. “Everyone in this world has the right to pursue love. I am currently exercising that right. Didn’t you understand?”
Su Chan was Li Yundong’s reverse scale; he would never allow anyone to touch her. Anyone who did instantly inflamed his rage beyond control.
Li Yundong smiled through his anger. “Good, very good!”
Zhou Qin, noticing his menacing expression and the sound of her own fists clenching tightly, pulled his arm and whispered, “Don’t get impulsive, look.” She gestured toward a corner not far away.
Li Yundong turned his head and saw several students aiming their cell phones at them, recording the scene.
Li Yundong grew even angrier. “So you came prepared! Excellent! Hey, Liu Chuan, are you planning to film the video of you getting beaten up so you can take it home for fond remembrance?”
Liu Chuan glanced at Li Yundong, feeling a flicker of apprehension, but his eyes darted around as if he’d thought of something. He then shouted loudly, “You dare hit me? Go ahead and try!”
Li Yundong was furious, and his hand was just lifting when Su Chan grabbed it, pulling him back. The little girl smiled, shook her head at him, and said, “Let me handle this.”
Li Yundong took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the rage surging up to his chest. “Fine. Hurry up and send him packing, before he ruins my appetite.”
A flicker of cunning crossed Su Chan’s eyes. She took the bouquet of roses from Liu Chuan’s hands and couldn’t help but exclaim, “What beautiful flowers!”
Seeing Su Chan accept his roses, Liu Chuan was ecstatic. He shot a triumphant look at Li Yundong, then said to Su Chan, “Even the most beautiful flowers cannot compare to your loveliness by even a fraction!”
Su Chan giggled, her face radiating innocent delight. “They smell wonderful too, come smell them!” As she spoke, she held the bouquet up to Liu Chuan’s face.
Liu Chuan saw Su Chan’s face bloom like a flower—truly more beautiful than the blossoms. He was captivated, his heart stirring. He couldn’t help but lower his head and take a deep, lingering breath, as if he were inhaling a human fragrance rather than the scent of flowers.
But when he lifted his head, he suddenly felt something on the tip of his nose. He strained his eyes, trying to focus them directly on the middle of his nose. Staring hard, he realized that perched right on his nose was a hornet, the size of a toddler’s fist!
The hornet was frighteningly large; he could almost clearly see its fuzz and the stinger at its tail. A single sting, he reckoned, would swell his head into a pig’s snout!
Liu Chuan was paralyzed with terror, his soul fleeing his body. He dared not use his hands to brush it off, nor did he dare make any sudden movements, fearing that this extraordinarily large hornet would sting him into a pig’s head.
He stared wide-eyed, his mouth pursed, blowing gently at the hornet on his nose, trying to scare it away. His expression was utterly comical and ridiculous.
Su Chan watched Liu Chuan with a grin and asked, “Does it smell good?”
Liu Chuan was now sweating profusely, stiff as stone, daring not move. How could he speak?
Seeing Liu Chuan remain silent, Su Chan laughed. “It doesn't smell good? If it doesn't smell good, I’ll give it back to you!” Saying this, she tossed the bouquet back toward his chest.
The moment Liu Chuan caught the flowers, countless hornets buzzed out of the bouquet like a dark cloud and swarmed toward him.
Liu Chuan felt a dense, tingling pain all over his body; clearly, he was being stung repeatedly. Terrified out of his wits, he flung the flowers far away and began to wail, “I’m being stung to death! I’m going to be stung to death! Help, someone help!”
He frantically swiped at his body with both hands, screaming and howling to the heavens, while scrambling away in a cloud of dust, running for his life.
=========================================================== Um, guys, the collective flower barrage from my readers over the weekend surprised me a bit. But in the last few minutes, we got overthrown, kicked from ninth place down to tenth. Comrades, you weren’t trying hard enough~ This week, I was supposed to have two bursts of triple updates, but it’s down to just one now~ What a tragedy~ Anyway, as previously agreed, tomorrow will be a triple update!