Chapter 43.1
Editor: Jodi
“Then get up here.” Ning Sheng patted the duck-shaped swimming ring. “Young Master will lie down with you.”
“I’ll…” Xu Ling was knocked away by Lu Peng who swam over. “…do it.”
Ning Sheng: “…”
Ning Sheng: “Are all you people from Qing’an Town water ghosts or something?”
“Maths Nerd, can you swim this fast?” Ning Sheng asked Li Haoyue.
“Only in a sea of math problems.” The math nerd said in reply. “You’ll all drown, and I’ll reign supreme.”
Ning Sheng: “Do you also want a slap?”
Using his skills, Ning Sheng paddled the swimming ring to the edge of the pool. However just as he grabbed the handrail, a hand underwater grabbed his ankle.
Ning Sheng: “???”
The hand slid around his ankle, gripped his calf, and pulled him down.
“Xu Dashan!” Ning Sheng shouted angrily.
“Correct!” Xu Ling popped out of the water.
“Are you childish or what?” Ning Sheng asked.
“I was just playing a convincing water ghost.” Xu Ling told him.
Ning Sheng: “Scram.”
“I’m going to shower and change.” Ning Sheng said.
Public pools like this in sports centers made him uncomfortable if he soaked too long.
“Let’s go together.” Xu Ling said, draping an arm over his shoulder.
This swimming pool near the school wasn’t big, hence its shower room was also small.
Luckily, they were the only ones using the shower room at this hour.
Ning Sheng was the first to take off his swimsuit.
The teenager’s slender fingers hooked the corner of his black swim trunks, pulled them open slightly, and bent over to take them off. His calf still bore faint, blurry red marks from Xu Ling grabbing him underwater earlier.
Xu Ling stepped back half a step, glanced for two seconds, looked away, and then sneaked another two-second glance.
Ning Sheng: “Ow!”
Ning Sheng stumbled a step because his left foot stepped on his right.
Ning Sheng: “Why didn’t you catch me?”
Xu Ling: “…”
“Next time you burn your mouth eating, are you going to blame me for not blowing on your food in time?” Xu Ling asked sincerely.
“Not really.” Ning Sheng said in response.
“Will you go with me to buy a new cup later?” Ning Sheng changed the topic.
Xu Ling: “There are cups for two yuan each right outside the dorm.”
“Even dogs wouldn’t use those.” Ning Sheng scoffed.
Xu Ling slipped as he swallowed the second half of his sentence: “I use those.”
And when he slipped, he bumped into Ning Sheng, who was washing his hair.
Causing his hand to shake, and shampoo to get into his eyes.
Ning Sheng: “Ah ah ah ah ah!”
Ning Sheng: “What kind of torture is this?”
Xu Ling couldn’t help laughing.
“You’re still laughing!” Ning Sheng kicked at him. “It’s all your fault.”
“Don’t rub it.” Xu Ling told him. “Open your eyes. I’ll adjust the water temperature and rinse it for you.”
“I protect your eyes every day, but now you want to blind me.” Ning Sheng punched and kicked. “You heartless wolf, scheming and cruel!”
“Hiss… almost done, almost done.” Xu Ling half-hugged him.
High school Ning Sheng had grown up a bit, shedding the chubby, cute look of his childhood while developing a lean, handsome figure.
However his face still had a childish charm. Whenever he threw a tantrum, he would purse his thin lips, thinking it made him look intimidating. However what he didn’t know was that he instead gave off an endearing mix of arrogance and liveliness.
“It hurts so much…” Ning Sheng opened his eyes, his lashes wet with tears, his eyes red.
This time, Xu Ling stared at him for a long moment before finally looking away.
“Yo, Dog Xu, you’re so powerful.” Lu Peng said as he walked in and saw the scene. “You made princess cry?”
Xu Ling: “…”
“Exactly!” Ning Sheng answered. “I’ve cried all my tears dry.”
Ning Sheng: “So now I’m going to get my revenge, and none of you are allowed to stop me!”
Lu Peng: “I support princess’s revenge!”
“Damn it.” Xu Ling caught Ning Sheng’s swinging hand mid-air. “Did I break some heavenly law? I just took a shower and got beaten several times.”
Ning Sheng: “You did.”
“Alright, since I’ve already broken it.” Xu Ling poked Ning Sheng’s head with his finger, “Then I might as well break the whole book today.”
Ning Sheng: “…”
Ning Sheng dried his hair haphazardly with a towel in the locker room. Then going on his tiptoes, he rummaged through the locker for his clothes, his pale feet wet and perched in oversized slippers.
“Not tall enough, yet you’re aiming for the top shelf?” Xu Ling reached up to take the clothes down for him.
Ning Sheng: “I’m working out while I’m at it.”
Xu Ling: “…”
Xu Ling: “Alright.”
He held Ning Sheng’s jacket even higher. “Come on, practice.”
Ning Sheng: “…”
He used to be so adorable as a kid, listening to everything. How did he grow into this?
Ning Sheng shot him a look full of disdain and grievance, making Xu Ling’s hand tremble as he handed the clothes back.
“Are you mad?” Xu Ling followed Ning Sheng all the way.
“I was just messing with you, don’t be mad!” Xu Ling told him.
Ning Sheng rolled his eyes at him, ignoring him. He even turned his back and focused on getting dressed.
**
Ning Sheng insisted on buying his cup at the biggest mall in the city.
And in that luxury store, cups were the cheapest items available.
Lu Peng stared at the price tag on a handbag in the display case, clutching his chest. “How many pigs would my family need to sell for this?”
Li Haoyue: “About 32.765 pigs.”
“I hate you more than I hate being poor.” Lu Peng said. “Damn math nerd.”
“Young Master Ning.” The store clerk greeted Ning Sheng. “We’ve recently stocked some new cups. Would you like to take a look?”
“Sure.” Ning Sheng replied.
“Would you like some water? Please, all of you, have a seat.” The clerk said warmly.
Ning Sheng: “Mm.”
The clerk went to fetch the items.
“He’s looking at you like he’s looking at his year-end bonus.” Lu Peng started.
Xu Ling: “We’re the only ones who are sincere to you.”
Ning Sheng: “…”
“I really want to make money.” Lu Peng sighed. “Don’t you guys?”
Li Haoyue: “There’s a treasure trove in math. I tutor neighborhood kids, so I’m not short on money.”
Xu Ling: “I’ve saved up a bit.”
Ning Sheng: “How could this Young Master ever be short on money?”
The clerk brought out several sets of cups.
One set had four cups, priced in five digits. The designs were a person, a dog, a small blade of grass, and a large blade of grass.
“I’ll take this one.” Ning Sheng said. “Wrap it up.”
Xu Ling: “…”
Xu Ling: “Which grass do you two want?”
“The small grass.” Li Haoyue replied.
“Fuck.” Lu Peng said. “I’ll take the big grass.”
Ning Sheng: “Card, please. Thank you.”