Chapter 9 An Unremarkable Special Admit

Chapter 9 An Unremarkable Special Admit

By the time Ning Song returned to the dorm, it was already midnight. Since it was the weekend, there were very few people around in the school.

Ning Song installed the new curtains he had bought, feeling a sense of security, and coded until past two in the morning.

It was said that Ning Song had never been to Bright Pearl Island before. On Saturday, Qiao Qiao dragged him to Queen Avenue, the commercial center of Bright Pearl Island, to play for the day.

He also encountered the guy who took Qiao Qiao away on the orientation day.

The guy's name was Deng Xun, and he was Qiao Qiao's childhood neighbor.

He suspected these two were a childhood sweetheart couple.

Because he thought Deng Xun was way too strict with Qiao Qiao.

No cold drinks, no spicy food, and even on the rare weekend out, he checked his homework.

But Qiao Qiao hated him and didn't hesitate to badmouth Deng Xun.

This made it sound more like a campus romance novel about childhood sweethearts.

Qiao Qiao looked as ordinary as he did, but Deng Xun was a big hunk, a student at A University, with a father who was a federal congressman—classic protagonist material.

He thought Qiao Qiao was just like him, a side character, but it turned out he was the only one who was a nobody!

Qiao Qiao's family wasn't particularly wealthy, though "not particularly wealthy" was relative compared to Pu Yu and their ilk. The Qiao family ran a logistics company.

On Sunday morning, Qiao Qiao went home to get some things. With nothing else to do, Ning Song brought his laptop to the library, planning to read magazines and modify his game based on new inspirations.

He was prepared to jump for the magazines, but found that the gaming magazines had been moved to a lower shelf.

The height matched him perfectly.

The topmost shelf, which he couldn't reach, was completely empty.

He glanced at the librarian by the entrance.

The librarian was still leisurely playing on the computer, seemingly numb.

That was much more considerate, taking into account those who weren't tall enough.

Speaking of height, he really wished he could grow taller.

The average height of novel protagonists was 185 cm. It wouldn't be too much to ask for him, a nobody, to grow to 180 cm... or 178 cm, since men over 178 cm were considered 180 cm boys.

Qiao Qiao returned before lunchtime, saying he wanted to take him to the school's food street for a meal.

Upper East School had a food street between Dormitories Two and Three, but the restaurants there were quite upscale and expensive, not very down-to-earth.

He usually preferred eating in the cafeteria, where meals were almost free.

But Qiao Qiao said he knew a must-visit Western restaurant at Upper East School.

When they arrived at the Western restaurant, however, they were stopped by a waiter outside.

The restaurant had been booked by Qin Yi and his group.

Through the glass door, they saw Qin Yi dining with three other guys.

Beside Qin Yi was the same innocent-looking boy. The manager and chef stood beside them, seemingly waiting for the young master's feedback.

The restaurant was large, with many empty seats, but they clearly couldn't enter.

"He's so annoying, always booking places wherever he goes, as if he wants everyone to know how rich he is," Qiao Qiao complained.

"Let's go eat in the cafeteria. We can come back another time," Ning Song suggested, pulling him away.

They had barely taken a few steps when someone called out to them.

They turned around and saw the manager standing at the door, smiling: "Would you like to dine here? Please come in."

Both Ning Song and Qiao Qiao were stunned, seeing Qin Yi looking at them through the glass.

Ning Song smiled and shook his head: "No, we were just looking. It's too expensive here; we can't afford it."

He pulled Qiao Qiao away, who said: "Why did they suddenly let us in? There must be something fishy going on."

There was no reason for Qin Yi to want to dine with them.

It was unlikely he was interested in either of them.

Maybe it was just the freshman effect.

Qin Yi was dangerous, not because of any gay romance, but because he seemed like the type who would toy with or bully others.

"Who's that boy next to him?" he asked Qiao Qiao.

He looked pitiful and seemed to be under duress.

Qiao Qiao's expression changed: "Lu Wei, a special admit transferred to our school before you. I heard Qin Yi got him admitted himself. He used to study at Qingchuan High School... Qin Yi is really twisted. He changes companions every one or two months. Who knows who will be next?"

In novels, forced love seemed exciting, but seeing it in real life, just thinking about the possibility, he found it terrifying.

He felt Lu Wei was becoming a wooden person.

Beautiful yet numb.

He remembered the look in Qin Yi's eyes when he held Lu Wei and looked at them during the orientation night.

Lu Wei struggled to rise and fall, as if a black snake's tail had pierced him. Qin Yi's gaze was like that of a venomous snake.

Among the thousands at Upper East School, Qin Yi was undoubtedly the boy one should stay farthest away from.

They arrived a bit early, so there were even fewer people in the cafeteria. Ning Song, besides his normal meal, added an extra bottle of milk.

Qiao Qiao slapped another bottle of milk in front of him: "Add one more for me."

He noticed that Qiao Qiao really enjoyed feeding him.

After finishing their meal, he leisurely packed a box of fresh-cut fruits and a bag of chocolates: "For you to eat this afternoon."

"I really can't eat anymore; I might not need dinner tonight," Ning Song said.

"How much have you eaten!" Qiao Qiao exclaimed, "Tiny bird stomach."

Ning Song laughed.

Qiao Qiao wasn't wrong about this.

Indeed, he had a tiny bird stomach.

His frailty had its reasons; many things made him feel nauseous. He now ate not for taste but to gain weight.

"I think I've gained a little weight this week," he told Qiao Qiao.

Qiao Qiao said, "There's a pharmacy downstairs; let's weigh yourself." Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Oh, my mom downloaded some app when she was losing weight. It calculates calories. Foods with the same amount can have different calorie levels; some make you fat easily, while others don't. If she can choose low-calorie foods, can't you choose high-calorie ones?"

As soon as Qiao Qiao finished speaking, he immediately called his mother.

Ning Song stopped him: "I know about that; you don't need to ask. I'm already eating high-calorie foods!"

They went down to the pharmacy and weighed themselves.

A week of indulgent eating had paid off; he had gained two pounds!

"104 pounds," he said happily.

Qiao Qiao: "That's a scary weight."

"Gaining too much weight too quickly isn't good for your health," Ning Song stood on the scale, contentedly took a photo, and sent it to his mother.

Becoming stronger was within reach!

But eating alone wasn't enough.

He planned to exercise as well.

"Let's go swimming this afternoon," Qiao Qiao said, "I'll teach you."

Last week during swimming class, Ning Song only played by the water's edge and was secretly photographed, with the photos posted online, leading to ridicule about his skinny physique and poor swimming skills.

They had lunch at the school's second dining hall, and on their way back, they were blocked by Qin Yi and his group in a car.

The convertible sports car gleamed under the sun, and beside Qin Yi, Lu Wei looked incredibly innocent, like a peeled egg. This time, however, it was clear that his eyes were numb, as if about to shatter.

Ning Song greeted them respectfully, "Hello, seniors."

Qiao Qiao reluctantly followed suit.

At Upper East School, upperclassmen held authority over underclassmen, a tradition often more powerful than the color of name badges.

On Sunday, there were slightly more people on campus compared to Saturday, as some students had returned early. The spring sunshine was warm and gentle, making Ning Song's hair appear even more yellow. In daylight, everything was exposed, and his face seemed even thinner.

"The new student is being quite disrespectful," Qin Yi said.

Qiao Qiao pulled Ning Song behind him and said, "Who would dare enter the restaurant you reserved."

Qin Yi's scar on his forehead looked even more frightening in the daylight. He remained tall and robust, but the daylight revealed a sense of irritability rather than the sinister aura of the welcome night.

Qin Yi looked at Ning Song and asked, "What's your name again?"

"Ning Song."

"Which class?"

"Class 3, Grade 10."

Qiao Qiao, showing loyalty, said boldly, "Qin Yi, what do you want?"

"Calling a senior by name, this junior is quite bold," the boy beside Qin Yi commented.

"Senior," Ning Song hurriedly spoke, "We didn't want to disturb you, and that restaurant is too expensive. Today, I'm treating Qiao Qiao, and I can't afford that place."

Perhaps it was reasonable and pitiful for a skinny boy from the slums to say such things, as Qin Yi seemed amused, saying, "I haven't done anything. Why is this junior so afraid of me? Li You's friend is also my friend. Next time, invite Li You, and we'll eat together. Will this junior refuse me then?"

Ning Song immediately sensed the underlying meaning and quickly said, "I'm not close to Li You."

He thought Qin Yi might have mistaken him for Li You's subordinate. Since these two leaders didn't get along, Qin Yi must have targeted him.

Did he miss something during the welcome night?

Could he just be a minor character in their grand narratives?

Qin Yi turned to his companions and said, "Really not giving face."

Though spoken jokingly, his expression turned cold.

Qiao Qiao said, "We really aren't close with Li You. You know who he hangs out with. Ning Song just got here; they haven't even spoken much. He went to the welcome party that day, but it wasn't for Ning Song—they've never met before."

At the end, Qiao Qiao added, "Li You wouldn't bully someone like us."

Comparing him to Li You was clearly a heavy blow, and Qin Yi's expression changed immediately.

Ning Song sensed the tension and pulled Qiao Qiao back, stepping slightly forward himself.

Qiao Qiao had an impulsive nature and looked like a little tyrant, but in reality, he was a well-protected little bunny by Deng Xun and others. Even if he bit, it wouldn't hurt. If there were any real conflicts, it would still fall on him.

He was a wild dog; even if he damaged himself, he could still take a chunk out of the other person.

Qin Yi sneered, "Is this considered bullying?"

He didn't continue, but the threat was more evident.

Ning Song said, "Senior, I really don't know Li You, and I don't have his contact information."

Passing students gave them a wide berth, looking back at them from a distance.

The guys with Qin Yi would usually chime in, but today they remained silent. They also felt that Qin Yi just hated Li You too much and came to tease this unremarkable bean sprout. However, they thought Qin Yi was being overly sensitive because this new bean sprout didn't seem related to Li You at all.

They couldn't understand why Li You showed up at the welcome night either.

Qin Yi suddenly seemed deflated. "Damn, how boring."

A boy in the car said, "Hey, let's go, Qin Ge. Let's take a spin around the Nine Bends Road. Why waste words with these two chicks?"

Qin Yi got back into the car without saying anything more and drove off in his Aston Martin, speeding away.

But he seemed even angrier, roaring down the road.

Upper East School strictly prohibited students from driving on campus.

This lawless second-generation heir would eventually be dealt with by the main characters!

Ning Song's back was drenched in sweat.

He really didn't want to draw Qin Yi's attention and get into trouble. He wasn't a naive boy and knew he couldn't match up against the son of a tycoon.

He had no backing and not much luck.

"Thank you," he said to Qiao Qiao.

Qiao Qiao was still watching Qin Yi and his gang's retreating figures warily. "For what? I just can't stand him bullying people."

"Is it okay for you to do this?" he asked.

Qiao Qiao's background couldn't compare to Qin Yi's.

Qiao Qiao snorted. "He knows I'm very close to Deng Xun."

Then he added, "Or so he thinks."

Ah, he has a backer.

Ning Song asked, "Are you not close with Brother Deng?"

Qiao Qiao rolled his eyes. "He's as annoying as my mom, always nagging!"

Ning Song laughed, and the unease in him dissipated.

At two in the afternoon, he and Qiao Qiao went to the school's swimming pool.

As they passed the music building, they saw a large crowd gathered on the lawn by the lake. It was the weekend, and outsiders were allowed in, so many girls had come to the boys' school. The atmosphere was lively, and the sound of an electric guitar filled the air.

Qiao Qiao pulled him over to see.

Before they got close to the crowd, he spotted Sheng Yan.

His green shirt shimmered in the dappled sunlight, contrasting with his thick white hair, making him look radiant and youthful, as if he were glowing. He sang:

"To be a beam of light in the romantic universe,

A beam of light,

A beam of light,

Racing past, giving you a moment of joy,

Outshining the vast Milky Way."

When he played the electric guitar and sang, he exuded a relaxed and lazy vibe that was incredibly appealing. It seemed effortless for him to shine, and he knew it, which made him somewhat disdainful, thus adding to his reckless charm.

The young boys and girls around him watched him with bright, heated eyes.

It felt like an endless, verdant summer.

"This year's Spring Festival looks like it will be his show again," Qiao Qiao said. "That damn handsome guy. Probably won't see a new campus celebrity until he graduates."

Spring Festival.

The white lilac trees on campus were about to enter full bloom. Their flowering period was particularly long, lasting until March. When the last of the white lilacs fell in late March, Upper East schools would hold the Spring Festival, with performances from each school.

Thinking about this made Ning Song's head ache; he had rehearsals next week.

Qiao Qiao knew about Ning Song's stage play and, seeing Sheng Yan, told him, "Sheng Yan is the lead actor in this stage play. The play we're doing is a collaboration between our class and Class Four."

The stage play was a very passionate story about two brothers separated at a young age who become mortal enemies when they grow up. The younger brother, now an assassin, tries to kill his older brother, who has become king.

Sheng Yan is playing the older brother. It’s said that classmates from both their classes are vying to play the younger brother.

What do they take brotherly affection for!

However, it’s still unknown who will play the other main character, the younger brother, as many people are competing for the role.

It definitely won’t be him.

His role has already been decided.

Chen Mo, who is responsible for writing the script, added a role for him—a follower by the older brother’s side—who doesn’t even have a name.

Commonly known as Extra A.

“Author’s Note”

The first step to becoming beautiful: gain ten pounds.