Chapter 30: Cinderella

Chapter 30: Cinderella

Xie Guilan stood with a sullen expression, head lowered for half an hour, showing no signs of it improving.

It really was broken, very abnormal. Xie Guilan stopped paying attention to it and simply went back to bed.

When Cen Wu woke up the next day, he found that Xie Guilan had already left. He thought Xie Guilan had gone to the hospital, but when he arrived at the classroom, Xie Guilan had gotten there even earlier than him.

And it seemed like he had been there for a while.

Xie Guilan's cold, dark eyes looked down, a bit tired, as if he had pulled an all-nighter. The few classmates who had arrived early didn’t dare to speak.

Zhang Yuanzhou also shrank his neck, huddling in his seat like a quail, trembling.

It felt like the world was ending. He had wanted to copy Xie Guilan's homework but hadn’t dared to ask. Meeting Xie Guilan's fierce gaze, his back suddenly felt numb, and he almost thought Xie Guilan wanted to kill him.

Cen Wu: "..."

Cen Wu walked to his seat, put down his backpack, and then turned around, leaning on the back of the chair to peer at Xie Guilan's face. The swelling-reducing medication from last night had worked quite well; it had mostly healed.

Being stared at by Cen Wu, Xie Guilan's cold, long eyelashes lifted slightly, meeting his eyes before shifting away.

"Here... for you." Cen Wu, having brought sandwiches and milk from home, placed them on his desk.

Xie Mingcheng had indeed kept his word. Not only had he stopped managing Song Lingwei's surgery, but he had also cut off the regular treatment costs for her hospital stay. Xie Guilan had received a notice of overdue payment from the hospital that morning.

The attending doctor had also sent him a message, asking what his plans were for the next steps, given that the surgery was next month.

Xie Guilan still had 20,000 yuan on hand, which he had intended to use to hire a caregiver for Song Lingwei after the surgery. But now, with the cost of the heart stent surgery, the follow-up treatment, and Song Lingwei's hospital stay, he would need at least 150,000 yuan.

Even with the prize money from the chemistry competition, he was still short by 100,000 yuan.

Cen Wu noticed that Xie Guilan hadn’t been coming to school much lately, looking like he was swamped with something. When he did come, he would just nap at his desk, the dark circles under his eyes making his black gaze appear even colder and more somber.

When the homeroom teacher entered the classroom, seeing so many students asleep so early in the morning, he was deeply distressed. "You guys are sleeping this early? When I was your age…"

As soon as he opened his mouth, groans filled the room. Everyone lifted their heads, covering their ears, reluctantly beginning to recite their texts.

Xie Guilan also lifted his head, his dark eyes like impenetrable night, and stared at the teacher, as if to say,

Shut up.

"Go ahead and sleep, go ahead," Meng Liangping wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly said, "Did the teacher not disturb you?"

Xie Guilan: "No."

Without another word to Meng Liangping, he lay back down to continue sleeping.

Meng Liangping exhaled. Who would have thought he’d be outmatched by a student at his age? He touched his receding hairline and headed toward the podium.

Zhang Yuanzhou, with a cheeky smile, joked, "Old Meng, why aren't you wearing your wig?"

A third of the students in Class 2 of the second year of high school had been with Meng Liangping since the first year, including both Zhang Yuanzhou and Xie Guilan.

Meng Liangping had worn a wig for more than half a year back then.

"..."

Meng Liangping ran his hand through his sparse remaining hair, eyes forward, as the students tried to hold back their laughter.

Meng Liangping didn't care at all. He believed that relying on looks wouldn't last long, and if his hair was gone, it was gone. He had come to terms with it and decided to conquer his students with his noble soul.

The classroom was filled with laughter and noise. Lu Wang was laughing his head off nearby. Cen Wu turned around and saw Xie Guilan lying on the desk, his pale, protruding wrist bones resting on the edge of the table, standing out in the classroom.

Cen Wu reached out and gently squeezed Xie Guilan's cold fingertips. Xie Guilan paused, lifted his head, and Cen Wu slipped a piece of candy into his palm before shifting in his seat to turn back around.

Xie Guilan clutched the candy, lay down for a few more seconds, then put it into his mouth. It was a lychee-flavored fizzing candy, which burst open in his mouth, making his ears feel much sharper.

He started hearing Meng Liangping pacing around, supervising the morning study session, the suppressed giggles that were almost suffocating in the class, and the monotonous recitation of the class monitor, Zhou Wenqing, in the front row.

It was as if he had been pulled into a dream.

Cen Wu clutched his pen and pressed it impatiently a few times. He wanted to ask Xie Guilan what was wrong.

But Xie Guilan wouldn't tell him.

It was almost Saturday, and starting this week, they had classes on Saturday too, but they would be dismissed at 5:30 PM. Xie Guilan didn't come to school on Saturday, and Cen Wu's messages went unanswered.

Cen Wu glanced at the gloomy weather, and his mood felt all crumpled up.

"Barbecue run?" After school, Zhang Yuanzhou turned to Cen Wu and Lu Wang and said.

Lu Wang quickly packed his bag. "Let's go, let's go."

When Cen Wu reached the barbecue stall, he found that Xie Guilan wasn't there. He lowered his head to send Xie Guilan a message.

"How come Xie isn't tutoring?" Zhang Yuanzhou couldn't help but say, "He's the top student at Huai Jing No. 1 High School. What's the difference between him and the provincial valedictorian?"

Lu Wang scratched his face. He was hesitant, unsure if he should say anything. He had a cousin who was also in the second year of high school. Previously, his cousin's parents had asked Xie Guilan to tutor him.

But after just one lesson, they had dismissed Xie Guilan, who had never tutored again since.

Since it was just Zhang Yuanzhou and Cen Wu around, Lu Wang finally said in a low voice, "They said Xie had killed someone before, so they didn't dare let him tutor their child, afraid something might happen."

Zhang Yuanzhou, who had just taken a sip of his iced beer, spit it out upon hearing this. He was quite afraid of Xie Guilan. When Xie Guilan put on a cold face, Zhang Yuanzhou felt like Xie Guilan wanted to kill him.

But no one really believed Xie Guilan had actually killed anyone.

"They are too much," Zhang Yuanzhou said after taking a bite of a skewer, chewing indistinctly, "Too bad I don't have money. If I did, I'd ask Xie to tutor me. I wouldn't even hope for the provincial valedictorian, just being in the top ten would be worth dying for."

Cen Wu pursed his lips. He actually wanted to ask Xie Guilan to tutor him, mainly to give Xie Guilan money, but such a clear objective would definitely be rejected by Xie Guilan.

Cen Wu thought about it over and over, worried that Xie Guilan might go astray for money. He decided to go to Blue Night every day to find Xie Guilan. He would just do his homework there.

He would keep a close eye on everyone who approached Xie Guilan. He absolutely couldn't let anyone take advantage of Xie Guilan.

In the evening, the bar was noisy and chaotic. Cen Wu found a corner booth and started doing his homework, like a stream of fresh water.

The passing customers were silent, and so was the manager. At first, he thought this young master was here to cause trouble, but it turned out Cen Wu was actually doing his homework every day.

Cen Wu would only lift his head when Xie Guilan passed by.

Cen Wu, still in his school uniform pants, looked like a kid waiting for his parents to get off work, standing out in the smoky haze.

"Xie," the manager leaned against the counter, smoking a cigarette, and nudged Xie Guilan with his arm, saying meaningfully, "I think Cen here has some special feelings for you. You should take advantage of that."

He wasn't mocking Xie Guilan. He genuinely meant it. Working here, there might be some who just wanted to be a waiter and earn some money, but most people wouldn't want to miss the chance for a sudden rise to success.

Blue Night was a bar, but it also housed a casino, and the upper floors were upscale, more like a high-end private club.

There are plenty of rich people who come here just to party.

Cen Wu is still so young, and he’s far better off than those old men with their trophy wives. Plus, the Cen family is incredibly wealthy.

Xie Guilan’s face was expressionless as he walked past him and handed Cen Wu a glass of sparkling water.

"Young Master," Xie Guilan asked, "What are you doing here so late?"

Cen Wu had almost drifted off to sleep. The loud music in the bar was oddly soothing once you got used to it. When Xie Guilan suddenly appeared, he was startled, his eyelashes fluttering as he grabbed Xie Guilan's sleeve and stammered, "I... I... I’m waiting for you to finish work."

Cen Wu stayed until midnight every night. If Xie Guilan got off work, he would leave with him. If Xie Guilan had to work overtime, he would have to go home first.

It was just an extra hour, and nothing would likely happen. If anything did, he could always ask A Ling to keep an eye on things.

Midnight was already pretty late. If he stayed out past that, it would be like not coming home at all.

He needed to behave and win over the Cen family. Otherwise, when the original owner’s issues were exposed, he’d be seen as a complete mess—scamming, bullying, messing around, and not knowing a thing. Especially since he had bullied Xie Guilan, the Cen family would probably disown him and not know what to do with him.

"It's midnight," Cen Wu asked Xie Guilan eagerly, "Are you getting off work?"

Xie Guilan nodded, packed his things, and left with him, without asking why Cen Wu wanted to go home at midnight. It felt like something magical was about to end.

It didn’t rain tonight, and the moonlight was bright. Cen Wu held his wrist and walked home with him.

Cen Wu stumbled over his words, and when Xie Guilan didn’t respond, he’d give his arm a gentle shake. Xie Guilan had no choice but to look up and talk to him, and it couldn’t be perfunctory. Then he saw the moonlight reflected in Cen Wu’s eyes.

It was as if they should be this intimate.

It was on the way from Blue Night to the school, and also on the way to the Cen family’s place. Cen Wu asked the driver to wait for him at the back gate of the school. He walked with Xie Guilan to the school and waved goodbye before getting in the car.

When he got home, he asked Xie Guilan if he had arrived safely.

Xie Guilan: .

Not willing to type even a few more words, Cen Wu thought that someone like Xie Guilan would probably get broken up with two hundred times a day in a relationship.

Cen Wu: Goodnight!

Cen Wu: Cat under a blanket.jpg

Cen Wu accompanied Xie Guilan for several nights, inseparable. Sometimes he’d ask Xie Guilan to open a bottle of wine, wanting Xie Guilan to earn some commission. He wouldn’t drink it but could take it back for Cen Xiao.

At first, Xie Guilan was willing to open it for him, but after a few times, his already cold eyes became even colder, refusing to open wine for him anymore. It was clear he didn’t want his money.

Cen Wu had no choice but to give up.

A few days passed, and it was Wednesday afternoon. Just after physics class, someone knocked on the back door of the classroom. When Cen Wu turned around, he saw Xie Shangjing.

His ruthless brother had returned—and sooner than expected.

"Cen Wu," Xie Shangjing, who had a handsome yet delicate appearance, raised his eyebrows at him and called, "Come out."

Cen Wu: "..."

Cen Wu got up and went out.

Xie Guilan’s eyelashes drooped as he bent over his homework, the tip of his pen leaving scratch marks on the paper.

The dream was torn apart along with it.

Cen Wu had only been gone for half a minute when he returned to the classroom and turned to Xie Guilan, saying, "I... I probably can’t make it to Blue Night tonight. Call me if anything comes up."

Xie Guilan’s expression remained blank, and he didn’t respond.

That evening, Cen Wu skipped the night study session and left before Xie Guilan. As Xie Guilan was leaving the school, he saw Cen Wu getting into a car with Xie Shangjing.

Xie Guilan carried his bag and headed to Blue Night. When Ji Changyu looked up and was about to speak to Xie Guilan, he swallowed his words.

Man, this guy’s face is like a storm cloud.

Ji Changyu glanced around and noticed Cen Wu wasn’t there, which was unusual. He had assumed Cen Wu was trying to get closer to Xie Guilan.

But what could they say? Cen Wu was the young master, free to pursue or leave whenever he wanted.

Although Cen Wu said he wouldn’t go, he still showed up at Blue Night just before 11 o'clock. When he arrived, A Ling was talking to Xie Guilan.

A Ling had noticed Xie Guilan acting strange lately. Was he really considering getting into that kind of work?

"Do you want me to introduce some customers to you? Want to add them?" he asked Xie Guilan tentatively.

Both A Ling and Cen Wu thought Xie Guilan would refuse, but Xie Guilan lowered his cold eyes and, after a pause, said, "Okay."

A Ling: "..."

A Ling: ???

Wait, are you seriously thinking about taking on clients?

Cen Wu was taken aback. Xie Guilan’s tone was serious, not the lazy, smiling demeanor from before.

Cen Wu’s anxiety spiked, and he grabbed Xie Guilan’s arm, his usual stutter gone. "Do you know what this means?"

Xie Guilan’s dark, almond-shaped eyes curved slightly, but the smile was cold. He didn’t understand why Cen Wu was so worried. Even if he was deceived or played with, so what? Cen Wu only saw him as that kind of person anyway.

Without Xie Shangjing, he was just Cen Wu’s distraction. Once Xie Shangjing came back, he wouldn’t even be that.

"How do I add them?" Xie Guilan asked A Ling, taking out his phone.

It was a posture of self-degradation.

A Ling cursed himself for speaking up. Now he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He didn’t want to upset Cen Wu, but he also didn’t want to piss off Xie Guilan, so he just laughed it off like it was nothing.

Cen Wu’s lips parted, wanting to ask if Xie Guilan cared about himself at all, but the words died in his throat.

He lowered his head, picked up his bag, and went to a booth to do his homework, not initiating any conversation with Xie Guilan for the rest of the night.

By twelve o'clock, since Xie Guilan was working overtime, Cen Wu sent him a message and went home first.

Xie Guilan looked down at his phone, the cold light of the screen reflecting on his face, casting a deep, eerie shadow under his eyes.

For the first time, Xie Guilan had said he’d add someone, and those nearby actually believed him. But as someone approached, Xie Guilan lifted his head, his dark eyes sinking into an abyss of inky blackness. The look was so unnerving that the person backed off immediately.

Fine, if you don’t want to add them, no need to get violent.

-

Cen Wu inexplicably started giving Xie Guiyan the silent treatment.

He still brought breakfast for Xie Guiyan every day, regardless of whether Xie Guiyan wanted it. He’d toss it on Xie Guiyan’s desk without a second thought and then go to find him at Blue Night in the evening. If Xie Guiyan stayed past midnight, Cen Wu would leave right at midnight.

Xie Guiyan still brought him hot water and let him copy his homework in class, and would drop a few candies on Cen Wu’s desk as he passed by his seat.

But they hardly spoke.

Ji Changyu observed them quietly for several days.

This was ridiculous.

He considered himself Xie Guiyan’s only brother, yet he had no clue when Xie Guiyan and Cen Wu had started hanging out. And it seemed like they were already in a cold war before they even started dating.

Every night at midnight, Blue Night would shoot off streamers, signaling the start of the real party.

Cen Wu would always leave right at midnight when the streamers went off. Ji Changyu rubbed his chin and muttered, “Why does he always leave at midnight? Does he think he’s a prince or something?”

Xie Guiyan: “……”

At midnight, when Blue Night was at its liveliest, Cen Wu walked up to Xie Guiyan and stared at him intensely before saying unhappily, “I’m leaving!”

Xie Guiyan looked down, the neon lights of Blue Night flickering across his face, making his peach blossom eyes appear dark and cold, as if he didn’t care at all whether Cen Wu left or not.

Cen Wu: “……”

Cen Wu stomped on Xie Guiyan’s shoe, then spun around and stormed out of the bar.