Chapter 120: Cheng Xiaoyu's Untouchable Wrath

Cheng Xiaoyu had not been enjoying himself at school these past few days. Every morning, when he arrived, he found that someone had pried open his locker and stuffed it with all sorts of doctored photographs of him, along with notes saying things like “Eat shit, Cheng Xiaoyu!” Once, someone even pasted a doggerel poem on his locker:

“Your dazzling smile
Makes wolves hang themselves;
Your tender cry
Sends chickens flying and dogs leaping;
Your carefree stance
Fills the air with stench;
Your excited sweat
Brings disaster upon the lice;
Without makeup,
You’re uglier than a ghost;
With makeup,
Even ghosts collapse!

Great poet, how do you like my verse?”

Cheng Xiaoyu was practically immune to this sort of prank. It did him no harm whatsoever. Most of the culprits were followers of Su Yuxi, and Cheng Xiaoyu naturally had no intention of quibbling over such things.

For some reason, however, the school had suddenly been swept up in a craze for writing poems insulting Cheng Xiaoyu. At first, people merely pasted their compositions on his locker or desk. Cheng Xiaoyu would usually read them to see whether any contained genuine literary talent, then toss them straight into the trash can at the back of the classroom.

Later, they began posting the poems on the blackboard in his classroom, and even on the school bulletin board. Cheng Xiaoyu could not be bothered to interfere. Someone else would deal with it eventually. Sometimes he even stood beside other students and read them with great interest, curious to see how well they had been written.

Fortunately, the students of Fudan Affiliated High School had some standards. They did not use filthy language or curse anyone’s mother.

That day, two more large posters appeared on the bulletin board, each accompanied by a doctored photograph of Cheng Xiaoyu.

They said you were ignorant,
Like the level of Cathay’s national football team.

They said you looked bizarre,
Like someone who drank tainted milk and became malnourished.

They said you understood art,
So stop pretending to be strong and showing off everywhere.

They said you had a fat head and huge ears,
So Pigsy must be your ancestor.

They said you were eloquent and slippery,
But all you could do was bully girls and spout nonsense.

Cheng Xiaoyu read it with considerable interest, decided it was complete rubbish, and moved on to the next poster.

Not one word can be understood from that stammering piece of trash,
Yet with not the slightest bit of talent, he imitates others and plays at poetry.

Now let Father teach you a proper lesson, you little brat.
Actually, I would rather not curse a brainless, stupid donkey like you,
But whenever I hear your works being recited everywhere, I become furious.
I truly want to seize you by the throat and stop your breathing,
So you can no longer recite those poems filled with dog excrement.
Your nightmare has only just begun, and it will never end.
Your poetry is as disgusting as a lump of rotten black filth.
At first, I thought I would beat you without using vulgar words,
But then I realized that cursing people is also a way to display my abilities.
I doubt you even know the value of your own life.
The food you eat is made from newspapers we used to wipe ourselves with.
I know you desperately need a roll of toilet paper,
Because today is the day of your monthly period.

Cheng Xiaoyu found this one rather amusing. A girl standing nearby read it aloud as she examined the poster. She apparently did not know Cheng Xiaoyu and asked her companion, “This person is rather famous lately. Which class is he in?”

The girl who had been asked glanced sideways at Cheng Xiaoyu, who was standing behind them, then tugged at her companion to signal that someone was there.

The other girl clearly failed to understand. She turned around and looked at Cheng Xiaoyu several times.

Cheng Xiaoyu was not embarrassed in the slightest. He simply flashed her a broad smile and said, “Yes, I’m from Class Two of the senior year.” Then he turned and walked toward the teaching building.

He had not gone far when a commotion broke out behind him. Cheng Xiaoyu looked back and saw Ji Yunyun, a member of the Discipline Committee, wearing her armband and tearing down the posters insulting him.

Seeing Ji Yunyun in her sailor uniform, her hair styled in a pear-blossom cut, her skin as smooth as jade and her brows tightly drawn as though she were Xi Shi clutching her heart, Cheng Xiaoyu felt unexpectedly moved. He deeply regretted having ignored her so completely. At the very least, becoming friends with her would not be a bad choice.

After some thought, Cheng Xiaoyu decided to wait for her on the steps at the school entrance. Ji Yunyun slowly approached. Perhaps she had something weighing on her mind, for she failed to notice him. By the time she had passed him, Cheng Xiaoyu could only walk after her and wave a hand in front of her eyes.

Ji Yunyun was completely unprepared and jumped in fright. When she glared at him, she finally realized who it was.

Cheng Xiaoyu withdrew his hand and smiled. “Thank you.”

Although Ji Yunyun was pleasantly surprised to see him, she put on a solemn expression and said, “It is the Discipline Committee’s duty.”

Cheng Xiaoyu did not expose her. Discipline Committee members generally stopped serving during the second half of their final year, but he still grinned mischievously. “Even so, I should thank you.”

A sweetness stirred in Ji Yunyun’s heart. Some of her friends could not understand why she liked Cheng Xiaoyu, unaware that her father was also an amateur poet who had recited poetry to her ever since she was little. Ji Yunyun loved classical Cathayan culture and ornate, hazy poetry. She also adored sorrowful romances. Although she possessed little literary talent herself, that did not prevent her from appreciating them.

Especially for literary-minded girls like Ji Yunyun, there was often a touch of masochism in their temperament. Sweet love stories rarely moved them, but tragic and beautiful romances could strike the deepest chord, leaving them sobbing uncontrollably and unable to tear themselves away.

Cheng Xiaoyu’s lukewarm attitude toward Ji Yunyun only made her feel more attached to him. Most people were perverse that way: whatever they could not obtain seemed the best. This was part of Ji Yunyun’s subtle psychology. As a girl who had only just begun to understand love, she had also become caught up in emotions of her own making. Above all, she genuinely loved Cheng Xiaoyu’s poems.

Pretending to be casual, Ji Yunyun said, “They’ve been writing all sorts of ridiculous things. Why don’t you seem to react at all? Aren’t you angry?”

The two of them walked upstairs side by side. Cheng Xiaoyu laughed. “What is there to be angry about? If I’m angry at anything, it’s that their writing is so poor. They can’t even insult someone properly.”

Ji Yunyun hesitated, then asked, “What is your relationship with Su Yuxi?”

They happened to reach the third floor. Cheng Xiaoyu glanced toward Su Yuxi’s classroom and said, “What? Are you gossiping too?”

Ji Yunyun’s face reddened slightly, as though he had uncovered some secret. She immediately defended herself. “I only noticed that you two seem close. I wanted to tell you that it isn’t just you who has been receiving insulting letters. Some girls at school who are jealous of her have been writing letters to insult her as well.”

Cheng Xiaoyu’s expression darkened. “Oh.”

He knew that Su Yuxi would certainly not care, and that she probably would not even read those letters. He himself could calmly endure verbal abuse from bored people, but he could not tolerate anyone trying to hurt Su Yuxi. Even an attack made only with words touched the most sensitive part of him.

Seeing his tone grow heavier, Ji Yunyun became somewhat uneasy. She forced a smile and said, “Don’t take it too seriously. There aren’t many people that bored.”

Cheng Xiaoyu did not pursue the subject. Instead, he asked, “You manage the school broadcasting station too, don’t you? Last time, you read one of my poems on the air.”

A blush spread from Ji Yunyun’s ears across her cheeks. She nodded lightly. “I’m one of the school’s arts officers. You know that. Of course I have the key to the broadcasting station.”

Cheng Xiaoyu stopped and turned to face her. Placing both hands on her shoulders, he looked into her eyes and asked, “Could you do me a favor?”

Ji Yunyun suddenly felt as though he were about to confess his feelings. She lowered her shy, flushed face, her mind going blank, and nodded.

Cheng Xiaoyu withdrew his hands and slipped them into his pockets. With a grateful smile, he said, “Thank you, Ji Yunyun. I’ll definitely treat you to a meal after the college entrance examination.”

Ji Yunyun had never imagined that Cheng Xiaoyu wanted to use the broadcasting station for something. The question that lingered in her heart was instead: Why wait until after the examination? They had both already passed the arts examination, and their studies were not especially demanding. This weekend would have been perfect.

But she could not voice her true thoughts. All she could say was, “You mustn’t go back on your word! I’ll call you when the time comes!”

Cheng Xiaoyu held out his hand playfully. “Shall we seal it with a pinky promise?”

Ji Yunyun failed to realize that he was joking. She really did blush and extend her hand to hook her little finger around his.

Cheng Xiaoyu was momentarily stunned. He could only marvel at how adorably innocent the girl was.

When they reached the fifth floor, Cheng Xiaoyu called Chen Haoran and Wang Ou out and told them to arrange for a simple drum kit—a snare drum, bass drum, and cymbal—from the school activity room to be taken to the broadcasting station. He himself would move the electric piano from the music room.

After telling Ji Yunyun to wait for him at the broadcasting station, he hurried off to the music room.

Ji Yunyun did not quite understand why Cheng Xiaoyu wanted to move instruments to the broadcasting station. She guessed that he intended to sing a song, but could not figure out why he wanted to sing now. Bewildered, she made her way to the school broadcasting station.