Translator: Sienna | Editors: stupefyy88/Sae
"Bai Luo Yin, please come out for a moment."
It was during the self-study period when Bai Luo Yin was called out by the Chinese literature teacher.
"I don't know what kind of opinion you have towards me, or towards the assignment I gave to you. But, even if you really do have an opinion, you can voice it directly. There's really no need to play jokes with me. At first, my impression of you as a student was very good, but the way you're approaching things has truly disappointed me."
Hearing those harsh words, Bai Luo Yin was at a total loss as to why he was being scolded by the teacher.
"Teacher, could you please explain to me what is going on?"
Thinking that Bai Luo Yin was feigning ignorance, the teacher threw an essay book at him. Bai Luo Yin opened the book only to noticed that some pages were missing. Even worse, the particular page that he wrote his essay on had been ripped off. He carefully thought about it for a moment. He was sure that he had written the essay according to the teacher's requirements. Although his composition was mediocre, it still made no sense for his work to be ripped out, let alone having to be scolded by her.
"Explain this to me. What do you mean by submitting an empty essay book?"
"An empty book?"
That one sentence drew Bai Luo Yin's expression into one of utter shock. Even his voice was immediately gone.
At this point, the teacher was livid. "Don't play pretend with me. I have taught for so many years, what kind of mischief have I not seen? Go back and write the essay. On top of that, prepare a self-reflection letter on what you have done wrong."
"It's not like that..." Bai Luo Yin attempted to explain anxiously, "Teacher, I really did write the essay, but I don't know who ripped it out."
The teacher slowly turned her head and glared at Bai Luo Yin with an eerie expression drawn in her eyes and said, "So, are you suggesting that I am the one who ripped up your essay?"
"No, that's not what I meant!"
"You're not allowed to join the next literature class. Stay out here and reflect on your behavior until you understand what you did wrong!"
Bai Luo Yin stood there motionless as the teacher spun her head and seethed once again. "Don't think that it's easy to bully me!!"
Just who is being bullied by whom? Bai Luo Yin gritted his teeth quietly. That son of a bitch! If I ever catch the asshole who tore away my homework, I'll definitely skin him alive!
—
Along the main street outside of Chongwenmen, Gu Hai and two of his friends were eating dinner at a hot pot restaurant. Those two friends could be described as his childhood friends. Having grown up in the military camp together, they bonded closely like birds of the same feather for more than ten years.
"Your father really didn't search for you in the past few days?"
"Nope."
"Ouch, he's actually able to stay calm enough this time around."
Gu Hai snickered loudly, fiddling with the wine glass in his hands before casually replying, "How can he possibly stay calm? He couldn't handle me from the start. As far as I know, he wanted me to leave since the very beginning. It's just that he's too self-conscious to drive me away."
"Even so, you're his only son. It's unlikely that he'll be that ruthless towards you!"
Li Shuo poured another glass of wine for Gu Hai. The three of them raised their wine glasses for a toast and then downed the entire glass in one gulp.
"Did you just realize that he's that ruthless? Do you remember, when I was young, he would hang me on the roof beams and whip me? If it hadn't been for my mother, I wouldn't have lived until today."
Zhou Shi Hu nodded his head repeatedly in agreement. "Since I was young, I've always felt nervous whenever I saw your father."
"Oh yeah, previously you mentioned that someone sabotaged your plans and stole all the equipment. Have you caught that person yet?"
Thinking back on that matter, Gu Hai was so furious that he gritted his teeth in anger.
"I found the stolen equipment at a second-hand goods market. But since the seller used fake ID cards, it was difficult to investigate and track them down. However, I am more concerned about the person who actually had the guts to steal my things. I would like to know who that person is."
Li Shuo laughed and shook his head while saying, "That person is in a deep trouble."
While placing a roll of meat into the hotpot, Zhou Shi Hu faced Gu Hai and asked, "I heard that the woman also has a son. Have you ever met him before?"
"It would be best if I never catch sight of him."
Looking at Gu Hai's sour mood, Li Shuo mockingly laughed, "Aren't you afraid that one day her son will be better than you?"
Gu Hai snarled at Li Shuo with his cold and sharp gaze, nearly freezing the steaming hot beef slices inside Li Shuo's bowl.
Zhou Shi Hu slapped Li Shuo's shoulder while grinning widely to lighten the atmosphere, "Alright, that's enough. Stop talking about these useless things. Eat quickly."