Chapter 23: When the Class Beauty Blooms?

"Arabian Nights" is often used as a metaphor for something absurd and impossible.

For instance, if you have been a total loser for three years and you attend your high school graduation dinner, and just as your romantic rival steals your crush and makes a fool of you, a gorgeous, long-legged, stunning beauty suddenly descends from the sky in a red Ferrari to pick you up—that would be an "Arabian Nights" scenario.

Or, for another example, you attend a university Christmas dance, the music starts as you stand in the center of the dance floor, and not a single girl is willing to be your partner, when suddenly a delicate, elfin, ice-cold beauty reaches out her hand to you—that, too, would be an "Arabian Nights" scenario.

Or say you are fleeing through the streets of Japan, and suddenly a yakuza heiress appears, falls in love with you at first sight, and runs away with you into the glorious sunlight—that would still be an "Arabian Nights" scenario.

And the news that Lu Mingfei, the notorious loser of Shilane High School, had rejected the "piano princess" Liu Miaomiao? The level of absurdity in that story is no less than the three examples above; it is practically the very definition of an "Arabian Nights" tale.

"I rejected Liu Miaomiao?" Lu Mingfei repeated Chu Zihang's words. "Where on earth did you hear that, Senior?"

"The Shilane High School forum," Chu Zihang said.

"Damn it, who’s spreading these ridiculous rumors!"

"So, it’s a rumor?"

"Of course it's a rumor! I’m not even close with Liu Miaomiao, and I’m not the one she likes, either."

Chu Zihang lowered his eyes, his gaze shifting slightly; his contact lenses were bothering him. Ever since his irises turned golden that day, he had been wearing colored contacts, but he hadn't quite gotten used to them yet.

However, to Lu Mingfei, it looked as if Chu Zihang were eyeing him with suspicion.

Chu Zihang said, "Actually, whether it’s rumors or MBTI tests, none of that matters. Who you like and who you want to be with—other people's advice is just advice. What matters is your own choice."

"Did you get the wrong script, Senior? This 'heart-to-heart big brother' persona doesn't suit you."

"I just wanted to give you some confidence. You’re actually not inferior to those two girls, so don’t worry about whether you’re 'good enough' for them. If you really like one of them, you should have the courage to try. There are many things that, if you don't do them now, you might regret later."

Lu Mingfei rolled his eyes. "What if I like them both? Can I just have both?"

Chu Zihang paused, clearly not expecting Lu Mingfei to say such a thing. Yet, he actually considered it seriously for a moment before nodding.

"If you can persuade them both, it’s not impossible. As long as you maintain a relationship with both of them under the title of 'girlfriend,' there’s no risk. You would just have to bear the pressure of social morality."

"Hold it, I was just joking. Do you really have to analyze it so seriously, Senior?"

Being able to date either one of them would be the dream of countless boys at Shilane High School. To persuade both Liu Miaomiao and Chen Wenwen... Lu Mingfei didn't even dare to imagine it.

If he could actually pull that off, he’d be the one "laughing among the flowers while the class belles bloom." What would Zhao Menghua even be compared to that?

"Don't get excited. I know you're joking; I was just following your lead," Chu Zihang said as he shouldered his bag and glanced at his watch. "It’s nearly four o'clock. Aren't you supposed to buy a toilet seat for your aunt? Will you make it in time? How about I call my driver to give you a lift?"

"I’ll make it. The wholesale market isn't that far from here," Lu Mingfei declined Chu Zihang's kindness. "You should head back, Senior."

***

"Right," Chu Zihang nodded.

The two waved goodbye in front of the café. Lu Mingfei hadn't walked more than a few steps when he saw Chen Wenwen walking out of "Open Mind," clutching a copy of *Jane Eyre* and carrying a transparent plastic cake box.

Chen Wenwen didn't see him and walked in the opposite direction.

Lu Mingfei stared intently at her retreating back.

Inside the transparent box was a green pastry.

She hadn't wanted that strawberry Swiss roll, either.

...

Buying the toilet seat went smoothly. This time, the god of galgames didn't seem to be teasing him; he didn't encounter Zero, Nono, or anyone else while shopping for a toilet seat.

It was nearly 5:30 PM when he returned home. Lu Mingfei, drenched in sweat, took a quick shower. He had just lain down in his room when the sound of a key turning in the lock echoed from the front door.

"Mingfei, are you home? Did you buy the toilet seat?" His aunt’s shrill voice rang out immediately after the door closed.

"I bought it! I already called the property management to ask them to help install it, but they said the building's drainage pipe is clogged and all their staff are helping to clear it, so they don't have time. They said they can only come tomorrow," Lu Mingfei trotted out of his room.

"You didn't sneak out to go surfing the web while we were gone, did you?"

"As if! If I had gone online, would I have been able to buy the toilet seat?" Lu Mingfei’s excuse was seamless.

His aunt scanned him up and down, said nothing more, dropped her belongings, and headed to the kitchen.

Lu Mingfei returned to his room and turned on his computer. Asuka’s icon on QQ was flashing.

RoseiraSu: You there?

Lu Mingfei checked the time; the message was from 3:27 PM.

Lu Mingfei: Not here, just lurking. I only want to be a quiet, handsome man.

A minute later, a reply: ?

Lu Mingfei: Who are you? What do you want with me?

RoseiraSu: It’s Su Xiaoqiang. Didn't you see the note when you added me?

Lu Mingfei: Oh, oh, it's you. Wow, I'm dizzy. So you surf the web too?

RoseiraSu: ???

Lu Mingfei: Are you a guy or a girl?

RoseiraSu: Are you sick?

Lu Mingfei sighed. Why did netizens in 2004 lack any sense of humor?

Lu Mingfei typed back: I’m just kidding. Why are you so rude for a girl?

RoseiraSu: Heh.

RoseiraSu: Let me ask you, when we were at the internet café today, why did you tell them to call me "Sister Su"? How did you know my surname was Su?

Lu Mingfei felt a jolt of alarm, realizing he had let it slip again, but he stubbornly refused to admit it. "What are you talking about? You must have misheard."

RoseiraSu: You think I believe that?

This girl Su Xiaoqiang wasn't easy to fool... Lu Mingfei stroked his chin and replied: Oh, that. I’m originally from northern Jiangsu, and "Sister Su" is just a respectful term where I’m from.

As long as he didn't admit it, it wasn't a slip of the tongue!

RoseiraSu: Heh, don't tell me then.

Then, the Asuka icon went gray. He didn't know if she had logged off or just set her status to invisible because she was angry.

Lu Mingfei let out a long breath, thinking he had finally managed to handle the "Little Heavenly Queen."

But he had gotten away with it this time; it wouldn't be so easy next time. He really needed to be more careful about what he said, especially in front of someone as sharp as her.

...

On the other side of the screen, Su Xiaoqiang, wearing a sky-blue nightdress with her slender legs exposed, was angrily punching her "101 Dalmatians" plush toy with her tiny fists.

That guy Lu Mingfei—she told him not to say anything, and he actually just stopped talking?

Her "playing hard to get" routine had always worked like a charm, but it had absolutely no effect on Lu Mingfei.

He was like a lump of cotton that wouldn't yield to either soft or hard tactics, no matter how many punches she threw at him.

This was the first time the "Little Heavenly Queen" had ever felt so frustrated.

"You better pray we don't end up in the same class when school starts, Lu Mingfei," Su Xiaoqiang gritted her teeth. "Otherwise, I’ll definitely make you pay for this."