Chapter 58: After Hours and Hidden Intentions

The evening’s customers were not as numerous as those at noon.

Although people still waited outside, the bustling scene of the corridor being nearly packed, as it had been at midday, was absent.

Under Zhong Tian’s coercion, Li Jianren loudly announced the cancellation of the “chest-stomping photo” service, which further reduced the crowd outside the door.

‘Were all those queuing masochists?’

‘This school is beyond saving!’

Though vexed inwardly, Zhong Tian maintained a composed exterior, taking orders from guests, serving coffee and pastries, and occasionally taking a couple of normal photos.

As dismissal time approached, Zhong Tian and the others finally bid farewell to the last two customers.

“You all worked hard today; it was a long day.”

At half past seven in the evening, the first day’s activities officially concluded, and the logistics team of Class 3, Second Year, under the direction of Vice Class Monitor Chen Chenchen, tidied up the classroom.

“Tomorrow, everyone can rest well and enjoy themselves.”

Upon hearing this, Zhong Tian silently let out a long breath.

‘It’s finally over…’

‘Tomorrow, I can finally slack off! I’m going to have a blast!’

‘Ah, wait…’

Zhong Tian suddenly remembered that he still needed to show Yu Naixi his male attire… It wasn’t a difficult task, however; as long as he was careful, his true identity as a boy wouldn’t be exposed.

‘I just don’t quite understand why she wants to see me in male clothing…’

‘Is it a fetish…?’

Zhong Tian decided not to dwell on it; there was no real point in figuring it out.

‘Hmm… aside from this somewhat perplexing matter, there shouldn’t be any other troublesome issues.’

‘Alright, tonight I’ll make a good plan for how to enjoy myself tomorrow!’

****

Yu Naixi awoke.

She rose from her narrow bed and, in the darkness, fumbled for the light switch in her room.

Due to the side effects of her ability, she had taken a full day off yesterday to rest at home.

As for the school, since she had long ago altered their perceptions, taking leave was incredibly easy, requiring no reason at all.

She stood up, feeling a lingering dizziness and nausea, though it remained within her tolerable limits.

Emerging from her somewhat disheveled room, she found the living room brightly lit, the sound of the television adding a lively domestic touch to the spacious area.

On the sofa, her parents and younger brother were watching a variety show, its humorous segments causing them to laugh incessantly.

Her mother, seeing Yu Naixi emerge from her room, called out loudly to her, “Naixi, please wash the dishes.”

‘Why should I, a sick person, wash the dishes you ate from?!’

No sooner had this thought surfaced in her mind than she immediately raised a hand and slapped her forehead.

‘Don’t be influenced…’

‘Don’t be influenced…’

‘Don’t be influenced…’

She chanted silently to herself as she began to clear the messy dining table.

‘It’s just washing dishes, isn’t it…’

She placed the three servings of dishes into the kitchen sink, turned on the faucet, and watched as the water splashed vigorously onto the dishes, creating high sprays that dampened her pajamas.

Behind her, the laughter persisted.

‘Actually, “she” does have a point… Why should I be the one to wash the dishes? I didn’t even eat… They didn’t prepare a portion for me either.’

[I’m telling you, wouldn’t it be easier to just alter their perceptions and make them value you?]

[If you hadn’t cheated with your ability to get good grades and get into a high school in Taishan City, they probably would have left you to live and study alone in Haibin City~]

[But then again, living alone in Haibin City wouldn’t be so bad. You wouldn’t have to face those three so-called family members who don’t care about you all day long; out of sight, out of mind, right?]

[Hmph, to return to Taishan specifically for Zhong Tian, only to live with those three people, must be quite stifling and sad, wouldn’t you agree?]

[How about you just alter Zhong Tian’s perception directly and go live happily with him somewhere no one knows? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?]

“You shut up.”

[Alright, I’ll shut up~ I’m very obedient, so until next time~]

Without another word, she finished washing all the dishes, returned them to their original places, then went back to her room, changed out of her pajamas, and put on a simple set of casual clothes.

She gazed at her reflection in the mirror: slightly disheveled black hair, a pale yet still delicate face, and lake-blue eyes…

She put in pure black contact lenses, concealing the symbol of her abilities, then silently left her room and exited the house.

She wanted to go see Zhong Tian.

****

Zhong Tian, having changed back into his uniform, exited the school gates.

In Taishan’s September, the sky at half past seven still held the lingering glow of the setting sun, and Zhong Tian rode his bicycle through the not-so-cool evening.

Following his usual route home from school, he passed a familiar but quiet snack street, where a thought prompted him to stop.

Zhong Tian dismounted his bike and called Zhong Jing.

“Hello.”

The call connected quickly, and his sister’s indifferent voice came through.

“Hey, Sis, want any snacks?”

“…”

Silence met him from the other end; Zhong Tian knew she was thinking.

“Mochi dumplings.”

“Alright, could you ask Su Linxi what she’d like to eat?”

“…”

Zhong Tian heard the rustling of fabric from the other end of the line, likely Zhong Jing getting out of bed, followed by the sound of a door opening, footsteps, and then a knock.

“Zhong Tian is asking what snacks you want,” Zhong Jing said, her voice sounding a little distant from the phone. “You tell him.”

“Hello.”

“Linxi, I’m on my way home now, is there anything you’d like to eat?”

“Hmm, I don’t have anything in particular I’d like. The same as your sister will be fine.”

“Alright then.”

Zhong Tian hung up the phone, pushing his bike towards a pastry shop.

He glanced at the glass display counter inside and spotted the mochi dumplings.

He parked his bicycle and entered the pastry shop, which glowed with a warm, orange light.

As the chime of the doorbell announced his entry, Zhong Tian stepped into the elegantly decorated pastry shop, where the air itself was infused with the faint, sweet aroma of cake.

At night, such pastry shops always offered Zhong Tian a sense of comfort and relaxation.

He approached the counter displaying the mochi dumplings, naturally swept his sideburns back, bent down, and began to examine the mochi dumplings and cakes within.

This reminded him of the cakes that Class Teacher Wang Changgeng and several classmates had made today; surprisingly, their appearance was no less appealing than those in this professional pastry shop.

“Hello, how much are these mochi dumplings?”

He turned and asked the shop assistant.

The shop assistant was a woman around thirty, with her hair tied in a ponytail, giving her a competent and efficient impression.

“Seven yuan a box, with eight large mochi dumplings.”

“I’ll take one box then.”

“Alright.”

As Zhong Tian spoke, the chime of the doorbell rang behind him, drawing his gaze.

Entering the shop was a man with brush-like, bristly hair and a thick beard…

‘Good heavens, Lu Xun!’

‘No! It’s Class Teacher Wang Changgeng!’

“Class Teacher?”

“Oh, Zhong Tian,” he said, smiling without any pretense of a teacher’s formality upon seeing Zhong Tian. “Welcome.”

‘Hmm? Welcome?’

“Is this… your pastry shop?”

“Indeed,” he replied. “My wife and I opened it together; she mainly runs it, and I occasionally help out after work.”

‘Ah, no wonder the Class Teacher knows how to make pastries…’

“Is he your student?” the woman, or rather, Class Teacher Wang Changgeng’s wife, inquired.

“Yes,” he said, walking over to his wife. “He’s in my class, a very well-behaved child.”

His wife pulled open the glass cabinet door, used plastic tongs to pick up eight mochi dumplings, arranged them neatly into a plastic box, sealed it with a stapler, wrapped it, and handed it to Zhong Tian.

“Here,” Wang Changgeng’s wife said with a smile, “they’re on the house.”

“That’s really not necessary…”

She tucked the bag into Zhong Tian’s canvas satchel. “Remember to keep studying hard. Consider your good grades as payment.”

“…Alright, thank you, Teacher, thank you, Teacher’s wife…”

Unaccustomed to such situations, Zhong Tian awkwardly nodded to the couple in thanks, then exited the shop, remounted his bicycle, and slowly pedaled away from the snack street.

****

He rode through the shadows cast by streetlights and trees, distantly observing the incomparably beautiful girl cycling.

Today, he had donned a Taishan High School uniform, purchased from a graduate, to blend into the school, where he found her and learned her name.

Her name was Zhong Tian.

Today, dressed in a maid’s outfit, she was even more adorable than usual.

He touched his chest, feeling as though he could still sense the delicate touch and warmth left by her small, jade-like feet.

That was the second happiest moment of his life.

Second only to their first encounter on the bus.

He sped up, slowly passing Zhong Tian from the side.

Though somewhat reluctant, he needed to return to the convenience store before Zhong Tian.

‘Perhaps she’ll come in to buy something; I can’t miss her.’

In less than five minutes, he was back in the convenience store, standing behind the counter, breathing heavily.

As always, he waited with eager anticipation, occasionally peeking out through the glass door with eyes hidden beneath his fringe.

Ding-dong—

The convenience store’s glass door was pushed open, and a long-haired girl entered.

It wasn’t Zhong Tian… He felt a pang of disappointment.

Even though the girl before him possessed a beauty that rivaled Zhong Tian’s, she failed to stir his heart.

The beautiful girl entered, quickly glancing at him; though it was only a fleeting look, he still caught it.

‘…?’

The girl’s gaze was strikingly similar to his father’s… cold and fierce.

He shivered involuntarily, but when he looked again, her eyes were as calm as still water, as if his earlier impression had been merely a figment of his imagination.

After a moment of stunned silence, he finally took the can of coffee the girl had placed down. “Seven yuan…”

The girl paid without a word, took the coffee, and left the convenience store.

****

‘To think I’d encounter a “colleague.”‘

Yu Naixi drank her coffee beneath the tree shadows, watching Zhong Tian lock his bicycle and enter his home.

She had only come out to glance at Zhong Tian, seeking a bit of psychological comfort, but unexpectedly discovered a new problem…

Yu Naixi could tell at a glance that the man was no mere stalker; if he were allowed to continue such perverted behavior, it would surely threaten the safety of Zhong Tian and his family.

Her brows furrowed deeply as she threw the empty coffee can to the ground and forcefully stomped on it, crushing it flat.

‘He must be dealt with…’

****

“I’m home.”

He carried the bag of mochi dumplings into the house and placed it on the living room table.

Zhong Jing, who had been playing on her phone, stood up, swiftly opened the box, took out a mochi dumpling, and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing vigorously like a squirrel.

Su Linxi heard the door open and also came out into the living room.

“How was the culture festival?”

She sat on the sofa, picked up a mochi, and began to chew it delicately, patting the spot beside her on the sofa, inviting Zhong Tian to sit.

“Hmm… it was rather interesting, I suppose…”

This statement was quite insincere.

“Can non-students also enter and participate in the school’s culture festival?”

Su Linxi’s sudden question left Zhong Tian a little puzzled. “Do you want to go inside and have some fun?”

“Yes.”

She nodded earnestly.

Normally, it would definitely not be allowed, but during a culture festival, students frequently enter and exit the school gates, so the facial recognition at the entrance isn’t always active.

Therefore, as long as one has a school uniform and looks like a student, they can blend into the school.

“You could… you could get in by wearing my school uniform.”

“Alright.”