Chapter 2
Chapter 2
After school, I didn’t go home. Instead, I went to the illegal internet café I frequented.
I wolfed down my boxed dinner, then started boosting people’s game accounts for money.
Home wasn’t an option. No matter what, I had to wait until my parents were asleep before going back.
Because the moment my parents saw me, they were like Hitler seeing Jews. They hated me to the bone.
Even though I’d been smart and obedient since I was little, with excellent grades.
Maybe it was because I wasn’t born with a dick.
Well, there was nothing I could do about that.
Still, just because they didn’t love me didn’t mean no one did.
For example, last month, a fifty-year-old man with super-male syndrome came to our house to propose marriage. He offered a bride price of five hundred thousand yuan and said he would marry me once I graduated.
My parents agreed without hesitation.
However, last week, I came to an agreement with them.
As long as I could give them five hundred thousand yuan before I graduated from senior year, they would hand over my ID card and household registration booklet, call off the engagement with that super-male guy, and set me free from then on.
So I started working hard to make money.
Like right now.
I was helping someone play a 3D game, even though 3D games made me motion sick. So I took motion sickness pills, stuck motion sickness patches on my forehead and over my belly button, and went to the bathroom to throw up once every half hour. Even then, I refused to give up and kept grinding away with total dedication.
I had just come back from puking in the bathroom and sat down, ready to keep playing, when I heard an icy voice above my head.
“You actually dared to sell that ring?”
I jumped so hard I nearly flew out of my chair.
When I turned around, I saw Jiang Shengchen’s handsome face, cold and arrogantly aloof.
He let out a cold laugh, his tone disappointed and furious.
“Heh. So you really are a liar! If my friend hadn’t seen my ring listed for sale online, I never would’ve known your true colors! You dared to lie to me? Do you know I could get you kicked out of school with a flick of my finger? All that talk about liking me was fake!”
My face went pale. I squeezed out a few tears, lowered my head, and gave a bitter smile. My voice trembled like an old man who had just finished plowing two miles of land.
“I wish it was fake too.”
He paused and frowned.
“What do you mean? Hey… why are you crying?”
I said nothing. I only kept crying.
He grew a little anxious.
“Say something!”
For fuck’s sake, young master, stop rushing me. Don’t I need time to make this up on the spot?!
I sobbed between hiccups.
“I sold the ring because I wanted to buy information from someone… information about you.”
He looked a little confused and pressed, “Information about me? What information?”
I lowered my head and wiped my tears, then spoke timidly.
“Someone on the school forum said that if I gave him twenty thousand yuan, he could tell me what game you liked playing the most.”
I pointed at the 3D game on the computer screen.
“He said this was your favorite game, so I came to the internet café as soon as school let out. I wanted to learn it as quickly as possible.”
This game was the hottest one right now. Eight out of ten boys were playing it.
All I could do was gamble. I was betting that he played it too.
For a split second, his face went blank. Then he spoke, his tone full of confusion.
“You don’t even carry twenty thousand yuan with you when you go to school? You had to sell the ring?”
?
What the actual fuck? Was that a human sentence?
Damn it, I’ll fight all you rich second-generation bastards to the death!
I gave a bitter smile.
“I’m a poor student. Twenty thousand yuan is a whole year’s income for my dad.”
He nodded as if he understood, but not really.
Then he looked at the motion sickness patch on my forehead, then at the motion sickness pills beside the computer, and finally came to a realization-
In an instant, his thin lips parted slightly. His eyes, which had been full of rage just moments ago, flickered, and guilt surfaced in their depths.
He stammered, “Y-you get motion sick from 3D games… You’re taking medicine and wearing patches, and even though you’re this uncomfortable, you’re still playing? Just because… just because it’s the game I like?”
A blush spread across his face, and little flames seemed to flicker in his eyes.
“You like me that much?”
I imagined myself as an old man who had leaked shit and was being slapped senseless by a caregiver. I lowered my head and clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been a toad lusting after swan meat. I just thought you were different from everyone else. I don’t know why, but whenever it’s something related to you, I always do stupid things. You don’t have to worry about me lying to you, because… I could never bring myself to deceive a man.”
He raked a hand through his hair. His black bangs fell into disarray, revealing a pale, sharp forehead.
Only after a long while did he speak.
“So that’s how it was… Oh. Fine. I-I didn’t mean to misunderstand you. I just… Anyway, it’s not like I care whether you like me or not! I’m very busy!”
He turned and ran out, his retreating back carrying a hint of fleeing in defeat.
The owner of the illegal internet café, Chen Ruyue, walked over to my side.
Through the filthy glass, she watched Jiang Shengchen.
A driver wearing white gloves bent at the waist and opened the car door for him. He got in.
He seemed preoccupied, leaning absentmindedly against the back seat of the sports car with his face red.
The driver respectfully asked for instructions. Jiang Shengchen nodded casually, and the driver started the car.
This area was a slum. The passersby probably had never seen a scene like this before, and they kept turning back to look, cautious and curious.
Chen Ruyue clicked her tongue twice.
Her tone was teasing.
“A Pagani Huayra. That’s not the kind of car you can buy just because you have money. So, Cheng Xin, did you hook yourself a rich second-generation heir?”
I didn’t answer. I simply sat back down in front of the computer.