Zhan Yu looked into Zhong Qin's hopeful eyes, and cleared his throat in an attempt to subtly change the topic, "This is someone else's private life, so we shouldn't really care."
Zhong Qin looked at him in confusion but eventually decided to move on.
By then, the food had arrived. While Zhong Qin cut into his steak, He suddenly exclaimed, "I finally remembered her! Do you know the girl that was with Ms. Lai? That was Shi Shi! The Shi Shiー from the art department!"
"Shi Shi?" Zhan Yu said the name, and his eyes gradually widened with shock.
"Yeah, Shi Shi. The young miss from the Shi family. I've heard her reputation at school wasn't very good."
"So her last name is Shi." Zhan Yu suddenly remembered that the girl had also appeared in the novel once or twice. Shi Shi was a supporting female character, and Lu Bai had disliked her so much he often made trouble for her.
Zhan Yu clearly remembered when he teleported, he heard a girl blurt out that Shi Shi was the one who pushed the original owner down the stairs.
"I didn't expect it to be her."
Zhan Yu was always an eye for an eye kind of person, but he hadn't put much thought into how he'd get his revenge. To start, he wasn't terribly experienced.
Zhong Qin observed how deep in thought Zhan Yu was, and asked, "You guys know each other?"
"We have a bit of a… complex relationship," Zhan Yu explained as he stood up. "Eat first. I need to go to the washroom."
Zhan Yu wasn't even planning on dealing with Shi Shi, yet he had already run into her. Just after leaving the washroom, he spotted Shi Shi leaning against the wall by the entrance. Shi Shi was waiting for him. "I never would've thought I'd see the Zhan family's Slut ever again in Shengjin City, but now I've had the misfortune of actually seeing you again." Shi Shi said the minute she saw Zhan Yu emerge from the bathroom.
After a long stretch of silence, the lack of reply from Zhan Yu made the interaction deeply unsettling. Shi Shi looked over at him and met her gaze directly. "Looks like you really did lose your memory. Don't remember who I am? I'll tell you. I'm Shi Shiーthe one that made you fall down the stairs."
Slap!
Just as Shi Shi finished, she was struck cleanly across the face by Zgan Yu.
Zhan Yu felt the residual sting in his palm when he retracted his hand.
It was his first time ever slapping someone, but it was a pleasure unlike any other.
Zhan smiled, looking at Shi Shi's reddened face and smirked at how ridiculous she looked. "Yeah, I did lose my memory, but thanks for reminding me. Your last name is Shi, right? I'll make sure to return the pain twice over," he said smugly.
"Don't get too full of yourself, ZHAN YU!" Shi Shi screamed. She threw herself towards Zhan Yu like a wild creature but never reached her target. Zhan Yu nimbly dodged, while also managing to take hold of Shi Shi's wrist. He twisted his body sideways and moved behind Shi Shi, locking Shi Shi's arm behind his back, and slamming her against the wall.
Shi Shi squirmed with a newfound terror as she was pinned. "You're not Zhan Yu ! He doesn't know these kinds of moves! Who are you?! Let go of me!"
"You don't need to be concerned over who I am. All you need to care about is that you're in my debt for as long as you live. And if you want me to let you go, it'll be easy enough to convince me to. Watch that mouth of yours next time, or if I'm not in a good mood, I just might decide to throw you off the side of a building. Have you ever seen the fluids that trickle out of a crushed skull?"ーZhan Yu leaned in so close that his warm breath teased Shi Shi's earー"The sight is absolutely beautiful." He relished every single syllable of his threat.
"Zhan Yu, you fucking Slut!"
Zhan Yu twisted Shi Shi's wrist further, making her screech in pain. "Let go! Now!"
"If I hear you say another word, I'll make sure you pay up everything you owe me. Everything. From then, till now." Zhan Yu threw her away with disgust and shot a final abhorrent glare before leaving.
If he wanted to take revenge, it looked like it wasn't going to be as hard as he had expected.
While Xhan Yu contemplated how he wanted Shi Shi to pay, He heard Shi Shi's voice behind her. "I'm warning you to stop acting so arrogant! You probably know the person who was with me. Even though Lu Bai made her deny the rumors, my cousin is still dating him. She's shared meals with him before and can enter the Lu residence freely. Grandpa Lu likes her so much, she'll be the one to marry Lu Bai sooner or later."
Zhan Yu didn't want to listen to Shi Shi anymore, but could still hear her eagerly chirping. "Even if Lu Bai doesn't marry my cousin, there's still .... , so you'll never get the chance!"
Zhan Yu laughed at the comment, continuing to turn away from her.
Who Lu Bai would be with had nothing to do with him.
Zhan Yu returned and saw that Zhong Qin had finished eating, so he asked, "Shall we go?"
"Hmm, sure." Zhong Qin didn't really have any objections. On the way, he asked, "Did you run into any more trouble with Shi Shi? I saw her also go to the bathroom right after you left, and she was shooting serious daggers at you."
"Well, we do have some issues with each other." Zhan Yu replied.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't really explain since I don't even understand it myself."
What Zhan Yu could figure out, was that the two of them had started fighting over Lu Bai. In the past, Shi Shi wasn't happy about him being with Lu Bai all day, and there was probably a point where he just couldn't take Shi Shi's provocations anymore. He still never remembered the moment when Shi Shi pushed him down the stairs in the novel. Shi Shi's character was always bouncing around so energetically, so there were barely any scenes that described the original owner's injuries. What went wrong in the storyline?
Zhan Yu couldn't wrap his head around it, but he had the feeling that he couldn't just let Shi Shi do as she pleased. Shi Shi would probably act out even more in the future, and if Zhan Yu had someone who thought of her as an enemy, how would she ever live a regular life with someone always causing trouble for him?
The new development only reinforced the thought that constantly haunted him: Shengjin City wasn't right for him.
Zhan Yu went back to A City the following day.
Zhan Qiancheng drove him to the airport and reminded him to take care of himself, but kept the goodbyes short as he had to rush back for a business meeting. While waiting in the airport lounge, Zhan Yu looked around only to see Assistant Wang in a black shirt. He froze for a beat before looking away, trying to minimize his presence.
Nearly 99% of the time, wherever Assistant Wang went, Lu Bai would be. He couldn't afford to be careless.
Assistant Wang, unfortunately, saw him too, and nearly stumbled before maintaining his stride. He looked worriedly at his boss on his left.
This felt like it, almost, wasn't a mere coincidence. Had the two planned to board the same flight beforehand?
Assistant Wang was so obvious that something was wrong, Lu Bai could tell almost straight away. "What's with that look?"
"Well…"ーAssistant Wang pointed to Zhan Yu's directionー, "Mr. Zhan is also here."
Lu Bai's turned to where Assistant Wang pointed; sunlight shone through the window and brightened the surroundings. In the rambunctious airport lounge, Zhan Yu was sitting alone in a chair near the aisle, wearing headphones and quietly staring at his phone. He was completely unaware of his surroundings.
Lu Bai's sight lingered a bit longer. Noticing Zhan Yu seemed to have never looked away from his screen, he allowed a faint smile to curl his lips.
Zhan Yu held his breath for the longest time, and finally, let out a sigh of relief after he felt Lu Bai's gaze on him disappear.
What kind of coincidence was this, meeting again?
Zhan Yu heard the boarding announcement, and caught them mentioning Country M. Wasn't Chu Hua there too? So it was sort of like "traveling a thousand miles to attend a date"!
Zhan Yu didn't spend much time thinking about it. After returning to A City, He was busy with life as usual and became even busier after school started. As the freshmen started their semester in September, Zhan Yu also attended the once a year hosting competition to hone his skills. In the competition, one must show off their talent. There were two options for the competition; piano and dance. After consideration, he chose dance. When his dance teacher found out that he was participating in his school's host competition, his dance teacher had personally adapted a piece of ancient dance music for him.
At the end of September, Zhsn Yu's performance can be described as exemplary during the host competition. A lot of people praised him performance as catching their attention: whether it be his facial expressions, body language, or tone, all of these things made the audience feel at ease. His language expressions and improvisational performance especially made him stand out from all the other participants.
Zhan Yu was gratified. Before he had transmigrated, he had already been practicing for this profession in secret because he loved it. Now that the environment he was in allowed him to learn it without restrictions, he became even more motivated to improve and was satisfied with the results. But for the amateurs, what caught their attention was Zhan Yu's dance and his light pink long flowing silk inner sleeves. His dance moves flowed smoothly, showing both strength and gracefulness in his motions. The onlookers can sense not only the profoundness of his dance, but also the sentiments of the song by his body language and facial expressions.
In other words, it was amazing.
Even Gu Tong, who was quite close to him commented in shock, "I didn't even know that your dancing skill was this good!"
Gu Tong inquired after him backstage after Zhan Yu finished his performance.
He also felt that he had performed well. This was the first time he was so deeply immersed into this song since he first learned it, so he answered breathlessly with a smile, "There's a lot you don't know about!"
After seeing him smile, Xia Qiao, the host of the show, can't help but freeze for a few seconds. He didn't want to admit that Zhan Yu was the only person who was able to surprise him out of all the events he hosted. He can feel his confidence, as well as his effort and beauty while he was dancing. He had to admit that he wanted to pay more attention to him and uncover the other secrets he was hiding.
Zhan Yu's classmates in Shengjin City were also amazed by him. Some students from A College posted some clips of the highlights of the competition onto the school's official website, but many other students demanded that they only wanted to see Zhan Yu's dance videos.
As a result, after the videos were posted, there were considerable views, and the news of it had spread back to Zhan Yu's school.
Zhong Qin complimented him right after he saw it on the web forum, "That was amazing! You were extremely handsome!"
Zhan Yu was just about to accept his compliment when Zhong Qin continued, "If Senior Lu saw it, will he regret that he didn't accept your pursuit? The more I look at you, the more handsome you look!"
The original bright smile on Zhan Yu's face froze on him after he heard him mentioned that Lu person, "Zhong Qin, did you do that on purpose?"
"What?"
"Nothing." Zhan Yu didn't want to bring Lu Bai up.
Naturally, he became busier as he joined the school's hosting team for the new semester; he was as busy as a spinning top during the first month of host training.
At the end of November, he started to officially host events. As expected, he received considerable praise.
During the New Year evening party, out of the four hosts, he and Xia Qiao had shown great chemistry together while hosting. Some students even gossiped about it; they would be a golden couple and a good match.
Zhan Yu didn't bother to care for those comments, but after reading the comments he realized that he had more contact with Xia Qiao because of this job. As finals week was approaching, he was too busy studying for the tests, so he didn't think more about it.
During the winter break, Zhan Yu stayed in City A for half a month using the excuse of studying. However, he was urged by the Zhan Family to return home for the Spring Festival.
While he was buying the merchandise sold for Chinese New Year with Bai Ning, Bai Ning said, "What's so good about City A? You just arrived yesterday, and tomorrow will be New Year's Eve already."
Zhan Yu coaxed her, "Mom, don't get mad. I'll stay a few days extra after the New Year ends."
Bai Ning agreed reluctantly, "You can't go back so early after New Year."
"Fine, fine, fine." Zhan Yu agreed orally, but he was already planning the best day to leave. He really thought that A City was good in every way, at least there was no one from the book in A City. Since there was no one there, he didn't have to worry too much. It also gave hum the chance to be his self without any restrictions. He was worried about staying in Shengjin City for too long. Zhsn Yu was one of the important characters that would carry the plot forward, so he was scared that the longer he stayed, the greater the chance that the plot will follow the storyline. He didn't want all his efforts to be in vain if the ending will be the same as it was in the original book, or else, it would be more than just "tragic".
While he was lost in his train of thought, he was pulled back to the present when he heard someone call out, "Zhan Yu!"
Zhan Yu turned to look back and saw Ji Yi, who was wearing a black sweater, staring at him excitedly, "Zhan Yu, you're back? I thought I wouldn't see you again until your graduation ceremony!"
Zhan Yu never considered him to be an acquaintance, so he found the way he spoke so familiar to him to be inappropriate. As a result, he replied expressionlessly, "That's also possible."
Ji Yi didn't care about his coldness, and continued, "I saw your dance video at A College, you were great! I told you that your dance would amaze everyone last time, but no matter what, you refused to join the competition. Now, doesn't the result of host competition prove my words?"
"Hehe."
"Zhan Yu, I just happened to invite a lot of my classmates to a party. Do you want to go together? They all know about you too…"
Zhan Yu laughed sarcastically on the inside, thinking that his brain must have problems if he accepted the invitation. "They know about me, but I don't know about them, so what's the point of me going?"
"To meet each other, and even if you don't know them, you'll be acquainted afterwards." Ji Yi said candidly.
Zhan Yu rolled his eyes at him.
Coincidentally, Bai Ning yelled his name while he was picking fruits. Zhan Yu responded to his mother that he was coming before he said to Ji Yi hastily, "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm not going. Bye."
"Hey, Zhan Yu!"
After Xhan Yu ran a few steps, he turned around immediately and said, "Don't follow me!"
Ji Yi was stupefied, why did he become so hostile after coming back from City A?
The more he thought about it, the more he thought that Zhan Yu was heartless. He even called Mao Shiyuan to complain, "I told you he's not suitable for Senior Lu, I'm smart enough to tell!"
After Mao Shiyuan finished listening to Ji Yi's long complaint, he waited for him to take a break before Mao Shiyuan replied, "Eh, who told you to provoke him? Why would he go to your class reunion when he's not even familiar with you? He doesn't even know your classmates; it's going to be awkward if he went."
"It's all because Senior Lu isn't going. If Senior Lu went, he would immediately agree to go! Senior Mao, you don't understand Zhan Yu."
Mao Shiyuan scoffed at him and said, "Like you know a lot about him." After he finished speaking, he hung up the phone because he didn't want to talk to him anymore.
Lu Bai heard the last sentence when he walked into Mao Shiyuan's office, but he didn't ask. The two of them discussed work as usual. After they finished discussing, Mao Shiyuan finally asked, "Are you still not planning to let me take a break for the New Year?"
"You want to have a break?" Lu Bai lifted his eyes to look at him.
Mao Shiyuan nodded.
"Sure," Lu Bai said generously.
Mao Shiyuan felt his spirits finally return to him after he heard Lu Bai's reply. He had been forced to work overtime while other employees left for break, so he had to take care of all the leftover tasks. Mao Shiyuan hadn't slept well in such a long time.
After he thought of Lu Bai's inconsiderate orders, he said suddenly, "Ji Yi said there's a class reunion today. It's still pretty early, do you want to go have some fun?"
"You can go, I'm not going. I have to go back to my grandpa's place later."
Mao Shiyuan already predicted his lack of interest in these kinds of events. He thought of Ji Yi's words and examined Lu Bai's expression as he meaningfully said, "Ji Yi said he saw Zhan Yu in the mall."
"Eh?"
"Ji Yi invited him to go but he rejected."
"Eh."
"I'm suddenly very curious. If you are going, would Zhan Yu agree to go too?"
Lu Bai slowly lifted his eyes and glanced at him, "I think you are too idle. How about spending a little time and finish the project proposal?"
"No, no, no! I won't mention it anymore. CEO Lu, please let me go"
"Humph." Lu Bai contemplated about it while he was on the way home, but he still drove back to his old house.
Since Zhan Yu didn't want to see him, why should he go meet him?
After the encounter with Ji Yi, Zhan Yu became even more defensive. Now, he couldn't even go out of his house on New Year's. He also realized on the night of New Year's Eve, that there was no Chinese New Year special*! How sinful!
(T/N: Chinese New Year special: It's a beautiful annual TV show that celebrates Chinese New Year where participants would sing and dance)
He asked Zhan Qiancheng, "Aren't you going to watch the Chinese New Year special?"
"What Chinese New Year special?" Zhan Qiancheng asked in confusion.
The next second, he became the stupid one.
Zhan Yu was speechless. How can the author of this book not write about the Chinese New Year special? He was bored of staying at home! His parents asked him to visit their relatives and friend's house with them to wish them a happy new year, but he refused. He didn't want to go out at all. Bai Ning even suggested that he should visit the Lu Family since Weng Yinlin invited Zhan Yu last time, but he brushed off the advice. Bai Ning was still reluctant about it; she was afraid that the Lu family will think that Zhan Yu had no manners. Compared to Lu Bai , Zhan Yu thought that everything else was less important. 'Manners? Not important!' No matter what, he won't go, ge couldn't go, and definitely would not go!
So, when Lu Bai was welcoming the Zhan parents, he was extremely angry– 'Zhan Yu, you are ruthless.'
Zhan Yu rushed back to City A after staying home for a few days. Even until the end of summer vacation, he didn't go back to Shengjin City again.
Xia Qiao was recommended by the school to the TV station in College A during his internship period. He told Zhan Yu that the station was planning to start an outdoor challenge program, so they were currently recruiting new hosts to get involved. This will significantly enhance Zhan Yu's hosting skills and such an opportunity was hard to come by. Xia Qiao told him that if he was interested in it, he should start preparing for the audition and take part in it.
Zhan Yu was surprised, "I can go too?"
Xia Qiao explained smilingly, "Eh, the station puts emphasis on talent, and you fit the requirements."
"Oh." Zhan Yu looked at his long eyelashes and asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
Xia Qiao grinned, "Maybe because I have faith in you. And isn't everybody else saying that we have good teamwork? I also think that our teamwork is pretty good. So? Are you going to sign up?"
Zhan Yu puffed his cheeks and thought over it; the answer was obviously——yes!
While preparing for his busy finals, he also had to prepare for the station's tests, interviews, and other processes. Then, after he was done with his finals, the TV station also contacted him saying that he was accepted.
While Zhong Qin called him to ask about hus summer plans, he was shocked upon hearing that Zhan Yu was going to stay in City A to improve his skills, "Are you planning to stay in City A from now on?"
"I'll see how it goes." Zhan Yu can't guarantee that he will be successful as Xia Qiao, who was able to stay in the TV station right after graduation.
Zhong Qin analyzed, "I think you have a pretty good chance. After all, you already got in and this is a great opportunity for you."
However, Zhan Yu was more realistic. He will be hosting a brand-new show; the outcome of the show was still an unknown factor. But he also understood that this program was very important for his future. He must put in all his efforts and start off successfully.
To be continued....
...