I Call the Shots at Home

"Ring, ring, ring~"

As the dismissal bell rang, the County First High School, quiet moments ago, suddenly boiled over with noise.

Today was Saturday. Other than the graduating classes and the Retake Class, whether they boarded at school or commuted, all the students hurried home for a meal and to reunite with their families.

Lu Zixue slung his army-green shoulder bag over his back, left the classroom, crossed the field, and headed for the school bicycle shed.

It had rained until midnight last night, leaving puddles on the field. Lu Zixue carefully avoided them, unwilling to let the Warrior sneakers on his feet get muddy.

He treasured this pair of sneakers. White shoes would not look good once they were stained.

"Let's go together, Zixue. My mother said last time that she's making dumplings tonight. Come eat at my house!"

A classmate Lu Zixue knew caught up with him and warmly invited him home.

They had been middle school classmates, both admitted from Liuqiao Township to County First High School. Their homes were close together too, and they had always gotten along well.

But Lu Zixue refused. "No, thanks. My father said my bike's rear rack is rather flimsy and can't carry too much weight, or it'll break. You should have your father buy you a bicycle instead. A Qianlima brand one would be pretty good."

"..."

The rear rack of a 26 Phoenix bicycle truly was not as sturdy as that of a 28 Big Bar bicycle, but this classmate was thin and tiny, lighter than most girls. How could she possibly count as "too much weight"?

The warm-hearted classmate stood there stunned for a long while, then lowered her head and walked away awkwardly.

Lu Zixue did not think much of it.

County First High School was the best high school in the entire county. Naturally, many diligent and clever children had tested in from township middle schools. They studied, chatted, and laughed together every day, yet there was always a faint, almost imperceptible barrier dividing everyone into several circles.

Lu Zixue had an army shoulder bag, Warrior shoes, and a bicycle. Forget the county town children—even the teachers at County First High School might not have had his "style."

So he felt that from now on, he should no longer mix with these country kids in coarse cloth clothes, thousand-layer cloth shoes, and handmade cloth bags.

Those well-dressed, confident, proud city kids were the "same kind of people" Lu Zixue recognized.

After crossing the field, Lu Zixue entered the bicycle shed and wheeled out that 26 Phoenix bicycle that stood out like a crane among chickens.

Because Lu Zixue had quietly wiped it down with the rainwater when he came over last night, the brand-new Phoenix bicycle now, as expected, won the envious gazes of the students around him.

Lu Zixue slowly pushed the bike toward the school gate, his eyes constantly searching through the crowd.

Then his eyes lit up, and he quickened his pace toward several female classmates.

"Gao Xiaoyan, I can give you a ride home on the way! My mother added a cushion to the rear rack. It's fast and steady."

The female classmate named Gao Xiaoyan was a lively, pretty girl. She also had Warrior shoes and an army shoulder bag, only no bicycle.

Looking at Lu Zixue, who had gathered his courage to invite her, she felt somewhat surprised.

Lu Zixue's home was in Liuqiao Township, southwest of the county town, while hers was at the meat processing plant dormitory northwest of the county town. No matter how one looked at it, they were not on the way.

Still, Gao Xiaoyan was very polite and smiled. "We're going to see a movie now, not heading home yet!"

Lu Zixue said awkwardly, "You're going to see a movie?"

The girls with Gao Xiaoyan liked to fool around, and one of them smiled at Lu Zixue. "Hey, do you want to go with our Xiaoyan?"

"..."

"I... won't go. They're waiting for me at home to eat!"

Lu Zixue forced a smile, lowered his head, and pushed his bicycle away.

As he walked, he seemed to realize something. Looking up, he happened to see that country classmate watching him and laughing.

A scornful laugh.

In an instant, the flames of resentment blazed up in Lu Zixue's heart.

He resented it—why did he only have a few cents in his pocket, not even enough to buy a movie ticket?

He hated it—why had his stubborn Older Sister been in such a hurry to break off the engagement with the Li family? Couldn't she have waited another year, until he got into college?

Thinking back to before, that foolish Li Ye had run to Liuqiao Township eight times a month. Lu Zixue had always had loose change in his pocket and new clothes every season. How had things become so tight and miserable now?

What an idiot. Didn't you know to come beg me and ask me to put in a few good words for you before Father? Didn't you know I call the shots at home?

Lu Zixue cursed inwardly when he heard someone cheering ahead.

"The malt candy seller is here! I knew he'd come today."

"Malt candy?"

The moment Lu Zixue heard that, he immediately pushed his bicycle forward through the crowd.

He still had five cents in his pocket. He could buy an ounce. He would not give any to anyone else—he would eat it himself and make that country classmate who laughed at him die of envy.

But after Lu Zixue had squeezed forward only a dozen meters or so, he froze.

The Li Ye he had just been muttering about was standing ahead, looking over at him.

Lu Zixue was utterly torn.

He must be here to curry favor with me. Has he come to give me money? Or bring me something? It should be money, right?

Older Sister said we absolutely couldn't take any more benefits from the Li family. She would slowly repay what we owed them from before... but now I'm being humiliated by others.

Father said that if this guy got into college... then when the time came, if I didn't object to the two of them getting back together, that alone would be doing Li Ye a huge favor. I call the shots at home.

In less than two seconds, Lu Zixue came up with a plan that would kill two birds with one stone: he could receive Li Ye's benefits without owing him anything.

Li Ye stood at the gate of County First High School, likewise drawing everyone's attention.

Tall and long-legged, devastatingly handsome, with a calm-as-water temperament to boot—even the shiest girls would steal a glance at him.

Fortunately, girls in this era were still reserved. If he had looked like this in later generations, he truly would have needed to "take good care of himself when going out as a boy."

"Brother, he's out."

"Mm, I see him."

In truth, Li Dayong did not need to remind him. Li Ye had spotted Lu Zixue from far away.

There were not many bicycles in the crowd after school to begin with, and a size 26 Phoenix bicycle was even more eye-catching.

Li Ye saw Lu Zixue and noticed that after only a brief flash of surprise, he pushed his bicycle over, stopped before Li Ye, slightly raised his chin, and coldly met his gaze.

Li Ye was quite puzzled, because at that moment, he seemed to see the internship supervisor from his previous life—the one he had deeply despised.

The bastard clearly did not know a damn thing, yet he always put on airs in front of a group of interns.

Even though everyone had cursed his ancestors for eighteen generations in their hearts, he still felt good about himself, believing everyone ought to flatter him and treat him like he was enshrined on an altar.

The Lu Zixue before him was performing exactly that act of putting on airs.

His acting was clumsy, but he was taking it very seriously.

He was probably waiting for me to speak to him first!

Li Ye had no interest in acting with a brat whose feathers had not even fully grown. He reached out, grabbed the handlebars of the 26 Phoenix bicycle, and intended to pull it over and be done with it.

Caught off guard, Lu Zixue watched his beloved Phoenix bicycle nearly slip from his hands and instinctively grabbed the rear rack at the back.

Then cold sweat seeped through his back.

Had he come to give me money? Or to steal my bicycle?