Jin Li froze for a moment, then suddenly felt she saw a bit of Lu Xunji in Xie Ji. She shrank back in fear, and could only force herself to speak, "You! You! You bastard! I... I... I hate you! Why do you always bully me? It's not like I wanted this special medal! You... you... you this--you this! This... this... this... you--!"
Xie Ji: "You idiot."
Jin Li: "... You... you idiot!"
Xie Ji rubbed his forehead. "Never mind, it's already great. Let's leave it at that."
After saying that, he took Jin Li and prepared to leave.
The student scoffed and muttered under his breath, "You bitch."
Xie Ji turned around, walked up to him, and looked at him.
The man's expression changed, and he took a step back. "W-what are you doing?"
"You dare to curse me? So what? You don't dare to do it in front of me?" Xie Ji raised his hand, patted him on the shoulder twice, and smiled slightly, "Do you feel wronged? Someone like me shouldn't even be able to get into the Imperial Military Academy. If it weren't for others supporting me, I should have been trampled under your feet forever?"
Although the man didn't speak, his eyes betrayed his inner thoughts.
If it weren't for Mu Yao and the Ji Shi backing him up, how could he possibly be afraid of Xie Ji?
He's just relying on his good looks to get close to a few powerful figures. There are plenty of rumors about Xie Ji at school. No one dares to offend him to his face, but they spread a lot of bad things about him behind his back.
In the information age, no matter how capable Ji Shi Mu Yao is, he doesn't have the energy to shut them all up one by one.
Xie Ji clapped his hands. "Feeling frustrated? No problem, you'll feel even more frustrated later. Believe me or not, in two days, I'll make you tremble at the mere mention of my name?"
The man scoffed, "You can't shut everyone up."
"Wrong, I can block it." Xie Ji stretched out his finger and shook it, took two steps back, grabbed the little curly-haired boy's wrist, and turned to leave.
Jin Li, carrying the two boxed lunches, followed closely behind Xie Ji and whispered, "My benefactor, you don't need to clash with him for my sake. You don't know, his father works in the military and political building and wields considerable power. Although he can't do anything to you openly, if he were to do something bad to you in secret, the two young masters of the Ji Household and Mu Household probably wouldn't easily notice."
"Who said I was going to ask Ji Shi and Mu Yao for help?" Xie Ji said. "Can't I am amazing to the whole school on my own?"
Jin Li: "..."
Xie Ji: "What kind of look is that?"
"You're a good person," Jin Li whispered. "In this world, good people can't win against bad people."
"You don't need to worry about that." Xie Ji took his breakfast out of his arms. "Hurry up and finish your breakfast, it's time for class."
Jin Li nodded and followed closely behind Xie Ji.
Since it was the first semester for freshmen, the school's curriculum did not expose students to combat training too early. The first semester mainly consisted of theoretical knowledge from textbooks, war history, case studies of various battles, and the internal structure and basic repair knowledge of mechs.
Xie Ji was drowsy during class, but Jin Li sat next to him, taking notes very diligently.
"You're not in the individual combat department, what are you taking notes for?" Xie Ji rested his chin on his hand, his eyes half-closed with sleep, and whispered to Jin Li.
"I'll help you, my benefactor." Jin Li said earnestly, "You go to sleep. I'll teach you once I understand."
Xie Ji was deeply moved. "You're so kind, thank you so much, Little Fish."
Unlike Princess Bro, who hasn't spoken to him for dozens of hours, he wasn't seen at the restaurant earlier, and he's not in the classroom now either.
I wonder where he's been gallivanting off to.
Isn't she a top student? Shouldn't top students be sitting in the classroom and paying attention in class?
Xie Ji thought of Lu Xunji and felt a headache coming on. He couldn't sleep, so he got up and copied notes with Jin Li.
Jin Li asked curiously, "Why did you make another copy?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Lu Xunji didn't come to class, so I copied it for him." Xie Ji muttered, "He's smart; he can learn just by looking at the notes."
Jin Li said enviously, "You two have such a good relationship."
Xie Ji immediately reacted. "No, I have absolutely no relationship with Lu Xunji! We're just good friends!"
"..." Jin Li glanced at him and asked bluntly, "Did you two have a fight?"
Xie Ji: "..."
"Tell me about it, I can help you analyze it." Jin Li said earnestly, "Back when I was at home, the neighborhood kids would always talk to me about their troubles, and they said I was very good at analyzing things!"
Xie Ji scoffed, "What worries could I possibly have? My only worry is not getting enough sleep. Go ahead and take your notes."
Jin Li nodded helplessly, "Alright then."
The teacher's voice slowly drifted past Xie Ji's ears. He looked up and glanced out the window, then, somewhat annoyed, threw down his pen. He looked at Jin Li, who was diligently taking notes beside him, and leaned closer to whisper, "It's like this, I have a friend..."
Jin Li glanced back at him, considerately refraining from exposing Xie Ji's pretense, and nodded solemnly. "What difficulties has your friend encountered?"
"Well, my friend has a very, very good brother." Xie Ji thought for a moment, "His relationship with this brother is a bit strange. Occasionally, things might go beyond brotherly affection, but in his heart, this brother is very capable, very pitiful, and needs to be cared for. He just likes to be by his brother's side. Of course, I mean, out of a protective mentality, you understand?"
"..." Jin Li thought for a moment and concluded, "You and Lu Xun, cough, excuse me, you mean, this friend of yours, and your friend's brother, although they are very close, and even have some borderline sexual behavior, but you, no, their relationship is purely platonic?"
Xie Ji nodded. "At least my friend thinks it's very pure."
Jin Li shook her head. "Not necessarily."
"..." Xie Ji immediately became anxious. "What do you mean 'not necessarily'? He is very pure!"
"So, does your friend's brother like your friend?"
Xie Ji blushed instantly, scratched his earlobe, and mumbled, "Maybe."
"Does your friend's brother often give your friend a nickname similar to that of a small animal?" Jin Li's very professional analysis left Xie Ji completely bewildered.
Xie Ji thought of Lu Xunji, how he always liked to hug him and call him affectionately, like Little Fox, Little Darling, Little Dog, Little Kitty Baby.
"Uh, yeah."
"So your friend's brother is the one who likes your friend." Jin Li said confidently, "When you like someone, you start to see them as an animal."
Xie Ji crossed his arms and glanced at him. "That's it, then I feel like he looks at everyone like an animal."
Jin Li: "..."
Jin Li: "Okay, let's assume that your friend's brother likes your friend."
"Okay." Xie Ji nodded and continued, "Just a few days ago, my friend's brother suddenly confessed to me, to my friend, his feelings for him."
Jin Li: "... So what are you assuming?"
He's already confessed his feelings, so it couldn't have been just for fun, right?
"Don't interrupt." Xie Ji described the situation that day and his inner thoughts to Jin Li: "You know, my friend's brother is incredibly handsome. When he confessed, my friend almost said yes! But thankfully, he realized it quickly! This brother of mine is very mysterious and amazing. My friend can't see through him, and sometimes he feels like he's never really understood him!"
Jin Li nodded. "So, your friend actually likes this guy, but is a little afraid that if their relationship changes, it will bring unnecessary trouble or deviate from the path your friend envisioned, so she rejected him?"
Xie Ji pursed his lips, patted Jin Li's little hand, and said with a touched expression, "It would have been better if it were you, Little Goldfish. Yes, that's the thing. My friend's brother seems to be angry and hasn't spoken to him for over ten hours. What do you think we should do? Is there any way to get them back to their original relationship?"
Jin Li looked at him with disdain. "Your friend is pretty scummy."
"What?!" Xie Ji's voice suddenly rose a notch, drawing the attention of the entire class.
Xie Ji quickly bowed his head, made an apologetic gesture, and said in a low voice, "What a jerk! He did it for their own good!"
"But according to you, this guy isn't a good-tempered person, and it's normal for him to distance himself from everyone. But your friend wants this 'good brother's' favoritism and gentleness, and even seems to be lusting after him, yet he refuses to give him any status. Isn't that scummy?"
Xie Ji: "..."
no?
Um?
ah?
"Is that how it is?" Xie Ji persisted, making a last-ditch effort. "But isn't this for their own good? The key is that my brother, no, my friend's brother, is just too unpredictable. He's afraid that if he falls in love with him, it will ruin their destiny, you know?"
Jin Li shook her head. "I don't understand. But since your friend is so conflicted, why not just get rid of this brother? You can only have one boyfriend, but you can have many brothers."
"No," Xie Ji instinctively refused. "He's very important. My friend can't abandon him."
Jin Li tapped her chin with the tip of her pen and nodded. "Then let your friend think about it carefully."
Xie Ji asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Jin Li held out her left hand to him. "I want a boyfriend."
Then he extended his right hand. "I still want a stranger."
Xie Ji clutched his hair, saying in anguish, "Does it have to be this extreme? Can't there be a compromise?"
"No," Jin Li said. "Feelings are intense things; they either burn fiercely or remain still like a gentle breeze. Besides, your friend's brother, judging from your description, is an emotionally detached person. Such people actually have a high need for affection. For him to take one step forward, you have to take ten steps forward for him to feel your love. In the end, not only did you not take any steps forward, you even retreated a hundred steps."
Xie Ji: "..."
"Sigh..." Jin Li sighed, "If I were him, I'd want to die."
Xie Ji suddenly stood up.
The teacher on the podium cleared his throat and began, "Some students, don't think that just because you were specially admitted, you can be arrogant. It's one thing to not pay attention and talk during class, but to repeatedly interrupt the flow of the lesson..."
"I'm sorry, teacher." Xie Ji hurriedly bowed. "I have to go now, I'm so sorry."
After saying that, he rushed out of the classroom without even having time to pack his things.
Jin Li covered her face with a book, pretending she didn't exist.
-
Xie Ji ran all the way back to his dormitory from the classroom.
Lu Xunji wasn't in the dormitory either; the swing on the garden balcony swayed slightly.
Just as Xie Ji was about to turn and leave, he noticed something glowing on the sunlit living room floor.
He walked closer and saw that it was a familiar small razor blade.
He had seen Lu Xunji use this thing to cut his arm before. At that time, he wasn't that familiar with Lu Xunji, so he didn't think much of it. He just felt that everyone has their own way of living.
But at this moment, when Xie Ji saw this thing again, his heart skipped a beat.
That can't be right, he hasn't seen Lu Xunji rowing himself in a long time.
Hasn't he already changed?
Besides, someone like Lu Xunji wouldn't be so weak, would he?
Xie Ji picked up the razor blade, threw it on the table, and, disregarding any concern for saving face, grabbed his personal terminal and dialed Lu Xunji's communicator.
The communicator rang for a long time, but Lu Xunji didn't seem to intend to answer.
Xie Ji called five or six times in a row, but no one answered.
Xie Ji was a little angry and muttered a curse under his breath, "Damn it, what a spoiled brat! Am I supposed to put up with you?"
I don't care if you die or not, damn it, so what if you die? We can just die together.
Xie Ji ignored the blood-stained blade on the table, turned around and walked out of the dormitory.
Who is this person?
Xie Ji walked briskly along the campus paths, his eyes rapidly scanning everyone who brushed past him or the lone figures walking in the distance.
It's always like this. Haven't I told you to give him some time to think it over?
Is it interesting to wage a Cold War? Is it interesting to self-harm? If you don't value your own life and body, why should he?
On the surface, they seem like someone who can handle anything, but in reality, they only have this much tolerance and resilience?
Oh, so just because he's sick he's right?
I'm sick, I have a "Saint Father syndrome," why do I have to try to save him?
The Xie Ji went unsuccessful, and the fire burning in my heart grew ever stronger.
Xie Ji closed his eyes, pulled out the Little Black, and angrily spent 10,000 points in the lottery shop, drawing a Divine Sense Fruit.
After swallowing the Divine Sense Fruit, Xie Ji wanted to see Lu Xunji's destiny chart, but it was still shrouded in mist, and he couldn't see it clearly.
"Draw again." Xie Ji sat down on a bench on the path. "Smash it all in and draw again."
Little Black, hiding in his military uniform pocket, said, " Xie Little Ji, don't be too hasty; this isn't the right approach."
"Then what's the solution?" Xie Ji kicked a pebble hard into the bushes opposite him, and said angrily, "I really hate this feeling, he's forcing me."
Little Black flicked its tail and didn't speak again.