SB- Chapter 17

Whatever Wang Yibo considered exciting was completely frightening for Xiao Zhan.

He widened his shocked eyes and said, “My father will beat me.”

Wang Yibo slightly trembled when he met Xiao Zhan’s gaze, an intense feeling rushed up in his heart.

“How old are you? Your father still beats you?”

Xiao Zhan drooped his head down and his curly hair landed on his eyelashes.

Wang Yibo reached over and went to brush it to the side, but Xiao Zhan immediately dodged his touch.

He said in a resentful tone, but it felt like he was acting like a spoiled child. “Don’t touch me.”

Wang Yibo had never seen someone who was that obedient like him, listening to his parents’ every word. He didn’t even know how to reject his parents. Therefore, Wang Yibo didn’t think that he could find any excitement here.

He changed to another method, purposefully saying, “Is your father treating you like a child in daycare? He’s taking you home whenever he feels like when you didn’t even do anything wrong. Isn’t he being a bit too excessive for keeping you away from class?”

Xiao Zhan originally thought so as well, but he didn’t dare to disobey Xiao Jianmin. Right now, Wang Yibo had exposed his thoughts. Xiao Zhan rubbed the corner of his eyes and remained silent.

Wang Yibo’s eyes sparkled and moved closer to Xiao Zhan, saying, “What a smart child. Are you really not going to class? Your father didn’t even lock the house, so can’t you just go to class if you feel like it?”

Xiao Zhan was slightly touched in his heart.

Wang Yibo’s words exposed Xiao Zhan’s genuine feelings as well.

Towards Xiao Jianmin’s treatment, he naturally rejected this in his heart. But he has always been weak and afraid of confrontation.

This time, the moment Xiao Jianmin received Xuan Lu’s call, he rushed over to take him home. To speak in a nice way, Xiao Jianmin was just protective of Xiao Zhan. But to speak the truth, he just desired control over Xiao Zhan.

As a child, Xiao Jianmin was used to controlling Xiao Zhan and whenever he noticed that the latter was about to head on the wrong path, he would immediately correct him.

If it were Xiao Cheng today, Xiao Jianmin would never force him back home because Xiao Cheng would never accept this unreasonable treatment.

Wang Yibo continued, “There’s a lab today and I heard you especially enjoy it. We’re already in junior year and in the future, there will be a lot more work to do. There’s going to be fewer chances to do hands-on experiments.”

Xiao Zhan’s eyelashes flickered and one could see the struggling gaze within his eyes.

Wang Yibo patiently waited for a while before he heard him finally say, “My father will beat me.”

“Has your father really beat you before?”

Wang Yibo stared at Xiao Zhan’s pure white face. Although he didn’t have time to see Xiao Family’s parents, according to Xiao Zhan’s personality, there was no way normal parents could lay a hand on him.

One just needs to frighten Xiao Zhan and the latter would be scared witless. If his parents actually hit him, Xiao Zhan would probably faint.

After a good while, Xiao Zhan said, “No.”

That’s right. Although Xiao Jianmin frequently scared him, he didn’t actually lay a hand on him. However, he did beat Xiao Cheng before, because the latter didn’t accept discipline.

Regarding Xiao Zhan, he always listened and this made Xiao Jianmin resentful. He claimed that Xiao Zhan was too weak and he would come home as a child, bullied.

His mother would hold him in her arms and soothe him, while his father would be scolding him.

“How come you always come home crying? Can’t you just hit them back if they hit you? Beat those kids to death! This father will go to jail for you!”

Xiao Jianmin had a conflicting ideology. He didn’t want Xiao Zhan to cry if he was bullied, but he also didn’t want Xiao Zhan to be associated with people like Wang Yibo.

Xiao Zhan didn’t know whether he was doing the right thing or not.

“Go to class with me?” Wang Yibo was like the wolf enticing red riding hood and also the evil stepmother who was enticing Snow White to eat the poisoned red apple.

“He won’t hit you. If he really does, I’ll bring you to my house.”

Xiao Zhan looked over and Wang Yibo continued, “We’re just going to class, not fighting. What are you scared of?”

Xiao Zhan was in a dilemma.

Wang Yibo lacked patience and said, “Nevermind, three-year-old Huihui should listen to his parent’s words. I’ll be going now.”

Xiao Zhan’s heart was slightly touched when he heard the door close.

What does he mean by three years old? He was about to be an adult and Wang Yibo’s words were too humiliating. He’s so annoying.

He kneeled for a while and heard nothing outside the door.

Wang Yibo clearly left.

Xiao Zhan tugged on the curly hair in front of his forehead, straightening it. Once he loosened the hair, it began to curl again.

He couldn’t maintain his position anymore as the room was too quiet.

He missed the teacher’s lectures, the happiness in conducting an experiment, getting first place every time, and the feeling of glory when people looked up to him as a legend.

Xiao Zhan’s heart thumped rapidly and he sucked a few breaths in. He suddenly jumped up, grabbed his backpack and changed into his shoes.

He walked out and closed the door, going into the elevator.

He was extremely nervous and felt sweat on the palm of his hands. The moment the elevator door opened, he sprinted out to find Wang Yibo.

Who knows why he wanted to find him? But he didn’t feel safe being by himself, as if his father would come out at any moment and give him a beating.

When he rushed out of the building, the young boy leaning against the wall suddenly raised his head.

He stared at the figure sprinting out and he suddenly curled the corner of his lips, like the wolf who had successfully enticed little red riding hood, or stepmother who had successfully fed the poisoned apple to Snow White.

He slipped his phone into his pocket and chased after him.

Wang Yibo actually walks so quickly.

Xiao Zhan panted while glancing at the bus station. He then questioned his decision of taking the bus to school, hesitating.

His shoulders were suddenly slapped and he turned around, meeting Wang Yibo’s handsome face.

His heart strangely calmed down and he immediately turned around to look at the bus. He rubbed the palm of his hands against his pants, pursing his lips firmly.

****

When they arrived at school, it was already the second period.

Xiao Zhan breathed in the scent of the textbooks in the bright classroom. He happily threw himself into a learning state.

There was nothing that made him happier than learning in this world.

Sometimes, Xiao Zhan would be terrified and wondered what he would do if he left the school. If he could, he wished he could go to school forever.

To him, there was a lot of bitter things in the world and only knowledge was sweet.

After class was over, Wang Yibo suddenly called him.

“Why are you running so quickly? You’re eager to go home and suffer a beating?”

Xiao Zhan was indeed thinking of this. The sooner he dies, the sooner he will reincarnate. Even if Xiao Jianmin doesn’t beat him, he will definitely scold him.

“Don’t worry.” Wang Yibo started to brainwash him again. “Once your parents are home, you can go back. If your mother also thinks that your father is being too excessive, she will definitely scold him. Therefore, by the time you get home, your father will know he is wrong and won’t scold you anymore.”

Wang Yibo held Xiao Zhan in his arms and the latter asked, “Then, what if my mother thinks he’s right?”

“Give your father a call later on and tell him that you’re going to live in the dormitory. See what he says and if he dares to give you attitude, just tell him that you’re going to live in school and not come back anymore. Live here for about a week and no matter how angry your father is, he’d get over it. If he doesn’t give you an attitude, then your mother must’ve scolded him. Therefore, you can go home whenever you want.”

Xiao Zhan was skeptical and he peeked his head out from under Wang Yibo’s shoulder, saying, “Then I’ll go home and bring some practice tests over.”

“What’s fun about practice tests?” Wang Yibo walked over in large strides and said, “Let me take you out for a feast.”

“I’m not going.” Xiao Zhan quickly walked towards the classroom, but he couldn’t get rid of Wang Yibo.

He was very distressed since Wang Yibo hated him a lot before he had lost his memory. Why does he act like that towards him after losing his memory? Doesn’t he think it’s strange?

There was barely anyone in the classroom.

Before the evening study session began, everyone returned to their dormitory to do whatever they wanted to.

Xiao Zhan placed his practice tests on the table while Wang Yibo sat across from him, propping his chin.

“What about this practice test attracts you more than a feast?”

“The feast will only satisfy me for a while, but knowledge will keep me satisfied with my entire life.” Xiao Zhan took out a pencil and paused, raising his head and said, “You’re not going to find Li Wenhan and the others?”

He remembered that Li Wenhan and the others didn’t go to their last class, saying that they will get revenge for Wang Yibo.

Therefore, they went to SN to wait for them.

“What are you looking for? They can handle this.” Wang Yibo looked at his phone and Xiao Zhan was embarrassed to continue his practice test.

He even stopped writing, saying, “Why don’t you go and eat a feast?”

“Eat a feast by myself? I’d rather look at you.”

Xiao Zhan lowered his head and grabbed a page of a practice exam from his drawer, saying, “This is the last page of the exam. You can have this.”

Wang Yibo paused and seeing that it was the first time Xiao Zhan had gave him something, he generously accepted this.

“Can I ask you if I don’t understand?”

“Mhm.” Xiao Zhan happily answered.

The two buried their heads and focused on completing the practice exam.

Wang Yibo would touch his earlobes from time to time, something he often did while thinking. Xiao Zhan had noticed this habit as well.

Because there were a lot of problems Wang Yibo didn’t understand, the two took a long time to finish. Wang Yibo didn’t even finish half the page when his phone suddenly rang.

Wang Yibo raised his eyebrows after answering it. “Ok, I know. Wait for me to come over.”

He placed the exam away and said, “Come with me.”

He said it in a tone of authority, making Xiao Zhan murmur, “Where are we going?”

“Bringing you out to see the world.”

Xiao Zhan was tugged out of the room and they walked out of the school door.

They passed the slope where Wang Yibo had tripped and Xiao Zhan subconsciously looked at Wang Yibo’s expression. The latter didn’t react and continued to pull him.

They traveled all the way to the grove and then Xiao Zhan suddenly stopped.

Wang Yibo couldn’t pull on him anymore, so he asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Why are we here?”

“You’ll find out once you come over.”

Xiao Zhan couldn’t help but walk a few dozens of meters more. The falling tree leaves basked in the dim yellow sunset.

Xiao Zhan stared at the boys from SN High School sitting on the ground in front of them.

Seungyoun and Zhou Yixuan were both glaring at them, while Li Wenhan leaned against the trunk of a tree and played games.

“Brother Wang.”

Before Seungyoun could say something, that boy smiled at Wang Yibo. “Sorry, I didn’t know the rules and I shouldn’t have led so many people to chase you. I apologize, for real.”

Wang Yibo snorted and pulled Xiao Zhan from behind him, saying, “It’s fine if you hit me, but it’s a different story if you hit my benefactor. Do you understand?”

“Sorry, sorry.” The boy was slick and sly, saying, “Brother Smart, it’s my fault. I’m sorry. In the afternoon, Officer Yu came to talk to me and I…still need to hand in 10,000 words self-criticism letter. I only have one day to do this, so please let me go.”

This was the first time Xiao Zhan has ever been called ‘brother’ in society. His legs weakened and he ducked behind Wang Yibo.

However, the latter pulled him out again and said, “What are you scared of? Did you forget how he called you ‘real fool’ this morning? Scold him.”

Li Wenhan looked up and even Zhou Yixuan and Seungyoun were confused. “Wait, Brother Wang, you’re not going to beat him up?”

“Shut up first.” Wang Yibo pointed at the boy and then said to Xiao Zhan, “Scold him.”

Xiao Zhan didn’t dare to scold the boy, thinking Wang Yibo was causing trouble for him. If he did scold him, what if this boy went to chase after him when he was alone later on?

“If you don’t scold him, I’ll punch him for you.” Wang Yibo rolled up his sleeves and the boy’s face turned pale.

“Brother Smart! Brother Xiao! Please scold me. I won’t cause you trouble. I know the rules, so please scold me!”

Wang Yibo glanced at Xiao Zhan and the latter stared at the injured boy, then at the injury on Wang Yibo’s forehead.

He felt a burst of anger and said firmly, “You, you’re a butt!”

He thought he had done a good job at scolding and was very thankful for Wang Yibo. But, he was a bit afraid now.

He said softly, “I’m done scolding. Let him go now.”

Wang Yibo remained silent.

“Pft.” Li Wenhan laughed out loud and said, “Brother Wang, this is no good. You need to teach him.”

Seungyoun said, “Say f*ck you!”

Zhou Yixuan said, “Follow me and say ‘you son of a bastard!’”

Xiao Zhan said nothing. It’s not that he didn’t know how to scold people, but he was scared that he might end up in the hospital one day from a scolding. He still has a long life and it’s not worth scolding someone and breaking an arm or leg as a result.

Seungyoun continued, “Call him a f*cking idiot!”

Zhou Yixuan also taught him. “Curse that his son has erectile dysfunction!”

Li Wenhan was pretty kind and understood Xiao Zhan, saying, “It’s fine if you don’t know how to scold him. Go and help Brother Wang to beat him up.”

That boy widened his eyes, looking over. No wonder good students are good students. One needed to teach them to scold someone and urge them to beat someone up.

Wang Yibo stared at Xiao Zhan’s pale face and said in a moment, “Do you want to beat him up or do you want me to help you?”

The boy shivered and called, “Brother Xiao, Brother Smart, beat me. Please beat me up!”

***