ATLAS TRANSLATES

Chapter 55: A Pat on the Head

The weather had turned slightly cooler, and students had started wearing more layers. Jiang Qiao had just sat down at her desk when she noticed “The Little Prince” in her drawer, though Xu Si hadn’t arrived yet. She stared at the book for a while, wondering how he got it back, and put it away in her schoolbag.

The Sixth Middle School’s uniform jacket was black and white – not particularly attractive, but not ugly either. Jiang Qiao looked up to see Xu Si entering. He wore the school jacket over a black t-shirt and his own pants. Perhaps because of his good proportions, even the school uniform looked better on him. His eyes were darker than most people’s, and his features were striking. When he looked at people, there was always a hint of coldness, creating a sense of distance.

Xu Si pulled out the chair and sat beside her: “I put the book in your drawer.”

“I saw it. How did you get it back?”

“Don’t worry about that. I have my ways.” Xu Si gave a light laugh.

“Did Director He give you trouble?”

Xu Si thought about the half-hour lecture he’d endured in He Guoshi’s office, but shook his head: “No.”

Jiang Qiao sighed in relief: “That’s good.”

“Students, today is September 28th. The school has announced that National Day holiday will start on the afternoon of the 30th, Wednesday, and we’ll return on October 4th in the afternoon.”

“Why do we only get four days for National Day?”

Fang Zixin smiled: “You’re already in second year.”

“Does that mean third years only get one day?”

“Yes, this year’s seniors only get one day off.”

“…”

Fang Zixin continued: “But after National Day, we’ll have the autumn sports meet for three days. This time, our school is hosting it jointly with Nineteenth Middle School.”

“Great! I can see my friends from Nineteenth Middle!”

“As long as we don’t have classes, I’m happy.”

Fang Zixin called for quiet, then said: “Let’s start class.”

“Auntie Liu, you can go home now.”

“Alright, Qiao Qiao, what would you like to eat this afternoon?”

Jiang Qiao thought for a moment: “Sweet and sour ribs.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Qiao watched Auntie Liu’s car disappear from view before heading toward school.

“Hey beautiful, all alone?”

Jiang Qiao glanced at the boys nearby and quickened her pace toward the gate.

One boy with tri-colored hair blocked her path: “Yes, you. I’m talking to you.”

Jiang Qiao hadn’t expected to encounter troublemakers near school. Auntie Liu had been late today, and with parents’ cars taking up the spots near the gate, they’d had to park further away.

She bit her lip and stepped back: “I don’t know you.”

“Doesn’t matter if you know us or not. We just want to be friends,” Ke Ji said.

Jiang Qiao remained silent.

“From Sixth Middle School, huh, little sister?” Ke Ji looked at her school badge when she didn’t respond. “Oh, really are from Sixth Middle. A good student, no wonder you look down on people like us.”

Somehow, his way of saying “good student” felt completely different from when Xu Si said it.

Jiang Qiao gathered her courage: “I’m not looking down on you. I need to get to class. Please let me go.”

“Haha, the little sister wants to leave. Should we let her go?” Ke Ji looked at his two companions.

One of them, with instant noodle-like hair, looked Jiang Qiao up and down: “No way, bro. Never seen such a pretty girl from Sixth Middle before.”

“What do you want? I can give you money. I really need to get to class.” Jiang Qiao’s hands were clenched tight in her sleeves.

“Money? Little sister, you’re really looking down on us now. We don’t want money. I have no bad intentions, just want to date you, little sister.”

Before Ke Ji finished speaking, a fist knocked him down.

“Date your mother.” Xu Si’s eyes were cold as ice, his whole being radiating an icy aura as he pulled Jiang Qiao behind him.

Jiang Qiao’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at the person shielding her.

Yang Shikun had just been telling Xu Si “Isn’t that Jiang over there?” when the next second, Xu Si was gone.

The noodle-haired boy was about to curse but Ke Ji stopped him. Ke Ji struggled to his feet, his right cheek badly swollen from the heavy punch. He wiped blood from his mouth: “Si Ge, is she your girl? We didn’t know.”

“She’s my desk mate. Stop targeting her. You vocational school kids are reaching too far.”

Ke Ji heard the warning in Xu Si’s last words and nodded: “Si Ge is right. We were wrong.”

He looked at Jiang Qiao behind Xu Si: “We were wrong, little sister. Please forgive us.”

“Watch your mouth.”

Understanding Xu Si’s meaning, Ke Ji quickly corrected himself: “I’m sorry, classmate.”

The noodle-haired boy didn’t understand why Ke Ji was so afraid of a Sixth Middle student and was about to speak, but Ke Ji silenced him with a glare.

Yang Shikun and Hao Ming ran over. Looking at Ke Ji and Jiang Qiao behind Xu Si, Yang Shikun immediately understood and couldn’t help cursing: “Look at yourself and look at our Jiang classmate. You’re like a toad trying to eat a swan! Go look in a mirror at your ugly face.”

Ke Ji’s face turned from green to red, but afraid of Xu Si, he didn’t dare speak.

“Get lost.”

Ke Ji ran at these words.

Yang Shikun shouted after them: “Don’t let us see you around Sixth Middle’s gate again!”

After they’d gone far, the noodle-haired boy couldn’t help asking Ke Ji: “He’s just a Sixth Middle student. Why are you so scared?”

Ke Ji slapped his head: “When I used to hang with Brother Wang from our school, I saw him beat Wang until his face was bloody. He fights like he doesn’t care about living. Don’t mess with him – he’s nothing like a student.”

The noodle-haired boy shrank his neck in fear: “Good thing I didn’t say anything earlier.”

Seeing how scared she looked, Xu Si reached out and gently patted her head: “It’s okay now.”

He was smiling, completely different from his fierce, aggressive demeanor earlier. His eyes seemed to shine, and his voice was much softer than usual.