Chapter 9 - Strawberry Flavored Scholar Gong (9): If you agreed to bet then you must accept to lose oh, dear deskmate.

Ye House.

Ye Chao looked at the two report cards that were placed in front of him and gloomily looked at Ye Hui. "An upset stomach and running a fever? This is the reason why you went from being ranked second in the entire year to being second to last?"

In YuLe High School, each grade had a total of 15 classes and the number of students that enrolled each year didn't exceed 450. Moreover, more than ten students had been expelled in Year Two so the remaining students in that year numbered exactly 437 students. Ye Hui placing 436th place was essentially the same as being second to last—and he only avoided placing last because a student had not taken the exams for any other subjects besides literature for some unknown reason.

This sort of grade was already bad enough but now it looked even worse when compared to Gou Liang's second place.

Ye Hui was unable to let his father know that during the test he had to endure a pain so intense that it was akin to his stomach's insides twisting around until he almost went in his pants several times. He also couldn't say that being able to read a couple of questions clearly when his head had been throbbing and dizzy to score a total of 200 points was already a show of his extreme willpower. Ye Chao also wouldn't believe him because he had repeatedly gone to the hospital for examinations in the past two days but was completely unable to find anything wrong with his body. In fact, they couldn't even find any symptoms such as mild dehydration that should be present after having diarrhea.

Ye Chao would only think that this was an excuse Ye Hui found to justify his failure.

In the end, Ye Hui had no choice but to say: "Dad, this will be the last time, I promise I won't repeat the same mistake in the future."

Ye Chao wasn't moved by his solemn promise, he only asked Ye Hui: "I asked you last time to think about where your wrong was, have you thought it through yet?"

"I— Dad, I didn't expect Qi Cheng to be so good at pretending. He pretended to be weak before as an act to get me to let down my guard! When he was still in the Ye House, he pretended to be so useless, but the minute he left the Ye House he started to display splendor all over. How would outsiders view our Ye Family? Those who didn't know better would think that you're an intolerable person and that you've been suppressing him! Qi Cheng doesn't take the Ye House into consideration at all and completely disregards the favor that the Ye Family had done for him, raising him all these years!"

Ye Chao's face was somber and cold. When Ye Hui mentioned the prestige of the Ye House suffering damage, he wrinkled his brows.

Ye Hui's heart leaped in joy. Just as he was about to add oil to the fire, Ye Chao looked over at him with a warning gaze: "Enough, don't say anything more. I know what you want to say. I, Ye Chao, can still tolerate a stepson that is more outstanding than my birth son. As for the issue of controlling him, that is a problem that I need to think about, not you."

Ye Hui's heart was flustered. "But Dad—"

"It seems that you still don't understand." Ye Chao was irked and impatiently told him to leave. "Think it over carefully. Is it more embarrassing for the Ye Family that Qi Cheng was ranked second, or is it more embarrassing for me that my biological son was ranked second to last!"

The rims of Ye Hui's eyes were red. He felt indignant as he walked out of the study room and a trace of hatred flashed through his eyes!

When he left, Ye Chao looked at Qi Cheng's report card, his brows furrowed the entire time: Qi Cheng this child, he knew that he wasn't simple but it seemed that he had still underestimated him…

The System accompanied Gou Liang as they finished watching this play. When it saw that Gou Liang was scattering flowers in his sea of consciousness, it knew that he had to have made a profit again.

[System: Master, why are you showing off your might everywhere? Ye Chao has his guard up against you now. Is that alright? ]

[Gou Liang raised a brow: As long as he still thinks that he has my weakness in his hand, everything will be fine. Just you wait, that woman will come to find me and play the emotion card soon.]

[System:…if you would display the same amount of effort that you spend on counter-attacking the Ye Family to reverse the original host's negative soul force on the actual mission, then even if I die it will be without any regrets.]

[Gou Liang laughed coldly: Blame me then?]

[Gou Liang: What the original host wants, his desires, I can completely grasp through the mirror image of his soul.]

[Gou Liang: He wants those who have harmed him to pay the price, he wants to have Ye Hui be stepped on completely beneath his feet, and he desires acknowledgment and care from the Ye House and his birth mother. His heart was hurt by Zhan Yongzhe and he cowardly wants to disappear from Zhan Yongzhe's life. I can't do that but I will make Zhan Yongzhe regret all the things that he had done before. I have the confidence to not only fulfill all these desires but to also accomplish them above the set expectations. But the mission target, ne? ]

[Gou Liang: Let's not talk about being unable to extract a mirror image of his soul, but even the system function and store props are either completely useless against the target or they have very little effect. When I asked you to find out the reason behind the changes in favorability value, the department did overtime and invented an Emotion Sharing Prop saying that by using it I could experience the target's thoughts behind his emotional changes myself, but what was the result? ]

[Gou Liang: Failure, malfunction, blame it as a pot from the fragment! It was completely useless!]

[Gou Liang: Within a few days I have single-handedly obtained +15 favorability value but the lot of you still dare to criticize my lazy work attitude? Humph, Little Wanton, don't play dead with me. Pass on what I've just said to the BOSS, don't sugar coat any of it. Tell him that if he continues to have you urge me in a roundabout way, if Laozi gets angry, I'll directly slit my throat and return to the Space-Time Bureau. Whoever else wants to capture the target they can go for all I care!]

[The System was abused until it was trembling: Y-yes, Master! I'll listen to everything you say, Master! π__π ]

*

YuLe High School, the Autumn Sports Festival.

This year the school's sports festival was coincidentally on the same week as the monthly exam. For the students who didn't have to participate in the competition, this Friday was a pleasant change from the typical school day.

But for the sports committee member of Year Two Class Three, it wasn't a peaceful Friday at all.

For the past few days, with great efforts, he had finally gathered enough people for a majority of the sports competitions. However, no one was willing to sign up for the last two spots for the male ten-thousand-meter marathon. Last year, it was Zhan Yongzhe and Ye Hui who represented the class for the ten-thousand-meter marathon but Ye Hui recently spent all his extra time outside of school in the hospital, while Zhan Yongzhe had symptoms of chest pain and nausea after participating in the last one so it was unsuitable for him to participate again.

He was a member of the sports committee and was in charge of the logistic works of the sports festival, so he was unable to participate in the competition himself. It was unknown what sort of advice he had received through this time period, but after being worried over this matter for two days, he decided to go find Shi Yu.

He had originally prepared a basketful of words in order to persuade the other party, from praising his personal abilities to saying it was for the sake of the class's honor. But unexpectedly, he had only just said a few words before Shi Yu muttered something to himself and agreed to enter the competition.

The sports committee member had shed tears out of gratitude. All that was missing from the picture was him pulling Shi Yu's hand and calling out 'Dad'.

Gou Liang was currently taking out a box of cake from his desk. Upon seeing this scene, he sent some cake into his mouth and asked: "Ten thousand meter marathon?"

The sports committee member took this chance to complain: "Sigh, it's basically running 25 laps around the sports field. The girl's marathon got canceled because a female student had gone into shock while running before, so now there's only the boy's marathon. Ai, if I have to say, this is gender discrimination, don't you think so…"

"There's still a spot left? Then I'll do it, ba."

Gou Liang wiped away the cake crumbs by his mouth while saying this.

Shi Yu and the sports committee member were shocked upon hearing this. The people sitting in front of them who had accidentally overheard what he said also expressed their horror. Li LinLing stared at Gou Liang's fair and tender little cheeks before saying in a low voice: "Qi Cheng, this isn't something to joke about. Last year Zhan Yongzhe signed up to participate and afterward, he felt unwell for days. He couldn't even eat anything, ne."

Gou Liang widened his already large cat eyes and said in surprise: "His kidneys are weak? Really, you can't judge a book by its cover…"

Shi Yu, the sports committee member, Chen LiBai, Li LinLing: "…"

Zhan Yongzhe who just happened to be walking by: "…"

This rejoicing expression, they must be imagining it. =_=|||

The sports committee member awkwardly said: "Since Classmate Qi Cheng says so, then I'll hand in the name list, ok? It's the participation that counts anyway, not the results, ma, haha."

"Am I someone with such low standards? Since I've entered, naturally first place is a must." Gou Liang placed a hand on Shi Yu's shoulder and raised his brow. He said: "My dear deskmate, last time it was because of my own shortcomings that I lost a point to you. This time, let us compete with each of our own abilities. Well, do you dare to make a bet with me? If I lose, then you can pick whatever condition you want, but if I win, your test paper that was a point higher than mine, you'll have to give it to me as a present. Are you betting or not?

As he mentioned that one point, Gou Liang gnashed his teeth with anger.

"Alright." Shi Yu still appeared as warm as ever. He took out a test paper from inside his desk with the essay section visibly unfolded. He smiled and said: "If you win, this will be yours. But if I somehow manage to luckily win… oh, my request is nothing too hard to fulfill, all you have to do is bring me breakfast for a month."

Gou Liang stared at the test paper and felt an inexplicable feeling of being mocked.

[Gou Liang: Is this a provocation? Is he goading me, is he goading me, or is he goading me !(╬￣皿￣)凸 ]

[System: @^@]

And thus, the scene moved to the ten-thousand-meter marathon. The contestants were doing warm-up exercises in preparation for the race.

Meanwhile, Gou Liang was idly sitting on a table while leisurely drinking some water.

When Li LinLing and Zhang Xiao took in this scene, their hearts became so worried, ah. The school flower and the class flower both took a spot on his left and right to help Gou Liang knead his shoulder and relax his arms. Such luxurious treatment, it made the eyes of the other male students watching this go green. The people who didn't recognize Gou Liang asked around. Upon learning that he was that infamous person who confessed in front of the entire school, their expressions upon looking at this beautiful scene were really… too hard to explain with a few words.

Li LinLing said: "Qi Cheng, you shouldn't drink so much water. What if you vomit it up later?"

"She's right." Zhang Xiao said: "Look at Classmate Shi Yu, he's already doing warm-up exercises but you have yet to do any preparations. What if you lose to him?" Ever since Gou Liang had brought her some specially made diet sweets which satisfied Zhang Xiao who was a foodie but had a physique that gained weight easily, her scale had already tilted from the school flower that could only be seen but not touch to this beautiful dimpled youth that was a little foolish.

Gou Liang gave Shi Yu a disdainful look. He raised his voice and said: "You guys just have to get into position to sing the song of victory. I will lose to him? Humph."

The whistle sounded for the participants to gather, interrupting what Li LinLing was going to say.

As the contestants took stance in the field, Shi Yu lowered his head and said: "Do you know what is a 'I'll lose to him' flag? This is usually a plotline that's used for face slapping. Anyway… good luck, deskmate."

Gou Liang: "…"

This bastard, he wants to anger me with those petty sentences? Humph—well guess what, it just so happens to work!

[The System who was being roasted by the fire within Gou Liang's sea of consciousness with no road to heaven but no way to earth: 〒▽〒 ]

"Ready—go!"

When the whistle sounded, Gou Liang was like a little bullet dashing past Shi Yu. As he ran ahead, he turned his head back and gave Shi Yu a big thumbs down, provoking him.

[The System stared at the favorability value while trembling with fear: Master, can't you be more careful, isn't this courting death, ah.]

Outside the track field, the sound of cheering became rowdy from the start. Gou Liang sharpened his ears and heard:

"Qi Cheng, go!"

"Qi Cheng's the best!"

"Year Two Class Three is not to be looked down upon!"

These sort of catchphrases. Gou Liang waved towards the source of the cheering and blew a few kisses. This action immediately caused high-pitched screams from the group of fujoshi girls who were led by the school flower and class flower. However, in this second of inattention, a figure ran past him in slow motion while giving him a (^_^) expression.

Gou Liang: …Just wait until he rips off that (^_^) expression, he'll burn his entire face!

One lap, two laps, three laps, after ten laps even the specially recruited sports students were showing varying degrees of deceleration in order to conserve energy. The only two people on the field who were proceeding with uniform speed and were constantly fighting with each other in order to be a step faster than the other person was Student Gou Liang and Student Shi Yu from Year Two Class Three.

Their PE teacher chased after the two of them outside of the track while straining his throat to yell: "Switch to a slower pace, conserve your energy! Run a little slower!" Upon seeing that they were completely deaf to his words, he could only arrange for people to throw bottles of mineral water at them so they could moisten their throats.

"Qi Cheng, go!"

"Shi Yu is so handsome ah!!"

Among the high-pitched screams, the face dogswho didn't recognize the two people asked around for information and they would occasionally hear things like: "He's Qi Cheng, so pretty, ah! Don't you guys think he matches very well with our class' Shi Yu?!" and such. Shi Yu suddenly turned his head to look towards the peculiar crowd that was covering their mouths, stomping their feet and hooting about the handsome gong and beautiful shou. He then looked at the strong and healthy body of Gou Liang who was not far ahead before immediately increasing his speed.

On the track, perspiration dripped onto the floor and the two of them ran as if flying.

The intense exercise didn't at all affect the expressions of Gou Liang and Shi Yu, nor did it lowered their attractiveness. Based on this point, they were already worlds apart from the other contestants who were either wrinkling their faces or had already become completely scrunched up.

"Fighting!!"

"They're ahead by a lap!"

"Two laps!"

"Three laps—ah ah ah, championship is definitely ours! Shi Yu, fighting!!! Qi Cheng, fighting!!! Year Two Class Three is not to be looked down upon! Shi Yu and Qi Cheng are not your average people, ah!!!"

The male student who had been chasing after the two of them to deliver towels and water was already tired to death. When he saw the beauties who were cheering and rooting for Gou Liang and Shi Yu, he laid on the ground and cried facing upward towards the sky: When God made humans, why didn't he give him a handsome face QAQ. Meanwhile, the male students who were more broadminded than him were already placing down wagers to see who would win between Qi Cheng and Shi Yu.

The last lap!

The sound of the whistle reached everyone's ears. Gou Liang who had been in the lead this entire time suddenly felt something disturbing the air around him. He turned his head around to look and saw Shi Yu nodding his head at him while gently smiling. Shi Yu opened his mouth and said: "I'll be going a step ahead."

Immediately after, Shi Yu increased his speed to make the final sprint!

Gou Liang narrowed his eyes and also sped up. The two of them chased after one another as they tried to surpass each other, neither was willing to be behind by that one step.

—The finish line was right before their eyes, the red flag in the referee's hand had already been raised and was all ready to be waved down upon the arrival of the first place.

Gou Liang shot a glance at Shi Yu who had once again caught up to him. Irked, he wanted to speed up again but he suddenly pulled a muscle in his leg causing him to stagger for a moment. He suddenly squatted down, his brows were tightly furrowed together as he cusped his ankle.

Shi Yu was alarmed, the him who had long overtaken Gou Liang suddenly stopped running. He arrived by Gou Liang's side even faster than the teacher outside of the track who was in charge of dealing with emergency situations. He bent down and asked: "What's wrong, are you alright…" He didn't get to finish speaking before he saw Gou Liang who was wrinkling his brows revealed an extremely brilliant smile at him. Gou Liang had already positioned himself into a starting position. He leaped up and quickly ran past Shi Yu. At his fastest speed, he dashed towards the finish line.

Shi Yu: "…"

The audience who had been anxiously clutching their chests: "…"

The teacher who had already rushed over to provide assistance: "…"

The whistle sounded and the red flag was waved.

Gou Liang turned his head to look at Shi Yu who was head of the remaining contestants by four laps and was solidly in second place. Shi Yu was slowly heading towards the finish line in a light jog. Gou Liang ignored the students who were telling him to run away, he hummed a little tune in the minors key and faced the other party.

"All is fair in war, if you agreed to bet then you must accept to lose, oh, dear deskmate."

Gou Liang's eyes were full of craftiness and satisfaction, his two dimples exuded joy. His smile was so brilliant that even the afternoon sun paled in comparison. Shi Yu faintly pursed his lips. In front of a smile like this, he also unconsciously revealed a smile.

[Ding, the target's favorability value has been renewed. Current favorability value: +35.]

*

After the school's sports festival was concluded, the students of Year Two Class Three returned to their class after this fruitful event. Everyone's faces were full of joy—except Ye Hui of course but that wasn't important.

As the sports committee member stood at the teaching platform and once again announced the names and placings of the students who had brought honor to Class Three during the sports festival, Gou Liang stacked box after box of fruits onto his desk. He had just harvested 20 favorability points in one go so he was in an extremely good mood. Now when Gou Liang looked at Shi Yu, he felt that Shi Yu was very pleasing to the eye. He even took the initiative to share his food with Shi Yu while being all smiles. Even Chen LiBai who had never given him a good attitude received an apple from him.

Li LinLing ate and talked at the same time: "So good! Qi Cheng, where did you buy this from? Why are you always able to buy such yummy fruits, do you have a secret technique? Teach me it, ba~"

"This kind of thing, not only do you need to have good eyesight but you also need to have a natural talent for it." Gou Liang mercilessly rejected the school flower Dada's request while gleefully stashing away the spoils of war that he had obtained— an exam paper with clear and elegant handwriting. He put the exam paper into his school bag while saying kindly: "However, this Yeis in a good mood today. If you guys are willing then let's go to my house for hotpot tonight. I'll personally do the cooking!"

"Wah, okay okay!"

Li LinLing was the first one to clap her hands in agreement.

Zhang Xiao was also a bit excited but she still said: "Will we be disturbing Uncle and Auntie?"

"It's not a problem, I live alone. My place is very spacious, it's enough for you to play around comfortably in." As Gou Liang said this, he clapped his hands to gather everyone's attention. He then said: "Everyone must've heard what I said. Anyone who is willing to come will be welcomed. Can the two beauties help me count up the total number of people attending? Everyone only has to bring with them their pair of legs and a mouth. Oh right, Classmate Ye Hui, you have already been having diarrhea for the last half of the month. A stimulating food like hotpot isn't good for you, so I won't be inviting you. I wish you a fast recovery, oh."

Gou Liang gave him the type of smile that Scholar Shi Yu would often make.

Ye Hui's expression immediately turned ugly. He clenched his fist and calmed down for half a day in order to keep himself from acting up on the spot. He laughed coldly and said: "Classmate Qi Cheng can really meet misfortune and fortune with the same mindset. It's just that, I don't know if Classmate Zhan Yongzhe is willing to go."

He diverted the fire towards Zhan Yongzhe and as expected, the latter's originally smiling face stiffened up. The students who had subconsciously forgotten the problem about Qi Cheng's sexuality felt awkward at that moment.

Gou Liang let out a laugh.

"If Classmate Zhan is willing to attend, then I will naturally welcome him." Gou Liang placed down the silver fork that he had been eating strawberries with, the fork collided with the glass lunchbox and made a crisp klink sound. He said: "My problems, there's no need for Classmate Ye Hui to worry about. Firstly, I have never held Classmate Zhan's hand and secondly, I have never kissed his mouth. What is it Classmate Ye Hui, the way you say it, it makes it sound as if I had thrown Classmate Zhan aside after using him."

Li LinLing was the first person that was unable to hold back and laughed.

"Originally I wasn't going to specifically invite anyone to come but I shouldn't disappoint Classmate Ye Hui's anticipation to see a good show, isn't that right? I am still very tolerant towards sick patients. Classmate Zhan, remember to definitely come, oh, otherwise it would seem as if one of us has a guilty conscience." Gou Liang looked at Ye Hui with a smile that wasn't quite a smile. He felt very satisfied looking at Ye Hui's speechless appearance because of him.

Gou Liang, who had achieved total victory, then proudly clung to the shoulders of Shi Yu who was reading his holy book and was deaf to the entire world. He said: "Hey, person who lost to me, when school ends in a little while don't leave, ah. This meal today… you are the leading role, ne."

Shi Yu smiled in spite of himself and nodded his head to agree.

Gou Liang's smile immediately became several times brighter. He gave his address and backup keys to Li LinLing before leaving first to prepare the ingredients for tonight's hot pot.

Chen LiBai very righteously went to help the sports committee member clean up after the event while Shi Yu, after thinking about it for a moment, gathered up his books and also stood up. Gou Liang carried his school bag over his shoulder and walked away spiritedly like a trained military soldier.

[Gou Liang who was acting sweet on the outside used the system's perspective to shoot a vicious gaze at the huge blind spot behind him: Today I will wipe away the disgrace I suffered in the past! (╬◣д◢) ]

[System:…Good luck Master.＾ｖ＾]