Radiant like summer flowers

At that time, Zhou Jian attended the Lan Hai (tl: Blue Ocean) No. 1 High School. Lan Hai No. 1 High School was the best in Lan Hai city. But if the exam score was insufficient, as long as you’re willing to spend some money, will be able to come just the same. In Zhou Jian’s cla.s.s there’s a tall, wealthy, handsome (tl: gaofushuai – someone who has all 3 criteria. eg. Chandler Parson of Mavs is a gaofushuai. That’s how I originally learned this term.) who came in by spending money.

He played basketball better than Mule, much better looking compared to Zhou Jian and there’s no need to say about his family background. Except for his studies that’s a complete mess. Of course, for this gaofushuai, his academic results are everything is nothing. (tl: this is a Chinese word play using a mythical horse and fleeting cloud. It works on a same sound subst.i.tution basis, but it’s easier to just say the meaning here.)

Gaofushuai drove a red BMW to school everyday and wore branded clothes. Without any effort, he’d broken the two prettiest girls in Zhou Jian’s cla.s.s and was on a move towards the girls in the opposite cla.s.s. Each s.h.a.g would bore a child. Some girls knew perfectly well that he’s a Playboy but were actually willing to give in. Perhaps, they hadn’t realized how precious their own purity was. They just simply exchanged it with a one time ride in a BMW sport car.

Regarding this, countless boys hated him till they clenched their teeth but were helpless to do anything. But Zhou Jian had nothing to complain. He’s used to his poor family background, and used to blend into the crowds, unaccustomed to attentions and cheers.

Zhou Jian believed that a successful man must be simple and unadorned. Or, was likely to be a loner. Only that way would he had more time to think quietly, and to silently struggle until breaking out of the coc.o.o.n into a b.u.t.terfly. The moment a sword came out of the sheath.

He knew that everyone’s starting point was not the same. Some had high points, while others had lows. Only the end point depended on his own two feet.

Zhou Jian played online game everyday to pay for the expensive tuition fees and living expenses in the city’s best high school. His money come from selling out his obtained equipments.

Actually, Zhou Jian’s mother didn’t know how much was Lan Hai No. 1 High School tuition fees because Zhou Jian lied to her, saying that his three years of high school tuition fees was completely paid by the Great Wall charity organization.

All this, Mule saw it himself. Therefore, he trusted Zhou Jian very much. Regardless of Zhou Jian’s decision, he would always say, “just do it, I’m behind you.”

In just a blink of an eye they were now in year 3 of high school. At this time, Wen Ren Hui Yin just transferred into Lan Hai No.1 High School. She’s like a stone thrown into water. The Upper 3 Cla.s.s 6 cla.s.sroom that had been quiet for too long was suddenly boiling with excitement.

She’s the type of calm and clear beauty. Even the scenery of her sitting there and doing nothing was a pleasure for others. Looking at her smiles and her frowns, they’re looking forward to the next beautiful moments. The feeling was like witnessing a spring young willow tree growing out little buds of joy.

At that time, Wen Ren Hui Yin pursuers were numerous. Even, the male student body of other schools come in admiration, longing to become the son-in-law of Wen Ren family. She’s beautiful and wealthy, a double harvest. But they’re all rejected without exception.

This was of course, because they didn’t match her.

Gaofushuai said so.

Later, Gaofushuai made his move. He confidently bought 1001 roses and delivered it to the female dorm. Enclosed in it was a card saying: “You are my one in a thousand.”

Such a big scene, even in Lan Hai No. 1 High School with its many wealthy family youngsters was unprecedented. The entire campus was thrown into a stir and it even alarmed the princ.i.p.al. Love was forbidden in the Lan Hai No.1 High School, let alone, such a public courtship. But because of Gaofushuai’s family background, the princ.i.p.al also closed one eye, just mumbling about it in the a.s.sembly without naming name. And then, he let it go.

People thought that no girl would be able to reject such a romantic and warm action, even if it’s Wen Ren Hui Yin who came from the same outstanding family background.

However, no one thought that this confession become Gaofushuai’s Waterloo (tl: yeah, it’s written Waterloo). He was rejected by Wen Ren Hui Yin, even the method of rejection was just the same like every other.

Since then, no one dared to embrace a fantasy with Wen Ren Hui Yin because no one could bear to sully her. She’s like a pure white lotus blooming beautifully in a chaotic love affair ridden Lan Hai No. 1 High School, not dirtied with any mud. Even those playboys who used to play with others emotion, due to her, also remembered “to treasure” (tl: zhen xin) these two words.

Originally, with Zhou Jian’s character, he would never have any interaction with Wen Ren Hui Yin because he knew that he didn’t belong in the same world as her. And with so many others’ mistake to learn from, Zhou Jian would not go and find trouble.

That’s why, when Zhou Jian meet with Wen Ren Hui Yin, he would not look more than once. It’s not that he’s intentionally being aloof but he didn’t want to be despised by others and to be backbite by others saying: “Look, here’s another toad who’s trying to eat swan meat.” (tl: do I need to explain this?)

However, Zhou Jian never thought the Wen Ren Hui Yin would reach out to himself on her own initiative. This was certainly not because of Zhou Jian’s fairly decent look, his half-baked football skills, and also not because he played online games.

It’s simply because, Zhou Jian was good at maths.

Yes, there’s a merit for Zhou Jian to ignore the materialistic world – he could learn better.

Although Zhou Jian played online games daily, but his studies were outstanding. In particular, mathematics and physics. Of course, because it’s a liberal arts cla.s.s, physics appeared insignificant.

To most student of liberal arts, mathematics was a big headache but they couldn’t not learn it. This was because the mathematics score has a large weightage but it”s still easier to score compared to English.

Wen Ren Hui Yin studies in literature and history was very good. The only things she’s not good at was mathematics. For the topics that she had questions, she would come and looked for Zhou Jian. This made the other male students had red eyeb.a.l.l.s. Each swearing that they must learned mathematics well. Of course, just because you say want to learn doesn’t mean you can learn.

Actually, with Wen Ren Hui Yin’s family background, it’s easy to get a school admission quota. Even if her studies was just as bad as Gaofushuai, she could still attend an enviable top university. But she studied more earnestly than anyone else, writing down each equation precisely.

That’s why, during the third year high school, Zhou Jian and Wen Ren Hui Yin’s relationship was very good. Sometimes, they would even go to the dining hall together for lunch. Whenever around this time, Zhou Jian could feel the murderous glare directed at him.

Of course, the topics that they discussed mostly couldn’t be separated from studies. It’s just that occasionally Zhou Jian would ramble in front of Wen Ren Hui Yin. He would  talk about his immature life philosophy. For this, Wen Ren Hui Yin would just politely listen and rarely expressed her views. Only when Zhou Jian talked about the ugly surface of humanity, of how people was deceiving other people, how one betrayed their friends, and about people’s greed and selfishness. Only then would Wen Ren Hui Yin opened her pitch black and sparkling eyes, with a surprised look saying: “How can it be so. It couldn’t be that bad.”

That time, Wen Ren Hui Yin always liked to put on a long snow white dress. Her long hair tied into a ponytail. Although with just a simple attire, she exuded a type of lively flavor. Her only decoration from head to toe was a starfish shaped pink hair clip on her head.

Sometimes, when Zhou Jian and Wen Ren Hui Yin were together in the same place, he couldn’t help but to turn his head to look at her beautiful profile. To look at her attractive thin form under the setting sun. To look at the way her white dress fully bloomed on the lawn. To look at her always smiling face….

He didn’t know at that time how to define his feeling, it appeared to be a little hazy. But, it was never more than something out of friendship.

Zhou Jian knew that he was different from others. While others could freely spend their youth and money to discuss pa.s.sionately about love, he was actually doomed to struggle silently in the most important years of his live. Until he could step out of the village and has a foothold in the heart of the city. He wanted to let his parents who’d worked hard all their lives to enjoy happiness.

So, when those wealthy family young masters all cheered to go sing Karaoke. Or when those Playboys flirted with others, he quietly disappeared. He couldn’t afford such luxuries.