Chapter Forty-Six: Return to School

(It truly is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. I begged for votes and favorites at midnight on the very first day, and by noon there were already over 150 votes. I thought I’d need just two days to add more chapters, but nearly two days have passed and we’ve only just crossed 200 votes. I checked the urban fiction section in the library—so many authors with massive numbers of favorites. I’m green with envy, wishing I could knock them all down a notch. How can they be so far ahead of me, with tens of thousands or thousands of favorites? Are you even human...? Okay, enough grumbling about them, let’s talk about you guys. For every 500 votes, I’ll add a chapter. You say there are over a thousand favorites—if each of you voted once a day, that would mean an extra chapter each day, right? If each person voted ten times a day, I’d have to add ten chapters a day! I know you care about me and don’t want me to die of exhaustion... Wait, is my math off? I’m not good at math. I’ll go ask Xiaoxiao. Before I get back, remember to vote and add to your favorites...)

On the morning of August 29, Su Tong shouldered a large bag, dragged his suitcase, and set off on the journey back to school.

A group of people came to see him off at the North Railway Station in the coastal city.

His divine father, Xiaoyu, Xiaoxiao, as well as Gao Litong and Li Wen.

Since his father was discharged from the hospital, he hadn’t drunk for many days, which still worried Su Tong, but there was nothing he could do.

Luckily, his mischievous father’s antics at most woke Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao in the middle of the night, preventing the sisters from sleeping, but he never actually hit them, only doused them with cold water on occasion.

“Dad, please take care of Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao.” Su Tong felt helpless but still urged his divine father earnestly.

His father patted his chest in assurance, telling Su Tong to go to Yandu without worry and study hard.

“Su Tong, will you come back to the coast after graduation?” Gao Litong pulled him aside and asked cautiously.

“Of course. There’s nothing special about Yandu. Haven’t you seen that saying circulating online? During smog, ‘The greatest distance in the world is not life and death, but that I’m holding your hand and you still can’t see me.’” Su Tong chuckled.

Gao Litong burst out laughing, revealing her white canine tooth. “Is that really online? How come I’ve never seen it?”

Before Su Tong could say more, Li Wen dragged him to the other side. “Su Tong, I’m warning you, you’re not allowed to get a girlfriend in Yandu. We’ve got plenty of beauties here on the coast...”

Su Tong interrupted impatiently, “What business is it of yours whether I get a girlfriend or not? Don’t annoy me—”

He stopped short, noticing Li Wen raising her phone, about to angrily smash it. He quickly snatched it away from her.

Li Wen was fuming, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Alright, I’ll come home for National Day to see Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao. Then we can all drink, chat, and eat together again. It’s just a month—no need to get so sentimental.” Su Tong handed the phone back to her.

Li Wen immediately brightened. “Don’t worry, Su Tong, I won’t get another boyfriend. I’ll wait for you.”

Thinking of how she’d had a string of boyfriends, Su Tong frowned slightly, wanting to say, “What’s it got to do with me?” But in the end, he just ignored her.

He looked over at Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao.

Xiaoyu was the more mature one. From the moment she got up that morning she hadn’t said a word, her mood downcast the entire time.

Xiaoxiao, by contrast, was carefree, happily playing around Su Tong’s luggage.

At that moment—

“Attention, all passengers: Train 35 is now boarding. Passengers for Train 35, please proceed to Waiting Room 9 for ticket inspection and boarding...”

Su Tong glanced at the electronic display and hoisted his bag.

Seeing her brother was finally leaving, Xiaoyu suddenly lost control of her emotions. She grabbed his suitcase and burst into tears.

“Xiaoyu, let go. I’m going to school, but I’ll be back.” All of Su Tong’s bravado vanished at that moment, his eyes flickering.

“Don’t cry, sis. Xiaoxiao will be good,” Xiaoxiao said, rising up on tiptoes to wipe away Xiaoyu’s tears with her little hand.

Xiaoyu released the suitcase, brushed off Xiaoxiao’s hand, and broke down crying even harder.

Su Tong took the opportunity to grab his suitcase and turned to leave.

Xiaoxiao, realizing her brother was heading toward the ticket gate, suddenly pouted and, the next moment, ran after him, wailing, “Brother, brother, Xiaoxiao wants grilled fish...”

Xiaoyu ran up, too, holding onto Su Tong’s suitcase, sobbing, “Brother, don’t go...”

Seeing this, Su Tong’s eyes reddened and he turned away.

Why had he chosen to go to Yandu in the first place? That damned Su Tong—didn’t he know there were two sisters at home who needed him?

He could trust his divine father with the girls, but his wayward father left him feeling defeated and deeply worried.

Gao Litong and Li Wen were already feeling emotional; when they saw Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao crying, their own eyes turned red and tears came streaming down.

“Brother will be back soon.” Su Tong, choking back tears, dragged his suitcase and left.

Xiaoxiao and Xiaoyu chased him, clinging to the suitcase and wailing.

The adults—Su’s father, Gao Litong, and Li Wen—understood the situation and pulled the sisters away.

Since ancient times, parting has always been painful for those with deep feelings; no matter how much one wishes to stay, the time to leave always comes.

In the end, Su Tong left with reddened eyes, boarding the train bound for Yandu.

The old Su Tong had felt both love and hate for the coastal city, but the new Su Tong knew only love.

Because here were his responsibilities—Xiaoyu and Xiaoxiao.

Just two more years. After that, in senior year, with few classes left, he could intern and return to the coastal city.

In his previous life, this place was called Dalian—his hometown, where he was born and raised.

Bang!

Su Tong was running late. He hadn’t even found his carriage when he heard the attendant calling for the doors to close. In a rush, he jumped into the nearest carriage, bumping straight into someone, making his head throb with pain.

“Sorry, sorry...” Su Tong apologized quickly. He knew his own body—he wasn’t as tough as Wei Yan, but he was sturdier than most. If it hurt him, the other guy must be even worse.

“It’s you!”

A cold voice rang out. The man blocking Su Tong’s way was tall, with sharply contoured features.

Su Tong finally looked up and recognized him.

“Well, look who’s in my way.” Already in a foul mood, Su Tong got angry at once at the sight of this man.

He was in a hurry to board, not watching his step—but was this guy blind too?

This tall man was someone with whom Su Tong had a serious score to settle: Yang Feifei’s bodyguard.

Just over a month ago, his shoulder had almost been crushed by this man, and his fingers nearly broken.

Thinking back on that day, Su Tong grew indignant. All he’d done was praise Gao Litong a little, inadvertently comparing her to the Four Beauties. Was that really a reason to cripple someone?

“Courting death!” Being called a dog to his face, anyone with a shred of dignity would react the same. The bodyguard was furious, absolutely livid—not movie-star famous, but livid all the same. He thrust out a large palm, aiming a light, dismissive slap at Su Tong’s face.

He was angry, but not reckless—in his mind, if he truly hit hard, Su Tong’s head would be knocked clean off.

Su Tong sneered, reading the bodyguard’s intention. With one hand on his suitcase, he extended the other and flicked it lightly.

Bang!

The bodyguard’s arm trembled; he withdrew it in haste, an incredulous expression on his face, a flash of pain in his eyes, his hand shaking.

“What’s going on? Hurry up and take your seats.” The doors had already closed, and the attendant, hearing the commotion, rushed over.

Seeing the attendant approach and his hand throbbing as if it had been shattered, the bodyguard had no choice but to step aside.

“Wouldn’t take a polite warning, had to be taught a lesson.” Su Tong swaggered past, triumphant.

The bodyguard’s face darkened, and he almost wanted to strike back. He’d seen it clearly: Su Tong had used an empty hand, but it felt as if he’d been jabbed by an iron rod.

Once past, Su Tong’s expression immediately changed as he withdrew his hand. Damn, it was like poking into solid rock—his finger was nearly ruined.