Volume 1: Classmate Youth Chapter 16: Kobayashi, Do You Really Like Her?

  As Su Lin walked into the courtyard, he found that all the neighbors were cooling off in the surroundings, while Tang Zhongwang was arguing with Zhu Jie, and the focus of the argument was Su Lin himself.

  "Kobayashi, what are you doing out here? Hurry back and study."

  The speaker was Su Lin's father, Su Guorong. Seeing Su Lin come out, his face seemed to be somewhat embarrassed, and he hurriedly urged Su Lin to go back inside and study.

  "Dad, what's going on?"

  Su Lin also felt that the atmosphere was off, seeing his father, who had always been proud of being a soldier, with such an expression, as if he himself had done something to shame his father.

  "Not listening? Dad told you to go back to your room and study."

  Su Guorong's face was somewhat angry, he stood up, his face stern, making Su Lin even more bewildered, had he done something shameful?

  "Uncle Su, don't drive Su Lin away. Now that Su Lin is here, it's even better. We can have a face-to-face confrontation and see if he really said those words at school. Neighbors, uncles, aunts, elder brothers and sisters, you can all come and bear witness to whether I, Tang Zhongwang, am speaking nonsense or not..."

  As soon as Su Lin came out, Tang Zhongwang's smile became even more arrogant, and he once again added fuel to the fire by repeating what Su Lin had said in front of so many classmates when he confessed to the school flower today.

  "Su Lin, tell me, what I just said is what you said today, right? You said you have confidence in getting into the top 50 of your grade and making Qin Yanran, the school flower, your girlfriend."

  He glanced at Su Lin with a slanted eye, and Tang Zhongwang sat on the stool with his legs raised, taking teasing and mocking Su Lin as a fun way to relieve pressure under the high school entrance exam.

  "Tang Zhongwang, you stinky little brat, looking down on our family's Su Lin like that? You should know, before high school, Su Lin's grades were the best in this entire neighborhood. Back then, he scored twenty or so points higher than you on the middle school entrance exam to get into Jian'an No. 1 Middle School."

  Su Lin's parents sat at the bottom with a frighteningly gloomy face, and Tang Zhongwang, as a younger generation, couldn't refute anything, let alone when Chen stated something that seemed to be true. Faced with the loud laughter of the surrounding neighbors, only Bamboo Sister Ye Xingzhu's eyes turned red with anger, and she questioned Tang Zhongwang.

  "Junior high school exam? Ye Xingzhu, don't get it wrong, we're about to take the college entrance exam soon. Even if your junior high school exam scores were great, that's all in the past now. Su Lin used to be the top scorer in the whole city, what's the use of that now? He's just a piece of trash... Ah, he can only hold on for a little while longer, bragging about his past heroics in school, but after the college entrance exam, everyone will go their separate ways. Even if people laugh at him, it won't last long, and soon he'll be forgotten..."

  After saying this, looking at Ye Xingzhu's speechless and refuting expression, as well as Su Lin's glaring eyes, Tang Zhongwang felt extremely pleased in his heart! You think you're so great just because of your good grades? I'll make you lose face at home.

  Tang Zhongwang had always been displeased with Su Lin. From elementary school to high school, Su Lin's grades were always higher than his, and every day he was nagged by his parents to take Su Xiaolin as an example and study hard. Moreover, Su Lin had grown up playing with Ye Xingzhu from the Ye family, who was several years older than these boys of the same age. Whenever Su Lin was bullied by them, Ye Xingzhu would always step in to help Su Lin regain face, beating them until they were covered in bruises and urine-soaked.

  Finally, now Su Lin High School has fallen and is no longer studying, with grades plummeting all the way down. How can Tang Zhongwang not properly vent the anger that has been building up for over a decade?

  Su Lin did not listen to his father Su Guorong's words and go back to his room to read books, nor was it his style of doing things. In such a situation, he was ridiculed by Tang Zhongwang, if he really retreated back to his room, what's the difference with a turtle shrinking its head?

  So Su Lin also walked towards the people who were cooling off in the yard with a gloomy face. Just when everyone thought Su Lin was going to blow up and might even fight with Tang Zhongwang, they didn't expect that Su Lin, who had walked over, would change his expression instead, smile slightly, turn around and say to Ye Xingzhu: "Sister Zhu, don't get angry with this kind of person, it's not worth it."

  Ye Xingzhu was also stunned. Was this the Su Lin he knew? In such a humiliating situation, she could still remain calm and even started to comfort herself.

  "Dad, mom, neighbors, uncles and aunts, what Tang Zhongwang just said is true. Today, I did say those words and do those things in school. However, I'm not stupid, I have confidence to say that. I said I can get into the top 50 of my grade, and I will definitely be able to do it. When the results come out in a few days, it will be the best proof."

  Then Su Lin turned to his parents' side, also with a faint smile, and there was no sign of anger at all. He said slowly.

  "Hum! You said you must be able to pass the exam, but can you really? I also said I'm going to be the next President of the United States! Su Lin, Su Lin! Don't blame me for laughing at you. When bragging, one should know their limits. This isn't a school where everyone forgets after a few days. We've been neighbors for over a decade, and now that your boasts have been exposed, let's see how you'll save face!"

  Tang Zhongwang spoke without any reserve, probably because his father was not in the yard today, so he had nothing to worry about. But what he said was indeed true, losing face at school didn't matter, it would be forgotten after a few days, on the other hand, these gossipy women inside and outside the yard could talk about a scandal or an interesting story for several years or even longer.

  "Tang Zhongwang, since you're so confident that I won't get in, do you have the guts to make a bet with me? If I get into the top 50 of my grade, what then?"

  As for Tang Zhongwang, Su Lin was also gritting his teeth with hatred, but now he still smiled and said to him. Su Lin was digging a pit, waiting for Tang Zhongwang to jump in by himself.

  "Wow! Su Lin, your idealism is really formidable. Do you really think you can win? Alright, I'll make a bet with you. If you can really get into the top 50 of our grade, from now on, whenever I see you, I'll walk around you and call you 'Grandpa'. But if you can't do it, then when you see me, you have to call me 'Grandpa' instead. Now it's my turn to ask: are you daring enough?"

  Tang Zhongwang had just finished speaking with a pleased expression, when Su Lin's father, Su Guorong's face turned even darker. What kind of bet was this? If Su Lin lost, he would have to call Tang Zhongwang "Grandfather". Wouldn't that be equivalent to making him, Su Guorong, his old man?

  "Kobayashi, go home and stop messing around."

  Su Guorong stood up and pointed at his son Su Lin.

  "Dad, it's okay. Since someone wants to be a grandson so badly, I'll satisfy him. Tang Zhongwang, fine, I'll bet with you. The neighbors and uncles here have all heard this, your turtle grandson can't escape now. Haha..."

  With confidence in his heart, Su Lin was not afraid to gamble with him, even if he bet everything he had, he would definitely win and not lose. However, Su Guorong did not have the confidence of his son Su Lin, he was a bit irritated by Su Lin, usually when he scolded him, Su Lin would listen, but today he didn't listen to him, making it hard for him to save face.

  So Su Guorong had no choice but to find an excuse for himself, he shook his arm, sighed and scolded Su Lin as a little rascal, and instead went back to the house.

  "Kobayashi, you little brat, look at how angry your dad is, and even mom doesn't want to deal with you anymore. When the time comes, if you can't get into college, don't come crying."

  Compared to Su Guorong's anger, Su Mu looked at her son Su Lin with a hint of appreciation. Which mother doesn't hope that their own son will stand out and dare to refute anyone who dares to mock them with courage? In this regard, Su Fu is not as good as Su Lin.

  Su Guorong is a veteran, the tenacity and organization of soldiers make him have stronger perseverance and rationality than ordinary people. When encountering things, he will not be so impulsive, often taking a step back to gain a broader perspective. This has led to his lack of progress in the company for over a decade.

  Su's mother had always been worried that her son Su Lin would inherit his father's temperament, but today she saw Su Lin's angry outburst and rational argument, although she was also worried that after the results came out, Su Lin wouldn't be able to wrap things up, but she still appreciated Su Lin's attitude and approach today.

  "Kobayashi, you... are you really confident that you can get into the top 50 for the entrance exams? That's Jian'an No.1 Middle School we're talking about, and with your current grades, I'm afraid..."

  The people who were cooling off in the house dispersed, and Tang Zhongwang also walked away with an attitude of watching a play. The yard was left with only Ye Xingzhu and Su Lin. With great tacit understanding, Ye Xingzhu accompanied Su Lin to stroll along the willows in the yard.

  "Zhu Jie, I remember that just before I came out, you were still confidently telling Tang Zhongwang that I would definitely be able to get into the top 50 of our grade, so why are you questioning it now?"

  A gentle breeze blew, the cool night wind blowing through Yexing Zhu's hair, Su Lin looked at her from this angle and thought she was beautiful. This was a quiet and elegant Yexing Zhu, not that lively and mischievous girl.

  "You stinky brat, I was still angry with that bastard Tang Zhongwang for saying such things about you back then, and yet I helped to cover up for you. Now you're actually using this to laugh at me? If you keep doing this, next time I won't help you."

  She blinked her eyes, instantly shattering the elegant lady image of Ye Xingzhu in Su Lin's mind. Immediately afterwards, Ye Xingzhu pretended to be angry and turned her head away, not looking at Su Lin.

  "Big Sister Zhu! Big Sister Zhu!"

  Jian Ye Xing Zhu seemed to be angry, Su Lin hastily called out in a sweet and gentle voice.

  "Hmm! Hmm!"

  Ye Xingzhu didn't turn his head or respond, only expressing his discontent with a humming nasal sound. His body slightly twisted, and the tight-fitting short-sleeved top he wore at night accentuated his slender waist and prominent chest. This strong contrast, especially when Ye Xingzhu twisted his body, made Su Lin almost spit out blood from his nose.

  "Alright, dear sister Zhu. You're the best, always helping Xiao Lin from young till now. Let's go...Xiao Lin will treat you to ice cream, okay?"

  "I knew you'd say something nice, now you're even taller than me, and you've learned how to bully your sister."

  Ye Xingzhu turned his head and looked at Su Lin, a bit stunned. Unconsciously, so many years had passed, the little kid from back then had already grown taller than himself.

  "Eldest sister Zhu is so good to me, how can I bear to bully eldest sister Zhu? From now on, let little Lin protect eldest sister Zhu! Hehe, eldest sister Zhu, little Lin won't let anyone bully you and will protect you for a lifetime. Whatever eldest sister Zhu wants me to do, I'll do it."

  Patting his chest, Su Lin nodded very sincerely and guaranteed it.

  "Really? Then answer a question for sister."

  Blinking her eyes, Ye Xingzhu asked without thinking.

  "What's the matter, Sister Zhu? Just ask! I promise to answer. Even if you ask me how many times I wet my bed when I was a kid, I'll tell you honestly."

  "Is what Tang Zhongwang just said in the courtyard really true? You confessed to Qin Yanran, your school's beauty queen, in front of so many people at school?"

  As soon as she said this, Ye Xingzhu felt a strange taste in her heart, which was sour and felt like having an unripe grape in her mouth that she couldn't spit out.

  "I've already said it in the yard, I'm Su Lin, and I dare to do what I say. Since I really did it, I'm not afraid of people knowing. I indeed did that."

  Su Lin nodded in response, but he didn't notice the fleeting hint of disappointment that flashed across Ye Xingzhu's face as he did so.

  "Then... Kobayashi, do you really like her?"

  Ye Xingzhu took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to continue asking.