Chapter 29
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Don’t worry, I can’t accept things of unknown origin
Ever since elementary school, Xia Zhiye had particularly attracted the attention of girls. Once he entered middle school and high school, every few days someone would secretly send him whatever milk tea, cake, or some small gift, and everyone in Class 1 was used to seeing this.
And Xia Zhiye’s attitude towards this had always been to not accept them.
But in the past, the things that were given to him usually had a name and contact information attached to it, and when he returned the items, he knew who to return it to.
But this time, despite searching the shoe box inside and out several times, he couldn’t find any information. He called customer service, and the representative said they had no authority to divulge the customer’s information, and he couldn’t return the item if he didn’t have payment information.
He truly had no other way, so Xia Zhiye could only close the shoe box, stuff it into the shopping bag, and stand up.
Song Yan raised his head and looked over: “Where are you going?”
“Lost and found office.”
“?”
Xia Zhiye shook the bag in his hand: “I can’t accept these things of unknown origins.”
“……”
The things you bought are of unknown origins.
In any case, he had already spent over half of his current assets, and Song Yan couldn’t just look on helplessly as that item was tossed to the lost and found office, and unhappily asked: “I already said it’s probably from someone who has a crush on you, how could it be of unknown origin?”
“?”
Why would Song Yan suddenly care about these things?
Xia Zhiye was in the midst of doubt when Song Yan coldly added on: “Anyway, it’s not like you’re lacking these few admirers.”
“……”
He paused for a moment, and Xia Zhiye seemed to have realized something.
Could Song Yan’s tone of voice be a result of jealousy?
Then he definitely couldn’t accept this item.
After all, even though he hadn’t yet confirmed whether or not Song Yan had that kind of feeling, he himself had that kind of feeling, so he must rely highly on his own initiative.
This was the fundamental self-cultivation of virtue and self restraint of a man.
So he ignored Song Yan’s cold expression of wanting to beat someone up, and laughed warmly and dotingly: “Don’t worry, I’m not the kind of person who picks flowers and tramples on the grass1 and randomly accepts gifts.”
After saying this, he didn’t wait for Song Yan to obstruct him again, and handed it over to Kong Xiaoxiao who was just preparing to head to the student union office: “Xiao jie, can I bother you to help bring this to the lost and found office on the way.”
Kong Xiaoxiao was already accustomed to this sort of situation, and was too lazy to look at it twice. She directly accepted it, then while carrying a large pile of documents, walked quickly in the direction of the office.
Song Yan stared at her retreating figure as she walked away with 1399 yuan: “……”
Xia Zhiye was a purebred huge idiot.
Xia Zhiye even felt very good about himself, and felt that he had withstood his potential future boyfriend’s test of loyalty. He sat back in his seat, took out his phone, and asked thoughtfully: “Yan ge, what do you want to eat for lunch?”
I want to eat your brain.
Song Yan held back the violent desire to beat up Xia Zhiye on the spot, pulled out a chemistry exercise booklet and forcefully smacked it onto the table, coldly replying: “Eat in the cafeteria.”
Xia Zhiye paused in the midst of ordering takeout, then turned to look over while raising his brow: “Cafeteria?”
“Mm, the food outside isn’t clean, and I’ve had a stomachache these past few days.” Song Yan randomly made up an excuse to dodge the question.
Xia Zhiye believed it to be true, lightly furrowed his eyebrows, then extended his hand to rub Song Yan’s stomach: “Where does it hurt.”
The hollow of his palm was placed on top of his school uniform, against Song Yan’s lower abdomen, exuding a bit of warmth, and Song Yan suddenly felt uneasy. With one hand, he smacked away Xia Zhiye’s hand: “Don’t fucking touch me.”
“I’m serious, where does it hurt. Here, or here?” Xia Zhiye exuded a bit of force at his fingertips, and once again pressed against Song Yan’s lower abdomen, and had even shifted against two spots. It wasn’t quite hard nor was it soft, but when he pressed down, it felt both itchy and pliable.
Song Yan immediately felt the blood flow in his lower abdomen began to flow in the wrong direction, but because he couldn’t quickly push away Xia Zhiye’s hand again, his tone of voice subconsciously rose in pitch: “I already said, don’t fucking touch me!”
A voice that wasn’t loud or quiet, made the classroom that hadn’t been noisy in the first place, immediately grow as quiet as a chicken.
Everyone in the room quietly turned over to look, then saw in the corner of the classroom, Xia Zhiye, whose hand was concealed under the cover of the table touching an unknown place on Song Yan’s body, who had been touched in such a way that his face had turned slightly red. He appeared both angry and displeased, and was a feast to one’s eyes.
As such, three seconds later, they all simultaneously and quietly looked away, as if to express that they hadn’t seen anything.
The pure and clean Song Yan who was left behind: “……”
There really was no way for him to live.
.
For the entire afternoon, Song Yan didn’t want to bother with Xia Zhiye.
And for an entire afternoon, the little fatty didn’t hear the two banter flirtatiously. He was a bit unused to it, so he turned around, and secretly asked Xia Zhiye: “Lord Xia, how’d you provoke Yan ge this time.”
After he heard this, Xia Zhiye turned to look at Song Yan, and lazily replied: “Yan ge, little fatty is asking how I provoked you this time.”
Little fatty: “……”
When your husband-husband pair is bantering flirtatiously, why bother pulling me, this little fatty, in as a sacrificial lamb.
Fortunately, Song Yan had no plans to harm the innocent, and merely lowered his head to work on problems. His fingertips moved quickly across the paper while his voice was cold and calm: “Don’t bother me, I’m just busy.”
As he said this, his left hand searched inside the drawer of the desk, then pulled out a red sign with white typography and clapped it against his right hand. The six words on the sign immediately pierced the little fatty’s dog eyes —— [Isolated study, please do not disturb]
“Don’t, Yan ge, you can even beat us up after missing the test score of a single subject, why do you still need to study so hard. Is it that you want to be the top scorer in the gaokao?”
The little fatty originally only wanted to randomly criticize this evil school tyrant who continually expanded the gap between the rich and the poor, yet unexpectedly heard Song Yan calmly ‘Mm’ in response.
He stared blankly, then reacted, and the little fatty probed: “Does that ‘mm’ mean what I think it means?”
“Mm.”
“……”
The little fatty extended his right hand, and gave the other a thumbs up: “Worthy of being our Yan ge. Such lofty ambitions, someone like you in No.3 Middle High is truly unfathomable. Today you’re achieving honor for No.3 Middle High, and tomorrow, No.3 Middle High will be achieving glory for you.”
“Sorry, I’m not achieving honor for No.3 Middle High at all.” Song Yan rationally interrupted little fatty’s vehement monologue.
The little fatty paused, then said with no conscience: “Aiyah, Yan ge, you can’t say that. Actually our No.3 Middle High is also pretty good. You don’t know, but 35 years ago we produced a top scorer in the gaokao.”
Song Yan: “I know.”
Little fatty: “You know?!”
“Yeah, because he’s my father.”
“……”
The little fatty suddenly didn’t want to speak to Song Yan any longer.
What was unfair?
This was unfair.
Other people’s parents have had good grades since they were young, grew up to have a successful career, gave birth to a rich second generation who continued to have good grades, a successful career, and the cycle continued endlessly with their children and grandchildren. The solidification of class began with a single step.
So was it his fault that his grades were poor?
Nope.
The only ones to blame were his parents, one of whom obtained a grade of 250 on the gaokao, while the other obtained a 251. For him to obtain the grades he had today was due to evolution caused by genetic mutation.
“So are you trying to prove that you’re better than your father, which is why you’re so determined to be the top scorer in the gaokao?” The little fatty recalled those inspirational youth films regarding the feelings of gratitude and resentment between father and son, and made a reasonable guess.
But Song Yan tossed out a single word with no hesitation at all: “Nope.”
“So it’s because……?”
“Because at my previous school, the top scorer in the gaokao can win a scholarship of 1,000,000 yuan.”
“……”
Very pragmatic.
The scholarship wasn’t hard to understand. After all, a crappy school like No.3 Middle High could even scrounge up a scholarship of 200,000 yuan, while Song Yan’s previous school was the kind of private school whose school tuition was egregiously expensive.
But what was more difficult to understand was that a rich second generation like Song Yan was lacking this bit of money?
The little fatty wanted to continue asking, but was smacked in the back of his head by the palm of Xia Zhiye’s hand: “That’s enough, go and study properly. Someone who can’t even enter the first line shouldn’t be concerned about the matters of a rich second generation study tyrant.”
The little fatty aggrievedly rubbed the back of his head that was originally not smart at all: “Who said I can’t enter the first line? I already spent a total of 80 yuan to buy the study materials from the Great God of ShiWai. If I don’t make it into the first line, I would be too unworthy of the money that I skimped out on.”
“Then I wish you good luck.”
Xia Zhiye was unconcerned.
Song Yan also didn’t speak, and just continued immersing himself in his worksheets while writing quickly.
Ever since middle school, he had already made the decision that he wouldn’t rely on a competition, or a recommendation, and would only rely on his gaokao score2.
Because only by receiving the scholarship could he have the ability to live independently, to completely leave Song Minghai’s clutches, and to be able to righteously live the life he wanted to live.
So when Song Minghai demanded his credit card be returned, Song Yan returned it without raising any objections.
He wouldn’t unreasonably choose not to use Song Minghai’s money, after all, a portion of that family property was one that his mother had left for him. But if Song Minghai was unwilling to give that money, then Song Yan definitely wouldn’t look past his pride and ask Song Minghai for that money.
Anyway, it’s not that he can’t live without Song Minghai’s money, so there’s no need for him to suffer through that pent up grievance.
It wasn’t until that evening, when he carried a large bag of clothes to the dry cleaners and was told that the cost of dry cleaning was half of his total wealth, that Song Yan fell into a long silence.
Before, because he had never cared for the price of his extravagant lifestyle, he would never have thought that when asked today, he had already reached the level where he could not afford it.
Song Yan stood silently at the entrance to the dry cleaners for a moment, and finally lowered the brim of his cap, turned into the neighboring convenient store, and bought a bottle of Blue Moonlight3.
.
After Xia Zhiye finished evening study, he had some business and returned to Wine Alley for a moment. By the time he returned to the dorms and pushed open the door, the scent of laundry detergent enveloped him.
Not even half a bottle of Blue Moon spilled on the floor could produce such a pungent effect.
Xia Zhiye glanced at the damp and even occasionally bubbly surface, then glanced at the row of clothes on the balcony that were still dripping with water, and then glanced at Song Yan who was holding the mop and splashing about left and right, looking as if he wanted to tear apart the dorm room on the spot: “……”
Song Yan felt the silent and attentive gaze from the doorway, and while grabbing the mop, impatiently looked up: “Have you never seen someone do laundry?”
“……”
I’ve seen it before, but never have I seen someone who cleaned the entire dorm along with their clothes.
Xia Zhiye visualized this little young master attempting to experience life on his own, yet in the end, he grew agitated after washing his clothes, the clothes were unruly when wringing them out, and the laundry detergent had even spilled all over the floor. He could only get angry and irritable which finally resulted in this scene of reluctantly washing his clothes. Xia Zhiye felt it was both heartbreaking yet laughable.
He walked onto the balcony, smoothly grabbing the mop from Song Yan’s hands: “Why’d you suddenly want to wash your clothes yourself?”
Song Yan unhappily replied: “The dry cleaners are closed and I’m happy to wash it myself, so mind your business.”
The dry cleaners was in an alley in the complete opposite direction from the school, and on a normal day, Xia Zhiye didn’t have the opportunity to pass by it. Hearing Song Yan say this, he didn’t think too much, and directly believed the other.
He reached his hand out to pinch the hem of a knitted shirt, and forcefully twisted his hand.
Splash——
Drip, drip, drip——
Not only was he able to squeeze out excess water, but he had even caused a string of white, detergent bubbles to burst out in a row.
Song Yan: “……”
Xia Zhiye: “……”
After a moment, Xia Zhiye nodded: “Seems these clothes are also quite happy, so happy they’re even exuding bubbles.”
Song Yan: “……”
Fuck you.
He didn’t want to say another word to Xia Zhiye, and with a wooden face, reached out to grab his clothes, planning to wash it again.
But Xia Zhiye grabbed his wrist, and pulled it towards himself. He stared at the wrinkled skin, and the little holes of broken skin on the little master’s originally flawless and unblemished white fingers, and asked: “It happened when you were doing the laundry?”
Song Yan originally hadn’t even realized it, but upon hearing the other ask, he followed the other’s gaze and only then did he see the small holes that appeared as if he had been pricked by a needle prick, but he didn’t take it seriously: “Maybe.”
“Turns out you’re a real life Princess Pea.”
Xia Zhiye lowered his head and chuckled.
Song Yan hadn’t heard the other clearly: “What princess?”
“Nothing, it’s just that this laundry detergent is too harsh, and your skin is too tender, so it burnt your skin.”
“So?”
“So just lay on your bed, and let this slave help the little young master wash his clothes.” Xia Zhiye laughed lazily while grabbing the clothes that basically hadn’t been washed at all.
Song Yan coldly grabbed at it: “No need.”
Xia Zhiye was tall and his arms were long, and he casually raised his hand and lightly avoided the other: “It’s fine, I’ll be done in a flash, but if I wait for you, I probably won’t be able to even shower tonight. I also have to wake up early tomorrow for basketball practice. Our Yan ge can just love me dearly, okay?”
Xia Zhiye’s voice had a unique laziness and lack of restraint, and when he added in a smiling expression to coax others, it made others feel as if everything he said was right.
Song Yan knew his own level of ability with washing clothes, and if he re-washed his clothes, he probably wouldn’t be able to sleep before 2 am, so while he hesitated, Xia Zhiye had already walked into the bathroom, and closed the door along the way.
Song Yan returned to his seat, pulled out his phone, and felt he couldn’t keep going on like this.
He could eat in the cafeteria and use his lunch card.
He could wash his own clothes, and if worst comes to worst, there was still Xia Zhiye,
But there would definitely be a lot of other places that would require him to spend money.
Not to mention, with his [Beautiful and Rich Little Lady] sock puppet, he had to pay at least 200 yuan to Xia Zhiye every week, and he couldn’t just stop it just because. Or else what if Xia Zhiye went to go and find those weird jiejies again?
Imagining Xia Zhiye using that lazy and smiling voice to coax other girls, and Song Yan grew irritated in his heart.
So other than reducing his spending, he also had to expand his financial sources.
But how could he expand his financial sources? Going on Idle Fish4 to sell his clothes and shoes was impossible. Just thinking of the clothes and shoes he had previously worn ultimately being sold to some strange person for them to do strange things caused Song Yan’s entire body to feel uncomfortable.
Playing games was possible, but just thinking of his way of playing and his own temperament, carrying others to play was tantamount to consumer fraud.
The remaining thing he was good at was just studying, how could studying become……
How could studying not become a financial avenue.
Song Yan suddenly remembered that little fatty seemed to have said he spent 80 yuan to buy some Great God of ShiWai’s study materials this afternoon.
He pondered over it for a moment, and then Song Yan pressed on little fatty’s profile picture.
[YAN]: Are you there?
[Don’t Procrastinate]: ???
[Don’t Procrastinate]: !!!
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Fuck! It’s the real Yan ge!
[YAN]: ……
[Don’t Procrastinate]: We’ve added each other as friends for two months and this is the first time you’ve messaged me! Oh my god! I’m too excited! Or is this actually Lord Xia?
[YAN]: ……
Why would Xia Zhiye use his phone? Was his relationship with Xia Zhiye already that good in other people’s eyes?
He and Xia Zhiye were clearly not familiar with each other.
Song Yan thought this while continuing to reply to the other:
[YAN]: No, I have something to ask you
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Oh, okay, Yan ge, go ahead
[YAN]: What’s up with the situation about buying study materials that you mentioned this morning.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Oh, that. It’s just that the key high schools in our area have a group chat for learning, and before every joint exam we’ll share our knowledge to help each other raise our grades. Sometimes, a big master will come and sell some study materials.
Song Yan pondered for a moment, and replied:
[YAN]: Do you know who the Great God of ShiWai is?
[Don’t Procrastinate]: I don’t know, only trumpets are added. The big master usually first posts a single page of the study material, and if you find it useful, you friend the big master’s trumpet and buy the rest of the materials. You transfer money on Penguin5, so as not to expose anyone’s information.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: But how come Yan ge is suddenly asking about this?
[YAN]: Oh, it’s nothing, just that I have a friend who has bad grades and also wants to buy a set.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: That’s fine, then I’ll send you the group chat. There’s more than one big master in it, for all kinds of subjects and grades, but the one with the clearest methodology is World’s No.1 Handsome Scum, I highly recommend him.
[YAN]: Ok, thanks.
Ever since middle school, Song Yan had always been called a learning god, because he was handsome, had good grades, and could even play games. It seems he has a much easier time than those learning tyrants who submerge themselves into a sea of questions every day, but in actuality, Song Yan hasn’t kept the questions and notebooks that he previously worked on, and only cared about efficiency while studying.
So generally, the notebooks that he kept were of the utmost importance, regarding the most notable points when studying. Whether it was a knowledge point, a summarization, or even the reasoning behind the solution to a problem, they had all been combined and sorted out. It definitely would be an effective tool for those students whose grades were originally not impressive at all.
It just so happens that on National Day when he visited Shen Jiayan’s house and helped Shen Jiayan arrange the study materials, he had also scanned a file of his own notebooks, and saved it onto his phone at that time so he could conveniently study whenever he wanted to. Now it unexpectedly came in handy.
The group chat administrator quickly accepted Song Yan’s request to join the chat.
The group chat was quite lively, and messages kept popping up. It hadn’t been a minute yet and there were already 99 new notifications.
But Song Yan had no time for chatting, and directly sent:
[Like]: Selling study materials for the key and difficult points of Year 2 for STEM subjects, the content is of the most important and difficult points. Suitable for: 1. Those who are in the first line and are trying to enter a heavy university but have difficulties with understanding the difficult points. 2. Those who are in the heavy line and are trying to enter the top 5, but have difficulties with completing the last two big problems of the exam. 3. Those below the first line, do not disturb. Price: 80 for one subject, 150 for two subjects, 210 for three subjects, 250 for four subjects. There are sample pages in the group photo album.6
He had just sent this when a string of question marks followed.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: ???
[Can’t choose a name 2]: ???
[Can’t choose a name 3]: ???
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Where did this newbie come from? They’re so rampant, daring to compare his price with the big god, Handsome Scum?
[Can’t choose a name 2]: Right, also they said those below the first line shouldn’t disturb, are they discriminating by one’s grades?
[Can’t choose a name 3]: If you don’t publish your name, only an idiot would buy it.
……
[Vow to never give up until I test into Tsinghua]: Sorry, I’m that idiot.
[Can’t choose a name 1, 2, 3]: ? Qing god7, what do you mean.
[Vow to never give up until I test into Tsinghua]: It’s amazing, really amazing. I’ve never seen study materials that taught the last two math problems so thoroughly. Although the sample pages only summarize sequence problems, it’s clear at a glance. I’ve decided not to buy from Handsome Scum this time, and only buy from Like.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Fuck, are you serious?
[Little mythical beast only wants to get into Beijing university]: It’s true! I just saw his physics materials! It’s also amazing! I’ve already added him as a friend, begging him to quickly accept me
[Can’t choose a name 2]: Sorry, I saw the sample and I’ve also decided to betray Handsome Scum.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Then I’ll go check it out.
……
It all went according to Song Yan’s expectations.
He closed the group chat, and had indeed received several friend requests.
His study materials were largely aimed at the middle and upper level students. In fact, the audience was very limited, so he didn’t expect to sell much, but it was fine as long as he could maintain a stable customer base.
Song Yan also had confidence in his own study materials.
But just as he received the money, and had just sent over the complete set of study materials to [Vow never to give up until I test into Tsinghua], when the other immediately replied with a single word: [Fuck]
[Like]: ?
[Vow never to give up until I test into Tsinghua]: Handsome Scum god gave a huge discount in the group chat.
[Like]: ?
[Vow never to give up until I test into Tsinghua]: Before, his study materials had always been the best in the group, but it’s just that it’s more suitable for helping those who struggle with basic knowledge, and it isn’t that suitable for me. But he’s giving such a big discount, so it’s likely that others will buy his materials.
Song Yan switched back to the group chat, and found someone with a profile picture of the scene subculture that was popular ten years ago had just sent a message: [Large discount sale, usually 80 yuan for a subject, is now 68. Not 988, or 888, only 228 and you can take all four subjects]
Song Yan: ?
Nowadays, even selling study materials needs to be so competitive?
He had just thought this when [World’s No.1 Handsome Scum] once again messaged: Actually I’m not purposely competing against Like god, it’s just that life is hard, and I have to do what I have to do. I really am lacking money.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Handsome god, what happened?
[World’s No.1 Handsome Scum]: It’s actually nothing. As you all know, I’m lonely and have no one to rely on, my family is in a difficult situation and I can only rely on your generous love by selling these study materials to maintain my livelihood.
[World’s No.1 Handsome Scum]: Also recently, I’ve fallen in love with someone I shouldn’t have. He’s so dazzling, so beautiful, so rich, so ambitious, I know he and I are from different worlds and I don’t match him. So I don’t plan on telling him, and only want to send him a gift in two months for Christmas to let him know that a nameless, lowly nobody has admired him.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Wuwuwuwu, this is too moving
[Can’t choose a name 2]: Handsome god, fighting! We support you!
[Can’t choose a name 3]: Right! Your grades are so good! You can definitely counterattack life and marry someone who’s pale, rich, and beautiful! Fighting!
[World’s No.1 Handsome Scum]: So are you guys willing to buy my study materials?
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Buy!
[Can’t choose a name 2]: Buy!
[Can’t choose a name 3]: Buy!
Song Yan: “……”
For a moment, he didn’t know whether to sigh over this Handsome Scum’s shamelessness, or sigh over the stupidity of this group of melon eaters.
In the midst of his speechlessness, the bathroom door opened, and upon raising his head, found Xia Zhiye hugging a basin with one hand while the other hand fiddled with his cell phone as he walked out.
Although Song Yan didn’t know how to wash his clothes, even he knew how to hang them up to dry. Seeing as Xia Zhiye was busy, he walked over and took the basin: “Go ahead, I can hang them up myself.”
“It’s fine, I’ll be done soon, I can hang them up. Or else I’ll look back and find that your clothes are still wet.” Xia Zhiye said this while his fingertips flew across his screen, as if he were replying to many messages.
Song Yan couldn’t help but glance at the other’s screen, but with just this quick glance, his gaze could no longer look away.
Because what he saw on Xia Zhiye’s screen was shockingly the group chat interface on Penguin.
Group Chat: Lawless Land
Icon on the Right: Smart Family Burial8
The ID above the icon: World’s No.1 Handsome Scum
Song Yan: “……”
So that completely shameless, flagrant competitor who capitalized on being poor was actually right under his very nose.
He had already spent more than half of his total assets to buy that person a pair of shoes, yet that person unexpectedly competed for his business in order to buy a Christmas gift for the person he liked.
Song Yan clenched his fist tightly.
After a moment, he deeply exhaled: “Xia Zhiye, let’s fight.”
Xia Zhiye who was in the midst of counting his money to see whether or not he had enough to install a small sized washing machine in the dorms for this little master blankly raised his head: “?”
What did he do wrong now?
.
The author has something to say:
Xia Zhiye: I am loyal, am firm in my morality, and resolutely decline gifts from others!
Song Yan: Xia Zhiye is a big dumbass!
Xia Zhiye: I am warm and considerate, thoughtful and detail oriented, and I am concerned whether or not my wife’s stomach hurts or not!
Song Yan: Xia Zhiye is a big dumbass?
Xia Zhiye: I study diligently, and work hard to make money to buy a washing machine for my wife!
Song Yan: Xia Zhiye is a big dumbass!
Xia Zhiye: ???
1. Pick flowers and trample on the grass (拈花惹草) is an idiom that describes womanizing behavior.
2. For context, occasionally, if a student does really well in high school (ie: winning a nationwide contest, or obtaining a recommendation from a teacher/professor), then that student can be admitted to university without taking the gaokao
3. Blue Moonlight is a brand of laundry detergent
4. Idle Fish is a retail platform, primarily for re-sale of goods/items
5. Penguin is an e-commerce platform
6. Universities in China are separated into various levels – first line, heavy line, second line, 211, 985, etc. From what I can gather, I believe high school class levels correspond to these levels of universities. Essentially, if a student is in the first line, their scores are usually in the range to be accepted into a first line university, so on and so forth. Meanwhile, universities themselves are ranked based on several higher education development initiatives that the government has sponsored. The ranking seems to be (from highest to lowest) 985, 211, heavy line, first line, second line. Also, these are all very very loose translations of the rankings lol
7. Qing is the first character in Tsinghua (different romanization). This person is likely another learning tyrant, hence why they abbreviate his name to ‘Qing’ and then add god to it. Similarly, if any other person has ‘god’ attached to it, they’re likely good students/learning tyrants
8. XZY’s profile picture is probably something like this. This is a pun as the phrase for the scene subculture (杀马特) is also a loanword for ‘smart’
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Don’t worry, I can’t accept things of unknown origin
Ever since elementary school, Xia Zhiye had particularly attracted the attention of girls. Once he entered middle school and high school, every few days someone would secretly send him whatever milk tea, cake, or some small gift, and everyone in Class 1 was used to seeing this.
And Xia Zhiye’s attitude towards this had always been to not accept them.
But in the past, the things that were given to him usually had a name and contact information attached to it, and when he returned the items, he knew who to return it to.
But this time, despite searching the shoe box inside and out several times, he couldn’t find any information. He called customer service, and the representative said they had no authority to divulge the customer’s information, and he couldn’t return the item if he didn’t have payment information.
He truly had no other way, so Xia Zhiye could only close the shoe box, stuff it into the shopping bag, and stand up.
Song Yan raised his head and looked over: “Where are you going?”
“Lost and found office.”
“?”
Xia Zhiye shook the bag in his hand: “I can’t accept these things of unknown origins.”
“……”
The things you bought are of unknown origins.
In any case, he had already spent over half of his current assets, and Song Yan couldn’t just look on helplessly as that item was tossed to the lost and found office, and unhappily asked: “I already said it’s probably from someone who has a crush on you, how could it be of unknown origin?”
“?”
Why would Song Yan suddenly care about these things?
Xia Zhiye was in the midst of doubt when Song Yan coldly added on: “Anyway, it’s not like you’re lacking these few admirers.”
“……”
He paused for a moment, and Xia Zhiye seemed to have realized something.
Could Song Yan’s tone of voice be a result of jealousy?
Then he definitely couldn’t accept this item.
After all, even though he hadn’t yet confirmed whether or not Song Yan had that kind of feeling, he himself had that kind of feeling, so he must rely highly on his own initiative.
This was the fundamental self-cultivation of virtue and self restraint of a man.
So he ignored Song Yan’s cold expression of wanting to beat someone up, and laughed warmly and dotingly: “Don’t worry, I’m not the kind of person who picks flowers and tramples on the grass1 and randomly accepts gifts.”
After saying this, he didn’t wait for Song Yan to obstruct him again, and handed it over to Kong Xiaoxiao who was just preparing to head to the student union office: “Xiao jie, can I bother you to help bring this to the lost and found office on the way.”
Kong Xiaoxiao was already accustomed to this sort of situation, and was too lazy to look at it twice. She directly accepted it, then while carrying a large pile of documents, walked quickly in the direction of the office.
Song Yan stared at her retreating figure as she walked away with 1399 yuan: “……”
Xia Zhiye was a purebred huge idiot.
Xia Zhiye even felt very good about himself, and felt that he had withstood his potential future boyfriend’s test of loyalty. He sat back in his seat, took out his phone, and asked thoughtfully: “Yan ge, what do you want to eat for lunch?”
I want to eat your brain.
Song Yan held back the violent desire to beat up Xia Zhiye on the spot, pulled out a chemistry exercise booklet and forcefully smacked it onto the table, coldly replying: “Eat in the cafeteria.”
Xia Zhiye paused in the midst of ordering takeout, then turned to look over while raising his brow: “Cafeteria?”
“Mm, the food outside isn’t clean, and I’ve had a stomachache these past few days.” Song Yan randomly made up an excuse to dodge the question.
Xia Zhiye believed it to be true, lightly furrowed his eyebrows, then extended his hand to rub Song Yan’s stomach: “Where does it hurt.”
The hollow of his palm was placed on top of his school uniform, against Song Yan’s lower abdomen, exuding a bit of warmth, and Song Yan suddenly felt uneasy. With one hand, he smacked away Xia Zhiye’s hand: “Don’t fucking touch me.”
“I’m serious, where does it hurt. Here, or here?” Xia Zhiye exuded a bit of force at his fingertips, and once again pressed against Song Yan’s lower abdomen, and had even shifted against two spots. It wasn’t quite hard nor was it soft, but when he pressed down, it felt both itchy and pliable.
Song Yan immediately felt the blood flow in his lower abdomen began to flow in the wrong direction, but because he couldn’t quickly push away Xia Zhiye’s hand again, his tone of voice subconsciously rose in pitch: “I already said, don’t fucking touch me!”
A voice that wasn’t loud or quiet, made the classroom that hadn’t been noisy in the first place, immediately grow as quiet as a chicken.
Everyone in the room quietly turned over to look, then saw in the corner of the classroom, Xia Zhiye, whose hand was concealed under the cover of the table touching an unknown place on Song Yan’s body, who had been touched in such a way that his face had turned slightly red. He appeared both angry and displeased, and was a feast to one’s eyes.
As such, three seconds later, they all simultaneously and quietly looked away, as if to express that they hadn’t seen anything.
The pure and clean Song Yan who was left behind: “……”
There really was no way for him to live.
.
For the entire afternoon, Song Yan didn’t want to bother with Xia Zhiye.
And for an entire afternoon, the little fatty didn’t hear the two banter flirtatiously. He was a bit unused to it, so he turned around, and secretly asked Xia Zhiye: “Lord Xia, how’d you provoke Yan ge this time.”
After he heard this, Xia Zhiye turned to look at Song Yan, and lazily replied: “Yan ge, little fatty is asking how I provoked you this time.”
Little fatty: “……”
When your husband-husband pair is bantering flirtatiously, why bother pulling me, this little fatty, in as a sacrificial lamb.
Fortunately, Song Yan had no plans to harm the innocent, and merely lowered his head to work on problems. His fingertips moved quickly across the paper while his voice was cold and calm: “Don’t bother me, I’m just busy.”
As he said this, his left hand searched inside the drawer of the desk, then pulled out a red sign with white typography and clapped it against his right hand. The six words on the sign immediately pierced the little fatty’s dog eyes —— [Isolated study, please do not disturb]
“Don’t, Yan ge, you can even beat us up after missing the test score of a single subject, why do you still need to study so hard. Is it that you want to be the top scorer in the gaokao?”
The little fatty originally only wanted to randomly criticize this evil school tyrant who continually expanded the gap between the rich and the poor, yet unexpectedly heard Song Yan calmly ‘Mm’ in response.
He stared blankly, then reacted, and the little fatty probed: “Does that ‘mm’ mean what I think it means?”
“Mm.”
“……”
The little fatty extended his right hand, and gave the other a thumbs up: “Worthy of being our Yan ge. Such lofty ambitions, someone like you in No.3 Middle High is truly unfathomable. Today you’re achieving honor for No.3 Middle High, and tomorrow, No.3 Middle High will be achieving glory for you.”
“Sorry, I’m not achieving honor for No.3 Middle High at all.” Song Yan rationally interrupted little fatty’s vehement monologue.
The little fatty paused, then said with no conscience: “Aiyah, Yan ge, you can’t say that. Actually our No.3 Middle High is also pretty good. You don’t know, but 35 years ago we produced a top scorer in the gaokao.”
Song Yan: “I know.”
Little fatty: “You know?!”
“Yeah, because he’s my father.”
“……”
The little fatty suddenly didn’t want to speak to Song Yan any longer.
What was unfair?
This was unfair.
Other people’s parents have had good grades since they were young, grew up to have a successful career, gave birth to a rich second generation who continued to have good grades, a successful career, and the cycle continued endlessly with their children and grandchildren. The solidification of class began with a single step.
So was it his fault that his grades were poor?
Nope.
The only ones to blame were his parents, one of whom obtained a grade of 250 on the gaokao, while the other obtained a 251. For him to obtain the grades he had today was due to evolution caused by genetic mutation.
“So are you trying to prove that you’re better than your father, which is why you’re so determined to be the top scorer in the gaokao?” The little fatty recalled those inspirational youth films regarding the feelings of gratitude and resentment between father and son, and made a reasonable guess.
But Song Yan tossed out a single word with no hesitation at all: “Nope.”
“So it’s because……?”
“Because at my previous school, the top scorer in the gaokao can win a scholarship of 1,000,000 yuan.”
“……”
Very pragmatic.
The scholarship wasn’t hard to understand. After all, a crappy school like No.3 Middle High could even scrounge up a scholarship of 200,000 yuan, while Song Yan’s previous school was the kind of private school whose school tuition was egregiously expensive.
But what was more difficult to understand was that a rich second generation like Song Yan was lacking this bit of money?
The little fatty wanted to continue asking, but was smacked in the back of his head by the palm of Xia Zhiye’s hand: “That’s enough, go and study properly. Someone who can’t even enter the first line shouldn’t be concerned about the matters of a rich second generation study tyrant.”
The little fatty aggrievedly rubbed the back of his head that was originally not smart at all: “Who said I can’t enter the first line? I already spent a total of 80 yuan to buy the study materials from the Great God of ShiWai. If I don’t make it into the first line, I would be too unworthy of the money that I skimped out on.”
“Then I wish you good luck.”
Xia Zhiye was unconcerned.
Song Yan also didn’t speak, and just continued immersing himself in his worksheets while writing quickly.
Ever since middle school, he had already made the decision that he wouldn’t rely on a competition, or a recommendation, and would only rely on his gaokao score2.
Because only by receiving the scholarship could he have the ability to live independently, to completely leave Song Minghai’s clutches, and to be able to righteously live the life he wanted to live.
So when Song Minghai demanded his credit card be returned, Song Yan returned it without raising any objections.
He wouldn’t unreasonably choose not to use Song Minghai’s money, after all, a portion of that family property was one that his mother had left for him. But if Song Minghai was unwilling to give that money, then Song Yan definitely wouldn’t look past his pride and ask Song Minghai for that money.
Anyway, it’s not that he can’t live without Song Minghai’s money, so there’s no need for him to suffer through that pent up grievance.
It wasn’t until that evening, when he carried a large bag of clothes to the dry cleaners and was told that the cost of dry cleaning was half of his total wealth, that Song Yan fell into a long silence.
Before, because he had never cared for the price of his extravagant lifestyle, he would never have thought that when asked today, he had already reached the level where he could not afford it.
Song Yan stood silently at the entrance to the dry cleaners for a moment, and finally lowered the brim of his cap, turned into the neighboring convenient store, and bought a bottle of Blue Moonlight3.
.
After Xia Zhiye finished evening study, he had some business and returned to Wine Alley for a moment. By the time he returned to the dorms and pushed open the door, the scent of laundry detergent enveloped him.
Not even half a bottle of Blue Moon spilled on the floor could produce such a pungent effect.
Xia Zhiye glanced at the damp and even occasionally bubbly surface, then glanced at the row of clothes on the balcony that were still dripping with water, and then glanced at Song Yan who was holding the mop and splashing about left and right, looking as if he wanted to tear apart the dorm room on the spot: “……”
Song Yan felt the silent and attentive gaze from the doorway, and while grabbing the mop, impatiently looked up: “Have you never seen someone do laundry?”
“……”
I’ve seen it before, but never have I seen someone who cleaned the entire dorm along with their clothes.
Xia Zhiye visualized this little young master attempting to experience life on his own, yet in the end, he grew agitated after washing his clothes, the clothes were unruly when wringing them out, and the laundry detergent had even spilled all over the floor. He could only get angry and irritable which finally resulted in this scene of reluctantly washing his clothes. Xia Zhiye felt it was both heartbreaking yet laughable.
He walked onto the balcony, smoothly grabbing the mop from Song Yan’s hands: “Why’d you suddenly want to wash your clothes yourself?”
Song Yan unhappily replied: “The dry cleaners are closed and I’m happy to wash it myself, so mind your business.”
The dry cleaners was in an alley in the complete opposite direction from the school, and on a normal day, Xia Zhiye didn’t have the opportunity to pass by it. Hearing Song Yan say this, he didn’t think too much, and directly believed the other.
He reached his hand out to pinch the hem of a knitted shirt, and forcefully twisted his hand.
Splash——
Drip, drip, drip——
Not only was he able to squeeze out excess water, but he had even caused a string of white, detergent bubbles to burst out in a row.
Song Yan: “……”
Xia Zhiye: “……”
After a moment, Xia Zhiye nodded: “Seems these clothes are also quite happy, so happy they’re even exuding bubbles.”
Song Yan: “……”
Fuck you.
He didn’t want to say another word to Xia Zhiye, and with a wooden face, reached out to grab his clothes, planning to wash it again.
But Xia Zhiye grabbed his wrist, and pulled it towards himself. He stared at the wrinkled skin, and the little holes of broken skin on the little master’s originally flawless and unblemished white fingers, and asked: “It happened when you were doing the laundry?”
Song Yan originally hadn’t even realized it, but upon hearing the other ask, he followed the other’s gaze and only then did he see the small holes that appeared as if he had been pricked by a needle prick, but he didn’t take it seriously: “Maybe.”
“Turns out you’re a real life Princess Pea.”
Xia Zhiye lowered his head and chuckled.
Song Yan hadn’t heard the other clearly: “What princess?”
“Nothing, it’s just that this laundry detergent is too harsh, and your skin is too tender, so it burnt your skin.”
“So?”
“So just lay on your bed, and let this slave help the little young master wash his clothes.” Xia Zhiye laughed lazily while grabbing the clothes that basically hadn’t been washed at all.
Song Yan coldly grabbed at it: “No need.”
Xia Zhiye was tall and his arms were long, and he casually raised his hand and lightly avoided the other: “It’s fine, I’ll be done in a flash, but if I wait for you, I probably won’t be able to even shower tonight. I also have to wake up early tomorrow for basketball practice. Our Yan ge can just love me dearly, okay?”
Xia Zhiye’s voice had a unique laziness and lack of restraint, and when he added in a smiling expression to coax others, it made others feel as if everything he said was right.
Song Yan knew his own level of ability with washing clothes, and if he re-washed his clothes, he probably wouldn’t be able to sleep before 2 am, so while he hesitated, Xia Zhiye had already walked into the bathroom, and closed the door along the way.
Song Yan returned to his seat, pulled out his phone, and felt he couldn’t keep going on like this.
He could eat in the cafeteria and use his lunch card.
He could wash his own clothes, and if worst comes to worst, there was still Xia Zhiye,
But there would definitely be a lot of other places that would require him to spend money.
Not to mention, with his [Beautiful and Rich Little Lady] sock puppet, he had to pay at least 200 yuan to Xia Zhiye every week, and he couldn’t just stop it just because. Or else what if Xia Zhiye went to go and find those weird jiejies again?
Imagining Xia Zhiye using that lazy and smiling voice to coax other girls, and Song Yan grew irritated in his heart.
So other than reducing his spending, he also had to expand his financial sources.
But how could he expand his financial sources? Going on Idle Fish4 to sell his clothes and shoes was impossible. Just thinking of the clothes and shoes he had previously worn ultimately being sold to some strange person for them to do strange things caused Song Yan’s entire body to feel uncomfortable.
Playing games was possible, but just thinking of his way of playing and his own temperament, carrying others to play was tantamount to consumer fraud.
The remaining thing he was good at was just studying, how could studying become……
How could studying not become a financial avenue.
Song Yan suddenly remembered that little fatty seemed to have said he spent 80 yuan to buy some Great God of ShiWai’s study materials this afternoon.
He pondered over it for a moment, and then Song Yan pressed on little fatty’s profile picture.
[YAN]: Are you there?
[Don’t Procrastinate]: ???
[Don’t Procrastinate]: !!!
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Fuck! It’s the real Yan ge!
[YAN]: ……
[Don’t Procrastinate]: We’ve added each other as friends for two months and this is the first time you’ve messaged me! Oh my god! I’m too excited! Or is this actually Lord Xia?
[YAN]: ……
Why would Xia Zhiye use his phone? Was his relationship with Xia Zhiye already that good in other people’s eyes?
He and Xia Zhiye were clearly not familiar with each other.
Song Yan thought this while continuing to reply to the other:
[YAN]: No, I have something to ask you
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Oh, okay, Yan ge, go ahead
[YAN]: What’s up with the situation about buying study materials that you mentioned this morning.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: Oh, that. It’s just that the key high schools in our area have a group chat for learning, and before every joint exam we’ll share our knowledge to help each other raise our grades. Sometimes, a big master will come and sell some study materials.
Song Yan pondered for a moment, and replied:
[YAN]: Do you know who the Great God of ShiWai is?
[Don’t Procrastinate]: I don’t know, only trumpets are added. The big master usually first posts a single page of the study material, and if you find it useful, you friend the big master’s trumpet and buy the rest of the materials. You transfer money on Penguin5, so as not to expose anyone’s information.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: But how come Yan ge is suddenly asking about this?
[YAN]: Oh, it’s nothing, just that I have a friend who has bad grades and also wants to buy a set.
[Don’t Procrastinate]: That’s fine, then I’ll send you the group chat. There’s more than one big master in it, for all kinds of subjects and grades, but the one with the clearest methodology is World’s No.1 Handsome Scum, I highly recommend him.
[YAN]: Ok, thanks.
Ever since middle school, Song Yan had always been called a learning god, because he was handsome, had good grades, and could even play games. It seems he has a much easier time than those learning tyrants who submerge themselves into a sea of questions every day, but in actuality, Song Yan hasn’t kept the questions and notebooks that he previously worked on, and only cared about efficiency while studying.
So generally, the notebooks that he kept were of the utmost importance, regarding the most notable points when studying. Whether it was a knowledge point, a summarization, or even the reasoning behind the solution to a problem, they had all been combined and sorted out. It definitely would be an effective tool for those students whose grades were originally not impressive at all.
It just so happens that on National Day when he visited Shen Jiayan’s house and helped Shen Jiayan arrange the study materials, he had also scanned a file of his own notebooks, and saved it onto his phone at that time so he could conveniently study whenever he wanted to. Now it unexpectedly came in handy.
The group chat administrator quickly accepted Song Yan’s request to join the chat.
The group chat was quite lively, and messages kept popping up. It hadn’t been a minute yet and there were already 99 new notifications.
But Song Yan had no time for chatting, and directly sent:
[Like]: Selling study materials for the key and difficult points of Year 2 for STEM subjects, the content is of the most important and difficult points. Suitable for: 1. Those who are in the first line and are trying to enter a heavy university but have difficulties with understanding the difficult points. 2. Those who are in the heavy line and are trying to enter the top 5, but have difficulties with completing the last two big problems of the exam. 3. Those below the first line, do not disturb. Price: 80 for one subject, 150 for two subjects, 210 for three subjects, 250 for four subjects. There are sample pages in the group photo album.6
He had just sent this when a string of question marks followed.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: ???
[Can’t choose a name 2]: ???
[Can’t choose a name 3]: ???
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Where did this newbie come from? They’re so rampant, daring to compare his price with the big god, Handsome Scum?
[Can’t choose a name 2]: Right, also they said those below the first line shouldn’t disturb, are they discriminating by one’s grades?
[Can’t choose a name 3]: If you don’t publish your name, only an idiot would buy it.
……
[Vow to never give up until I test into Tsinghua]: Sorry, I’m that idiot.
[Can’t choose a name 1, 2, 3]: ? Qing god7, what do you mean.
[Vow to never give up until I test into Tsinghua]: It’s amazing, really amazing. I’ve never seen study materials that taught the last two math problems so thoroughly. Although the sample pages only summarize sequence problems, it’s clear at a glance. I’ve decided not to buy from Handsome Scum this time, and only buy from Like.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Fuck, are you serious?
[Little mythical beast only wants to get into Beijing university]: It’s true! I just saw his physics materials! It’s also amazing! I’ve already added him as a friend, begging him to quickly accept me
[Can’t choose a name 2]: Sorry, I saw the sample and I’ve also decided to betray Handsome Scum.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Then I’ll go check it out.
……
It all went according to Song Yan’s expectations.
He closed the group chat, and had indeed received several friend requests.
His study materials were largely aimed at the middle and upper level students. In fact, the audience was very limited, so he didn’t expect to sell much, but it was fine as long as he could maintain a stable customer base.
Song Yan also had confidence in his own study materials.
But just as he received the money, and had just sent over the complete set of study materials to [Vow never to give up until I test into Tsinghua], when the other immediately replied with a single word: [Fuck]
[Like]: ?
[Vow never to give up until I test into Tsinghua]: Handsome Scum god gave a huge discount in the group chat.
[Like]: ?
[Vow never to give up until I test into Tsinghua]: Before, his study materials had always been the best in the group, but it’s just that it’s more suitable for helping those who struggle with basic knowledge, and it isn’t that suitable for me. But he’s giving such a big discount, so it’s likely that others will buy his materials.
Song Yan switched back to the group chat, and found someone with a profile picture of the scene subculture that was popular ten years ago had just sent a message: [Large discount sale, usually 80 yuan for a subject, is now 68. Not 988, or 888, only 228 and you can take all four subjects]
Song Yan: ?
Nowadays, even selling study materials needs to be so competitive?
He had just thought this when [World’s No.1 Handsome Scum] once again messaged: Actually I’m not purposely competing against Like god, it’s just that life is hard, and I have to do what I have to do. I really am lacking money.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Handsome god, what happened?
[World’s No.1 Handsome Scum]: It’s actually nothing. As you all know, I’m lonely and have no one to rely on, my family is in a difficult situation and I can only rely on your generous love by selling these study materials to maintain my livelihood.
[World’s No.1 Handsome Scum]: Also recently, I’ve fallen in love with someone I shouldn’t have. He’s so dazzling, so beautiful, so rich, so ambitious, I know he and I are from different worlds and I don’t match him. So I don’t plan on telling him, and only want to send him a gift in two months for Christmas to let him know that a nameless, lowly nobody has admired him.
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Wuwuwuwu, this is too moving
[Can’t choose a name 2]: Handsome god, fighting! We support you!
[Can’t choose a name 3]: Right! Your grades are so good! You can definitely counterattack life and marry someone who’s pale, rich, and beautiful! Fighting!
[World’s No.1 Handsome Scum]: So are you guys willing to buy my study materials?
[Can’t choose a name 1]: Buy!
[Can’t choose a name 2]: Buy!
[Can’t choose a name 3]: Buy!
Song Yan: “……”
For a moment, he didn’t know whether to sigh over this Handsome Scum’s shamelessness, or sigh over the stupidity of this group of melon eaters.
In the midst of his speechlessness, the bathroom door opened, and upon raising his head, found Xia Zhiye hugging a basin with one hand while the other hand fiddled with his cell phone as he walked out.
Although Song Yan didn’t know how to wash his clothes, even he knew how to hang them up to dry. Seeing as Xia Zhiye was busy, he walked over and took the basin: “Go ahead, I can hang them up myself.”
“It’s fine, I’ll be done soon, I can hang them up. Or else I’ll look back and find that your clothes are still wet.” Xia Zhiye said this while his fingertips flew across his screen, as if he were replying to many messages.
Song Yan couldn’t help but glance at the other’s screen, but with just this quick glance, his gaze could no longer look away.
Because what he saw on Xia Zhiye’s screen was shockingly the group chat interface on Penguin.
Group Chat: Lawless Land
Icon on the Right: Smart Family Burial8
The ID above the icon: World’s No.1 Handsome Scum
Song Yan: “……”
So that completely shameless, flagrant competitor who capitalized on being poor was actually right under his very nose.
He had already spent more than half of his total assets to buy that person a pair of shoes, yet that person unexpectedly competed for his business in order to buy a Christmas gift for the person he liked.
Song Yan clenched his fist tightly.
After a moment, he deeply exhaled: “Xia Zhiye, let’s fight.”
Xia Zhiye who was in the midst of counting his money to see whether or not he had enough to install a small sized washing machine in the dorms for this little master blankly raised his head: “?”
What did he do wrong now?
.
The author has something to say:
Xia Zhiye: I am loyal, am firm in my morality, and resolutely decline gifts from others!
Song Yan: Xia Zhiye is a big dumbass!
Xia Zhiye: I am warm and considerate, thoughtful and detail oriented, and I am concerned whether or not my wife’s stomach hurts or not!
Song Yan: Xia Zhiye is a big dumbass?
Xia Zhiye: I study diligently, and work hard to make money to buy a washing machine for my wife!
Song Yan: Xia Zhiye is a big dumbass!
Xia Zhiye: ???
1. Pick flowers and trample on the grass (拈花惹草) is an idiom that describes womanizing behavior.
2. For context, occasionally, if a student does really well in high school (ie: winning a nationwide contest, or obtaining a recommendation from a teacher/professor), then that student can be admitted to university without taking the gaokao
3. Blue Moonlight is a brand of laundry detergent
4. Idle Fish is a retail platform, primarily for re-sale of goods/items
5. Penguin is an e-commerce platform
6. Universities in China are separated into various levels – first line, heavy line, second line, 211, 985, etc. From what I can gather, I believe high school class levels correspond to these levels of universities. Essentially, if a student is in the first line, their scores are usually in the range to be accepted into a first line university, so on and so forth. Meanwhile, universities themselves are ranked based on several higher education development initiatives that the government has sponsored. The ranking seems to be (from highest to lowest) 985, 211, heavy line, first line, second line. Also, these are all very very loose translations of the rankings lol
7. Qing is the first character in Tsinghua (different romanization). This person is likely another learning tyrant, hence why they abbreviate his name to ‘Qing’ and then add god to it. Similarly, if any other person has ‘god’ attached to it, they’re likely good students/learning tyrants
8. XZY’s profile picture is probably something like this. This is a pun as the phrase for the scene subculture (杀马特) is also a loanword for ‘smart’
Don't worry, I can't accept things of unknown originEver since elementary school, Xia Zhiye had particularly attracted the attention of girls. Once he entered middle school and high school, every few days someone would secretly send him whatever milk tea, cake, or some small gift, and everyone in Class 1 was used to seeing this.And Xia Zhiye's attitude towards this had always been to not accept them.But in the past, the things that were given to him usually had a name and contact information attached to it, and when he returned the items, he knew who to return it to.But this time, despite searching the shoe box inside and out several times, he couldn't find any information. He called customer service, and the representative said they had no authority to divulge the customer's information, and he couldn't return the item if he didn't have payment information.He truly had no other way, so Xia Zhiye could only close the shoe box, stuff it into the shopping bag, and stand up.Song Yan raised his head and looked over: Where are you going?Lost and found office.?Xia Zhiye shook the bag in his hand: I can't accept these things of unknown origins.The things you bought are of unknown origins.In any case, he had already spent over half of his current assets, and Song Yan couldn't just look on helplessly as that item was tossed to the lost and found office, and unhappily asked: I already said it's probably from someone who has a crush on you, how could it be of unknown origin??Why would Song Yan suddenly care about these things?Xia Zhiye was in the midst of doubt when Song Yan coldly added on: Anyway, it's not like you're lacking these few admirers.He paused for a moment, and Xia Zhiye seemed to have realized something.Could Song Yan's tone of voice be a result of jealousy?Then he definitely couldn't accept this item.After all, even though he hadn't yet confirmed whether or not Song Yan had that kind of feeling, he himself had that kind of feeling, so he must rely highly on his own initiative.This was the fundamental self-cultivation of virtue and self restraint of a man.So he ignored Song Yan's cold expression of wanting to beat someone up, and laughed warmly and dotingly: Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who picks flowers and tramples on the grass1and randomly accepts gifts.After saying this, he didn't wait for Song Yan to obstruct him again, and handed it over to Kong Xiaoxiao who was just preparing to head to the student union office: Xiaojie, can I bother you to help bring this to the lost and found office on the way.Kong Xiaoxiao was already accustomed to this sort of situation, and was too lazy to look at it twice. She directly accepted it, then while carrying a large pile of documents, walked quickly in the direction of the office.Song Yan stared at her retreating figure as she walked away with 1399 yuan: Xia Zhiye was a purebred huge idiot.Xia Zhiye even felt very good about himself, and felt that he had withstood his potential future boyfriend's test of loyalty. He sat back in his seat, took out his phone, and asked thoughtfully: Yange, what do you want to eat for lunch?I want to eat your brain.Song Yan held back the violent desire to beat up Xia Zhiye on the spot, pulled out a chemistry exercise booklet and forcefully smacked it onto the table, coldly replying: Eat in the cafeteria.Xia Zhiye paused in the midst of ordering takeout, then turned to look over while raising his brow: Cafeteria?Mm, the food outside isn't clean, and I've had a stomachache these past few days. Song Yan randomly made up an excuse to dodge the question.Xia Zhiye believed it to be true, lightly furrowed his eyebrows, then extended his hand to rub Song Yan's stomach: Where does it hurt.The hollow of his palm was placed on top of his school uniform, against Song Yan's lower abdomen, exuding a bit of warmth, and Song Yan suddenly felt uneasy. With one hand, he smacked away Xia Zhiye's hand: Don't fucking touch me.I'm serious, where does it hurt. Here, or here? Xia Zhiye exuded a bit of force at his fingertips, and once again pressed against Song Yan's lower abdomen, and had even shifted against two spots. It wasn't quite hard nor was it soft, but when he pressed down, it felt both itchy and pliable.Song Yan immediately felt the blood flow in his lower abdomen began to flow in the wrong direction, but because he couldn't quickly push away Xia Zhiye's hand again, his tone of voice subconsciously rose in pitch: I already said, don't fucking touch me!A voice that wasn't loud or quiet, made the classroom that hadn't been noisy in the first place, immediately grow as quiet as a chicken.Everyone in the room quietly turned over to look, then saw in the corner of the classroom, Xia Zhiye, whose hand was concealed under the cover of the table touching an unknown place on Song Yan's body, who had been touched in such a way that his face had turned slightly red. He appeared both angry and displeased, and was a feast to one's eyes.As such, three seconds later, they all simultaneously and quietly looked away, as if to express that they hadn't seen anything.The pure and clean Song Yan who was left behind: There really was no way for him to live..For the entire afternoon, Song Yan didn't want to bother with Xia Zhiye.And for an entire afternoon, the little fatty didn't hear the two banter flirtatiously. He was a bit unused to it, so he turned around, and secretly asked Xia Zhiye: Lord Xia, how'd you provoke Yangethis time.After he heard this, Xia Zhiye turned to look at Song Yan, and lazily replied: Yange, little fatty is asking how I provoked you this time.Little fatty: When your husband-husband pair is bantering flirtatiously, why bother pulling me, this little fatty, in as a sacrificial lamb.Fortunately, Song Yan had no plans to harm the innocent, and merely lowered his head to work on problems. His fingertips moved quickly across the paper while his voice was cold and calm: Don't bother me, I'm just busy.As he said this, his left hand searched inside the drawer of the desk, then pulled out a red sign with white typography and clapped it against his right hand. The six words on the sign immediately pierced the little fatty's dog eyes Isolated study, please do not disturbDon't, Yange, you can even beat us up after missing the test score of a single subject, why do you still need to study so hard. Is it that you want to be the top scorer in thegaokao?The little fatty originally only wanted to randomly criticize this evil school tyrant who continually expanded the gap between the rich and the poor, yet unexpectedly heard Song Yan calmly Mm' in response.He stared blankly, then reacted, and the little fatty probed: Does that mm' mean what I think it means?Mm.The little fatty extended his right hand, and gave the other a thumbs up: Worthy of being our Yange. Such lofty ambitions, someone like you in No.3 Middle High is truly unfathomable. Today you're achieving honor for No.3 Middle High, and tomorrow, No.3 Middle High will be achieving glory for you.Sorry, I'm not achieving honor for No.3 Middle High at all. Song Yan rationally interrupted little fatty's vehement monologue.The little fatty paused, then said with no conscience: Aiyah, Yange, you can't say that. Actually our No.3 Middle High is also pretty good. You don't know, but 35 years ago we produced a top scorer in thegaokao.Song Yan: I know.Little fatty: You know?!Yeah, because he's my father.The little fatty suddenly didn't want to speak to Song Yan any longer.What was unfair?This was unfair.Other people's parents have had good grades since they were young, grew up to have a successful career, gave birth to a rich second generation who continued to have good grades, a successful career, and the cycle continued endlessly with their children and grandchildren. The solidification of class began with a single step.So was it his fault that his grades were poor?Nope.The only ones to blame were his parents, one of whom obtained a grade of 250 on thegaokao, while the other obtained a 251. For him to obtain the grades he had today was due to evolution caused by genetic mutation.So are you trying to prove that you're better than your father, which is why you're so determined to be the top scorer in thegaokao? The little fatty recalled those inspirational youth films regarding the feelings of gratitude and resentment between father and son, and made a reasonable guess.But Song Yan tossed out a single word with no hesitation at all: Nope.So it's because?Because at my previous school, the top scorer in thegaokaocan win a scholarship of 1,000,000 yuan.Very pragmatic.The scholarship wasn't hard to understand. After all, a crappy school like No.3 Middle High could even scrounge up a scholarship of 200,000 yuan, while Song Yan's previous school was the kind of private school whose school tuition was egregiously expensive.But what was more difficult to understand was that a rich second generation like Song Yan was lacking this bit of money?The little fatty wanted to continue asking, but was smacked in the back of his head by the palm of Xia Zhiye's hand: That's enough, go and study properly. Someone who can't even enter the first line shouldn't be concerned about the matters of a rich second generation study tyrant.The little fatty aggrievedly rubbed the back of his head that was originally not smart at all: Who said I can't enter the first line? I already spent a total of 80 yuan to buy the study materials from the Great God of ShiWai. If I don't make it into the first line, I would be too unworthy of the money that I skimped out on.Then I wish you good luck.Xia Zhiye was unconcerned.Song Yan also didn't speak, and just continued immersing himself in his worksheets while writing quickly.Ever since middle school, he had already made the decision that he wouldn't rely on a competition, or a recommendation, and would only rely on hisgaokaoscore2.Because only by receiving the scholarship could he have the ability to live independently, to completely leave Song Minghai's clutches, and to be able to righteously live the life he wanted to live.So when Song Minghai demanded his credit card be returned, Song Yan returned it without raising any objections.He wouldn't unreasonably choose not to use Song Minghai's money, after all, a portion of that family property was one that his mother had left for him. But if Song Minghai was unwilling to give that money, then Song Yan definitely wouldn't look past his pride and ask Song Minghai for that money.Anyway, it's not that he can't live without Song Minghai's money, so there's no need for him to suffer through that pent up grievance.It wasn't until that evening, when he carried a large bag of clothes to the dry cleaners and was told that the cost of dry cleaning was half of his total wealth, that Song Yan fell into a long silence.Before, because he had never cared for the price of his extravagant lifestyle, he would never have thought that when asked today, he had already reached the level where he could not afford it.Song Yan stood silently at the entrance to the dry cleaners for a moment, and finally lowered the brim of his cap, turned into the neighboring convenient store, and bought a bottle of Blue Moonlight3..After Xia Zhiye finished evening study, he had some business and returned to Wine Alley for a moment. By the time he returned to the dorms and pushed open the door, the scent of laundry detergent enveloped him.Not even half a bottle of Blue Moon spilled on the floor could produce such a pungent effect.Xia Zhiye glanced at the damp and even occasionally bubbly surface, then glanced at the row of clothes on the balcony that were still dripping with water, and then glanced at Song Yan who was holding the mop and splashing about left and right, looking as if he wanted to tear apart the dorm room on the spot: Song Yan felt the silent and attentive gaze from the doorway, and while grabbing the mop, impatiently looked up: Have you never seen someone do laundry?I've seen it before, but never have I seen someone who cleaned the entire dorm along with their clothes.Xia Zhiye visualized this little young master attempting to experience life on his own, yet in the end, he grew agitated after washing his clothes, the clothes were unruly when wringing them out, and the laundry detergent had even spilled all over the floor. He could only get angry and irritable which finally resulted in this scene of reluctantly washing his clothes. Xia Zhiye felt it was both heartbreaking yet laughable.He walked onto the balcony, smoothly grabbing the mop from Song Yan's hands: Why'd you suddenly want to wash your clothes yourself?Song Yan unhappily replied: The dry cleaners are closed and I'm happy to wash it myself, so mind your business.The dry cleaners was in an alley in the complete opposite direction from the school, and on a normal day, Xia Zhiye didn't have the opportunity to pass by it. Hearing Song Yan say this, he didn't think too much, and directly believed the other.He reached his hand out to pinch the hem of a knitted shirt, and forcefully twisted his hand.SplashDrip, drip, dripNot only was he able to squeeze out excess water, but he had even caused a string of white, detergent bubbles to burst out in a row.Song Yan: Xia Zhiye: After a moment, Xia Zhiye nodded: Seems these clothes are also quite happy, so happy they're even exuding bubbles.Song Yan: Fuck you.He didn't want to say another word to Xia Zhiye, and with a wooden face, reached out to grab his clothes, planning to wash it again.But Xia Zhiye grabbed his wrist, and pulled it towards himself. He stared at the wrinkled skin, and the little holes of broken skin on the little master's originally flawless and unblemished white fingers, and asked: It happened when you were doing the laundry?Song Yan originally hadn't even realized it, but upon hearing the other ask, he followed the other's gaze and only then did he see the small holes that appeared as if he had been pricked by a needle prick, but he didn't take it seriously: Maybe.Turns out you're a real life Princess Pea.Xia Zhiye lowered his head and chuckled.Song Yan hadn't heard the other clearly: What princess?Nothing, it's just that this laundry detergent is too harsh, and your skin is too tender, so it burnt your skin.So?So just lay on your bed, and let this slave help the little young master wash his clothes. Xia Zhiye laughed lazily while grabbing the clothes that basically hadn't been washed at all.Song Yan coldly grabbed at it: No need.Xia Zhiye was tall and his arms were long, and he casually raised his hand and lightly avoided the other: It's fine, I'll be done in a flash, but if I wait for you, I probably won't be able to even shower tonight. I also have to wake up early tomorrow for basketball practice. Our Yangecan just love me dearly, okay?Xia Zhiye's voice had a unique laziness and lack of restraint, and when he added in a smiling expression to coax others, it made others feel as if everything he said was right.Song Yan knew his own level of ability with washing clothes, and if he re-washed his clothes, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep before 2 am, so while he hesitated, Xia Zhiye had already walked into the bathroom, and closed the door along the way.Song Yan returned to his seat, pulled out his phone, and felt he couldn't keep going on like this.He could eat in the cafeteria and use his lunch card.He could wash his own clothes, and if worst comes to worst, there was still Xia Zhiye,But there would definitely be a lot of other places that would require him to spend money.Not to mention, with his Beautiful and Rich Little Lady sock puppet, he had to pay at least 200 yuan to Xia Zhiye every week, and he couldn't just stop it just because. Or else what if Xia Zhiye went to go and find those weirdjiejies again?Imagining Xia Zhiye using that lazy and smiling voice to coax other girls, and Song Yan grew irritated in his heart.So other than reducing his spending, he also had to expand his financial sources.But how could he expand his financial sources? Going on Idle Fish4to sell his clothes and shoes was impossible. Just thinking of the clothes and shoes he had previously worn ultimately being sold to some strange person for them to do strange things caused Song Yan's entire body to feel uncomfortable.Playing games was possible, but just thinking of his way of playing and his own temperament, carrying others to play was tantamount to consumer fraud.The remaining thing he was good at was just studying, how could studying becomeHow could studying not become a financial avenue.Song Yan suddenly remembered that little fatty seemed to have said he spent 80 yuan to buy some Great God of ShiWai's study materials this afternoon.He pondered over it for a moment, and then Song Yan pressed on little fatty's profile picture.YAN: Are you there?Don't Procrastinate: ???Don't Procrastinate: !!!Don't Procrastinate: Fuck! It's the real Yange!YAN: Don't Procrastinate: We've added each other as friends for two months and this is the first time you've messaged me! Oh my god! I'm too excited! Or is this actually Lord Xia?YAN: Why would Xia Zhiye use his phone? Was his relationship with Xia Zhiye already that good in other people's eyes?He and Xia Zhiye were clearly not familiar with each other.Song Yan thought this while continuing to reply to the other:YAN: No, I have something to ask youDon't Procrastinate: Oh, okay, Yange, go aheadYAN: What's up with the situation about buying study materials that you mentioned this morning.Don't Procrastinate: Oh, that. It's just that the key high schools in our area have a group chat for learning, and before every joint exam we'll share our knowledge to help each other raise our grades. Sometimes, a big master will come and sell some study materials.Song Yan pondered for a moment, and replied:YAN: Do you know who the Great God of ShiWai is?Don't Procrastinate: I don't know, only trumpets are added. The big master usually first posts a single page of the study material, and if you find it useful, you friend the big master's trumpet and buy the rest of the materials. You transfer money on Penguin5, so as not to expose anyone's information.Don't Procrastinate: But how come Yangeis suddenly asking about this?YAN: Oh, it's nothing, just that I have a friend who has bad grades and also wants to buy a set.Don't Procrastinate: That's fine, then I'll send you the group chat. There's more than one big master in it, for all kinds of subjects and grades, but the one with the clearest methodology is World's No.1 Handsome Scum, I highly recommend him.YAN: Ok, thanks.Ever since middle school, Song Yan had always been called a learning god, because he was handsome, had good grades, and could even play games. It seems he has a much easier time than those learning tyrants who submerge themselves into a sea of questions every day, but in actuality, Song Yan hasn't kept the questions and notebooks that he previously worked on, and only cared about efficiency while studying.So generally, the notebooks that he kept were of the utmost importance, regarding the most notable points when studying. Whether it was a knowledge point, a summarization, or even the reasoning behind the solution to a problem, they had all been combined and sorted out. It definitely would be an effective tool for those students whose grades were originally not impressive at all.It just so happens that on National Day when he visited Shen Jiayan's house and helped Shen Jiayan arrange the study materials, he had also scanned a file of his own notebooks, and saved it onto his phone at that time so he could conveniently study whenever he wanted to. Now it unexpectedly came in handy.The group chat administrator quickly accepted Song Yan's request to join the chat.The group chat was quite lively, and messages kept popping up. It hadn't been a minute yet and there were already 99 new notifications.But Song Yan had no time for chatting, and directly sent:Like: Selling study materials for the key and difficult points of Year 2 for STEM subjects, the content is of the most important and difficult points. Suitable for: 1. Those who are in the first line and are trying to enter a heavy university but have difficulties with understanding the difficult points. 2. Those who are in the heavy line and are trying to enter the top 5, but have difficulties with completing the last two big problems of the exam. 3. Those below the first line, do not disturb. Price: 80 for one subject, 150 for two subjects, 210 for three subjects, 250 for four subjects. There are sample pages in the group photo album.6He had just sent this when a string of question marks followed.Can't choose a name 1: ???Can't choose a name 2: ???Can't choose a name 3: ???Can't choose a name 1: Where did this newbie come from? They're so rampant, daring to compare his price with the big god, Handsome Scum?Can't choose a name 2: Right, also they said those below the first line shouldn't disturb, are they discriminating by one's grades?Can't choose a name 3: If you don't publish your name, only an idiot would buy it.Vow to never give up until I test into Tsinghua: Sorry, I'm that idiot.Can't choose a name 1, 2, 3: ? Qing god7, what do you mean.Vow to never give up until I test into Tsinghua: It's amazing, really amazing. I've never seen study materials that taught the last two math problems so thoroughly. Although the sample pages only summarize sequence problems, it's clear at a glance. I've decided not to buy from Handsome Scum this time, and only buy from Like.Can't choose a name 1: Fuck, are you serious?Little mythical beast only wants to get into Beijing university: It's true! I just saw his physics materials! It's also amazing! I've already added him as a friend, begging him to quickly accept meCan't choose a name 2: Sorry, I saw the sample and I've also decided to betray Handsome Scum.Can't choose a name 1: Then I'll go check it out.It all went according to Song Yan's expectations.He closed the group chat, and had indeed received several friend requests.His study materials were largely aimed at the middle and upper level students. In fact, the audience was very limited, so he didn't expect to sell much, but it was fine as long as he could maintain a stable customer base.Song Yan also had confidence in his own study materials.But just as he received the money, and had just sent over the complete set of study materials to Vow never to give up until I test into Tsinghua, when the other immediately replied with a single word: FuckLike: ?Vow never to give up until I test into Tsinghua: Handsome Scum god gave a huge discount in the group chat.Like: ?Vow never to give up until I test into Tsinghua: Before, his study materials had always been the best in the group, but it's just that it's more suitable for helping those who struggle with basic knowledge, and it isn't that suitable for me. But he's giving such a big discount, so it's likely that others will buy his materials.Song Yan switched back to the group chat, and found someone with a profile picture of the scene subculture that was popular ten years ago had just sent a message: Large discount sale, usually 80 yuan for a subject, is now 68. Not 988, or 888, only 228 and you can take all four subjectsSong Yan: ?Nowadays, even selling study materials needs to be so competitive?He had just thought this when World's No.1 Handsome Scum once again messaged: Actually I'm not purposely competing against Like god, it's just that life is hard, and I have to do what I have to do. I really am lacking money.Can't choose a name 1: Handsome god, what happened?World's No.1 Handsome Scum: It's actually nothing. As you all know, I'm lonely and have no one to rely on, my family is in a difficult situation and I can only rely on your generous love by selling these study materials to maintain my livelihood.World's No.1 Handsome Scum: Also recently, I've fallen in love with someone I shouldn't have. He's so dazzling, so beautiful, so rich, so ambitious, I know he and I are from different worlds and I don't match him. So I don't plan on telling him, and only want to send him a gift in two months for Christmas to let him know that a nameless, lowly nobody has admired him.Can't choose a name 1:Wuwuwuwu, this is too movingCan't choose a name 2: Handsome god, fighting! We support you!Can't choose a name 3: Right! Your grades are so good! You can definitely counterattack life and marry someone who's pale, rich, and beautiful! Fighting!World's No.1 Handsome Scum: So are you guys willing to buy my study materials?Can't choose a name 1: Buy!Can't choose a name 2: Buy!Can't choose a name 3: Buy!Song Yan: For a moment, he didn't know whether to sigh over this Handsome Scum's shamelessness, or sigh over the stupidity of this group of melon eaters.In the midst of his speechlessness, the bathroom door opened, and upon raising his head, found Xia Zhiye hugging a basin with one hand while the other hand fiddled with his cell phone as he walked out.Although Song Yan didn't know how to wash his clothes, even he knew how to hang them up to dry. Seeing as Xia Zhiye was busy, he walked over and took the basin: Go ahead, I can hang them up myself.It's fine, I'll be done soon, I can hang them up. Or else I'll look back and find that your clothes are still wet. Xia Zhiye said this while his fingertips flew across his screen, as if he were replying to many messages.Song Yan couldn't help but glance at the other's screen, but with just this quick glance, his gaze could no longer look away.Because what he saw on Xia Zhiye's screen was shockingly the group chat interface on Penguin.Group Chat: Lawless LandIcon on the Right: Smart Family Burial8The ID above the icon: World's No.1 Handsome ScumSong Yan: So that completely shameless, flagrant competitor who capitalized on being poor was actually right under his very nose.He had already spent more than half of his total assets to buy that person a pair of shoes, yet that person unexpectedly competed for his business in order to buy a Christmas gift for the person he liked.Song Yan clenched his fist tightly.After a moment, he deeply exhaled: Xia Zhiye, let's fight.Xia Zhiye who was in the midst of counting his money to see whether or not he had enough to install a small sized washing machine in the dorms for this little master blankly raised his head: ?What did he do wrong now?.The author has something to say:Xia Zhiye: I am loyal, am firm in my morality, and resolutely decline gifts from others!Song Yan: Xia Zhiye is a big dumbass!Xia Zhiye: I am warm and considerate, thoughtful and detail oriented, and I am concerned whether or not my wife's stomach hurts or not!Song Yan: Xia Zhiye is a big dumbass?Xia Zhiye: I study diligently, and work hard to make money to buy a washing machine for my wife!Song Yan: Xia Zhiye is a big dumbass!Xia Zhiye: ???1. Pick flowers and trample on the grass is an idiom that describes womanizing behavior.2. For context, occasionally, if a student does really well in high school ie: winning a nationwide contest, or obtaining a recommendation from a teacher/professor, then that student can be admitted to university without taking thegaokao3. Blue Moonlight is a brand of laundry detergent4. Idle Fish is a retail platform, primarily for re-sale of goods/items5. Penguin is an e-commerce platform6. Universities in China are separated into various levels first line, heavy line, second line, 211, 985, etc. From what I can gather, I believe high school class levels correspond to these levels of universities. Essentially, if a student is in the first line, their scores are usually in the range to be accepted into a first line university, so on and so forth. Meanwhile, universities themselves are ranked based on several higher education development initiatives that the government has sponsored. The ranking seems to be from highest to lowest 985, 211, heavy line, first line, second line. Also, these are all very very loose translations of the rankings lol7. Qing is the first character in Tsinghua different romanization. This person is likely another learning tyrant, hence why they abbreviate his name to Qing' and then add god to it. Similarly, if any other person has god' attached to it, they're likely good students/learning tyrants8. XZY's profile picture is probably something likethis. This is a pun as the phrase for the scene subculture is also a loanword for smart'
