It took Zhu Yun a good moment before she understood what he actually meant.
“You’re saying you want to join the competition?”
“Yes.”
Zhu Yun was a little thrown. “But before, didn’t you—”
“I changed my mind.” Li Xun rolled his shoulders loosely. “No need to be so wound up. It’s good to relax a little now and then.”
“…”
Watching him stretch, Zhu Yun was once again reminded that most people genuinely could not keep up with this man.
One word against joining had sent them into a scramble. Now one word for joining left her feeling equal parts relieved and troubled.
Remembering what Li Lan had said, Zhu Yun asked one more question: “You’re really sure about this?”
Li Xun nodded.
Zhu Yun frowned. “Then why didn’t you say so earlier? Wu Mengxing is already on the team.”
Li Xun: “You don’t need to worry about him. Just tell me whether you agree or not.”
That didn’t sit quite right with her.
Yes, there was an enormous gap between Wu Mengxing’s abilities and Li Xun’s, but Wu Mengxing had still come on board with genuine earnestness. Was the donkey really going to be slaughtered before the mill was even done grinding?
And yet…
Zhu Yun stole a glance downward at Li Xun…
There was no way she was going to give up on this powerful backing.
While Zhu Yun was at war with herself, Li Xun stepped closer. Both hands tucked in his pockets, he bent slightly at the waist — bringing himself exactly level with her gaze.
Zhu Yun’s mind wandered…
Had he changed his body wash?
This time it was pomelo — clean and fragrant, with a faint trace of bitterness underneath.
So the mint one ran out…
She wondered what she smelled like right now… Probably not great. Not having showered was starting her off at a disadvantage already…
Wait — no!
Smack!!
Zhu Yun delivered herself a sharp mental slap!!
What on earth are you thinking about right now?!
“As I said,” Li Xun spoke mildly. Zhu Yun went still. He continued, “You don’t need to worry about what Wu Mengxing thinks. You don’t need to worry about what Gao Jianhong thinks. Just tell me whether you agree.”
A night breeze swept past, stirring the air.
Zhu Yun glanced to one side. “Obviously I agree.”
Li Xun straightened up, relaxed. “Then that settles it. I’ll handle Wu Mengxing.”
Zhu Yun: “…………”
The word “handle,” coming from Li Xun’s mouth, always produced a vaguely unsettling sensation.
She looked at him. “Don’t go too far.”
Li Xun turned and started walking back. Zhu Yun followed. “Wu Mengxing is a good person. He works really hard.”
Li Xun gave a small smile, took out his lighter, and lit a cigarette, speaking as he walked. “Princess, the college entrance exams are a dividing line.”
Zhu Yun quickened her pace to catch up. “What kind of dividing line?”
Li Xun spoke around his cigarette, unhurried. “From the moment they end, the things a person can do well through sheer effort alone — there are fewer and fewer of them.”
---
By the time they got back to the base it was well past midnight, and Zhu Yun was running on empty. She was about to collapse face-first onto the desk when Li Xun hauled her upright.
He scavenged a dozen or so chairs from around the classroom, arranged them in two facing rows, and dug out two spare curtains from the cabinet, draping them over the top.
“Get on.” Boss Li issued his command.
Zhu Yun lay down on the makeshift bed. The relief in her back was immediate — but the improvised surface was very narrow. She couldn’t roll over, could only lie face-up, completely still.
The backs of the chairs on either side were just the right height. Zhu Yun thought that if you flipped a lid over the top, it would be a perfectly respectable coffin.
Li Xun propped a hand on the chairback and looked down at her.
Lying in state…
Li Xun: “Why are you staring up at me — go to sleep.”
How am I supposed to sleep with you looming over me like that?
Li Xun turned and switched off the lights.
The room dimmed. The atmosphere was no longer quite so ominous.