Chapter 058: The City Is Full of Schemes—Come Back to the Countryside with Me

Zhou Ran curled her lip in disdain.
“I say, Song Kai, are you upset because I added Du Tao’s WeChat? Is that why you’re slandering him out of spite?” Zhou Ran said triumphantly.
Song Kai snorted, “Don’t tell me you think I like you and I’m jealous?”
“Isn’t that so?” Zhou Ran laughed smugly, gripping Song Kai’s hand tightly. “No need to feel inferior. Even though what we have isn’t exactly moral or legal, you’re allowed to like me. Who told me to be so outstanding? Ah, my charm is impossible to hide.”
Song Kai was speechless. He said, “Enough talking. Hurry up, this way.”
He pulled Zhou Ran back into the alley.
Here, there was nowhere to hide.
Song Kai looked around, then pointed at the courtyard wall nearby. “Climb over. We’ll hide inside. Soon, you’ll see what your handsome Du Tao is really like.”
Zhou Ran glanced at the wall. “It’s too high, I can’t get up. Besides, Du Tao comes from a good family, his grades are decent—even if he’s not as weird as you, he’s still in the top fifty. He’s tall and handsome. Admit it, you’re jealous!”
“Jealous, my ass!”
Song Kai, frustrated, supported Zhou Ran by the waist. “I’m going to show you his true colors today. Get up there.”
“You pervert! Don’t grab my butt!” Zhou Ran struggled.
“Hurry, step on my shoulder and climb.” Song Kai said.
Zhou Ran scrambled up, looking down at Song Kai. “How are you getting up?”
Before she finished, Song Kai leapt up, scaling the wall with ease and landing lightly on the other side.
Zhou Ran was speechless, muttering, “No wonder he can dunk, he really is a freak.”
Song Kai said, “Alright, step on my shoulder and come down. Let’s move a bit further.”
Zhou Ran lowered her pale legs.
Song Kai helped her down, supporting her as she landed.
They walked a few dozen meters. Song Kai listened carefully, then signaled her to be quiet.
Zhou Ran came closer.
Both pressed their ears against the wall.
On the other side, Du Tao ran up, panting. He looked around, then took out five hundred yuan. “Alright, thanks, here’s five hundred. Take it, and from now on, we don’t know each other, got it?”
“Give another thousand!” one of the thugs sneered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Du Tao stepped back. “The deal was five hundred, that’s what we agreed.”
“Who said it was five hundred total? I meant five hundred per person! There are three of us, so it’s fifteen hundred. If you don’t agree, fine. When that girl comes out, we’ll tell her everything!”
Another thug chuckled, “Young Master Du, that girl is really something, those long legs… Even fifteen thousand would be worth it, right?”
Du Tao held back his anger, pointing at them. “Alright, fifteen hundred it is. But let me warn you, I have a temper. If you ever try to blackmail me or let anything slip, I’ll tell my father. You know exactly who he is!”
With that, Du Tao handed over another thousand and stormed off.
The three thugs split the money, grinning.
“Rich kids are the easiest marks.”
“That’s right, took a couple of kicks and got fifteen hundred.”
“But that girl really is pretty. Du Tao’s an idiot, but whatever he spent was worth it. She looked grateful, too.”
“Let’s go, let’s go. These games are for the rich second generation. No point envying them. Let’s go play League of Legends…”
The three left, chatting.
Inside the courtyard, Zhou Ran was so angry she clenched her teeth.
Song Kai smiled smugly. “So, my dear narcissist, now you see who your real friend is. At least my feelings for you are genuine!”
“Don’t get cocky! Du Tao may be a jerk, but he only acted to win me over. Damn it, men are all no good!” Zhou Ran said.
“Ahem, I’m not like him.”
“You included! Get down here! If you take the opportunity to grab my butt again, I’ll break your head!” Zhou Ran grumbled.
They climbed over the wall and headed for Class Seven of Senior Year Three.
The classroom was already deep in morning study.
But they sat in the last row near the door, so being late didn’t matter.
Song Kai set down his backpack. While others read, he opened his bag and took out a brush and talisman paper.
Zhou Ran rolled her eyes. Song Kai was always messing about! He really was addicted to being a shaman!
But Song Kai was focused now.
Previously, he didn’t have the Nine Thunder Internal Qi, so his talismans weren’t strong.
Now it was different. Though he had little Nine Thunder Qi, it was enough to draw a few talismans. Plus, cultivating thunder energy made him much more powerful—especially effective against evil spirits!
After drawing three talismans, Song Kai felt ready. It should be enough to deal with the thing haunting Liu Miaoyu’s home.
When morning study ended, Liu Miaoyu came over. Seeing Song Kai, she was delighted. “Song Kai, do you only come if the teacher doesn’t call roll?”
Song Kai grinned. “How could I, Class President? I always remember the ghost in your bedroom. This afternoon after school, I’ll go home with you and deal with it.”
“Ah?” Liu Miaoyu froze, then paled. “Are you sure? Maybe we should just leave that room alone… don’t provoke it any further.”
“That won’t do. If you don’t handle it now, it might escape someday,” Song Kai replied, confidently waving his talismans. “Don’t worry, I’m fully prepared. Even the toughest ghost can’t withstand me!”
“Well… alright.” Liu Miaoyu, recalling the ghost, lost her mood for small talk and returned to her seat to study.
Zhou Ran rolled her eyes. When Liu Miaoyu left, she gave Song Kai a thumbs-up. “Impressive, truly impressive! You even managed to fool our class president with your shaman act. I’m convinced.”
Song Kai just chuckled. “Believe it or not, I really am a master of Taoism and medicine, and I excel at academics and sports.”
“Is that so? Since your medical skills are so great, treat my chronic cold legs.” Zhou Ran said, placing her legs on Song Kai’s lap as she leaned against the wall.
Song Kai squeezed her calf and said, “You really do have a chill. You should wear pants to school, stop being so provocative. If your legs keep getting cold year after year, you’ll suffer when you’re old.”
He massaged her Zusanli acupoint.
Zhou Ran felt her legs warm up—it was actually comfortable.
“Huh? You really know some medicine.” Zhou Ran was amused.
Song Kai snorted.
Zhou Ran simply took off her shoes, draping her pale legs over his lap for treatment.
“By the way, Song Kai, after the college entrance exam, we’ll probably have to go back to our hometown, Xihe Village,” Zhou Ran said. “My aunts are going, and you have to go too. Your mother is gone, and Grandma surely wants to see you.”
Song Kai curled his lip. “I won’t go. Your mother doesn’t like me even now—if I see her, she’ll probably insult me again, just like last time.”
Zhou Ran laughed, but then her smile faded and she pouted.
“Song Kai, what are you doing?” Zhou Ran glared at him.
“Serving you,” Song Kai replied.
“I told you to use your hands for massage! Why are you being such a pervert? That ugly thing is standing up!” Zhou Ran said angrily, her face flushed.
Song Kai was unfazed. “It’s your foot that touched it. Besides, it’s a normal reaction. I haven’t blamed you—you’re accusing me first!”
“You…” Zhou Ran blushed, swatting his shoulder. “Pervert…”
She quickly withdrew her legs and buried herself in her books.
Song Kai didn’t mind. He pulled out an English dictionary and began reading. He’d need English to deal with Dan Lina and the others!
If he couldn’t speak English, he’d have to endure Dan Lina’s mangled Chinese idioms forever!
Just thinking about it was painful. He put on his headphones and began studying English…