Returning to the Shamate Era to Seduce the Top Student - Chapter 14

Yin Xu had been living in quite a state of unrest these past two days. Everywhere he went in school, he could hear his own name.

He was already a legendary figure at Luhe No. 3 High to begin with, and now, because of his two unexpected public declarations, his popularity had skyrocketed once again. He had become the central topic of idle gossip among teachers and students, and even the cafeteria aunties and security guards.

If Luhe No. 3 High had a “Trending Searches” list, Yin Xu’s name would be on it twenty times a day, with a level of discussion that contained absolutely no filler.

Word had it that it wasn’t just Yin Xu and Director Hu who had a bet going. Many students had joined in on the gambling as well.

Everyone was betting on whether the eternal last place, Student Yin Xu, could actually improve by fifty places in one go during the next monthly exam.

The losing side would have to treat the others to a meal, pay for their Q.Q Zone memberships, write their homework, run a lap around the playground naked, call the winner “Daddy”…

In short, people were betting everything.

On this day, when school was dismissed, Tao Mingzhao specifically ran over with a sly look to tell Yin Xu that he had bet all the pocket money he’d saved over the summer on Yin Xu still being dead last in the next exam, telling him not to let him down.

Yin Xu was so angry he dreamed of stuffing a test paper with a perfect score into Tao Mingzhao’s mouth and making him eat it.

However, the reality was that after the Science Comprehensive exam on Saturday morning, Yin Xu felt like half his life was gone.

Never mind a perfect score. If he didn’t get a zero on this paper, he would feel like the heavens were showing him mercy.

A Heavenly Book—it was a book from the heavens!

People who could learn high school courses well must be monsters!

For the entire morning, Yin Xu was in a state of ascension, deep in philosophical thought about “Who am I? Where am I? Why on earth am I studying?”

After school, Yin Xu politely declined Pan Zheshuai and Song Xingyun’s invitation to hit the internet cafe and play games. He rode his bicycle home, physically and mentally exhausted.

His parents were still not home. The massive villa was deathly quiet.

Yin Xu only picked at the table full of hot dishes prepared by the family chef before listlessly returning to his room and falling into a deep sleep.

The Back-to-School Exam had tormented him enough—mostly mental torment—to the point that he only woke up as the sun was sinking in the west.

Having eaten very little at lunch, his stomach was already growling with hunger.

The moment he pushed open his bedroom door, Yin Xu smelled a faint scent of tea permeating the air. The smell was very familiar.

Following his intuition, he went downstairs toward the living room and saw Yin Changjian holding a teacup on the sofa. Yin Xu’s throat felt a bit tight: “Dad?”

Yin Changjian looked over at the sound of his voice and smiled gently: “You’re awake?”

Yin Xu didn’t respond but walked to his side, sat down, and gave him a big hug.

Yin Changjian was completely bewildered by this sudden embrace. His arms went stiff, fearing he would spill the tea in his hand.

“What’s this all about?”

“Nothing. I just had a dream that you left me.”

Yin Xu’s voice was muffled.

“The feeling of that dream was very real. I thought I would never see you again.”

Yin Changjian laughed upon hearing this: “How old are you, still acting like a baby? Your dad is doing just fine. Why would I leave you?”

Yin Xu didn’t say more. He suppressed the bitter emotions in his eyes and let go, asking instead: “How do you have time to come back today?”

“What are you saying? Today is Saturday. Where else would I go if not home?”

Yin Xu froze for a moment before remembering the old routine where Yin Changjian and He Yuexiang would come home every Saturday to accompany him for a meal.

The two seemed to be using their actions to show that they still had a son in their eyes.

Yin Changjian didn’t notice his abnormality, taking a sip of tea before saying:

“On the contrary, usually on Saturdays, you’re out of the house the second school’s out. How come you aren’t out fooling around with those friends of yours today?”

Yin Changjian’s words sounded like a reproach, but his tone carried no sense of pressure. Instead, it sounded relaxed and warm, just simple banter between father and son.

Yin Xu also smiled and answered him: “Isn’t it because I haven’t seen you in so long? I missed you too much, so I wanted to come back early to eat with you.”

Yes, it had been too long. In the past years, he only saw the old photo on the tombstone during the tomb-sweeping festival.

“Hehe, look at you with your sweet talk.”

As the father and son were laughing and talking, the door to the first-floor study opened, and He Yuexiang walked out.

Seeing Yin Xu, she asked: “You’re up? Are you hungry?”

Yin Xu answered honestly: “Hungry.”

He Yuexiang: “Then wash your hands and eat.”

Yin Changjian put down his teacup and stood up: “Right, let’s eat first.”

The couple brought the prepared dishes from the kitchen to the dining table without interfering with each other. During the process, they didn’t say a word, nor did they even make eye contact.

The dining table was silent, save for the light clinking of bowls and chopsticks. The three of them ate their own food, looking like a group of guests who had been forced together.

Finally, it was He Yuexiang who broke the silence: “Axu, I heard you want to get into university?”

Yin Xu knew that his going crazy at school couldn’t be hidden from his parents. He immediately admitted: “Yeah, I have that plan.”

He Yuexiang nodded: “That’s good. Since you have a goal, study hard. It’s better than drifting through life every day.”

“Yo, how did you suddenly change your nature, kid?”

Yin Changjian looked him up and down with feigned surprise.

“Come tell Dad—did you take a fancy to some nice girl and decide to work hard to prove yourself?”

Yin Xu laughed helplessly: “No, you’re overthinking it.”

“Don’t be shy. Your dad is very open-minded. I don’t oppose you—”

“Don’t engage in puppy love.”

He Yuexiang suddenly spoke up, interrupting Yin Changjian. She put down her chopsticks and looked at Yin Xu, her expression becoming somewhat serious.

“Axu, you are still young and don’t have a good grasp on emotional matters. Liking someone when you’re young can’t last a lifetime. Some feelings are better off being strangled early.”

Yin Changjian choked for a moment and said to He Yuexiang: “Look at you, do you have to say such discouraging things in front of our son?”

He Yuexiang: “This isn’t being discouraging. It’s just the experience of someone who has been through it. I’m telling him this for his own good. I’m afraid that if he makes a decision now, he’ll be like me later—too late for regrets.”

Yin Changjian’s face immediately turned a bit sour: “What do you have to regret?”

He Yuexiang gave a cold laugh: “I have many things to regret.”

“You!”

With a crisp “clack,” the sound of chopsticks hitting the dining table interrupted their dialogue.

Yin Xu picked up his empty bowl, reached for the ladle, and scooped some soup for himself without even glancing at the two people beside him.

He Yuexiang sighed: “Axu, we…”

Yin Xu said while scooping soup: “Why is everyone looking at me? You guys carry on.”

Yin Changjian and He Yuexiang both froze: “Carry on with what?”

“Aren’t you two going to talk about the divorce again?”

Yin Xu lowered his head to drink his soup with an open and candid expression, as if this matter had absolutely nothing to do with him.

“Divorce, go ahead. You don’t need to consult me about this in the future. My opinion isn’t important anyway.”

Yin Changjian and He Yuexiang looked at him in shock, not knowing what to say.

The atmosphere became very oppressive for a while.

Yin Changjian was irritable. He put down his chopsticks and pulled a cigarette pack and a lighter from his pocket.

He pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Just as he was about to light it, he subconsciously glanced at Yin Xu, then silently put the lighter down, looking awkward as if he wanted to smoke but didn’t dare.

Yin Changjian was a heavy smoker, but he never smoked in front of Yin Xu.

Because Yin Xu hated the smell of smoke. When he was little, he wouldn’t even let his dad into the house after he finished a cigarette, saying he smelled stinky.

Yin Xu looked at him, realized his intent, and said: “Smoke if you want to. You won’t be able to smoke for much longer anyway.”

Yin Changjian froze: “What do you mean by that?”

“Life is unpredictable. Who knows, maybe one day something happens and you kick the bucket? Then you won’t be able to smoke even if you want to.”

Yin Changjian was stunned by these words: “You brat, what are you saying! Is that any way to curse your old man?”

Yin Xu squinted and smiled at him innocently: “Don’t be mad, I’m just joking.”

After saying that, he finished the last sip of soup, put down his chopsticks, and stood up to head to his room.

Halfway there, he turned back to remind them: “Oh right, keep it down when you argue at home later. Don’t disturb my studies.”

Yin Changjian and He Yuexiang: “……”

Click.

The door closed, and the room was filled with the glow of the sunset.

Yin Xu leaned his back against the door and let out a deep, weak breath, closing his eyes. He could faintly hear the intense argument coming from the living room.

“If it weren’t for Axu, I would have divorced you long ago!”

It was this sentence again.

Yin Xu couldn’t help but recall the first time he heard it.

It was a certain day after he just started tenth grade. He came home from school and, while changing his shoes in the entryway, heard a fierce argument in the living room.

“Yin Changjian! You only married me for your business, your career, your face! All you care about is my family background. You don’t love me at all!”

The normally gentle and dignified He Yuexiang was hysterical like a shrew, leaving her husband speechless.

A moment later, her voice calmed down: “Let’s get a divorce.”

“What are you saying? Are you joking? I don’t agree!”

“I’m not joking. I’ve cheated.”

He Yuexiang declared with absolute calm, like a pool of dead water without a ripple.

“I thought you would find out first, but you didn’t, because you never care about what I do every day.”

“You! How could you do such a thing! Where does this leave my reputation? How are you going to let others laugh at me?!”

“That’s none of my business.”

“Fine, fine, fine. Even if you don’t care about my feelings, you have to think about Xiaoxu, right? He just started high school. It’s the most critical time. What do you expect him to do if you start this mess with me?”

“……After Axu finishes his college entrance exams, we’ll get divorced.”

Yin Xu ultimately didn’t put on his slippers. He bent down, retied his shoelaces, and walked back out the door.

Wait until he finished the college entrance exams?

Then he would rather never take them.

The young and ignorant Yin Xu, harboring this childish idea, set out on the point-of-no-return as a rebellious delinquent from then on…

Many bad memories surged into his heart. Yin Xu put on his headphones, wanting to listen to some music to relieve his frustration.

But right now, there was no NetEase Cloud Music, only Qianqian Jingting. There was no Moments to post his dark moods, only Q.Q Zone.

So Yin Xu turned on his computer and logged into Q.Q, intending to post a status update to express his current shitty mood.

As soon as he logged in, he heard a string of notification sounds from the ancient era.

Yin Xu casually clicked the top one. He identified the friend in the list with the ID “This Handsome G Has No Time to Chat With You” as that flashy guy Pan Zheshuai.

Pan Zheshuai: “Old Yin, have you not been online for two days?”

Pan Zheshuai: “I saw the vegetables in your farm are ripe and you haven’t harvested them, so I stole them all, hehe.”

Yin Xu replied listlessly: “Steal them, steal them. I wish you become lame more and more.”

Pan Zheshuai: “……….”

How could Yin Xu have the heart to harvest vegetables right now? If things continued like this, he would eventually turn yellow in the field just like those cabbages.

The Back-to-School Exam had cleared his head quite a bit.

He thought back to the bet he made with Hu Yi yesterday. Perhaps it really was a bit of a heat-of-the-moment impulse, but he truly didn’t want others to be implicated because of him.

However, with his current shit-tier learning status, how was he supposed to improve by fifty places in one go…

Yin Xu sighed and clicked into his Q.Q Zone, then let out a sharp intake of air, terrified by the dense, Buried Love Family emo-style theme that greeted him.

Only then did he realize his username was “Yin Shao丶Lonely and Arrogant Life.”

His Q.Q signature was set to: “Don’t cry at my grave, it’ll dirty my path to reincarnation.” (Written in complex Martian script).

The deadliest part was his profile picture.

It was a 45-degree upward-angled selfie pushed right against his face.

Under a death filter and the contrast of his fiery red hair, his skin was as white as a ghost’s. His exposed right eye was lined with a hazy black eyeliner, the corners of his mouth hooked in a confident and unrestrained arc, and a silver cross earring sparkled at the side of his neck.

Looking at the post date in the Zone, this was probably taken while it was hot right after he finished dyeing his hair two days ago.

The photo was also meticulously edited with many gaudy stickers, paired with a VIP-exclusive flashing rainbow avatar frame—it had every single element.

Yin Xu: “……”

If he deleted his account and started over now, would everyone act like they saw nothing? Yes.

In the end, with a mindset of “it is what it is,” he changed his signature to a sentence more appropriate for the occasion:

“This person is dead. If there’s business, burn paper.”

How are things going with your story? Do you have any plans for Yin Xu’s remodeling plan?