Who Told You To Fool My First Love? - Chapter 4

Qiao Muyu sensed trouble and quickly turned off the faucet, walking over with an air of nonchalance: “Chen Qian? What happened?”

Chen Qian saw who it was and her eyes lit up: “President, he—”

Qiao Muyu interrupted her with a smile: “I’m not the president anymore, now you are.”

Chen Qian was a grade below Qiao Muyu and a student in the sophomore top-tier class.

She had an upright and straightforward personality, hating evil with a passion. During her freshman year as a Student Union officer, she had received a lot of care from Qiao Muyu, the former president, and she deeply respected this senior.

However, she was still a bit unaccustomed to the fact that she had taken over the senior’s role in the Student Union, so she poked out her tongue and corrected herself: “Senior, this guy brought a phone to school. He was just here sending messages to someone when I caught him.”

Qiao Muyu glanced at Lu Zhen. Seeing the unmistakable dark lines of frustration across his face, he suppressed the urge to laugh, lowered his brows, and feigned seriousness: “Lu Zhen, is that true?”

Lu Zhen gave a lukewarm “Mm,” and without a single word of defense, handed over the phone: “My fault. Confiscate it as you wish.”

Chen Qian hadn’t expected this guy, who looked so tall and intimidating, to be so submissive. The bellyful of rebukes she had prepared was stifled back, and for a moment, she forgot to take the phone.

Qiao Muyu looked down at the phone in Lu Zhen’s hand. It was the latest model from a famous company that had just hit the market. Judging by its condition, it looked like it had been unboxed only a few days ago.

Yet Lu Zhen maintained a completely indifferent attitude, as if this wasn’t a five-digit-priced phone but a fifty-cent lollipop. Even if it were truly confiscated, a wealthy young master like him wouldn’t feel the sting.

But if this matter really reached Old Wan, Qiao Muyu would likely suffer along with him.

After all, Old Wan had instructed him to take good care of this new classmate. He couldn’t care for him by making him write a self-reflection essay just a few days after the start of school.

After weighing the situation, Qiao Muyu looked at Chen Qian and spoke in a gentle tone: “Chen Qian, he’s a new transfer student in our class, only been here for three days. He probably isn’t very clear on the school rules yet. It’s also my fault for forgetting to tell him. When we go back, I’ll make him read the Third High Regulations thoroughly. How about letting it slide this time?”

Chen Qian was the type who responded to soft persuasion rather than hard pressure, and she especially couldn’t handle Qiao Muyu’s pitiful puppy-eye attack.

After a slight hesitation, she finally compromised: “Alright then, for Senior’s sake, I’ll let it go this time. Don’t let it happen again.”

Qiao Muyu immediately said sweetly: “Thank you, President Chen!”

Chen Qian waved with a smile and left, leaving Qiao Muyu and Lu Zhen standing there looking at each other awkwardly.

At least the matter had been smoothed over. Qiao Muyu let out a sigh of relief. Seeing that Lu Zhen’s expression wasn’t great, he asked: “Did she scare you?”

The corners of Lu Zhen’s mouth twitched: “That girl is a bit fierce. She came up and immediately said she’d drag me to the Dean. I thought I’d committed some heinous crime.”

Seeing his defeated and unlucky look, Qiao Muyu couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter: “Chen Qian is the Student Union President. She’s always serious and responsible. She caught you violating school discipline, so naturally, she got worked up.”

Lu Zhen understood and admitted honestly: “I didn’t know Third High doesn’t allow phones.”

“I figured as much.”

Qiao Muyu didn’t intend to press the issue further. Instead, he offered some comfort.

“But it’s okay, it’s not a big deal. Plenty of people in our school bring them. I bring mine occasionally too, but everyone uses them secretly. No one is as blatant as you, bringing it right into the opening ceremony. There are teachers and directors everywhere here. If they caught you, they might have dragged you onto the stage to do a public self-reflection. You need to be careful from now on.”

After thinking for a moment, he added a quiet reminder: “Oh right, every Monday before morning self-study, the Student Union does a sweep for prohibited items in every class. Remember never to bring anything you shouldn’t on that day, or it’ll definitely be confiscated.”

After listening, Lu Zhen looked at him with great confusion: “Aren’t you the Student Union President? Is it appropriate to tell me this?”

“What president? That’s all in the past. Our grade stepped down after entering senior year to avoid affecting our studies.” Qiao Muyu joked half-seriously, “Besides, the Student Union President is also a student. It’s important to have good relationships with classmates, otherwise, who would be willing to vote me into office?”

While it was a joke, it held some truth. Lu Zhen nodded and didn’t ask further, simply saying: “Thanks.”

Qiao Muyu curled his lip: “We’re in the same class, no need to be polite.”

Not long after Qiao Muyu returned to his seat, it was his turn to go on stage as the outstanding student representative.

Although it wasn’t the first time Qiao Muyu had spoken in public, the thought of the eyes of over two thousand teachers and students staring at him still made him a bit nervous.

Fortunately, he was used to putting up a front and had memorized the script well, so there were no stage fright issues or blunders. He successfully finished the speech.

Amidst the warm applause of the audience, he bowed with a smile to express his thanks and only let out a long sigh of relief after coming off stage.

As soon as he sat down, Du Jingfei draped an arm around him: “Smooth, Little Fish! As expected of my son, you spoke so well. As your father, I am deeply gratified!”

Qiao Muyu shoved him: “Get lost! Stop taking advantage of me.”

A moment later, the top students whose names were called went up one by one to receive their awards under the envious gazes of the crowd.

Coming off stage holding a golden certificate and a generous scholarship, Du Jingfei couldn’t hide his pride as he said to Qiao Muyu: “Fishy, come to my house for lunch after school. My mom will definitely prepare a table of great food today!”

Qiao Muyu: “No thanks, maybe next time.”

Du Jingfei: “Are you going back to eat alone? Isn’t your dad still away on a business trip?”

“He’s not back yet, but I want to go to the bookstore first to buy some things.” Qiao Muyu shook the scholarship red envelope in his hand and smiled, “Then I’ll go eat something good to reward myself.”

Du Jingfei agreed: “True, you should reward yourself after getting a scholarship. I’m going back to make my mom buy me a new pair of shoes, haha!”

After school, Qiao Muyu packed his bag in the classroom and quickly rode his bike toward Xinghai Bookstore.

This shop was located in the most prosperous pedestrian street in the city center.

Besides books, it also sold general merchandise, stationery, and various high-end accessories. It was very popular among students. Business was good on weekdays and even busier on weekends.

Qiao Muyu parked his bike at the entrance and headed straight for the book section upon entering.

However, he searched around the shelves he had scoped out earlier for several rounds but couldn’t find the artbook he had been longing for.

Qiao Muyu had a bad premonition. Seeing a female sales assistant walking by, he hurried up to ask: “Hello, do you still have that illustration collection that was displayed here before?”

The assistant was momentarily confused: “Which illustration collection?”

“It’s the new one by Teacher Sanju, a book with an aqua-blue cover.” Qiao Muyu raised his hands and tried to gesture its size, “Your store just got stock last month. I remember seeing two copies here the day before yesterday.”

“Oh, that one.” The assistant finally remembered, “It seems to be sold out. We didn’t stock many copies to begin with.”

“Sold out?” Qiao Muyu’s brows furrowed, still unwilling to give up: “Are you sure there isn’t a single one left?”

“There was one left, but you’re late. That last copy was just bought by a boy.”

The last shred of hope vanished. Qiao Muyu stood stunned with his mouth open, his hand holding the scholarship envelope unconsciously tightening.

Seeing his disappointed look, the assistant couldn’t help but ask: “Little handsome, if you like it, why didn’t you buy it before?”

“I…”

Qiao Muyu choked up, not knowing how to answer.

Last month, he had accidentally seen that his favorite illustrator, Sanju, had released a new collection after five years. He wanted to buy it then, but he was short on cash and didn’t dare ask his father for more allowance. After a bit of calculating, he decided to wait for the scholarship at the start of the term to buy it.

But he hadn’t expected to be one step too late.

Qiao Muyu stared at the small empty space on the shelf for a long while, as if a small piece of his own heart had been hollowed out.

Dejectedly, he picked up his bag to leave, but as he turned around, he suddenly locked eyes with someone standing behind him.

It was Lu Zhen.

Qiao Muyu immediately hid the disappointment in his eyes and gave a polite greeting: “Classmate Lu? You came here to buy books too, what a coincidence.”

Lu Zhen didn’t exchange much small talk. He just looked down and rummaged through the shopping bag he was carrying, eventually pulling a book out from a pile of brand-new exercise books and reference materials. He handed it toward him and asked: “Are you looking for this?”

Qiao Muyu looked closely. It was actually the artbook he was searching for.

“So the last copy was bought by you!” A spark of hope ignited in Qiao Muyu’s heart, “So, everything I just said… you heard it?”

“Mm.” Lu Zhen said noncommittally, “You like this artbook?”

Qiao Muyu pursed his lips and nodded solemnly: “Yes, I like it very much. Can you sell this copy to me? I can pay you double!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Qiao Muyu silently gave himself a mental chestnut on the head.

How could he be so stupid as to try and bribe a rich young master with money? Truly a silly fish.

He was just thinking of another reason to win Lu Zhen over when he heard the other say: “No need. This is for you.”

“For me?” Qiao Muyu doubted his ears and looked at him, overwhelmed by the favor: “Are you sure?”

Lu Zhen nodded: “You helped me this morning, so consider this a thank-you gift.”

Qiao Muyu froze for a second, then realized he was referring to the incident where he helped settle the trouble after Chen Qian caught him with the phone.

The heavens were right, good deeds really do get rewarded.

“Then thank you!”

Qiao Muyu gratefully took the artbook, carefully touching its cover and gently flipping through the inner pages. The layout was clever, the binding was meticulous, and the paper felt soft and smooth with a faint scent of incense. He loved every detail.

“I didn’t expect you to like Teacher Sanju’s work as well.” Qiao Muyu couldn’t help but remark.

But Lu Zhen said: “A friend of mine likes it. His favorite illustrator used to be Teacher Sanju.”

“Your friend?”

This answer caught Qiao Muyu by surprise. He suddenly felt the awkwardness of accidentally taking someone else’s thing and felt embarrassed to keep it.

“Does that mean this was a gift you prepared for your friend? Is it really okay to give it to me now?”

“It’s fine.”

Lu Zhen lowered his eyes, his gaze landing on the aqua-blue shallow sea on the cover. His expression was flat, making his true feelings unreadable.

“I don’t know where he is now. Even if I wanted to send it, I couldn’t.”

After saying this, he picked up his bag and turned to leave.

Qiao Muyu looked at his silhouette, struggled for a second, and then called out: “Hey, you haven’t eaten yet either, right? How about I treat you?”

“No need.” Lu Zhen didn’t even look back, refusing bluntly, “My family is waiting for me. I should head back.”

Qiao Muyu thought that made sense. A table of delicacies was probably waiting for him at home. Why would he care for a treat at some roadside stall?

So he didn’t insist, said his goodbyes, and left.

Having obtained the artbook he had longed for, Qiao Muyu was in a great mood.

He casually settled his lunch at a small roadside shop and leisurely rode his bike back home. Looking at the sky and the street trees overhead, he felt that even these commonplace scenes looked much better than usual.

The bicycle traversed several streets and entered an old residential area in the west of the city. The tires rolled over the mottled cement floor of many years and finally stopped in the stairwell piled with clutter.

Qiao Muyu locked the bike and hummed a little tune as he walked toward the fourth floor. Vaguely, he heard several warm conversations in the hallway, and the familiar voices made his footsteps pause.

“Oh, Old Qiao, you’re back?”

“Yeah, just got home!”

“Look at those dark circles under your eyes. You must have driven the night truck for several days straight again, right? Tsk tsk, earning money is hard work!”

“Can’t be helped. Working myself to death is just to raise that kid at home!”

“Hmph, you’ve raised that son well. He’s more successful and more obedient than our own flesh and blood! I heard from my daughter that your Little Fish went on stage to speak at the opening assembly today, said he’s some outstanding student representative! Little Fish is so smart, he’ll definitely get into a good university in the future!”

“That’s for sure. My son is going to Tsinghua or Peking University in the future!”

“Oh my, your Qiao family’s ancestral grave is really going to puff out some green smoke!”

“Hehe!”

The exchange with the neighbor ended. Qiao Yongde contentedly carried a bag of beer he had just bought into the house. Just as he was about to close the door, he saw Qiao Muyu standing in the hallway.

“Dad?” Qiao Muyu tightened his grip on his backpack strap nervously and walked toward him, “You said you wouldn’t be home until tomorrow. Why are you back today? You didn’t tell me in advance.”

“What, do I need to notify you in advance to return to my own home?”

Qiao Yongde kicked off the shoes on his feet, walked barefoot into the living room, leaned crookedly on the sofa, turned on the TV, and opened a bottle of beer, tilting his head back to drink.

Qiao Yongde was a long-haul truck driver with a penchant for drinking, but he couldn’t drink while driving. He could only wait until he finished a long trip to come back and drink to his heart’s content.

Qiao Muyu watched him down one bottle in a few gulps and impatiently open the next, sighing: “You haven’t eaten yet, right? I already ate out. I’ll go boil a bowl of noodles for you.”

Qiao Yongde waved him off: “Make it quick, I’m starving to death!”

Qiao Muyu casually put his backpack on the sofa, took out half a pack of plain noodles and two eggs from the fridge, and went into the kitchen to get busy.

A moment later, Qiao Muyu walked out carrying a steaming bowl of noodle soup, only to be startled by a book thrown by Qiao Yongde that landed with a thud at his feet. It made him flinch, causing the hot soup to spill onto the back of his hand, instantly scalding a small patch red.

“Qiao Muyu, is this something that should be appearing in your backpack!”

Qiao Muyu endured the sharp pain and hurried to set the bowl on the table. Looking down, he saw clearly that the book Qiao Yongde had thrown was his artbook.

Qiao Muyu looked up sharply and indeed saw his backpack wide open, with the books and stationery inside dumped messily on the coffee table.

His brows furrowed, and fire began to rise irrepressibly in his heart: “You went through my things again?”

“I’m your father. Why can’t I go through your things?”

Qiao Yongde, now feeling the alcohol, pointed at him and cursed.

“The allowance I give you, is it for you to go buy these flashy, useless things? That’s all my hard-earned money!”

Qiao Muyu said quickly: “It’s not like that, Dad. I used my own scholarship money, it’s money I earned myself.”

“Hmph, your money?” Qiao Yongde sneered, “The only reason you can get a scholarship is because I’ve been providing you with good food and drink all these years!”

He picked up Qiao Muyu’s sketchbook and slammed it toward his face. Qiao Muyu couldn’t react in time, barely turning his head to dodge; his cheek was still struck, leaving a red mark.

But Qiao Yongde was oblivious, continuing to berate him: “But you? All you think about every day is drawing those damn pictures! Do you really think you’re some artist? How many times have I told you—don’t think about anything except studying! The College Entrance Exam is next year. If your grades slip and you don’t get into Tsinghua or Peking because of these things, get the hell out of this house as soon as possible. Your mother and I must have been blind back then; we shouldn’t have brought you back from the orphanage! Get lost and go study!”

Qiao Muyu lowered his head powerlessly, his fists clenched tight, knuckles turning white.

His lips trembled slightly, and many words were stuck in his throat, making him feel like he was suffocating from the pain. But in the end, he simply raised his head as if nothing were wrong, revealing a compliant and harmless smile: “Mm, I understand.”

He turned to walk toward his room, but was called back by Qiao Yongde: “Stop.”

He pointed to the artbook at Qiao Muyu’s feet: “Take that piece of trash and throw it away. Don’t let me see it again!”

Qiao Muyu bent over to pick up the artbook, patted off the dust, and pushed the door open to go out.

He stood in the hallway for a long time in silence, looking down and stroking the artbook in his hand. The cover was an aqua-blue shallow sea. Golden sunlight filtered through, and schools of fish flitted by, beautiful beyond words.

Suddenly, a heavy tear fell onto it, soaking a corner. Qiao Muyu quickly wiped it away with his hand.

He haphazardly wiped the tear stains from his face, took a deep breath, composed his emotions, and knocked on the neighbor’s door.

A few seconds later, the door opened from the inside, and a seven or eight-year-old girl looked up at him, calling sweetly: “Brother Fishy.”

Qiao Muyu knelt down and smiled as he touched her face: “What are you doing home alone, Little Ling’er?”

Xia Ling raised her watercolor-stained hand and replied: “I’m drawing!”

“How impressive!” Qiao Muyu handed the artbook to Xia Ling, “Here, this is for you. I hope you like it.”

“Wow, so pretty!” Xia Ling stared at the artbook, her eyes sparkling, “Thank you, Brother Fishy. I haven’t finished using the oil pastels you gave me last time.”

“It’s okay, you can use them slowly. Draw many, many pictures that you like.”

As Qiao Muyu was about to leave, Xia Ling pulled his hand and took a piece of candy out of her pocket, stuffing it into his: “Brother, this is for you. My mom said this is called ‘returning a favor.’ I hope you feel better after eating it.”

Qiao Muyu was momentarily stunned: “I’m not in a bad mood.”

Xia Ling shook her head and said cautiously: “But I think I heard Uncle Qiao scolding you again just now. Was it because you bought this artbook? Why won’t Uncle Qiao let you draw?”

Qiao Muyu gave a bitter smile and let out a sigh: “Brother is a high school student now, there are more important things to do.”

“Is it to study hard?”

“Mm. Study hard and rank first.”

Xia Ling seemed to understand yet not quite as she tilted her head to look at him: “But my mom says whether I rank first or not isn’t important, my happiness is most important.”

Qiao Muyu stood in a daze.

He raised his hand and smiled as he patted her head: “Because your mother… she loves you very much.”

He said nothing more, turned, and left.

Back home, the TV in the living room was still on, but Qiao Yongde had already flopped onto the sofa and fallen asleep, snoring loudly.

After taking the empty bowl he had left on the table to the kitchen and washing it clean, Qiao Muyu returned to his room to bury himself in his books.