Chapter 31: All participate, Anran was angered
(Part 1)
In a blink of an eye, it was Friday. As the 100th Day Excursion was to be held on Saturday, classes were over an hour earlier than usual and weekend schoolwork was cancelled. The decision to forbid all teachers from assigning homework led the third- year middle school students to froth with excitement.
“Say, are y’all going to cram school after class today?” Everyone gathered around in the classroom to discuss enthusiastically during the siesta break after lunch.
“Not going!” The one who answered was Ji Ling, “Without letting Mom know, I have let Dad give a call to the cram school teacher to ask for leave! Heh heh!”
“I’m also not going.” The other students also said in succession, wanting to give oneself a good break before using all their strength to sprint in the last 100 days.
“Class monitor! What about you?” Ji Ling asked Lu Anran who was reading a book nearby.
“Me?” Lu Anran was temporarily at a loss, “Originally, I also do not attend a cram school ah!”
“Is the what’s- his- face home tutor that your family hired going over tonight?” Chu Yao’s tone was a little bitter.
“Won’t come over tonight.” Lu Anran inconspicuously glanced at Chu Yao who was seated in front of her. Qin Shuhan also said she (Qin Shuhan) hoped that she (Lu Anran) could take this time to relax and will continue the lessons next Monday, allowing her to meet up with friends to unwind etc.
“That’s great!” Ji Ling looked excited, “Let’s all go out and play together after school! Buy some snacks for tomorrow and all!”
“Need to bring some comic books as well!” The boys seated at the corner also started to discuss frenziedly, “Game console! Game console!”
The entire class was in a state of liveliness and anticipation, every one of them was looking forward to tomorrow’s excursion.
“Linda, you won’t be going to cram school tonight either?” Lu Anran asked Linda who was also reading a book beside her.
“En. Not going.” Linda answered, “Cannot bear Ji Ling’s nagging. I’m going with her to buy some snacks tonight.”
Lu Anran looked over at the Ji Ling who was dancing with excitement, “Both of you have known each other for a long time?”
“Yes! We were in the same class during Primary school. Although we were in different classes during middle school, but we signed up to the same cram school. Now we are also in the same class! So, we can be considered to be quite fated together!”
“Oh……” Lu Anran nodded her head.
“Come over tonight as well!” Linda invited and said, “It seems like there will be a lot of students coming.”
“I……” In actual fact, Lu Anran was not very interested in this. She has already played enough in her previous lifetime, now, all she wants to do is to study hard.
“Why would she want to play together with us?” Chu Yao’s tablemate turned around and glanced at Lu Anran. She has been hearing Chu Yao talking about many matters between the two of them these past few days. Really cannot stand this Lu Anran ah!
“Shasha!” Chu Yao tugged on the sleeves of her tablemate Sun Shasha. With an appearance of having grievances and helplessness, she said, “Forget it!”
“Isn’t it just having some stinky money?!” Sun Shasha had a look of an angry youth, as if she wanted to take a stand for Chu Yao.
“Shasha!” Chu Yao held back Sun Shasha and then smiled apologetically to Lu Anran, “Anran, if you have something on, then go ahead!” She truly did not want Lu Anran to go. This was a good time for Chu Yao to establish her reputation ah! In this way, after successfully getting rid of Lu Anran, she could still return to her position of class monitor without putting in any effort. Her life should be so bright and glamorous such that she stands above everyone!
“What kind of matter could she have! It’s probably just attending some party by some rich and famous!” Sun Shasha’s tone was full of disdain and mockery.
“Shasha!” From the start, Chu Yao felt that people like Sun Shasha who came from an impoverished family and was an inflexible, poor and dull bookworm were the best people to make use of! It was very easy to let Sun Shasha hate Lu Anran completely. All she needed to do was to ruthlessly trample on her inferiority complex and then tell her that Lu Anran was the one who said those words. With a little kindness, Sun Shasha can thoroughly serve as one’s personal use.
Chu Yao adopted an embarrassed expression and looked towards Lu Anran, “Sorry ah, Anran! Shasha is rather laidback at times and is quite straightforward when she speaks, don’t be angry ah!”
“……” This can no longer be considered as a straightforward attitude anymore okay? Lu Anran looked at both Chu Yao’s and Sun Shasha’s act of saying these senseless words and instead felt somewhat fed up.
“Chu Yao! Why did you want……” Sun Shasha really did not like the present servile manner of Chu Yao! Doesn’t Lu Anran just have some stinky money in her family! It is not like it was she, Lu Anran, who earned it! Is there a need to bully others by flaunting her powerful connections?
Chapter 31: All participate, Anran was angered
(Part 2)
“Shush!” Chu Yao held on to Sun Shasha and smiled apologetically at Lu Anran again. She then pulled Sun Shasha over and reminded her once more not to say anything anymore.
Seeing both their expressions, the corners of Lu Anran’s mouth unconsciously flattened. The brainwashing has been very successful hasn’t it! Lu Anran looked towards Linda, “I’ll go together with all of you! I was just thinking of relaxing and whatnot.”
“Hmph!” Sun Shasha coldly snorted and turned back again, whispering something to Chu Yao.
“……” Lu Anran met Linda’s eyes helplessly.
When the bell signalling the end of school rang, both Lu Anran and Linda carried their bags.
“Linda! O! O! O!” Ji Ling enthusiastically danced around with joy, “Let’s go, let’s go!”
“Then let’s follow the plan made during the siesta break!” Lu Anran was still a little embarrassed dealing with all her classmates surrounding her. Class monitor or whatever…… It really does not suit her……
“Class monitor is blushing! Hahahaha!” Ji Ling said laughingly as she pointed at Lu Anran, “Everyone quickly look ah! Hahaha!”
“Pfft……” Linda could not help grinning, “It is unexpectedly a little cute……”
“Hey!” Lu Anran became even more embarrassed. Why was Linda also taking part in this disturbance ah!
The crowd started laughing. They have always thought that Lu Anran was a little aloof and distant and have never thought that she could also have such a cute side!
“Hey hey hey!” Lu Anran’s cheeks were like floating red clouds. She wanted to stop everyone, but she did not know what else to say, even Qin Shuhan, who walked by, also chuckled.
“Teacher Qin! Would you like to join us?” Ji Ling invited Qin Shuhan again. After these past two days, Qin Shuhan was held in high regard by everyone. This was because Qin Shuhan’s method of teaching during class was very unique and was easily accepted by everyone, so everyone likes this extremely talented teacher very much.
“Me?” Qin Shuhan was little hesitant.
“C’mon, c’mon!” Everyone was very welcoming of the addition of Qin Shuhan.
“Let’s forget about it!” Qin Shuhan excused herself smilingly, “I am meeting my former classmate today. All of you go ahead and play first!”
“Alright……” After hearing that Qin Shuhan was not free, everyone did not insist anymore and left following the plan set during noon break.
The place everyone wanted to visit was the shopping mall at the city centre where it has all kinds of snacks, clothing, books and all sort of items for one’s amusement. As it met the needs of everyone all at once, it naturally could not be any better.
Following the plan set during noon break, students without drivers will thumb a lift from those with drivers to go to the city centre. Everyone will gather at McDonalds located at the corner of the shopping street.
Linda, Ji Ling and a male student, Wu Gang sat in Lu Anran’s car. As soon as they got in the car, everyone was a little awkward, even the most extroverted Ji Ling also became reticent. Wu Gang was even more so as he was allocated to a car with all females, so he kept his head down and did not speak at all, while Linda was normally a quiet person and was the most unresponsive person amongst all.
“Eldest Young Miss, what time will you be going home today? Should I wait for you just outside the shopping streets or come and pick you at a certain time?” The driver was Old Zhang that was assigned to Lu Anran and Ji Rou by Lu Jianhao previously.
“You can leave first!” Lu Anran thought for a moment before replying, “I will give you a call before leaving.”
“Understood, Eldest Young Miss.” Old Zhang responded and continued driving.
“Cool!” Ji Ling opened both her eyes wide, “It is really like television dramas ey! A real Eldest Young Miss ah!” She and Linda had normal family background and depended on their excellent grades to enter Ying Hua Middle School. Normally, they would squeeze in crowded public transport to get to and from school and have always felt that having a driver to send to and from school was already an amazing thing. They never expected “Eldest Young Miss” to be called, just like television dramas!
Ji Ling seemed to have discovered a whole new world. Leaning forward, she asked, “Hey, Driver Uncle! Why do you call class monitor, Eldest Young Miss ah?”
“Because she is Eldest Young Miss ah!” This is the first time Uncle Zhang has seen Lu Anran with people other than Chu Yao. Although he is astonished, he still hoped that Lu Anran would make more friends.
“Then, are there butlers, maidservants etc. at your house ah?” Ji Ling had a face full of excitement.
“Butlers? Is that the housekeeper?” Old Zhang has actually heard his own daughter mentioned something about Black Butler1 or housekeepers or something previously.
“Driver Uncle, you are so fashionable! You also know this ah!” Ji Ling said laughingly.
“Hahaha!” Old Zhang also started laughing. Already at this age, and still being praised by others as fashionable! This little lady is really quite interesting.
“Pfft!” Lu Anran could not help snorting with laughter. Ji Ling’s personality was really cute.
“Hahaha!” Wu Gang also started laughing. The atmosphere in the car suddenly became lively because of Ji Ling.
Not long after, they reached the shopping mall at the city centre. Ji Ling alighted from the car and enthusiastically waved goodbye to Old Zhang.
When they entered McDonalds, they realised that most of the other classmates have arrived. After greeting everyone, Lu Anran sat down with the everybody.
“Class monitor, do you want to order something to eat?” A girl asked.
“I’m fine, hurhur……” Lu Anran glanced at everyone’s tray. It was all hamburgers, fried chicken nuggets and so on, so she refused, “I’m not hungry at the moment.”
“As if the Honourable Eldest Young Miss would eat this kind of thing!” Sun Shasha ate a double cheeseburger treated by Chu Yao while glancing at Lu Anran who was being surrounded by everyone. The tone and attitude were unbearably offensive, causing the people around her to feel embarrassed.
“Anran, Shasha is just too straightforward! Don’t mind ah!” Chu Yao said while holding back the joy in her eyes.
“It’s fine.” With so many classmates around, and since everyone came out to have fun, Lu Anran really did not want to flip out at this time, so she suppressed her anger and explained, “I don’t eat meat.”
“Eh? You don’t eat meat ah!” Ji Ling was surprised, “Goodness! There is actually someone who don’t eat meat!”
“En!” Lu Anran smiled. It is better to say it clearly now to avoid any misunderstanding and unhappiness.
“The Honourable Eldest Young Miss is indeed different from the rest of us ah!” Sun Shasha’s acidic tone made the whole atmosphere freeze up again, “Just having a little something, yet so fussy! Truly regarding oneself as a princess ah! Hng!”
“Anran, Shasha is not a bad person, just that she has a straightforward temperament and is more forthright. The words she says are more direct. You……” Chu Yao still wanted to make excuses just like before but was interrupted by Lu Anran.
“Hurhur! This is called being direct?” Lu Anran really could not stand it anymore. Does she really think she was such a pushover! The first time I gave way to you out of courtesy was because I am good tempered! The second time I put up with you was because my upbringing is better than yours! The third time I will definitely not indulge you again!
1 Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji) – a Japanese manga series which has also been made into an anime.