Translator: StormFrost

  Illusory Reality [8]

  Chen Liguo could tell that Lin Zhaorong was a pervert the moment he saw him.

  Zhou Yi saying this so straightforwardly now fixed his notion in place.

  Later, Chen Liguo learned from Zhou Yi that Lin Zhaorong had been notorious for his misdeeds before. So long as he took a fancy to someone there would be no method left unused. Only, it was unknown why Lin Zhaorong was so mild towards him.

  Because Chen Liguo's behind was hit by Zhou Yi as soon as he came back and even cried bitterly for a while, the whole reciting the words matter was dropped and Chen Liguo luckily escaped.

  High school passed extremely quickly. Not long after Zhou Yi came back it was time for the final exams.

  Chen Liguo was full of vitality when he finished the exams. He said that he had looked at the astrological phenomena at night for himself and was certain that he would pass with good scores.

  His deskmate quipped back, "Then are you going to blame the stars for exhibiting the wrong results if you get bad scores?"

  Chen Liguo was silent for two seconds and then said to his beloved star, "Star, what do you think of the results this time?"

  The stars said, "Alright."

  Chen Liguo asked eagerly, "Can I be in the top 100?"

  The stars asked, "Why the top 100?"

  Chen Liguo said, "Didn't our mother promise me that summer vacation would be a bit better if I get into the top 100?"

  The system said, "From what I see it's a bit undetermined."

  Chen Liguo miserably said, "Dad, you can't treat me like this ah."

  The system said, "Son, you need to learn how to work hard on your own ah."

  However, Chen Liguo was addicted to love and had no heart to study. His brain was full of Zhou Yi, a typical example of studies suffering due to puppy love. It was a pity that no one found out.

  After the exams Zhou Yi found Chen Liguo and asked him how he planned on spending his birthday.

  Chen Liguo asked what birthday with a bedazzled expression.

  Zhou Yi said, "Did you forget your birthday in August?"

  Just as Chen Liguo wanted to say that his birthday was in winter he remembered that that was the day he arrived at the orphanage, so the orphanage dean set that as his birthday.

  Chen Liguo said, "Ah…… I haven't made a plan on how to spend it yet."

  Zhou Yi said, "If you have a gift you want you can tell me."

  Chen Liguo said, "Haiya big brother, you're too polite. I'm a person who doesn't care about those worldly possessions. I just want a suite in the third ring of city B……"

  Zhou Yi: "……"

  Chen Liguo said, "If it really isn't possible the sixth ring works too oh."

  Zhou Yi: "……"

  Chen Liguo saw that Zhou Yi wasn't speaking and showed a wicked smile. He said, "If you don't have either you can use your flesh as compensation."

  Who would have thought that when Zhou Yi heard Chen Liguo's words he would instead fall into a contemplative silence and then say, "It seems a little troublesome."

  Chen Liguo was stunned for a while and before he realized a moment later that Zhou Yi was talking about how buying a house would be troublesome. Horrified, he said, "Zhou Yi, I was joking. You won't really buy a house for me would you?"

  Zhou Yi said, "No ah."

  Chen Liguo listened to him say 'no ah' with a serious expression and knew that this man was just answering perfunctorily. He hurriedly explained that he really was joking.

  Who would have thought that Zhou Yi would spit out, "Houses in city B are still affordable."

  Hearing this Chen Liguo showed an expression of bitter anguish. He felt that the pressure of marrying Zhou Yi home as a wife was too big. His wife said to buy a house and then bought it immediately, how could he afford him.

  On the other hand Zhou Yi didn't think much. He reached out and patted Chen Liguo on the shoulder, saying, "Go, let's play basketball."

  Chen Liguo said, "Okay okay."

  The final exam results came out. The results were exactly as Chen Liguo had thought, he ranked 100, no more no less, just right.

  Both the teachers and Chen Liguo's parents were very pleased with this and felt that Chen Liguo had really worked hard. Chen Liguo was also very moved and expressed deep gratitude to the system.

  The system said, "With no mosaics, everything is good."

  Chen Liguo said, "I haven't rubbed myself in a long time for you already…… As a teenager……"

  The system said, "A teenager who has lived many lifetimes?"

  Chen Liguo: "…… Dad, do you dislike your son's old age?"

  The system said, "I just dislike your low IQ."

  Chen Liguo cried and said, "Aren't these not the genes inherited from you?"

  The system said, "If my son was like you I would have beat him until even his family couldn't recognize him anymore."

  Chen Liguo: "……"

  Summer vacation lasted two months. One of those months was dedicated to supplementary classes from the school.

  Fortunately, school was already off by the time Chen Liguo's birthday arrived. This birthday may have been mediocre for other students; just a meal and a cake. However, for Chen Liguo, this was his first time celebrating it like this.

  In the past he had no concept of the word 'birthday'. For him, a birthday was just the day he was born.

  When they cut the cake Chen Liguo wished that he would get into the same university as Zhou Yi and then blew out the candle.

  The system asked him what he wished for.

  Chen Liguo said with a grin, "I want to get into the same school as Yiyi."

  The system said, "So this wish was prepared for me?"

  Only then did Chen Liguo remember that the one taking the exam was his beloved father, so he said, "Dad! Don't get the wrong idea, I didn't mean that!"

  The system asked, "Then what did you mean?"

  Chen Liguo said, "Either way it's not that!"

  One person and one system were in the process of twisting tongues when Zhou Yi's helpless voice sounded. He said, "Chen Liguo, you can still get distracted at this time?"

  Chen Liguo cried out an ah and finally realized that everyone was waiting for him to cut the cake.

  Chen Liguo laughed 'heihei'. He picked up the knife and seriously cut the cake into dozens of pieces. His expression was very serious, afraid to cut a corner wrong.

  The cake was bought by Zhou Yi. The materials used were all the best. Chen Liguo took a bite and said that it was delicious with a foolish laugh.

  Zhou Yi looked at him warmly and said, "Silly Guo-er."

  The other classmates joked that they should stop showing public displays of affection.

  Chen Liguo said, "Just going to sour you all to death." He felt that this cake truly was soft. So soft it reached the depths of his heart.

  After eating everyone played for a while before dispersing.

  Zhou Yi rode his bicycle and sent Chen Liguo home. The night cooled the wind somewhat and the warm air blew into people's faces. Chen Liguo's face stuck to Zhou Yi's back, his mouth still savoring the after taste of the cake they just ate. At this moment he felt as though he had the whole world.

  Zhou Yi said, "Chen Liguo, we're here."

  Chen Liguo opened his eyes and jumped down from the back seat with a little disappointment.

  Chen Liguo accepted the box and slowly opened it. He looked at the gift inside. It was a watch. It was the same style as the one Zhou Yi was wearing. Only, the color was slightly different.

  "I'll put it on for you." Zhou Yi took the watch and bowed his head, putting it on Chen Liguo's left wrist with a serious face. He said, "Guoguo, don't take it off."

  Chen Liguo looked at the watch, his heart jumping 'thump thump'. He thought, being able to wear the same watch as Zhou Yi already fulfilled some unspeakable fantasies deep inside his heart.

  Zhou Yi said goodbye to Chen Liguo who then watched him leave. It wasn't until his shadow disappeared that he turned and climbed up the stairs.

  Who would have thought that just as he stepped onto the first floor he would see a man standing on the stairwell looking at him with a burning gaze.

  "Happy birthday." Lin Zhaorong threw a cigarette butt on the floor before him. His voice was a little hoarse. He said, "Chen Liguo, happy seventeenth birthday."

  Chen Liguo's expression turned vigilant. He asked, "How are you here?!"

  Lin Zhaorong asked, "Why didn't you answer my call?"

  Chen Liguo was stunned and only then remembered that he had turned his phone on silent mode. He pulled it out and found that there were more than twenty missed calls.

  "I didn't see." Chen Liguo said. "Is something the matter?"

  Lin Zhaorong's gaze fell on the watch on Chen Liguo's wrist. He had clearly seen the exact same watch on Zhou Yi's wrist. There was a long silence between the two. Chen Liguo originally thought that Lin Zhaorong would say something but he didn't. He smiled calmly and said, "No, I just came to wish you happy birthday."

  Chen Liguo's expression was still somewhat guarded.

  After Zhou Yi returned to the country he told him some things about Lin Zhaorong. This man was indeed very bad. Most of his targets were students who had yet to experience the world. He would generally use materialistic goods to lure them in and if that didn't work he would use other means. Either way he had to succeed.

  Zhou Yi even said that there was a female student who committed suicide because of Lin Zhaorong and that Chen Liguo had to hide if he met him.

  "I'm leaving," said Lin Zhaorong, but Chen Liguo didn't believe him and waited for his next move. Who would have thought that Lin Zhaorong would say he was leaving and actually act upon it. There wasn't the slightest hesitation in his expression.

  Chen Liguo looked at the floor covered with cigarette butts that Lin Zhaorong left behind and sighed in his heart. He went home without thinking much more.

  His parents originally wanted him to travel abroad this summer but Chen Liguo refused, saying that he was going to enter third year and needed to study properly.

  Hearing him say so his mother's first reaction was, "Chen Liguo, did you do something to wrong us again?"

  Chen Liguo was confused and said, "No ah."

  His mother asked, "Then why are you so obedient?"

  Chen Liguo: "……"

  His mother said, "Could it be that my son really has grown up?"

  Chen Liguo said, "Mom….. I really do want to study properly!"

  His mother said, "So it's like this ah, are you sure you're not going?"

  Chen Liguo said, "Not going!"

  His mother said, "Alright then, whatever you want."

  Chen Liguo didn't want to go abroad because he felt that it was too much of a waste of money. He had been to so many worlds and had seen so many sights already, he felt that it was a waste to spend this money on traveling.

  Thus for the rest of the summer vacation Chen Liguo would study together with Zhou Yi every day. Oh wait, it was the system who would study together with Zhou Yi every day.

  Every day Chen Liguo would lick Zhou Yi's face in his heart and drool.

  It was unknown if Zhou Yi had spoken to Lin Zhaorong or Lin Zhaorong had thought things through himself but Chen Liguo did not see him at all for the rest of summer vacation.

  It wasn't until school began that Chen Liguo saw the man once again at the school gate.

  Only, Lin Zhaorong seemed to have come to school to send someone off. The two glanced at each other. Chen Liguo pretended to not know him and hustled away.

  Third year was the toughest year for many high school students.

  Endless school exercises and the enormous pressure to enter the next level of education pressed down on the students firmly. The atmosphere in the class had become more solemn. No one would leave their seat even after class finished. Almost everyone would either do a few of their exercises or study a few words for ten more minutes.

  Chen Liguo did so as well.

  He had transmigrated through too many worlds and had practically forgotten all the knowledge he had learned in his original world.

  Although his spoken English was alright his written test was a little rotten. Thus he bit his pen and filled out a whole sheet. However, he found that out of 20, 12 were wrong.

  Chen Liguo said with a bitter face, "Tongtong, don't choose A here?"

  The system said, "Choose C."

  Chen Liguo's pen was practically bitten rotten by him. He wrinkled his face and asked, "Why choose C ah?"

  Just as the system intended on explaining the problem to him, Chen Liguo suddenly felt the floor quake.

  Cries of exclamations rang in the classroom. "Earthquake!"

  As soon as these words were said all the students ran out of the class as if crazy.

  Chen Liguo ran with them as well. He saw the hanging lamp in the hallway sway around constantly as though it would fall down at any moment.

  Chen Liguo's classroom was on the third floor. His first thought when running out of the classroom wasn't to go downstairs but to go upstairs and see how Zhou Yi was faring.

  Just as Chen Liguo thought so his hand was firmly held by someone. Zhou Yi's voice sounded, "What are you in a daze for? Run!"

  Chen Liguo was pulled out by Zhou Yi. He felt the unparalleled heat from the hand holding his own. It was as if it were a tuft of fire that would set his soul ablaze.

  They ran down from the third floor. The students were led to the sports field by the teachers.

  Zhou Yi never let go of Chen Liguo. It wasn't until everyone calmed down that he slowly let go. When he did, both of their hands were covered with sweat.

  Zhou Yi said, "Chen Liguo, what were you thinking when you were standing in the crowd?"

  Chen Liguo didn't make a sound.

  Zhou Yi reached out and poked his head. He said, "Say something." There was a bit of anxiousness in his voice.

  Chen Liguo said, "I, I was wondering where to run to……"

  Hearing this Zhou Yi seemed to feel helpless. He said, "You, always becoming absent-minded no matter where you are. I really am worried about what you'll do in the future."

  Chen Liguo said, "Aren't you here?"

  Zhou Yi heard this and his eyes curved slightly, his good-looking dimple exposing itself once again.

  Chen Liguo's heart was practically jumping out of his throat. He thought that if it weren't for the people all around them he would really want to kiss his family's Zhou Yi's cheek.

  Everyone stayed on the sports ground for a while. The teacher came over and said that it was an earthquake from the next province over and that they shouldn't panic.

  After waiting on the sports grounds for another half hour the teachers came and informed them that classes would be cancelled for the rest of the afternoon and they should return first.

  Zhou Yi said, "Let's go back home."

  Chen Liguo said, "Good."

  So Zhou Yi sent Chen Liguo home on his bicycle. When Chen Liguo got off they looked at each other for a long time. Zhou Yi was the first to speak. He said, "You have to do well on the exams. We will go to the same school."

  Chen Liguo said, "I will work hard."

  Zhou Yi knew that Chen Liguo was working very hard. He said, "En, silly Guo-er, jiayou."

  Chen Liguo said, "Jiayou jiayou!!"

  Only then did Zhou Yi leave.

  Chen Liguo felt that humans really were greedy creatures. When they had nothing they would ask for nothing. When they had more, they would want more.

  Because of the earthquake Lin Zhaorong who had already disappeared appeared again. He called Chen Liguo many times, so many that it seemed like he would never stop until he got through.

  Chen Liguo was helpless and could only pick up.

  "Chen Liguo." Lin Zhaorong sounded through the speaker. He asked, "Are you alright?"

  Chen Liguo said that he was fine.

  Lin Zhaorong said, "Be safe."

  Chen Liguo said, "Okay."

  Then the two fell silent. Chen Liguo vaguely felt that Lin Zhaorong seemed to have a lot to say but he didn't make a sound.

  Lin Zhaorong said, "Chen Liguo, I like you."

  Chen Liguo's heart jumped. He didn't know why he was reacting like this. According to reason Lin Zhaorong should be a bad experience for him yet when he heard this 'like' his heart still raced.

  Lin Zhaorong said, "You need to be well."

  Chen Liguo felt that Lin Zhaorong really was strange. Obviously they weren't familiar with each other but he spoke as though he had experienced great ups and downs, helpless yet like he had made a difficult choice.

  After saying these words he hung up.

  Chen Liguo listened to the 'beep beep' from the phone and said to the system, "This Lin Zhaorong is really strange."

  The system asked, "There can be people weirder than you?"

  Chen Liguo sighed, "Ai……" He was pretty strange too.

  The students were gloomy all throughout third year. Immeasurable work filled their entire lives. The only color to Chen Liguo's life was his beloved Zhou Yi.

  Zhou Yi grew a little taller again. He looked so beautiful when waiting at the door wearing a shirt and jeans, he was just like a painting.

  There were first year and second year sisters who sent him love letters but he didn't read a single one and returned them all as they were.

  "I don't have the energy to think about these things right now." Zhou Yi was still gentle when he rejected people. He said, "I'm sorry. But I think that you will meet better people."

  Chen Liguo had seen Zhou Yi reject too many people. So much that each time he would imagine how Zhou Yi would look like when he rejected his confession.

  Zhou Yi would probably show a surprised face and then look at him with an expression as gentle as before and say, "Chen Liguo, sorry. I just think of you as a friend."

  At that moment what should he do? Should he pretend that he was joking or straightforwardly tear down all pretenses and run away cheaply?

  Chen Liguo was still thinking vigorously when Zhou Yi came back.

  Of course, following his return was the sound of a girl's cries behind him.

  Zhou Yi said, "Let's go, dummy."

  Chen Liguo sighed an ai. He scratched his head and followed him back.

  Being liked by too many people was a distressing thing sometimes. After being rejected by Zhou Yi, the girl was unresigned and came to find Chen Liguo.

  "Help me out alright? You have such a good relationship with Zhou Yi." The girl looked very cute. In fact, all of those who dared to confess to Zhou Yi had pretty good looks. She said, "I really like Zhou Yi. Even if it's just being his girlfriend for a week I'm willing."

  Chen Liguo thought, 'I'm even willing to be his boyfriend for only a day, why don't you see if he's willing or not.'

  The girl said, "Chen Liguo, only you can help me now!"

  Chen Liguo said, "I can't help you."

  The rims of the girl's eyes turned red again at once.

  In fact, Chen Liguo couldn't endure girls crying but he really couldn't help with this matter. He said, "I'm sorry."

  The girl's tears fell. She walked away while crying. Chen Liguo touched his chin and looked at the girl's back, seeming to see a shadow of himself in her.

  Unrequited love with no response really was something that tormented people.

  Life continued on calmly like this and when the semester finished Chen Liguo's academic achievements on the exams increased again.

  Because he hadn't had a sex life recently the system's temper was much better. It said that it would take a long vacation after getting back to headquarters.

  Chen Liguo said, "You can come to earth to play ah, earth is very fun."

  The system faintly responded, "Any place with you isn't fun."

  Chen Liguo said, "…… Sorry, I've brought shame onto earth's people."

  The system said, "It's alright, I'm used to it already."

  Chen Liguo shed a tear of shame.

  All of winter break was mediocre but Chen Liguo loved such a life. He just wanted to wake up under warm blankets in the morning, eat a warm breakfast and then study with Zhou Yi.

  Zhou Yi liked to eat coddled eggs. However, when Chen Liguo ate eggs they absolutely had to be well done.

  Zhou Yi was accustomed to indulging him too and every day he would ask the auntie to prepare two boiled eggs.

  Chen Liguo ate one of them with each bite, eating like a squirrel trying to get through winter.

  Zhou Yi said, "Eat slower, don't coke."

  Chen Liguo said, "'S if I'll cwoke….."

  Zhou Yi was helpless.

  Zhou Yi would bring Chen Liguo to school with his bike most of the days. Sometimes when the weather was bad Zhou Yi would ask the drivers to take them.

  Chen Liguo felt that the him who sat on the back seat was like a little prince and Zhou Yi was his king.

  Hearing his metaphor the system looked at Chen Liguo in disdain and said, "Chen Liguo, your cultural level is just so. If you are a prince and he is the King, then isn't he your father?"

  Chen Liguo thought about it and felt that it made sense. Thus he changed the metaphor, saying that he was the prince and Zhou Yi was the knight.

  The system asked, "Why isn't Zhou Yi the prince?"

  Chen Liguo giggled foolishly and said, "Because he's the one pedaling the bike every day ah."

  System: "……." Made a lot of sense.

  Chen Liguo said, "The prince fell on hard times and was saved by the knight. Then the prince asked the knight to marry him……"

  The system added, "Then the pervert prince was cut to death by the knight."

  Chen Liguo: "……" He felt that the ending the system added was very logical. If Zhou Yi knew that he liked him would he hate him? Would he maybe even think that he was a pervert?

  Chen Liguo felt that this was really troublesome. He remembered that someone had once said that there existed three things which couldn't be concealed in the world which are sickness, poverty, and love.

  However, all in all, Chen Liguo was very confident in his acting. After all, in his original world he had concealed it for a full decade.

  Thank you darlings for the mines, grenades, and rockets. Special thanks to dear XiaoZhuZi's two deep-water bombs. Really, thank you very much =3= !!!