48 Strengths and Flaws (1/2)
Huang Ruoran stared at Xiao Luo with eyes full of hate...Why is this guy always opposing me? Does he think I'm unworthy to be the class monitor? Or does he think he's more qualified to take on that position?
The girls who were on good terms with her ran over and tried to get Xiao Luo to reconsider.
”Great Hero Xiao Luo. Just sing five more times. Please. It's not a big deal, is it”
”Yeah, we'll be out of here in twenty minutes at most!”
”Monitor Ruoran is doing this for the good of our major. Our performance will reflect on our collective honor. If we do poorly, we'll look bad in front of the students from other majors. They might even poke fun at us.”
Xiao Luo's intense debate with Huang Ruoran in oral English had won him the approval of nearly everyone in the class. Moreover, he was merely expressing the unspoken thoughts of some of the students. The good thing is that the girls were now more willing to listen to his ideas and suggestions without feeling threatened. Yeah...they had definitely lightened up.
”Our country encourages leading cadres to integrate with the masses and to listen to their voices. This also applies to a collective like a classroom or a major in a university. Huang Ruoran is the equivalent of a leading cadre, and we're the masses. The voice of the masses is saying that we want to take a break. So can I say that her insistence on practicing means that she's now divorced from the masses and no longer represents our interests?” said Xiao Luo with a deadpan expression.
F*ck me! He brought the level of the argument up to the national realm. Did Brother Luo have to be so freaking cool?
Zhu Xiaofei and Ding Kai looked at Xiao Luo admiringly. They loved the way he presented his ideas and arguments.
”Pretentious d*ck. Stop talking nonsense. Ruoran just wants us to practice singing a little more, but you've turned it into an argument about a leading cadre becoming divorced from the masses. Stop exaggerating,” Chu Yue berated him quietly. Although she wasn't close to Huang Ruoran, she acknowledged her position as the class monitor.
”Exaggerate? Leading cadres should integrate with the masses and hear their voices. This is advocated by the state. Are you saying this is an exaggeration?” Xiao Luo feigned shock and surprise.
Chu Yue was so annoyed she took the lollipop out of her mouth and glowered, ”Pretentious d*ck. Geez. I meant that you were distorting Huang Ruoran's words to further your own agenda. When did I say that what the state advocated was exaggerated?”
”Are my words wrong? Leading cadres and the masses are the big society while we are a microcosm here. What's the difference between the two? Huang Ruoran isn't taking our opinions into consideration. She's just imposing her will on us. Am I not allowed to object? This is a dictatorship, this is ... ”
”Stop, stop, stop! I'll give you money!”
Chu Yue gestured at him to stop. She couldn't stand how he talked. She then took out thirty dollars from her pocket. ”Thirty dollars to buy twenty minutes from you. Listen to Ruoran and sing five more times, okay?”
”Deal!”
Xiao Luo snatched the money out of Chu Yue's hand and stuffed it into his pocket.
”Do you only care about money?”
Chu Yue asked indignantly as she pointed at him with her lollipop.
”It's not the only thing I care about. But I won't turn my back on money.”
Xiao Luo glanced at the lollipop that was within reach. It exuded a sweet, tempting smell. He said faintly, ”I wouldn't object if you gave me this lollipop to tide me over until lunch.”
”Dream on! This is a limited import from Germany. Why would I give it up so easily when even I can't bear to eat it?” Chu Yue quickly put the lollipop back in her mouth, for fear of it being stolen by Xiao Luo.
******
Huaye cafeteria was bustling with students.
After the English Language majors finished the fifth rendition of ”Yellow River,” they all rushed to the cafeteria. They had worked up quite an appetite.
Xiao Luo, Zhu Xiaofei, and Ding Kai sat together. An Huanhuan came over to join them after getting her meal.
”Hero Luo, this glass of strawberry juice is for you!” An Huanhuan sat down and put a glass of delicious strawberry juice in front of him.
”Thank you, but I'm not thirsty,” Xiao Luo politely refused.
An Huanhuan laughed and said, ”You will be after you finish eating. This strawberry juice is delicious.”
”I don't like strawberry juice,” Xiao Luo said a little more seriously.
”Hehe. Brother Luo doesn't like it, but I'll have it.”
Both his eyes and hands were swift: Zhu Xiaofei grabbed the strawberry juice and took a big gulp. He loved to do this kind of cheap, silly thing.