127 A Perceptive and Touching Friendship (1/2)

Chapter 127: A Perceptive and Touching Friendship

Translator: TransnEditor: Transn

There were six subjects in the Academy and they all had their own difficulties. Mathematics, Driving and Toxophily were easy for Ning Que, but the other three like Etiquette, Calligraphy, and Music were torturous.

He could at least memorize Etiquette and Calligraphy. He believed that he could get through them as long as he possessed a heart that loved grades instead of money.

However, music was out of his grasp. He was neither good at it, nor did he like it. He could not help but think of Chen Pipi's messages when he troubled over the flute in the study room daily. Chen Pipi had compared him unflatteringly to a dumb piece of wood in those messages, that he was a flute that could not make any sound. Looking at the flute in his hands, he could not help but feel that this must be a limitation that Haotian had placed upon himself.

If he wanted to graduate from the academy and enter the Second floor, he must not miss any examinations. He had already missed the last semester exam. As there was no hope for Music, so he had to work extra hard for the other five subjects. Other than the pressure of schoolwork, there was another reason for his current misery.

The students in the Academy including most of those from Classroom Three had thought he had faked illness to skip the exams and was very lazy. While they did not take jibes to him in his face, they were unwilling to speak to him more than what was required of them. They mostly just tried to stay away from him.

He wasn't that bothered about being left out intentionally. He had never been one to pant after those who ignored him. If he was left out, so be it, he would just study. However, sometimes he felt rather down when he walked alone around the Academy.

At times like this, he would comfort himself with images of being ignored by other students in his previous life when he received medals for being the best student in his province. As the saying goes, the tree that is the highest will have its branches broken by the wind. The bump in the river will be washed away by the rapids. A person who is of higher caliber will always have to endure gossip. The beam that pokes out will rot first. The fattest pig in the pen…

Pft! Ning Que spat into the damp grassy ground. He raised his head and ignored the students who were going to ignore him. He held the paper bag in his hand and walked to the old library leisurely.

He walked to the second floor of the old library and bowed to the female professor. Leaving the paper bag on the table by the west window, he walked to the shelves and scanned at the books on cultivation. Now that he could feel the Breath of nature and was able to win a lot of money from it, he felt regret that the books were still like Greek to him, completely incomprehensible. He could remember the strokes of each character, but not a single word stayed in his brain.

He held the thick book called Diverse Laws Appreciation Dictionary and sat on the ground under the west windows. He looked at the bright sun shining through the cracks of the windows and began to read lethargically.

As the seconds ticked by, the sunlight disappeared from the window slits. When he reached the seventeenth page using the Eight Laws of Eternity, the sun had dipped into the horizons completely. Darkness encompassed the old library and yet, he made no move to leave.

The female professor at the eastern windows had completed her calligraphy of the day. She kept her brushes and inkwell before rolling her wrists gently. She could not help but smile warmly as she watched Ning Que looking at the dictionary dazedly. She did not remind Ning Que that it was late, but left the old library quietly.

As the night deepened, the symbols on the shelf began to glow. Ning Que was not frightened, but stared at the symbols intently as the glow faded and the symbols returned to its original crude greyish-white state. He watched as the shelf slid away from the wall silently, revealing a chubby lad who was panting heavily.

Other than the numerous correspondence via messages, this was the second time Ning Que and Chen Pipi met in person. The first time they met, it was late into the night and Ning Que had straddled the fine line between life and death. When he awoke lethargic in the morning, he did not see how the fellow looked like clearly. However, he would not miss the opportunity this time. He opened his eyes wide and looked at him for a long time.

”I must say, you really are quite fat.”

Ning Que looked at Chen Pipi in admiration. ”I wonder what you've been eating in the past 16 years to get so fat. It's a good thing you're rather solid, so you don't look that disgusting. But there is something I really don't understand. Are you really the first person to score six A plus in the entrance exam in a hundred year? Did you get A plus in Driving as well? Where did they find a horse that can tolerate your weight and run fast at the same time?”

Chen Pipi's round face was full of displeasure upon hearing this long disparaging remark upon their meeting. His eyes which looked like beans were filled with annoyance. He huffed, ”Driving… I chose to drive in that exam!”

A look of comprehension filled Ning Que's face. He praised Pipi sincerely, ”That was a wise choice.”

Chen Pipi held his hands up to his forehead. He couldn't be bothered to continue the conversation and asked directly, ”What did you want to see me for?”

Ning Que smiled gently and said, ”Let's talk about those non-important things later. I brought you something to eat.”

He dug into the paper bag and brought out several large white buns as well as some other small dishes. He said enthusiastically, ”Let's talk while we eat. The Academy's canteen has got really good salted vegetables. I don't know if you guys get it in the mountains. The buns are a little cold, I don't know if you're used to it or if it'll fill your tummy.”

Chen Pipi looked at the food and refused to sit down. ”I know you have something to ask of me, but I really didn't expect you to just bring a few cold buns and salted vegetables. Is this how you beg for help? Shouldn't you at least bring some crab porridge?” he said incredulously.