TRWSB – Chapter 260 The top student and the poor student

Luohua Pavilion.

“Big sis, is this alcohol?” Yi Ming held a glass of juice and asked.

“Yes, that’s alcohol.”

Yi Ming gulped down a big mouthful and said, “Great wine, great wine.”

He kicked Zhuang Yun’s stool with his foot and said, “I can really hold my liquor, you know?”

Zhuang Yun glanced sideways at Yi Ming and said, “Idiot.”

Yi Ming looked at Zhuang Yun in dissatisfaction, “What do you mean by that? Looking down on me? Wanna have a drinking contest?”

Zhuang Yun nodded, “Sure! Let’s do it. Don’t cry when you lose.”

Yi Ming furrowed his brow, “Cry? Only kids cry. I’m a man, I won’t cry.”

Zhuang Yun curled his lips, “Let’s hope so.”

Yi Ming waved his hand grandly and called to a nearby dancer, “Beauty, bring the wine!”

The dancer blinked, hiding her smile behind her hand, and brought over a large bucket of juice, placing it between Yi Ming and Zhuang Yun.

“Manager Qingxiao, is it alright to leave these two brats here?”

“I’ve already notified Young Master Qi and Young Master Yi. The wine should arrive soon.”

“Qi Shao and Yi Shao’s kids are really adorable!”

…

When Qi Shaorong arrived at Luohua Pavilion, Yi Ming and Zhuang Yun were having a juice-drinking contest, their bellies round and full.

“Qi Shao, you’re here,” Qingxiao greeted him promptly.

Luohua Pavilion used to belong to Bi Liuyun, but after he left for the Sea Clan, he entrusted its management to his trusted aides.

“These two kids didn’t cause any trouble, right?”

Qingxiao shook his head, “Nope.”

Qi Shaorong looked at Yi Ming and Zhuang Yun and rubbed his temples in mild frustration. Skipping school at such a young age—definitely influenced by Zhuang Hao. Back in his day, he was a top student.

Yi Fan walked over. “A-Ming, you’re making too much trouble.”

When Yi Ming saw Yi Fan, he ran up and whispered something in his ear. Yi Fan frowned and, without even greeting Qi Shaorong, carried Yi Ming off immediately.

Qi Shaorong watched them go and said, “Why is Yi Fan running off like there’s a wild dog chasing him?”

Zhuang Yun calmly burped and said, “If he didn’t hurry, Yi Ming would’ve peed on him. That’d be embarrassing.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

He looked at Zhuang Yun. “Skipping class to come play?”

Zhuang Yun kept a straight face. “Yi Ming said he wanted to go to a brothel.”

“And you just followed him?”

Zhuang Yun nodded, “Of course. I went with him to keep him from getting taken advantage of. Yi Ming’s an idiot—he thought a ‘green building’ meant an actual green-colored building.”

Qi Shaorong sighed, “Right, right, you’re the smartest one. Genius. You need to pee?”

Zhuang Yun nodded, “Yes.”

Qi Shaorong thought to himself: My own kid is about to wet his pants, still putting on a cool face—what a mess!

……

Yi Fan watched as Yi Ming relieved himself, sighing, “If you couldn’t drink anymore, why did you keep chugging juice?”

“That wasn’t juice. That was wine!” Yi Ming said seriously.

Yi Fan gave a dry laugh, “Oh, so it was wine?”

Yi Ming pulled up his pants and patted his belly, “Yep! Wine. Delicious. I can hold my liquor really well.”

“Why didn’t you stay in school? Do you know Tianlan Academy is in chaos? Principal Hu Feng thought you and Zhuang Yun were kidnapped!”

Yi Ming snorted, “Their security is too loose. Me sneaking out was a wake-up call for them.”

“Why did you skip school?”

Yi Ming puffed his cheeks, sulking, “Zhuang Yun’s a jerk. He ruined my reputation. I have no dignity left. So I had to unleash a killer move to show him up.”

“What killer move?”

“I took my little bro to the brothel. I heard that going to a brothel makes you look super cool,” Yi Ming declared.

“Who told you that going to a brothel makes you cool?”

“Uncle Loga said so,” Yi Ming immediately ratted him out.

Yi Fan rolled his eyes. “You believed that nonsense? Loga himself doesn’t even dare step foot in a brothel.”

Yi Fan thought to himself: Loga looks all tall and strong, but he’s got thin skin. He’s scared stiff around women. If he ever went to a brothel, the girls would chew him up and spit him out.

Yi Fan thought for a moment and said seriously, “This whole thing—don’t let your Uncle Mu find out, got it?”

Yi Ming blinked, confused. “Why not?”

Yi Fan looked at him helplessly, “If he finds out, you’re getting a beating.”

Yi Ming immediately covered his mouth. “I won’t say a word!”

Zhuang Hao looked at Zhuang Yun walking in and said helplessly, “Why’d you go to Luohua Pavilion?”

“Yi Ming wanted to go to a brothel. I thought it was too chaotic, so I brought him to Luohua Pavilion instead,” Zhuang Yun said.

“How did you convince him to go there?”

“Easy. Yi Ming thought a ‘green building’ was just a green-colored building. When he realized it wasn’t, I told him Luohua Pavilion was a brothel, and he believed me.”

Zhuang Hao nodded. “I see.”

Zhuang Yun crossed his arms and said calmly, “That guy’s not too bright. Easy to trick.”

Zhuang Hao: “…”

Time slipped by, and soon Yi Ming and Zhuang Yun faced their first entrance exam.

In the carriage, Mu Tingxuan looked at Yi Ming with some concern. “A-Ming, are you ready for today’s test?”

Yi Ming nodded immediately, “Ready.”

Yi Fan added gently, “Grades aren’t everything. Don’t worry if it doesn’t go well. Don’t pressure yourself.”

Yi Ming, full of confidence, said, “I’m ready. No problem!”

Yi Fan looked at his son’s confident expression, a little surprised. From what he knew… his son wasn’t exactly a star student.

“Son, what rank do you think you’ll get?”

“First!” Yi Ming declared.

“Very confident!” Yi Fan chuckled.

Yi Ming clenched his little fist, “If I get first place, I’ll finally be Zhuang Yun’s boss!”

Yi Fan: “…”

“That guy said being dead last doesn’t count. What a jerk. Does he really think I’ll come in last?”

Yi Fan: “…”

Yi Ming got off the carriage and ran into Zhuang Yun.

Yi Fan and Mu Tingxuan nodded to Zhuang Hao and Qi Shaorong. Qi Shaorong pinched Yi Ming’s cheek, “A-Ming, got a test today! Are you ready?”

Yi Ming nodded, “Ready!”

“Give it your best!” Qi Shaorong encouraged.

“Definitely!”

Yi Ming and Zhuang Yun entered the academy. Yi Ming suddenly turned and asked, “The test’s about to start—are you ready to be my little brother?”

Zhuang Yun replied flatly, “Not ready.”

Yi Ming raised his chin, grinning, “Then you better start preparing now.”

Zhuang Yun said indifferently, “I don’t see the need.”

Yi Ming glared, “Fine then. Just wait and see!”

Zhuang Yun: “…”

The test paper was handed out. Yi Ming scribbled furiously and finished in no time, handing in his paper early.

Mu Tingxuan was surprised to see him emerge so quickly, “You’re done already?”

Yi Ming beamed, “The questions were easy. I finished fast.”

Mu Tingxuan asked, “What kind of questions were there?”

“Like—you have one gold coin and buy a candied haw for one silver coin. How much copper change should you get?”

Mu Tingxuan raised his brows, “And how did you answer that?”

Yi Ming waved his hand confidently, “No change needed! Just one gold coin. Not worth the fuss! A-Ming’s loaded!” He patted his money pouch.

Mu Tingxuan: “…My son is already showing signs of being a spendthrift.”

Yi Fan: “…My son is definitely getting last place.”

“What was the essay topic? What did you write?” Mu Tingxuan asked, rubbing his forehead.

“The topic was What kind of person do you want to become? I wrote: I want to be a great hero, eat the best food, drink the finest wine, become the dream lover of all beauties and handsome guys. If someone messes with me, I’ll steal his wife…”

Mu Tingxuan: “…” He had said that as a joke once. Yi Ming actually remembered. He definitely needed to be careful what he said from now on.

Yi Fan: “…” Once the results come out, the principal will probably want a long talk with him.

Yi Ming blinked. “Mu Dad, what’s wrong?”

Mu Tingxuan smiled, “Nothing. Let’s head back.”

Yi Ming stood before the score board, his face dark.

“Second boss, the big boss got first place!” You came in dead last.

Yi Ming said unhappily, “Did the grader mix up my name with Zhuang Yun’s?”

“Probably not.”

Yi Ming put his hands on his hips, “I clearly answered well! Why did I get the lowest score? Who graded my paper? I’m telling my dad to go talk to them!”

“Idiot!”

Yi Ming turned around, glaring at Zhuang Yun, “Who are you calling an idiot?”

“You really did come in last. I figured as much,” Zhuang Yun replied.

Yi Ming: “…”

He protested, “What do you know! I answered great! The grader just didn’t appreciate my genius.”

Zhuang Yun curled his lips, “I don’t think any teacher would appreciate your answers. You should just accept your role as my little brother.”

Yi Ming angrily replied, “Bastard! Just you wait. In ten years, I’ll show you how awesome I am!”

Zhuang Yun shrugged, “I’ll be waiting. But with your level, I doubt you’ll be much better even in ten years.”

Yi Ming stomped his foot and cursed, “You bastard!”