Beastly Beyond Redemption

After the meal, Xu Jing and Fang Luguo began cleaning up, with Fang Danran joining in to help. Even Fang Chang’an and the others pitched in, folding plates, handing over chopsticks, and in no time everything was tidied away. They sat for a short while longer before Fang Ying gave Fang Chang’an a meaningful look. Fang Chang’an wasn’t planning to stay long anyway; knowing that his uncle and aunt might have classes in the afternoon, and that their family was in the habit of taking midday naps, he took the initiative to say, “Uncle, Aunt, we’ll head back now so you can rest before your afternoon plans.”

Both Fang Luguo and Xu Jing were a bit surprised, mainly because they hadn’t expected their usually withdrawn, taciturn nephew to take his leave so directly and frankly. Still, they didn’t dwell on it or insist he stay; there were indeed classes and rest to be had in the afternoon.

“Danran, you see them out. I’ll stay and wash the dishes,” Xu Jing said. She’d put on some weight and didn’t like moving about much, so she stayed inside. Fang Luguo stood in the courtyard, and Fang Danran walked the three guests to the gate, waving as she watched them leave before returning inside.

The living room was empty; she could hear her parents chatting in the kitchen.

“Did you notice how much Chang’an has changed?” That was her mother, Xu Jing.

“I did,” Fang Luguo replied. He wasn’t as thoughtful as his wife, but he too had noticed the change in his nephew. “He’s started secondary school, after all. He’s always been smart and willing to learn.”

“He’s always been diligent, but isn’t this progress over the summer a bit too much?” Xu Jing mused.

“Apparently, there were some make-up classes during the summer, but I heard it was just English—not Chinese or Math. Maybe he was just too nervous during the entrance exams, didn’t perform his best. Wasn’t he always among the top students in primary school?”

“This is a town—how many kids here weren’t top of their class in primary school?” Xu Jing replied.

Fang Luguo couldn’t pinpoint the reason either. “Sometimes, kids just suddenly get it. Who can say why?”

Xu Jing finished washing the dishes and rubbed her back. “It really does seem like he’s had a breakthrough. He’s so much more confident and straightforward, not all awkward and hesitant like before. And he seems to care more about cleanliness now.”

“He’s always been neater than other kids in the family.”

Fang Danran entered the kitchen, saw there was nothing left to do, and stood chatting with her parents. “I ran into him at school this morning.”

“Who—Chang’an?” Fang Luguo asked.

“Yes. He was running. Said there’s a physical education test for the high school entrance exam—has to run four hundred meters. He gets tired after two hundred, so he’s practicing early.”

Both Fang Luguo and Xu Jing laughed. “He’s got his eye on the future,” Xu Jing said.

“He really has. He’s too skinny—he ought to exercise more,” Fang Luguo agreed.

Danran added with a laugh, “He even gave me a piece of candy—said his deskmate gave it to him.”

Danran had a sweet tooth, and like Xu Jing, she didn’t like moving around much. She was already 1.6 meters tall at fifteen, but a bit chubby. Xu Jing, hearing this, spoke sternly: “You should eat less candy and get more exercise. Chang’an’s just in his first year of middle school and already knows to train for physical exams. You should take a page out of his book.”

Danran was gentle and obedient. She nodded, “Okay, I will.”

They chatted as they climbed the stairs to prepare for their nap. Fang Luguo, walking behind, asked his daughter, “This deskmate of Chang’an’s—her surname is Shen, isn’t it?”

Danran shook her head. “I don’t know—he didn’t say.”

Upstairs in the small sitting room, Xu Jing was curious. “Why do you ask?”

Fang Luguo explained, “I went to the classroom earlier and saw that Chang’an’s deskmate is a girl—a pretty one. Later, I saw her going home with Cheng Mengfei. I think she’s Shen Baoguo’s granddaughter.”

Xu Jing thought for a moment. “That’s a good thing. Sitting together, they must have a better relationship than with other classmates.”

“Oh, come on,” Fang Luguo said. “They’re just kids and you’re already thinking about these things?”

Xu Jing shot him a look. “What am I thinking? Besides, she’s Cheng Mengfei’s niece. Having a good relationship won’t hurt. You’re too stubborn for your own good—Chang’an is already more quick-witted than you.”

Danran, seeing her father caught in the crossfire, smothered a laugh. “Mom, Dad, I’m going back to my room.”

“Alright.”

Fang Luguo and Xu Jing didn’t argue over such things; it was just their daily banter as a couple. They exchanged a few more words and went to rest.

On the way back to school, Fang Chang’an and his two companions were still discussing exam scores. It wasn’t Chang’an or Fang Dianqiu who brought it up this time, but Fang Ying.

As soon as they had left the courtyard, Fang Ying started complaining about how teachers always ask about grades. “Chang’an, you must love being asked, since you did well. Dianqiu and I are the unlucky ones.”

Then she chided Fang Dianqiu. “You’re too honest. If you didn’t do well, just don’t say anything!”

“Huh?” Fang Dianqiu blurted.

“Just say they haven’t given out the results yet!” Fang Ying’s tone was exasperated yet proud. “You really think our class hasn’t gotten the scores? I just didn’t want to say. I wonder if Uncle and Aunt believed me. If you’d said the same, it would’ve been even more convincing.”

“Oh.” Fang Dianqiu, slow on the uptake, looked as if she’d just realized that was possible, and then asked curiously, “So what did you actually get?”

“I told you, I’m too embarrassed to say—don’t ask,” Fang Ying replied, unwilling to tell. Fang Dianqiu let it go. The day was still hot, and since there was plenty of time, none of them were in a hurry. Fang Dianqiu suddenly thought of Shen Mo and asked Chang’an, “That girl we saw—the one your homeroom teacher drove on the scooter—is she your deskmate?”

“Yes,” Chang’an nodded.

“She’s so pretty!” Fang Dianqiu exclaimed with envy. “Just like someone on TV. And so fair—fairer than you.”

Among all the kids in the village, no one, not even the girls, had better skin than Fang Chang’an. Those who hung out with him, like Fang Dianqiu, couldn’t help but be envious. So meeting someone even fairer was quite a novelty.

Chang’an nodded. “She really is fairer—we compared.”

Fang Dianqiu eyed him teasingly. “You two must be close, huh?”

Chang’an smiled. “What do you think?”

“I think you are!” Dianqiu huffed, rolling her eyes, though it was hard to say what she meant.

Chang’an laughed again. “You guessed right!”

“Tch!” Dianqiu rolled her eyes again.

Fang Ying, who’d kept quiet till now, asked, “Does your class always have boys and girls sitting together?”

“Yes. What about yours?”

Both girls shook their heads.

Chang’an mused to himself that boy-girl desk pairs weren’t common these days. Their teacher, Mr. Cheng, was a young, progressive teacher who’d returned from the city. Their class teachers were all old-timers—never mind boy-girl pairs, they were probably gossiping behind their backs just for seeing it.

Back at school, the two girls went to their dormitory. Chang’an wasn’t feeling tired—five classes in the morning hadn’t worn him out, especially with a pretty girl to keep him company. He went straight to the classroom.

There weren’t many students—most sat quietly reading or doing exercises. Wang Ke was there. Hearing the noise in front, she looked up, saw it was Chang’an, lifted her chin in a haughty little gesture, then bowed her head to her work again. Suddenly, a piece of candy in festive red wrapping landed on her test paper.

“I brought this from home. It’s my last one. Last night, Wang Hao begged me for ages and I still didn’t give it to him,” Chang’an said with a look both reluctant and putting on an air of generosity.

Wang Ke glanced at him, a faint smile spreading across her delicate face. She picked up the candy and handed it back. “Thanks, but I don’t really like sweets. You have it.”

Chang’an pressed her hand, still holding the candy, back onto the desk. Her skin wasn’t as fair as Shen Mo’s, but it was soft and smooth. “No, you eat it. If you don’t, I’ll be going back on my word.”

Wang Ke was startled for a moment, then, realizing what he meant, burst out laughing. The more she thought about it, the funnier it seemed. Afraid of disturbing the others, she covered her mouth and bent over the desk, her shoulders shaking as she laughed, almost as if she were crying.

It took her a while to calm down. When she finally looked up, her almond-shaped eyes were bright with unshed tears, her brows and mouth still curved in amusement. “Then I’ll really eat it, okay?”

Chang’an nodded firmly.

Wang Ke didn’t stand on ceremony, trying to tear the wrapper open. It wouldn’t budge, so she tried the other end, still without success. She looked up at Chang’an.

He was about to help, but before he could, she lifted her chin, bit down, and managed to tear open a corner with her teeth, spitting out the bits of wrapping. She popped the now-unwrapped peanut candy into her mouth.

Chang’an smiled, turning to take out his books to continue his studies. Suddenly, he felt a gentle poke in the back. Turning, he saw the girl holding out a bottle of Wahaha with a straw attached.

Her family was clearly more well-off than his, but nothing compared to Shen Mo’s. For her, giving away Wahaha drinks wasn’t a casual gesture. Chang’an hesitated, not taking it. Wang Ke glared at him, whispering, “Take it—I have plenty more.”

He looked at her. She flashed him a wide, toothy smile—her face still young and innocent, but the smile was dazzling.

He accepted it with a smile, and Wang Ke, satisfied, turned back to her work.

Chang’an put the Wahaha in his desk, feeling a little astonished. He hadn’t expected his past self to have such good instincts—both girls were prettier than the next. How had he managed to miss out on them in his last life?

It was almost criminal.

Worse than a beast.