Chapter 35: Alcohol, Meat, Cigarettes, and Women

No matter how well I did in the midterm exams, or how my teachers and classmates praised me, I didn't really care. In class, I still sat in the back corner, either zoning out or reading books related to cultivation.

However, today there was an exception—my beautiful deskmate, Wu Xiaoman, didn't come to school. This was something that had never happened before.

The entire morning, I kept noticing my cousin, Zhang Fuhong, casting anxious and suspicious glances at Xiaoman's empty desk.

As soon as the morning classes ended, my cousin pulled me aside on the playground and asked, "What did you do last night? Why isn't Wu Xiaoman in school today?"

"What? Why would I know why she's not in school?" I replied irritably. It seemed like my cousin had really developed feelings for Xiaoman.

He still didn't give up and asked, "You didn't come home last night, did you two go on a date or something? Otherwise, why do you look so refreshed this morning?"

Oh my god! The little guy really thought that, huh? He's so sensitive! I was stunned.

"I'm not obligated to answer your questions. Whether you believe me or not, go ask Wu Xiaoman," I said, leaving him with that and walking away. If he liked Xiaoman, he should go after her, not me.

I walked into the cafeteria, and was immediately dragged out by Cao Kui and Cheng Fan. They said we were going to eat a big meal, and Cao Kui was treating. This guy was so happy after learning a bit of martial arts in the morning—he was acting like it was a major achievement. Haha! I was happy too, the usual cafeteria food was so unappetizing, but a treat outside was always nice.

We found a restaurant and the three of us dug into large chunks of lamb with our hands, drank beer, and smoked cigarette after cigarette. Damn it! Here I was, a cultivator, indulging in alcohol, meat, and cigarettes without hesitation. Oh heavens!

Cao Kui suddenly said, "Aren't we missing something?"

I laughed, knowing exactly what he was getting at.

Sure enough, Cheng Fan asked, and Cao Kui grinned, saying, "We're missing three women, haha!"

After more than ten bottles of beer, they were both already starting to get tipsy. When they started talking about women, their faces lit up with excitement and a bit of lewdness, haha.

Cao Kui, with his mouth full of oil, puffing on a cigarette, asked Cheng Fan, "Hey, thin monkey, do you like anyone from our class? Come on, tell us!"

Cheng Fan, his eyes hazy, shook his head and said, "Forget it, all my energy is dedicated to the great cause of art. As for women... I haven't thought about it yet."

Cao Kui then turned to me. "What about you, San Tong? You must like someone, right? Haha, with your relationship with Wu Xiaoman, she must be the one, right?"

"Go to hell," I chuckled. "I've dedicated all my energy to the great cause of my studies."

I laughed again. "It's you who's overflowing with energy. Since you're asking me and Cheng Fan, you must have someone you like."

Cao Kui grinned, looking bashful. "Actually, I like our English teacher!"

"Spit..." Cheng Fan and I both sprayed food and drink all over him, making him a mess.

"Haha! You really like Ms. Lü Yanling? You're kidding, right?" Cheng Fan slapped the table, laughing so hard he almost couldn't breathe.

I couldn't believe it. Cao Kui actually liked Ms. Lü, of all people? I had thought he and Xiaoman might have some connection. But now, it seemed like he was just making the most out of everything.

As we joked and laughed, I felt like a normal teenager for the first time in a while.

That day, I smoked for the first time and actually found it kind of enjoyable. I wondered if a cultivator like me could develop a cigarette addiction? The truth was, the real fun for me was using my mind to shape the smoke after I blew it out. Cigarettes weren't half bad!

Cao Kui and Cheng Fan were a bit drunk by the time we left the restaurant. We didn't head back to school immediately. Even though the teachers didn't care much if we didn't listen in class, they definitely wouldn't tolerate us coming back smelling like alcohol. So, we decided to skip the first two classes in the afternoon. Instead, we went to the gate of the provincial university, just across from the school, with our arms around each other, smoking cigarettes and ogling the beautiful girls walking by.

My ears were sharp enough to catch the whispers of passing university students. Their words mostly consisted of the phrase "punk" as they looked at us.

"Am I a punk?" I thought, glancing at Cao Kui and Cheng Fan. We definitely didn't look like students.

Although I wasn't drunk, I liked the feeling of not caring about what anyone thought of us, being free and unrestrained. Youth is truly wonderful!

It wasn't until after four in the afternoon, when the smell of alcohol had faded from our clothes, that we returned to class.

No one asked about the alcohol smell or the fact that we had skipped class. Everyone was focused on one topic: Xiaoman had come by in the afternoon to pack her things and said she was transferring schools.

She was really transferring? I walked to my desk and saw that her things were gone. It seemed like she was serious about leaving.

I sighed. It felt strange to sit alone. Cao Kui and Cheng Fan patted my shoulder, trying to comfort me.

What was there to feel bad about? The one who should be upset was my cousin Zhang Fuhong.

I looked at him, and sure enough, his eyes were red, as if he had been crying. When he saw me come back to class, his eyes seemed like they were going to shoot fire at me...

Later that evening, on the way home, my cousin started yelling at me again.

He accused me of going out with Xiaoman last night, bullying her, and making her so scared that she didn't even want to come to school anymore. I was innocent, but I couldn't be bothered to explain.

Thus, after Xiaoman transferred schools, I started my high school life without a deskmate. After a few days, I got used to it.

Although Xiaoman was gone, Zhang Yu, the sweet and lovely girl from our class, still often came to ask me for help with her studies. But I could tell she was looking at me with more and more warmth in her eyes, making my heart flutter like a little cat scratching it. Oh heavens, I loved the way she looked at me!

Days passed, and soon it was almost New Year's. Our English teacher suddenly announced in class that she wouldn't be teaching us anymore because she was going abroad to study.

Now, the one who couldn't take it was Cao Kui. So, he dragged me and Cheng Fan out again for food, drinks, cigarettes, and talks about women...