Chapter 63: Different Treatment in the Family
Chapter 63: Different Treatment in the Family
“Su Chunfeng!”
Zhang Lifei had already started looking around outside the school gate. As soon as she entered the school and saw Su Chunfeng and Li Zhichao sitting on the steps near a building not far away, she immediately waved excitedly and called out.
That shout caught the attention of Wang Haifei and their fathers, who all looked over.
Li Zhichao felt a bit flustered for a moment. He turned to look at Su Chunfeng, only to see him already standing up. Su Chunfeng smiled, waved at Zhang Lifei and Wang Haifei, and then walked over confidently, while whispering over his shoulder, “Come on, we can’t pretend not to know them, right?”
“Nobody called me,” Li Zhichao mumbled as he followed.
Walking up to them, Su Chunfeng showed neither pride nor humility, with no trace of embarrassment. He slightly bowed his head politely and said, “Hello, uncles. I’m Lifei and Haifei’s classmate and deskmate. My name is Su Chunfeng.”
“My name is Li Zhichao,” Li Zhichao introduced himself with a wide grin.
Wang Haifei’s father, Wang Zhu, smiled somewhat awkwardly and nodded. He made an “ah, oh” sound as a greeting.
Zhang Lifei’s father, Zhang Kaida, walked over with a hearty laugh. He carried a bag in his right hand and lifted his left hand to touch the short stubble on Su Chunfeng’s head. He praised, “Su Chunfeng, I’ve often heard Lifei mention you at home. You have good grades, write nicely, and are helpful. I really have to thank you. Thank you for often helping her at school. Because of that, her grades improved quickly, and she was able to get into high school smoothly.”
Su Chunfeng glanced at Zhang Lifei with some surprise. He saw Zhang Lifei stick out her tongue at him proudly. He then showed a slightly embarrassed expression and said, “Lifei is smart and eager to learn herself.”
“Haha,” Zhang Kaida laughed heartily. “I’m her father. I know this girl… she’s lazy and loves to play.”
“Dad!” Zhang Lifei pouted her little lips in protest.
“Alright, alright. Let’s go register,” Zhang Kaida said cheerfully, turning his head to Wang Zhu.
“Yes, yes,” Wang Zhu agreed honestly. When he turned away, his gaze at his daughter became more serious. As the saying goes, a father knows his daughter best. When this boy named Su Chunfeng walked over earlier, Wang Zhu noticed a flicker of joy and a look as if she had been waiting for a long time in his daughter’s eyes. And Su Chunfeng also cast more glances full of longing and tenderness towards Wang Haifei… Could these two kids be in a puppy love?
But after a moment’s thought, Wang Zhu let it go.
This child, Su Chunfeng, had excellent grades. He looked like an honest and well-behaved kid; he probably wouldn’t mess around. Moreover, Zhang Kaida’s daughter was so pretty, her family was well-off, and she seemed to particularly like Su Chunfeng. Zhang Kaida also seemed to like this child. If there were any puppy love, Su Chunfeng would probably be with Zhang Kaida’s daughter. Thinking of this, Wang Zhu felt a little sour inside: “My daughter is quite beautiful too, no less than Zhang Kaida’s daughter. It’s just that our family situation isn’t as good, and we can’t dress her as well. Sigh.”
As they talked, the group walked towards the registration point.
Li Zhichao and Su Chunfeng proactively and diligently stepped forward to take the bags from Zhang Kaida and Wang Zhu’s hands, then followed beside them politely and assertively.
They registered, paid fees, and went to the Dormitory Management Office to receive bedding and other items.
Zhang Lifei and Wang Haifei were assigned to different classes. Wang Haifei was in Class 4, and Zhang Lifei was in Class 3. Their dorm rooms were also different: Room 203 and Room 204 in the No.2 Girls’ Dormitory Building. Fortunately, the rooms were right next to each other.
Because it was the new student registration day, the dormitory management staff weren’t too strict about preventing family members from entering. So Li Zhichao and Su Chunfeng, who actively helped carry the bedding, were able to follow the two father-daughter pairs and smoothly enter the two girls’ dorm rooms.
Compared to the boys’ dormitory, the girls’ dormitory was much cleaner. New students were already living inside.
In this situation, even as fathers, Zhang Kaida and Wang Zhu felt it inconvenient to stay in the dorm room for too long. After putting down the things, they said goodbye and let their daughters make their own beds. Then they all went downstairs with Li Zhichao and Su Chunfeng. Zhang Lifei and Wang Haifei didn’t have time to organize their things and hurriedly followed to see them off.
While queuing for registration earlier, through casual conversation, both Zhang Kaida and Wang Zhu had learned that Su Chunfeng, because of his exceptionally outstanding grades, was assigned to Class 1. Moreover, Su Chunfeng was among the top ten best-performing new students entering County No.1 High School this year, and his tuition was waived!
So now, not only Zhang Kaida, but even Wang Zhu had a growing fondness for Su Chunfeng.
“Chunfeng,” Zhang Kaida patted Su Chunfeng’s shoulder with a kind, elder expression and said earnestly, “You were deskmates and good friends in middle school, with a really good relationship. Now that you’re studying at County No.1 High School, you’re far from home. Parents can’t be there to take care of you every day anymore. So, as boys, in many matters in the future, you must take good care of and help both Lifei and Haifei. After all, they are girls, right?”
“Yes,” Su Chunfeng replied with a serious expression. “If they need anything in the future, they can come find me. I will do my best.”
“Good, good!” Zhang Kaida looked at Wang Zhu and said, “Old Wang, see how good this kid is!”
“Yes, he’s a good kid!” Wang Zhu echoed the praise.
Standing nearby, Li Zhichao felt so frustrated in his heart—I followed behind, carrying bags and bedding obediently. I did all the work too. Why doesn’t anyone praise me? Do I have the word ‘bad guy’ written on my face? It’s so unfair!
After chatting for a while, the two fathers, urged by their daughters, gave many reminders and instructions. Then, discussing together, they walked a few steps, looked back reluctantly, and finally left. Girls, so young, studying away from home… how could their fathers not worry?
“They’re finally gone,” Zhang Lifei sighed in relief. Her beautiful eyes looked at Su Chunfeng happily. “Chunfeng, thank you for coming to help us.”
Su Chunfeng laughed. “No need to be so polite.”
“Lifei, thank you,” Wang Haifei said her thanks to Zhang Lifei instead.
It turned out that Zhang Kaida drove his family car today. At his daughter’s request, they picked up Wang Haifei and her father, Wang Zhu, from Dongwangzhuang Village on the way and came together to County No.1 High School.
“We’re good friends,” Zhang Lifei said, holding Wang Haifei’s little hand. “I’ll find time to ask your dorm roommate if she’s willing to switch dorms with me. Then we can live in the same room. In a few days, I’ll also talk to the teachers. It would be even better if we could be in the same class.”
Watching the three of them chatting and laughing, Li Zhichao protested with a pained face beside them. “Hey, isn’t anyone going to thank me? You three are all lovey-dovey together. What did I work so hard for all this time?”
“Ah.” Wang Haifei blushed, pursing her lips, wanting to laugh yet feeling a bit shy and annoyed.
Zhang Lifei didn’t mind Li Zhichao’s joke at all. Instead, she laughed so hard she trembled. “Okay, okay. Thank you, classmate Li Zhichao. You’re our good friend too, right?”
“No need to be polite,” Li Zhichao waved his hand, speaking with great spirit. “I’m not a stingy person either.”
Zhang Lifei and Wang Haifei both laughed out loud.
Su Chunfeng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He said to the two girls, “Alright, you two go back to your dorm to get settled and rest a bit. We’ll wait for you downstairs at six-thirty. Let’s go eat dinner together…”
“Okay, okay!” Zhang Lifei said happily.
Wang Haifei also softly hummed in agreement. But her gentle eyes revealed a deep reluctance as she gazed at Su Chunfeng.
Seeing Wang Haifei’s expression, Su Chunfeng’s heart softened. He couldn’t help but reach out and gently pinch Wang Haifei’s small, delicate, shiny nose which had tiny beads of sweat. He said softly, “Go on.”
“Ah!”
Wang Haifei and Zhang Lifei both let out a surprised shriek at the same time.
“You’re so mean!” Wang Haifei didn’t expect Su Chunfeng to make such an intimate gesture in front of others. She was instantly so embarrassed she wished she could disappear. Her face flushed bright red, she turned and ran towards the dormitory hallway.
“Pinch me too, otherwise I won’t go back to the dorm either! Hmph!” Zhang Lifei pouted stubbornly, pushing her cute and pretty face forward, her big eyes staring unblinkingly at Su Chunfeng.
“Silly girl!” Su Chunfeng raised his hand and gave her a flick on the forehead, then turned and walked away.
“Ouch!” Zhang Lifei felt the pain and rubbed the spot on her smooth forehead that was a bit red and sore. She pouted angrily and stomped her foot, but didn’t actually scold Su Chunfeng. She tilted her head and stared at Su Chunfeng’s retreating back. Soon, her beautiful, lovely little face was filled with a coquettish smile. She seemed to savor the moment for a bit before turning and walking towards the dormitory building.
Li Zhichao, who had remained in place and was completely ignored, looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh—Was there no justice? How could he go on living like this!
“Come on, what are you standing there for?” Su Chunfeng called over his shoulder.
“Oh,” Li Zhichao showed a look of being listless and heavily defeated. After walking up to Su Chunfeng, he suddenly raised both hands in a surrender pose and said, “Brother Feng, you are like my own brother. I’m really convinced! Please, teach me how to make girls like me in the future… Also, I promise, I didn’t see anything, hear anything, or know anything just now!”
Su Chunfeng laughed and kicked Li Zhichao’s backside. “Figure it out yourself!”
“Heaven, have mercy!” Li Zhichao wailed in grief.
Girls and their family members passing by in twos and threes nearby all looked at Li Zhichao and Su Chunfeng with strange, bewildered expressions—What was wrong with that kid? Was he crazy?
Su Chunfeng coughed twice and quickly walked east. “Don’t cause trouble!”
“Huh? Oh!” Li Zhichao turned and saw many people pointing and staring at him. He instantly felt so embarrassed he wished he could shrink away. He hung his head and hurriedly followed Su Chunfeng.
The No.1 and No.2 Girls’ Dormitory Building were on the west side of the north area.
The No.3 and No.4 Boys’ Dormitory Building were on the east side of the north area.
A huge soccer field separated them. South of the field was the experimental teaching building. To the north was a row of Faculty Dormitory Building.
When Su Chunfeng and Li Zhichao walked past the front of the No.2 Girls’ Dormitory Building and reached the front of the No.1 Girls’ Dormitory Building, Su Chunfeng suddenly stopped walking. He tilted his head, frowned slightly, and seemed to sense something. After a brief thought, he turned around and walked back.
“Chunfeng, what are you doing?” Li Zhichao asked in surprise.
“Nothing. I’m just looking…” Su Chunfeng waved his hand and walked back without turning his head. He arrived between the No.2 and No.1 Girls’ Dormitory Building, on the road about eight to nine meters wide. He stood roughly ten meters away from the parallel lines of the two dormitory buildings. The buildings faced south, towards the library and the external communication hall building. Behind them was a narrow, small courtyard blocked by a wall. On the other side of the wall was the school cafeteria.
Now, Su Chunfeng’s professional habit was acting up again.
He carefully sensed the faint, strange magnetic oscillation in the air. Silently reciting a spell incantation in his mind, he slowly walked north.
He walked to the back of the two dormitory buildings and stood in the middle of the road. Su Chunfeng then turned his head to look towards the northeast—There, stood the Faculty Dormitory Building!