Chapter 23: Class Monitor, Let’s Chat for Fifty Cents

Cai Ji kept his head down, holding a plastic bag with a packed lunch inside.

From another street corner, a yellow-haired youth with a cigarette in his mouth approached. He glanced at Cai Ji with disdain, snatching the bag from his hand without hesitation.

As he spoke, the youth jabbed his cigarette toward Cai Ji’s face, nearly burning his cheek several times. Jiang Ruotang’s heart raced with alarm.

Damn it, what the hell! A cigarette tip was hundreds of degrees—if it touched Cai Ji, it wouldn’t just hurt, it’d scar!

Jiang Ruotang clenched his fists, about to step forward, only to remember he was too weak to move properly today.

No matter—he had his husky.

“Zhao Changfeng, come out here!” Jiang Ruotang shouted toward the restaurant.

“What? I’m in line!”

“Get out here.”

Sensing something off in Jiang Ruotang’s tone, Zhao Changfeng thought “Grandpa Jiang” had fallen. He rushed out, following Jiang Ruotang’s gaze. Across the street, Cai Ji was backing away, head bowed, while the yellow-haired youth deliberately flicked ash onto his shoulder. Zhao Changfeng’s blood pressure spiked.

He was about to yell when Jiang Ruotang grabbed him.

Guys like this punk, fearless and reckless, who knew what they might do?

Zhao Changfeng had a basketball career ahead—he couldn’t afford an injury.

Jiang Ruotang plastered on a big smile and shouted across the road, “Cai Ji! How long are you gonna chat? We’ve been waiting forever!”

Hearing his voice, Cai Ji turned, his big eyes filled with surprise and gratitude.

The yellow-haired youth said something, raising his hand as if to smack Cai Ji’s head. Zhao Changfeng frowned and bellowed, “Cai Ji! We’re waiting to order—hurry up!”

Perhaps intimidated by Zhao Changfeng’s nearly 1.9-meter frame, the youth changed his gesture to a pat on Cai Ji’s head.

Relieved, Cai Ji crossed the street to Jiang Ruotang.

Without mentioning the incident, Jiang Ruotang slung one arm over Zhao Changfeng and the other over Cai Ji, saying naturally, “Please, gentlemen, escort me inside.”

Inside, Jiang Ruotang stuck to his plan, ordering beef with egg and, loudly, an eel rice meal.

Zhao Changfeng sighed. “You’re relentless with that eel rice.”

“It’s for Cai Cai,” Jiang Ruotang said.

Zhao Changfeng, surprisingly, didn’t object.

Cai Ji quickly shook his head. “No, no! I don’t need it…”

For students, eel rice was pricey—only someone like Jiang Ruotang, with allowance to burn, could order it as casually as a dollar lollipop.

“Thanks for helping me up the stairs this morning, and I’ll need you to help me again later. I don’t want Zhao Changfeng carrying me,” Jiang Ruotang said with a pitiful expression.

“You don’t need to…”

Zhao Changfeng snorted. “He’s treating you, just eat.”

“Why’s it fine for Cai Cai to have eel rice, but you complain when I do?” Jiang Ruotang asked, annoyed.

“Cai Cai’s all skin and bones—he could use it. If you pack on more belly fat, you’ll lose all your charm.”

Their banter eased Cai Ji’s awkwardness.

With the meals packed, Cai Ji dutifully carried the bags. Zhao Changfeng single-handedly hoisted Jiang Ruotang, practically lifting him off the ground. To Zhao Changfeng, Jiang Ruotang felt like a slightly heavy gym bag.

The ten-minute walk back was a chance to chat with peers.

To Jiang Ruotang, whose mind was a decade ahead, things like the rise of milk tea chains or domestic sports brands were obvious. But now, many were just budding. Talking with classmates could uncover opportunities he’d overlooked.

For instance, when games came up, Cai Ji lit up, rattling off everything from foreign titles to popular office mini-games in China. He was a walking game encyclopedia.

At the school building, the stair challenge loomed. Zhao Changfeng grinned mischievously. Jiang Ruotang’s heart sank—“Oh no”—and Zhao Changfeng hoisted him up, charging up the stairs in a few strides.

“Zhao Changfeng! I swear I’ll puke on your back!”

The threat made Zhao Changfeng behave, setting Jiang Ruotang down at the second-floor corner. Cai Ji caught up, laughing, his curly hair bouncing. Such a cute guy—Jiang Ruotang couldn’t fathom why anyone would treat him like that.

“Cai Cai, if someone’s bullying you, you can call the police. If you’re scared to, you can tell us,” Jiang Ruotang said.

Cai Ji paused, lowering his head. Instead of brushing it off, he whispered, “That guy… he’s family.”

“Family shouldn’t hurt you either,” Zhao Changfeng added.

Cai Ji kept his head down. Jiang Ruotang knew every family had its struggles and didn’t press him to fight back—everyone had their own choices.

At the classroom door, Jiang Ruotang said to Cai Ji, “Eat well,” before returning to his seat.

Cai Ji held the bag, taking a bite of the fragrant, tender eel rice. Jiang Ruotang’s “eat well” lingered, making him want to cry.

Zhao Changfeng ate his healthy meal behind him. Jiang Ruotang, starving, wolfed down his beef rice, nearly choking.

A bottle of Yakult appeared, placed gently before his left hand by slender fingers.

Jiang Ruotang froze. It wasn’t Lin Lu’s hand—Lin Lu was napping at his desk.

Turning, he was shocked to see Bai Yingchuan reaching past Lin Lu to give him the Yakult.

“Tch… thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Bai Yingchuan smiled.

The vibe felt like they were decent classmates now.

As for Lin Lu, he’d actually woken when Jiang Ruotang sat down. That Jiang Ruotang had chosen Zhao Changfeng over him for the bank trip irked him, so he pretended to sleep, ignoring Jiang Ruotang.

But he hadn’t expected Bai Yingchuan to reach out to Jiang Ruotang, making his heart sink, as if something precious had been effortlessly snatched away.

After eating, Jiang Ruotang stood to throw out his trash. Bai Yingchuan offered, “I’ll toss it. You sit.”

Jiang Ruotang shook his head. “My muscles are full of lactic acid. If I don’t move, it won’t clear out.”

He hobbled to the hallway’s trash bin, triumphantly tossing the bag in. On his way back, he passed the bathroom and ran into Lu Guifan, wiping his lunchbox.

“Class Monitor! Class Monitor!” Jiang Ruotang called brightly.

Lu Guifan turned, wiping his lunchbox, and asked calmly, “Need me to help you back to class?”

“No, no, can we chat for fifty cents?”

Ugh, fifty cents? That internet slang—hope Lu Guifan didn’t misunderstand…

To his surprise, Lu Guifan, holding his lunchbox, leaned against the corridor railing, sunlight softening his figure.

“What’s up?” he asked unhurriedly.

Jiang Ruotang took a deep breath and tactfully mentioned Cai Ji’s situation.

“He said the yellow-haired guy is family, but I’m worried. Family shouldn’t be a shadow over you, even if they’re not supportive. I’m just a classmate, so it’s up to Cai Ji. Still, I think the teachers should know, just in case something happens.”

Lu Guifan was trusted by teachers—if he spoke up for Cai Ji, they might take it seriously.

“Got it. Anything else?”

“N-no…”

Jiang Ruotang didn’t say how much he liked Lu Guifan’s listening demeanor. He didn’t offer opinions lightly, but his “Got it” was inexplicably reassuring.

Lu Guifan extended his hand.

“Huh?”

“Fifty cents.”

Jiang Ruotang realized he’d forgotten his “fifty cents” line was a Spring Festival Gala skit meme.

“No money, I’m leaving.”

As Lu Guifan turned, Jiang Ruotang actually pulled a coin from his pocket—probably leftover from arcade tokens.

“I’ve got it! Here!” He handed it to Lu Guifan.

Lu Guifan gave a faint smile, and Jiang Ruotang realized he was joking.

Wait, he can joke?

“No change. Next time.”

As Lu Guifan passed, Jiang Ruotang blurted, “Then I’ll book another fifty cents…”

Lu Guifan glanced back, his expression unreadable, leaving Jiang Ruotang guessing.

“Not allowed?”

Jiang Ruotang felt a pang of disappointment, his face visibly falling.

He’d thought Lu Guifan playing along meant they were closer.

“Depends on the time.”

With that, Lu Guifan pocketed the coin.

Jiang Ruotang exhaled, catching a faint reflection in the classroom window of Lu Guifan smiling as he walked by.

That smile—Jiang Ruotang could watch it a hundred times.

The week flew by, and soon it was the weekend.

On Friday, after evening self-study, Lin Lu walked with Jiang Ruotang to the school gate.

“Ruotang, you’re really not going to Bai Yingchuan’s welcome party on Sunday?”

“Nope, I’m going to the art studio.”