Daydreaming about Me

Chapter 4

Originally, when Jiang Han clamored about going to flirt with girls, Shen Juan just casually responded, not really expecting to run into anyone again. The guy was clearly just looking around, and Shen Juan couldn’t understand why that idiot was so happy, even making a bet with him on when this girl would come back and what kind of tattoo she wanted.

Unexpectedly, the day hadn’t even passed, and they saw her that night.

Moreover, this girl either had a lot of courage or was truly committed to her “whatever” attitude towards life. Even though she knew what was happening, she continued to eat there, completely absorbed and undisturbed, as if she were watching a play, even though a group of six or seven men, clearly looking for trouble, were approaching.

She even locked eyes with Chen Zihao, enjoying it as if it were a show. What was her deal?

Shen Juan knew a bit about what kind of person Chen Zihao was. He had attended a vocational high school but probably never went to class, rented a single room in a small hotel where different girls came in and out each day, living a life of debauchery and wasting away the last bit of his cheap youth.

Shen Juan didn’t consider himself a hero or a good guy, but he felt a certain duty since he had met this girl once. He couldn’t just stand by and watch.

Luckily, Chen Zihao was more interested in him than in the pretty girl. With his gang behind him, Chen Zihao took Shen Juan’s words as an effective provocation.

Red card once, the enemy boss’s anger level rises by ten points.

Chen Zihao hesitated, saying nothing. He was somewhat wary of Shen Juan.

Back in vocational school, Chen Zihao’s school was opposite Shen Juan’s, No. 14 Middle School. At that time, Shen Juan was in junior high. They had met a few times, and Chen Zihao had heard about many things, though he didn’t take them seriously. After all, what could a seventh or eighth grader do?

Until he witnessed it once. The little guy, who hadn’t even grown much yet, dragged someone taller than him by a head into an alley, smashing them against a metal trash can.

The trash can flipped over, rolling far away, spilling a bunch of plastic bags. The person on the ground whispered something, and Shen Juan coldly laughed.

The laugh was bone-chilling, filled with a sharp and dark malice.

Later, Shen Juan got into trouble, almost beating someone into a vegetative state. Because his family had money, they settled it, but many people were skeptical. Chen Zihao believed it was likely true.

Today’s incident had nothing to do with him. It was his new friend’s conflict with Shen Juan’s people. He hadn’t known and wouldn’t have shown up if he had known Shen Juan was involved.

Chen Zihao, cigarette in mouth, looked at him and chuckled, “What, Master Juan is so free today, standing up for your brother?”

His tone was polite. He really didn’t want to mess with him.

Chen Zihao, as a big brother, naturally thought through many scenarios in a few seconds, weighing his options between “finish this act” and “maybe just leave it.” Before he could decide, Shen Juan pointed at the 7-11 entrance and calmly said, “No, I’m here to buy a bottle of water.”

“…”

Chen Zihao was momentarily confused. What made this legendary figure seem so nonchalant now?

Probably, he wasn’t the only one puzzled. After a few seconds of silence, behind Shen Juan, Mop Number Two, Wang Yiyang, let out a heart-wrenching cry, “Dad! What’s going on with you!!”

Lin Yujing, biting a fish fillet, couldn’t help but laugh, looking up to see Mop Number Two’s expression.

But she saw nothing because Shen Juan was tall and close, blocking half her view. She was squatting while he was standing, making his legs look even longer and his butt…

Lin Yujing admired the delinquent’s firm butt for a moment before finishing her fish fillet and dropping the skewer into the cup, which was now empty.

She sighed with a hint of regret, placing the cup on the nearby step and picking up a rice ball, starting to unwrap it.

The rustling of the plastic wrapper sounded obnoxiously loud in the tense atmosphere. Shen Juan turned to look at her, lowering his gaze.

Lin Yujing didn’t notice, focused intently on unwrapping the stubbornly sticky wrapper. When she finally opened it, she heard Shen Juan say, “I’m a bit sleepy.”

His voice was indifferent, with a hint of nasal tone, sounding lazy, “So hurry up. If you’re going to fight, fight together and get it over with so I can go back to sleep. School starts the day after tomorrow, and I need to finish my homework tomorrow.”

Chen Zihao: “…”

Lin Yujing: “…”

Everyone: “…”

An awkward silence.

Listen to that tone, such provoking words.

Lin Yujing couldn’t see the others’ expressions, but she was scared enough that her hand shook, dropping the just-unwrapped rice ball to the ground.

Who was this delinquent? This was too cool.

So, he was still in school? And he did homework too?

His class teacher must be very pleased. Despite his busy schedule of fights, he still remembered to squeeze in some time to finish his homework in the last two days of summer vacation.

The big brother remained silent, but someone behind him couldn’t hold back anymore. Lin Yujing also felt that Shen Juan was asking for a beating, completely disregarding people, his tone full of “you idiots are wasting my sleep time,” showing a very improper attitude towards fighting.

A man stepped forward, taller than Shen Juan, looking sturdy in a black vest and sports shorts, muscles bulging and eyes fierce.

“You’re something,” the muscle guy said menacingly, “Brother Hao calling you was giving you face, and you think you’re the boss? Master Juan? You think you’re tough—”

Shen Juan stepped forward, punching him in the stomach. He hit hard, and Lin Yujing heard the dull thud of the impact.

The muscle guy’s words were cut off by the blow. He doubled over, gagging, unable to react before Shen Juan grabbed his hair and yanked him down, smashing his face against his knee with a loud thud, delivering another punch to his stomach.

The muscle guy couldn’t even scream, doubling over in pain, trying to speak.

Shen Juan let go of his hair, kicking him in the knee, making him stagger and kneel on the ground.

No one spoke, not even Lin Yujing.

The muscle guy’s muscles seemed like they were filled with air. Kneeling, he gagged, stomach convulsing, unable to throw up.

Shen Juan looked down at him coldly, smirking, “Of course Master Juan is tough.” –

The muscle guy was probably the second-in-command. Getting beaten up made the other side feel utterly humiliated, and they charged forward, shouting curses.

Mop Number Two rushed out, dreadlocks flying, roaring and throwing a stylish left hook, “I’ll handle my own issues, screw you! Come on! Beat me! Kill me!!!”

“…”

Lin Yujing found today’s delinquents rather amusing.

The rice ball had just fallen to the ground. She wrapped it in a bag, picked it up, and was about to throw it into the trash can. As she turned her head, she saw through the large glass window of the 7-11 convenience store that the cashier girl was hastily hanging up the phone, while several store clerks gathered together, all looking in their direction.

She hesitated between “sneaking away quietly by herself” and “informing them,” thought for a few seconds, and then raised her hand to gently tug on the sleeve of the boy standing in front of her.

Shen Juan had been watching the scene with great interest. Although there were fewer people on their side, Jiang Han and Wang Yiyang were quite good fighters. On the other side, one was already down and vomiting on the ground, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem.

He glanced at his watch—it was past ten.

He was about to sneak back home to take a shower and go to bed when he felt a slight pull on his sleeve from behind.

Shen Juan turned around and looked down at his sleeve.

It was being held by two slender, fair fingers, with neatly trimmed nails and a small white crescent at the tips. Beyond them was a delicate, pale wrist.

He raised an eyebrow, looking up at the girl who was tugging on his sleeve, questioning her with his gaze.

Lin Yujing let go and pointed to the cashier in the convenience store, whispering, “I just saw her calling the police.”

The noise from the nearby intense close combat was loud, so Shen Juan didn’t hear her clearly. He frowned and leaned down, moving his head closer, “What?”

Lin Yujing leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “I think that girl just called the police.”

Shen Juan caught a faint sweet scent, like a mix of garden flowers, freshly baked fruit tarts, and sweet milk.

He subtly moved his head away, straightened up, and said, “Then let’s go.”

Lin Yujing was stunned, then stood up, “Huh?”

“Didn’t she call the police?” Shen Juan yawned and walked towards the 7-11.

Lin Yujing was silent for two seconds and couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t you still half asleep?”

The automatic glass door opened with a ding. Shen Juan glanced at her and pointed his chin towards the clock on the wall, “It’s 10:30, prime sleep time.”

“……”

So you’re a health-conscious socialite.

Lin Yujing rolled her eyes, watching Shen Juan calmly walk to the refrigerator under the frightened gaze of the store clerk, grab a rice ball, and even buy a bottle of water.

He also took a pack of wet wipes, paid at the counter, and while the cashier girl heated the rice ball in the microwave, he tore open the wet wipes packaging and slowly wiped his hands, probably because he had just fought with the muscle-bound guy.

The boy was tall and lean, lazily leaning against the counter, looking quiet and focused, without a trace of the fierceness he had when smashing the guy’s face against his knee. His hands were beautiful, appearing cold white under the convenience store lights, with faint blue veins visible.

He lowered his head, with a high nose bridge, his bangs naturally falling to partially cover his dark, narrow eyes. His lashes weren’t very long, but they were dense, with the tips curling up slightly at the ends, giving his eyes a cold yet passionate look.

Lin Yujing glanced at the store clerk girl, who seemed a bit scared but couldn’t stop secretly watching him, and internally clicked her tongue.

With that face, if he wasn’t already trouble, how many girls would he mess with in the future?

The microwave beeped, indicating the rice ball was ready. Shen Juan paused, looked up at the cashier.

The girl was still staring at him, and it took her a couple of seconds to react. Blushing, she quickly averted her gaze, opened the microwave, and took out the rice ball with a napkin.

Shen Juan thanked her, threw the wet wipe into the trash, and walked out of the 7-11. Lin Yujing followed him out.

The night breeze was cool. They quickly walked away from the group of fighting teenagers at the entrance, leaving the crime scene, and after a block, Lin Yujing stopped and looked back, vaguely seeing the figures of police officers.

Justice arrived, and the delinquents scattered like birds and beasts.

She turned back, “Are you really not going to help your friends?”

You’re just leaving like this, don’t you want to be a respected socialite?

Shen Juan responded with a “hmm,” without looking back, and handed her the rice ball. The boy’s beautiful hand held out the rice ball in front of her. Lin Yujing blinked, “Huh?” “Didn’t you drop the last one?” Shen Juan said.

The author has something to say: “Juan Ye is definitely cool.”