MDPWU Chapter 18

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Mr. Mao remained silent for a long time.

Zhou You grinned, tossed the stick aside, and threw an arm around Mr. Mao in a brotherly manner. “Just joking with you, teacher. If you like my staff techniques, I can come to your house and perform for you.”

“No… no need…” Mr. Mao quickly refused.

“A few good friends hanging out together—that’s all. The barbecue stand is already set up over there, and we even caught a fish.” Zhou You led Mr. Mao further inside while the surrounding crowd made way for them. “Chen Chunyu, my good man!”

“What?!” A boy wearing a tank top squatting by the grill stood up.

“Is the charcoal lit yet?” Zhou You called out. “Get our teacher a fish!”

“Where’s the fish?!” Chen Chunyu shouted back.

“Here!” Xiao Kai walked over, holding the fish.

“Well, go clean it! You can’t grill it while it’s still alive!” Chen Chunyu frowned at him.

Xiao Kai quickly nodded and rushed to the water’s edge to handle the fish.

“See, teacher? Such unity and friendship among classmates!” Zhou You glanced around and then turned to Mr. Mao with a puzzled look. “By the way, what was it you were going to report to the principal just now?”

“N-nothing…” Mr. Mao feigned ignorance.

By now, he had fully realized that his sudden arrival had caused a big misunderstanding.

The barbecue grill was set up on the left, students working on their study sheets were on the right, and by the lake, a group of people were poking at fish with sticks.

“Teacher, how about staying for some grilled fish?” Zhou You invited enthusiastically.

“No need, I came here to fish.” Mr. Mao looked around, saw nothing dangerous, and gave a few reminders to the familiar students about safety before grabbing his fishing bucket and walking away.

“This teacher isn’t bad—just too stubborn, and his teaching style is tough and aggressive. Not many people like him,” Zhuang Qian approached and whispered to Zhou You. “The rumor is that our principal poached him from City No.1 High, but that’s not true. He actually got reported for physically punishing a student. Our principal was his middle school classmate and brought him in under strict conditions.”

“Actually…” another boy from their class leaned in. “The girls in our class mentioned this before—it wasn’t about him punishing students. He just offended a particular student.”

“Well, the way he throws chalk like a pea shooter, it’d be a miracle if he didn’t offend someone.” Zhuang Qian shrugged.

Zhou You wasn’t interested in this gossip. Instead, he turned and shouted, “Sis! Where are you?”

“Get lost!” Tong Tong turned away with his study sheet.

“I’m coming, sis!” Zhou You rushed over in a few quick strides and pounced, pinning him to the ground.

“Are you crazy?!” Tong Tong struggled under him, fuming.

“Ah, ow, ow, ow,” Zhou You groaned weakly.

“Quit faking it.” Tong Tong glared at him.

“I twisted my arm while showing off my staff moves just now,” Zhou You said pitifully. “It really hurts.”

Tong Tong stopped struggling, frowned, and suppressed his frustration. “Get up, I’ll check it.”

“Actually, it wasn’t my arm.” Zhou You added.

“Where then? Either way, you have to get up so I can see,” Tong Tong said, his patience running thin.

“My butt.” Zhou You muttered. “Can you check?”

Tong Tong clenched his teeth so hard they creaked, then furiously kicked Zhou You’s leg, flipping him over and getting up.

Before Zhou You could react, Tong Tong stomped on his backside in rage. “Twist your damn butt! Twist your damn butt! Were you using your butt to swing the staff?!”

Seeing them start to fight, the others quickly rushed over to separate them.

Once they were pulled apart, Tong Tong declared a one-sided cold war against everyone.

His method? Sitting at the farthest spot and focusing on his study sheet.

Twenty minutes later, Zhou You approached with the first grilled fish. After being scolded a few times, Tong Tong finally ended his cold war, begrudgingly dragging his study sheet over to sit with the group.

For the next several hours, the forty or so boys laughed and played from 7 AM until 1 PM.

They fished and grilled, grilled and fished.

It wasn’t until everyone was completely stuffed that this chaotic yet brutally intense gathering finally came to an end.

By the time Tong Tong and Zhou You returned home, it was already 2 PM.

Tong Tong looked up at the narrow staircase ahead, then turned back to see Zhou You carrying a military-style duffel bag. He reached out to help. “Let me carry it.”

“No need. If you strain your back, I’ll have to carry you up along with it.” Zhou You dodged his hand and grinned. “Hurry up and climb.”

Seeing Zhou You wasn’t even out of breath, Tong Tong didn’t insist and quickened his steps.

Lately, he had been thinking about how to secretly like someone.

He had never had a secret crush before, so he analyzed various social cases to figure it out.

His research subjects? The countless waves of girls who had secretly liked him since kindergarten.

After compiling their methods, he categorized them into two main types: emotional and material.

Emotional included silent concern, saying good morning and goodnight, and caring from afar.

Material included love letters, breakfast, drinks and snacks, and… green hats.

Cough… Zhou You coughed lightly behind him.

Hearing this, Tong Tong instantly became alert.

“Your cold isn’t better yet?” Tong Tong asked casually.

“It’s better,” Zhou You replied, “but my throat still feels a little off.”

Tong Tong racked his brain and awkwardly forced out four words: “Drink more hot water.”

“I don’t have a kettle at home,” Zhou You answered, then suddenly realized something. “No wonder I’ve been drinking cold water these past few days.”

Tong Tong: “……”

“Just messing with you.” Zhou You laughed. “The upstairs neighbors have a leak. I went up to check, and they said their kid spilled water. The kid got scolded and cried, so I didn’t press the issue. The leak hasn’t stopped these past few days, so I’ve been sleeping in the living room. I don’t feel right going up to ask again.”

Zhou You wasn’t really embarrassed—there was nothing for him to be embarrassed about.

He was just afraid that family would keep blaming the little boy, scolding and beating him. How pitiful.

Did they think he was a fool? Expecting him to believe that the child had spilled the water? As if the kid would stand guard over the spot all day long.

The truth was, their floor had cracked, and they just didn’t want to fix it.

“Do you want to sleep over at my place tonight?” Tong Tong suggested quietly. “The top bunk is empty anyway. Don’t feel awkward about it. Tomorrow, I’ll go upstairs with you and we’ll talk to them.”

“Alright.” Zhou You smiled and nodded in agreement.

After putting his backpack back in his room, he entered Tong Tong’s place.

Tong Tong poured him a cup of hot water and handed it over.

Zhou You took a sip. “It’s sweet?”

“I added honey. Didn’t you say your throat wasn’t feeling well?” Tong Tong replied absentmindedly, eyes on his book, but his ears were quietly turning red.

“You’re acting weird today,” Zhou You said, turning to look at him.

Tong Tong tensed up. Had he been found out already?

If it was so obvious, could it even be called a secret crush?

“Spit it out,” Zhou You set the cup down.

Spit what out…? Was he supposed to confess?

What should he even say?

Confess that he had a crush on Zhou You? That would be way too embarrassing! He wasn’t mentally prepared for this yet!

“If you won’t say it, then let me guess…” Zhou You leaned in as he spoke.

With one hand pressed against the edge of the sofa, he blocked Tong Tong from getting up.

Tong Tong was trapped in the corner, gripping his book tightly, his voice trembling. “W-What… What are you guessing…?”

“Are you thinking that I look especially handsome today?” Zhou You suddenly moved even closer.

Tong Tong’s heart pounded.

Oh no… He really found out… What should he do? Should he just confess right now?

“Is your heart racing right now?” Zhou You continued, his grin widening.

Tong Tong squeezed his eyes shut.

“Are you falling in love with me?” Zhou You pressed further.

“No!” Tong Tong’s eyes snapped open in panic.

“Liar.” Zhou You looked smug. He squinted at him. “I already figured it out.”

“Actually, I—”

“You’ve been coveting my staff technique, haven’t you?” Zhou You cut him off, looking completely serious.

“…What?” Tong Tong was dumbfounded.

“Don’t be shy about it. When we were grilling fish earlier, a bunch of guys asked me to teach them that set of staff moves. You’re not the only one.” Zhou You chuckled. “I noticed you wanted to say something then but held back because there were too many people around, right?”

Tong Tong: “…………”

“I’m not teaching them.” Zhou You nudged him with his elbow and winked playfully. “I’ll only teach you.”

Tong Tong: “…………”

Gee, thanks.

Tong Tong began replaying his actions and words in his mind.

Was it wrong for him to have a crush?

Obviously not.

The problem was that Zhou You was a complete idiot.

After cursing him out in his head, Tong Tong felt much better.

That night, Zhou You once again slept in the top bunk of Tong Tong’s bed. Tong Tong resumed his silent cold war.

Zhou You, oblivious and unfazed, clung to him like glue. Even after getting kicked away, he happily climbed back up and fell asleep.

The next morning, the two of them went upstairs to ask about the leaking water.

But after knocking for ages, no one answered. They pressed their ears to the door and listened for a while, but the place was silent—no one was home.

With no other option, they went back downstairs.

Oddly enough, Zhou You’s room didn’t show any signs of leaking that day either.

The issue remained unresolved.

After spending the weekend thinking it over, Tong Tong decided that since Zhou You couldn’t grasp his feelings through hints, he’d have to be more direct—through material gestures.

So, Tong Tong decided to secretly prepare breakfast for Zhou You.

Monday morning.

Tong Tong deliberately didn’t wait for Zhou You. He got up early, bought breakfast, and placed it in Zhou You’s desk drawer.

To make it even more obvious, he forcibly squished the round buns into a heart shape.

By the time Zhou You arrived, about two-thirds of the class was already there.

“Why didn’t you wake me up today?” Zhou You stood in front of his desk with a look of betrayal. “Are we still sisters or what?”

“Ah… I… I forgot.” Tong Tong nervously stole a glance at Zhou You’s drawer and quickly promised to wake him next time.

Only then did Zhou You nod in satisfaction, hung his backpack, and reached into his drawer to grab his books—only to touch something warm and soft.

He pulled it out and took a look. “Hey! Which shameless idiot dumped their leftover food in my desk?”

Tong Tong: “…………”

“If you don’t want to eat it, at least throw it away properly! Wasting food and violating the sacred bond of friendship,” Zhou You grumbled as he opened the plastic bag. He made a disgusted noise. “Why the hell do these buns look like a pile of crap?”

Tong Tong: “…………”

Zhou You laughed to himself for a while. “Sister, come look at this. The more I stare at it, the more it—”

Tong Tong abruptly stood up, ripped off his school jacket, and stormed over.

Zhou You froze.

The next second—

Tong Tong’s expression turned savage. He grabbed Zhou You’s head with one hand and stuffed the school jacket into his mouth with the other.

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