Chapter 95 (Censored) – Poor condition (Translated and edited by Xing)
Tang Xue had a long talk with her parents that day .
Principal Tang felt like his baby daughter had grown up overnight . She was no longer that wide-eyed and naïve little girl .
Though heartened, he was a little mournful as well .
As for the two watches, Mama Tang refused them decisively .
Unable to refund the watches, Tang Xue did not want to waste them . She brought it back for Li Yubing and herself .
——
After returning to school, Li Yubing’s first competition was an away match overseas . This match was broadcasted on the sports channel and both Tang parents watched the entire competition at home . Li Yubing did not have any highlights during the competition and Dauntless Dragon ultimately lost with a 2-5 score .
“Look, how you’ve traumatized that child,” Mama Tang pointed at the television screen and said .
Principal Tang tried to make an excuse for himself . “If he’s really so susceptible to shocks, how could he be an athlete? It’s a competition after all . A person’s condition will fluctuate and there would be wins and losses . It’s normal . ”
What he said was not wrong .
However, Li Yubing’s performance was poor for the subsequent four to five competitions as well . In the words of the commentator, “If September’s Li Yubing could be given 120 marks, then October’s Li Yubing is only worth 70 marks . ”[1]
His comment could be considered relatively kind .
A famous sports commentator wrote on his social media account: I’m still willing to give Li Yubing 120 marks . 118 marks for his looks and 2 marks for his pink hockey stick .
His words were as terrible as they come .
……
Principal Tang ultimately felt a little guilty over Li Yubing’s poor condition . This chapter is a labour of love that should not be found outside of teafragrance[dot]wordpress[dot]com .
Once, he heard a few colleagues discussing the latest ice hockey competition before a meeting . Most people originally did not have any idea what ice hockey was . They started watching this sport because of Li Yubing’s sudden popularity . Everyone first focused on him before noticing ice hockey . After discovering the excitement of this sport, they continued following the competition .
These people might not necessarily understand the competition details but they were able to understand the competition figures .
And the figures showed that Li Yubing was playing poorly, at a level that was not worth his fame .
Sitting together, everyone was merry as they ridiculed Li Yubing . They completely did not notice the somewhat displeased expression on their most esteemed principal’s face .
After a while, Principal Tang could no longer bear it . He interrupted, “Have you all forgotten that Li Yubing is a new player and this is only the second month of his professional career? What’s more, he’s only nineteen this year . Is there really a need to be so harsh on a child?”
Since their esteemed principal has spoken, everyone shut up immediately . They thought to themselves, turns out that our principal is Li Yubing’s fan?
Head teacher Zhao was good at getting into people’s good books . At once, she asserted, “Right, right, Li Yubing was from our school and I watched him grew . He’s smart and reliable… Principal Tang, shall we invite Li Yubing back to give a speech? ”
Principal Tang snorted . “Why should we invite him?!”
Head teacher Zhao froze . She thought, so do you like or hate Li Yubing?
What a puzzling fellow .
After school was over in the evening, Principal Tang drove to fetch his wife and the four heavenly guardians in his family . After picking up everyone, they went to a restaurant . That day was one of their regular family gatherings .
In the private room, they ended up talking about Li Yubing . Mama Tang accidentally revealed how her husband swept Li Yubing out of the house with force .
When he heard this, Mama Tang’s father asked, “Why did you beat him?”
“I beat him because he did something wrong . ”
Principal Tang’s father disagreed and shook his head . “You can’t beat someone even if they did something wrong . When you were young, you once stole someone else’s watermelon . Did I beat you then?”
“I…”
Mama Tang’s father patted his son-in-law’s father . “Oh well, don’t mention something that happened when he was a child . ”
Principal Tang nodded and looked at his father-in-law gratefully .
Mama Tang’s father said, “The first time you paid us a visit, you ended up being chased by the chicken despite being tasked to kill it . I did not beat you either . ”
Principal Tang: = =
He had felt touched way too early .
“Stop arguing . It doesn’t help” Mama Tang’s mother mediated . “You might have shocked Li Yubing into losing his soul . We just have to find someone to summon his soul back . ”
Mama Tang stopped her, “That’s superstition . ”
“There’s no harm trying . What if it works?”
——
As Li Yubing’s recent condition was poor, Tang Xue asked him out with the intention of helping him to relax . However, the moment they stepped out of school, Tang Xue received a weird call .
“Tang Xue, I’m your grandfather’s friend… I’m not a scammer . Your grandfather is Tang Fengchi, isn’t he? If he is, there’s no mistake . I had carried you when you were young… Yes, there is a reason why I called . I’m now at your school… This place is To… Fu… building… . I’ll wait for you here, hurry over . ”
Tang Xue hung up and looked at Li Yubing with a baffled expression . “Is there a place in school called the Tofu building?”
“There’s no Tofu building, only a Yifu building . ”[2]
…All right, looks like fellow’s illiterate .
They could only turn back . On the way back, Tang Xue called her grandfather . She confirmed that the person was indeed his friend and not a scammer . That friend was a retired chef . He had three cats and two dogs, and occasionally helped to summon people’s lost souls .
Tang Xue clapped her hand over her forehead and wondered how there were still people believing this in this day and age .
Since the person was her grandfather’s friend, it was not appropriate for Tang Xue to brush him off . She returned to school and treated the old man to a meal, after which she exhausted all means to persuade him to return . The old man refused to leave, insisting that he needed to help summon Li Yubing’s soul as he had accepted Grandpa Tang’s payment . Furthermore, the soul-summoning ritual could not be carried out in any old where . Li Yubing must lie down in a quiet place . The uncensored version of this chapter can be found at teafragrance[dot]wordpress[dot]com .
Without choice, Tang Xue and Li Yubing went to a hotel and opened a room . Li Yubing lay on the bed while the psychic old man cast the ritual over him from the side . It felt like an exercise to calm his mind .
After finishing the ritual, the old man finally left in satisfaction .
Tang Xue gazed at Li Yubing who was lying on the bed . His eyes were closed while his breathing was unhurried . This passive and peaceful behaviour made him seem a little fragile .
Her heart melted into a puddle . She moved closer with light movements and removed her shoes before burrowing under the blanket and giving him a hug .
Li Yubing suddenly moved . He turned to his side and faced her while still lying down, wrapping one hand around her waist . Then, he opened his eyes and watched her .
His dark, glistening pupils held a soft warmth that made her heart pound .
Tang Xue blinked at him .
Li Yubing’s hand slid up and landed on her ears . He smoothed her hair gently before stopping his hand on the side of her cheek, his fingers languidly tracing the soft curves of her face .
Tang Xue cupped his face and gazed at him .
Li Yubing placed his hands over her hands and looked at her with narrowed eyes .
Like this, they looked at each other in silence for a few seconds . Then, Tang Xue suddenly spoke, “These days, are you exhausted?”
Li Yubing shook his head . “No . ”
“Then why have your condition been poor for the recent competitions? I can sense that’s not your real strength . ”
Li Yubing gave the question some serious thought . He called her softly, “Tang Xue . ”
“Mm?”
“I think… my reaction has become slower . ”
Translator’s Notes:
[1] I can’t confirm this but the full mark for all subjects in China’s college entrance exams is 150 so this might make more sense for the scores . 120/150 is 80% while 70/120 is 46 . 7% .
[2] From Chapter 34: Most schools have a “Yifu building”, which is named after Sir Run Run Shaw (Shao Yifu), a Hong Kong philanthropist who donated billions of dollars to educational institutions in Hong Kong and mainland China . – Source: Wikipedia