The sunlight dappled the emerald grass, dewdrops clinging to the blades, refracting into a rainbow of colors. A swarm of white butterflies danced freely among the blossoms.
It had been a long time since he’d seen such a beautiful sight.
Lin Hao, perched on its head, gently stroked the beetle's antennae. He pointed to the flowers opposite, indicating he wanted to be put down. The beetle understood, its antennae wrapping around Lin Hao’s waist, slowly lowering him to the ground. The king, however, was a little sad to be let go so soon, having not had enough cuddles. *Wuwuwuwu*.
"Beat that green tea to death!"
"Yeah, beat him to death!"
"And he's still not satisfied! I haven't even hugged him yet!"
Lin Hao quickly scampered onto the grass, flopped backward, and found himself covered in pollen and weeds. He sat up, examining the small white flower he’d casually picked. The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed, yet he couldn't recall why. Old age was definitely taking its toll on his memory.
Alfan approached Lin Hao and said, "King, the ground is cold." He took off his outer garment, gently scooped Lin Hao up, placed his discarded clothing beneath him, and then slowly brushed the grass and dirt off Lin Hao's clothes.
*King, so light, and his body is so soft,* these words suddenly appeared in Alfan's mind.
"Huh? Did someone just lift me up?"
Lin Hao, finally snapping back to reality, realized what had happened.
*What a humiliation! To be lifted up so abruptly by such a strong man! Doesn't he care about his reputation?*
Seeing the clothes beneath him and Alfan standing nearby in just a thin inner garment, Lin Hao suppressed the torrent of frustration brewing in his mind. *He meant well, he meant well. Don't be angry, don't be angry. Anger harms the body. It’s not too late to fight back when my muscles return.*
*He probably just sees me as a young cub, that's why he's being so careful and held me. Yes, a cub.*
This was the self-talk of an optimistic and positive person.
"Thank you. Next time, you can just tell me," Lin Hao said, adding mentally, *No need to pick me up directly, it's a bit scary.*
Alfan nodded.
Spurred by Alfan's actions, Lin Hao instantly remembered what the white flower was. Thinking back, he felt rather embarrassed about crying in front of him.
(To prevent cute little angels from getting confused, the following is a flashback...)
Feng Lan High School, one of the top high schools in the empire, where students were either wealthy or influential. The environment was beautiful, and the teaching method was a militarized, closed-door management system, earning it the nickname 'Crazy High School.'
During morning self-study, the sound of reading echoed through every corner of the campus. However, there were always unexpected events or unexpected people.
Standing at the entrances of Class 1 and Class 2 of the second year were two individuals. Each had a physics textbook clamped between their thighs, an English textbook balanced on their heads, and carried two buckets in their arms. Their white school uniforms were speckled with sweat.
"Damn it, Lin Ri Tian, if I run out with you again, my surname isn't Hu!" the boy at the Class 2 entrance declared to the boy at the Class 1 entrance.
"Hu Tu Little Sweetheart, even if you don't run out with me, you won't be happy. Have you forgotten about your wife outside of school?" Lin Hao, standing at the Class 1 entrance, said with a smile to Hu Tu in Class 2.
Hu Tu paused at Lin Hao's words, then shouted, "You're the one who won't be happy!"
*Damn it, this scumbag knows how to tease me. I really don't know how someone so silly got into Class 1.*
At Feng Lan High School, academics were paramount. Class rankings were based on academic performance and family background, with at least one of these being a requirement.
"Hahahaha, my surname isn't Hu, it's Lin. I'm your Daddy Lin, you good boy." Lin Hao tried to laugh quietly, so as not to spill the water in the buckets he was carrying. Spilling it would be a disaster.
"Nonsense, Ri Tian, I'm your father!" Hu Tu, his face red with anger, gritted his teeth and said.
"Mmm-hmm, I know, I'm your father. You don't need to repeat it."
As Hu Tu was about to curse the person next to him, he heard.
"Still messing around?" The clear voice, though not loud, reached both of them distinctly.
Lin Hao followed the sound and looked towards the source, facing the sunlight. Even after knowing him for over a year, he was still striking. His silver-white hair was neatly styled, his light-colored eyes were sharp, and his prominent nose and thin lips, all under the uniform, gave him the aura of a supermodel. He held a folder, followed by several people, each with a red cloth hanging from their arm, bearing the yellow lettering of the 'Student Union.' This was Qin Mo Han, the campus's most popular student.
"Brother Qin, good morning," Lin Hao said to Qin Mo Han with an exceptionally cheeky tone.
Qin Mo Han's expression remained impassive, his face still cold.
*So uncivilized. We've known each other for a year, and he's still so unapproachable.*
"What nonsense are you spouting? You should call him Chairman," one of Qin Mo Han's companions, unable to contain himself, said. He had never seen such an impolite person.
"I'm not part of your student union, so why should I call him Chairman? If I call him Chairman, won't I get paid?" Lin Hao retorted, rolling his eyes at the companion. His gaze clearly conveyed, *Are you perhaps mentally challenged?*
"You... you..." The companion's face turned green with anger.
Hu Tu, standing by as background decoration, silently gave Lin Hao a thumbs-up.
Lin Hao saw this and his eyes communicated, *Just a regular move, don't be envious.* Before he could finish conveying his message, he saw Hu Tu's bucket fall to the ground, the loud crash echoing through the hallway.
Lin Hao, unable to contain his laughter any longer, finally burst out laughing.
As Lin Hao’s laughter intensified, his grip weakened, his shoulders slumped, and his buckets also fell…
…Both buckets…
The loud crash resounded again.
The books Lin Hao was holding under his chin and between his legs also fell into the water… they were soaked.
*This, this is what you call excessive joy leading to sorrow, right?*
*It's over.*
These two words scrolled frantically through Lin Hao's mind.
Lin Hao quickly crouched down to inspect his books. They weren't too badly soaked, and he felt they could still be salvaged. With a smile, he said to Qin Mo Han, "Brother Qin, can I discuss something with you? Can we please not tell Director Yao about this?" His tone was now as obedient as possible.
Qin Mo Han looked at the young man crouching before him, seeming to see a pleading tail wagging behind him. It tickled his heart. He longed to touch the boy's fluffy hair. Before he could answer Lin Hao's request, he heard.
"Oh? What is it that can't be told to me?"
A gentle female voice, like a judgment from hell, emanated from above. Looking up, Lin Hao stared blankly at the woman in a suit. He stood up and said with a smile, "Director Yao, what a coincidence! You're also standing for punishment, no, you're also checking on self-study."
"That's right, student Lin. I suddenly heard a loud noise from the office and came out to see what was happening. It turns out it was student Lin," Director Yao said gently.
"No, it wasn't just me, it was Hu Tu too, Director Yao," Lin Hao chimed in, following Director Yao's lead.
*Sorry, brother, I'll definitely compensate you with a beautiful woman in the future.*
Hu Tu, who had been pretending to be a quail in the corner, heard Lin Hao's voice.
*Motherfucker, Lin Ri Tian, I really thank you for that, and for your ancestors too.*
A smiling face from Hu Tu.
"He can't escape either. Also, when I first arrived, I thought I heard you threatening student Qin?" Director Yao said, looking at her fingernails nonchalantly.
"No, how could that be? Student Qin is so upright, how dare I threaten him?" Lin Hao immediately denied it when he heard the woman mention Qin Mo Han's name. *Joking! Threaten the campus heartthrob and top student? How dare I! What I just did was a request, a request, okay? If I had eight more guts, I wouldn't dare say it.*
Qin Mo Han frowned slightly upon hearing the person before him quickly distance himself from him, but it was fleeting. He said a word to Director Yao and then left with his group.
"Goodbye, Brother Qin," Lin Hao waved at Qin Mo Han's retreating back and said.
Qin Mo Han did not look back, disappearing around the corner.