TFRLTOP Chapter 42 Part 2

“Then what did you mean?”

What could he mean? He had woken up ready to scold her, but before he could even get a word in, she had gone on the offensive first.

If he pressed her too much now, it would only make him look guilty.

Yan Junsheng’s eyes darkened, then he suddenly smiled at her. “I always thought our Juan’er didn’t know anything. But after seeing what was in that book… turns out you know everything.”

Their noses brushed, lips barely grazing. “But I don’t know. Why don’t you teach me?”

“Don’t try to bluff me. If you don’t know, how come you lasted the whole night last time?” Ming Ming leaned back and snorted.

“Vulgar,” Yan Junsheng muttered. “What kind of thoughts could I possibly have about you? You like what you like, you do what you do. Who am I to interfere? Why do you insist on painting me as the bad guy?”

He poked her chest twice with his finger. “Ask yourself, Chen Chanjuan. When have I ever done anything to betray you?”

It seemed… he hadn’t.

Ming Ming stiffened her mouth. “Just because you haven’t before doesn’t mean you won’t in the future.”

Yan Junsheng laughed. “So philosophical. And yet you hate politics?”

Ming Ming fell silent.

“Do you know how restless I was last night? I lay awake the whole night, wondering whose corrupting our Juan’er. You’re supposed to study for college, become an intellectual. And then someone hands you a book like that, distracting you from memorizing your political texts. Who would dare mess with you like that, hmm?”

Ming Ming: Huh?

Wait. Why does this suddenly sound… different?

He sounded pitiful, but beneath it was all this righteous concern. Afraid it might hurt her studies… hurt her studies… hold on, let me think!

But Yan Junsheng didn’t give her time to think.

“Am I just imagining things?” His eyes dropped, carrying a touch of sorrow.

Another arrow straight to her heart.

“…No.” Ming Ming felt her face heat up. She tried to push him away, but he wouldn’t budge.

“I’m touched by your concern, really,” she said earnestly. “That stuff is just a little flavoring in life, nothing more. It won’t affect my studies, I promise!”

For once, Ming Ming felt a pang of guilt, swearing to heaven and earth as she tried to explain.

What kind of nonsense is this?

Wait—what was I just thinking? Oh, right—he’s worried it’ll affect my studies. Affect my studies… so what does that mean?

“It really won’t affect you?”

Ming Ming bobbed her head like a drum. “Absolutely not.”

Yan Junsheng turned his head and sighed. “Don’t lie to me. I know you never even open that politics book. You probably don’t understand a word of it. How can I not worry?”

“I am studying! I really am!” Ming Ming tugged his arm. “Then tell me, what’ll make you feel better?”

“How about I quiz you regularly—oral recitation. Would you agree to that?”

“Of course, of course,” Ming Ming blurted out. But the second the words left her mouth, she realized something was wrong.

Yan Junsheng’s smile curled like a cat that had just stolen cream. Seeing her about to catch on, he quickly diverted her attention. Snuggling closer, he said, “I didn’t sleep a wink last night.”

“Then go to bed now.”

“No.” He flatly refused. His breath brushed her cheek and neck, heavy with implication. Tilting his head, looking up at her, he murmured, “If you pity me, why don’t you give me some energy?”

“Energy? I don’t have any energy.” Ming Ming thought for a second, then kissed his cheek. “Like that?”

Yan Junsheng slowly shook his head, smiling with his eyes, voice soft. “Not enough.”

Ming Ming cupped his face and kissed him on the lips, then patted his cheek. “There. Happy now? Get up.”

“Juan’er, do you really not understand… or are you just pretending?”

Of course I’m pretending! Ming Ming thought. The train’s already run over my face—if I don’t babble my way through, how else am I supposed to survive you?

Yan Junsheng kept pressing, clearly unwilling to let her off easy.

“Hey… don’t pull on my clothes!” Ming Ming clutched at her collar. Yan Junsheng toppled her back onto the bed, teasing, “Come on, my Juan’er. Give me a little… spiritual nourishment?”

…

Yan Junsheng clearly meant to punish her, dragging things out mercilessly until Ming Ming was nearly crying, her little slaps weak as a kitten’s paw. Naturally, he wasn’t fazed.

And he wasn’t done. He laid the book open beside them, sometimes even waving it in front of her face, pointing at the lines. “Juan’er, I don’t get it. Is this what it means?”

“Juan’er, this page looks more worn. Even folded at the corner. Is this your favorite one?”

“Juan’er, between this page and the last one, which do you like better?”

“You have to tell me. Otherwise, how will I know…”

Every time he did, Ming Ming’s sobs grew louder.

“For god’s sake… shouldn’t you be out doing farm work in broad daylight?” Ming Ming finally exploded. She snatched the book, hurled it to the floor, and glared at him through teary eyes. Yan Junsheng, thrilled by her fierce look though not showing it, smirked lightly. “No worries. I’ve got nothing going on for the next couple of days. I can stay home.”

The next couple of days?

Ming Ming’s arms instantly lost all strength.

Everyone knows, in Chinese, “a couple” never means just two. It’s a vague, elastic number.

A couple of days could mean today and tomorrow. Or today, tomorrow, the next day, the day after that, and the day after that!

Ming Ming’s vision darkened. Her future suddenly looked bleak.

It’s over. I really might die in this bed…

Yan Junsheng leaned close. Ming Ming whimpered through her tears. He nibbled her round little earlobe, whispering:

“Don’t worry. I’ll still leave you time to study politics.”

The devil had just whispered in her ear.

His words echoed like a curse.

Ming Ming’s grief poured out, tears streaming down her face. Only then did she realize, far too late, that she had just agreed to something unthinkable—

To, from now on, seriously study politics.

Damn it!!!

How dare he?!

Sleeping with me is one thing, but keeping tabs on my politics homework too? Is he even human???

There’s no true love in this world. No real affection.

Divorce! I want a divorce!!!

…First thing after I get out of this bed!