Chapter 23 — It's Raining in the Bathroom
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
In truth, a student like Zhong Yongliang still feared his homeroom teacher and the Dean of Academic Affairs on the surface. After all, his identity was still that of a student — not yet like the thugs out in society who feared nothing. If the Dean really notified his father of his misdeeds at school, he would not have an easy time of it at home.
But in most cases, both the homeroom teacher and the Dean of Academic Affairs turned a blind eye to spendthrift young masters like him. Knowing they would never excel academically anyway, as long as no major trouble erupted, they simply let them be.
"How about... you come in and watch too?" Zhong Yongliang hesitated, then offered.
"But that's the men's bathroom!" Shen Yushu pointed at the large character for "Male" above the restroom door. "Little Liangzi, you're not going to make us break the rules, are you?"
Being called "Little Liangzi" infuriated Zhong Yongliang, but there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. He forced an ingratiating smile. "It's fine — everyone's out at recess exercises, who would be using the bathroom right now? We're going in first."
Afraid that Wei Zhao might slip into the bathroom and lock himself inside a stall and refuse to come out, Zhong Yongliang hurriedly dashed inside with Zhang Naipao and Gao Xiaofu.
"Sister Yaoyao, how about we go in too?" Shen Yushu had no intention of missing this performance. She was eager to see Wei Zhao beat the living daylights out of Zhong Yongliang.
"I don't think so..." Gu Mengyao wavered. After all, she had never once set foot in a men's bathroom in her entire life.
"Oh come on, what's the big deal? Didn't Zhong Yongliang just say nobody uses the bathroom at this hour?" Without waiting for a reply, Shen Yushu seized Gu Mengyao's hand and pulled her toward the men's bathroom.
"Ah," Gu Mengyao sighed, a vague unease stirring in her chest, some premonition of ill she could not quite name.
Wei Zhao genuinely needed the toilet. He had drunk a great bowl of noodle soup that morning, and the first two periods had kept him busy simply familiarizing himself with the classroom; he had never found a moment to slip away.
This lavatory was surprisingly upscale — urinals of its very own, nothing like the latrine pits back in the village. In the mountain hamlet where Wei Zhao had once lived, answering the call of nature had simply meant finding whatever spot would do.
Wei Zhao was relieving himself with easy gusto when he heard footsteps behind him; in the glass to his side he caught the reflections of Zhong Yongliang, Zhang Naipao and Gao Xiaofu.
"Holy shit — the kid's actually in here taking a piss?" Gao Xiaofu's eyes went wide, half in awe of Wei Zhao's colossal cluelessness. How was it the fellow seemed afraid of nothing whatsoever?
"Leave him to me." Zhong Yongliang let out a cackling laugh and broke into a run toward Wei Zhao. Yesterday Wei Zhao had planted a flying kick on his backside; today he meant to pay it back. What is more, a man at his urinal dreaded outside disturbance more than anything — interrupted, he might in the mildest case be startled into cutting off midstream, in the worst case actually be frightened into some lasting affliction. So one had to admit that Zhong Yongliang was a thoroughly mean-spirited piece of work.
To kick Wei Zhao at this particular moment might not only send him sprawling into the urinal but also frighten him half out of his wits. Zhong Yongliang's mouth was already crooked with glee as he crept toward Wei Zhao on tiptoe.
Wei Zhao had long since spotted Zhong Yongliang's maneuver in the reflection of the glass beside him, and found it faintly comical. The instant the man drew up behind him, Wei Zhao whirled about, set his teeth, and sent a jet of urine arcing toward Zhong Yongliang.