Chapter Forty-Three: Asura

In two days, with exams in Chinese, Math, English, Science, and a comprehensive test, Zhao Zejun tried his best to adjust his mindset, treating the mock exam as seriously as the real college entrance examination. He underestimated it strategically, but took it seriously tactically.

A failed career could be restarted, a broken marriage could be replaced, and even death might bring about another life—yet the college entrance exam was the only thing Zhao Zejun couldn’t afford to repeat. One shot, one outcome; this year, he must succeed.

For every subject, Zhao Zejun handed in his paper only after the final bell had rung—even if he finished early, he painstakingly checked his answers, like a miser unwilling to lose even a single point.

A week later, the results were out.

Zhao Zejun scored 502. His Chinese, Math, and English scores were solid, but his science comprehensive was less than ideal, mainly losing points in Chemistry—he’d earned only half the marks there. Just as in his previous life, Chemistry was his greatest weakness.

This score was still far from the admission line for the University of Science and Technology, but Zhao Zejun felt confident. With half a semester focused on Chemistry, it was the easiest subject to improve; gaining twenty more points shouldn’t be a problem. In the real exam, the hundred or so points from his foreknowledge could be counted as ‘pure profit,’ and with the last semester consolidating his studies, the mock exam was slightly tougher, so his actual score should be higher. Considering all factors, as long as he performed normally and followed the class’s review schedule, getting into the University of Science and Technology wouldn’t be difficult.

Yu Zhe, with his impressive score of 288, unchallenged, claimed last place, sweeping the bottom ranks in Math, Science, and English, dragging the whole class down like a heavy weight. Even Old He’s face soured whenever she saw him.

In this sense, Old He was actually a rather self-sacrificing, traditional woman. She let Yu Zhe into the honors class, lowering the class average and sacrificing her own teaching performance for the sake of her husband’s career: he was transferred from the Security Department of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce to the Inspection Department.

Xia Yubing scored 658, shocking the whole school.

This score was a ticket to the pre-admission list for Peking and Tsinghua Universities, with even a shot at being the provincial top scorer.

On the weekend after school, Zhao Zejun stood at the school gates with a brand-new women’s Giant bicycle. Xia Yubing stared in surprise at the pink bike, glanced at Zhao Zejun, and asked, “Are you planning to change gender?”

Zhao Zejun nearly choked on his own saliva and glared, “It’s not a good thing for girls to be so sharp-tongued.”

“I wasn’t like this before,” Xia Yubing replied innocently.

“Is that my fault?” Zhao Zejun patted the bike seat helplessly. “Since it doesn’t suit me, I’ll give it to you. You’ve been buying me dumplings for ages, keeping me company and listening to my nonsense—consider this a thank-you, and congratulations on your success in the mock exam.”

Xia Yubing suddenly understood—the bike was meant for her all along.

As she gazed at the pink bicycle, an unusual gleam flashed in her eyes, far exceeding the normal level of surprise that such a gift should bring. Zhao Zejun wondered if she was deliberately exaggerating her excitement, but… surely her acting couldn’t be so over the top?

“Thank you, I really like it.” Xia Yubing didn’t stand on ceremony, holding out her hand. “Key!”

Outstanding people and those with secrets are both lonely; two lonely souls, since their dance together last year, had developed a subtle change in their relationship. They often spent time alone, discussing topics that ran deep.

Though neither had spoken openly about their feelings, Xia Yubing knew perfectly well what it meant, and she believed Zhao Zejun did too.

Zhao Zejun placed a new set of keys in her palm. Xia Yubing unlocked the bike and said, “Oh, and thank you for the wine. My mom says aged bayberry wine is good for the blood.”

“I just heard that from someone; hopefully it helps. But you seem different today, why so polite all of a sudden?” Zhao Zejun asked.

Xia Yubing smiled faintly, gave no answer, and pushed the bike along. “Have you decided which university you’ll apply to?”

“The Provincial University of Science and Technology. If I push myself, I still have hope. What about you?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” Xia Yubing hesitated for a few seconds, then asked, “Would you consider studying in the capital? It’s the country’s economic and political center, filled with scholars, tycoons, and officials—whether you go into business, government, or academia, there are more opportunities and a higher platform than in Jiangsu South.”

She finished, her eyes fixed on Zhao Zejun, full of expectation.

Zhao Zejun understood her meaning, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he took a deep breath, lifted his head, and gazed at the clouds.

Following his gaze, the evening sun painted the clouds ablaze.

“Beautiful,” Xia Yubing said, unable to help herself.

“It is beautiful, but it’s still too far from me for now. I can’t reach it, and they don’t belong to me.”

Zhao Zejun drew his eyes back from the horizon and spoke softly, “Rather than chasing clouds in the sky, I prefer the feeling of having my feet on the ground. It’s likely I’ll stay in Jiangsu South for quite some time.”

Xia Yubing’s expression darkened; she bit her lip and lowered her head. “Oh.”

On the way home, both were silent. When Zhao Zejun walked her to the gates of Amber Manor, she finally spoke again, earnest and sincere. “Thank you for the gift.”

“I knew something was off with you today, why keep thanking me?”

Xia Yubing pressed her thin lips together, gave Zhao Zejun a playful look, and said, “Because today is my eighteenth birthday.”

“What? Really? That’s quite the coincidence.”

No wonder—a bike worth less than a thousand yuan shouldn’t have caused such a fuss for a worldly girl like Xia Yubing. It just happened to be her birthday.

He truly hadn’t known it was Xia Yubing’s birthday, but he understood what an eighteenth birthday meant to a sensitive, thoughtful girl. Even for himself, reborn into a new life, the day he turned eighteen was full of turbulent emotions—let alone for Xia Yubing.

If only he hadn’t just spoken about separation; on a day like today, such talk was bound to hurt.

“I really didn’t know. Hmm, let me book a private room and celebrate for you tonight?” Zhao Zejun shifted the topic.

“Not tonight—I have to have dinner with my mom.”

Xia Yubing, who hadn’t smiled all the way, finally broke into a grin, her old self returning. “Tomorrow’s the weekend. I’ll treat you, invite a few classmates, and we’ll go sing karaoke!”

“Great, and we’ll celebrate your triumph in the mock exam!”

“By the way, my best friend is visiting Yi City. She just broke up with her boyfriend, so I’ll bring her along. If you know any handsome guys, invite them too—it’ll be lively.”

“Alright.”

Handsome guys? Ready-made: Jiang Xuan the foreman, pale enough to impersonate Andy Lau, tan enough to pass for Louis Koo. If he ever fell on hard times, he could easily be the star at any host club.

The next morning, Zhao Zejun dragged Jiang Xuan out from the construction site. Jiang lived and ate on site, like a mud monkey, but Zhao Zejun insisted he come to the bathhouse for a soak.

Stripped bare, Jiang Xuan stood under the shower, revealing a muscular back and a fierce Asura tattoo stretching from his hip to his shoulder, covering nearly his entire back.

Full-color tattoos were rare these days—it had cost Jiang Xuan half a year’s savings.

Zhao Zejun glanced at it, shook his head. “You better not show that off and scare people.”

Jiang Xuan, eyes closed, rinsing the soap from his hair, shot back without turning his head, “Damn, not everyone stares at my ass like you! Pass me the soap…”

Zhao Zejun felt thoroughly embarrassed.