Chapter 039: Frivolity

A perverse amusement.

Yes, Zhang Tan was teasing the young woman, indulging himself with the wicked delight of an eccentric uncle. Watching the embarrassed look on the pretty girl's face brought him a unique pleasure that swept away even the gloom of being kicked out by the teacher.

Drink it? That sounded disgusting.

Not drink it? Then how could he know if the yogurt had gone bad?

Caught off guard by Zhang Tan's sudden suggestion, the young woman—resourceful, as one would expect from a college student—quickly responded, "Let me get you another bottle."

Zhang Tan feigned disappointment. "But what if that one's gone bad too? They're all from the same batch, you know."

"I'll drink one first. If it tastes off, I'll refund you." With that, the young woman opened a sealed bottle and took a sip.

With the straw between her lips, the milky liquid slid up and into her mouth. She pursed her lips, letting her tongue taste the yogurt, and suddenly her brows relaxed. "This one's perfectly fine—fresh and delicious, absolutely no problem."

"Oh, really? Then I’m relieved."

"Let me get you a different one."

"No need, just give me the one I was drinking." Teasing was one thing, but tricking her into giving him another bottle would be crossing the line.

"But hasn't this one spoiled?"

"I like my yogurt sour. The tangier, the better."

The young woman blinked three times, then glared at Zhang Tan. "So, you were just messing with me, weren’t you?"

"Not at all." Zhang Tan widened his eyes in feigned innocence, his lie utterly unconvincing. "Taste it yourself if you don’t believe me. It really is off."

Could his attempt to trick her be any more blatant? Could his flirting be any more direct?

The young woman nearly burst out laughing in exasperation. She tossed the half-finished bottle at him. "Hey, kid, do you think I’m stupid? Here, take your yogurt and get lost."

"Who are you calling a kid? I’m not small anywhere, you know. Want to find out?" The implication in his words was so blatant even Zhang Tan felt he’d gone too far—far too brazen.

Though she wasn’t that young herself, the woman understood perfectly. But instead of taking offense, she just laughed and waved him off. "Go on, get out of here! I bet you’re from Shuangdun High School. Everyone else is in class—what are you doing out here, you little punk!"

Zhang Tan just shrugged. "The teacher kicked me out."

She asked casually, "What for, disrupting class?"

"No, for being too handsome."

"What?"

Zhang Tan put on a wounded look. "The teacher’s lectures are terrible, and I’m too good-looking. The girls keep staring at me and won’t listen to the class. So now, my handsomeness is a crime, and the teacher exiled me from the classroom."

"Oh, please, stop making things up."

"How is that making things up? Don’t you see standing before you is a dashing, elegant young man?"

"A handsome radish, more like."

...

Zhang Tan was a frivolous person. He had been in his previous life, and in this one, he was even more so—growing ever more flamboyant.

Living freely was his new creed. In his previous life, he’d spent thirty years following the rules, living honestly and dutifully, and he had no wish to repeat such a mechanical existence, like a numb machine. A day spent frowning or a day spent smiling, it’s still a day—so why not enjoy it? If there’s fun to be had, seize it. If not, make your own.

Quiet and still, he was a gentleman. Lively and loud, a clownish youth.

Zhang Tan didn’t hide the cunning of an ordinary man, but beyond that, he strove to refine his taste, to add an air of artistry to his life.

Writing novels, playing music, making movies, starting companies, earning some money, gaining a bit of fame—strutting along with showy steps, singing childhood songs.

Living as his true self.

"This is the freedom I want."

The bell rang for class to end.

From a distance, he saw Luo Jinsong had already left the classroom, so Zhang Tan sauntered upstairs, unhurried, and returned to class.

Noise crashed over him as soon as he entered.

"Incredible, Detective, you’re amazing!" Li Dong, sitting by the door, shot him an exaggerated thumbs-up.

"Thanks for the praise."

"You look so at ease, Zhang Tan—bet you’ve been kicked out plenty of times before, huh?"

"Trust me, this is the first time ... this month."

Cao Yuchuan was busy reporting, "They took your manuscript."

Zhang Tan nodded. "Oh?"

"I have it here, Zhang Tan. What about the rest?"

"Didn’t bring it."

"Hey, genius, you’re back!"

"Keep it low-key."

"Wow, ‘The Four Great Constables Shake the Northeast’—when’s it going to be published? We want a look!"

"Don’t be impatient."

The moment Zhang Tan returned, the class erupted with noise and excitement.

Some joked, some admired his guts, some just wanted to read his novel. In any case, Zhang Tan received a hero’s welcome from his classmates.

He responded to everyone with easy good humor.

During the era of the New Democratic Revolution, the Chinese people bore three great burdens: imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism. For students, though, there were also three great burdens: teachers, parents, and exams. These mountains were hard to topple, but everyone admired those who dared resist.

Zhang Tan was, without doubt, the first in Class Five of Grade One to defy a teacher.

In truth, he hadn’t succeeded; he’d still been punished and sent out. But even in defeat, there was honor—at least he’d shaken the teacher’s absolute authority.

Rebellion, at times, is a kind of fashion.

For adolescents, it certainly is.

As for Zhang Tan himself, he was half-amused, half-helpless. The most dangerous kind of showing off is the kind you don’t realize you’re doing, and it seemed he’d inadvertently done just that. But he’d never meant to show off by going up against the teacher—doing so was childish, even low-class. Zhang Tan’s grades weren’t great, but in the future, he would only regret not listening more in class, never blaming the teachers.

Teachers deserve respect—the more mature you become, the more you realize it.

Provided, of course, the teacher isn’t picking on you.

"Let’s keep it low-key, everyone. Calm down. This isn’t anything to be proud of, so let’s just drop it." Zhang Tan waved his hand and sat back in his seat. "Hey, whoever took my manuscript, could you return it? It’s missing the beginning and end, you can’t make sense of it anyway."

Once his manuscript was returned, more voices called out, asking when it would be published.

It was rare for the class to have a novelist, and everyone’s curiosity was intense.

Zhang Tan had no choice but to say something to quiet the crowd. "Uh, I plan to submit it to Tales of Past and Present. You can keep an eye out for that magazine—Tales of Past and Present: Martial Arts Edition. Okay, enough questions for now."

"Tales of Past and Present, huh? Cool, I’ll look for it next time at the bookstore!"

"A martial arts novel? Awesome!"

"Hey, genius, if you get paid for it, you have to treat us all to a meal!"

Zhang Tan nodded and played along. "No problem."

At that moment, Liang Wei, who had already been watching Zhang Tan’s triumphant return with some displeasure, deliberately spoke up in a joking tone, "Zhang Tan, don’t boast. It’s not so easy to get a novel published. I doubt we’ll ever get that meal from you."

Zhang Tan squinted and smiled. "Maybe. That’ll save me some money."

A self-deprecating joke.

But to Liang Wei, it sounded like surrender.

He tossed his head triumphantly and said in a condescending tone, "Well, Detective, at least you know your limits. Just keep writing—maybe after a few years, you’ll get lucky. If you do, you’ll have to treat us, haha. At least there’s hope. Treat it as a hobby—fine for spare time, but don’t neglect your real studies."

Zhang Tan was speechless. Liang Wei sure had a high opinion of himself.

To argue back would feel petty, but to let it go felt like having a toad squatting on your foot—irritating even if it couldn’t bite.

Before Zhang Tan could decide what to do, Zhu Dandan from the front row spoke up for him. "Liang Wei, what kind of talk is that? How do you know Zhang Tan’s novel isn’t good? Don’t look down on people."

"Just stating the facts—what’s it to you?" Liang Wei retorted.

Hot-tempered Zhu Dandan gave him no quarter, snapping back, "You haven’t even read Zhang Tan’s manuscript. What facts do you even have? People like you are disgusting."

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This was today’s second update—another one will follow soon.

Also, for those feeling bored or lonely, you can check out Old Bai’s previous book, Legend of the Extra, to pass the time.