I looked up at the IT teacher and saw that he'd already fallen asleep on top of the teacher's desk—actually snoring and rolling around like he was having a great dream.
The class leader stormed toward me and Cao Jingshen with long, angry strides.
"Hurry up and hide the photos! Move too slow and you're dead!" I whispered to the fat idiot beside me.
Cao Jingshen panicked and stuffed the photos into his pockets.Good call not trying to slip them back into the textbook—but he was too clumsy and dropped one.
I snatched it off the floor, but Shu Sha was only two or three steps away, so I didn't have time to pass it over. I shoved the picture into my own pocket and sat stiffly, hoping she didn't notice.
The fatty had the rest of the photos hidden, both hands buried in his pockets like a pig waiting for the butcher. The class leader—expression colder than a winter exam score—stood beside him and said, "Take your hands out. Show me everything in your pockets."
Cao Jingshen was turning the color of rotten liver from holding his breath.
I absolutely couldn't let Shu Sha see these pictures. Even if the fatty deserved it, she'd definitely suspect me too—and probably assume I masterminded the whole thing.
And after what I said in our last class—"I desire every girl in the class"—if she found these pictures on us, I'd instantly become public enemy number one.
So I pretended not to know anything and quietly said,"Class leader… Eunuch Cao over here… was just, uh, rubbing one out using the rear views of the girls in our class."
Because "Jingshen" sounded similar to "castrated" in a different tone, half the class called him "Eunuch Cao."
A muscle twitched under Shu Sha's eye. She gave us a look like we were two piles of steaming dog crap.
I continued, full hooligan-mode:"Class leader, if you reach in there, the only thing you'll find is the tissue he just used afterwards."
Cao Jingshen's face darkened to soy-sauce brown. He was hunched over in an S-shape and breathing hard—like he really had just done it.
Shu Sha's face flickered with disgust, embarrassment, and suspicion.Through my Iron-Blooded Lone Wolf red aura, I could sense her righteous-demon white aura weakening.
Hmph. Even the mighty class leader won't dare check something that gross. No matter how righteous you are, you're still a girl—you can't outplay me in vulgarity.
The nearby classmates started murmuring. The boys were all trying not to laugh. Some girls whispered, "What does rubbing one out mean?"
It looked like Shu Sha didn't want to cause a huge scene while the IT teacher was happily snoring away, so she stomped her foot and marched off, grinding her teeth.
"Hmph! Why don't you two just keep rubbing forever!"
Wow. What a curse.But still—O great class leader—this round goes to me.
Smug, I leaned back, sipped my Coke, and crossed my legs. Five seconds later I realized—Hold on.
If Cao Jingshen had really been masturbating beside me, wouldn't everyone question my sexual orientation?
No wonder both the boys and some girls were glancing over and smirking.
Great. My status in the class food chain has dropped again.
After class, I was planning to return the picture from my pocket to him, but he sprinted for the bathroom yelling,"Boss Haruya, keep that photo for now! I was so nervous earlier, if I don't go right now I'm gonna crap myself!"
I needed to find a chance later to get rid of the evidence. I hadn't even seen whose unfortunate body had been photoshopped into that fake nude. Whoever it was, if someone found the picture it'd be humiliating.
First priority: deliver the H-manga package. That was the more dangerous contraband, and the sooner it was out of my hands, the better.
I rushed back to our classroom, checked that no one was around, stuffed the package of H-manga into my tracksuit jacket, and made myself look about six months pregnant.
Then I gulped down a huge mouthful of Coke to calm down.
"Haruya-classmate, about our lunch date…"
I sprayed Coke everywhere. Goddamn it—she nearly scared me to death!
Of course it was her. That's the exact sneaker she's wearing today. She walks like a ninja—no sound at all! If she's this good, she might as well assassinate corrupt politicians and become a legend.
"Haruya-classmate, why are you holding your stomach?" Xiao Qin edged closer with a smile.
"Get away! None of your business!"
"Why are you acting like this? I didn't even talk to you for the entire last class!" she said, acting all innocent.
"Hey, let's have lunch together?"
"I'm not going! Did you forget the Coke incident yesterday? I'm still holding a bottle right now!" I shook the half-empty bottle threateningly.
Xiao Qin lowered her head, looking miserable. "Yesterday I had to try so hard not to cry. If you pour Coke on me again… I'll really cry this time…" Her eyes reddened, her lips trembled—she looked like she'd burst into tears any second.
"Please don't. I don't want to fight with you today. How about this—I'll have lunch with you tomorrow. I really have something important today. Can you let me go?"
I was carrying two illegal items. I had to avoid suspicion at all costs.
"Really?" Xiao Qin wiped her eyes, hopeful. "If you don't eat with me tomorrow, you're a dog!"
"It's true. If I lie, I'm a dog." I played along helplessly. "I'm going now. Eat by yourself today."I bolted before she could change her mind.
Thank God she didn't follow.
According to the address, it'd be faster if I took the back gate. After crossing the snack street, I had to pass through a maze of alleyways. Three hooligans with dyed hair stood at a corner looking for easy targets. When they saw me approaching, they slipped away into a side alley.
Bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. Even three of them together didn't dare mess with me. Hard to believe I once challenged the "Little Tyrant" when I was half his height.
I reached the residential building behind the snack street. I checked the address carefully:Yulong District – Building B – 11th Floor – Unit #3Recipient: Cao Jing.
After waiting forever for the elevator, I reached the 11th floor, stood in front of #3, and knocked.
"Is Mr. Cao Jing here?"
"Who is it?" A lazy voice answered.
"Express delivery."I'd always wanted to say that.
I heard the sound of plastic slippers dragging across the floor. After about two minutes, the door opened.
For a moment I genuinely thought it was Cao Jingshen.The man looked exactly like an oversized, unshaven, middle-aged version of him. Same face, same body shape—just magnified.
He looked like he'd just woken up. Eye gunk still in place. Hawaiian shirt stretched over his gut, long underwear underneath. Probably because the AC was blasting hot air.
When he saw my school uniform, he paused, then chuckled."Ah, Boss Haruya's kid? I thought you were an actual courier. Come in, come in."
Right—the online shop owner was technically a "boss." I still wasn't used to people calling my dad that.
I wanted to hand over the package and leave, but the damn uncle wouldn't let me go. I had to step inside.
"No need to change into slippers," he said. "It's dirtier in here than outside."
He wasn't lying. The living room was littered with trash and smelled like mold. A small table by the door held a laptop with a chat window open.
The last message on the screen read:"Looking to buy unwashed underwear worn by girls under 10. Contact: qq1730358xxx."
I nearly had a heart attack on the spot.
Aside from the computer table, the only real furniture in the room was a big bed with messy white sheets. A camera on a tripod was pointed straight at it. A studio soft light stood beside it. A board wrapped in foil leaned nearby—I later learned it was a reflector board.
All the photography equipment faced the bed like it was the star of the show.
No matter how you looked at it, this room screamed "adult film set."
I swallowed hard and asked,
"…Are you Cao Jingshen's dad?"