Short Story of XiaoWang

CHAPTER 16

On the day of the founding anniversary, the whole school was celebrating.

In the morning, each department performed an act in the school's thousand-person hall. Most of them were regular talent show acts and there were also a few sleep-inducing poem readings. Xiao Zhan 's department's 10-person sketch on the characteristics of the T University campus, which roasted all aspects of the university, resonated deeply with the audience. The students in the audience all laughed with joy. Xiao Zhan had already seen it countless times during rehearsals, but he still gave them face by applauding.

In the afternoon, the stalls of various societies were open. Liu Han and Xiao Xiao insisted on dragging him around on a stroll. After playing some of the games along the way, they came across a dart shooting booth and happened to find Wang Yibo in charge of the booth.

Xiao Zhan glanced at the name of the society: Astronomy Club. No wonder there were various constellations on the dart board.

Wang Yibo saw Xiao Zhan and immediately gave him a bunch of darts, double the number of anyone else. He smiled and said, "Xuezhang, there are prizes for the shots."

"What are the rules?"

"Just shoot your own constellation."

Xiao Zhan was an Aries. He glanced at the board, rolled his wrist to prep his hand, then he raised his hand and aimed.

"What's your sign?"

Wang Yibo said blankly, "Ah? Mine's Cancer."

*Whoosh!* A dart flew through the air, accurately nailing into the position of the Cancer constellation.

"Xuezhang, you're supposed to hit your own......" Wang Yibo explained the rules again.

"Silly dog." Xiao Zhan quickly threw a dart again, hitting his target once more.

"Incurably stupid." Another shot.

"Sooner or later, you'll infuriate me to death." Another one.

On the sidelines, Liu Han and Xiao Xiao burst into side-splitting laughter. Only Wang Yibo blankly watched Xiao Zhan throwing the darts as if he were venting his anger, until all ten darts were thrown and the Cancer target was densely packed with darts.

Xiao Zhan still felt he hadn't vented enough after throwing them and wanted to turn around and scold Wang Yibo personally, when suddenly there was a sound beside him.

"Accurate shots!"

Zou Rui walked over with a smile, naturally slinging an arm over Xiao Zhan 's shoulders, and casually said to Wang Yibo , "Give me try, I want to shoot his......sign."

(t/n: 'shoot' is also slang for ejaculate on, like in English)

Xiao Zhan frowned and shook off Zou Rui's hand, "Fuck off."

Zou Rui burst into laughter, "Don't be shy."

After he finished saying this, he noticed that Wang Yibo was still there, staring at him with a stunned expression.

"Give it to me. What, you won't go along? Then let's have a competition," Zou Rui provoked.

The smile he'd been showing Xiao Zhan dropped from Wang Yibo 's face. The clear, sharp bright face suddenly appeared a bit grim, his brown-green eyes seeming to exude a feeling of danger.

Xiao Zhan had never seen him show this expression and hesitated for a moment.

Wang Yibo said nothing, but came to stand next to Zou Rui, giving him five darts and taking five for himself as well. His competitive attitude could be seen clearly.

Zou Rui didn't take him seriously, chuckling and raising his hand. He tossed casually and hit directly in the center of the Aries target.

Wang Yibo stared at the target with silent intent, wearing a rather heavy expression, as if this were the game that would determine his fate. He did a few test movements, carefully aimed, and then made a hard shot—

"Ding!" The dart shot into the Pisces target.

Zou Rui laughed with even more arrogance and disdain, raising his hand and throwing out the remaining four darts. They all easily hit the target.

Even if Wang Yibo made the next four, he'd already lost.

Seeing Wang Yibo 's expression was a bit ugly, Liu Han pulled Xiao Zhan aside and whispered, urging, "Don't let them compete like this. Your little xuedi's self-esteem can't take much more of this."

Xiao Zhan shook his head and continued to watch without lifting a finger. Wang Yibo glanced back at him, communicating his resolution without a word, and then took a deep breath. He worked up the courage to throw out the remaining darts. He concentrated for each, putting everything he had into it.

Unfortunately, not a single one of them entered the Aries target.

"Psh, weak." Zou Rui said with contempt, "Zhan , come with me and help me choose an outfit for the dance."

Xiao Zhan looked at Wang Yibo , who was standing off to the side silently, with his eyes lowered. He thought to himself, this silly dog knew he had little hope of winning, yet he dared to agree to a match. Can this be called foolhardy1 or courageous1?

Or maybe, I should say I like him so much that I'll like him even if there is only a glimmer of hope. I think I have a new level of appreciation for him.

He was instantly in a good mood, the corner of his mouth lifting. He stepped forward and rubbed Wang Yibo 's head, whispering in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Silly dog, go to the dance tonight and I'll give you a surprise."

Wang Yibo looked up in confusion, still showing that lonely desolation in his eyes, but Xiao Zhan had already left with Zou Rui.

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Footnotes:

1. Foolhardy (有勇无谋): idiom, bold but not very astute; courageous (勇气可嘉): idiom, deserving praise for showing courage ↩

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