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nWhen I’m in thought, I would often clench my fists then relax them, repeatedly.

nCurrently, both my hands were in my pockets. In my right pocket was the pair of recently seized underwear.

nWhen I became conscious of that fact, I had already rubbed the class leader’s underwear multiple times.

nHow embarrassing, it’s almost as if I’m a pervert.

nWhy was I this nervous and a bit excited? Isn’t it just a triangular piece of cloth? Will I have delusions about the class leader wearing this underwear, or the image of her washing her underwear in the washroom.

nThe panty thief probably has a similar way of thinking and that’s why he has a collection of underwear.

nThis pair of underwear can’t be discovered by anyone, especially not the class leader. Even if I told her that her brother stole it, she definitely won’t believe me and might even suspect me of being XiCheng’s panty thief.

nIf that happened, I would be the disgrace of my family.

nShould I throw it away or burn it? What a pity…

nNo no no, I wasn’t thinking it was a pity in that kind of way. I just meant that this pair of underwear costs around 13 dollars, so it’s clothing with usable value (again not in that kind of way)

nThe class leader has always been frugal and hates waste, an advocate to always use everything to its fullest. Since the underwear wasn’t damaged and has been washed, that means the class leader was planning on wearing it again.

nThat means if I could return the underwear to the class leader, it would be a happy ending for both the underwear and the class leader.

nBut not so sure that it would be a good ending for me.

nRegardless if I I hand it over brazenly in public (“Class leader, you dropped your underwear!”) or if I hand it over in secret (“No need to thank me, I’m Lei Feng.”), it would result in her slapping me.

nI walked towards the school building while racking my brains. Suddenly, someone hit me from behind.

nA girl shouted towards me: “Why so suspicious, are you guilty and afraid of getting caught!”

nAlmost scared me to death. I unconsciously covered the underwear hidden in my pockets and turned around only to find out it was Loud Mouth.

n“You,.. why are you looking for me?”

n“Eh? Why can’t I look for you?” Loud Mouth had a fearless expression, “Let me ask you, did you apologize to the class leader last week?”

n“Probably, it should count as an apology…”

nI answered with uncertainty.

n“Probably? Hmph, you’re definitely just trying to muddle your way through! But since you treated the class leader to a meal, I’ll let you off the hook!”

nI was alarmed: “How did you know I treated her to a a meal! Did she tell you?”

nLoud Mouth puffed up her cheeks like a frog and said complacently:

n“The class leader didn’t tell me, but if you didn’t want others to know, unless… why are you so surprised? Don’t tell me you didn’t treat the class leader to a meal to apologize, but you had ulterior motives?”

n“No, it was for an apology!” I denied it firmly. “Geng YuHong classmate, you’re overthinking.”

nLoud Mouth widened her eyes in surprise.

n“Eh? You knew my name? I thought you always called me by my nickname since you forgot my real name!”

nI’m really sorry, I only remembered your name when the class leader reminded me on Saturday.

nAfter she heard me call her by her real name, Loud Mouth probably felt better and didn’t pursue any further.

nHowever she joked that she would need hush money.

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n“My cousin saw you and the class leader. He didn’t know you guys, but he felt like you guys left a memorable impression. I inferred that it was you and the class leader from his description.”

nThat makes sense, there were a lot of people in the cafe that day. The class leader had long hair past the hips, and I was in a full suit of gray with a repulsive appearance; we were probably an unforgettable group.

nDon’t forget the exciting event where the class leader crawled under the table.

n“Haha, Ye Lin, I’m pretty smart, eh? I knew it was you guys in an instant! You confessed so easily today! I haven’t told anyone about it yet… so if you don’t want it to be exposed, treat me to McDonald’s as hush money.”

nActually Loud Mouth has helped a lot in the past few days. Last time when Xiao Qin injured her head, Loud Mouth and Little Smart accompanied her to the subway station. I should have treated them to a meal long ago.

nBut after I saw Loud Mouth smiling without a care in the world, I decided it wold be more interesting if we spoke a bit more.

n“You really didn’t tell anyone?”

nLoud Mouth nodded her head vigorously.

n“You didn’t even tell Little Smart?”

nLoud Mouth rolled her eyes back and turned away in embarrassment.

nOf course you told Little Smart! No wonder you guys are the gossip group of the class!

n“If Little Smart knows, wouldn’t this gossip be spread around?”

nLoud Mouth made an expression as if to say “don’t look down on us”.

n“This is gossip that involves the class leader! There’s a camaraderie between us and the class leader! Whatever, I was joking about the hush money anyways. Even if you don’t treat me, I won’t make it hard for the class leader.”

nAfter she finished her sentence, she turned around to leave. She wasn’t visibly angry, but her impression had an air of “it’s not fun messing around anymore”.

nI told Loud Mouth to stop.

n“Don’t leave! I never said I wasn’t going to pay the hush money, I just wanted to make sure how many people knew about it!”

nLoud Mouth turned around skeptically. “Are you saying you want to treat Little Smart and me?”

n“Yeah, if two people know about it, then it wouldn’t make sense to pay hush money to only one of them!”

n“Eh? I didn’t realize you were so generous! Then Little Smart and I will be with you tomorrow at noon!”

nI immediately agreed and also asked:

n“This matter about eating with the class leader, does she know that you guys know about it?”

nLook at my sentence composition, no wonder I get terrible grades in language class.

nLoud Mouth seemed to have understood the meaning.

n“The class leader doesn’t know, if I told her she would needlessly worry. I just wanted to try extorting you, who knew it would work! I’m going to tell Little Smart right now that there’s a spendthrift treating us tomorrow, and let her admire my abilities! Haha!”

nI stopped Loud Mouth again.

n“Um… If the class leader asks why I’m treating you guys tomorrow, just tell her it’s gratitude for accompanying Xiao Qin home. Don’t tell her it’s hush money!”

nI didn’t want the class leader to misunderstand, she might think that I cared a lot about people finding out that I had a meal with her.

nAfter she heard what I said, Loud Mouth slanted her head and stared at me, as if it was our first meeting.

n“Who knew that Ye Lin has a conscience! You still remember the time when we sent Xiao Qin home! Actually we didn’t send her home, only to the station… but it seems like you care about Xiao Qin a lot. Even if she’s not your girlfriend, I guess you guys are still childhood friends…”

nI was too lazy to explain the details to Loud Mouth, so I just let her imagination do the work.

nI suddenly remembered that if I just abandoned Xiao Qin tomorrow at noon, she would pout and throw tantrums. Probably not because I invited people to eat, but because she wants to eat with me.

nAdditionally, the class leader probably won’t mind if I don’t invite her. But if Little Smart and Loud Mouth isn’t there to accompany her during lunch, she might be lonely.

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nA great idea suddenly hit me.

nI told Loud Mouth to bring the class leader tomorrow, and I would bring Xiao Qin and another person.

nLoud Mouth asked worriedly: “Six people, including you? Would that be too much of a burden?”

nI shook my hand to show it was no problem, as long as you didn’t mind the other person I was bringing, who would share the burden of the meal with me.

nLoud Mouth asked me who was the extra person, and I said it was Eunuch Cao, Cao JingShen.

n“Why would he treat us? Is it because you’re his master?”

n“Uhh… he’s brought a lot of trouble for the class this year, especially the class leader. I’m asking him to apologize for his crimes! If I was there, he wouldn’t dare deny it!”

nAfter she heard my guarantee, Loud Mouth nodded in agreement.

n“I guess that’s fine, doesn’t matter who’s treating! If Eunuch Cao acts cocky, I’ll just eat a few more hamburgers and let him suffer!”

nWe finally decided to meet tomorrow at noon. Eunuch Cao and I would treat Loud Mouth, Little Smart, Xiao Qin, and the class leader to a meal at the McDonald’s near our school.

nI actually didn’t even need Eunuch Cao to pay. I don’t have a lot of expenditures, and the allowance I get from the old man is plenty to treat others to a few meals (I also have that strange credit card I got from Ai Mi).

nThe reason why I wanted Eunuch Cao to participate, was to act as an apology to the class leader.

nHe sold so many nude PS photos of the class leader and raked in the profits. It would be inexcusable if he didn’t at least treat her to a meal at McDonald’s.

nObviously, even if he treated her to a meal everyday, it would not offset his crimes. I just wanted to remind him not to act so presumptuous.

nWhen I told Eunuch Cao about him treating all of us, he instantly agreed and said:

n“The student treating his master, the master’s wife, and the master’s guests is only to be expected! How can I ask master to pay out of his own pockets! I’ll pay for everything! Everyone can eat their hearts out!”

nHe sounded dignified, but it seemed he made a killing on the photos he sold. He’s extremely generous because he’s afraid I’ll cut off his source of income.

nBased on how much Cao JingShen reveres me, if I told him to stop, I might be able to cut off the source of nude photos of the class leader.

nBut the problem right now isn’t the fake PS photos, but the real ones that Shu Zhe can provide.

nWhen I thought of Shu Zhe, I remembered the pair of underwear still in my pocket. I need to solve this problem fast, otherwise tomorrow’s meal would be my last.

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