Section 2: Root is Right and Sprout is Red

  But on the surface, Wen Jing and I both look like we're from a good family, absolutely two model young people who are always striving to be better. If we were to pretend to be elegant ladies, that would be one fake each. But in reality, we're not quiet and demure maidens, we've been tomboys since birth. To put it in Gu Xiao Bei's words, when guys see our photos they immediately start having fantasies, but when they meet us in person, they immediately regret ever having those thoughts. Wen Jing especially dislikes girls who pretend to be elegant, at first she would say "you think you're so refined?" whenever she saw someone being pretentious, later on she changed her tune and said "you think you're a virgin?" It's as if in her eyes, women are divided into two categories: virgins and non-virgins. After that, no girl dared to be pretentious in front of us again. But Wen Jing once got into trouble, last time she went to a dinner party with her dad, they met a woman who was being overly elegant, Wen Jing immediately got worked up and said "you look like you'd rob a bank but you're still pretending to be a virgin?" The woman's face turned longer than anything else, and what's worse is that she went to tell Wen Jing's dad about it, and her dad happened to be the one footing the bill for the dinner party. As a result, Wen Jing got her allowance cut off for a month. Usually, Wen Jing was used to spending money recklessly, how could she possibly have any savings? The next day after getting scolded, Wen Jing immediately came to me complaining and venting her frustrations. In the end, Wen Jing said "I knew I should've gotten my dad to back me up, no use, we're just not that kind of people." As soon as I heard those words, I felt a sense of foreboding, she then dropped the bombshell and said "Lin Lan, this month I'm counting on you." My eyes immediately went dark, I thought about the tennis racket I had been eyeing, it looked like I wouldn't be able to buy it, maybe I'd even have to throw in a few clothes. In the end, Wen Jing really did take advantage of me for an entire month.

  I once asked Wen Jing why so many people want to pretend to be a lady, and Wen Jing said it's because it's easy to pretend. I didn't feel ashamed to ask how to pretend. Wen Jing said, as long as you say what should be said about me to others, then everything will be fine.

  The car rushed onto the elevated bridge, and Wen Jing stopped her crazy talk with that driver. I was thinking that the driver had been driven mad by her earlier, and now that we were on the elevated bridge, of course, he couldn't joke around with our lives, after all, it's a matter of three lives in one car. Taking advantage of Wen Jing's silence, I took a look at her and found that she was dressed especially gorgeously today. Wen Jing has a peculiar way of dressing, changing styles every now and then, and I really can't stand her surreal style.

  I said, it's not like you're going to a masquerade ball, why dress up as a turkey for no reason?

  You're really hard to listen to. I've been cooped up at home for too long and needed to get out for some fresh air, or else I'd go moldy. Dressing up proves that I'm also a passionate and fiery young person.

  You're already so hot-blooded without dressing up, what can't be done without you? What's going on today that I've been called out for?

  Didn't I say so? A big group of people are at home, getting bored to the point of going crazy. If they don't come out, I reckon they'll have to be taken directly to the mental hospital by ambulance.

  I suddenly realized that the summer vacation has been two weeks, I spent all day at home sleeping, watching movies, surfing the internet, eating and sleeping, my life was quite good, I didn't feel like the days were hard to get through, on the contrary, I felt like I was so leisurely that I was about to become a fairy. Last semester went particularly smoothly for me, those old professors seemed to have agreed to give me high scores, my transcript was full of A's, it was especially beautiful. So this summer vacation has been particularly relaxing for me, thinking that once school starts I'll be a senior, internship period, I'm also a big girl now, just thinking about it makes me feel spirited.

  I was indulging in my magnificent future when Wen Jing suddenly threw a sentence over, and I heard that Gu Xiao Bei has a new girlfriend, and she's brought her today. She deliberately lowered her voice, making it seem like we're discussing a murder or robbery deal.

  I shifted in my seat and felt a bit uncomfortable. I said, no one is pinching your neck, so speak seriously to me.

  I'm surprised, Gu Xiaobei has a new girlfriend and you don't have any reaction.

  What's my reaction? It's none of my business.

  Wen Jing didn't say a word and still had a Mona Lisa smile on her face, I looked at it and felt particularly awkward. If you saw a turkey looking at you like that, you'd feel awkward too.

  The car rushed down from the elevated bridge and into the bustling downtown area, with a kaleidoscope of sounds and colors outside the window.

  The car drove for another ten minutes and I said to Wen Jing, if you dare mention those old yellow calendar things again, I'll kill you.