America: A Prodigy of Stereotypes

“The more people there are, the greater the chance of getting caught,” Gwen warned.

“We’re not doing anything wrong, so what if the teachers catch us?” Peter asked.

“The principal might thank us for saving the school’s reputation, but Frye and his friends will be furious and blame us for ruining their winter swimming party,” Gwen said.

"So, we just need to keep it a secret, and the few of us need to keep it a secret too," Li Qun said.

“Liz, you’re not talking nonsense, are you?” Harry looked at Liz.

“Of course, I’m their traitor, I don’t want to go winter swimming with them,” Liz said.

"Will the glue dry faster if I put it on the radiator?" Harry asked.

“It’s better not to try,” Peter said to Harry.

……

……

Joe walked down the corridor of the teaching building with his head down and bumped into other people.

"What?"

"sorry."

"You stepped on my shoe, is that all?"

I'm sorry.

"Now, help me clean my shoes."

Joe was surrounded by several people; the corridor was full of people, but they all seemed to be watching his spectacle.

"What are you doing? Get out of my way."

Shuangxi walked up behind Qiao; Shuangxi's height and build were quite imposing.

"Thomas, this has nothing to do with you. He's the one who doesn't watch where he's going."

Shuangxi's English name at school is Thomas, but the name doesn't match his appearance.

"Can I apologize to you?" Shuangxi asked the black guy who had been bumped by Qiao.

"Alright, for your sake."

The people surrounding Joe dispersed, but some of them still glanced back at him; the matter was not over yet.

“Joe, you need to hold your head up when you walk,” Shuangxi said to Joe.

"it is good."

"Shall we go home together?" Shuangxi asked.

“Sure,” Joe replied.

Qiao smiled at Shuangxi, but Shuangxi sensed that Qiao's smile was strained.

After leaving the school, the two headed to the bus stop. Usually, they wouldn't exchange more than a few words even if they boarded the same bus, but today they suddenly started chatting at the bus stop.

“Thomas, why does talking to them work?” Joe asked.

"Because I walk with my head up," Shuangxi replied.

"Seriously."

“Okay, because I can take them all on by myself,” Shuangxi said.

"Hmm?" Qiao looked up at Shuangxi.

Qiao is not tall, but Shuangxi is very tall.

Shuangxi is still growing taller, and his appetite is also increasing.

“I remember your family moved here, but I grew up here.”

Joe nodded, but he couldn't sense any difference between the two of them.

“Joe, I feel like you’ve never been in a fight, but I’ve been fighting with other kids since I was a kid.”

"Fighting is troublesome, so we try to avoid being discovered by adults when we fight."

Joe nodded.

“You’re too thin, and you always keep your head down. If I weren’t at school, you’d be the one people pick on for no reason,” Shuangxi said.

"The bus is here." Joe took out his transit card.

Once on the bus, the two sat in the same row and continued chatting.

What does it mean if you're not here?

“The older generation often teaches us to unite. So, if any Asians are bullied at school, I will help them,” Shuangxi told Qiao.

"The same goes for today."

"you are great."

"I'm not that good, my cousin is much better, I can't beat my cousin," Shuangxi said.

"Jerry's cousin from 'Tom and Jerry'?" Joe glanced at Shuangxi.

"It feels about the same; my cousin could pick me up and throw me to the ground," Shuangxi said.

"really?"

"My cousin knows kung fu. Although I can do it too, the difference is huge."

"You and your cousin both know kung fu? Real kung fu?"

“It’s real fighting skills, not just performance skills,” Qiao emphasized to Shuangxi.

“You can really fight, just like in kung fu movies.” Shuangxi looked at Qiao.

“Liqun, your cousin…”

"Mm." Shuangxi nodded.

"I heard he was in a very serious car accident."

"You're wondering how my cousin could have such amazing kung fu skills after a car accident? But I'm here to tell you, my cousin only started learning kung fu after the accident."

"At first, my parents simply thought that my cousin was learning kung fu as a kind of rehabilitation training, but they never expected that my cousin would become a kung fu successor. He is a martial arts prodigy."

"His one year of training is equivalent to others' ten years of training."

“Thomas, aren’t you exaggerating a bit? Because he’s your cousin, you’re seeing him through a filter,” Joe said.

"No, no, no, you know nothing about him."

Can you prove it to me?

“Whether you have time or not, I can prove it to you.” Shuangxi looked at Qiao.

“I’m available anytime,” Joe said.

"Want to come to my house later?"

"Can we go after dinner?" Joe asked.

“I can provide you with dinner; my family owns a restaurant,” Shuangxi said.

“I’m going to have dinner with my mom,” Joe said.

"I'll also take care of your mother's dinner," Shuangxi said.

"Alright, in that case..."

"Joe, do you like kung fu?" Shuangxi asked.

“My dad likes it, but he always says kung fu is something that's acted out,” Joe said.

"Doesn't your father eat dinner?" Shuangxi thought of a question.

He has passed away.

"Oh, sorry."

Chapter 280 Rejecting Any Change

"Weren't you asked to do chores when you got home?"

"I want to help, but my mom won't let me."

"Me too, but my mom allowed my cousin to help."

"How can you help?" Qiao asked Shuangxi.

"Wash the vegetables," Shuangxi replied.

"Your restaurant has a lot of customers."

"Yes, it's like this every day when I get home; every table is full of people."

"I think I'll wait outside."

I will be back soon.

Shuangxi went upstairs to put down his schoolbag first, then went downstairs and said a few words to his mother. The promise that Shuangxi made to Qiao about his bag and his mother's dinner arrangements were then made.

When Shuangxi came out again, she was carrying steaming hot food in both hands.

"Let's go to your house."

"Hurry up, stop spacing out, the food will get cold soon," Shuangxi urged.

"Oh."

"Are you this blank when you're with your friends at school?" Shuangxi asked Qiao.

“My friends… no.”

"Thomas, you always seem to be a loner at school, not very sociable."

"I like being alone," Shuangxi said.

"Don't you feel uncomfortable?" Joe asked.