Chapter 52 (1/2)

Chapter 52

Qin Xu who was chatting with Xie Zhe on the side looked back and saw Jiang Yang eating snacks with his head lowered. His thick eyelashes were slightly lowered and, for once, he looked very well-behaved. Qin Xu smiled suddenly and started to lean forward until his whole body was almost plastered up against Jiang Yang's back. His arm reached over Jiang Yang's shoulder and this made it look like he was holding him in his embrace.

Jiang Yang felt the warm body heat coming from his back and quickly stiffened up in response. He subconsciously tried to shake him off his back. At the same time, he stood up with a hint of panic in his eyes like he was trying to hide from something.

Qin Xu no longer had something to lean against and fell forwards over the chair. The other boys saw this and laughed out loud. They ridiculed: ”Xu brother was thrown away.”

The person involved however wasn't unhappy. Instead, he supported himself back up and watched Jiang Yang with interest while supporting his chin in his hand. It was as if he had just discovered something interesting and Jiang Yang who noticed his blatant gaze felt his scalp go numb. Just as he wanted to curse him out in return, Qin Xu suddenly moved his line of sight away and started to joke around with the boys as if nothing had happened.

Late night self-study.

The cla.s.sroom was very quiet and there were only the scratching sounds of pencils moving and the occasional rustle when pages were turned. At night, the temperature outside had already dropped to ten degrees and the harsh winter wind whistled past outside the windows. In this weather where it was cold to the point that you could almost freeze, it takes courage to do things like going to the bathroom and was.h.i.+ng their hands. As for the cla.s.sroom, it was very warm. With so many people gathered together, it may be a little stuffy, but it was still many times better than outside.

And so, most of the students stuck to their chairs and didn't move. With the silence in the cla.s.sroom and the warm environment, it wasn't surprising that one would soon start feeling drowsy.

After finis.h.i.+ng his homework, Jiang Yang only reviewed his lessons for a while before his eyelids started to droop. His head nodded several times and his eyes were soon half closed. Not long afterwards, Jiang Yang decided to make himself comfortable. He pushed everything in front of him back and laid on the table to sleep.

Qin Xu who was originally writing in his workbook slowed down his pace and slightly tilted his head to look over at Jiang Yang. Jiang Yang had both his hands on the table and his head rested on his forearm while his face is buried inside. From this angle, Qin Xu could only see the back of his head and the half-exposed pale neck.

Qin Xu saw this and inexplicably felt the corners of his lips lift upwards to form a smile.

Without any hesitation Qin Xu also threw down his pen and pushed his books aside. He gently laid down near the edge of his desk that was closest to Jiang Yang, and rested his head on his arm while facing Jiang Yang's direction.

Like this, they were at a very close distance from each other.

Qin Xu could smell the faint scent of grapefruit coming from Jiang Yang. It was the smell of the bodywash that he often used. Qin Xu stared over at him unblinkingly and, because he was at such a close distance, he could see the fine hairs on the back of Jiang Yang's neck. With the ends of his hair curling slightly upwards, it contrasted greatly against his pale neck.

Qin Xu felt his fingers itch and he suddenly had the urge to reach out and pinch it.

At this moment.

Jiang Yang who had been sleeping peacefully started to move without any warning. It seemed like his fingers were cold as he pulled at his sleeves and shrank his hands inside. With his eyes still closed, he moved his head to one side to make himself comfortable and it just happened that he had turned to face Qin Xu's direction.

Qin Xu: ”…….” For a moment he was so nervous he had forgotten to breathe.

As for Jiang Yang, despite having his eyes closed he could seemingly feel someone's burning gaze directed at him. He furrowed his brows and opened his eyes with some doubts only to see a face right in front of his nose. If he tilted his head forward, he would easily be able to kiss it.

Jiang Yang was still in a half-asleep state and, suddenly finding himself in this situation, he was unable to figure out what was going on and could only blink dumbfoundedly.

When Qin Xu saw Jiang Yang slowly recover his senses, he thought he would get beaten and for a moment he considered whether he should dodge. However, the next second Jiang Yang was the one who moved first. Like he was scared he quickly shrank back to the other end of his desk. Because he had moved so quickly, he almost fell.

Jiang Yang turned his face to the other side and laid down on his table as if nothing had happened and Qin Xu now could only see the back of his head.

Qin Xu was a little surprised by this reaction of his and for a moment he couldn't react. He then saw Jiang Yang's gradually reddening ears and unexpectedly found it very cute.

Qin Xu snickered silently and was no longer able to suppress his impulses. He raised his hand and reached for the strand of hair on the back of Jiang Yang's neck. He rubbed it in between his fingers and even tugged at it a few times.

With such an obvious action, Jiang Yang couldn't ignore it. He reached out and ruthlessly swatted away his hand before using his hand to press onto the back of his neck to prevent him from touching it any further.

Seeing that the hair he had been playing with was blocked, Qin Xu was tempted to continue reaching for it. He used his fingers to gently tickle the back of Jiang Yang's hand and, because he did it very lightly, it felt like the touch of a feature and Jiang Yang couldn't help but feel ticklish. With irritation, he shrank forward to try and avoid his hara.s.sment. However, Qin Xu was very patient. He very quickly followed him and continued to touch him again and again.

This time, Jiang Yang could no longer contain himself. With a bright red face, he turned his head back and glared fiercely at him. Because cla.s.s was running, Jiang Yang couldn't speak too loudly so he could only threaten him in a low voice: ”Touch me again and believe it or not I'll cut off that dog hand of yours!”

Qin Xu chuckled: ”Don't believe it.”

Jiang Yang: ”………” He was about to die from anger!

He took several deep breaths and, with his fists clenched tightly and veins protruding at his temples, he moved his mouth wanting to say something. In the end he could only curse out through gritted teeth: ”…….Get lost!”

With a frigid expression, he pulled out a textbook and used his hand to support his forehead and, at the same time, block Qin Xu's line of sight.

Although he acted like this, he didn't appear particularly threatening, so Qin Xu certainly wouldn't retreat so easily. But Qin Xu also knew that he had completely irritated the other person and he shouldn't continue p.i.s.sing him off. Afterall, even a rabbit will start attacking when it's pushed to its limits and Jiang Yang certainly isn't a rabbit.

Qin Xu pursed his lips and thought for a moment. From under his desk, he pulled out a toffee and placed it on Jiang Yang's desk. He even poked him a few times with his finger to get his attention.

Jiang Yang did notice his actions, but he was still in a bad mood so even Qin Xu's action of trying to apologise with a candy irked him.

And so, suppressing the anger inside him Jiang Yang only sent him a glare and waved his hand to swat the toffee away.

Qin Xu's reactions were fast, and he instantly reached out to catch the toffee. He then turned to Jiang Yang and revealed a smile to try and curry his favour. With his head slightly tilted, he carefully reached out to touch his hand, ”Don't be angry.”

Jiang Yang ruthlessly threw his hand off. With reddening ears, he cursed out in a low voice: ”Get lost!”

Qin Xu once again pushed the toffee over. This time there were two. The two round b.a.l.l.s rolled around on the table a few times looking very stupid.

Jiang Yang once again pushed the candy away and, because he used slightly more strength this time, they accidentally fell to the ground. The collision between the ground and the plastic wrapping made a soft rustling sound.

Jiang Yang seemingly didn't expect it to fall to the ground and was temporarily at loss. His body stiffened up and he hesitantly retracted his hand back. He rigidly said: ”Don't want it.”

”I know but I want you to have it.” Qin Xu smiled and looked at him. This time he placed three on them on his desk.

”………Get lost.”

After falling silent for a few seconds, Jiang Yang finally managed to spit out those two words. The oppressiveness in those words had weakened significantly and it wasn't very fierce. Instead, because he said it so weakly, there was even a hint of softness hidden within.

The three toffee b.a.l.l.s just laid quietly on the edge of the table. Jiang Yang didn't move to push them away and just left them there.

Qin Xu saw this and secretly snickered. After interacting with him for so long he had long understood Jiang Yang's awkward and proud personality. If you want him to be honest it would be a difficult request. And so, if he didn't reject it, it could be considered as his way of accepting.

”I won't get lost.”

Jiang Yang saw Qin Xu's smile that looked overly radiant. Despite no longer feeling angry, he still habitually sent him a glare.

That look was very fleeting and there wasn't any harshness to it. Qin Xu just laughed and even surprisingly enjoyed it.

He thought to himself, when will Jiang Yang's att.i.tude slowly soften to the point that he couldn't help but smile when he sees him?

Although Jiang Yang's proud look is very cute, if he would candidly smile at him, he would probably be so elated he would no longer tell between up, down, left and right.

Yesterday Jiang Yang punched him and told him to get lost, today he told him to get lost softly so tomorrow, would he come over and ask for kisses and hugs?

It had to be said, a particular someone who imagined it was very pleased at the thought of it.

The final exams had just finished and the teachers for each of the subjects distributed the homework that they would need to complete over the school vacation. Standing at the podium they said: ”Remember to do your homework during your winter break. Don't play too crazily and pay attention to safety. Anyway, I wish you all in advance a Happy New Year.”

”Happy New Year teacher~”

The students proceeded to pack up their test papers and homework and stuff the large bundle into their bags. Inside they couldn't help but sigh. Several male students even grumbled: ”With all that homework, how can we have a happy holiday.”

The teacher stood at the podium and could obviously hear it, but he was already used to it. If you want to complain then go ahead and complain. You still need to complete the homework in the end. The teacher smiled kindly and watched the cla.s.smates leave.

Going home this time, they would also need to take home some of the luggage in their dormitory. Father Jiang thought that it would be too difficult for them, so he drove a car over to pick up his son and daughter. Because of this, Jiang Yang didn't go home with the other cla.s.smates.

Qin Xu was disappointed. He turned around and asked him if he wanted to hang out during the winter break.

Jiang Yang looked at him and for once he didn't reject him immediately. He hesitated for a second before replying, ”We'll see.”

Qin Xu waved with a smile on his face before riding off on his flaming red mountain bike.

Jiang Yuan walked over and stood next to Jiang Yang. Tilting her head over she spoke up hesitantly: ”Brother……”

Jiang Yang waited for a while and didn't hear her continuing. With a look of confusion, he asked: ”What?”

Jiang Yuan couldn't say it.  How could she something like —–” Ah brother, are you about to come out of the closet and get me a brother in law?”

How could she say something like that?!

And so Jiang Yuan moved her mouth a few times and could only ask awkwardly, ”You and….Qin Xu are good friends?”

Hearing those words, Jiang Yang thought of the system. Good friends. He subconsciously wanted to refute those words, but he quickly swallowed it back down. If he denied it, he was worried that the system would react and pull out another ridiculous task for him.

Jiang Yang calmly replied with a face void of expressions: ”I guess so.”

Jiang Yuan heard this and felt very complicated. Sure enough! If he would hesitate to admit something like friends.h.i.+p, then surely their relations.h.i.+p isn't that simple and is something more profound! Naturally it was something they couldn't let others know about and they would through pain and suffering try to hide the sweetness of their hidden love! Brother you must be exhausted!

Jiang Yuan thought this, and the rims of her eyes gradually reddened while her eyes grew teary. She pressed firmly down onto Jiang Yang's shoulder and said solemnly: ”Brother, although the future path may be difficult please remember that I will always be behind you silently supporting you!”

Jiang Yang: ”……….” What on earth did this silly sister of his imagine?

At the beginning of the winter break, Jiang Yang and Jiang Yuan returned home and were taken care of by their mother like babies. She would make whatever they wanted to eat and everyday they would be fed nutritious soup while she complained that they had lost too much weight in school. However, no later than a week later, her att.i.tude switched 180 degrees. She found them not pleasing to the eye and every day she would nag at them saying things like they're not cleaning up after themselves, leaving hair everywhere and only know to play, play, play.

Weed number 1 and 2 felt very wronged but this had happened every time they were on break, so they had grown accustomed to it. They could only quietly keep their mouths shut and let mother boss do as she pleased and just say yes to everything she said.

When Jiang Yang was playing games at home, he suddenly received a call from Qin Xu requesting for his help. Before he could get to the details, Jiang Yang had already resolutely refused.

Qin Xu asked: ”Aren't I your good brother and desk partner?”

Jiang Yang without any hesitation: ”No.”

Qin Xu: ”………”

Jiang Yang heard the other end fall silent and, after hanging up, an uncontrollable smile formed on his face. He stared at his phone for a while and when he finally returned to his senses he felt a little annoyed. He then went back to playing his game as it nothing had happened.

But what he didn't expect was that half an hour later Qin Xu arrived at his place.

Mother Jiang opened the door and, seeing that it was the cla.s.smate who had visited last time, she warmly welcomed him inside. Qin Xu originally had the handsome and sunny look that elders liked. Adding on top of that, his polite mannerisms done with the intent to please her rendered mother Jiang very smitten.

Without waiting for Jiang Yang to come out he reported his intentions, ”My nephew has an open day at school and he is partic.i.p.ating in a performance. Unfortunately, my brother and sister-in-law are busy and asked me to go and help record a video. I'm a little embarra.s.sed to go alone so I wanted to find Jiang Yang to accompany me. Aunty is he free?”

Mother Jiang nodded and immediately agreed in Jiang Yang's stead: ”How can he be not free? All he knows is to play games at home. I wish he would go out more.”

Jiang Yang who had just walked out of his room heard this. ”………..” Are you really my mother? You didn't even ask me! Also, Qin Xu this b.a.s.t.a.r.d is too cheap. He already said that he's not going!

Mother Jiang saw her son come out and didn't feel guilty at all for agreeing in his stead. Instead she smiled and urged him, ”Hurry and change your clothes. Don't be late.”

Jiang Yang was helpless: ”It's an event for families. What am I going there for?”

Qin Xu began to act sentimental and even deliberately made his nephew pitiful. ”That's right. The other children have their mum and dads there to support them and only my nephew doesn't have anyone. I don't even want to imagine how disappointed he will be.”

Mother Jiang immediately furrowed her eyebrows in sorrow and then sent a glare to her own son. She said decisively: ”If I say you're going then you're going. Children are very sensitive so watch your words and make him happy. Anyway, you're not doing anything at home so go at cheer for Xiao Hao.”

Jiang Yang: ”………” You're calling by his nickname already?

In the end, Jiang Yang was helpless and was forcefully kicked out of his own home by his mother to accompany Qin Xu to the kindergarten.

Yes, Qin Xu's nephew is only five years old and in kindergarten. It was the little boy he ran into the other day at the park.

Hearing this, Jiang Yang was stunned. He immediately pulled out his phone from his pocket and selected the group chat. Directing his message at Huang Shao he said: ”I was wrong saying that you play worse than primary school kids.”

Huang Shao was confused. He didn't understand why he would suddenly dig out something from the past. He shrugged and sent over a casual emoticon —– This master forgives you.

However, the next minute Jiang Yang issued the second half of his sentence, ”That guy is only five years old. You're worse than a kindergartener.”

Huang Shao: ”…………” Explode into a pufferfis.h.!.+

The other members of the group chat sent out chains of 'hahahahaha' and almost died from laughing. Together they joked that Huang Shao could no longer be saved.

After he was done with dissing Huang Shao, Jiang Yang's mood improved but when he reached the entrance to the kindergarten, he felt a little awkward. Generally, the people that came here were young mother and fathers and, for someone their age to come, they obviously looked out of place. Several family members looked over at them a few times out of curiosity. At their age, they clearly aren't the children's parents. Perhaps they're older brothers who came as family representatives?

Jiang Yang and Qin Xu sat among the group of excited parents and had some difficulty integrating. The parents all had their phones or cameras out and discussed brightly about things like; which performance their child is in, how they're like at home, that they can tie their own shoelaces now and when mum returns from work all tired, their baby would even bring over a gla.s.s of water! How sensible, how cute!

Jiang Yang  & Qin Xu: ”……”

Couldn't find things to talk about.

The parents sitting next to them turned around with the intent to find someone to chat to but, seeing two boys sitting there, they hesitated for a moment and then turned to the other direction to talk to the others.

Because it is a kindergarten, the chairs for the parents are also small chairs normally used for children. It was only big enough for their b.u.t.t and adults who are of a bigger frame would need to be careful they don't fall over or break the chair. For those like Jiang Yang and Qin Xu, they had nowhere to put their legs but fortunately they had more legroom in the back rows.

Lively children's music started playing and the teachers used a cheery high voice to introduce and guide the children over. The children then began to present their performances on the stage under their teacher's guidance.

Jiang Yang sat below the stage and watched the children flail their short arms and legs around to the music. His originally uncomfortable mood gradually dissipated and, before he knew it, he became quite immersed in the show. At times he would even uncontrollably smile at the cute performances. Very few people would be able to deny that children are cute and innocent, and you couldn't help but feel your heart soften when you watch them try their best.

After watching several performances, Jiang Yang expectantly looked over to Qin Xu and asked: ”When is it your nephew's turn?”

With a concealed smile Qin Xu checked the pamphlet, ”Chicken dance. It's the next one.”

No longer than a few minutes later, the music gradually stopped and the children on stage stopped moving. Under the teacher's beckoning, they stepped down the stage one by one with their little faces flushed red and their eyes filled with excitement. Several saw their parents in the audience and their parents responded by enthusiastically waving their hands and smiling brightly.