Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5

There were not many differences in the rankings between the finals and the midterms. Zhang Ganggang had however improved a lot, and squeezed into the top ten.

“Finally I have something to show my parents…” Zhang Ganggang was so emotional that he was about to cry. “I’m always afraid that if my grades are too bad, my red packet money would be gone.”

Xie Meng put his papers away and asked casually. “Why do you need so much red packet money?”

Zhang Ganggang thought about it carefully. “First, I want to treat you to a meal.”

Xie Meng, “…”

“Then, I want to buy a present for Rourou.”

Xie Meng did a double-take. “What are you buying?”

“A present.” Zhang Ganggang counted on his fingers. “Valentine’s Day is approaching.”

“… What do you plan on buying?”

“That lavender bear seems to be very popular now.”

“…” Xie Meng was speechless. “Don’t buy things at random. What if bugs grow on it.”

Zhang Ganggang murmured, “Will bugs grow on it?”

He asked Xie Meng, “Can you go with me to buy it?”

Looking at Zhang Ganggang’s hopeful baby face, Xie Meng was really unable to refuse him…

Even though it was now the winter break, Xie Meng’s schedule did not change much. He woke up at 6am, prepared hot milk, trained, remained on guard against Zhang Xiujuan’s sneak attacks, and practiced his skills against her for half an hour.

“I’ll go out for lunch this afternoon. I’ve already prepared your meal.” Xie Meng said as he pushed Zhang Xiujuan’s incoming palm away.

Zhang Xiujuan reached out and brushed past Xie Meng’s chin, “Yo, going on a date?”

Xie Meng turned his head and dodged. “It’s a boy.”

Zhang Xiujuan returned to the cool down position and smiled, “It’s rare that it’s a boy too. You’ve never brought any of your friends home before.”

“There’ll be chances in the future.”

Zhang Xiujuan did not believe him. “You said that in middle school too, but in the end there wasn’t even one.”

“It’s different now.”

“Which is better?”

Xie Meng thought about it. “It’s better now.” After a pause, he added, “I’ve met a lot of people, and I’m very happy.”

Zhang Ganggang said that he wanted to treat him to a meal, and he did acted like a host. However, due to his baby face, round like a ball, the waiter in the end still handed the bill over to Xie Meng.

“I’m footing the bill! I’m footing the bill!” Zhang Ganggang was anxious, and tossed his red packet on the counter. “Take it yourself!”

Xie Meng, “…”

The waiter, “…”

In the end, despite eating all they could, the total sum of the bill was only around 200yuan. As Zhang Ganggang’s red packet was too ostentatious, Xie Meng decided to go buy a wallet first.

“How much red packet money did you get?” Zhang Ganggang covertly asked Xie Meng.

“I don’t have many relatives.” Xie Meng was picking a color for the wallet. He took a light brown one and asked, “What do you think about this one?”

Zhang Ganggang threw a casual glance at it, “It’s nice… But your grandpa and grandma should still give you red packets right?”

Xie Meng said, “I’m staying with my grandmother, and my parents have passed away already.”

He asked the salesman to remove the tag, indicating that he did not need a bag, and turned around to see Zhang Ganggang with an expression of wanting to die on his face.

“…” Xie Meng could neither laugh nor cry. “What are you thinking about? They haven’t been around since I was in elementary school. It’s fine telling you about it.”

Zhang Ganggang wished that he could carve the words “I’m a sinner” on his face. He spat a couple of times, “It’s the lunar new year, let’s not talk about this. Instead, we should think about happier things.”

Xie Meng laughed, “I’m very happy. You’ve invited me out, and treated me to a meal. All these make me very happy.”

He looked at Zhang Ganggang with a smile, “Thank you.”

As for Rourou’s present, two people with no experience in dating made a very old-fashioned choice, selecting a plush teddy bear. As it was too big, Zhang Ganggang could only carry it on his back.

“How are you going to give it to her?” Xie Meng could not help asking.

“I’ll send it to her through delivery. If I send it directly to her school, it’ll cause Rourou trouble.”

“… How virtuous of you.”

Zhang Ganggang did not mind that others called him virtuous. His family was of the situation where the males would take care of the family while the females took care of outside matters. For a man to be described as being virtuous did not have a derogatory meaning for him.

After buying the bear, they went window shopping. Zhang Ganggang wanted to eat ice cream, and Xie Meng bought it for him. They took turns carrying the bear, and in the end, they no longer had the strength to continue carrying it.

“I can’t take it anymore… I’m about to collapse…” In the cold winter day, Zhang Ganggang was actually drenched in sweat. He decided to first carry the bear back home. “Want to have dinner at my house tonight? My mother has been asking after you.”

“Not today, maybe next time. You can come over to my place too.”

Zhang Ganggang naturally had no objection to it. Comically, he carried the bear on his back and boarded the bus, then waved at Xie Meng through the window.

“Be careful with that.” Xie Meng pointed at his bear. “That’s a present.”

“I know.” Zhang Ganggang replied him laughingly.

The sun set early in winter. After seeing Zhang Ganggang off, Xie Meng was not in a hurry to return home. Pulling the hood of his down jacket over his head, he continued down the street.

With the lights and lanterns, the feeling of the lunar new year had yet to fade away. Tail lights of cars left neon trails through the night. Xie Meng crossed the road, and the streets and lanes were still scattered with scraps of red paper left by firecrackers. The cultural market would open after the fifth day of the lunar new year, and many students were preparing for their classes in the upcoming semester.

Xie Meng looked at a bookshelf, about to bend down and look through them, then someone reached and touched the back of his head.

That person lowered his head and called out Xie Meng’s name uncertainly.

Xie Meng looked up, somewhat surprised. “Han Dong?”

“I haven’t seen you in awhile.” Han Dong nodded his head in greeting. “How have you been?”

Xie Meng spread his hands apart, giving a small smile, “Not too bad.”

Han Dong observed him carefully.

“Happy New Year.” He finally said.

The cultural market was situated very close to S High. There were many cafes around the area where students could study. In front of Ji Qinyang was a foam-topped latte, sitting there in boredom, he was waiting for Ji Moli to pick a cake.

“I want both…” Ji Moli scrunched up her face aggrievedly. “Let’s buy both.”

Ji Qinyang glanced at her. “You’ve already put on 3kg over the new year, you don’t think that’s enough?”

Ji Moli returned to her seat rolling her eyes. She had been studying in S High for half a semester already. Her grades were not much, but she was very familiar with the cafes in the area. With the excuse of buying books, she made her cousin Ji Qinyang accompany her here for snacks.

The bell at the entrance of the cafe chimed. Unconsciously, Ji Moli looked up, and immediately hunched over when she saw who it was.

“?” Ji Qinyang raised his brow. “What’s wrong?”

“Shh!” Ji Moli hushed him nervously. “I saw Han Dong!”

She spoke in a cautious tone, “He’s a big shot in our international class. He’s both good looking and has excellent grades, and is my new boyfriend.”

Ji Qinyang was bewildered. “… Why are you hiding from your boyfriend?”

Ji Moli said solemnly, “I gave him the label of my boyfriend by myself. He doesn’t know about it.”

Ji Qinyang, “…”