Chapter 17 (1/2)

Chapter 17

Finals were coming up soon after the classes were separated. Class 3 and Class 6 happened to be located in the same place, only on different floors. Ji Qinyang could leave early almost everyday, and he would go to the second floor to wait for Xie Meng.

After seeing him for a few times, Zhuo Xiaoyuan got accustomed to it. One day, he really could not help but poke fun at this, “You guys are really an old couple. Aren’t you sick of doing this every day?”

The finals were spread over three days. On the first day, they had their Chinese exam in the morning and maths in the afternoon. Ji Qinyang handed his papers in early, and leaned against the wall next to the door of Class 3 with his headphones on.

Zhuo Xiaoyuan was scornful when he saw him.

“I’m also not waiting for you,” Ji Qinyang pulled his headphones down around his neck. He saw Xie Meng walking out. The boy was wearing a white, down jacket, his eyebrows sharp and angled, his eyes black and bright.

“How was your exam?” Xie Meng smiled, ruffling the back of Ji Qinyang’s hair.

Ji Qinyang raised his brow. “Didn’t we say that you can’t ask curve fodders such a question?”

Xie Meng looked at him. “Speaking as though you’re one.”

“I am,” Ji Qinyang sprawled lazily onto Xie Meng’s back. “It’s not like you don’t know how bad I am at maths.”

Ji Qinyang rode the bicycle while Xie Meng sat behind, drinking his warm milk. When he stopped at the traffic light, Ji Qinyang turned to look at him.

“Give me a taste.”

Xie Meng stood up and put the straw to his mouth.

Ji Qinyang took a sip just like that. “It’s not sweet?”

“It’s the original flavour,” Xie Meng smiled. He suddenly lowered his head and kissed Ji Qinyang’s lips. “Here’s a little sugar for you.”

Zhang Xiujuan was basking under the sun in the courtyard. She opened her eyes when Xie Meng returned, “Xiao-Ji is here too.”

Ji Qinyang greeted her by calling her grandma, and Zhang Xiujuan smiled, “My dear grandson.”

Xie Meng went into the house to help the old lady take her radio out, and found another blanket.

“Don’t stay out in the sun for too long,” Xie Meng covered Zhang Xiujuan’s legs. “Call me when you’re feeling cold.”

These days, Zhang Xiujuan had been feeling a lot more tired. She had went to the hospital for a check up, and the doctor said that she was just getting old, but there were no specific symptoms.

In their old age, people would get weaker.

Xie Meng dared not think too much about it, and only tried to accompany her as much as possible.

Ji Qinyang only left after dinner. Xie Meng walked him to the entrance of the alley, and the two of them walked next to each other hand in hand.

Xie Meng’s palm was damp and warm. At first, it was only a normal hand-holding, but later, Ji Qinyang’s fingers were interlocked with his. The grip was too tight, and a little painful, but neither let go.

Ji Qinyang stopped at the entrance of the alley. “You should go back first.”

Xie Meng acknowledged it, but continued holding hands.

“Don’t just throw away the recommendation from Zhongyin,” Xie Meng suddenly said. “It’s a pity not to go if you actually get in.”

Ji Qinyang did not speak. He looked at Xie Meng, pulling him into his arms with a slight force.

After the three days of examinations, the rankings were announced. A few more papers were added to their homework for the winter break. As the Spring Festival was later than usual, Zhang Ganggang had grumbled about this for quite a few days.

“Only children like the Spring Festival,” Qi Fei ridiculed him. “How old do you think you are?”

Zhang Ganggang objected, “I’ll get red packets as long as I’m not married. Why wouldn’t Spring Festival be good?”

Qi Fei no longer received red packets since a few years ago. Not only did he not get them, he still needed to take care of children during every festival. As such, he was completely uninterested in the Spring Festival.

On the other hand, Zhuo Xiaoyuan and Xie Meng were also unable to experience the trouble of having too many family members. Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s parents were working overseas, and Zhuo Jinjin had been sick for so many years. Every year was like a gift, and Zhuo Xiaoyuan treasured each day as though it was stolen.

“How has Jinjin been recently?” Ji Qinyang asked.

“A few days before the exams, she had been hospitalized. She’s just came home, and should be able to spend the New Year at home.”

Xie Meng patted his shoulder with encouragement.

“How’s your grandmother?” Zhuo Xiaoyuan asked.

Xie Meng was calm. “She’s still the same.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan nodded. He smiled, his angled eyes looking very rakish. “With less people, the New Year would also be less troublesome. You don’t have to prepare as many things, and don’t have to worry about it.”

They exchanged their plans, and Ji Qinyang was the only one who might be travelling abroad for the New Year.

“It’s not confirmed yet,” Ji Qinyang sat on Xie Meng’s seat, his smile unconcerned. “My mother’s the one who wants to go, I don’t really care about it.”

Qi Fei quipped, “Your mother and father are really just a pair of celestial lovers. You’re superfluous.”

Ji Qinyang was not angry, “Yes, that’s why I also don’t want to go. I don’t know what I can do when they’re having fun.”

“Then come over to my place for the New Year.” Zhang Ganggang would always be the type of person who loved having the bustle of a crowd. “My mother had mentioned many times to bring my friends home, but none of you have ever given me any face…”

Ji Qinyang glanced at Xie Meng, smiling, “We’ll see. In any case, I won’t be spending it alone.”

It snowed before the Spring Festival. Xie Meng woke up to find that the courtyard had turned white. He huffed a breath, returning back to his room to put on his cotton jacket before doing his martial arts practice.

Zhang Xiujuan stood under the eaves with a mug, watching her grandson train as she chatted with him.

“Go to the market later, I want a chicken.”

Xie Meng exerted pressure with his foreleg, turning with a graceful flow. The snow on the ground was swept around, leaving a thin layer behind. “Anything else?”

Zhang Xiujuan listed everything out. “Cakes, dates, flour… Get some fried snacks as well. Oh, don’t forget about candy too.”

Xie Meng threw his fists into the air, a force underlying the gentleness. “We won’t have any guests, there’s no need to waste money on things like fried snacks.”

“How will we not have guests? What if Xiao-Ji comes visit us?”

“…” Xie Meng returned to a relaxed position. He wanted to tell the old lady that Ji Qinyang might have gone overseas already, but he decided not to do so. He went into the house to take some money, “I’ll go buy them. It’s very cold outside, don’t bask under the sun.”

There were not many people in the market. Many people had returned back to their hometown because of the Spring Festival. After buying the chicken, Xie Meng went to the snack shop. He grabbed some melon seeds, hawthorn and pork jerky, and even bought some smelly tofu from the stall on the bridge.

“Happy New Year,” The hawker selling smelly tofu greeted him cheerily.

Xie Meng exchanged his money for a bowl. “Happy New Year,” he said.

Just as Xie Meng was feeling puzzled that the gate to the courtyard was not shut, he saw a familiar bicycle parked by the side. Ji Qinyang was rolling his sleeves, walking out, and he smiled lazily when he saw Xie Meng.

“You’ve bought everything?” The boy stepped forward and took the things from his hands with a very natural movement. He even looked inside the bags, “Yo, you bought smelly tofu as well?”

Xie Meng was a little incredulous looking at him. “… You didn’t go overseas?”

“Yeah.” Ji Qinyang glossed over it, “You also know how my parents are like. I don’t want to be a gooseberry.”

“…”

Ji Qinyang brought the chicken to the kitchen. When he came back out, Xie Meng was still standing there.

Ji Qinyang waved his hand in front of his eyes. “Are you so happy you’ve turned into an idiot?”

“No… Do you want some candy?”