Chapter 18 (1/2)

Chapter 18

Warning: Slight NSFW

For students, the most painful thing was to analyze the exam papers after the midterms. Since the start of their second year in high school, everyone’s results were no longer contained within the school, but released to the entire city and province.

Almost all of Xie Meng’s science exams were the models the teachers used for the analysis. Therefore, he could only share a desk with Zhuo Xiaoyuan and looked at the same paper.

“How do you do this question?” Zhuo Xiaoyuan was recalculating the question he did wrongly, “I clearly used the correct formula.”

Xie Meng took the paper over. “Your order is wrong, you have to solve the part in the brackets first.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan looked down and waited for him to finish solving it. He suddenly whispered, “Your ear stud… Is it from Ji Qinyang?”

Instinctively, Xie Meng covered his earlobe and looked up at Zhuo Xiaoyuan.

“Don’t worry, you can’t see it at all from a distance,” Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s expression was aloof. “Also, you’re a good student. Teachers are not worried about you at all.”

“…” Xie Meng slowly put his hand down. “Thank you…”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan pursed his lips scornfully, “When did your relationship start?”

Xie Meng thought about it, “It’s been over a year.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan clicked his tongue, “No wonder he was so enthusiastic about that scum then. Seems like he himself is not much better.”

Xie Meng frowned, “I’m a willing party, he didn’t force me.”

“Fine, I know now, don’t show your love off,” Zhuo Xiaoyuan looked disdainful. He was silent for a bit, before turning his face away and speaking stiffly, “If he dares to force you, I’ll be the first in line to beat him up.”

Xie Meng laughed out loud. He thought about it for a while, and could only thank him.

Zhuo Xiaoyuan ignored him.

After a long silence, Xie Meng heard the boy speak awkwardly, “Didn’t he used to have quite a lot of girlfriends… You have to be more careful.”

Xie Meng, “…”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan frowned and nagged, “If he goes back to his playboy ways, you shouldn’t tolerate it. You must first…”

“Then…”

“Finally…”

Xie Meng, “…”

“…” When they were about to reach the school gate, Ji Qinyang confirmed once again, “You were listening to this the entire class?”

Xie Meng sighed. “What else could I do? Cover his mouth and don’t let him continue?”

Ji Qinyang had a meaningful expression on his face, “… He seems to know quite a bit about all these.”

Xie Meng too felt complicated, “I feel like I have another member in my family.”

Ji Qinyang threw an arm over his shoulder. “You have many additional members in your family.”

Xie Meng, “?

Ji Qinyang rubbed his nose. “Qi Fei realised it too.”

“…” Xie Meng asked, “Does Zhang Ganggang know?”

Ji Qinyang laughed wickedly, “With his IQ, it’s going to be a little difficult.”

Xie Meng could not help but laugh as well. Ji Qinyang watched him, and suddenly leaned over to kiss his lips.

“… We’re still in school.” Xie Meng pushed his forehead away. He looked resigned, but he did not look reproachful.

Not bothered, Ji Qinyang hung entirely off Xie Meng’s shoulders. He took off the headphones around his neck and placed it on Xie Meng’s head, and the melody Xie Meng was starting to get familiar with now had new lyrics added to it. Xie Meng listened to it for a while before turning to look at Ji Qinyang, “You haven’t finished writing it?”

Ji Qinyang hummed along with the rhythm. With a serious expression, he raised his brow, “Good things have to take their time.”

After Mangzhong, the weather began to warm up. The summers of Suzhou were rainy with little wind. That afternoon, the sun was fierce, enveloping the greenery on the school grounds.

Xie Meng checked over his exam papers, then looked out of the window. The fans in the classroom spun, causing the dry, warm air to shift. Cicadas could be faintly heard.

After the last paper, Zhuo Xiaoyuan sprawled across his desk as though he had collapsed. Just as Xie Meng finished packing his bag, he saw Ji Qinyang standing at the backdoor.

“Coming here everyday to abuse dogs1,” Zhuo Xiaoyuan said gloomily, holding his head in his arms. “You guys are really too much…”

Ji Qinyang patted the “dog’s head” as he walked by. Qi Fei who was following him mocked, “You haven’t gotten used to it yet? I’m already numb to it.”

Xie Meng asked, “Where is Zhang Ganggang?”

Ji Qinyang took his bag from him. “Han Dong came. We’ll go reserve the seats first, he’ll join us later.”

Xie Meng did not understand why Han Dong was here. Qi Fei glanced at him, “He’s here to help Goddess Rourou deliver her letter… What year is it now, I’ve never seen anyone dating with such a foolish manner. We’ll ignore the fact that they’re still writing letters, but they even found a middleman to be their postman. As expected, China Post is unreliable.”

This is the first time Qi Fei had taken the initiative to speak to Xie Meng in several days. Ever since he learned about his relationship with Ji Qinyang, Qi Fei’s attitude had turned very awkward. A few days ago, even when they bumped into each other along the corridor, Qi Fei would deliberately avoid him and take a detour.

Ji Qinyang had been unbothered and just hugged Xie Meng’s shoulders, speaking lightly, “Ignore him, the idiot will think things through himself in a while.”

Xie Meng, “…”

The few people were waiting for Zhang Ganggang at the dessert shop near the school. Ji Qinyang and Zhuo Xiaoyuan went to the counter to make their orders, and Qi Fei sat across Xie Meng, clearing his throat awkwardly.

“Umm… I wasn’t being prejudiced or anything like that.” Qi Fei scratched his head, vexed. “After all, Boss Ji had always been going after girls…” He glanced at Xie Meng’s face, muttering, “Although you’re pretty good looking, but you’re too handsome… No matter how I look at you, you’re still a man.”

Xie Meng was speechless for a long time, and finally, he could only thank him, neither laughing nor crying.

“Why are you thanking me? I didn’t compliment you.” Qi Fei said carelessly, “As long as Boss Ji is happy, we’re still buddies.”

Xie Meng smiled and nodded, “We’ve always been buddies.”

Qi Fei twisted about in his seat, and could not resist gossiping smugly, “However, I had really not expected that Boss would finally fall under your hands. He was a man whom Yin Luoxue could not even settle in middle school! At that time, he was truly lascivious, with girlfriends one after another, Boss Ji really has no precedents, nor will he have any successors.”

“…” Xie Meng’s smile was ambiguous. “Is that so?”

Qi Fei exclaimed proudly, “Of course…”

“Of course what?” Standing behind Qi Fei, Ji Qinyang interrupted. He was done paying, and smiled, asking Xie Meng, “What was he saying about me?”

Qi Fei turned his head around stiffly, “…”

Xie Meng answered mildly, “We were talking about your past.”

Ji Qinyang, “?”

Xie Meng’s expression was unruffled. “Truly lascivious, with girlfriends one after another, no precedents, nor any successors?”

Ji Qinyang, “…”

Xie Meng looked at Qi Fei, “Is there anything else? Just say it all at once.”