Chapter 23 (1/2)

Chapter 23

The weather would not warm up immediately after the New Year. The cold would still last for more than a month, and so, the students who had returned to school were still depressed.

Maitreya started distributing exam papers the moment he entered the classroom early in the morning. He completely ignored the dissent of the class, joyfully garnering hatred. “Even if you’re frozen to death, you’ll still need to sit the exams. Hurry! Take out your pens!”

There were four classes in the morning. After the math exam was the language exam. Even for students like Xie Meng, they too had a headache at the end of it.

Zhuo Xiaoyuan did not even have the strength for lunch at noon. He lay upon his table, exclaiming, “I’m completely suffering… Finally, I feel like I’m about to take the college entrance examinations.”

Zhang Ganggang was breaking apart his chopsticks. Trying for a long time, he was still unsuccessful. Qi Fei rolled his eyes, impatiently stretching out his hand. “Give them to me!”

“So fierce…” Zhang Ganggang muttered. “Look at how No. 1 Beauty is so gentle to Mengmeng. Mama Qi, shouldn’t you learn from him?”

Qi Fei, “…”

“…” Xie Meng was amused. “When did I become Mengmeng?”

Ji Qinyang placed a chicken drumstick into Xie Meng’s bowl. “Ignore him. Recently, he’s been getting addicted to giving people nicknames.”

“This is called developing feelings!” Zhang Ganggang said righteously. “We’re going to be separated after graduation. How can we not leave any beautiful memories before that happens?!”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan narrowed his eyes. “Leaving a stupid nickname?”

Zhang Ganggang looked at him, angry. “Shut up, Ironman Zhuo!”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan, “…”

It was rare that they did not have to study during noon. They could rest from 12pm till 1.30pm, and Ji Qinyang went to the music room to practice on the piano with his music book.

Sitting by the window, Xie Meng did some exam practice. He would occasionally look at Ji Qinyang, and the boy had his back facing him with his headphones on. Bent over the piano keys, he was writing on his book. Often, he would play a snippet of a melody, and revised and played it repeatedly.

In that moment, Ji Qinyang had a rare solemn and serious look on his face, even exuding a sense of loneliness as though he was isolated from the outside world. Xie Meng listened to every individual note, slowly coming together to form an unfamiliar melody. The air around him rose and sank, gathering into a magnificent sea, and the tide gently curled around his ears and heart.

When the bell rang in the afternoon, Ji Qinyang did not hear it. He had his headphones on, making the final edits to his music. By the time he snapped out of his focus, he discovered that two classes had already passed.

“You’re done?” Xie Meng only closed his book after seeing him turn his head. The boy stretched, a smile on his face. “We can still catch the third class if we head back now.”

“…” It did not matter if Ji Qinyang attended class or not. He frowned, “Why didn’t you call me?”

Xie Meng dusted his trousers off. “It’s a rare chance to skip classes… and it was also just a good private concert.”

Ji Qinyang laughed. He rubbed at his nose before hanging his headphones around his neck.

After Xie Meng tidied up his books, he looked up to see Ji Qinyang standing right in front of him.

“?”

Ji Qinyang suddenly reached out and pulled the blue curtains behind him. Unconsciously taking a step back, Xie Meng was now against the wall, and Ji Qinyang’s arm was beside his cheek.

Xie Meng, “…”

Ji Qinyang placed his palm onto Xie Meng’s chest, mumbling, “Your heart’s beating really fast.”

Xie Meng opened his mouth, wanting to object. Ji Qinyang lowered his head.

At first, the boy only sniffed gently, the tip of his nose brushing against Xie Meng’s neck. Next was his cheek, his temples… Ticklish, Xie Meng evaded him, and could neither laugh nor cry. “What do you want exactly…”

Ji Qinyang did not speak. He pressed a little harder on Xie Meng’s chest, speaking to himself. “These all belong to me.”

Xie Meng looked at him.

Ji Qinyang stroked Xie Meng’s hair, his palm heated. He squeezed himself between Xie Meng’s legs, pushing him right up onto the wall. Without thinking, Xie Meng pulled the curtain to cover the both of them, and Ji Qinyang leaned down to kiss his lips.

It felt as though the needle of youth slowed slightly for a second, stretching out the teenagers’ secret kiss behind the curtain.

Xie Meng only returned to the classroom for the last class of the day. Zhuo Xiaoyuan frowned when he saw him.

“You guys need to be more careful.” He pulled out a wet wipe from his desk and handed it to Xie Meng, “Your lips are all swollen…”

Xie Meng apologised, covering his lips with the wipe. It even caused Maitreya to come over in concern, “Are you still feeling unwell? Don’t force yourself, just go back and rest.”

Sitting by the side, Zhuo Xiaoyuan nearly vomited blood. He muttered, “How lucky to be a good student, one can even abuse single people openly.”

Xie Meng, “…”

As the weather gradually warmed up, Xie Meng went with Ji Qinyang to sweep Zhang Xiujuan’s tomb during the Qingming Festival. The bus journey took the entire morning before they arrived at Dongshan. They then cleaned up the tombstone, kowtow-ed, and burned the joss papers offerings.

As the smoke curled up, Ji Qinyang placed his hands together, closing his eyes. While burning joss papers, Xie Meng looked up at him.

“What did you say to Grandma?” Xie Meng asked as they walked down the hill.

It rained just before the Qingming Festival. The tea fields of Dongshan were lush and green, with a lake in the distance. The scent of tea wafted over with the wind.

“Nothing much.” Ji Qinyang walked amidst the rows of juniper trees. He reached his hand out to Xie Meng, smiling. “I told her I’d take good care of you.”

Xie Meng too smiled, and he held Ji Qinyang’s hand.

The number of people walking down the hill gradually increased. Seeing the two boys holding hands, they were a little curious. Some elders called out to them kindly. “Are you two brothers? Whose tomb are you sweeping?”

“My grandma.” Ji Qinyang did not explain their relationship, and Xie Meng too did not mention it. They politely nodded towards the old man who asked.

At the foot of the hill was a town. Many tea farmers lived in Dongshan, and their houses were scattered in various places, surrounded by fields and ponds. The freshly turned earth was still damp, and under the ridge was a water canal that looked clear and fresh.

Xie Meng and Ji Qinyang walked along the only road. Some of the farmhouses had loquat trees planted outside, all tall and sturdy. There were fruits, but none were ripe. Green and dainty, they looked adorable.

Outside the town was a lake. Willows grew along the bank, and the reeds had yet to turn yellow. Crowds of ducks swam among them.

Holding onto Xie Meng’s hand, Ji Qinyang placed it in his own pocket.

“It’s beautiful.” Xie Meng looked at the fishing boat in the distance.

Ji Qinyang, “When we’re old, we’ll buy a lakehouse here and live together.”

Xie Meng shook his head. Laughing, but not speaking, he slowly walked back with Ji Qinyang.

“There’s no need for a lakehouse.” Under the setting sun, Xie Meng looked down the road, speaking slowly. “It’s enough that we can still return here when we’re old.”

After Mangzhong, the sign for the countdown to the college entrance examination at the back of the classroom was in its single digits. Every day, Zhang Ganggang would have to turn and look at it a few times, making Qi Fei stressed as well.

As the only one out of their group who would be staying in Suzhou, it could be said that after Ji Qinyang, Qi Fei was having the easiest time of all. As such, he truly turned into Mama Qi, becoming Zhang Ganggang’s trash can.

No matter how nervous he was about the examination, Zhang Ganggang never stopped thinking about his goddess Rourou. Qi Fei could not stimulate him casually, just in case it affected his exam mood.

On the last day of school, the entire grade had a pledge ceremony.

As the representative of their grade, Xie Meng was in charge of going on stage to give a speech to boost his classmates’ morale. The speech was written by a literature student that Maitreya had asked. Only when reading till the end did Xie Meng realised the signature there read Ji Qinyang.

The boy paused, looking down the stage. Sure enough, Ji Qinyang was also looking at him from a distance away. When their eyes met, Ji Qinyang raised a brow, giving on a pretty, cheeky smile.

Xie Meng could not help chuckling. He slowly recited the last paragraph of the speech.

“We’ll soon go our separate ways, starting our different lives. The road ahead will be full of thorns and roses. We might fail, and we might succeed.”

Standing below the stage, Ji Qinyang silently recited each word along with Xie Meng.

“Although we’ll face countless losses and choices in life, there will always be love and dreams to tell you—”

Xie Meng looked around, carefully putting down the speech in his hands.

“Tell you, where the path lies.”

After the ceremony, all the students were very moved, and there were even girls huddling together, crying. With red eyes, Wu Xiaomei complained about Ji Qinyang and Xie Meng. “Why did you write something so sentimental… I’m going to be reluctant to part.”

“Who said anyone will be parting?” Qi Fei winked at the both of them. “Yang-ge has already said it, love and dreams! Right, boss?!”

Ji Qinyang kicked him, throwing an arm around Xie Meng’s shoulder.

Xie Meng laughed and watched them make a scene. Zhang Ganggang came over with his camera, saying that he wanted to capture shots of the school for his memories. As such, the few people once again became temporary “models”.

Zhuo Xiaoyuna and Xie Meng sat at the desks, one in front of the other. To create a studious atmosphere, they even stacked books on the table. Qi Fei wanted a shot with Ji Qinyang on the basketball court, and they got Zhang Ganggang to capture the photos while they played against each other. In the end, they were too serious about the game, and forgot to look at the lens… Ji Qinyang had a solo shot of himself in the music room, playing the piano. There was a shot of Xie Meng’s side profile, sitting by the window, reading. Another had Qi Fei wiping his sweat with his shirt off as he was too warm after the basketball game. Zhuo Xiaoyuan hung off the horizontal bar, upside down, giving a victory sign towards the camera.

In the heat of summer, the rays of the afternoon sun shone through the lush leaves and branches, casting mottled shadows along the main path in the school. Ji Qinyang and Xie Meng were holding hands while Zhang Ganggang captured the images from behind them.

Youth within the lens was not aged, and time too gentled the faces of the young people.

Accompanied by the chirping June cicadas, the last bell of the college entrance examination finally rang. Xie Meng followed the crowd out of the examination hall, and Ji Qinyang was waiting outside with his headphones on.

From a large distance away, Zhang Ganggang waved his arms wildly. “Here! Here!”

Xie Meng walked over, smiling. Zhuo Xiaoyuan and Qi Fei had yet to exit the hall.

“We’re free!” Zhang Ganggang did not wait for Xie Meng to come closer before lunging towards him. “Let’s go on a graduation trip! A graduation trip!”

Xie Meng laughed. “Our results are not even out, and you’re already thinking about playing. Seems like you’ve done pretty well in the exam?”

Zhang Ganggang giggled. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Qi Fei coming over, and so he shouted, “Mama Qi! Here!”

Ji Qinyang looked at Xie Meng, smiling lazily. “It’s been hard on you.”

Xie Meng reached out and ruffled the hair behind his head. “You too.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan was the last to exit the hall. The four people were discussing where they should go as they waited for him.

“We should go somewhere closer,” Ji Qinyang said. “If it’s too far, it won’t be very convenient for Xie Meng and Zhuo Xiaoyuan.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan raised his brow. “Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai wouldn’t be a problem.”

Zhang Ganggang said enthusiastically, “Shall we go to all these places then?”

Qi Fei spoke up. “We should go to the beach in the summer. Ningbo Xiangshan will be nice.”

“We can go to Changzhou Dinosaur Park! And eat Yangzhou soup bun!” Zhang Ganggang shouted. “Dinosaur Park! Soup bun! Dinosaur Park! Soup bun!”

“Yangzhou, Changzhou, Ningbo,” Ji Qinyang declared. “Alright, we’ll go to these three places then. Tonight I’ll go back and check which route is the most convenient. You’ll all start packing, and we’ll leave tomorrow.”

“Cool!” Zhang Ganggang said excitedly, “A trip where we’re going so spontaneously!”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan was speechless, and he mocked him. “Fine, you can just go. Without us, let’s see how you go. You won’t even know that you’ve been sold.”

Zhang Ganggang, “…”

While packing his luggage that night, Xie Meng was on the phone with Ji Qinyang.

“I’ve packed the plasters, can you bring the travel sickness pills?” Xie Meng retrieved the medical kit in his house, picking the items he wanted to bring.

“Sure. There’s not need to bring too many clothes with you.” Rustling could be heard over the phone, “I’ve also brought medicated balm, a torch… don’t forget your swimming trunks.”

Xie Meng stopped what he was doing. “The boxer-styled ones right?”

Ji Qinyang laughed. “What are you getting worried about?”

Xie Meng did not speak.

In a very good mood, Ji Qinyang hummed. “I’m bringing the boxer type one. It’s up to you?”

Xie Meng paused, speaking deliberately, “Then I’ll bring the boxer-styled ones too.”

Ji Qinyang chuckled for a long time.

“Have you booked the tickets yet?” Xie Meng asked after he was nearly done packing.

“We’ll first go to Changzhou, and I’ve already bought the tickets. As for the hotel… how should we book for 5 people?”

Xie Meng too did not think about this issue. As he was pondering over it, he heard Ji Qinyang pull his phone slightly away.

“I have a call coming in.” The boy seemed to have looked at his screen, his voice somewhat surprised. “I’ll call you again later.”

Xie Meng agreed, then hung up and packed up his belongings. Cleaning Zhang Xiujuan’s portrait, he lit a joss stick. In less than ten minutes, he received Ji Qinyang’s call.

“The hotel and transport are all settled,” Ji Qinyang sounded delighted. “Han Dong is joining us too… Right, don’t tell Zhang Ganggang about this.”

Xie Meng really wanted to ask why he should not tell Zhang Ganggang, but after thinking about it, he felt it was wiser not to say anything.

It was a rare occasion that Zhang Ganggang woke up before his alarm. With his bedhead and closed eyes, he went to wash his face. Mama Zhang was in the kitchen making egg pancakes. Through the door, she shouted with vigour, “Clean up the sink! Don’t spit your toothpaste onto the mirror!”

She then turned to Papa Zhang. “Old man, stop playing with your bird already! Come and help me pack the pancakes, quick!”

Papa Zhang acknowledged her, putting down the spoon he was using to feed his bird and ran to the kitchen to give Mama Zhang a hand.

Zhang Ganggang was done with his morning ablution. When he came out of his room, he saw Mama Zhang still stuffing his bag with food.

“It’s enough, Ma,” Zhang Ganggang could not endure it any longer. “There’s only five of us, are you raising pigs…”

“A pig isn’t as smart as you!” Mama Zhang laughed heartily. She kissed her son on his forehead heavily. “Be careful! Treat your friends more often! Remember to make friends properly!”

“Yes, yes.” Zhang Ganggang bit into his portion of the pancakes, leaving his house. As soon as he reached the entrance of his neighbourhood, he saw an extremely large nanny van parked right there.

Zhang Ganggang walked over with a baffled expression, leaning into the window and looking through it cautiously.

With a sudden whir, the door opened from within.

“Woah!” Zhang Ganggang was startled.

Sitting cross-legged, Han Dong removed his sunglasses and looked expressionlessly at him.

“… What are you doing here?!”

Han Dong cocked his brow. Before he could even speak, Qi Fei poked his head out from behind. “Zhang Ganggang, what are you dilly-dallying about? Quick, get onto the bus!”

“Mama Qi, why are you inside too?!”

Han Dong responded lightly, “Because I’m going with all of you.” He patted the seat. “This nanny van belongs to my family.”

Zhang Ganggang, “…”

The driver was an experienced chauffeur, respectfully addressing Han Dong as Young Master. Ji Qinyang and Xie Meng were seated in the last row, and the six boys in the bus shared the pancakes Mama Zhang made.

Extremely reluctant, Zhang Ganggang sat next to Han Dong. He turned his head away deliberately to avoid speaking to him.

Qi Fei smacked his head from the back. “What tantrum are you throwing this time?”

Zhang Ganggang fumed, “Neither riches nor honours can buy me!”

Han Dong sneered, “Did I offer to buy you?”

Zhang Ganggang choked.

Zhao Xiaoyuan responded coolly. “He’s just envious of you for being rich and willful.”

“…” Zhang Ganggang was furious. “Ironman Zhuo, you read my Weibo again!”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan enjoyed the scenery outside, pretending that he did not hear Zhang Ganggang’s accusation.

Han Dong suddenly spoke up. “You have Weibo?”

“Why?” Zhang Ganggang watched him vigilantly. The boy suddenly thought about something, and his antagonism instantly transformed into friendliness. “Right! Does Goddess Rourou have Weibo?!”

Han Dong gave him a meaningful look. “I’m not sure either. Shall I help you ask later?”

Zhang Ganggang opened his mouth, immediately sitting upright and declaring gravely, “Master Han Dong!”

Han Dong, “?”

Zhang Ganggang’s expression was very serious. “During this trip, I’ll definitely follow after you and serve you wholeheartedly!”

Han Dong, “…”

In the last row, Ji Qinyang had his arm wrapped around Xie Meng’s shoulders. He placed his headphones onto Xie Meng’s head. After their graduation, Ji Qinyang had replaced his previous mp3 player with a more luxurious Sony ZX1 player, and stored his completed song in it. After listening for a bit, Xie Meng turned his head to see Ji Qinyang fiddling with Xie Meng’s phone.

“?” Xie Meng asked, “What are you looking at?”

Ji Qinyang smiled carelessly. “I’m downloading Weibo and WeChat onto your phone.”

Xie Meng took his phone, glancing at it. “There’s not much memory space in my phone… I’ll have to replace it after a while.”

“I’ve heard the iPhone 6s is coming out?” Ji Qinyang was still using the iPhone 4s, and his lock screen was the first photo he had ever taken with Xie Meng during that snowy day.

Xie Meng laughed. “You’re still keeping such an old photo?”

Ji Qinyang raised a brow. “Because it looks good.”

Xie Meng looked over it and earnestly said, “You’re better looking.”

Clicking his tongue, Ji Qinyang spoke. “Your words are getting sweeter and sweeter.” He uploaded the photo, then taught Xie Meng to like it and save it. Ji Qinyang too did not have many friends on his account, and everyone always liked each other’s posts. It was not too long before Qi Fei, Zhuo Xiaoyuan and Han Dong all liked the photo.

Qi Fei even left a message. “Why aren’t you posting it on Weibo? Shouldn’t you be more professional in your PDA endeavours?”

Xie Meng was extremely amused, and Ji Qinyang kicked the seat in front of him. Qi Fei howled exaggeratedly, and the entire bus burst out into laughter.

In the end, Ji Qinyang did post the photo on Weibo, and even tagged Xie Meng.

Zhang Ganggang shared Ji Qinyang’s post. “I have even more photos than you!”

Xie Meng went to his main page, and there were many photos taken by Zhang Ganggang. They ranged from the snowball fight long ago, to the temple festival, then the fireworks they released during the New Year, as well as the photos they took when they graduated.

Zhang Ganggang compiled them all into an album, naming it “Times of Our Lives”.

“There’ll be even more in the future.” Zhang Ganggang turned around, kneeling on the first row of seats. He raised his camera, his lens catching everyone within. “Come everyone, smile!”

They only need one and a half hours to travel from Suzhou to Changzhou Dinosaur Park on the Hurong Expressway. After getting off the car, Zhang Ganggang began taking photos like crazy, while the others left their bags in the bus and headed straight to the hotel.

“We’ll go to China Dinosaurs Park first.” Han Dong had requested for a map. “We can have lunch at Dinotown. Do you want to go to the hot spring in the afternoon?”

Qi Fei fainted. “Hot spring in the hot summer?”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan was indifferent. “Since we’re here, let’s try everything.”

Towards the dinosaur museum whatsoever, the boys were not very interested. Zhang Ganggang led the way to the Jet Tower.

“…” Xie Meng almost had to tilt his head all the way back to see the top of the tower.

Qi Fei’s face looked somewhat awful. “I think I’m a little afraid of heights…”

Zhang Ganggang clenched his fist tightly. “Mama Qi! Show us your papa side here!”

Qi Fei, “…”

Xie Meng, Ji Qinyang, Zhang Ganggang and Han Dong sat in a row. Ji Qinyang held Xie Meng’s hand, “If you can’t bear it, just scream.”

Xie Meng gulped. “I’ll try my best…”

As their seats ascended slowly, Xie Meng could not help but look down at the ground. By the time they reached the top, the crowd below looked as small as ants.

Seated next to Xie Meng, Zhang Ganggang already started screaming.

“Ahhh!!!!”

When they dropped, Xie Meng felt that his heart was about to stop. His ears were filled with Zhang Ganggang’s screams. “Rourou! Rourou! I’m going to die!”

Han Dong could stand it no longer and roared, “Shut up!”