After Cheng Ye handed the milk to Lin Po, the atmosphere between the two remained cold for an entire day.
To be precise, it was Shen Zhiyao who unilaterally reduced all communication to an absolute minimum.
When the teacher handed back test papers, he would casually place Cheng Ye’s copy on the desk.
If Cheng Ye needed to borrow a ruler, he would pass it over.
When the duty roster was passed to the back row, he would also remind him that it wasn’t their group’s turn today.
Other than that, there were no extra words.
When the lunch bell rang, Cheng Ye lingered at his seat for a moment.
As usual, he pulled out his meal card, his fingers tapping lightly against the edge of his phone case twice.
Shen Zhiyao had already taken a piece of bread out of his backpack.
Cheng Ye looked at him.
“Going to the cafeteria?”
“No.”
“They have pork rib noodles on the second floor today.”
“I’m eating this.”
Shen Zhiyao tore open the bread wrapper without raising his head.
Cheng Ye fell silent for a few seconds, stuffing his meal card back into his pocket.
“Bread doesn’t count as lunch.”
“It’s enough to fill me up.”
“That’s not what you said last time.”
“That’s what you said last time.”
This sentence acted like a firm wall, blocking all further words right back.
Cheng Ye stood by the desk, not leaving immediately.
Lin Po called him from the front door.
“Cheng Ye, are we going or not?”
Cheng Ye responded, then took another look at Shen Zhiyao.
“I’m going to eat.”
“Mm.”
“You’re really not going?”
“No.”
Cheng Ye ended up leaving after all.
Only after the sound of his footsteps faded did Shen Zhiyao’s hand holding the bread slowly relax.
He stared at the production date on the packaging bag for a long time, but didn’t eat right away.
Xu Zhi turned around from the front row.
“Aren’t you two tired of this?”
Shen Zhiyao raised his eyes.
“What?”
“Clearly both waiting for the other to talk, yet pretending not to care.”
“I’m not waiting.”
“Since just now, you’ve looked at the doorway four times in total.”
Shen Zhiyao lowered his head.
“People were passing by outside.”
“Cheng Ye also said you were checking the weather when you looked out the window.”
After saying this, Xu Zhi picked up her meal card and stood up.
“The way you two make excuses is pretty much the same.”
She didn’t try to persuade him further and followed the other students to the cafeteria.
The classroom quickly quieted down.
Shen Zhiyao took a bite of the bread.
It was a bit dry.
He unscrewed his water bottle, only to find it was already empty.
Cheng Ye’s water bottle was still placed on the corner of the desk.
The black cap wasn’t tightened, leaving a faint ring of water stains around the rim. Before, whenever Cheng Ye went to the cafeteria, he would always casually ask if he wanted his water refilled.
Not today.
This was what Shen Zhiyao had requested himself.
Just do what deskmates are supposed to do.
Deskmates didn’t need to care about the other’s lunch, nor did they need to remember if the other’s water bottle was empty.
He got up to go to the water station.
Passing the hallway corner, he happened to see Cheng Ye and Lin Po coming up the stairs.
Cheng Ye held a transparent bag in his hand.
Inside the bag were a carton of yogurt and a rice ball.
The three stopped in the middle of the hallway.
Lin Po spoke up first: “Didn’t you say you were giving it to Shen—”
Cheng Ye bumped him with his elbow.
Lin Po instantly shut his mouth.
Shen Zhiyao’s gaze landed on the bag, then quickly moved away.
“Excuse me.”
Cheng Ye stepped to the side.
Shen Zhiyao passed by him.
As their shoulders brushed, he caught a faint mint scent on Cheng Ye, as if he had just eaten a throat lozenge.
“Shen Zhiyao.”
Cheng Ye called out from behind him.
He stopped in his tracks, but didn’t turn back.
“Do you want this?”
The plastic bag made a light rustling sound.
Shen Zhiyao held his water bottle tightly.
“No need.”
“The rice ball is newly released.”
“I’ve eaten.”
“You only ate bread.”
Shen Zhiyao finally turned around.
“Does a deskmate still need to manage what others eat?”
The expression on Cheng Ye’s face froze for a moment.
He looked as if he wanted to explain, but in the end, he merely pulled the bag back a little.
“No need.”
“Good, then.”
Shen Zhiyao walked toward the water station.
The hallway behind him fell silent for a few seconds.
Subsequent came Lin Po’s lowered voice.
“What on earth happened between you two?”
Cheng Ye didn’t answer.
That afternoon, Cheng Ye talked much less than usual.
During math class, he didn’t push any draft paper over.
During the English class break, he didn’t ask Shen Zhiyao how many mistakes he made on the dictation either.
Even when the physics teacher called on him to answer a question, his reaction was a beat slow.
“Cheng Ye.”
Teacher Xu called again.
Only then did Cheng Ye raise his head.
“Here.”
A few people in the classroom laughed.
Teacher Xu frowned slightly.
“I asked you which option to choose for this problem.”
Cheng Ye looked at the blackboard.
The question wasn’t difficult, yet he stared at it for a few seconds before answering: “Option C.”
“Why?”
Cheng Ye opened his mouth.
Shen Zhiyao’s gaze rested on his textbook, not turning over.
After a few seconds, Cheng Ye sorted out his thoughts on his own.
“The electric field direction is to the right. The negatively charged particle experiences an electric field force to the left, so its speed decreases first, then accelerates in the opposite direction.”
Teacher Xu let him sit down.
When Cheng Ye lowered his head, he raised his hand to rub his temple.
The movement was very fast.
Yet Shen Zhiyao saw it.
His hand holding the pen paused for two seconds, but he still didn’t speak.
After school, the basketball team had practice.
Lin Po stood at the back door holding a ball, rushing Cheng Ye twice.
Cheng Ye lay slumped on the desk, not moving.
“You’re not going?” Lin Po asked.
“Going.”
“Then get up.”
“In a bit.”
His voice was somewhat hoarse.
Only then did Lin Po realize something was wrong, reaching out to touch his shoulder.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Sleepy.”
“You’ve been like this all afternoon.”
“Didn’t sleep well last night.”
Cheng Ye sat up, casually picking up his school uniform jacket.
When he stood up, his body swayed noticeably, his palm pressing against the corner of the desk to regain his balance.
Shen Zhiyao finally looked up.
“Do you have a fever?”
Cheng Ye’s movements stiffened.
This was the first time today they had spoken beyond what was strictly necessary.
He looked at Shen Zhiyao.
“No.”
“Your face is very red.”
“The classroom is hot.”
“It’s eighteen degrees today.”
“I’m sensitive to heat.”
Shen Zhiyao frowned.
Yet as if afraid he would continue asking, Cheng Ye put on his backpack and walked out.
“Practice is almost late.”
Lin Po followed him.
When they reached the door, Shen Zhiyao suddenly called out to him.
“Cheng Ye.”
Cheng Ye stopped.
Shen Zhiyao looked at his flush ears and visibly hazy eyes.
“Don’t go to practice.”
Cheng Ye didn’t speak.
“You’re not in a good state,” Shen Zhiyao said.
“Just didn’t sleep well.”
“Then it’s still not suitable for practice.”
Cheng Ye held his backpack strap.
After a moment, he let out a slight smile.
“Does this count as something a deskmate is supposed to manage?”
The tone wasn’t heavy.
It even carried a bit of playful teasing similar to usual.
Yet Shen Zhiyao instantly went quiet.
The smile on Cheng Ye’s face faded quickly, too.
He seemed to regret saying this, his lips moving slightly.
“I didn’t mean”
“Suit yourself.”
Shen Zhiyao lowered his head, stuffing the last exercise book into his backpack.
“It has nothing to do with me.”
Cheng Ye stood at the door, watching him for a few seconds.
Sensing the off atmosphere, Lin Po tugged at Cheng Ye’s arm.
“Let’s go.”
The two left the classroom.
Shen Zhiyao zipped up his backpack with movements heavier than usual.
Xu Zhi passed by and stopped in his tracks.
“You’re clearly worried about him.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why do you keep looking at the door?”
Shen Zhiyao slung his camera bag over his shoulder.
“I’m preparing to go home.”
“Cheng Ye wasn’t right all afternoon,” Xu Zhi said. “He even swayed when he stood up just now.”
“Lin Po is with him.”
“So?”
“Someone will take care of it.”
Xu Zhi looked at him.
“Are you afraid that no one will take care of him, or that you shouldn’t be the one taking care of him?”
Shen Zhiyao’s footsteps paused.
Xu Zhi didn’t wait for an answer.
“I’m going to the radio station. Remember to close the window when you leave.”
She left holding her materials.
The classroom became completely empty.
Shen Zhiyao stood by the window seat.
Outside, the sky was starting to darken, and the lights on the basketball court were not yet lit. Separated by trees and the teaching building, he couldn’t see the situation on the practice court.
His phone was in his pocket.
Just sending a message to ask if he had a fever wouldn’t be difficult.
Yet only yesterday he had said there was no need to contact each other every day.
Today he had also said to only do what deskmates are supposed to do.
To take the initiative to ask now would make all those words seem meaningless.
Shen Zhiyao closed the window.
Carrying his backpack, he walked out of the classroom.
When he passed the basketball court, practice had already begun.
Cheng Ye stood on the court, his movements noticeably sluggish compared to usual. The first time he received a pass, he failed to hold it firmly, the ball hitting his wrist and bouncing out of bounds.
The PE teacher blew his whistle.
“Cheng Ye, focus.”
Cheng Ye raised his hand to show he understood.
During the next round of offense and defense, he barely ran half the court before his steps suddenly slowed down.
Lin Po called out from behind him.
Cheng Ye seemed not to hear.
The basketball passed from the side, flying out of the court past his arm.
The PE teacher finally noticed something abnormal.
“Hold on a second.”
Cheng Ye stood in place, lowering his head to catch his breath.
“What’s with your complexion?”
“It’s fine.”
“Come over here.”
The PE teacher reached out to touch his forehead, his face darkening instantly.
“Practicing with a temperature this high? You don’t care about your body anymore?”
Everyone on the sideline looked over.
Lin Po hurried over.
“He has a fever?”
“Go to the infirmary first.”
Cheng Ye wanted to say something, but was directly cut off by the PE teacher.
“No more practice today. Lin Po, accompany him over.”
Lin Po supported Cheng Ye’s arm.
As the two walked off the court, Cheng Ye raised his eyes and saw Shen Zhiyao standing outside the fence.
They looked at each other through the iron mesh.
Shen Zhiyao didn’t know when he had stopped.
He was originally supposed to go directly to the bus stop.
Yet seeing Cheng Ye make a mistake on the court, he ended up standing here.
Cheng Ye’s face was red, the hair on his forehead soaked with sweat. Seeing Shen Zhiyao, he seemed a bit surprised, and perhaps wanted to smile.
Yet probably lacking the strength, he only raised his hand slightly in the end.
Shen Zhiyao didn’t respond.
Lin Po supported him toward the infirmary.
Their figures disappeared at the other end of the playground.
Shen Zhiyao stood for a few seconds, but ultimately followed behind.
After taking his temperature, the school nurse looked at the number on the thermometer with a deep frown.
“Thirty-nine point one degrees.”
Lin Po was taken aback.
“That high?”
Sitting by the hospital bed, Cheng Ye’s voice was even hoarser than in the afternoon.
“I feel fine.”
“Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about ‘fine’?” the nurse said. “With this temperature, you can’t stay at school. Contact your parents to pick you up.”
“My dad isn’t in Linchuan.”
“What about your mom?”
“At the store.”
“Call him.”
Cheng Ye dug out his phone from his pocket.
When the screen lit up, his fingers were visibly unsteady.
Shen Zhiyao stood at the door of the infirmary, watched for a moment, and walked in.
Lin Po noticed him first.
“You haven’t left yet?”
“Passing by.”
Lin Po glanced at where the infirmary was located.
This place was in the complete opposite direction of the bus stop.
Tactfully, he didn’t expose him.
Cheng Ye raised his head.
“Why did you come?”
“Xu Zhi asked me to check.”
“Didn’t she go to the radio station?”
Shen Zhiyao fell silent for a moment.
“She said so before leaving.”
This excuse wasn’t very clever.
Yet Cheng Ye didn’t press further.
He lowered his head to dial his mother’s phone.
The phone rang for a long time before connecting.
“Mom.”
Cheng Ye said a few words, his voice growing lower and lower.
The infirmary was very quiet, and the sounds of customers talking and scanning items at the store could be faintly heard from the other end of the phone.
Cheng Ye’s mother seemed to be busy.
Cheng Ye quickly said: “It’s fine, not serious. You run the store first, I’ll head back myself.”
Hearing this, the school nurse immediately looked up.
“How can you go back by yourself with this temperature?”
Cheng Ye covered the receiver and said softly: “My home isn’t far.”
“Not far won’t do either.”
Cheng Ye’s mother on the other end of the phone probably heard, her tone turning audibly anxious.
Cheng Ye comforted her with a few words, finally telling her not to close the shop and that he would call a ride home.
After hanging up, the nurse got him some fever medicine.
“Take one first, and drink plenty of water after going back. If the fever doesn’t break tonight, go to the hospital.”
Cheng Ye took the paper cup.
When he drank the water, he frowned, looking uncomfortable even swallowing.
Standing beside him, Shen Zhiyao noticed his Adam’s apple rolling very slowly.
“Sore throat?” he asked.
Cheng Ye set down the paper cup.
“A little.”
“When did it start?”
“Last night.”
“Why didn’t you ask for leave?”
Cheng Ye glanced at him.
“There’s an event proposal to submit today.”
“You could let someone else submit it.”
“Also drawings for the bulletin board to confirm.”
“Xu Zhi is there too.”
“Basketball signup—”
“Others can do it too.”
Shen Zhiyao’s voice unconsciously turned cold.
“Do you think that without you, the entire class can’t function properly?”
The infirmary went quiet for a moment.
Lin Po stood to the side, quietly taking half a step back.
Cheng Ye looked down at the paper cup in his hand.
“No.”
“Then why do you have to manage everything?”
“I promised.”
“Even if you get sick after promising, you still have to do it?”
“I didn’t think it was this serious this morning.”
“What about the afternoon?”
Cheng Ye didn’t answer.
Looking at his flush, feverish face, the anger in Shen Zhiyao’s heart didn’t subside, but grew heavier instead.
“I asked you this afternoon.”
“Mm.”
“You said it was fine.”
“I thought I could endure it.”
“What if you couldn’t?”
Cheng Ye was quiet for a moment.
“Talk about it when I can’t endure it.”
Shen Zhiyao tightened his grip on his backpack strap.
This sentence made him recall many things.
Recalling every time his father said “see you next time.”
Recalling his mother saying she would accompany him once work was done.
And recalling Cheng Ye standing on the rooftop, saying to do what could be done first, and refuse only when it really couldn’t be done.
They all seemed accustomed to pushing real problems off to later.
Yet when many things were delayed until later, there was no longer a chance to speak of them.
“You always think there’s time later,” Shen Zhiyao said.
Cheng Ye raised his eyes.
Shen Zhiyao’s tone was very calm, but his gaze was not.
“But your body won’t wait for you.”
Cheng Ye froze for a few seconds.
He seemed to finally realize that Shen Zhiyao wasn’t blaming him.
“Are you worried about me?” Cheng Ye asked.
Shen Zhiyao’s expression tightened instantly.
“No.”
“You were very angry just now.”
“Because you’re affecting others.”
“Affecting who?”
“Lin Po has to accompany you to the infirmary, and the teacher had to stop practice.”
“Who else?”
“No one else.”
Cheng Ye looked at him.
Even with a fever, a very light smile surfaced in those eyes.
“Okay,” he said. “No one else.”
Shen Zhiyao shifted his gaze away.
The school nurse packed up the medicine box.
“Who is taking him home?”
Lin Po immediately said: “I’ll take him.”
Cheng Ye shook his head.
“You still have practice.”
“Is practice more important than you?”
After saying it, Lin Po froze first, then added with disgust: “Don’t misunderstand, I’m just afraid you’ll collapse halfway and the school will hold me responsible.”
Cheng Ye chuckled twice, then started coughing again.
Coughing so hard his shoulders trembled.
Shen Zhiyao reached out, handing over the water cup on the table.
When Cheng Ye took it, his fingertips touched Shen Zhiyao’s hand.
Very hot.
Shen Zhiyao subconsciously frowned.
“I’ll take him,” he said.
Lin Po looked over.
Cheng Ye froze, too.
“Aren’t you going to take the bus?”
“Can be a bit later.”
“Do you know where my home is?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then how are you taking me?”
“You tell me.”
Cheng Ye looked at him, not answering immediately.
Shen Zhiyao felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze.
“I’m just on the way.”
Lin Po couldn’t help asking: “Aren’t your two homes in completely opposite directions?”
Shen Zhiyao looked at him.
Lin Po immediately changed his tune: “It’s also fine to be on the way to Cheng Ye’s home first, then loop back.”
The school nurse packed a few bags of medicine into a pouch.
“Stop arguing. The patient sit down first, I’ll go write a gate release pass. Whichever of you takes him is fine, anyway he can’t walk alone.”
Lin Po still wanted to insist, but someone came from the basketball court to call him, saying the PE teacher was looking for him.
Cheng Ye waved his hand.
“You go back.”
“Really okay?”
“Shen Zhiyao is here.”
This sentence was spoken very naturally.
As if with Shen Zhiyao around, he could rest easy.
Lin Po looked at the two of them, handing Cheng Ye’s backpack over.
“Text me when you get home.”
“Got it.”
After Lin Po left, only the two of them were left in the infirmary.
Shen Zhiyao picked up the medicine bag.
“Can you walk?”
“I can.”
Cheng Ye stood up from the hospital bed.
Just as he stepped out, his body swayed.
Shen Zhiyao reached out to support his arm.
Cheng Ye’s body temperature transmitted through the school uniform, shockingly hot.
“This is called being able to walk?” Shen Zhiyao asked.
Cheng Ye leaned against the edge of the desk to stand firm.
“Stood up too fast just now.”
“You have an excuse every time.”
“Learned it from you.”
Shen Zhiyao didn’t smile.
He took Cheng Ye’s backpack, slinging it over his other shoulder.
“I’ll carry it myself,” Cheng Ye said.
“Shut up.”
Cheng Ye truly quieted down.
The two walked out of the infirmary.
The campus in the evening was quieter than usual, the sounds of basketball practice coming from afar. The setting sun was covered by clouds, leaving only a faint ring of light along the edge of the teaching building.
Cheng Ye walked very slowly.
Shen Zhiyao supported his arm the entire time.
When passing the small path behind the lab building, Cheng Ye suddenly said: “Didn’t you say to only do what deskmates are supposed to do?”
Shen Zhiyao looked straight ahead.
“Taking a sick deskmate home counts, too.”
“An ordinary deskmate helps carry the backpack?”
“You can’t walk steadily.”
“And supports them?”
“Afraid you’ll fall.”
“Gets angry?”
Shen Zhiyao finally stopped.
Cheng Ye stood beside him, his face still red, yet the corners of his mouth carried a bit of a smile.
“You talk even more after getting a fever,” Shen Zhiyao said.
“Maybe my mind isn’t very clear.”
“Then talk less.”
“But I have a question.”
“Not answering.”
“Why did you suddenly ignore me yesterday?”
Shen Zhiyao’s fingers tightened slightly.
The holly bushes on both sides of the path rustled in the wind.
He thought Cheng Ye wouldn’t ask directly.
At least not at a time like this.
“Didn’t ignore you,” Shen Zhiyao said.
“You did.”
“Just reducing unnecessary communication.”
“Why is it unnecessary?”
“You said we don’t count as friends.”
Cheng Ye froze.
Shen Zhiyao realized he had spoken too fast; it was already too late to take it back.
Cheng Ye looked at him.
“When did I say that?”
“Basketball court.”
“You heard it?”
“Passed by.”
Cheng Ye went quiet for a long time.
His face was already red from the fever, but at this moment, his expression was noticeably flustered.
“I didn’t mean that that day.”
“You spoke very clearly.”
“Lin Po asked about a special friend.”
“So you said just a deskmate.”
“Because I didn’t know how to say it.”
“There’s nothing not to know.”
Shen Zhiyao released his hand supporting him.
“Known each other for a short time, we didn’t count as friends to begin with.”
Cheng Ye stood in place.
“If I said you were a special friend that day, Lin Po would keep asking.”
“So?”
“I didn’t want him making jokes about you.”
Shen Zhiyao’s expression paused slightly.
Cheng Ye continued: “Besides, you don’t like people discussing these things. I thought saying that would be better for you.”
“Deciding for me?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“I just hadn’t thought it through.”
Cheng Ye’s voice grew hoarser and hoarser.
“We really haven’t known each other long, but I never felt you were just an ordinary deskmate.”
Shen Zhiyao looked at him.
There was no one else on the path.
The wind passed between the two, carrying the cool air of the evening.
“Then what is it?” Shen Zhiyao asked.
Cheng Ye opened his mouth.
Perhaps because of the fever, those casual answers of his had all disappeared.
After a long time, he finally said: “Someone I really want to be friends with.”
Shen Zhiyao didn’t move.
Cheng Ye lowered his head, as if feeling this sentence wasn’t said well enough.
“Maybe it doesn’t count right now, but I want it to count.”
“Friends can be calculated like that, too?”
“Then how should it be calculated?”
“Don’t know.”
“That’s why I said I hadn’t thought it through.”
Cheng Ye coughed lightly.
“You can’t just listen to half of it and convict me.”
Shen Zhiyao looked at his eyes, which were somewhat red from the fever.
The stuff clogging his heart for two days seemed to finally loosen up a bit.
Yet he still didn’t accept it right away.
“Why didn’t you tell me directly?”
“I didn’t know you heard.”
“Then why didn’t you tell Lin Po?”
“Tell him what?”
“That you want to be friends with me.”
Cheng Ye froze for a moment.
“This kind of thing needs to be told to him?”
Shen Zhiyao was stumped by the question.
Cheng Ye smiled slightly.
“I thought telling you was enough.”
Shen Zhiyao shifted his gaze.
“You’re only saying it now.”
“Because you’re only asking now.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“You just asked what it was.”
Cheng Ye took a step forward, but his foot stepped on a slippery stone tile.
Shen Zhiyao immediately reached out to support him.
Cheng Ye leaned on his arm, letting out a low laugh.
“You’re still worried about me.”
“Say another word, and I’ll leave you here.”
“You won’t.”
“How do you know?”
Cheng Ye looked at him.
“Because you’re not that kind of person.”
Shen Zhiyao didn’t speak further.
He supported Cheng Ye again, continuing to walk toward the school gate.
There was still no explicit answer between the two.
Yet that distance that had separated them for a whole day seemed to have gradually dispersed in the wind just now.
Cheng Ye’s home was indeed not far from the school.
Crossing two streets and continuing along a row of old shops, one could see the stationery store with a blue sign hanging.
A few boxes of newly arrived exercise books were placed at the entrance, and poster advertisements for school supply sales were pasted on the glass door.
Cheng Ye’s mother was ringing up a customer.
Seeing the two come in, she immediately walked out from behind the counter.
“How did you burn up like this?”
She reached out to touch Cheng Ye’s forehead, her expression changing instantly.
“I told you to wait for me to pick you up, why did you come back by yourself?”
“Not by myself.”
Cheng Ye turned to his side.
“My deskmate brought me back.”
Only then did Cheng Ye’s mother look at Shen Zhiyao.
She froze for a moment, quickly recognizing him.
“You must be Zhiyao, right?”
Shen Zhiyao was somewhat surprised.
“Hello, Auntie.”
“Cheng Ye mentioned you.” Cheng Ye’s mother took the backpack off his shoulder. “Did you eat the red bean buns last time?”
Standing beside them, Cheng Ye reminded softly: “Mom.”
“What’s wrong?” his mother said. “I can’t even ask?”
Shen Zhiyao nodded.
“I ate them, they were very delicious.”
“It’s good that you liked them. I’ll bring you some next time.”
“No need to trouble you.”
“No trouble, he eats them every day anyway.”
As she spoke, Cheng Ye’s mother urged Cheng Ye to lie down in the back rest room.
Cheng Ye took two steps, then turned back.
“Shen Zhiyao.”
“Mm?”
“You’re leaving?”
“Mm.”
Cheng Ye seemed to want to say something.
Cheng Ye’s mother looked at him.
“It’s already been enough trouble for him to take you back. Go lie down first.”
Cheng Ye had no choice but to nod.
“Say something when you get home.”
Shen Zhiyao neither agreed nor refused.
He bade farewell to Cheng Ye’s mother and turned to walk out of the stationery store.
The wind at the entrance was a bit cool.
The setting sun had completely fallen, and the streetlights along the road lit up one by one.
Walking to the bus stop, Shen Zhiyao realized he was still carrying Cheng Ye’s medicine bag.
When entering the store just now, he had only handed the backpack to Cheng Ye’s mother, keeping the medicine in his own hands the whole time.
He stood in place and looked for two seconds, then returned the way he came.
The customers in the stationery store had already left.
Cheng Ye’s mother was organizing goods behind the counter. Seeing him return, she immediately asked: “Forgot something?”
Shen Zhiyao handed the medicine bag over.
“The medicine.”
“I was just about to ask.” She took it. “Thank you, Zhiyao.”
“No need.”
“Cheng Ye is in the back, do you want to go in and see him?”
Shen Zhiyao originally wanted to say no need.
Yet when the words reached his lips, he paused.
“Did he take the medicine?”
“Not yet, just lay down.”
Shen Zhiyao looked in the direction of the rest room.
“Fever medicine should be taken after meals.”
“He ate at noon, hasn’t eaten tonight.”
“It’s best to eat a little something first.”
Cheng Ye’s mother sighed.
“He has no appetite when he’s sick. I offered to cook porridge for him, and he even complained it was too troublesome.”
Shen Zhiyao was quiet for a few seconds.
“Is there bread in the store?”
“Yes, under the counter.”
Cheng Ye’s mother quickly understood his meaning, taking out a bag of soft small bread and pouring a glass of warm water.
“Can you help me bring it in? I still have to organize goods here.”
Shen Zhiyao took the tray.
The rest room was very small.
A narrow bed was placed against the wall, beside a wooden table piled with account books and cardboard boxes. Cheng Ye lay on his side on the bed, his school uniform jacket already taken off, a thin blanket covering him.
Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes.
“Why did you come back?”
“Forgot the medicine.”
“Oh.”
Cheng Ye pushed himself up against the edge of the bed to sit up.
His face was redder than before, his voice somewhat muffled.
Shen Zhiyao set the tray on the table.
“Eat something first.”
“Not hungry.”
“You can only take medicine after eating.”
“In a bit.”
“Now.”
Cheng Ye looked at him.
Shen Zhiyao’s expression was very serious, with absolutely no room for negotiation.
Cheng Ye could only pick up the bread.
He took two bites, then leaned against the head of the bed, motionless.
Shen Zhiyao asked: “Can’t eat it?”
“Sore throat.”
“Take it slow.”
Cheng Ye took another sip of water.
The rest room fell silent.
Outside the door, the sound of Cheng Ye’s mother organizing shelves came occasionally, along with the honking of passing vehicles on the street.
Shen Zhiyao stood by the table, watching Cheng Ye slowly finish a small piece of bread.
“Can I now?” Cheng Ye asked.
“Eat a bit more.”
“Such strict supervision?”
“Afraid you’ll take medicine on an empty stomach.”
“Something a deskmate is supposed to manage?”
Shen Zhiyao glanced at him.
“Something a friend is supposed to manage.”
Cheng Ye’s movements froze.
He was still holding half a piece of bread, as if he hadn’t heard clearly.
“What did you just say?”
Shen Zhiyao shifted his gaze.
“Nothing.”
“I heard it.”
“Fevers cause auditory hallucinations.”
Cheng Ye let out a low laugh.
After laughing a few times, he started coughing again.
Shen Zhiyao handed him the water.
“Don’t laugh.”
Cheng Ye took a sip of water, but his eyes were still looking at him.
“Then we count as friends now?”
Shen Zhiyao was silent for a moment.
“Depends on your performance.”
“What performance?”
“Take medicine on time, ask for leave when sick, don’t endure everything by yourself.”
“Count as long as I do it?”
“Mm.”
“Then that’s very simple.”
“You’d better hope so.”
Cheng Ye finally finished the rest of the bread.
Shen Zhiyao opened the medicine box, taking out the tablets according to the dosage written by the school nurse.
Cheng Ye took them, then suddenly asked: “Will you still pay attention to me tomorrow?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Afraid you’ll feel we don’t count as friends again.”
Shen Zhiyao’s hand holding the water cup tightened slightly.
“I won’t.”
“Draw a circle?”
“No paper right now.”
Cheng Ye pointed to the account book on the table.
“There is.”
Shen Zhiyao ignored him.
Cheng Ye swallowed the medicine and put the cup back on the tabletop.
Probably as the medicine’s effect and exhaustion rushed up together, his eyes quickly became unable to stay open.
“You should go back,” Cheng Ye said. “Any later and there won’t be a bus.”
“The last bus is still early.”
“Don’t you go home at six something every day?”
“Occasionally a bit later doesn’t matter.”
Cheng Ye leaned back against the pillow.
“Will you get scolded by your family?”
Shen Zhiyao paused.
“No.”
His mother was probably still working overtime tonight.
Even if he went back half an hour late, no one would necessarily notice.
Cheng Ye didn’t ask further.
“Then sit for a bit.”
This sentence was spoken very softly.
Shen Zhiyao didn’t refuse.
He pulled over a nearby chair and sat down by the bed.
After Cheng Ye closed his eyes, his breathing gradually turned steady.
Shen Zhiyao took out today’s class notes from his backpack.
Cheng Ye was in a poor state in the afternoon; he had barely recorded anything in the latter half of physics class, and had missed many key points in English class.
He opened a blank exercise notebook, organizing them anew by subject.
Adding steps to physics electric field problems, marking example sentences for English grammar, and clearly writing out the key processes for the last two math example problems.
The tip of the pen glided across the paper, making a tiny rustling sound.
Halfway through writing, the person on the bed suddenly moved.
“Shen Zhiyao.”
“Mm.”
Cheng Ye didn’t open his eyes.
“You’re still here?”
“Here.”
“Oh.”
As if merely checking, he quickly fell back asleep.
Shen Zhiyao looked at his side profile.
When asleep, Cheng Ye was much quieter than usual.
No smiles, no endless chatter. His brow was slightly furrowed, as if uncomfortable, unable to relax completely even in his sleep.
Shen Zhiyao set down his pen, reaching out to touch his forehead.
Still very hot.
He quickly withdrew his hand.
By the time he finished organizing the notes, it was nearly seven o’clock.
Cheng Ye’s mother came in carrying a bowl of porridge. Seeing the exercise notebook on the table, she was somewhat surprised.
“Is this written for Cheng Ye?”
“He didn’t hear everything in the afternoon.”
“You child are way too attentive.” Cheng Ye’s mother lowered her voice. “Usually he always says he doesn’t need anyone to manage him, but actually forgets things right and left.”
Shen Zhiyao took a look at the person on the bed.
“He doesn’t forget, he just does too many things.”
Cheng Ye’s mother sighed softly.
“He’s been like this since he was little. When the store is busy, he feels he should help; when classmates look for him, he’s unwilling to refuse. Clearly still a child, yet insists on pretending he can shoulder everything.”
Shen Zhiyao didn’t speak.
Cheng Ye’s mother placed the porridge in an insulated box.
“It’s not early anymore, hurry back. Should Auntie call a car for you?”
“No need, I’ll take the bus.”
“Then be careful on the road.”
Shen Zhiyao slung his backpack on.
When he reached the door, Cheng Ye on the bed suddenly opened his eyes.
“You’re leaving?”
“Mm.”
“What are the notes?”
“Today’s classes.”
“You organized them for me?”
“In passing.”
Looking at the notebook on the table, a light smile surfaced in Cheng Ye’s eyes.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to say thank you every time.”
“Isn’t this what you said before?”
“Returning it to you now.”
Cheng Ye let out a slight smile.
“Text me when you get home.”
Shen Zhiyao looked at him.
“You sleep first.”
“If you send it, I’ll be able to see it.”
“Sick people shouldn’t play with their phones.”
“Then you send it to my mom?”
“I don’t have Auntie’s contact info.”
Cheng Ye thought about it.
“Then still send it to me.”
Shen Zhiyao didn’t agree.
After walking out of the stationery store, the street was completely dark.
The bus stop sign lit up in the night, the Number 17 bus arriving in five minutes.
Standing under the bus shelter, Shen Zhiyao took out his phone.
In the chat box, the last message was still the one sent by Cheng Ye yesterday.
Did you get home?
There was no reply below.
Shen Zhiyao looked at it for a while, typing out a line of characters.
Took the medicine, measure temperature again in half an hour.
A few seconds after the message went out, Cheng Ye replied.
Didn’t you tell me to sleep?
Sleep now.
Then will you still tell me after you get home?
Shen Zhiyao’s fingers paused on the screen.
The bus drove over from afar, its headlights piercing through the night, drawing a long streak of light on the damp road surface.
He ultimately replied:
I will.
Cheng Ye sent over a circle.
○
Looking at that symbol, the corner of Shen Zhiyao’s lips twitched slightly.
When he reached home, there was indeed no one in the living room.
His mother had sent a message saying she had a business dinner tonight and asked him to rest early.
Shen Zhiyao changed his shoes. His first action wasn’t turning on the light, nor setting down his backpack.
Standing at the entrance, he sent Cheng Ye a message.
Reached home.
This time, there was no immediate reply from the other side.
He had probably really fallen asleep.
Shen Zhiyao took a shower, sitting down at his desk to do homework.
Around ten o’clock, the phone finally vibrated once.
Cheng Ye sent a photo of a thermometer.
Thirty-eight point two degrees.
Dropped a bit.
Shen Zhiyao replied:
Keep drinking water.
Yes, sir.
After a moment, Cheng Ye sent again:
I read the notes.
Read them tomorrow.
Handwriting is very nice.
Go to sleep.
One last sentence.
Shen Zhiyao waited for a moment.
Cheng Ye sent over:
Thank you, my friend.
The light of the screen reflected on Shen Zhiyao’s face.
Looking at the word “friend,” he made no move for a long time.
In the end, he didn’t use a circle, nor did he say no need to thank.
He only replied with one sentence:
Good night.
After the message was sent, Cheng Ye quickly replied:
Good night.
It was the first time they said good night to each other.
Without special ritual, and without extra words.
The night sky outside the window was quiet, the sound of passing vehicles coming from afar occasionally.
Shen Zhiyao set his phone beside the desk, picking up his pen again.
After writing two lines, he suddenly remembered something, adding an entry to his notes app.
Remind Cheng Ye to take temperature tomorrow morning.
Looking at that line of characters, he paused for a few seconds.
Then drew a small circle behind it.