My mom was quite worried about me participating in the school Sports Festival, constantly asking if it was safe.
Tang Shi happened to be having dinner at our house and scoffed, saying, “Don’t worry, ma’am, it’s perfectly safe. Besides, exercising more helps you grow taller.”
“That’s true…” My mom looked at me and placed some lettuce on my plate. “Eat more greens to grow taller.”
I put a piece of lettuce in my mouth, and Tang Shi tossed a meatball into my bowl, telling me to wait for him at the Youth Palace entrance after class tomorrow.
My mom, ever vigilant, perked up and asked Tang Shi what he planned to do with me.
Tang Shi had always been a bit of a troublemaker since childhood, the kind of kid teachers and parents worried about. My mom always thought Tang Shi might lead me astray, but she never had any proof.
Tang Shi said, “I’m representing the school in a speech contest next week and need Yueguang to come with me to pick up some materials.”
!!!
“A speech contest?”
My mom, while disapproving of Tang Shi’s rebellious nature, couldn’t deny his talents in certain areas. She put down her chopsticks and asked Tang Shi about the contest, how many participants there were, and whether I could join.
Tang Shi answered her half-seriously, half-dismissively, “It’s just a provincial contest. He can participate when he’s in Junior Year.”
“Did you hear that?” My mom nudged me under the table. “Study hard and keep up with your brother Tang Shi.”
I poked at the lettuce in my bowl with my chopsticks. “…Oh.”
Sometimes, I really envied Tang Shi. He did whatever he wanted, never having to do things he disliked or eat food he didn’t want.
I pushed the bowl of lettuce aside and told my mom I was full.
“You’ve barely eaten anything, like a cat’s meal.”
My mom ladled a bowl of soup for me. “Here, drink the soup. I specially bought the old hen for this broth. It’s nutritious.”
Not wanting to neglect Tang Shi, she also served him a bowl. “Tang Shi, have some too.”
Tang Shi glanced at the soup, said nothing, and drank it straight away.
Seeing this, my mom urged me to drink up as well. The chicken soup had a glistening layer of oil on top, and I really had no appetite. But my resistance was always futile, so I reluctantly sipped the soup, spoonful by spoonful.
After dinner, I asked Tang Shi to accompany me to buy something. My mom questioned why it had to be bought now. “Why didn’t you do it earlier? Why wait until it’s dark?”
My dad, clearing the table, said, “Let him go. It’s a good way to walk off the meal.”
My mom wanted to say more, but my dad, a bit exasperated, said, “Come on, honey, he’s a grown boy. He won’t get lost.”
He stacked the dishes, went to the coat rack by the door, took out his wallet, and handed some money to me and Tang Shi. “Go on, don’t stay out too late, and no junk food.”
My mom called out from the dining table, “Spray some mosquito repellent before you go!”
Once outside, I pulled Tang Shi in the opposite direction of the shopping street.
He stopped and asked where we were going.
Excitedly, I told him there was an acrobatics show at the central park tonight.
After school, Wen Chen and I had gone to the shopping street, where some people were handing out flyers about an acrobatics show tonight, with tickets only costing twenty bucks.
I had arranged to meet Wen Chen at the park entrance tonight, but I didn’t want to go alone, so I dragged Tang Shi along.
“Acrobatics?”
Tang Shi looked at me with an expression of disbelief. “How old are you?”
“Let’s just go,” I said, pulling on his arm. “Remember when we were kids and went to the circus? The performer breathing fire scared me to tears.”
“Yeah,” Tang Shi let me drag him along, a soft chuckle escaping his throat. “Of course I remember. You even wet your pants.”
“…I don’t remember that.” I refused to admit it, insisting he must have remembered wrong.
At the park entrance, I craned my neck, looking for Wen Chen. Instead, I spotted Qi Le and his group.
A mix of guys and girls, they came over to greet us.
Qi Le, with a girl’s arm linked through his, glanced at Tang Shi and asked, “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”
Tang Shi gave me a sidelong glance and lazily replied, “Couldn’t help it. My little brother insisted on coming.”
“Hahaha,” Qi Le laughed heartily, slinging an arm around my neck. “Since you’re here, join us.”
I shook my head, ducking out from under his arm. “I’m waiting for a classmate.”
Qi Le raised an eyebrow teasingly, asking if it was a male or female classmate.
Of course, it was a male classmate—just as I was about to reply, a clear voice called from behind, “Cheng Yueguang! You’re really here!”
???
I turned to see Chen Guoguo jogging towards us, followed by a tall boy.
It was my first time seeing Chen Guoguo out of her school uniform. She wore a light blue dress and sandals, her slender white legs exposed.
She reached me first, then waved to the boy behind her. “Yan He, come on.”
Yan He? I quickly glanced at Tang Shi, but he showed no reaction to Yan He’s name, still looking disinterested. I then looked at Qi Le, who was winking at Tang Shi, but to no avail—Tang Shi remained indifferent.
Yan He approached slowly, holding two cups of milk tea. Chen Guoguo introduced him, “This is Yan He, a Senior Year student. We live in the same neighborhood.”
She looked at me, her thick lashes fluttering like tiny combs, and said a bit shyly, “Wen Chen told me you’d be here tonight. I didn’t dare come alone, so I brought him along.”
Oh, Wen Chen! How could he betray me with those honest eyes!
I waited in vain for Wen Chen, realizing I’d been set up. He was probably at home, chuckling to himself, thinking he’d played matchmaker for me.
I glanced at Yan He, standing behind Chen Guoguo with a smirk, and instinctively moved closer to Tang Shi.
“My classmate probably won’t come,” I murmured. “Why don’t we just go in?”
Qi Le told his group to go ahead, staying back with us. Tang Shi and I walked in the middle, with Chen Guoguo and Yan He trailing a few steps behind.
I wasn’t sure if Yan He was doing it on purpose, but his derogatory remarks about me being effeminate floated clearly into my ears.
Chen Guoguo urgently whispered, “Stop it.”
Feeling a bit down, I poked Tang Shi.
Tang Shi was busy chatting with Qi Le, ignoring me. I poked him again, a bit harder this time.
Tang Shi looked at me, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
Just ahead, an old man was slowly pushing a tricycle loaded with candied hawthorns. I doubted he’d make it past the acrobatics show before it ended.
Tang Shi glanced at the colorful array of candied hawthorns and seemed to understand. “You want one?”
I turned to look at Yan He, who was watching me. Our eyes met, and he gave me a challenging smile.
He was wearing something like a basketball jersey, his tanned arms muscular.
…
I quickly turned back and told Tang Shi I wanted a skewer of candied orange slices.
“Oh,” Yan He spoke up, “I thought only girls liked those things. Tang Shi, are you with a little brother or a little sister?”
Chen Guoguo nudged his arm, whispering, “Can you stop it…”
Tang Shi calmly turned around, blocking Yan He’s path. “Care to repeat that?”
No guy wants to lose face in front of a girl he likes, and with Chen Guoguo there, Yan He couldn’t back down. He shoved Tang Shi’s chest and spat, “I said he’s a sissy, only liking girly things. Did I say something wrong?”
I was furious!
Blinded by rage, I took a step forward, grabbed Yan He’s arm, and attempted to throw him over my shoulder.
Unfortunately, the size difference between us was too great, and my Taekwondo skills were mostly limited to practice dummies. My first public display of martial arts ended in embarrassment. Yan He was thrown, but I ended up on the ground too.
My only thought before twisting my waist was—fighting is such a crude and vulgar act, not suited for a refined and aspiring young man like me.
“Ah—”
Yan He and I landed in a heap, with Chen Guoguo letting out a sharp scream and Tang Shi looking at me in shock.
Yan He recovered first, grabbing the back of my neck, breathing heavily. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
My face was smashed against his shoulder, my nose aching from the impact with his shoulder bone. But the problem wasn’t my nose. I inhaled sharply, reaching for my lower back. “Ow, it hurts…”
That night, I didn’t get to see the acrobatics show. Instead, I lay on a hospital bed, waiting for the doctor to apply a plaster to my injured back.
Qi Le stood nearby, laughing non-stop from earlier until now. “I can’t take it, my stomach hurts… Tang Shi, Cheng Yueguang is too funny, hahaha…”
So embarrassing… I buried my face in my arms, refusing to interact with the outside world.
The doctor, coldly efficient, pressed his gloved fingers on my back, asking if it hurt.
I turned my face slightly, mumbling, “Yes, it hurts.”
Now Tang Shi laughed too, tapping my head. “You’re not even fully grown and you’re trying to fight? Will you dare do it again?”
I was wrong, but I’d still dare…
Of course, I couldn’t say that to Tang Shi. Lying on the bed, I said, with genuine regret, “I’ll never dare again.”
Missing the acrobatics show meant I couldn’t attend Taekwondo class the next day either.
I didn’t dare let my mom know about my twisted back, fearing she’d smell the plaster and start asking questions. So I told her at the door that I’d be sleeping over at Tang Shi’s house that night.
“You…” My mom was reluctant to agree, but my dad put an arm around her shoulders. “Let him go. It’s not the first time he’s slept over at Tang Shi’s.”
He reminded me to set an alarm for the next day so I wouldn’t miss Taekwondo class.
I agreed, nodding, and slipped over to Tang Shi’s house with the plaster.
Thankfully, Tang Shi’s bed was big enough. I carefully spread out the blanket, telling him to sleep quietly and not kick me during the night.
Tang Shi sat in a chair by the desk, legs crossed, watching me silently.
Feeling uneasy under his gaze, I stopped and met his eyes, touching my face. “What are you staring at? Do I have something on my face?”