Thanks to Tang Shi, I didn’t get any sleep during lunch. In the afternoon, during math class, I was nodding off like a little chick pecking at rice and got caught by the teacher. He made me stand up for the rest of the class and then follow him to the office to count the answers for the monthly test.
As soon as the bell rang, I followed the teacher into the math office. Inside, there were only two teachers without classes and a boy sorting through freshly printed math answers on the floor.
Our teacher greeted the other two teachers and then turned to me, "Cheng Yueguang, count out your class’s answers and have the class representative distribute them later."
I squatted down next to the boy, yawning as I reached for the papers on the floor.
The answers had just been printed, and the white sheets were still warm, giving off the smell of ink. I wrinkled my nose, picked up a small stack, and started counting them on my knee.
Our class had a total of 47 students. To prevent any scatterbrains from losing their answers, I needed to count out 55 copies, with the extras placed under the podium for anyone who needed them.
While I was counting the answers on the floor, the teachers in the office started chatting. They were talking about the boy next to me, saying he scored full marks in math.
I perked up my ears and learned that this boy was a new transfer student named He Antang, who scored full marks in every subject except Chinese and English.
He was impressive. I couldn’t help but glance at him. Usually, people would be floating on air hearing such praise from teachers, but he acted as if he didn’t hear them, quietly organizing the scattered papers.
I deliberately slowed down my counting, waiting until he finished counting his class’s papers before standing up with him. After saying goodbye to the teacher, I followed him out the door.
"Hi," I said, walking beside him. "I’m Cheng Yueguang from the International Department, Class Two. What about you?"
He ignored me, which was a bit awkward, but I couldn’t help continuing, "You’re amazing. This math test was really hard. I couldn’t solve that last geometry problem at all. I have no idea what the teacher was thinking with that one…"
I thought I’d be talking to myself for a while, but to my surprise, he stopped and said, "That problem is simple. You just need to solve the equation from the second sub-question first."
"Oh, oh…" I was taken aback that he responded, feeling a bit flattered. "So you have to work backward."
"Not necessarily. You can solve the first sub-question using the slope of the line. A lot of people think the last question is difficult and instinctively overcomplicate it, but actually, you just need to…"
He Antang explained the solution to the last question as we walked, and before I knew it, we were at my classroom door. I stopped instinctively, standing at the door, slightly tilting my head to listen to him explain, nodding occasionally.
The bell rang for class, and students rushed into the classroom. Someone tapped my shoulder, "Yueguang, the teacher’s here."
"Ah, I’m coming, I’m coming."
He Antang hadn’t finished explaining the problem. I glanced at him, "Can I find you after class?"
The next period was a long break. He Antang hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Come find me in Class Seven."
I breathed a sigh of relief and slipped into the classroom just as the bell finished ringing.
As soon as I sat down, Yuan Ziyi leaned over and asked who the handsome guy I was talking to at the door was.
Recalling He Antang’s fair face, I had to admit he could be considered handsome, so I told Yuan Ziyi that he was the new transfer student, and he was really good at studying.
Yuan Ziyi snorted, "Duh, if he wasn’t good at studying, how could he be the top of our grade?"
She rested her chin on her hand, looking like a lovestruck girl, "Ah, a genius like him would be perfect for a slacker like me. I wonder if he has a girlfriend. Kids with a genius like him would definitely have high IQs."
"What are you thinking about all day?" I opened my textbook to take notes, not forgetting to scold her, "If you don’t start paying attention in class, you’ll really end up at the bottom of the grade."
Yuan Ziyi was unfazed, "I hate studying the most. Hey, do you think I should become a model since I’m so tall?"
She was always daydreaming. Just yesterday morning, she told me she wanted to be a mother of three. I was used to her wild imagination and didn’t comment on it.
This class was biology, and the teacher taught quickly. I had to keep taking notes, leaving no time for chatting or telling Yuan Ziyi that the gift she gave me was taken by Tang Shi. Although Yuan Ziyi didn’t like studying, she knew not to disturb me at crucial times, so she propped up her textbook and dozed off on the desk.
Finally, the class ended, and my wrist was about to give out from taking notes for an entire period.
Remembering my agreement with He Antang, I quickly told Yuan Ziyi as I left with my math paper, "Help me tell the Sports Committee I’m skipping the break. The math answers are in my desk; find time to distribute them for me."
Our class was one floor above Class Seven. I went down a flight of stairs and found their classroom along the corridor, peeking inside.
The class president of Class Seven, who had participated in a math competition with me, saw me holding a paper and looking around at their door, so he asked why I wasn’t going downstairs for exercises and what I was doing at their classroom.
I showed him the paper in my hand, "Where’s He Antang?"
"Oh, you mean him," the class president moved aside and pointed to a seat against the wall. He Antang was sitting there, writing something, "Over there."
"Thanks."
I walked into Class Seven, calling He Antang’s name, "What are you doing?"
He Antang looked up at me. His features were well-defined, and he had a handsome face. Coupled with his excellent grades, he was probably the "prince charming" in many girls’ hearts.
The prince charming didn’t waste words, directly reaching out his hand, "Let me see your paper."
I handed over my paper and sat in the seat next to him, propping my chin to watch him examine it.
My math grades weren’t great, at least not outstanding among the top students. I only scored 113 this time, losing 28 points on the last big question and making mistakes on a few smaller ones.
He Antang found my answer sheet, flipped to the last question, and stared at the lone string of formulas, "What’s this?"
I shrugged and told him honestly, "I couldn’t solve the problem. The teacher said you get points for having formulas, so I copied some geometry formulas, and I actually got 2 points."
Clearly, a top student like He Antang couldn’t understand my point-scrounging tactics. He looked at my test paper, tracing my thought process, and marked the mistakes with a red pen.
He said, "What were you thinking? You got it right at first, but everything went wrong from the third step."
I frowned at the paper, trying to recall my thoughts during the exam, but my mind was blank. Under He Antang’s questioning gaze, I awkwardly admitted, "Um… I forgot what I was thinking."
I spent the entire thirty-minute break with He Antang in the classroom, going over the problems. He Antang was all about studying and only answered questions related to it, like a soulless problem-solving machine.
My mom often said that you become like those you associate with. I played with Tang Shi out of necessity, but if I could choose, I’d want a neighbor like He Antang, a quiet and studious genius. I wanted to be friends with him, so I took out some mint candies from my pocket and offered them to him.
The mint candies were something I asked my mom to prepare for me because I sometimes dozed off in class. I kept a few in my pocket to help me stay awake.
He Antang hesitated for a moment, then took one, softly thanking me.
"You’re welcome," I grinned, showing my small white teeth, "Thank you for spending so much time explaining the problems to me."
As class time approached, I waved my paper at him, "I’m heading back now, bye~"
He Antang hesitated, then softly said goodbye, "See you."
After school, Tang Shi was waiting for me at the classroom door again. This time, he was accompanied by two boys in basketball jerseys, one of whom was holding a basketball.
I packed my bag and came out of the classroom, glancing at the boy, "Are you going to play basketball?"
"Yeah," Tang Shi raised his arm, trying to put it around my shoulder, "You’re coming too."
Why should I go? I dodged to the side, avoiding his arm, "I don’t want to. There’s a lot of homework tonight."
My evasive move seemed to annoy Tang Shi. He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me into his embrace, "Cheng Yueguang, have you forgotten your own name if I don’t remind you, huh?"
Their group was too conspicuous, and the surrounding students were sneaking glances at them. Seeing him lay hands on me, some boys from my class bravely stepped forward to speak up for me, "Hey, why are you bullying our class president!"
"Bullying him?" Tang Shi scoffed, still holding my head firmly against his chest, "I’m his brother!"
"Go on, get back to what you were doing." The two boys who came with Tang Shi started shooing away the onlookers. They were tall, with muscles just beginning to form on their tanned arms.
Freshmen were naturally intimidated by upperclassmen, especially when these two looked so fierce.
My classmates reluctantly dispersed. Yuan Ziyi, knowing Tang Shi was my neighbor, reassured them that I was fine and that the person taking me away was indeed my brother.
No, Sister Ziyi! I don’t want to go with him! Save me, save me!
I looked at Yuan Ziyi with pleading eyes, hoping she’d catch my silent SOS and rescue me from Tang Shi, but her signal receiver must have been malfunctioning. She misunderstood and cheerfully waved goodbye, "Bye, have fun!"
Tang Shi’s arm was firmly around me, leading me downstairs with a determined attitude, "Let’s go."
The two boys followed behind, joking with him, "Tang Shi, why did you bring him along? Is he going to carry your clothes like a little wife?"
What kind of talk is that? That’s so insulting. My face turned red, but I didn’t dare provoke those two big guys. I could only bite my lip in grievance, planning how to report this to Aunt Tang tonight.
"Oh, look, he’s blushing!"
The boy with the basketball whistled, bouncing the ball in his hands. His hands were huge, with veins visible on the back. I only glanced at them before lowering my head again, keeping my mouth shut.
Tang Shi glanced down at me and told the boy, "Enough, Yan He, stop teasing him."
Even after Tang Shi said that, the boy named Yan He continued, "Tsk, who’s teasing him? Look at his skinny arms and legs. If he gets knocked over playing basketball later, don’t cry."
"Hey," Yan He leaned over with a grin, "little wife, say something. Are you going to cry later?"
Tang Shi kicked him in the knee, "I told you to shut up!"
I didn’t know how hard Tang Shi kicked, but Yan He winced in pain, gasping, "Damn, Tang Shi, are you serious?"
Tang Shi snorted lightly, as if disdainful. He kept his arm around me and continued walking, telling me, "Don’t mind him. He likes a girl in our class and has been rejected several times, so he’s just sour about you."
I muttered under my breath, "But I’m not a little wife."
My voice was too soft, and Tang Shi probably didn’t hear it. He leaned closer, "What?"
"…I said I got it."
"Good," Tang Shi let out a breathy chuckle, "Just wait. He’s teasing you now, but I’ll get back at him on the basketball court later."
When it came to bullying, Tang Shi never let me down. He placed me in the stands to watch them play, and in the first few games, that boy named Yan He barely touched the ball.
Watching the boys play was actually quite interesting. I sat in the stands, resting my chin on my knees, watching Tang Shi weave through the other players with the ball.
Besides me, who was forcibly brought here by Tang Shi, there were a few other girls in the stands. They had bottles of water by their feet and were whispering excitedly. When Tang Shi scored, I could faintly hear their gasps of excitement.
I couldn’t tell if they were there to watch the game or the players.
I started to feel bored, stretching out on the stands and wondering when Tang Shi would finish playing. I wanted to go home and do my homework.
Besides, my mom might be home by now. If I got home later than her, she’d definitely start asking questions. Although I could use Tang Shi as a shield, dealing with her interrogation was still a hassle…
Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard the girls’ screams and Tang Shi’s angry shout, "Cheng Yueguang! What are you standing there for!"
What do you mean, what am I doing? I looked up, puzzled, but didn’t see the scolding Tang Shi. Instead, a basketball came hurtling toward me.
Thud—
The basketball hit my face with a dull thud. My vision went black, as if something had robbed me of all my senses.
The next second, a wave of pain crashed over me. I yelped, covering my face with my hands as bright red blood seeped through my fingers.
The boys on the court rushed over, with Tang Shi leading the charge. He pressed his hand on my head, "Yueguang, Yueguang, let me see."
My face hurt, especially my nose. I could feel something continuously flowing from it. The pain left me speechless, and I kept clutching my nose, shaking my head.
"I’ll take him to the infirmary first."
Tang Shi was talking to someone, and I felt myself being lifted from the stands and carried on someone’s back.
The person supported my thigh and turned to speak to me, "It’s okay now. I’ll take you to the infirmary."