The ginkgo fruits by the roadside were ripe, their orange-yellow skins falling with a soft plop. I finally got the phone I’d been dreaming of.
I started frequenting Tang Shi’s room, begging him to play games with me. My skills were terrible, and at first, I was always scolded by teammates. But with Tang Shi protecting me, they didn’t dare anymore.
It wasn’t because Tang Shi was great at gaming, but because he was so good at trash-talking. No one could match him.
I seemed to have grown a bit taller. Although I was still half a head shorter standing next to Tang Shi, during the school’s physical measurements, I was indeed a little taller than before.
My mom said it was thanks to her enrolling me in Taekwondo Class, claiming it helped with growth.
The Taekwondo coach liked me a lot, saying I looked good and was the face of his class.
My senior brother wasn’t pleased, thinking he was the most handsome in the class. But with his face full of acne, he looked more like a volcano.
Someone was sweeping ginkgo fruits off the street, taking them home to dry, crushing the pulp to leave the tiny seeds inside.
Yuan Ziyi and I walked down the street with our backpacks. The ginkgo fruits had a unique, somewhat warm, pungent smell. I was careful to avoid stepping on them, fearing they’d stick to my shoes. Yuan Ziyi wasn’t afraid, hopping around and deliberately crushing the fruits underfoot.
She said, “Cheng Yueguang, did you know there’s a talent show coming to our city for auditions? I want to give it a try.”
“Sure,” I replied absentmindedly, mentally reciting the English text assigned over the National Day holiday. “Just don’t let it interfere with your studies.”
Yuan Ziyi hummed a tune, spreading her long arms wide. “What do you think I should perform? Singing? Dancing?”
Realizing she wasn’t joking, I abandoned my English text and asked what she could do. I said, “You need a really impressive talent.”
In truth, it’s not just about talent; looks matter too. Of course, I didn’t say that out loud, not wanting to hurt Yuan Ziyi’s self-esteem.
She wasn’t a pretty girl, but every girl shines in her own way, deserving respect and protection from those around her.
Looking at the road covered with ginkgo leaves and fruits, I suggested, “Why not sing? Your voice is so bright, you’ll definitely stand out. Plus, I can accompany you.”
“Wow—Cheng Yueguang!”
Yuan Ziyi looked touched. “You’re so nice. If you weren’t so short, I’d definitely marry you.”
“What do you know!” I gestured above my head. “Can’t you pay attention in class? The biology teacher said boys develop later. I’ll still grow taller.”
“Hahaha.” Yuan Ziyi laughed heartily, drawing some curious glances, though none were malicious. Strangers often have the world’s warmest kindness, and some even smiled, infected by Yuan Ziyi’s laughter.
Of course, I was happy too, because the National Day holiday meant seven days off, and the Taekwondo Class was also on break. My parents, who rarely had time, had planned a trip to the seaside with Tang Shi a week ago.
Speaking of Tang Shi, he joined the school basketball team and stayed after school for practice every day. I didn’t have to go home with him, which was a relief.
When I got home, Aunt Tang was already in our yard, helping my parents pack for the seaside trip.
They had a barbecue grill, and Aunt Tang and my dad were trying to fit it into the SUV’s trunk.
My mom, wearing high-heeled sandals with rhinestones, sat on the big swing in the yard, eating. Her hair, dyed a light coffee color, fell softly on her shoulders, making her look charming and lively.
She called me over, “Son, come eat some strawberries. Aunt Tang picked them this afternoon. They’re very fresh.”
I didn’t go over. Instead, I dropped my backpack and went to help Aunt Tang with her work. “Auntie, let me do it.”
Aunt Tang, dressed in sportswear with her hair in a ponytail, had a sheen of sweat on her smooth forehead. She wiped her sweat and smiled, “Our Yueguang is so considerate.”
My mom, in her seven or eight-centimeter high heels, ran over and stuffed a stemless strawberry into my mouth. “Try it.”
The strawberry was sweet and juicy. As I chewed, I helped my dad pack. My mom linked arms with Aunt Tang and walked back to the swing, complaining, “Oh, you just can’t sit still.”
Aunt Tang adjusted her hair, letting my mom lead her. “You know me. I just want to find something to do when I’m home all day.”
My mom laughed, “When I’m on vacation, you can’t sit still. After we get back from the seaside, come with me to the beauty salon.”
I watched them walk to the swing and asked my dad quietly, “Isn’t Uncle Tang coming back?”
Tang Shi’s dad seemed very busy. We barely saw him throughout the year. He looked serious but was nice to me, always giving me a red envelope for the New Year.
My dad tossed the last piece of the grill into the trunk, closed it, and pinched my nose. “No, he’s abroad for a meeting.”
Oh well, poor Tang Shi wouldn’t get to see his dad again.
It was almost dinner time when Tang Shi came back, heading straight to my house, shouting that he was hungry as soon as he walked in.
He wore a blue basketball uniform, a knee brace on his right knee, and his hair was damp with sweat. He deliberately rubbed against me.
I tried to run, but he pinned me against the wall, rubbing his sweaty face on mine.
“Are you still going to run?” Tang Shi panted, his hands on my waist, grinning mischievously.
“No, no,” I surrendered, pointing to the dining table. “Please, just go eat.”
I’ve always thought Tang Shi could eat a lot. If he let himself go, he might be able to eat a whole cow. I stirred my rice, watching him, and when his bowl was empty, I quickly offered mine. “Take mine!”
Tang Shi took my bowl and finished the remaining rice in a few bites.
My mom noticed our rice exchange and pinched my arm. “What’s wrong with you? How many times have I told you to finish your rice?”
She instructed my dad to get me another half bowl of rice, which he placed in front of me with a thud. “Eat it.”
Under my mom’s insistence, I reluctantly ate the half bowl of rice, while she kept piling food onto my plate.
Aunt Tang said we had to get up early the next day, so after dinner, she went home to rest. Tang Shi said he wanted to sleep at my place, climbing onto my bed without even taking a shower.
After my shower, I came out of the bathroom to find Tang Shi occupying my bed, playing games. The bedroom window was open, letting in the evening breeze mixed with the scent of flowers from the yard.
And, of course, mosquitoes from the yard.
I closed the window, blaming Tang Shi for opening it and letting mosquitoes in.
Tang Shi sprawled on the bed, glanced up at me, and complained that my bed smelled. He opened the window to air it out.
This was slander! I showered every day. How could there be a smell? I wanted to throw Tang Shi off my bed, but I didn’t dare.
I walked over and pushed him, asking where the smell was.
Tang Shi said my bed smelled like milk.
Ha, this country bumpkin knew nothing. I told him it was the scent of my body wash and said if he wanted to sleep on my bed, he had to shower.
Tang Shi put down his phone, deliberately opposing me. “What if I don’t shower?”
If he didn’t shower… I couldn’t do much about it. I swallowed my frustration and tried to reason with him. “If you don’t shower, you’ll stink.”
“Oh, really?” Tang Shi squinted at me. He always had this expression when he had a bad idea. Alarm bells rang in my head, but it was too late to retreat.
Tang Shi lunged at me, pulling his jersey over my head, pressing my face against him.
He hadn’t showered since playing basketball, and his body was sticky. My face was now intimately acquainted with his sticky sweat.
Through the fabric, Tang Shi held my head, preventing my escape. I suspected my parents downstairs could hear his maniacal laughter.
The tip of my nose was filled with the heavy scent of male hormones mixed with the faint, fading smell of lemon body wash.
I’ve heard that some foreign perfumers consider this the essence of male charm and have designed many perfumes around it.
However, enveloped in this scent, I was about to pass out.
“Tang Shi!” I punched his back with all my might. “You’re so annoying!”
The next day, on the way to the seaside, my dad drove while Tang Shi and I sat in the back. My mom and Aunt Tang sat in the middle, booking hotel rooms on their phones.
I asked my mom if I could have a room to myself.
I said, “I don’t want to share with him. He snores at night, and I can’t sleep well.”
Tang Shi draped an arm over my shoulder, speaking lazily. “Don’t you know how hard it is to book rooms during peak season? Just bear with it and don’t cause trouble.”
My unreasonable request was denied, and I was in a bad mood the whole way.
When we arrived at the hotel, Tang Shi carried the luggage in front, and I followed with the room card.
My mom and the others were going to the sauna and told Tang Shi to take care of me and not wander off. Tang Shi agreed, saying he’d take me swimming.
He opened the suitcase to find swim trunks and suddenly held up a pair of black-and-white panda-patterned trunks. “Cheng Yueguang, are these yours?”
“Yeah,” I said, sitting on the sofa eating a popsicle, not very interested in swimming. “Just put them aside for me, thanks.”
“Pfft—”
Tang Shi laughed, pulling at my swim trunks. “No, seriously, why are your trunks so small? Can you even fit into them?”
… How could I endure such humiliation?
I chased Tang Shi around the room, with him holding my swim trunks, laughing and saying my little buddy was child-sized.
I was so angry I nearly put my swim trunks over his head.
After our antics, we went swimming together, but he couldn’t resist teasing me now and then.
The hotel’s pool had a strong chlorine smell, which I knew was due to frequent disinfection.
Most people were at the beach at this time, so the pool wasn’t crowded. Besides Tang Shi and me, there was only one couple.
The couple was cuddling in the pool. The man looked about forty, bald, with tattoos on his arms. The woman wore heavy makeup and had a pink swim ring around her waist.
Tang Shi brought me a glass of freshly squeezed apple juice and asked if I wanted a swim ring too.
I leaned on the edge of the pool, drinking my juice, and shook my head.
The couple approached us, and the woman asked how old we were. She spoke with a smile, without malice. “You both look so young.”
I said I was 16, and the person on the shore was my brother, 17.
“I see,” the woman blinked. “Are you locals? My husband and I are here for the first time and don’t know what there is to do.”
I took a sip of apple juice and told her, “You can Google it.”
“Hahaha, you’re so cute. How about this: my husband and I treat you to lunch?” The woman looked at me expectantly.
“No need,” I declined. “We’re here with our parents.”
“Then let’s all eat together,” the woman was so enthusiastic, I couldn’t quite understand her intentions. “Let’s make friends. I’d love to see what kind of people could have such a handsome little brother like you.”
Tang Shi, who had been listening from the shore, suddenly came over, hooked my arm, and pulled me out of the water. He nodded at the woman, saying he was taking me back to the room.
The woman’s expression seemed a bit unwilling, as if she wanted to ask more, but the man beside her stopped her.
Following Tang Shi out, I vaguely heard the man say, “Kids… don’t scare them… we might run into them again…”