“Cheng Shuoning brought you here?” Cheng Meng sneered, casting a glance around the shop, his gaze settling on the two people seated inside.
One was a well-known figure at school—Cheng Shuoning’s deskmate, memorable for his strikingly handsome face.
The other wore a hat that obscured his face, head lowered, revealing nothing.
Han Tian didn’t respond, which was as good as confirmation. He called out, “Boss, two bowls of beef noodles, please.”
The owner, busy in the kitchen, shouted back, “We’re out of beef noodles.”
“How can a shop run out of things?” Cheng Meng, already in a foul mood, had no desire to stay any longer. He turned to leave, “Forget it, let’s go somewhere else.”
“It’s normal for them to run low on ingredients since they don’t get many customers. The other dishes are good too, really. Since we’re here, let’s try something.” Han Tian gently patted Cheng Meng’s head, coaxing him as he ordered two bowls of tomato noodles and sat down.
Cheng Shuoning had heard that gentle, coaxing voice countless times. He never imagined he’d one day see Han Tian dining so intimately with Cheng Meng, whom he despised, acting like brothers, or perhaps… something more.
Cheng Shuoning pulled his hat down further, completely hiding his face, and pressed his lips together.
The aroma of beef noodles soon filled the air.
Looking at the large chunks of beef in the bowl, Cheng Shuoning’s stomach twisted with hunger, yet he had no appetite.
He considered getting up to leave but hesitated at the thought of wasting the beef noodles. As he wavered, a pair of disposable chopsticks appeared before him.
The hand holding the chopsticks was long and fair, with prominent veins on the back, a hand that immediately drew attention whenever it appeared.
Cheng Shuoning reached out with both hands to take them, “Thank you.”
Xu Wangzhi didn’t turn around, “For the beef, thanks.”
Cheng Shuoning smiled, “It was yours to begin with, no need to thank me.”
Xu Wangzhi said nothing.
The meal was eaten in unusual silence, while the table next to them buzzed with lively conversation.
They weren’t trying to keep their voices down, so Cheng Shuoning easily overheard their discussion.
They talked about school and even mentioned Li Shengfei, noting that Cheng Meng seemed to have a good relationship with him too.
Cheng Shuoning took a bite of the noodles, which were soft and springy, with a great taste.
Soon after, he heard Cheng Meng mention him.
Using a tone of disdain and contempt, Cheng Meng called him a “fool,” and Han Tian didn’t react at all, as if he was used to hearing that name.
Cheng Shuoning’s gaze fell on the refrigerator across from him.
He thought he should grab some water from the fridge and splash it on Han Tian’s face, asking if he found this amusing.
Hate is hate, and like is like. Why pretend to like someone you despise so much inside?
His chest felt oppressively heavy, making it hard to breathe. For the first time, Cheng Shuoning realized that kindness could be perfectly faked.
Afraid he might actually do something crazy if he stayed, he put down his chopsticks, pulled his hat down completely, and walked out with his head lowered.
The bell on the door jingled softly as he left, and the owner looked up, calling out, “Thanks for coming, hope to see you again.”
The young man didn’t respond, leaving without a backward glance.
*
Cheng Shuoning didn’t go far, instead standing nearby, kicking stones around.
He was waiting for Xu Wangzhi to come out so he could return the hat.
Within seconds, Xu Wangzhi emerged from the noodle shop, as if he knew Cheng Shuoning hadn’t left. His expression remained unchanged upon seeing him.
“Here you go.” Cheng Shuoning took off the hat and handed it to Xu Wangzhi, a smile tugging at his lips, “Thanks for today.”
He didn’t ask how Xu Wangzhi knew he didn’t want to be seen by those two.
Xu Wangzhi put the hat back on, looking at Cheng Shuoning, his deep, unfathomable eyes reflecting the slightly disheveled state of Cheng Shuoning’s hair.
That intense gaze was impossible to ignore. Cheng Shuoning instinctively raised a hand to smooth his hair, meeting Xu Wangzhi’s eyes as he heard, ‘Your hair’s messy.’
At the same time, he caught a glimpse of his own tousled bangs in Xu Wangzhi’s eyes, making him look a bit silly. He quickly tidied up and walked ahead.
The alley echoed with only their footsteps.
The air was stifling, and after a few minutes, Cheng Shuoning was sweating, his breathing a bit labored.
He sneaked a glance at Xu Wangzhi beside him, noticing that he seemed unaffected by the heat, his breathing steady, his expression unchanged.
Cheng Shuoning slowed his pace, thinking about the noodle shop incident, and asked softly, “How did you know about this noodle shop?”
It was noon, and the sunlight poured down, brightening the alley and quickly raising the temperature.
Cheng Shuoning’s cheeks were burning from the sun, and he couldn’t help but retreat into the shade, waving his hand beside his face to dispel some of the heat.
Xu Wangzhi stopped walking, standing not far from Cheng Shuoning, watching him.
The boy’s face was flushed from the heat, his breathing visibly erratic, sweat trickling down his chin to his slender, fair neck, and finally disappearing into his shirt.
Noticing Xu Wangzhi’s gaze, Cheng Shuoning turned his head to look, then smiled.
That beautiful, delicate face softened with the smile, making him seem so gentle and warm that it stirred an impulse to reach out and touch, seeking the reality of it.
His heart raced uncontrollably, like a runaway train.
Xu Wangzhi averted his gaze, walked over, and placed the hat back on Cheng Shuoning’s head, “Wear it.”
His voice was a bit hoarse, his dark eyes filled with an unfathomable complexity.
Meeting his eyes, Cheng Shuoning instinctively looked away, adjusting the hat, feeling that Xu Wangzhi was acting a bit strange. He hesitated, “The hat’s yours, you…”
Before he could finish, Xu Wangzhi had already started walking ahead.
Cheng Shuoning hurried to catch up, thanking him as he did.
But he wasn’t as tall as Xu Wangzhi, and no matter how fast he walked, Xu Wangzhi easily outpaced him. Soon, he could only watch as Xu Wangzhi exited the alley, his figure disappearing from sight.
Cheng Shuoning took a deep breath, quickening his pace. As he left the alley, he saw the boy standing with his back to him, pausing in surprise.
He thought Xu Wangzhi had already left, but he was waiting for him.
Joy spread through him like spilled sugar, filling his heart, though Cheng Shuoning himself didn’t realize how overly happy he was.
Hearing movement, confirming someone was catching up, Xu Wangzhi continued walking, but this time at a much slower pace, allowing Cheng Shuoning to easily keep up.
Walking side by side, Xu Wangzhi suddenly spoke, “I’ve been eating at that noodle shop since I was a kid.”
Realizing this was an answer to his earlier question, Cheng Shuoning smiled, “Did you live around here before?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s nice.” Cheng Shuoning stretched, looking up at the cloudless sky, and asked slowly, “Xu Wangzhi, why would someone hate and like a person at the same time?”
He really couldn’t understand Han Tian.
Maybe he could see through Han Tian before, but ever since he could hear Han Tian’s thoughts, he couldn’t anymore.
“I wouldn’t hate someone I like.” Xu Wangzhi paused, turning to look at Cheng Shuoning.
Cheng Shuoning couldn’t help but laugh, “Yeah, that’s true, it’s just me being confused.”
Han Tian never liked him, from the start it was dislike, so he pretended to like him just to deceive him.
After that, they didn’t talk, but there was an unspoken understanding between them, as they walked back to school, one after the other, never more than a meter apart.
Cheng Shuoning didn’t return to the classroom, instead heading to the school shop to buy two bottles of yogurt. As he paid, a hand reached out ahead of him, offering money, “Together with mine.”
The familiar voice made Cheng Shuoning look up in surprise, meeting a face full of smiles, “Ning Ning, what a coincidence.”
The boy in sportswear had a baby face, smiling brightly, and he playfully pinched Cheng Shuoning’s cheeks until they turned red before letting go, revealing a mischievous grin, “Haven’t seen me in a week, did you miss me?”
“When did you get back to school?” Cheng Shuoning asked, a bit helpless, glancing at the cashier and handing over the money, “Let’s pay separately.”
“Why separate? Together, together.” Li Shengfei pretended to be upset, “Ning Ning, you’re treating me like a stranger.”
Before he could finish, Cheng Shuoning had already paid, grabbing his yogurt and heading outside, “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Li Shengfei had bought quite a few things, and seeing Cheng Shuoning run off so quickly, he was a bit annoyed, showing off his muscles as if to warn Cheng Shuoning he’d get him back later.
Cheng Shuoning sat on a nearby bench, opened a bottle of yogurt, and drank it, unfazed by Li Shengfei’s warning.
After paying, Li Shengfei walked over with a stern face, noticing the other bottle of yogurt on the table. He snorted, “Is the other yogurt for Han Tian? Why isn’t Han Tian with you? Did he send you to buy things alone? That Han Tian.”
“It’s not for him.” Cheng Shuoning shook his head, then went back into the shop to buy another bottle of yogurt for Li Shengfei, “How was the competition?”
“Harder than usual.” Li Shengfei took the yogurt, finally smiling, then remembered something and handed Cheng Shuoning a gift he had prepared, “Here, a souvenir from there.”
It was a brown bear keychain, grinning widely, looking extremely cute.
Li Shengfei said, “It reminded me of you, so I bought it. They say it’s a Lucky Bear, bringing good fortune.”
Cheng Shuoning accepted it with thanks.
Li Shengfei could sense Cheng Shuoning wasn’t very interested in chatting, so he stood up, stuffing snacks into Cheng Shuoning’s arms, “Take the snacks back to class, I’ve got a game with the others.”
He usually invited Cheng Shuoning to watch, but not this time.
Cheng Shuoning returned the snacks, “Take them to share with your classmates, I don’t want them.”
“I bought them for you, no refusing.” Li Shengfei flicked his forehead lightly as a playful punishment for refusing, then turned and ran off.
Cheng Shuoning rubbed his forehead, resigned to carrying the snacks away.
Watching Cheng Shuoning leave, Li Shengfei dialed Han Tian’s number to question him, “Why aren’t you with Ning Ning?”
“You ran into him? Lately, I don’t know what’s up with him, he’s been acting weird, ignoring me.” Han Tian complained, frustrated.
“Can’t you just coax him?” Li Shengfei frowned.
“I’m not as good at it as you, Li the charmer.” Han Tian retorted sarcastically, “I’ve said all the nice things I could, but he still treats me coldly. I took care of him in the hospital when you guys weren’t there, and now he’s distant. Can you believe it? I’m not his servant.”
“Enough with the nonsense, where are you now?”
*
Xu Wangzhi wasn’t in the classroom, so Cheng Shuoning placed the yogurt on his desk and lay down on his own to sleep.
He was half-asleep when he heard movement nearby, and he opened his eyes slightly, looking dazedly at the person beside him.
Xu Wangzhi paused, looking down at the boy in the chair, who was looking up at him.
His fair face was full of sleepy laziness and confusion, long lashes fluttering gently, like a little rabbit just waking up, unsure of its surroundings and hesitant to move.
As Cheng Shuoning gradually woke up, his gaze fell on the yogurt in Xu Wangzhi’s hand, “Aren’t you going to drink it?”
Xu Wangzhi replied coolly, “I don’t know whose it is.”
Cheng Shuoning yawned, his eyes slightly red at the corners. Remembering that Xu Wangzhi didn’t usually accept things from others, he mumbled, “I… bought it for you, to thank you for your help earlier.”
Originally, he intended to leave the yogurt on the podium for the person who bought it to claim, but hearing this, Xu Wangzhi’s hand tightened slightly around the yogurt. He looked at Cheng Shuoning, “You bought it?”
Cheng Shuoning nodded.
Xu Wangzhi sat back down at his desk.
He didn’t drink it, instead carefully placing the yogurt inside his desk.
Cheng Shuoning hesitated, then finally asked, “You don’t like strawberry flavor?”