Seeing the cold indifference in Cheng Shuoning’s eyes, Han Tian felt a pang of unease. “I’m not lying, Shuoning,” he insisted, though his confidence wavered. “You really misunderstand me. Are you… are you jealous because you like me and saw me talking to Cheng Meng?”
‘That’s it, isn’t it? It must be. You’re jealous of Cheng Meng. That explains everything. What’s the point of all these mind games?’ The slightly smug tone in his voice made Cheng Shuoning’s eyelid twitch. He smiled faintly and said, “You’re overthinking. Don’t you know whether I’m the kind of person who gets jealous?”
Han Tian frowned, dismissing his earlier assumptions. Cheng Shuoning wasn’t the jealous type, nor was he someone who would act cold without reason. So there had to be a reason for his sudden change.
What could it be?
He accused him of lying and had asked about his relationship with Cheng Meng. Could it be that he discovered how close he was to Cheng Meng?
“Shuoning, there’s really nothing between Cheng Meng and me. What will it take for you to believe me?” Han Tian stepped closer, his voice tinged with disappointment as he reached for Cheng Shuoning. “We’ve known each other for so many years. Don’t you know what kind of person I am? It hurts me to think you see me as such a despicable person.”
He knew exactly what to say to make Cheng Shuoning pity him and soften his heart, but this time, his words had no effect.
“Your ten minutes are up.” Cheng Shuoning stepped back, avoiding Han Tian’s hand, and stared at him coldly. “From today, let’s just be ordinary friends, Han Tian.”
Those dark eyes, once filled with familiar warmth, now held the detachment reserved for strangers, leaving Han Tian completely stunned.
Cheng Shuoning was usually smiling, rarely this cold, to the point where Han Tian had almost forgotten the few times he’d seen him like this over the years.
When angered, Cheng Shuoning would draw a clear line, remaining indifferent until Han Tian exhausted every method of apology to end the cold war and return things to normal.
This was one of the reasons Han Tian disliked Cheng Shuoning.
He couldn’t understand why Cheng Shuoning could decide to draw boundaries whenever he wanted. He pampered him so much, so Cheng Shuoning shouldn’t have any negative attitude towards him. He should be like Cheng Meng, always sticking to him and treating him well.
“What… do you mean?” Han Tian’s voice was choked with disbelief, suppressing the fury threatening to burst forth as he asked Cheng Shuoning, “What do you mean by ordinary friends? How dare you…”
How dare you say that? What right do you have to say that? If anyone should say it, it should be me.
Han Tian didn’t voice these thoughts, still holding onto hope that Cheng Shuoning wouldn’t really treat him this way.
But the boy standing before him looked resolute and cold, shattering the last bit of hope in Han Tian’s heart.
Cheng Shuoning said nothing more, simply turned and walked away.
Han Tian watched his retreating figure, rubbing his temples in an effort to control his expression. As the bell rang, the last thread of his rationality snapped.
He punched the wall hard, his face a mask of frustration and impatience. Thinking of Cheng Shuoning’s expression as he left, he punched the wall again and again until his knuckles bled.
What was he? Han Tian thought bitterly.
He, who had such a bad temper, had been nothing but gentle and indulgent with Cheng Shuoning, and now Cheng Shuoning was throwing a tantrum and saying they should just be ordinary friends?
Wasn’t he supposed to like him? Is this what liking someone looks like?
To treat him like this now, it was truly giving him face.
*
The teacher hadn’t arrived yet, and the classroom was quiet.
Cheng Shuoning tugged on Xu Wangzhi’s sleeve, leaned closer, and whispered, “I’m sorry about the water. I’d like to treat you to lunch today, if that’s okay?”
Xu Wangzhi said nothing, merely pulling his sleeve away in silent refusal.
Cheng Shuoning pressed his lips together and withdrew his hand.
Only the sound of the fan filled the air. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the boy’s downcast expression, clearly unhappy. Xu Wangzhi put down his pen, his gaze darkening slightly.
The next moment, his sleeve was grabbed again, and the boy’s soft voice carried a hint of stubbornness, “I’m really sorry.”
Xu Wangzhi remained silent, so Cheng Shuoning withdrew his hand again, then tried a third time, “I’m sorry.”
Even the hardest heart couldn’t withstand this. Xu Wangzhi pressed his lips together, and when Cheng Shuoning reached for his sleeve a fourth time to apologize, he dodged first, giving a noncommittal “Mm.”
That emotionless response made Cheng Shuoning smile instantly. “The noodle shop from last time, is that okay?”
Xu Wangzhi replied, “It’s okay.”
From the desk behind, Zhang Xiuli overheard the conversation and leaned forward, curiously asking, “What’s okay?”
She had barely asked when her deskmate pulled her back into her seat, patting her shoulder with a serious tone, “Focus on your book, don’t pry into others’ business.”
Zhang Xiuli pouted, realizing it wasn’t right to eavesdrop and annoy others. She raised her book and quietly asked her deskmate, “Have you noticed they never used to talk when sitting together, but lately they’ve been talking more?”
Her deskmate stroked their chin and nodded, “Indeed.”
Zhang Xiuli continued, “There’s something fishy, right? There’s definitely something going on between them! I even saw Cheng Shuoning give Xu Wangzhi yogurt before. Could it be that he…”
Cheng Shuoning heard this and turned slightly, meeting Zhang Xiuli’s questioning eyes.
At the same time, he heard her inner thoughts: ‘Could it be that he likes Xu Wangzhi?’
Cheng Shuoning: “!”
His heart skipped a beat, and he almost blurted out “No” when Zhang Xiuli suddenly slapped herself.
‘I’ve been reading too many novels, what nonsense am I thinking?’ she thought, unaware that Cheng Shuoning could hear her inner musings. She grinned at him and returned her attention to her book.
The teacher entered the classroom with a book in hand, and Cheng Shuoning turned to face the blackboard, his heart still stirred by Zhang Xiuli’s thoughts.
Though it was just a casual guess, it echoed in his mind like a spell, lingering until lunchtime.
Cheng Shuoning left the classroom ahead of Xu Wangzhi and encountered Li Shengfei and Han Tian at the stairwell.
Li Shengfei immediately called out to him with a cheerful smile, “Shuoning, join us for lunch.”
Cheng Shuoning paused, “I already have plans.”
“Oh? But you usually eat with us. Let me see who managed to snag our Shuoning.” Li Shengfei jumped down the last two steps and stopped in front of Cheng Shuoning, spotting the indifferent Xu Wangzhi.
He instantly recognized Xu Wangzhi, squinting with a bright smile, “It’s you. Sorry about throwing away the water you gave Shuoning before. I didn’t mean to.”
Then he patted Cheng Shuoning’s head, his eyes full of warning and challenge, “I want Shuoning to have lunch with us instead. Can he not go with you?”
Xu Wangzhi walked past Li Shengfei without a glance.
Cheng Shuoning removed Li Shengfei’s hand, “I’ve already made plans with him. See you later.”
He waved with a smile and quickly caught up with Xu Wangzhi, disappearing from sight.
Li Shengfei leaned against the stair railing, laughing almost breathlessly at Han Tian’s dark expression, “You were ignored from start to finish. How pitiful. I’m curious, what did you do to upset him? He’s usually so good-tempered, yet you managed to make him ignore you completely.”
“Who knows.” Han Tian chuckled self-deprecatingly, “I took care of him diligently for a week in the hospital, and after he was discharged, he started acting like this, saying strange things and treating me differently. Don’t laugh, you might be next. Then we’ll see what you do.”
“That won’t happen. Shuoning wouldn’t treat me like that,” Li Shengfei said, glancing upstairs. “Why hasn’t he come down yet?”
“Here he comes.” Cheng Meng quickly descended the stairs, stopping beside them while fiddling with a Rubik’s Cube. “What are we eating?”
“Let’s eat in the cafeteria.” Seeing him absorbed in the cube, Li Shengfei took his hand, patiently guiding him through solving it, his words filled with affection, “What’s so fun about this? Your eyes are practically glued to it.”
“For a genius like you, of course, it’s not fun.” Cheng Meng stuffed the cube into his hand and headed downstairs, “I heard you invited Cheng Shuoning to join you. What, if he agreed, were you going to leave me to eat alone?”
“Of course not. If he agreed, I’d still choose you over him,” Li Shengfei laughed, then kicked Han Tian’s leg to snap him out of his daze, “Come on, let’s eat.”
“On the day he was discharged, Zhou Xundu picked him up. Did Zhou Xundu say something to him that made him treat me like this?” Han Tian mused as they walked.
It was strange. Being with Cheng Shuoning felt dull and uninteresting.
Now that Cheng Shuoning was distancing himself, Han Tian couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Cheng Meng turned his head, “Brother Zhou wouldn’t say anything unnecessary to him.”
Li Shengfei glanced at him with a teasing smile, “How do you know? Seems like you know Zhou Xundu better than us. Aren’t you afraid we’ll get jealous?”
Cheng Meng scoffed, “Aren’t you the same, playing nice with me while coaxing Cheng Shuoning?”
“Are you jealous of Shuoning?” Li Shengfei walked over and pinched his cheek, eyes full of delight, “You know I’m just playing with him. I truly like you.”
“So there’s no need to be jealous.”
*
The scar on his forehead had faded, leaving a faint mark. Cheng Shuoning let his bangs down to cover it.
The shop owner brought over their noodles and handed them discount coupons, “Bring these next time, and you can get half off one bowl of noodles.”
Cheng Shuoning thanked him, folded the coupons, placed one in his pocket, and handed the other to Xu Wangzhi.
This time they sat facing each other. Xu Wangzhi didn’t take the coupon, simply saying, “It’s for you.”
Cheng Shuoning put it in his pocket, smiling, “I’ll keep it then. We can use it next time we come together.”
As he ate, he occasionally glanced at Xu Wangzhi, until Xu Wangzhi noticed and their eyes met. Cheng Shuoning looked down, embarrassed, “It’s my birthday this weekend. I’m inviting classmates to come.”
He paused, recalling how many had invited Xu Wangzhi before, only to be turned down. His eyes showed a hint of nervousness, “Xu Wangzhi, will you… will you come?”
Chapter 11: [Revised] Don’t Get in the Way.
Xu Wangzhi was silent for a couple of seconds before answering in an even tone, “Mm.”
The moment he agreed, a smile spread across Cheng Shuoning’s face, his lips curling upward uncontrollably.
Realizing he was too happy, he lowered his head, eating his noodles slowly, unaware that Xu Wangzhi’s gaze remained on him.
On the way back to school, they passed a stall selling sugar figurines. Cheng Shuoning approached, quietly gesturing to the vendor the shape he wanted.
The vendor confirmed, “One with ears up, one with ears down?”
Cheng Shuoning nodded.
After paying, the vendor began crafting on the board.
Xu Wangzhi stood beside him, his gaze shifting from the sugar art to Cheng Shuoning’s face.
The boy’s skin was smooth and fair, without a visible pore, glowing in the sunlight, making it hard to look away.
His heart raced from the proximity, urging him to move closer.
Xu Wangzhi’s eyes darkened slightly, and when Cheng Shuoning turned to look at him, he quickly averted his gaze, hiding all emotions.
“Here.” Cheng Shuoning handed the first finished sugar figurine to Xu Wangzhi, smiling, “A rabbit with its ears up.”
The rabbit perched on the stick had its ears perked up, looking lifelike.
Xu Wangzhi suppressed his inner turmoil and accepted it, “Thank you.”
The second rabbit was finished too, a floppy-eared one, looking very cute.
Cheng Shuoning placed his rabbit next to Xu Wangzhi’s and took a photo with his phone.
“Do you like rabbits?” Xu Wangzhi asked, glancing at the photo on Cheng Shuoning’s phone.
The two sugar rabbits lined up looked like a couple.
“Mm,” Cheng Shuoning said as he walked ahead, “Rabbits are very cute.”
He found the rabbit in his hand too adorable to eat, carrying it all the way.
Before they reached the school gate, they saw Han Tian standing there, seemingly looking for someone, scanning the surroundings until his eyes met Cheng Shuoning’s. He walked over quickly.
“Have you eaten, Shuoning? What did you have? Was it at that noodle place? It’s been a while since I’ve eaten there. Next time, will you go with me?”
Han Tian stopped in front of Cheng Shuoning, speaking gently as if nothing had happened, “This rabbit is really cute, just like you, Shuoning.”
His lie was told without hesitation, though Cheng Shuoning had seen him eating there with Cheng Meng before. Not wanting to converse with him, Cheng Shuoning sidestepped him, but after taking just two steps, he was pulled back.
Han Tian yanked him back with such force that the sugar figurine in Cheng Shuoning’s hand fell to the ground, quickly gathering dust. A classmate, not noticing, stepped on it, shattering the once adorable floppy-eared rabbit into unrecognizable pieces.
Cheng Shuoning shook off Han Tian’s hand, pressing his lips tightly together, frowning without a word.
He hadn’t even tasted the rabbit before it was gone.
Han Tian hadn’t expected this, and knowing it couldn’t be undone, he glanced at Cheng Shuoning’s clearly angry expression, bending slightly to meet his eyes, speaking softly, “I’m sorry, Shuoning. I didn’t mean it. I’ll buy you another one, lots of them, okay? As many as you want, just don’t be mad.”
His cautious tone, afraid of Cheng Shuoning’s anger, made Cheng Shuoning resist even more, replying coldly, “No need.”
“I’m really sorry. It’s just that this argument between us has gone on too long, and I was too anxious,” Han Tian said, his eyes reflecting the boy’s icy demeanor, “Shuoning, please don’t treat me like this anymore, okay?”
He was taller than Cheng Shuoning, and his bent posture looked indulgent and intimate, leading others to speculate about their relationship.
People around noticed and looked over, but upon recognizing them, they quickly averted their gaze.
Han Tian and Cheng Shuoning were both well-known at school, or rather, anyone around Cheng Shuoning was.
Cheng Shuoning didn’t want to say another word to Han Tian, turning silently to head into the school.
Han Tian followed, grabbing him again, “Cheng Shuoning, I don’t know anything, and now you’re just ignoring me. Do you think that’s fair? At least tell me why, and I’ll change, okay?”
Cheng Shuoning stopped, speaking without turning back, “You lied.”
“I’ve never lied to you, Shuoning,” Han Tian said, “What do you think I lied about?”
The same unchanging words.
Cheng Shuoning felt exhausted, not wanting to entangle with him any longer, “You know what you lied about. Han Tian, don’t treat me like a fool. I’m not as naive as you think.”
He pried Han Tian’s hand off, walking into the school, “Don’t make it so we’re not even ordinary friends.”
Han Tian wanted to follow again, but after taking two steps, someone blocked his way.
The boy gave him a cold, disdainful look, sending a chill down his spine. When he looked again, the boy’s face was expressionless, as if the moment had been a mere illusion.
Han Tian noticed the rabbit in his hand, thinking of the one in Cheng Shuoning’s, grinding his teeth slightly, feeling a twinge of jealousy, even thinking it was good that the rabbit had been smashed.
He hadn’t eaten sugar figurines with Cheng Shuoning yet, so why should someone else get to first?
Damn it.
*
Another rabbit appeared before him, and Cheng Shuoning shook his head, “That’s yours.”
Xu Wangzhi said, “For you.”
“No need.” Cheng Shuoning smiled, “I already gave it to you, so it’s yours.”
He walked up the stairs, but with so many people coming down, he stepped aside and lost his balance, falling to the ground.
Xu Wangzhi caught his arm, but before he could help him up, Li Shengfei’s voice called out, “What happened, Shuoning?”
He quickly ran over, telling the people on the stairs to move aside. Seeing Xu Wangzhi, his expression changed, and he pushed Xu Wangzhi away to help Cheng Shuoning.
His ankle throbbed with pain, and Cheng Shuoning instinctively avoided Li Shengfei’s hand, “I just twisted it, I’m fine. I can get up myself.”
He held onto the railing, his face pale, slowly standing up. He tried to take a step forward but fell back down.
Xu Wangzhi almost caught him, but Li Shengfei pushed him away again, brushing past Cheng Shuoning’s clothes, missing the chance.
He withdrew his hand, looking at Li Shengfei with a deep gaze.
Li Shengfei gave him a disdainful look, crouching down to Cheng Shuoning with concern, “Shuoning, you need to go to the infirmary. I’ll take you.”
Every movement of his ankle was excruciating, and Cheng Shuoning, who initially thought it wasn’t serious, lifted his pant leg to find it already swollen and red.
He looked at the worried Li Shengfei and shook his head, refusing, “Step aside, I can get up myself and walk.”
His mind was filled with Han Tian’s words about him being a nuisance, and Cheng Shuoning didn’t dare trouble Li Shengfei, fearing he would also find him bothersome.
Li Shengfei was taken aback by his insistence, but seeing his determination, he had no choice but to step aside.
Because Li Shengfei was blocking the way, students could only pass one at a time.
Some found it annoying, muttering complaints, but when Li Shengfei glared at them, they quickly ran off without saying more.
Cheng Shuoning heard their grumbling, gritting his teeth as he stood up, gripping the railing too tightly and letting out a pained sound.
He paused for a second before continuing to the infirmary on the first floor.
Xu Wangzhi silently followed behind, and soon they were out of sight.
Once they were gone, Cheng Meng emerged from the side, sneering, “Drama queen.”
“What?” Li Shengfei was about to follow but stopped at the comment, “Drama queen?”
“Isn’t he just trying to get you to carry him?” Cheng Meng said coldly, “If he wasn’t just pretending, why would he cry out in pain? Tsk, tsk, putting on a pitiful act. Wasn’t he always like this? I don’t know how you all put up with it. Just imagining it tires me out.”
Li Shengfei had been pondering why Cheng Shuoning avoided him, unwilling to let him help. Hearing Cheng Meng’s words, he thought Cheng Shuoning’s reaction to a simple twist was a bit delicate, but not as exaggerated as Cheng Meng described.
He squinted, smiling, “I’ll go check on him. You head back to class.”
“Do you really have to go and show your concern?” Cheng Meng hinted, “He’s never lacked people to care for him. What’s the point of you going?”
This probing remark made Li Shengfei look at Cheng Meng with a soft smile, “Don’t do anything unnecessary, Cheng Meng. I really like you, and I like Shuoning too, so I don’t want to ruin this relationship.”
Cheng Meng’s expression turned cold, letting out a mocking laugh before ignoring Li Shengfei and heading upstairs.
Only then did Li Shengfei head to the infirmary.
*
The school nurse handed Xu Wangzhi an ice pack, “Use this to ice it until the swelling goes down.”
“I can do it myself.” Cheng Shuoning reached out, afraid of inconveniencing Xu Wangzhi, and smiled, “Class is about to start. You should go back.”
Xu Wangzhi silently sat down beside him, handing him the sugar figurine, then lowered his gaze to Cheng Shuoning’s ankle.
His skin was so fair that the veins on his ankle were clearly visible, and the swelling looked particularly severe. Xu Wangzhi brought the ice pack close to the swollen ankle, pausing just before contact to warn, “It’ll be cold.”
Cheng Shuoning nodded, “It’s okay, but I should still…”
As the ice pack touched his skin, he fell silent, instinctively trying to pull away from the cold.
In an instant, Xu Wangzhi held his calf through his pants, preventing him from moving, “You treated me to a sugar figurine.”
So helping you is only fair.
Cheng Shuoning was taken aback, understanding Xu Wangzhi’s meaning, and didn’t refuse further.
The cold gradually eased the pain. He looked at Xu Wangzhi’s hand, lost in thought, “Your hands are really nice.”
The nurse had left, leaving the infirmary quiet, with only the sound of the air conditioner.
Xu Wangzhi looked up, meeting Cheng Shuoning’s dark eyes, his expression calm, “Mm.”
‘You’re even better looking.’
Cheng Shuoning: “Huh?”
He snapped back to reality, realizing that “You’re even better looking” was Xu Wangzhi’s inner thought. His ears grew warm, and he dared not look at his hands again, mumbling a response.
“Shuoning, what did the nurse say?” The infirmary door swung open, and Li Shengfei hurried in, displeased to see Xu Wangzhi helping Cheng Shuoning with the ice pack, “Why didn’t you wait for me to help? You let an outsider do it instead.”
He approached with a smile, trying to take the ice pack from Xu Wangzhi, who avoided him.
“You…” Li Shengfei frowned, laughing in frustration, “You don’t need to be here. Give me the ice pack, and you can leave.”
He reached for it again, but Xu Wangzhi dodged, annoyed, “What’s your problem? Didn’t you hear me? With me here, Shuoning has enough company. Go back to where you came from and stop getting in the way.”