Xu Wangzhi’s expression remained indifferent, his hand still holding the ice pack. “Stay away,” he said.
Li Shengfei laughed out loud. “You want me to stay away? Who do you think you are? What’s your relationship with Ningning compared to mine? This isn’t your place to help.”
He forcibly snatched the ice pack and pressed it back onto Cheng Shuoning’s ankle. In his anger, he didn’t control his strength and ended up pressing directly on the wound.
Cheng Shuoning’s face turned pale from the pain, and he pulled away from the ice pack.
Realizing he’d used too much force, Li Shengfei hurriedly reached out to check the injury, but his hand was stopped mid-air.
Xu Wangzhi said, “Don’t touch his wound.”
“You…” Li Shengfei’s temper flared. He tried to shake off Xu Wangzhi’s hand but was stunned to find he couldn’t break free, his strength no match for Xu Wangzhi’s.
He’d played basketball for years, had muscles, and was much stronger than that idiot Han Tian, never afraid to take on three at once.
And now, he was being overpowered by someone who looked like they could be knocked out with a single punch? Impossible!
In his shock, Li Shengfei was released. The other person, as if disgusted by touching his hand, went to the sink to wash it clean.
Li Shengfei’s eyelids twitched, a little voice in his head screaming: Hit him, hit him! Teach this arrogant fool a lesson.
But reason ultimately won over impulse. Li Shengfei spoke softly to Cheng Shuoning, “I didn’t mean it, Ningning. I’m sorry. Does it hurt a lot?”
Seeing the atmosphere turning tense, Cheng Shuoning took the ice pack himself and applied it, looking at Li Shengfei. “It’s fine, I’ll be able to walk soon. You should go back to class. I can handle this myself.”
“No way, I want to stay here and take care of you. I can’t leave you alone.”
‘How ungrateful. I came here specifically to take care of you, and you want me to leave? Do you really want someone else to take care of you? Can they do better than me? Do you have any self-awareness?’
The angry voice made Cheng Shuoning frown. He couldn’t understand why his words had been so misunderstood by Li Shengfei. Looking down at the ice pack, he said quietly, “You should both leave.”
Li Shengfei stood still, watching him.
The boy’s long lashes cast shadows, hiding his expression. Only his pale profile was visible, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.
Cheng Shuoning was rarely this silent, especially with him.
Feeling unbalanced and unwilling to leave, Li Shengfei rested his head on Cheng Shuoning’s shoulder, using his usual playful tone. “Ningning, why would you ask me to leave? You never did before. I want to stay with you. You’re hurt so badly, how can I go to class in peace? It’s your classmate who should leave. Doesn’t he have any sense?”
Xu Wangzhi, the one supposedly lacking sense, looked out the window.
Dark clouds gathered rapidly, the once clear sky turning ominously gray, lightning beginning to dance.
A few seconds later, a deafening clap of thunder sounded above.
Li Shengfei was so startled by the thunder that he nearly fell off his chair.
Feeling embarrassed, he sat up straight and, to cover his awkwardness, took the sugar figurine from Cheng Shuoning’s hand. “Did you buy this for me? It’s so cute. Can I eat it?”
“No,” Cheng Shuoning replied, taking it back and turning to look out the window. “It’s going to rain. You should head back.”
Li Shengfei hesitated. “But you…”
Cheng Shuoning insisted, “I’ll be fine here alone. Don’t worry, just go.”
As he finished speaking, the bell for class rang.
“I’ll go get you an excuse from class. You rest well here,” Li Shengfei said, standing up. Afraid of annoying Cheng Shuoning further, he glanced at Xu Wangzhi before leaving. “Ningning wants to rest alone. Didn’t you understand? Hurry up and leave.”
Xu Wangzhi adjusted the air conditioning, closed the windows, and then left the infirmary.
Li Shengfei scoffed, following him out.
As soon as the infirmary door closed, he swung a punch at Xu Wangzhi.
The tall boy seemed to have eyes on his back, swiftly dodging to the side, turning to look down at Li Shengfei.
His eyes were dark and emotionless, as if Li Shengfei were nothing more than a lifeless object.
That gaze carried an indescribable pressure.
Though the corridor was spacious, Li Shengfei felt confined, his spine stiffening, his breathing becoming labored. Under Xu Wangzhi’s gaze, even his thoughts slowed.
This guy seemed a bit… unhinged.
“Damn it.” He snapped out of it, cursing, grabbing a nearby flowerpot and raising it as a warning. “I’m warning you, stay away from Ningning. He’s mine, got it?”
“Yours?” Xu Wangzhi repeated, his tone cold. “He belongs only to himself, not to anyone else.”
Li Shengfei considered throwing the pot but Xu Wangzhi had already turned and walked away.
What a strange person. Cheng Shuoning probably became so odd from spending too much time with people like this.
His phone rang. Annoyed, Li Shengfei answered, and after hearing the other side, he sneered, “Why should I? Just because you beg me?”
“I’m begging you,” Han Tian’s voice feigned humility over the phone.
“Fine,” Li Shengfei grinned. “It’s just an umbrella. I’ll lend it to you. I’ll walk with Cheng Meng later, don’t back out.”
“Where are you and Cheng Meng going?” Han Tian’s tone was filled with suspicion and warning.
“That’s none of your business,” Li Shengfei said, looking up at the clouds. “You should focus on keeping Ningning happy. You can’t have everything.”
He hung up and leisurely returned to the classroom.
*
Outside, the wind howled and the rain poured down, a chill seeping into the air.
Cheng Shuoning opened his eyes, realizing he had fallen asleep against a pillow.
The infirmary was empty and dimly lit.
He checked his phone. It was five in the afternoon, an hour before school ended.
On Tuesdays and Fridays, there were no evening classes, so he could go home by six.
The pain in his ankle had subsided. Cheng Shuoning put on his shoes, tidied up the bedding, picked up the sugar figurine beside him, and left the infirmary.
The wind outside whipped his clothes, the cold seeping into his bones.
Cheng Shuoning shivered, dodging the rain as he returned to the classroom just in time for the last class.
He sat back in his seat and handed the sugar figurine to Xu Wangzhi.
Xu Wangzhi took it, holding the figurine in one hand and a pen in the other.
The sight was a bit odd, drawing curious glances from classmates.
Zhang Xiuli, seated behind, whispered to Cheng Shuoning, “Does your foot still hurt? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Cheng Shuoning replied, smoothing his wind-tousled hair with his phone.
“It’s pouring again. I wonder if it’ll stop by the end of class.”
“Damn, it’s just summer and it already feels like fall. It’s freezing.”
“Does anyone have an extra umbrella? I need one. My house is too far, I can’t get home without one.”
“The convenience store is too far away to buy one. Am I destined to get soaked today?”
“…”
The murmurs started quietly, but as the rain grew louder, so did their voices.
“Quiet,” the teacher, fed up with the noise, banged on the desk. “Focus on the lesson, save the rest for later.”
Suddenly, the window on the left was thrown open, and the wind swept in, bringing cold rain with it.
Screams erupted, and the teacher, furious, approached the mischievous student with a long ruler. “Are you rebelling, Li Xiaosa? Close that window now.”
“Teacher, I didn’t mean to,” Li Xiaosa grinned, closing the window, only to open it again the moment the teacher turned away.
This time, it wasn’t just screams but also excitement, with some students starting to dance around.
Cheng Shuoning, wearing his summer uniform, felt his hands and feet go numb from the cold, struggling to hold his pen.
He breathed into his palms for warmth, then looked up to find a school jacket draped over his desk.
Xu Wangzhi said, “Wear it if you don’t mind.”
“No need, you wear it,” Cheng Shuoning shook his head. “It’s pretty cold, and you don’t have a jacket either.”
Xu Wangzhi turned to him. “I’m not cold.”
Compared to his own shivering, Xu Wangzhi sat straight and unaffected.
Cheng Shuoning put on the jacket, his voice trembling. “Th-thank you.”
The class turned into a self-study session. The teacher, with wet clothes, had to leave to change.
Li Xiaosa, the troublemaker, was punished to stand outside the door.
Restless, he couldn’t stay still, dancing in the rainwater pooling in the hallway.
Other classes were in similar states, the initial annoyance at the sudden downpour turning into excitement.
When the bell rang, those with umbrellas left, while those without crowded the classroom.
Cheng Shuoning packed his things, debating whether to return the jacket to Xu Wangzhi, but he had already left, leaving a green umbrella for Cheng Shuoning.
The umbrella looked familiar, like Xu Wangzhi’s avatar.
Cheng Shuoning picked it up, realizing suddenly, and limped after Xu Wangzhi. “Wait.”
Afraid Xu Wangzhi would leave, Cheng Shuoning grabbed his sleeve, handing the umbrella back. “The rain’s too heavy. You don’t need to give it to me. I can have someone bring me one.”
Then he called Li Shengfei, hoping to ask if he had an umbrella, but there was no answer.
Cheng Shuoning opened the umbrella, holding it over both their heads. “Let’s walk together. I just need to get to the school gate.”
The cold rain, driven by the wind, drenched them. The sugar figurine in Xu Wangzhi’s hand was soaked, no longer edible.
Cheng Shuoning looked at the ruined figurine, feeling a bit regretful.
The person beside him said nothing, heading downstairs. Cheng Shuoning knew he agreed, following with the umbrella.
The first floor was crowded with students unable to leave without umbrellas. Cheng Shuoning and Xu Wangzhi’s appearance drew curious glances.
The wind outside was even stronger. As Cheng Shuoning stepped out of the corridor, someone pulled him back.
The umbrella slipped from his grasp, and as he reached for it, someone else caught it first, his hand brushing against theirs.
The warmth of that hand was something he didn’t want to let go of. Cheng Shuoning paused, meeting Xu Wangzhi’s deep gaze, feeling his heart race amidst the chaotic rain.
He opened his mouth, his throat dry, unable to speak a word.
“Ningning.” The person who pulled him stood beside him, holding the umbrella, asking with concern, “Are you cold? I’ll take you home.”
Cheng Shuoning snapped back to reality, quickly withdrawing his hand, feeling his face heat up.
He turned away, saying, “No need, I’m walking with my desk mate.”
Han Tian took off his jacket, draping it over Cheng Shuoning’s shoulders, looking at him. “I’ll take you.”
‘How can you say no? Your face is turning white from the cold.’
“How’s your foot? Does it still hurt? Can you walk? How about I carry you?” He asked gently, not waiting for Cheng Shuoning’s answer.
Unable to tell if Han Tian’s concern was genuine or just a whim, Cheng Shuoning pushed the umbrella back to Han Tian, his tone cold. “You should go alone. The umbrella can only cover one.”
“No way.” Han Tian’s phone chimed a few times. As he checked it, he told Cheng Shuoning, “I’ll walk with you. Don’t worry, I won’t let you get wet. Better me than your desk mate.”
In the group chat, a blank note with a letter z avatar tagged Cheng Meng, “Come get your stuff from me.”
Cheng Meng replied, “Okay. Wait for me.jpg.”
Li Shengfei added, “The rain’s too heavy. I’ll go with him.”
Han Tian, feeling increasingly irritated, tagged Cheng Meng, “Why go just because he asked? Are you stupid? It’s pouring, don’t go.”
No one responded to him.
Han Tian pocketed his phone, seeing Cheng Shuoning still not answering him, growing impatient and regretting borrowing an umbrella from Li Shengfei.
This guy didn’t even want to acknowledge him, completely ignoring his efforts.
But Han Tian forced a smile, asking, “Isn’t it better if I carry you?”
The smile was so forced and fake that Cheng Shuoning glanced at him, just in time to hear his frustrated, almost frantic inner voice:
‘If you don’t want to, just refuse already. Do you think I really want to take you? I’m waiting to meet Cheng Meng. If I’m late, the other two will outshine me. It’s so annoying.’