Lu Yingchi watched as Jian Song pulled a workbook out of his school bag, and when he glanced at Jiang Qi’s hands, he saw he had an identical book. Jiang Qi produced two pens and handed one to Jian Song. Watching their synchronized movements, Lu Yingchi asked, “Brother Jian, what are you two doing?”
Jian Song looked back at Lu Yingchi. “Is it not obvious? Catching up on homework.”
Lu Yingchi looked at their blank pages and was silent for a few seconds. “You did not write it?”
Jian Song sighed. “Come on, you know the situation last night. When would I have had time to write it?”
Lu Yingchi acknowledged that. The situation last night was indeed complicated, so Jian Song’s lack of progress was understandable. But Jiang Qi…
Jiang Qi caught Lu Yingchi’s gaze, and a feeling akin to being watched by a principal rose from the soles of his feet. He straightened his posture immediately. “I, I was helping my mother prepare ingredients last night; I did not have time.”
Lu Yingchi frowned; that was a reasonable excuse. Seeing Lu Yingchi frown, Jian Song suddenly remembered that Lu Yingchi was a brilliant student, so he must have finished his work. “Hey, Lu Yingchi, did you do your homework?”
Lu Yingchi replied, “Brother Jian, I just arrived; I do not have any assignments yet.”
Jian Song only then remembered that Lu Yingchi had joined yesterday and naturally would not have homework. Both he and Jiang Qi emitted sounds of envy. Lu Yingchi, meeting Jian Song’s pitiful expression, felt his heart soften. “Bring it here and show me, Brother Jian. I will teach you how to write it.”
Jian Song’s eyes brightened. He made Jiang Qi move out of the way and ran over to sit beside Lu Yingchi.
The school was not far from their homes, only a four- or five-minute bus ride. The moment Jian Song sat next to Lu Yingchi, someone else boarded and took the seat next to Jiang Qi. Jian Song stared blankly at his workbook. He really wanted to tell the brother in front of him, “You are sitting in my seat.” But his own butt was already planted in another chair.
He could not do something as unethical as using one butt to sit on two stools, even though he had two cheeks.
Whenever he encountered learning, Jian Song’s thoughts would drift, just like now. While Lu Yingchi was explaining, Jian Song’s mind wandered to his own buttocks. He could not help but think: are humans not born with two cheeks specifically so they can sit on two stools? Otherwise, why would a single butt be divided into two halves?
The more Jian Song thought about it, the more he felt his logic was sound. He could not help but share his realization with the person next to him.
“Hey, Lu Yingchi, do you think people have two cheek halves because they are meant to sit on two stools?”
Lu Yingchi stopped his explanation, looking at Jian Song in confusion. “??? What kind of question is that?”
Jian Song stroked his chin. “I just suddenly wondered why we have two cheeks.”
Jiang Qi heard him from the front and turned around. “Brother Jian, I know!”
Lu Yingchi also looked at Jiang Qi. Jian Song tilted his chin toward him. “Tell us.”
Jiang Qi pretended to be a scholar, imitating the tone of their teachers. “It must be because we need to poop!”
“Clang!”
Jian Song almost fell off his chair. He rolled his eyes. “Little Qi, can you not be so disgusting? Get lost.”
Jiang Qi giggled. “Hehe, then Brother Jian, tell me why.”
Jian Song sighed and replied with a mysterious air, “It must be because we are meant to sit on two stools. Otherwise, why would there be two halves?”
Jiang Qi’s mouth twitched. “Brother Jian, that does not make sense. If we have two legs, does that mean we are meant to have one foot on each of two boats? I am condemning you on moral grounds.”
Jian Song touched his nose. “I did not say I wanted to have one foot on two boats, but that is indeed immoral. I accept your condemnation.”
Jiang Qi clasped his hands together. “Good. The donor knows his mistakes and is willing to correct them; that is the greatest virtue.”
Jian Song also clasped his hands, mimicking him. “Master, I have reached enlightenment.”
Lu Yingchi watched them joke around in silence until the bus came to a stop. They had arrived at school. He packed away Jian Song’s workbook and delivered two sharp blows to the actors.
“We are at school, Brother Jian, Jiang Qi. Your homework is not finished yet.”
Jiang Qi and Jian Song instantly froze. Lu Yingchi offered a ruthless smile and stepped off the bus gracefully. Jian Song, who had kindly made way for Lu Yingchi earlier, felt a sharp pain in his chest. So, this is what betrayal feels like?
Jiang Qi and Jian Song stepped off the bus, dejected. Lu Yingchi looked at the two of them, their hands hanging limply, looking like walking corpses. He could not help but laugh, then coughed softly. “Alright, Brother Jian, I can help you guys this once. But you have to promise me that you will finish your future homework on time.”
Desperate to escape their fate, both of them nodded vigorously. Jian Song even boldly boasted, “Yes, yes, I know! I promise you, I guarantee every future assignment will be finished on time.”
Only then did Lu Yingchi reveal a satisfied smile. “Let us head to the classroom before class starts.”
Jian Song and Jiang Qi instantly came back to life, their smiles brighter than the sun in the sky.