Sugar in the dark

As autumn deepens, the ginkgo leaves behind the teaching building are dyed golden yellow. When the wind blows, they fall to the ground, covering the ground with golden fragments.

Chen Yu and Jiang Yizhou kept their distance. When they met in the corridor, they would exchange a fleeting glance before looking away. In class, Jiang Yizhou no longer looked at him openly, but would quickly pass him a small note when the teacher turned to write on the blackboard. At the end of the day, Chen Yu would leave first, and Jiang Yizhou would catch up a few minutes later, following him from a distance until he saw him safely enter the alleyway, then turn around and leave.

This way of getting along is like playing a tacit game of hide-and-seek, with a hint of hidden sweetness.

Small items would occasionally appear in Chen Yu's desk drawer. Sometimes it was an orange candy, sometimes a beautifully wrapped chocolate, and sometimes a piece of scratch paper with the steps to solving a problem. The handwriting was still sloppy and the error rate was still high, but it was much more serious than before.

He knew who had put them there. Every time he found these things, his heart would feel warm as if it had been soaked in warm water. He would carefully put the candy wrappers into the tin box and tuck the draft paper into the textbook, as if he was hoarding a precious secret.

Every time Jiang Yizhou saw this, he would laugh secretly, fold the note into a small square, stuff it into his wallet, and put it together with the photo he had secretly taken of Shen Yu reading a book with his head down.

The weekend became the day they looked forward to the most.

Jiang Yizhou would wait for him in advance at a secret base near the railway. Sometimes he would bring two cans of orange soda, sometimes a deck of cards, sometimes nothing at all. They would sit side by side on the grass, watching the tracks stretch into the distance, chatting casually.

"I think I can understand math lessons now." Jiang Yizhou scratched his head and said a little embarrassedly, "I passed the last test."

Chen Yu's eyes lit up: "Really? Awesome."

Jiang Yizhou was a little flattered by his praise, and the corners of his mouth could not help but rise: "That's right, it doesn't matter who taught you." When he said "taught", he actually meant that Shen Yu secretly stuffed his notes into him.

Shen Yu smiled and didn't expose him.

"What about you? Has anyone bothered you recently?" Jiang Yizhou asked with a hint of worry in his tone.

"No more." Chen Yu shook his head, "They don't seem to talk much anymore."

In fact, some people still say that he has learned not to care because he knows that in those invisible places, there is someone secretly guarding him. This confidence is enough to make him ignore those insignificant noises.

As the sun set, Jiang Yizhou walked him home. The motorcycle was parked far from the alley entrance. The two walked side by side, their shadows stretched out so long that they would occasionally bump into each other accidentally.

"The monthly exam is next week." Shen Yu said.

"Yeah, I know." Jiang Yizhou nodded, "I've almost finished my review and will try to make more progress."

"Come on." Shen Yu looked at him with sincere encouragement in his eyes.

"You too." Jiang Yizhou stopped and looked at him. "If you do well in the exam, I'll treat you to a big meal."

"Okay." Shen Yu smiled.

When he reached the alley, Shen Yu stopped and said, “I’m going in.”

"Yeah." Jiang Yizhou nodded and looked at him, "Go in."

Chen Yu turned and walked inside. After a few steps, he couldn't help but look back. Jiang Yizhou was still standing there. Seeing him turn around, he waved at him. The golden light of the setting sun fell on him, as if he was coated with a layer of light.

Shen Yu also waved, turned around and ran into the alley.

After returning home, Chen Yu put down his schoolbag and took out an orange candy from his pocket - it was the one Jiang Yizhou had stuffed into his hand when he turned around when they parted just now.

The candy wrapper sparkled under the light. Chen Yu peeled off the candy wrapper and put the candy into his mouth. The sweet taste spread on his tongue.

He walked to the window and looked in the direction of the alley. Although he couldn't see Jiang Yizhou, he knew that he must still be there, watching him.

It was as if he knew that no matter how many storms there would be in the future, they would always be like this, carefully guarding each other, sharing their sweetness in the dark, waiting for the day when they could stand in the sun with confidence.

The moonlight outside the window crept in, illuminating the smile on the boy's lips, and also illuminating the tree that was quietly growing and becoming more and more luxuriant in his heart.

The dead tree has already welcomed spring, and this spring is growing quietly and passionately in its own unique way.