Chapter 11
Ever since that "hmm" reply, the subtle and secret connection between Su Rui and Ling Yao seemed to have become more frequent.
Although at school, they were still like two parallel lines that never intersected. Ling Yao was still the center of attention, while Su Rui was still a silent shadow in the corner. But through that phone, an invisible thread quietly connected them.
Su Rui usually initiates the conversation. He'll muster up the courage to share some extremely trivial, everyday story, speaking with a careful and restrained tone: "Grandma was able to go downstairs for a walk by herself today." "The last math question on the monthly exam was so hard." "The cafeteria made sweet and sour pork ribs today, and they seem a little better than before."
He didn't dare to disturb them too much. It was more like a cautious test and report, as if to confirm whether the passage still existed.
Ling Yao's replies were always slow and brief, often taking hours to come back: "Oh." "Yeah." "Got it."
There is a sense of impatience and perfunctoriness between the lines.
But Su Rui always managed to interpret a different meaning from this extreme simplicity. If he was truly annoyed, he could simply ignore her, just like he would any other insignificant person. But he always replied, even if it was just one word.
This in itself is a kind of tacit consent and response.
Moreover, Su Rui gradually discovered that Ling Yao was not completely indifferent.
Once, he casually complained that the road home from work was too dark at night because the streetlights in the alley had been broken for several days. The next night, Ling Yao would always make an excuse to give him a ride home.
Another time, he mentioned that his grandmother had been nagging about buying a certain traditional pastry shop, but the shop was far away and hard to find. The next day after school, he found a beautifully packaged box of pastries from the very shop his grandmother had been talking about in his desk drawer. It was still unsigned.
These little things were like scattered sparks in the dark night, igniting Su Rui's inner hope time and time again, making him feel that his waiting and patience seemed worthwhile. Ling Yao was treating him well in his awkward, unspoken way.
This realization made Su Rui a little bolder.
One Friday evening, he knew Ling Yao usually went to the billiard hall near the school with Azhe and the others. After much hesitation, he sent a bold message: "Are you... going to play billiards today?"
After sending it, he immediately regretted it. He stared at the phone screen, his heart pounding, afraid to see a cold "what's it to you" response.
However, a few minutes later, a reply arrived. The content stunned Su Rui. "East Gate Alley, second intersection, wait."
Without answering whether to go or not, he directly gave an order.
Su Rui's heartbeat quickened, a mixture of confusion and a hint of hidden excitement. He didn't know what Ling Yao was up to, but he still finished his work in the cafeteria early as he had said and hurried to the somewhat secluded alley.
He waited anxiously for about ten minutes before a familiar black car slowly pulled up in front of him. The rear window rolled down, revealing Ling Yao's expressionless profile.
"Get in the car." He looked ahead and spoke in a flat voice.
Su Rui opened the car door blankly and got in. The car was filled with the familiar scent of cedar.
Ling Yao still didn't look at him. He just told the driver in front of him the name of the old residential complex near Su Rui's home. Then he took out his phone and started playing games without saying anything else.
Su Rui sat stiffly in the leather seat, hands on his knees, not daring to move. He secretly glanced at Ling Yao from the corner of his eye. The setting sun filtering through the car window gilded his smooth jawline, making it look unreal.
The car was driving smoothly and the two of them were silent all the way.
It wasn't until the car stopped at the side of the road some distance from the entrance of Su Rui's alley that Ling Yao finally turned around and glanced at him, his tone still flat: "We're here."
"Thank...thank you." Su Rui thanked him quickly and hurriedly went to open the car door.
"Wait." Ling Yao suddenly called him again.
Su Rui paused and looked back nervously.
Ling Yao grabbed a paper bag with the logo of a well-known sports brand and casually stuffed it into his arms. He frowned slightly, as if explaining but also complaining: "Azhe, that xx bought the wrong size and can't be returned. It's a good deal for you."
After saying that, she waved her hand impatiently, signaling him to get off the car.
Su Rui got out of the car in a daze, holding the heavy paper bag. He stood there and slowly opened the paper bag as he watched the black car quickly drive away.
Inside was a pair of brand new, limited edition sneakers, the same brand that Ling Yao usually wore, and the size... was exactly his size.
Azhe...would never wear this size.
Su Rui held the paper bag, standing in the evening breeze, looking at the direction where the car disappeared. Her heart felt like a palette had been overturned, with mixed feelings. But in the end, she was slowly and slowly overwhelmed by a huge, unreal sweetness.
He lowered his head, buried his face in the paper bag, and took a deep breath.
The clean scent of soapberry finally captured the crisp cedar base note clearly once again.
They are intertwined and entangled.
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