Chapter 120 Five-Star Review "What do you want? I'll buy it for you."...
Han Jiang has been acting strangely lately, constantly trying to get close to Li Leshan. He spends his days following Li Leshan around like he has nothing better to do, always trying to stay hidden, like a spy. Doesn't he know that a tree offers absolutely no concealment?
When Li Leshan went to the cafeteria for a meal, Han Jiang would follow him with a steamed bun in his mouth; when Li Leshan stood in the last row to watch the flag-raising ceremony, Han Jiang would rather cross the entire playground to stand next to him... In short, something was very, very wrong.
Li Leshan could also feel a pair of piercing eyes beside him. He glanced to the side briefly, then looked away.
Whatever you want to do, what you want to do, what you want to say, whatever you want to say, just say it directly. He really couldn't guess what Han Jiang was thinking.
“Leshan,” Han Jiang said, standing next to him, using an English vocabulary book as cover (though it was practically useless), and very solicitously, “It’s gotten cooler lately, you know. Look at you, dressed so lightly…”
Han Jiang didn't dare to touch it, he could only glance at it through the air, "Don't catch a cold."
Li Leshan simply took out a prepared slip of paper from his pocket and neatly placed it between himself and Han Jiang.
The note contained only two words: Thank you.
Han Jiang had no temper at all. He kept in mind the task Jiang Yueming had given him and dared not be negligent in the slightest. Otherwise, if this person went back to Shengping for the New Year or something, he might as well just wait to die.
"I'll get you two outfits for your birthday," Han Jiang said, touching his nose as if trying to cover something up. "Don't be shy, we're buddies, no need to be so polite. I even gave Xu Qing a necklace and bracelet for her birthday."
He had barely finished speaking when he ran off quickly. Before Li Leshan could refuse, he slipped into another team, not caring whether it was his team or not. He knew this couldn't wait; if he waited another second or two, Li Leshan would definitely refuse him.
Li Leshan was a little puzzled. He searched for Han Jiang twice in the crowd, but couldn't find anyone with the same hairstyle, so he gave up. He didn't know what was going on in this guy's mind, and he didn't have time to worry about it.
Li Leshan's daily life revolves around three points: home, work, and internet. At 10:30, Li Leshan arrives at the internet cafe on time. Liu Yang, who isn't afraid of consuming electricity, turns on the air conditioner early, even though it's not really necessary in this weather.
It was a bit hot, so Li Leshan took off his school uniform jacket and hung it on a chair, managing to write test papers and help people register and arrange machines at the same time.
He didn't know how much time had passed when his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. Li Leshan quickly took it out to check, and Jiang Yueming's message was at the very top, sent precisely at 12:00.
Jiang Yueming: Lele, happy birthday! You're eighteen now, happy adulthood! I sent you some local specialties. I've had some delicious ones, so I shared them with Han Jiang and the others. Remember not to give them all to Han Jiang and Xu Qing; keep some for yourself.
Li Leshan belatedly realized what was happening and glanced at the date. Actually, he hadn't paid attention to the date for a while. Every day when he opened his eyes, he saw the countdown clock in the classroom, showing how many days were left until the college entrance examination, the bright red characters looking eerie.
A warm feeling welled up in his heart.
Li Leshan replied to him: Thank you.
He had just sent those two words when he remembered Han Jiang's recent strange behavior, and then, as if connecting it to something else, he suddenly realized what Han Jiang's actions were all about.
Li Leshan typed another line: Han Jiang bought me two sets of clothes. Did you ask him to buy them?
It took a while after the message was sent to receive a reply from Jiang Yueming.
Jiang Yueming: Wow, of course not. Han Jiang would be furious if he knew, I'm going to tell on him.
Li Leshan: No.
The reply to the word "don't" came almost instantly. Simple and concise. Because angering Han Jiang had serious consequences, and besides, his relationship with Han Jiang wasn't as good as Jiang Yueming's; once things were put on hold, trying to salvage the situation would be like climbing to heaven.
Jiang Yueming: Shengping, is the weather getting colder? Remember to wear more clothes.
Li Leshan looked at the message and replied: A little. Is it still very hot in Guangdong now?
Jiang Yueming: Yes, I'm still wearing short sleeves, haha.
Despite this, Li Leshan still replied: "Take care to keep warm."
Like Jiang Yueming, who would wear short sleeves if he could, he wouldn't wear anything else. If he didn't catch a cold, who else would he go to? In Shengping, all year round, in spring he would wear short sleeves with a school uniform jacket, occasionally with a sweatshirt or sweater; in summer, short sleeves; in autumn, short sleeves with a jacket; and in winter, no matter what, he would still wear short sleeves underneath.
I don't know if it's because they're endorsing short-sleeved shirts or what.
Thinking about it this way, the South is actually quite suitable for Jiang Yueming. He finally has a place to wear all those short-sleeved shirts, and he can wear them back and forth without ever wearing the same thing twice.
This was the first year since they met, and he couldn't spend his birthday with Jiang Yueming. Li Leshan still remembered that first year; they were both young and naive. Jiang Yueming carried the gift on her back, stammering for a long time before daring to speak. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was carrying a bomb instead of a gift.
The kind that explodes as soon as it shows its head.
He slowly slumped onto the table, staring blankly at the information on the screen. Gradually, the words on it began to appear double.
Li Leshan, as if possessed, sent a text message.
"You haven't given me my gift this year."
The reply came almost instantly: "What do you want? I'll buy it for you."
"Whatever it is," Jiang Yueming thought. "Li Leshan has already said so. This is the first time we've known each other for so many years, and he's finally asked for something. Even if he wants the stars in the sky, I'll find a way to get it. As long as it's something Li Leshan wants."
Li Leshan's hands lingered on the keyboard for a moment, the sounds of the surrounding keys particularly clear.
"Send me a photo of yourself," Li Leshan typed.
Jiang Yueming was stunned when he saw the message. He asked again, "That's it?"
“That’s all,” Li Leshan replied.
He only wanted one. If it were Han Jiang, that kid would have definitely asked for an exorbitant amount, wanting to buy everything to try it out, never missing an opportunity to swindle Jiang Yueming.
A little while later, another photo popped up in the text message.
Judging from the lighting, it was probably in front of a small desk lamp. It was dim and yellowish, so it must have been used for a while.
Jiang Yueming was taking a photo with a physics problem, which he held up to the right of his face, partially obscuring it. He was smiling, his eyebrows slightly raised.
For the first time, Li Leshan felt that the physics problems were getting in his way, blocking his view of his face.
Jiang Yueming: Studying... Isn't it amazing?
Li Leshan: That's impressive. The lighting is a bit dim; it's hard on the eyes. Remember to brighten it.
A little while later, another message popped up.
Jiang Yueming: You asked me to post a photo, aren't you going to comment on the face?
In the few minutes between Li Leshan suggesting sending the photos and actually sending them, Jiang Yueming had probably styled his hair countless times in front of the mirror and tried countless angles. There were still quite a few photos in his album that he didn't think were very good. But then this guy said, "The lighting is too dim, it's hard on the eyes." Is that the point?
Li Leshan looked at the message and a smile crept up his lips.
Li Leshan: What kind of comments would you like to make?
Jiang Yueming: What other comments do you want? Do you want a bad review?
After trying hundreds of angles and re-styling his hair hundreds of times, if Jiang Yueming still gets a bad review, he'll never do it again. Li Leshan, on the other hand, will think about it every day and won't back down.
Li Leshan: Five-star review.
Jiang Yueming smiled as he looked at the four characters above, feeling satisfied, relieved, and at ease.
It seems this guest has a good eye.
Jiang Yueming was also quite perceptive and didn't want to delay Li Leshan's studies any longer. They had been chatting for quite a while, and before they knew it, a lot of time had passed. Leaving aside his own needs, Li Leshan still had his homework to do. So, with great tact, he said goodbye and left.
Looking at the last chat history, Li Leshan silently scrolled to the photo Jiang Yueming had posted—a photo of him with a physics problem.
He then saved the photo to his album.
Looking at his face in the photo again, it had been a long time since he'd seen him, though not actually that long, but it still brought a sense of nostalgia. He wondered when he'd see the next one, so he wanted to look at this one a few more times. Little did Li Leshan know that if he simply said he wanted to see more, the other person would rack their brains to strike a pose, and then send over a dozen photos.
Want to see the photos? It's easy! Five cents isn't a problem. As long as I have my reputation, this is nothing.
Li Leshan didn't say anything, and Jiang Yueming was too embarrassed to offer it to him, otherwise she would seem too narcissistic.
...
After staring at it for a full five minutes, Li Leshan finally noticed the physics problem pressed against Jiang Yueming's cheek. He zoomed in on the photo; the phone's resolution was limited, so he could only zoom in on a portion, but that was enough.
How come so few people got these physics questions right?
Li Leshan thought he was seeing things, then glanced again at the red X mark. Although the red ink wasn't very noticeable due to the pixelation, the X mark was very prominent. Jiang Yueming always liked to draw such a large mark, saying it was to remind himself. Li Leshan actually wanted to tell him that it wasn't so much a reminder, but rather a bit frightening.
He glanced at the chapter title of the physics problem, "Free Fall and Vertical Projectile Motion," and memorized this specific exercise.
Then, Li Leshan slumped onto the table and looked at the photo again. He didn't know how long he looked at it, but when his eyes started to sting, he slowly closed them. He drifted off to sleep, and in his final, hazy moments, he saw Jiang Yueming smiling at the camera.
"That's great," Li Leshan thought, "I can still see you."
-----------------------
Author's Note: If I could update two chapters a day, I wouldn't have to force myself to reach 3000 words every time. Jinjiang only gives you a little red flower for reaching 3000 words (angry). Every time I try to add more, I feel so desperate...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com