Chapter 15
Cheng Xun has been acting very strangely lately, with all sorts of bizarre behavior.
Inside the gymnasium, Liang Shizhe played badminton with Cheng Xun for almost an hour. Sweating profusely and with a flushed face, he sat down to rest, his mind filled with questions, wondering what kind of evil Cheng Xun had encountered.
Playing basketball is their unwavering exercise every weekend, but this week Cheng Xun broke with tradition and suddenly changed her plans. After buying a badminton racket online, she dragged him to the gym and said she wanted to practice badminton.
At first, he didn't understand why Cheng Xun, who loved basketball, would suddenly have the idea to play badminton. Later, he thought that maybe he was tired of it, and people always want to try new things.
What puzzled him most was that Cheng Xun seemed to have started to focus on his studies.
Last night, he and Cheng Xun had arranged to play games all night at an internet cafe. After winning a few rounds, he happily turned his head to the left and unexpectedly saw Cheng Xun propping his head up with one hand, staring at the computer screen.
The computer was playing an online class. Liang Shizhe's eyes widened in disbelief. Cheng Xun was actually tutoring him, previewing the subject in advance, and looking exceptionally serious. Thinking back to when he asked his classmates questions after class, Liang Shizhe felt a sense of betrayal welled up in his heart.
He strongly suspected that Cheng Xun had been provoked, because Cheng Xun was the type who became more and more decadent the more he studied in junior high school. During the crucial period of his third year of junior high school, he was still idle and did not put any effort into improving his grades. It was pure luck that he got into the top high school.
With this in mind, Liang Shizhe wanted to see how long Cheng Xun could hold out. He observed Cheng Xun every half hour, and sure enough, after an hour, he saw Cheng Xun fall asleep on the table, leaving the online class to continue playing.
...
Cheng Xun took two bottles of sports drinks and walked to the chair, tossing one to Liang Shizhe, who looked thoughtful.
Liang Shizhe snapped out of his daze and hurriedly caught it, saying angrily, "Cheng Xun, you almost hurt my handsome face!"
After gulping down almost half a bottle of beverage, Cheng Xun scoffed, "I think you've been daydreaming in outer space."
Liang Shizhe touched the cold drink, then looked at the badminton racket Cheng Xun had placed next to the chair. He was starting to wonder why Cheng Xun would spend hundreds of yuan on a racket, even if it was just a whim.
"I was just wondering if you've been taking the wrong medicine lately, it's been really strange." Liang Shizhe shook his head and said, then he turned to look at Cheng Xun and said tentatively, "Dude, you probably just watched online classes on a whim last night, right? You weren't really trying to study, were you? Don't scare me, I can't be at the bottom of the class without you by my side."
Liang Shizhe wasn't the kind of person who couldn't stand seeing his brothers doing well; it was just that this matter was too sudden and he was a little confused.
Cheng Xun rested his elbows on his knees, his back slightly bent, his expression somewhat calm, but his tone was frank and open: "Of course, but I haven't studied seriously for too long, and I'm experiencing the feeling of being powerless. I want to tear up the test paper as soon as I see it, and I always want to be as relaxed and lazy as before."
Cheng Xun truly felt this way. His weekly test score was abysmal, which dealt him a heavy blow. He wrote down the wrong answers, but he didn't have the patience to look at them. When he sat down at his desk and picked up a pen, he would feel very restless. So now he really admired those who studied in an orderly manner. At this moment, he thought of Song Qiuxuan. She seemed to be such a person. She had plans and goals, and she could insist on going to the library on weekends. Her enthusiasm for learning seemed to never be extinguished.
In fact, Cheng Ting was also this kind of person, but because many people compared the two of them and took the opportunity to intentionally or unintentionally belittle Cheng Xun, Cheng Xun secretly competed with him and automatically shut him out.
When Cheng Xun felt tired and irritable at school, he would lean his head against the tall stack of books on the desk, looking ahead at Song Qiuxuan at the desk in front of him, watching her straight back and quiet, serious figure as she buried herself in her studies.
Sometimes, Cheng Xun didn't know whether he wanted to observe her studying and draw some strength from it, or simply wanted to stare at her, at her slender back, at her jet-black hair, at the light falling on her and outlining her soft and beautiful silhouette. At these times, Cheng Xun would feel a faint sense of satisfaction, as if simply looking at her back was a blessing in the dull and boring study life.
More than being shocked that Cheng Xun actually had the idea of studying, Liang Shizhe was clearly more curious about his motivation for wanting to change. He shoved Cheng Xun's shoulder and said excitedly, spitting as he spoke, "What's going on? Did you suffer a setback?"
He thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped his forehead as if he had just realized something. "I know! It's because of your brother, isn't it? The family has started comparing you again, hasn't they?"
Cheng Xun remained silent, which Liang Shizhe took as tacit agreement. He then proceeded to comment, "I used to envy you for having a top student brother, but now I feel a bit sorry for you. You'll probably be criticized if you can't keep up with him."
Liang Shizhe had some understanding of Cheng Xun's family situation, but he couldn't clearly and accurately see into Cheng Xun's heart. He didn't know that Cheng Xun had an extremely rebellious mentality. In that kind of family, instead of lecturing and scolding, Cheng Xun would only go against their expectations. So it can be said that Cheng Xun's thoughts were completely unrelated to theirs.
He believed in someone simply because of that one person, someone who was incredibly patient when explaining things and who inspired him.
It seems that the lack of patience and encouragement makes some things all the more precious.
However, Cheng Xun would not tell anyone these things, nor did he explain them clearly to Liang Shizhe, who was currently misunderstanding the situation.
*
It was time for Class 5 and Class 20 to have the same physical education class again.
After the assembly was dismissed, Cheng Xun stayed on the basketball court for half a class period. The basketball drew an arc under the dazzling sunlight and was thrown into the basket with a thud. He turned around and picked up his jacket from under the railing.
"Xun, are you done playing?" A boy from Class 5 who had sat next to Cheng Xun in junior high asked as he watched Cheng Xun leave.
Cheng Xun nodded slightly: "I'll go back to the classroom first."
This simple answer seemed to infuriate Liang Shizhe, who angrily threw the basketball he had just picked up to the ground. "You said you wouldn't participate in the blackboard display last class, what excuse do you have for this class?"
Liang Shizhe has a carefree personality and has become very familiar with his classmates since the start of the semester. He can play basketball with anyone he wants. Cheng Xun wiped his sweat and said confidently, "There's a monthly exam next week."
Liang Shizhe choked up, standing there as if his limbs had become stiff. Looking at the "good student" Cheng Xun, he felt as if he were looking at a stranger. Even though he knew that Cheng Xun was studying to avenge his previous humiliation, he couldn't help but wonder if this was really the Cheng Xun he knew. He shouldn't have been possessed, right?
Liang Shizhe paused for a few seconds, then waved his hand, indicating that he would be a loyal brother and not disturb his studies.
After Cheng Xun left, Liang Shizhe rang the bell for the end of get out of class, and then went to the small supermarket with a group of boys, chatting and laughing. As they passed the equipment room, a somewhat familiar figure passed by.
Liang Shizhe paused, amused by his companion's laughter, and looked over to recognize her as Cheng Xun's classmate from the front row. She was the girl Cheng Xun often asked for help with her homework. At that moment, she and another girl were carrying badminton rackets into the equipment room.
Liang Shizhe's gaze lingered on the racket for a few seconds, his expression subtly shifting as he instantly connected Cheng Xun's inexplicable desire to play badminton over the weekend with her.
It's no wonder Liang Shizhe reacted so quickly; it's mainly because Cheng Xun treated her somewhat differently.
"Did you see a pretty girl?" a boy teased Liang Shizhe with a joke. "Look at you, you're staring blankly."
"Get lost, you don't know anything." Liang Shizhe looked away, stroked his chin, and said seriously, "I've discovered a secret."
"What secret?" Several boys, full of curiosity, pressed him for answers.
Liang Shizhe, with a smug look on his face, said, "Of course, I can't tell you the secret."
I really wanted to go up and kick him.
*
Friday morning was overcast with a light drizzle.
When Song Qiuxuan left, Xu Yanzhen gave her a carton of milk.
After arriving at school by bus, Song Qiuxuan hung her schoolbag on the chair and bent down to take out the ancient poems from under her desk to memorize. At that moment, she noticed that there were two boxes of milk that she had forgotten to drink inside.
She shared a box with He Zhimian, who had come to the classroom and walked into the corridor. Their relationship had become closer in the past few days, and He Zhimian accepted it with a shy smile.
Cheng Xun no longer enters the classroom right at the exact moment the morning self-study bell rings, but she does enter it only two or three minutes earlier.
Hearing the sound of a chair being pulled out behind her, Song Qiuxuan turned halfway around and asked Cheng Xun, "Would you like some milk?"
Cheng Xun was taken aback when he saw Song Qiuxuan place a carton of milk on his desk. He looked a little flattered and pursed his lips to suppress his surprise.
"Thank you." Cheng Xun's voice was slightly hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken a word since he got up.
Song Qiuxuan looked at the small tuft of black hair sticking up on his head, smiled slightly, turned around, opened the ancient poems and began to recite them from memory.
Cheng Xun's early morning drowsiness at school dissipated considerably because of this carton of milk, and he even felt exceptionally cheerful. He held the carton, inserted the straw, and began to drink.
The wind carried the chilly rain into the corridor. Cheng Xun closed the window and looked ahead, inadvertently noticing that He Zhimian had the same milk on her table.
Cheng Xun paused, bit down hard on the straw, her eyelashes drooping, casting a shadow under her eyes, her expression inscrutable.
Since others already have it, it no longer stands out as unique.
Cheng Xun felt a moment of disappointment, then slowly looked up at Lu Chengzhou's desk. Apart from the messy books and a few bags of snacks that had been finished but not thrown in the trash can, there was no trace of milk.
He gently curled the corners of his lips, comforting himself.
With the monthly exam coming up next week, the study atmosphere in the class has become a bit stronger. During self-study periods, the students all appear to be working hard and attentive. After all, the National Day holiday is right after the monthly exam, and who wouldn't want to get a good score and enjoy the holiday without any worries?
Because of the rain, the morning exercise was canceled. Since it was a long break, most people went to the small supermarket with their umbrellas to buy snacks.
Cheng Xun didn't go. He sat in his seat studying a math problem. Outside in the corridor, people were talking about where they were going to travel during the holidays. He overheard a couple of sentences and went inside.
He hadn't thought about where he was going during the holiday, but suddenly remembered that he would be switching seats when he returned from the holiday.
Cheng Xun's thought process for solving the problem was interrupted.
When Song Qiuxuan turned around, she saw Cheng Xun frowning slightly, looking as if she was stumped by a difficult problem.
"Which question are you working on?" Song Qiuxuan leaned closer to look at his open workbook. "Don't you know how?"
Cheng Xun slowly opened his mouth: "No."
Cheng Xun looked up and stared at Song Qiuxuan's face. He had unconsciously become accustomed to Song Qiuxuan sitting in front of him. If they changed seats, how far apart would they be? He wondered if he could still see her back when he looked up.
Despite the turbulent emotions crashing against the shore like waves, Cheng Xun remained nonchalant, saying in a half-joking tone, "I really don't want to change seats. If I do, I'll probably be far away from you, and the next student in front of me probably won't give me milk anymore."
Song Qiuxuan's gaze flickered. Although she could tell from Cheng Xun's casual tone that he probably wasn't being sincere and was just saying it offhand, no different from remarking on the gloomy weather, and it didn't mean anything by it, her heart still couldn't stop pounding.
“I don’t want to change seats either.” Song Qiuxuan paused for half a minute before speaking softly, forcing a relaxed smile, “It would be so nice if you could always sit around me.”
Song Qiuxuan and Cheng Xun are different. She genuinely wants to be closer to him, and ideally, to always be this close.
I was so close I could smell his fresh scent, see the gentle trembling of his eyelashes, the fine down on his face, and the undulating veins on his hands like mountains.
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