After Lu Yang returned from running the errand to buy cigarettes, he became eerily silent.
Although he thought he was hiding it well, and even his parents hadn’t noticed his abnormality.
Xin Hexue still saw the heaviness in his heart hidden behind his smile.
When Lu Yang smiles, the corners of his eyes would curve. Originally, due to his eyebrows pressing down on his eyes, his aura seemed sharp and unruly, but this would change when he smiled. Simply put, when Lu Yang didn’t smile, he looked like a delinquent youth; when he smiled, he looked like a silly dog.
Xin Hexue picked a piece of cake and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
The food on the table was mostly finished, the parents were busy reminiscing about past glorious years, and Lu Yang was cleaning up the aftermath. “What do you mean what’s wrong? I’m fine.”
He turned back and smiled at Xin Hexue.
It was exactly this expression.
Xin Hexue keenly sensed the difference and narrowed his eyes to scrutinize Lu Yang.
The silly dog’s eyes were practically saying “I have something on my mind, I’m being grilled.”
“Why are you staring at me?” Lu Yang asked as he washed dishes, the water rushing noisily in the sink. “Have you finally realized that your childhood friend is quite handsome?”
Xin Hexue: “…”
Lin Oufei in the living room suddenly called his name, his hands on the table shuffling playing cards. “Do you want to play?”
Xin Hexue asked, “Play what?”
“Dou Dizhu.” Lin Oufei said calmly. “Brother Tongguang is playing too, we need one more.”
“Big Brother, are you returning to school on the 7th?” Xin Hexue grabbed an apple from the fruit plate.
“Mn, it’s rare to have a long holiday. I won’t be able to come back until winter vacation.” Zhuang Tongguang said.
“Then let’s go out tomorrow.” Xin Hexue glanced towards the direction of the running water and sat down on the chair next to Zhuang Tongguang. “I need to go to the bookstore to buy some supplementary books, Big Brother, help me pick.”
The corners of Zhuang Tongguang’s lips lifted in an inconspicuous arc, his voice gentle. “Okay.”
Lin Oufei said, “I want to go too.”
Xin Hexue looked at him.
Lin Oufei’s expression didn’t change much. “I’m out of pen refills. They’re at the stationery store. It’s on the way.”
The living room was harmonious and joyful, but the kitchen suddenly felt cold and deserted, and the night scene outside the window seemed lonely even with the streetlights.
Lu Yang felt melancholy.
He lowered his head, squeezed a pump of detergent, the foam washing away the grease with the water.
Recalling what Zhuang Tongguang had said to him, Lu Yang couldn’t help but look somewhat confused.
…………
The National Day holiday was quite fulfilling because there were things to do every day, plus a pile of test papers to write. On the last day, they even went to the train station to see Zhuang Tongguang off, so Xin Hexue didn’t have time to attend to Lu Yang’s abnormality.
Besides, Lu Yang himself was prone to occasional foolishness and erratic behaviors; Xin Hexue was already used to it.
Most importantly, it had always been the little dog’s job to observe its master’s expressions.
Xin Hexue was the master, and the master was always superior. Since when was it his turn to coax Lu Yang?
Seeing the person walking over from the corner of his eyes, Xin Hexue didn’t look up, just organized the textbooks and materials needed for tonight’s homework.
Lu Yang said that because of the competition schedule this semester, there would be additional after-school training, and the end time would be later than before.
Xin Hexue packed his schoolbag expressionlessly. “Alright, then Lin Oufei and I will leave first.”
Lin Oufei slung his bag over his left shoulder and intentionally put an arm around Xin Hexue. “Let’s go.”
“Did you copy the problem the math teacher wrote on the blackboard?” Xin Hexue asked.
Lin Oufei: “Mn, I’ll lend it to you later.”
Lu Yang stood rooted to the spot, unable to say anything in time as the two left the classroom talking and laughing.
The monthly exam was in two weeks. Xin Hexue would probably review with Lin Oufei, right?
Although the additional training for the competition was real, not a lie, and certainly not an excuse he came up with because he hadn’t sorted out his feelings, Lu Yang still felt an emptiness in his heart.
Deliberately keeping his distance from Xin Hexue felt like he was intentionally punishing himself.
Tian Fengyu at the back door saw him standing still in a daze, seemingly lost in thought about something, and raised his voice, “Aren’t we going? Lu Yang, what are you doing?”
Lu Yang didn’t react. Tian Fengyu even went up and patted his shoulder. He circled to the front only to see Lu Yang looking as if he had lost three souls and seven spirits, leaving him shocked.
“Why do you look so miserable, like you’ve lost a love?”
It was worse than that.
He hadn’t even started the love.
The corner of Lu Yang’s lips twitched.
…………
The sound of the pen scratching on the test paper was soft and rustling. In the evening, the aroma of meals from neighboring households upstairs and downstairs slipped in through the crack of the window that wasn’t tightly closed, lingering at the nose.
Suddenly, the gel pen in Xin Hexue’s hand paused, and he said absentmindedly, “…It’s out of ink.”
Lin Oufei handed him another pen.
Last time when they went out to the stationery store, Lin Oufei bought a whole pack of pens, plus refills enough to last until winter vacation.
Xin Hexue switched to a pen with full ink and wrote, but didn’t write for long before he put down the paper and pen. “I’m hungry.”
It wasn’t dinner time at either of their homes yet.
Lin Oufei rummaged through the cupboard. “There are biscuits, and potato chips. Do you want some?”
But Xin Hexue had already started packing his schoolbag. “I’m going home first.”
“See you tomorrow.”
He closed the door of the Lin family home. When he reached the corridor and looked into the distance, he happened to see Lu Yang riding his bicycle on the shaded asphalt road below. Lu Yang hesitated for a moment at the crossroads, but ultimately did not choose the direction towards Xin Hexue’s home, turning a corner and heading into the tube apartment building where the Lu family lived.
The bicycle and figure disappeared behind the buildings.
Xin Hexue frowned almost imperceptibly, revealing a faint trace of confusion and displeasure.
If he wasn’t mistaken, Lu Yang has been deliberately avoiding him lately?
He could even find excuses not to walk to and from school together.
He didn’t know what Lu Yang was thinking. He didn’t ask directly because he felt that if Lu Yang didn’t bring it up voluntarily, there was no need to press the matter. He didn’t like to force others. Besides, he felt Lu Yang would quickly adjust his emotions on his own as before and come bouncing happily to find him.
Hadn’t it been like this many times in the past?
Xin Hexue returned home and closed the door behind him with a “bang”.
…………
It seemed like the National Day holiday was just yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, thin jackets and short sleeves were replaced by autumn clothes, with an extra sweater worn under the school uniform.
As chaotic as the temperature change was the arrival of the November monthly exam. This time, the average scores for various subjects in Xin Hexue’s class were very impressive. It was said the homeroom teacher was praised during the faculty meeting, and he was all smiles during the class meeting.
The PE class on Monday afternoon wasn’t canceled by rain; it was a clear, fine day. The PE teacher kindly ended the group activities early, leaving the group most of the class time for free activities.
Xin Hexue and Yu Zao played badminton for the entire class. After the activity, their energy was expended through sweat, and they were parched and thirsty.
When the class-ending bell rang, they ran into Lu Yang, Lin Oufei, and Tian Fengyu walking from the basketball court towards the badminton hall. Xin Hexue noticed the water bottle in Lu Yang’s hand and initially wanted to ask Lu Yang for some water. They met face to face, both aware the other was coming for them, yet for a moment, neither spoke.
Seeing Lu Yang acting mute like this, Xin Hexue felt an inexplicable, faint yet irresistible irritation rising in his heart, like a spark igniting within him.
“Excuse me.”
He found the person annoying, so he spoke in a flat tone, avoided eye contact, and simply brushed past him.
Lu Yang was taken aback. “Aren’t you going back to the classroom?”
There was still a math class later before school ended.
“Yu Zao and I are thirsty, we’re going to the convenience store to buy water.” Xin Hexue said, looking back. Yu Zao, carrying his badminton racket case, quickly took two steps to catch up with Xin Hexue and waved to the other three. “You guys go back first.”
Lu Yang followed them without a word, like a dog’s tail trailing behind Xin Hexue.
Having just finished exercising, cola and juice were popular at the convenience store. Xin Hexue found them too cloying and not thirst-quenching, so he only took a bottle of mineral water.
He twisted the cap open with two turns. The sudden refreshing sound of released gas came from the cola in Yu Zao’s hand next to him. Perhaps the bottle Yu Zao picked had been shaken by some bored high school student; as soon as he opened it, white bubbles foamed and frothed in droves. Yu Zao fumbled around in a fluster, and his hands were covered in sticky, sweet soda, which dripped onto the ground. “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God…”
Xin Hexue issued the highest directive: “Turn right and exit.”
“OK, OK.” Yu Zao rushed off towards the sink.
Xin Hexue was extremely thirsty. He tilted his head back slightly, and the cool mineral water poured down his throat, the lines of his neck slender and beautiful. His Adam’s apple rolled up and down. Perhaps because he drank too quickly, two droplets escaped the corner of his mouth and rolled down, glistening on his fair skin.
There was an indescribable, alluring quality to it.
Xin Hexue originally thought that, following Lu Yang’s usual habit, he would directly wipe it away for him. But when he didn’t get any action from the other party and casually wiped the droplets away himself, he noticed that Lu Yang seemed to be looking at the sky, staring at the trees, not daring to cast his gaze upon him, and hadn’t even lifted a finger to touch him.
Lu Yang averted his eyes, swallowed hard, and advised earnestly: “It’s gotten colder recently, don’t drink ice water…”
Xin Hexue gave a cold laugh and walked ahead.
What is going on?
Xin Hexue didn’t understand Lu Yang’s contradictory attitude.
Was this the second tactic after giving flowers, a strategy of feigning indifference to lure the prey?
Can Lu Yang’s brain even grasp the meaning of that idiom?
Or was it…
Xin Hexue lowered his eyes.
He got tired after kissing? Was the previous confession just dog farts?
Well done, Lu Yang.
Of all the things he shouldn’t do, the worst thing Lu Yang could do was joke about their friendship.
He charged in recklessly with a confession, overturning the friendship they had cherished for so long. Now, just as he was starting to seriously consider it, he was actually backing down and pretending nothing happened, papering over the cracks?
The slightly cold light in Xin Hexue’s eyes sank, and the corners of his lips, usually curved with a hint of a smile, pressed into a straight line.
If Lu Yang, who was following behind, could circle to the front and see Xin Hexue’s expression, based on years of experience reading Xin Hexue’s micro-expressions, he would know it clearly meant “unhappy, I’m very unhappy”, and he was completely provoked.
Unfortunately, Lu Yang, who was following not far behind, was busy slapping his own mouth several times in annoyance.
Kiss kiss kiss, all he thinks about is kissing. If the mouth itches, he should go brush his teeth.
That was close.
He almost went in for a bite.
Fortunately, he managed to control himself in time just now, Lu Yang couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
