In the competition event of “Giving Lu Yang the Cold Shoulder,” Xin Hexue had already won the gold medal for twelve consecutive years. This meant he was skilled at putting on a cold face and also at hiding.
It also meant that in a cold war, Lu Yang was absolutely destined to be utterly defeated.
During the monthly seat rotation in Class 14, top students naturally had privileges, not to mention Xin Hexue was the standard model student in the teachers’ eyes. When handing in homework at the office, Xin Hexue casually mentioned it.
By the time they changed seats after the last class, the distance between him and Lu Yang was already like that of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, separated by the Milky Way, forming the longest diagonal line across the entire classroom.
Lu Yang didn’t care that he would be late for training. He just went up eagerly and asked, “Why did you move to the front? Don’t you hate the chalk dust up there?”
Xin Hexue looked calm. After packing his schoolbag, he patted his deskmate Yu Zao on the shoulder to indicate that he was going home, and then explained to Lu Yang, “Yu Zao’s nearsightedness has worsened. His current glasses can’t see the blackboard clearly, so it’s better to sit in the front. Also, listening in front helps with concentration.”
‘Who are you trying to fool?
Lu Yang knew best that Xin Hexue often treated the teacher as background noise in class and pondered his own train of thought everyday.
If Yu Zao’s glasses don’t fit, why not just get new ones?
Why drag Xin Hexue to sit in the front?
Lu Yang couldn’t believe it.
Xin Hexue and Lin Oufei left first. Under Lu Yang’s death glare, Yu Zao broke out in a sweat, packed his bag at lightning speed, and made a quick escape.
However, this was just the sounding of the horn for the beginning of the battle.
In the following days, Xin Hexue spent his breaks either helping classmates with questions or was on his way to the office for consultations. Even fetching water was occasionally delegated to Yu Zao. Lu Yang had training after school, so they weren’t going home together anyway. Now, because Xin Zhiying was working overtime recently, she had Xin Hexue eat at a breakfast place near the school in the mornings, so their morning schedules also diverged.
As the day went on, not only did the time Lu Yang saw Xin Hexue gradually decrease to the point of not being able to speak, but the number of words he exchanged with Xin Hexue in a day was less than ten, even fewer than with Tian Fengyu.
That idiot could pester Xin Hexue with the smallest of questions for an entire break!
Unfortunately, Xin Hexue also pitied Tian Fengyu’s intelligence and would actually patiently explain step by step!
Lu Yang stared at the back of Xin Hexue’s head in class, wondering how someone with such soft hair could have a heart as cold and ruthless as the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.
He stared at Xin Hexue until his eyes turned red.
He wanted to run over and apologize after class, but the physics teacher on the podium said, “Hold on, students, we’ll end class after we finish this last problem…”
Finally, after enduring the agony until the break, Lu Yang took the newly distributed and graded math test paper and lined up obediently to ask Xin Hexue for help.
Seeing him come, the classmate in front of him knew that Lu Yang and Xin Hexue were close and wanted to give up his spot, but Lu Yang gritted his teeth and forced out a smile. “You go first.”
He didn’t dare risk upsetting Xin Hexue.
By the time it was Lu Yang’s turn, it was almost time for class. Just as the preparatory bell rang, Xin Hexue glanced at the big question he got wrong and looked up at Lu Yang standing obediently by the desk. “Didn’t I lend you my notes last week? This type of question is at the third folded corner.”
As he spoke, he frowned slightly. “You didn’t look at it carefully? I specifically marked and explained it.”
Lu Yang’s throat tightened, a bit panicked. “I just suddenly forgot. I did look carefully, I did!”
The official class bell rang. Before Lu Yang could say anything, the teacher had already arrived in the classroom on time, and he could only reluctantly walk around the entire classroom back to his seat.
Why was he suddenly getting the cold shoulder?
Lu Yang analyzed the situation calmly, but the rapid spinning of the pen in his hand betrayed his anxious mood.
Xin Hexue could never be wrong, so it must be him that was wrong.
All Lu Yang could do was admit his mistake.
He and Xin Hexue had grown up together since childhood, and interacted for over ten years. It was impossible if they had never argued; even the best of friends have disagreements.
Having gone through such situations, Lu Yang was deeply versed in the “path to redemption” within it.
The slide to the knee must be quick, the apology must be accurate, and in addition, a little bit of luck is needed.
No matter how big the issue, as long as neither party was determined to separate, they can reconcile as long as they have the right opportunity.
Xin Hexue’s birthday was also coming soon…
Lu Yang raised his hand, stood up, and took his book to stand under the blackboard at the back of the classroom to listen to the lesson.
The teacher thought he was feeling sleepy and was standing up to listen more attentively. Although somewhat surprised, he took the opportunity to praise Lu Yang’s learning spirit.
Xin Hexue heard it but didn’t turn around.
He also ignored the burning gaze that seemed intent on staring a hole through the back of his head.
Lu Yang’s earlier creation of distance had actually given Xin Hexue real time to think and catch his breath.
Just like those martial arts novels said, the ultimate martial art is invincible only when it is fast. The same was true in matters of love. He was caught off guard by Lu Yang’s reckless confession and hadn’t reacted yet. When it came down to it, love wasn’t the same as friendship. Under the influence of hormones, how long could the shelf life of such a fleeting emotion last?
Once time passed and circumstances changed, when love and desire faded, yet friendship was no longer pure, it would only create a barrier between the two for nothing.
It was better to take this opportunity to let both their heads cool down.
Xin Hexue cherished this bond deeply and had already made up his mind.
………
Xin Hexue was born on the day of Da Xue ((major snow) one of the 24 solar terms).
He wasn’t quite sure if his mother gave him this name for that reason.
He was too young to remember then. By the time he was old enough to remember, he could only learn about this woman’s appearance from the old photo album at his grandmother’s house.
According to the calendar, this year’s heavy snow happened to fall on a Friday.
When Friday arrived, relying on the life she had given him, Xin Hexue welcomed his eighteenth year in this human world.
Lingzhou City had already experienced its first snow fall.
The continuous sleet and snow weather since Monday had left the roads muddy and wet, the gloomy gray sky enveloping the city.
Probably because the next day was Friday, the students were particularly restless. When school ended, they ran out like birds fluttering their wings out of a cage, grouping together and already discussing going to the arcade and boutique shops after school on Friday evening.
Lin Oufei’s competition was the next day in the municipal provincial capital. When Xin Hexue went to move homework in the afternoon before class, he saw Auntie Lin come to ask for leave from the homeroom teacher and take Lin Oufei away from school.
They probably had to go early; otherwise, the round trip on the same day would be too rushed and affect his condition.
Auntie Lin had always valued Lin Oufei’s studies and competitions highly.
So Xin Hexue went home alone after school that afternoon. Yu Zao and Tian Fengyu’s homes were in the other direction. At the crossroads not far from the school gate, Xin Hexue waved goodbye to them.
Riding a bicycle in winter was bitterly cold, when riding against the wind, it felt like little knives scraping against his face. Xin Hexue had forgotten to put a mask in his schoolbag when he left home today. His nose was somewhat sensitive during the change of seasons, and before he had ridden even half a kilometer, the tip of his nose and his eyelids were completely red from the cold.
His skin was as white as snow, surpassing frost; the little red was like a cinnabar dropped on rice paper, and the beautiful landscape suddenly came to life with vivid color.
No matter where he was, he stood out at a glance, a rare and exquisite beauty.
No wonder those idle adolescent boys with nowhere to expend their energy would randomly add Xin Hexue’s name when voting for school flowers and class flowers.
Xin Hexue tugged at his scarf, buried his chin in it, and coughed lightly. Puffs of white, mist-like breath dissipated on the road before they could fully form.
It looked like it might rain, so he picked up his speed.
Just as he was about to reach the bicycle shed under the tube apartment building, the rain from the dark clouds indeed began to fall.
Xin Hexue quickly got off his bicycle, just a few steps away from pushing it into the shed.
With a “snap”, an umbrella suddenly opened overhead, and the raindrops falling from the sky hit the black umbrella surface.
Xin Hexue turned his head in surprise: “Lin Oufei? Aren’t you supposed to go to the provincial capital for the competition?”
“It should be fine if I buy the last ticket at the window later.” Regarding Xin Hexue’s question, Lin Oufei shrugged nonchalantly. His other hand, not holding the umbrella, was carrying a gift bag. He lifted it up in Xin Hexue’s line of sight and shook the gift in front of him. “I remembered I hadn’t given you something yet.”
“Let’s go upstairs first.”
As he spoke, Lin Oufei tugged at the loose end of Xin Hexue’s scarf, his fingers accidentally brushing against the fair neck.
He watched as Xin Hexue immediately shivered slightly from the cold.
“Have you been waiting long?” Xin Hexue asked as they went upstairs.
Lin Oufei denied it: “No.”
“Originally, I wanted to give it to you at the school gate, but I was afraid of missing you in the crowd.” Lin Oufei closed the umbrella, a few drops of water falling on the colorful patterned tiles of the stairs. “I saw it was about to rain, so I came down to wait.”
“Oh.”
Xin Hexue looked down and took the gift bag from Lin Oufei. Inside was a gift box. Even from this angle, he could see it was carefully wrapped, with a pink satin ribbon tied into a bow.
Lin Oufei looked somewhat embarrassed, averting his gaze. “My mom said packaging it like this looks nice.”
He had consulted a little on how to tie the bow.
Xin Hexue held the two strings of the gift bag and looked inside. “What’s inside?”
Lin Oufei said, “You’ll know when you open it.”
“I originally wanted to give it to you tomorrow night after I got back.” He added in a slightly hoarse voice, “I just felt it would be late, so I wanted to be one step ahead.”
His last sentence was somewhat low, making it hard to hear clearly.
Xin Zhiying wasn’t back yet. Xin Hexue took the key from his schoolbag and opened the door. He and Lin Oufei entered, but they didn’t feel much warmer than outside. The winter climate here was damp and cold, and the chill seeped in through window cracks and corners.
Xin Hexue sat on the sofa, placed the gift box on the coffee table, and quickly opened it.
It was an MP3 player.
The packaging box was from a foreign brand.
Xin Hexue occasionally overheard students from the next class discussing it in the hallway. It had a four-digit price tag, and for students still using cassette players or portable CD players to listen to music, it was very expensive.
He looked up at Lin Oufei in surprise.
“Didn’t I go to the provincial capital last weekend?” Lin Oufei frowned and directly opened the packaging box, revealing the MP3 player. “The songs you like are all downloaded.”
He pinched the end of the wired earphones and handed them to Xin Hexue, gesturing with his hand.
………
Full of vigor, Lu Yang charged up to the door of Xin Hexue’s home in one breath.
He was drenched all over, but his thick, dark eyebrows were raised high.
He had taken the bus right after school, riding it all the way to the terminal on the other side of the city and to the headquarters of the radio station Xin Hexue liked most to request his favorite song, but ended up losing his umbrella.
Fortunately, the gift was protected in his embrace the whole time and didn’t get too wet.
Although the racket would not get affected in future use even if it got wet, Lu Yang’s heart was boiling with warmth.
Xin Zhiying was startled by his disheveled state. Lu Yang quickly asked if Xin Hexue was in his room and, upon confirmation, opened the bedroom door.
‘Xin Hexue, tonight we can listen to the radio together…’
Lu Yang’s words didn’t leave his mouth, unable to come out.
Two figures leaned against each other by the window, tangled earphone wires dangling between them.
They were facing away from the door, and Lu Yang could only see that Xin Hexue’s head was tilted slightly, quietly resting on Lin Oufei’s shoulder.
Lin Oufei’s other shoulder moved slightly as he raised his right hand and naturally brushed through Xin Hexue’s bangs.
The two looked like they were in a painting, appearing extremely intimate.
‘Outside the rain is falling, just like the blood in my heart is dripping…’
‘Stupid brain, stop singing.’
Lu Yang took a deep breath.
The sound of the front door banging startled Xin Hexue. His sleepiness dispersed, and his eyelashes fluttered. He opened his eyes and realized he had fallen asleep at some point. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” Lin Oufei said in a low voice. “On rainy days, stray dogs come up begging for food.”
