Times of Our Lives - Chapter 13

Qi Fei came off the basketball court and plopped down next to Ji Qinyang.

 

“Did you have a fight with Xie Meng?”

 

Ji Qinyang looked puzzled.

 

“I haven’t seen you two together lately,” Qi Fei explained. “And it’s clear you’re not in a good mood.”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t deny it. His usual smile was nowhere to be seen, and he looked very cold.

 

Qi Fei observed his expression and carefully said, “There’s no grudge that lasts overnight between brothers… Whatever it is, just talk it out. Avoiding each other like this isn’t a solution.”

 

“It’s not what you think,” Ji Qinyang replied impatiently.

 

Qi Fei shrugged, “Alright, alright, don’t get mad.” He hooked his arm around Ji Qinyang’s shoulder. “Let’s go have some fun with the pretty girls.”

 

Ji Qinyang had no interest in the pretty girls.

 

He felt restless, his passion had nowhere to go, like writing countless love songs and singing them perfectly, but no one could hear them.

 

Han Dong saw Xie Meng daydreaming, staring at his test paper without moving his pen. He had no idea what Xie Meng was thinking about, so Han Dong called out, “Hey.”

 

“…?” Xie Meng turned his head.

 

Han Dong pointed at the test paper. “Aren’t you going to do it?”

 

“Yeah…” Xie Meng forced a smile. “I got distracted.”

 

Han Dong scoffed, “Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about Lin Weixin. To put it bluntly, true feelings are shown in times of trouble. You two might have been perfect together in middle school, but how did she act when you were in trouble?”

 

Xie Meng looked awkward. “I wasn’t thinking about her.”

 

Han Dong laughed indifferently, “Everyone in the training class knows Lin Weixin writes you love letters every day and walks with you after class. If you’re going to break it off, do it soon.”

 

“I know.” Xie Meng quickly filled out formulas on the test paper. “I’ll find a chance to talk to her.”

 

Yin Luoxue found Ji Qinyang at the entrance of Class Three after the second afternoon class. Qi Fei saw her and nudged Ji Qinyang.

 

Unlike other girls, Yin Luoxue was strikingly beautiful. She even deliberately shortened her school uniform skirt to show off her fair legs.

 

Looking back, Ji Qinyang might have genuinely liked her in middle school, but after they broke up, he was very calm. He had no lingering feelings, no animosity, and no heartbreak. He just didn’t want to be entangled anymore.

 

Amidst the hoots and hollers from the boys, Ji Qinyang and Yin Luoxue headed to the playground.

 

“How long has it been since we talked?” Yin Luoxue smiled at him.

 

Ji Qinyang, uninterested, replied, “I don’t remember.”

 

Yin Luoxue didn’t get angry. “You’re still the same, heartless.”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t respond. After walking for a while, he impatiently asked, “What do you want?”

 

Yin Luoxue got straight to the point. “I want a song from you. The bar patrons are getting tired of the same old songs. Our band knows about you. We’ll tell them it’s yours if anyone asks.”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t refuse and simply asked, “Do you have your earphones?”

 

Yin Luoxue muttered, “Don’t you have some? Can’t I borrow yours?” She took out her own earbuds as she spoke.

 

Ji Qinyang tossed her his MP3 player. “Pick one yourself.”

 

Yin Luoxue listened for a while, her expression gradually changing. She widened her eyes and stared at Ji Qinyang in surprise. “You have someone you like?”

 

Ji Qinyang raised an eyebrow. “What’s so strange about that?”

 

“No… I mean…” Yin Luoxue’s expression was complicated. After a moment of silence, she smiled sadly. “Back then, when you were dating me, you never wrote a love song for me.”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t respond. After a long time, he said lightly, “He doesn’t like me.”

 

“…Pfft!” Yin Luoxue laughed so hard she almost fell over, wiping away the tears from laughing so much. “Can I say you deserve it?”

 

Ji Qinyang glared at her, his face darkening.

 

“Someone actually has you wrapped around their finger.” Yin Luoxue was a bit envious. She sighed. “I really want to know who it is.”

 

Ji Qinyang sneered. “Why would I tell you?”

 

Yin Luoxue thought he was joking.

 

Ji Qinyang chuckled lazily, “Didn’t you always say I was heartless? Want to know what happens when I really like someone?”

 

Yin Luoxue opened her mouth. “You…”

 

Ji Qinyang thought seriously. “It’s just like this.”

 

Yin Luoxue: “…”

 

“I want to be with him, I want to kiss him, and I want to write endless love songs for him,” Ji Qinyang said calmly. “I want the whole world to not know him, only I know him.”

 

Xie Meng borrowed the library key from Maitreya Buddha. It might seem pathetic, but he was indeed using the excuse of studying for the Olympiad to avoid Ji Qinyang as much as possible.

 

The library was almost empty in the morning. After looking at a few problems, Xie Meng found it hard to focus. He tried several times, but couldn’t concentrate, so he gave up.

 

He brought over a ladder, intending to find other books on the top shelf. While he was sitting at the top of the ladder flipping through a book, he heard Ji Qinyang’s voice, “What are you reading?”

 

“!” The book in Xie Meng’s hand fell to the floor below.

 

Ji Qinyang raised an eyebrow and bent down to pick it up.

 

“Psychology of Homosexual Behavior,” Ji Qinyang read the cover and laughed. “Why are you reading this?”

 

Xie Meng kept a stern face. “What are you doing here?”

 

Ji Qinyang: “I skipped class.”

 

Xie Meng frowned disapprovingly.

 

Ji Qinyang spoke nonchalantly, “It’s just Chinese class, skipping it doesn’t matter. Besides,” he looked up at Xie Meng, “How else would I find you if I didn’t skip?”

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Ji Qinyang climbed up the other side of the ladder, holding the book. Xie Meng remained seated, expressionless, watching Ji Qinyang approach slowly.

 

“Aren’t you going to run away?” Ji Qinyang slid the book back onto the shelf, leaning against the ladder as he studied Xie Meng’s expression.

 

“Why should I run away?” Xie Meng snapped, though he seemed to realize his own tone and bit his lip, annoyed.

 

Ji Qinyang chuckled indifferently. He stared at Xie Meng’s lips, leaning in slowly. Just as he was about to touch them, Xie Meng suddenly turned his face away. “Don’t do this again…”

 

Ji Qinyang’s kiss almost brushed against Xie Meng’s cheek. He narrowed his eyes, his smile turning cold. “Don’t do what? Kiss you?”

 

Xie Meng’s expression finally changed. He glared, flustered. “What’s the difference between you and Lin Hengjing?! You…”

 

“You know I’m different from him,” Ji Qinyang interrupted calmly. “Didn’t you punch him? If you thought I was the same, why didn’t you punch me?”

 

Xie Meng glared at him fiercely.

 

“I’m right here on this ladder. Push me and I’ll fall, maybe get hurt? Break some bones, blood, who knows?” Ji Qinyang’s smile faded. He focused intently on Xie Meng’s face, speaking each word slowly, “If you can bring yourself to do that, I’ll understand and never bother you again.”

 

Xie Meng’s chest heaved. He opened his mouth, but no words came out, his eyes filled with confusion and conflict.

 

The two remained silent, staring at each other for a long time.

 

Then, Ji Qinyang suddenly reached out and cupped Xie Meng’s face.

 

The warmth and dryness of the boy’s palm pressed against Xie Meng’s cheek, his thumb stroking firmly. He closed his eyes, feeling Ji Qinyang’s forehead resting against his own.

 

“Xie Meng.”

 

Xie Meng looked at him with a complicated expression. “?”

 

Ji Qinyang took a deep breath. “I like…”

 

“What are you two doing?” The library elder knocked on the shelf blocking his view. He could only see four legs on the ladder. “How many times have I said it! No two people sitting on a ladder! Do you know how dangerous that is?! Get down now!”

 

Ji Qinyang: “…”

 

Xie Meng pulled away from Ji Qinyang’s hand, avoiding his eyes. “Let’s get down…”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t say anything or leave immediately. He waited for the library elder to lock the door before returning to class with Xie Meng.

 

Qi Fei whistled when he saw the two return one after the other, joking, “Hey, back from your date?”

 

Ji Qinyang stepped forward and kicked him.

 

Zhang Ganggang assumed they had made up and suggested having lunch together.

 

“I have a test in the training class today. I need to go early,” Xie Meng declined politely. While organizing his desk, he suddenly noticed that the letters Lin Weixin had given him were missing.

 

He searched again but still couldn’t find them.

 

Ji Qinyang leaned over and asked, “What are you looking for?”

 

“Nothing…” Xie Meng turned his head and found their faces very close.

 

Ji Qinyang smiled, tilting his head slightly and brushing his nose against Xie Meng’s.

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Fortunately, no one was around to see them. Even so, Xie Meng felt so nervous his mouth was dry, his palms were sweating, and his heart was pounding painfully.

 

He couldn’t quite tell why he felt this mixture of fear and anxiety.

 

The Saturday tutoring class was only half a day. As the competition approached, the atmosphere became less tense to avoid putting too much pressure on the students. Xie Meng was one of the last to leave the classroom, and Lin Weixin was still waiting for him.

 

“Let’s go for a walk,” Lin Weixin said seriously. “I have something to tell you.”

 

The tutoring center was close to Jinji Lake Park, and the park was unusually quiet, with only a few people around. There were two small artificial lakes with various-sized Taihu stones arranged in them.

 

Lin Weixin carefully stepped onto the largest stone, spreading her arms for balance.

 

“Be careful,” Xie Meng cautioned.

 

Lin Weixin smiled at him.

 

“Did you read the letters I gave you?” the girl asked.

 

Xie Meng glanced at her and shook his head.

 

Lin Weixin didn’t seem surprised. “I figured you wouldn’t. That’s just how you are. You seem very gentle, but once you make a decision, you don’t easily change your mind.”

 

Xie Meng didn’t respond. He watched as Lin Weixin jumped to another stone.

 

“I was wondering, if you don’t have a girlfriend, do I still have a chance?” Lin Weixin looked down at him.

 

“…” Xie Meng opened his mouth. “I’m sorry.”

 

Lin Weixin: “Do you have someone you like?”

 

Her question was met with silence. Just when Lin Weixin thought he would never give her an answer, she heard Xie Meng softly say, “Yes.”

 

“I think I do have someone I like,” Xie Meng smiled slightly. He looked at Lin Weixin and repeated seriously, “I have someone I like.”

 

Xie Meng received a call from Ji Qinyang when the bus was still a few stops away from Guanqian Street. It seemed noisy around Ji Qinyang, and he had to say hello a few times before Xie Meng could hear him.

 

“Where are you?” Ji Qinyang asked.

 

Xie Meng glanced at the bus stop they had just passed. “Yinma Bridge… still on the bus.”

 

Ji Qinyang chuckled. “I know you’re on the bus.”

 

Xie Meng felt his right ear heat up from Ji Qinyang’s laughter. He awkwardly changed the topic. “Did you handle those letters for me?”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t hesitate to admit, “Yes.”

 

His straightforwardness left Xie Meng momentarily speechless. As he stood up to get off at the next stop, he jokingly said, “……were you jealous?”

 

“Yes.” Ji Qinyang’s side of the line had the sound of the bus’s onboard announcement. Instinctively, Xie Meng looked out the window and saw Ji Qinyang among the crowd waiting at the bus stop, holding his phone.

 

“I’m getting jealous over the person I like,” Ji Qinyang raised his chin to look at Xie Meng in the bus, speaking slowl. “Is there anything wrong with that?”