Times of Our Lives - Chapter 14

When Han Dong came out of the exam room, he saw Ji Qinyang leaning against the wall with headphones on. They exchanged glances, and Ji Qinyang smiled, removing his headphones.

 

“Hi,” Han Dong nodded.

 

“Hey,” Ji Qinyang looked past him. “Where’s Xie Meng?”

 

“He went to help the teacher collect the exam papers.”

 

Ji Qinyang pointed inside, “Can I go in?”

 

Han Dong smiled, “Go ahead, he’s probably waiting for you.”

 

Xie Meng helped the proctoring teacher bind the exam papers. As they were almost finished, he couldn’t help but glance outside a few times. The teacher noticed and asked, “Is someone waiting for you?”

 

Xie Meng felt a bit embarrassed, “Yes…”

 

The teacher joked, “Is it your girlfriend?”

 

Xie Meng felt slightly embarrassed but didn’t deny it. He quickly finished binding the last few papers and stood up to say goodbye.

 

“Go on, don’t keep your girlfriend waiting,” the teacher waved him off with a smile.

 

Ji Qinyang sat in the hallway, watching as Xie Meng ran over from a distance. He pretended to close his eyes and didn’t move. Sure enough, Xie Meng approached quietly.

 

Thinking Ji Qinyang was asleep, Xie Meng squatted down and leaned in to remove the headphones from his head.

 

Ji Qinyang suddenly wrapped his arm around Xie Meng’s neck and pulled him into his embrace.

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Ji Qinyang opened his eyes and looked down at him, “What were you trying to do?”

 

“…” Xie Meng tried not to put all his weight on Ji Qinyang. “You weren’t asleep?”

 

“I was about to sleep,” Ji Qinyang said lazily.

 

Xie Meng looked skeptical.

 

Ji Qinyang freed a hand to ruffle Xie Meng’s hair, then pressed the back of his hand against his cheek.

 

Xie Meng: “?”

 

Ji Qinyang smiled, “I want to kiss you.”

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Ji Qinyang leaned in closer, “Can I?”

 

Xie Meng’s face turned suspiciously red. He looked away and stiffly said, “…why are you asking?”

 

Ji Qinyang’s lips tasted slightly sweet, like soda. After kissing for a while, he felt unsatisfied. He gently shook Xie Meng’s chin and coaxed, “Open your mouth.”

 

“…”As soon as Xie Meng did, his tongue was captured.

 

They kissed for a long time until they had to part.

 

Ji Qinyang still held him tightly.

 

Xie Meng pushed him, “Get up.”

 

Ji Qinyang hung the headphones around his neck, “Do you want to come to my place?”

 

“Next time,” Xie Meng smiled. “Tonight, there’s a festival on Nanhao Street. Zhang Ganggang and the others will be there.”

 

Ji Qinyang: “…”

 

Xie Meng felt something heavy on his shoulder as Ji Qinyang buried his face in his neck.

 

“…” Xie Meng chuckled, “Why are you acting spoiled?”

 

“I’m not acting spoiled,” Ji Qinyang muttered, “I’m recharging.”

 

“?” Xie Meng was momentarily confused.

 

Ji Qinyang explained, “I need to fully charge my happiness meter before I can share you with others.”

 

Xie Meng laughed, “I suddenly think writing songs is a bit of a waste for you.”

 

Ji Qinyang: “?”

 

Xie Meng turned his head to kiss Ji Qinyang’s forehead, “You speak better than you sing.”

 

The Nanhao Street festival, known as Zha Shenxian, is the busiest temple fair event in Suzhou every year. The streets are lined with shops, and the air is filled with vendors’ shouts. Many children sit on their parents’ shoulders, looking down at the sea of people.

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan also carried Zhuo Jinjin on his shoulders. The little girl had her hair in pigtails and held a pinwheel.

 

Xie Meng and Ji Qinyang arrived late, squeezing through the crowd for a long time before meeting up with Zhang Ganggang and the others.

 

“How did the exam go?” Qi Fei had to shout over the noise. “What rank do you think you’ll get?”

 

Zhang Ganggang bought a cotton candy larger than his face, holding it high to avoid bumping into people. “How can you ask about the results right after the exam?” 

 

Qi Fei sneered, “That’s just the kind of thought a slacker like you would have.”

 

Ji Qinyang came back with drinks, each person holding a cup.

 

“When will the results come out?” Zhuo Xiaoyuan asked as he sipped his boba tea.

 

Xie Meng thought for a moment. “Probably next month.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan said, “Either you or Han Dong will be first or second. The pressure on him isn’t any less than on you.”

 

Ji Qinyang handed his unopened boba tea to Xie Meng and took the one Xie Meng hadn’t opened yet.

 

Xie Meng hesitated, “…”

 

Ji Qinyang made a gesture when no one was looking, mouthing something to him: “Indirect kiss.”

 

Zhang Ganggang had already finished his own drink and saw Xie Meng holding his boba tea without drinking it. “Aren’t you drinking? If not, give it to me.” He reached out to take it.

 

Xie Meng quickly bit the straw…

 

“I’m drinking,” Xie Meng mumbled.

 

Ji Qinyang handed Zhang Ganggang his own unopened bubble tea. Suddenly feeling embarrassed, Zhang Ganggang said, “Then what are you going to drink?”

 

Ji Qinyang smiled and casually took the milk tea from Xie Meng’s hand. “One drink for both me and Xie Meng is enough.”

 

Xie Meng, “…”

 

Ji Qinyang held the straw that Xie Meng had used and raised an eyebrow at him.

 

At night, lanterns hung along Nanhao Street, and statues of the Eight Immortals stood in the square. People dressed as He Xiangu sold lotus flowers and seedpods from bamboo baskets. On stage, the Eight Immortals crossed the sea in a performance, but Xie Meng and his friends weren’t very interested.

 

Behind Nanhao Street was the moat. The sightseeing wheel was full of people, and Zhuo Xiaoyuan held Zhuo Jinjin on the riverbank, the lights reflecting in the water. Drums were loud, and lion dance troupes joined in. He Xiangu threw up an embroidered ball shaped like a lotus flower, and the dragon snaked along the riverbank.

 

The crowd moved slowly with the dragon and lion troupe. Qi Fei grabbed Zhang Ganggang and turned back to warn him, “Let’s hold hands so we don’t get separated!”

 

Ji Qinyang pulled Xie Meng with one hand and almost embraced him as they moved forward. Zhuo Jinjin rode on Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s neck at the back, conspicuous enough not to be afraid of getting lost.

 

Outside the shop, someone set off fireworks, and dazzling stars burst everywhere. Zhang Ganggang hurriedly took photos of everyone.

 

Qi Fei grabbed the lion dance, borrowed the lion head, and put it on his own head. Zhuo Xiaoyuan bought a Qing dynasty hat for Zhuo Jinjin. Both the big and small were holding windmills stupidly. Xie Meng bit his cotton candy, Ji Qinyang ate the other side, and the two laughed across the candy.

 

“Brother!” Zhuo Jinjin excitedly patted Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s head and shouted, “Look! So many stars!”

 

Zhang Ganggang looked up and sighed, “The weather is really nice.”

 

Qi Fei said, “How rare, in a few years, we probably won’t see this anymore.”

 

Ji Qinyang hugged Xie Meng’s shoulder from behind. Because there were so many people, this action didn’t seem abrupt.

 

Zhang Ganggang raised the camera, “Let’s take another picture?”

 

The four stood together, Zhuo Jinjin held by Zhuo Xiaoyuan, Zhang Ganggang setting up the camera and running over quickly. But the action was too rushed and he didn’t stop, falling directly onto Xie Meng.

 

“Hurry, hurry!” Zhang Ganggang scrambled up in a panic, “Three shots in a row!”

 

“… ” Xie Meng helped him adjust his posture.

 

Qi Fei squeezed out from between his teeth, “The second shot.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan could barely hold his sister.

 

“Take your places! The last one!” Zhang Ganggang shouted loudly, “k-i-s-s——!”

 

Ji Qinyang quickly turned his head and kissed Xie Meng’s face.

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Zhang Ganggang hugged the camera and went crazy: “I didn’t ask you to really kiss!! The only good one!!”

 

Qi Fei looked at the photo and still had the heart to joke: “Brother Ji, you’re biased, why don’t you kiss me? We’ve been together for so many years…”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan had a cold face, but was completely focused on the other side: “Why do I look so bad in photos… they’re so ugly.”

 

Five people laughed for a long time, but in the end they couldn’t reshoot it.

 

And the scene frozen in youth was Zhuo Xiaoyuan holding Zhuo Jinjin with an expressionless face, Qi Fei laughing until his eyes couldn’t be seen, Zhang Ganggang standing upright in a ridiculous manner, and Ji Qinyang’s kiss on Xie Meng’s face.

 

Above the Jiangnan Water Town, beneath the Milky Way spanning thousands of miles, connecting the long history of the past, it bore the burden of the long and mottled years ahead.

 

On the day the math scores came out, Xie Meng didn’t care much until the school put up a big red banner, and Xie Meng was called out of class halfway through by Maitreya Buddha to receive a trophy and certificate, and to take photos.

 

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been so high-profile at w school.” Qi Fei looked towards the playground, “Look how happy Maitreya Buddha is.”

 

Ji Qinyang glanced from afar and casually asked, “What do you say when you finish school?”

 

Qi Fei said, “Zhang Ganggang asked Xie Meng to help him with math tutoring, and I’m about the same … what about you?”

 

“I’ve decided to pursue the art exam,” Ji Qinyang suddenly announced. “Last week, I received a recommendation letter from the Central Conservatory of Music.”

 

Qi Fei paused, then exclaimed excitedly, “That’s amazing, Big Brother! You did it quietly like that?!”

 

Ji Qinyang smiled, “It’s just a recommendation letter. I want to study in their composition department, but first, I have to pass the music theory test.”

 

“I don’t understand,” Qi Fei clicked his tongue. After a moment of silence, he sighed, “In about a year and a half, we’ll probably all be going our separate ways.”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t say anything. He watched as Xie Meng walked under the shade of the trees, sunlight filtering through the dense leaves and casting scattered rays on his face. The boy casually tucked the trophy under his arm and glanced up towards the second floor as he passed through the corridor.

 

Their eyes met, and Xie Meng smiled at Ji Qinyang.

 

After school, only Qi Fei, Zhang Ganggang, Xie Meng, and Ji Qinyang remained in the classroom. Maitreya Buddha had left the keys, and Qi Fei closed both the front and back doors to avoid disturbance.

 

The four crowded around a table, Qi Fei and Zhang Ganggang sitting on one side like students, Xie Meng on the opposite side, picking out mistakes from their papers to discuss. Ji Qinyang didn’t have much to do, so he listened to music and wrote lyrics, peaceful and undisturbed.

 

“Substitute ‘a’ into ‘b’, similarly proved…” Xie Meng’s pen suddenly drew a long line on the draft paper, which Zhang Ganggang stared at for a long time without understanding.

 

“What’s similarly proved?” Zhang Ganggang looked bewildered. He glanced at Qi Fei, who seemed even more clueless than him…

 

Xie Meng frowned slightly, seemingly enduring something, and quickly finished explaining the problem.

 

“Do you understand?” Xie Meng took a deep breath. Under the desk, Ji Qinyang’s hand was resting on his thigh, and Xie Meng acted as if nothing happened, supporting his head while doodling.

 

“… ” Zhang Ganggang began to seriously doubt his own intelligence and could only reluctantly ask, “Could you… explain it again?”

 

Ji Qinyang’s hand moved to Xie Meng’s knee, who twitched slightly, sensitive to tickling.

 

Qi Fei: “?”

 

Xie Meng awkwardly said, “Sorry, I accidentally touched you…”

 

Ji Qinyang finally withdrew his hand. Xie Meng resisted the urge to look at his expression and explained the problem again.

 

Zhang Ganggang and Qi Fei seemed to understand this time. They took back their papers and started to redo them. The next moment, Ji Qinyang held Xie Meng’s hand under the desk.

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Ji Qinyang pretended to gaze out the window, the boy’s fingertips slowly sliding across Xie Meng’s palm, until finally, their hands intertwined tightly.