Times of Our Lives - Chapter 16

For a long time afterwards, Xie Meng would often dream of that day when Ji Qinyang rode away on his bicycle. He stood under increasingly dim streetlights, turning to watch. Ji Qinyang rode slowly, his figure sometimes disappearing into darkness and then reappearing in the light, never looking back but seeming reluctant to leave.

 

The next day, Xie Meng woke up to find that he had overslept. He muttered in frustration and slowly sat up, when something fell out from under his pillow.

 

Xie Meng inexplicably held the thermometer in his hand.

 

“Awake?” Zhang Xiujuan pushed the door open, wearing reading glasses, and reached out, saying, “Give it here.”

 

“…” Xie Meng obediently handed it over.

 

The old lady adjusted her glasses on her nose, took a close look under the light, and said after a while, “Almost 39°C.” She shook her wrist, “Do you need to go to the hospital?”

 

Xie Meng suddenly felt dizzy. He rubbed his head and coughed, “No need, I’ll just take some medicine.”

 

Zhang Xiujuan didn’t nag, just said, “I’ve taken 3 hours off for you. Have some porridge first.”

 

After dressing and washing up, Xie Meng felt a bit better after finishing the porridge. He took two cold pills and only then noticed that it was raining outside.

 

As he opened the courtyard gate, the rain, accompanied by wind, almost blew into Xie Meng’s face. He shivered and remembered to turn back to get an umbrella.

 

“Autumn rain brings cold.” Zhang Xiujuan changed her shoes and followed behind him, “I’ll walk you to the station.”

 

The old lady insisted on holding the umbrella, and Xie Meng couldn’t refuse her. He tried to hunch his back and by the time they reached the station, the back of his clothes were soaked.

 

Zhang Xiujuan wiped him dry and sighed, “Old grandma is really getting old… You’re much taller than Old Grandma.”

 

Xie Meng held her hand and coughed.

 

“You go back quickly.” Xie Meng hoarsely said, “It’s cold outside, the road is slippery in the rain, don’t fall.”

 

Zhang Xiujuan smiled, “Shouldn’t I be telling you that?” She glanced outside the platform, lightly pushed her grandson, “The train is here, get on quickly.”

 

After getting on the train, Xie Meng stood by the window. Zhang Xiujuan waved at him from below, and he could still see the slightly stooped figure of the old lady until the train moved far away.

 

When Xie Meng arrived at the classroom, the second class had just finished. He bumped into Zhuo Xiaoyuan at the door of Class 3 but took a long time to react.

 

“You have a pretty high fever,” Zhuo Xiaoyuan frowned, “Didn’t you take a sick leave?”

 

Xie Meng’s head felt muddled, “…What are you doing here?”

 

“Class divisions happened. Class 3 and Class 6 split into arts and sciences. Luckily you didn’t need to move; your seat didn’t change.”

 

“…” Xie Meng’s expression was bewildered. After a while, he remembered to ask, “Where’s Ji Qinyang?”

 

“He’s in Class 6 now, in the arts stream. Qi Fei and Zhang Ganggang are there too. You missed the first two classes; otherwise, we might have seen a scene of parting ways after sending off a thousand miles,” Zhuo Xiaoyuan helped Xie Meng with his schoolbag, “If you want to visit, you’ll have to wait until the afternoon. They have three straight classes of ancient Chinese in the morning, and if you go, Zhang Ganggang’s historical records will probably turn into a resignation letter.”

 

Xie Meng followed Zhuo Xiaoyuan back to his seat in a daze, his mind filled with a mess named Ji Qinyang.

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan looked at him worriedly, “Are you really okay? Shouldn’t you take a day off?”

 

Xie Meng waved his hand, his throat hurting so much he could hardly speak. Around him, half of the students had changed to Class 6, mostly boys, all unfamiliar faces.

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan sat beside him, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

 

“I’m fine.” Xie Meng coughed, and he saw Maitreya Buddha carrying a stack of papers coming in. The bell for the third class had already rung.

 

Ji Qinyang had finished his ancient Chinese test half an hour ago. He went straight to the door of Class 3, only to find it closed. He peeked through the window, his face darkening.

 

Zhang Ganggang, who came with him, leaned on the window sill, “Pop quiz? You can’t finish it in two classes… Has Xie Meng come?”

 

Ji Qinyang frowned. He didn’t answer Zhang Ganggang, his gaze fixed on Xie Meng, who was answering the test, his fist clenched against his mouth, seemingly coughing.

 

“I’ll go to the office.” Ji Qinyang suddenly said, “You watch Xie Meng here. Call me if anything happens.”

 

Zhang Ganggang was startled, “What are you going to do… Hey, don’t go!”

 

Covering his mouth, Xie Meng tried to suppress the sound of his coughing. Due to the high fever, the text on the paper seemed blurry before his eyes, and his mind felt heavy and confused about what he had written.

 

While he was doing geometry problems, Zhuo Xiaoyuan nudged him. Xie Meng lifted his head dully and saw Ji Qinyang standing expressionlessly in front of his desk, carrying his backpack.

 

“…” Xie Meng: “?”

 

Ji Qinyang reached out and felt Xie Meng’s forehead, then ordered in a firm tone, “Get up.”

 

Xie Meng responded slowly with a hesitant “Huh?”

 

Ji Qinyang took the pen and papers from the boy’s hand, straightened up his desk and helped organize his schoolbag. He turned around to see Xie Meng obediently putting on his coat.

 

“Why are you wearing so lightly?” Ji Qinyang reproached, taking off his own coat and draping it over Xie Meng’s shoulders, pulling it tight and fastening the buttons.

 

Sniffling, Xie Meng murmured, “Thank you…”

 

Ji Qinyang patted his head and smiled.

 

Maitreya Buddha stood at the door, waving two leave slips, “Are you embarrassed? You even had the teacher help you with your leave slips.”

 

“Then give them to Zhang Ganggang,” Ji Qinyang said, holding two schoolbags in one hand and slinging his arm over Xie Meng’s shoulder. He greeted Zhang Ganggang, “We’re leaving now.”

 

Zhang Ganggang hurriedly nodded, “Okay okay, be careful on the way, we’ll come after school!”

 

“No need for that.” Ji Qinyang was blunt, “Why do you need so many people in a hospital? I’ll accompany him.”

 

“…” Zhang Ganggang looked hurt, staring at Xie Meng.

 

Xie Meng coughed and weakly waved his hand, “Really, no need… I’ll be fine.”

 

“Go back to class.” Ji Qinyang impatiently said, “It’s not like it’s a farewell for life and death. What’s with all the fuss?”

 

Zhang Ganggang: “…”

 

The hospital was bustling with people. Ji Qinyang bought a mask for Xie Meng, whose eyes were the only things visible beneath it, dark and damp.

 

Ji Qinyang couldn’t help turning back to look at him while registering, finally embracing Xie Meng when no one was watching, pressing a kiss through the mask to his lips.

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Ji Qinyang grinned, “You look like a puppy.”

 

Xie Meng glanced at him and muttered, “…You’re the puppy.”

 

Ji Qinyang laughed out loud, rubbing noses with Xie Meng and holding him close.

 

After registration and consultation, Xie Meng had his blood tested. Ji Qinyang dashed around fetching medicine, and after the doctor suggested IV fluids, they found a spot and waited for the nurse. Ji Qinyang also borrowed a blanket to cushion Xie Meng.

 

“Want something to eat?” Ji Qinyang stared at the nurse inserting the needle, smiling at her, which made her blush.

 

Covered with Ji Qinyang’s coat, Xie Meng glanced weakly at the clock on the wall, “It’s past twelve… Are you hungry?”

 

Ji Qinyang lifted his coat higher, “I’ll go buy some porridge. You rest for a while.”

 

Almost drifting off, Xie Meng felt something warm placed in his hand. He opened his eyes to see Ji Qinyang rolling up his sleeves and heating up a bowl and chopsticks with boiling water.

 

“Awake?” Ji Qinyang watched him, feeling his forehead with his hand, “Why are you still so hot?”

 

Xie Meng turned his head and found a small electric hot water bag with a spongebob pattern inside his hand.

 

“Feeling warmer?” Ji Qinyang poured the white porridge into a bowl, stirred it, and scooped a spoonful to Xie Meng’s mouth.

 

“Have you eaten?” Xie Meng asked unclearly with the porridge in his mouth.

 

Ji Qinyang replied, “Hurry up and finish eating. I’ll eat what you leave.”

 

Xie Meng quickly took a few more mouthfuls and shook his head. “No more. You eat.”

 

Once sure he was done, Ji Qinyang finished the rest of the bowl and cleaned the bowl and chopsticks by the sink.

 

“Rest a bit more,” Ji Qinyang returned, wiping the water droplets off his hands. He instinctively reached to check Xie Meng’s temperature, but hesitated, remembering he had just washed his hands, so he withdrew.

 

Xie Meng held onto him. “Don’t keep running around. Take a break.”

 

Ji Qinyang nodded and didn’t pull his hand away, sitting beside him.

 

The IV drip was slow. Ji Qinyang looked up, gently rubbing Xie Meng’s hand where the needle was inserted.

 

“So warm,” Xie Meng murmured with his eyes closed.

 

Ji Qinyang raised an eyebrow. “You mean the saline drip?”

 

“Yeah, you’re making it so warm.” Xie Meng smiled at him. “Veins, blood vessels, muscles.” He pointed to his chest. “And here, all feel warm.”

 

Ji Qinyang couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re being so cheesy.”

 

Xie Meng sighed. “I’m a guy, I’m not good with sweet talk.”

 

Ji Qinyang teased, “If you’re really touched, will you accompany me to take the Beijing exam?”

 

Xie Meng didn’t reply. Ji Qinyang held his non-dripped hand. “How about this, let’s arm wrestle. If I lose, I’ll let you go to Shanghai; if I win, we’ll go to Beijing together. Deal?”

 

Xie Meng frowned. “Are you taking advantage of a patient?”

 

Ji Qinyang grinned mischievously. “I have no choice. You’re so strong; I won’t have another chance.”

 

Xie Meng pursed his lips, glancing at Ji Qinyang. The latter’s face, uncharacteristically serious, held up his wristwatch.

 

“Counting to three,” Ji Qinyang said seriously. “No holding back.”

 

At first, they were evenly matched like the first time. Xie Meng focused on Ji Qinyang’s wrist, trying hard not to be overpowered. In the midst of their struggle, Ji Qinyang suddenly spoke up. “You won’t go to Beijing because you can’t leave Grandma behind, right?”

 

Surprised, Xie Meng looked up, and in that moment of distraction, Ji Qinyang’s hand was already pressed against the armrest.

 

Xie Meng stuttered, “You…”

 

Ji Qinyang sighed in regret. “I shouldn’t have spoken. Lack of concentration never works.”

 

Xie Meng couldn’t quite form an expression for a moment.

 

Supporting his head, Ji Qinyang looked into Xie Meng’s eyes and smiled. “Looks like I’ll just have to get into the music academy.”

 

Xie Meng said nothing.

 

Ji Qinyang took out earphones from his bag and put them on Xie Meng’s head.

 

“Sleep,” he kissed Xie Meng’s forehead. “I’ll stay with you.”

 

When the nurse came to remove the needle, it was already dark outside. Xie Meng called Zhang Xiujun and got the afternoon off tomorrow.

 

Xie Meng was still wearing Ji Qinyang’s coat. With his hands in his pockets, Ji Qinyang stood beside him, looking down at him.

 

“I’ll come to accompany you tomorrow afternoon,” Ji Qinyang touched Xie Meng’s face. “Why do you seem thinner again?”

 

Xie Meng held his hand and smiled. “It’s not that exaggerated… I feel much better.”

 

Ji Qinyang hugged him.

 

Xie Meng rested his chin on Ji Qinyang’s neck. Because he was wearing so many layers, he couldn’t lift his hands. “What about the recommendation letter for the conservatory?”

 

“It’s just a recommendation letter. They won’t decide until the first semester of senior year. I have to pass the music theory exam during the summer break of junior year.” Ji Qinyang whispered in Xie Meng’s ear. “I’ve also applied to the Shanghai Conservatory. More opportunities are always better.”

 

Xie Meng didn’t say anything. Ji Qinyang held him as they stood by the roadside waiting for a car. Many people looked their way, but Ji Qinyang seemed unfazed, humming a song while holding Xie Meng.

 

Xie Meng buried himself in Ji Qinyang’s arms. He suddenly said something, making Ji Qinyang laugh. Ji Qinyang rested his chin on Xie Meng’s head, comforting him. “You’re speaking so softly, how could I possibly hear it clearly.”

 

Xie Meng: “…..if you can’t hear it, never mind.”

 

“You’re really stingy.” Ji Qinyang laughed and pretended to complain. Holding Xie Meng’s face, their foreheads touched, their eyes filled with each other’s small shadows.