Times of Our Lives - Chapter 21

When Xie Meng was stuffed into the quilt naked, he hadn’t reacted yet. Ji Qinyang crawled into the bed from the other end, and Xie Meng felt his feet getting warm, with Ji Qinyang already holding his ankle in his hand.

“Don’t…” Feeling Ji Qinyang kissing his toes, Xie Meng blushed with embarrassment, “They’re dirty.”

Ignoring him, Ji Qinyang continued kissing from the toes to the instep, then up the calves and thighs. When he started sucking on the inner thigh, Xie Meng’s lower body visibly responded.

Covering his face with his hand, Xie Meng blushed as Ji Qinyang slowly kissed his waist and abdomen. Finally, Ji Qinyang emerged from under the quilt, teasing Xie Meng’s nip ples.

Xie Meng’s hand, covering his eyes, was pulled away by Ji Qinyang, who intertwined their fingers beside the pillow. Ji Qinyang kissed his forehead and then paused at the slightly moist corner of Xie Meng’s eye.

Xie Meng opened his eyes and looked at him.

Ji Qinyang murmured as he kissed, “You’re really handsome.”

Shaking his head, Xie Meng held Ji Qinyang’s hand tightly.

The two spent the entire morning in bed. Ji Qinyang kissed Xie Meng all over, multiple times, while Xie Meng covered his mouth to stifle his mo-ans during oral s—ex. Even after he climaxed, Ji Qinyang didn’t stop, leaving kisses and marks near his collarbone.

Ji Qinyang also got aro-used, but Xie Meng offered to help and was refused.

“Let’s sleep,” Ji Qinyang said, holding Xie Meng close under the quilt.

Xie Meng was too sleepy to open his eyes wide. He buried his face in Ji Qinyang’s neck, inhaling the clean, sunny scent from his body.

Ji Qinyang’s lips pressed against Xie Meng’s forehead as he hummed a tune, checking later to find Xie Meng already asleep.

They slept until mid-afternoon, around two or three o’clock. Xie Meng sat up, clutching the blanket, and heard Zhang Ganggang and Qi Fei talking in the living room.

“Are you awake?” Ji Qinyang came in with clean clothes, closed the door behind him, and sat on Xie Meng’s bed.

“Why didn’t you wake me up…” Xie Meng wiped his face, “How long have they been here?”

Ji Qinyang smiled, looking at Xie Meng’s expression. He reached out and touched Xie Meng’s face, “You look much better.”

Xie Meng held his hand, “I slept well.”

“In that case, it seems I did a good job,” Ji Qinyang leaned over and kissed Xie Meng’s lips, “Raise your hands.”

“?” Xie Meng raised his arms in confusion. Ji Qinyang circled behind him, gently lifted him onto his lap.

Ji Qinyang: “Come on, let big brother help you get dressed.”

Xie Meng: “…”

Zhang Ganggang brought food cooked by his mother, and Qi Fei bought fruits. The two of them filled Xie Meng’s refrigerator almost to the brim. During dinner, Zhang Ganggang’s eyes were red.

Xie Meng looked at Ji Qinyang, who innocently shrugged, indicating he didn’t know.

“Don’t… don’t be sad…” Zhang Ganggang choked up as he served Xie Meng vegetables, “It will… pass…”

Xie Meng sighed, “I haven’t cried, why are you crying?”

Zhang Ganggang: “Wuwuwu, I… I am crying for you…”

Xie Meng: “…”

After consoling Zhang Ganggang with great effort, the four of them sat in the courtyard in the evening. Qi Fei asked Xie Meng about his plans.

“Economically, there shouldn’t be much of a problem for now. My parents’ insurance is still there, and my grandmother also had some savings,” Xie Meng took out his account book and calculated, “At worst, after the college entrance exam, I can work and earn tuition.”

Qi Fei said, “You don’t need to work. There are national scholarships for students in your situation that you can apply for.”

Zhang Ganggang was more concerned about something else, “So where are you planning to take the exam? Not going to Beijing?”

Ji Qinyang didn’t speak, he turned to look at Xie Meng.

“My grandmother’s greatest wish before she passed away was for me to study in the capital, so…” Xie Meng slowly spoke, facing Ji Qinyang’s gaze, and smiled softly, “I will do my best to pass the exam and go to Beijing.”

Zhang Ganggang exclaimed, Ji Qinyang raised an eyebrow, and extended his hand to Xie Meng for a high-five. Qi Fei clicked his tongue, “If you all go to the capital, looks like I’ll be the only one left in Suzhou.”

Zhang Ganggang suggested, “Why don’t you go to Beijing too?”

“You don’t get it,” Qi Fei crossed his arms seriously, “I’m developing my local power in Suzhou. When you guys can’t make it outside, you’ll have to come back, and I’ll have your backs!”

Ji Qinyang nudged him playfully, lazily smiling, “That’s brotherhood for you.”

Qi Fei grinned smugly, “Absolutely!”

Zhang Ganggang moved to hug Qi Fei emotionally, saying, “Mom Qi! I will definitely treat you well in the future!”

Qi Fei got angry, “Who the hell is your Mom Qi?! Let go! Let go of me!”

After the seven-day mourning period, Xie Meng returned to school and ran into Zhuo Xiaoyuan at the classroom door early in the morning.

“Morning.” Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s gaze fell on Xie Meng’s left arm, where a piece of black gauze was wrapped. “Is everything sorted out?”

Xie Meng nodded. “It’s fine.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan asked, “Ji Qinyang is back?”

“Yeah.” Xie Meng smiled a bit. “Is everything okay recently?”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan shrugged. “Same as usual. I’ve gotten used to it.”

After thinking for a moment, Xie Meng slowly said, “She’s still young, there’s still hope.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan glanced at him, raised an eyebrow, and said dryly, “I understand. I’m not one to give up easily.”

Compared to Ji Qinyang, who was preparing for the art exam, Xie Meng and his friends faced a daunting academic life akin to being in deep waters and a blazing fire. Even though Qi Fei and Zhang Ganggang chose liberal arts, they still faced the towering peak of mathematics.

Zhuo Xiaoyuan was strong in mathematics but struggled with English, spending most of his time memorizing vocabulary and grammar.

Xie Meng planned his ancient Chinese translation schedule and also helped Zhang Ganggang and Qi Fei with mathematics. 

Ironically, Ji Qinyang found it the easiest, spending his days wearing headphones, composing music, and delivering takeout to the others after school.

“Zhang Ganggang, didn’t you sign up for weekend tutoring?” Qi Fei was jotting down formulas on draft paper. “How come there’s no improvement?”

Zhang Ganggang was eating fried noodles, mouth full of oil as he grumbled, “That tutoring is clearly designed for people like Xie Meng… I almost died being tortured there.”

Xie Meng glanced at him. “Who’s the one talking non-stop about Han Dong, writing letters half the class, and reading letters half the class? Apart from Dong, there’s nothing else.”

“…” Zhang Ganggang felt discouraged. “But the exam questions are really difficult… And that Han Dong is too good! He doesn’t listen in class but knows everything! He’s like a monster!”

“I remember Han Dong was second in the Arcane Competition,” Ji Qinyang said, pushing the fried rice towards Xie Meng with his chopsticks. “What are you comparing yourself to with such a person? If he doesn’t study, it’s fine. Can you afford not to?”

“I don’t know.” Zhang Ganggang stared blankly, mouth agape. “He lied to me, saying he came just to play…”

Qi Fei couldn’t bear it and patted his head sympathetically. “Son, you’d better stay close to Mom. There are too many bad guys outside.”

Xie Meng took leave from the Saturday tutoring class, saying he wanted to go out and relax with Ji Qinyang. Zhang Ganggang wanted to tag along but was dismissed by Ji Qinyang with a remark, “You still have to write exchange diaries with your little Dong Dong.”

Reluctantly, Zhang Ganggang went to the tutoring class. Han Dong sat in his usual seat, looking impatient.

“Why are you so late?” He glanced at Zhang Ganggang’s expression, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t you want letters from Dong Dong anymore?”

Muttering, Zhang Ganggang said, “You’re not Dong Dong…”

Han Dong chuckled coldly. “What are you talking about?”

Zhang Ganggang shut up, taking an envelope out of his bag and pushing it onto the table. Afterward, he curled up like a quail in his seat and didn’t move.

Glaring at him, Han Dong sighed. He rubbed his forehead. “I told you before that she has strict parents.”

Zhang Ganggang murmured, “Then why can’t you take a photo for me when she writes to you?”

Han Dong sneered. “What’s the point of being curious? She has a nose and two eyes, just like me. Look at me, isn’t that enough?”

Zhang Ganggang: “…”

During the final term exams of the first semester of senior year, which were essentially mock exams before the college entrance exam, Zhang Ganggang was so nervous that he could hardly sleep. Besides repeatedly memorizing ancient poems, Xie Meng also organized math problems for the others to practice.

“I heard it’s a unified exam this time.” Zhuo Xiaoyuan selected a few geometry problems. “Just studying our school’s materials might not be enough, right?”

Zhang Ganggang, who believed in the strategy of practicing lots of questions, asked, “Then what should we do?”

Xie Meng thought for a moment. “I’ll ask Han Dong for some of their school’s exam papers. Their predictions for the high-stakes exams have always been accurate.”

Han Dong readily agreed over the phone, “I’ll bring them over… Where are you guys?”

Ji Qinyang took the phone. “McDonald’s on Shilu Road. How long will it take you?”

“About 10 minutes.” Han Dong asked, “Is Zhang Zhuo there too?”

Ji Qinyang glanced at Zhang Zhuo sitting opposite him.

The latter maintained his innocent and naive expression. “?”

“Yes, he’s here.” Ji Qinyang shamelessly sold him out, adding casually, “Remember to bring some drinks when you come over. Xie Meng doesn’t like the milk at McDonald’s.”

The five of them didn’t wait long before Han Dong arrived. As expected, he brought milk for Xie Meng and scanned everyone before settling his gaze on Zhang Zhuo’s face.

Zhang Zhuo stared back at him as if facing a formidable opponent.

Qi Fei, squeezed between them, felt awkward. “Are you guys going to have a staring contest… Should I move aside?”

Han Dong glanced at him and then set down his backpack, taking out the exam papers and spreading them on the table. After Xie Meng glanced through them, he looked pleasantly surprised. “The questions from their predictions are indeed challenging.” He turned to Han Dong. “Have you done these already?”

“Yeah,” Han Dong nodded calmly, pretending nonchalance. “You start working on them, and I’ll help explain to the others?”

Qi Fei and Zhuo Xiaoyuan had no objections. Before Xie Meng could respond, Zhang Zhuo jumped up eagerly.

“I… I’ll wait for Xie Meng to finish and then have him explain to me!”

Han Dong narrowed his eyes and stared coldly at him.

Zhang Zhuo braved it out. “I’m really bad at this, I won’t understand if you teach me!”

“You know you’re bad,” Han Dong scoffed disdainfully. “Since you’re dumb, listen carefully to what I say, understand?”

Zhang Zhuo: “…”