Times of Our Lives - Chapter 7

Xie Meng didn’t sleep well that night. He woke up in the middle of the night with a slight headache. When he got up to pour some water, the noise woke up Zhang Xiujuan next door.

 

The old lady, wearing a gray linen robe and a large shawl, stood at the door with a slight frown. “What time is it?” she asked Xie Meng.

 

“A bit past 3.” Xie Meng felt a bit apologetic. “Please go back to sleep.”

 

Zhang Xiujuan sighed and sat down by the table. “If you can’t sleep, how can this old woman sleep?”

 

Xie Meng didn’t say anything. He boiled a pot of water, filled a small bowl, and crouched down to offer it to Zhang Xiujuan’s feet. As he stood up, she grabbed his hand.

 

“What’s bothering you?” Zhang Xiujuan looked at her grandson’s face with some concern. “You were like this for a while in middle school too. I didn’t ask then, but I was worried.”

 

Xie Meng opened his mouth but then closed it again. He smiled a bit and squeezed Zhang Xiujuan’s hand. “It’s nothing, really.”

 

The next day, Zhuo Xiaoyuan didn’t come to school. Xie Meng waited until the end of PE class but still didn’t see him. Left with no choice, he decided to find him after school.

 

“Zhuo Xiaoyuan took a leave of absence,” said the class president of Class Six, a girl. “He didn’t say for how long. Why? Do you need to find him urgently?”

 

Xie Meng’s expression wasn’t good. “Do you have his address?”

 

The class president said, “The contact list is with the teacher. You can ask for it.”

 

Xie Meng hesitated. He went to the office and stood at the door for a long time but finally gave up. As he turned to go downstairs, he ran into Ji Qinyang, who was coming up.

 

When Ji Qinyang saw him, he raised an eyebrow. “Here you are. I’ve been looking for you.”

 

Xie Meng: “?”

 

Ji Qinyang: “Let’s go home together.”

 

Xie Meng: “Are you going to your grandpa’s again?”

 

Ji Qinyang’s expression was blank for a moment before he understood. He nodded and added, “My grandpa’s cat gave birth, so I’ll be helping out there these days.”

 

Xie Meng raised an eyebrow. He rarely showed such a teasing expression. “Kittens?”

 

Ji Qinyang replied seriously, “Yes.”

 

Xie Meng laughed. Ji Qinyang looked at him and suddenly reached out to brush Xie Meng’s bangs aside.

 

Xie Meng: “?”

 

“Something was stuck,” Ji Qinyang flicked his fingers and gave his usual nonchalant, pretty smile. “Let’s go.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan didn’t come to school for several days. Xie Meng started spacing out more and more, sometimes even showing dark circles under his eyes, clearly not sleeping well at night. He wasn’t very plump to begin with, and wearing black clothes made him look even thinner.

 

Ji Qinyang still walked home with him every day, always finding some excuse.

 

“Did you cut your hair?” Ji Qinyang asked casually one day, wrapping his arms around Xie Meng as they stood close together in the bus.

 

Xie Meng’s hair had been trimmed slightly at the ends, thinly lying against his neck.

 

“I cut it myself,” Xie Meng said, a bit embarrassed. “I wasn’t focused and might have messed it up.”

 

Ji Qinyang smiled. “No, it looks fine.” He placed his hand on Xie Meng’s neck. “It’s pretty good.”

 

The skin under his palm was delicate, a bit cool from being exposed to the air. Ji Qinyang’s hand was warm. Xie Meng didn’t resist this almost neck-holding gesture.

 

Ji Qinyang tightened his fingers slightly and said nonchalantly, “Your muscles are very tense.”

 

Xie Meng: “Probably from looking down too much.”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t say anything. He used his knuckles to slowly massage Xie Meng’s neck, repeating the motion three times before stopping. “How does that feel?” he asked.

 

Xie Meng, who had unknowingly closed his eyes, sighed. “Very good. Do you know how to give massages?”

 

Ji Qinyang: “My mom does tea art and often has sore shoulders.”

 

Xie Meng nodded. He said, “That’s nice,” though it wasn’t clear whether he meant Ji Qinyang’s massage skills or something else.

 

After getting off the bus, they would go to Shantang Street for snacks. It wasn’t clear who started it, but it gradually became a habit. Xie Meng was halfway through eating his bowl of tofu pudding when he noticed Ji Qinyang was still adding chili sauce to his bowl.

 

The weather was getting warmer. Halfway through the meal, Ji Qinyang took off his jacket, revealing only a long-sleeved shirt underneath.

 

Xie Meng was still wrapped in his coat. The evening sun cast a glow on his face, outlining his sharp features, his jawline neatly tucked into his collar.

 

Ji Qinyang stared at him for a long time before looking away, his fingertips slightly warm. After a moment’s thought, he put his tofu pudding bowl down on the table.

 

Xie Meng gave him a curious look. “Aren’t you eating anymore?”

 

Ji Qinyang’s skin was almost translucent white, making his lips look vivid due to eating too much spicy food. There was a bit of sweat on his nose, and his dark brown hair was naturally curly and slightly long, curling around his ears.

 

“It’s a bit hot,” Ji Qinyang loosened his collar and propped his head up, smiling at Xie Meng. “You go ahead and eat.”

 

Xie Meng quickly finished the last bit of his tofu pudding.

 

Ji Qinyang checked his phone for the time.

 

“Let’s go.” He picked up their bags and stood up. “I’ll walk you to the corner.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan had a cast on his left leg, which was propped up on the coffee table. He was bored, watching TV in the living room. His sister, Zhuo Jinjin, with her hair in pigtails, ran in and blocked the TV.

 

“If you’ve got something to say, just say it,” Zhuo Xiaoyuan impatiently threw a cushion at her. “You just had an ice cream; what do you want now?”

 

Zhuo Jinjin had just turned 10. Due to her health, she didn’t have to go to school. She loved eating and playing, and stuck to her big brother all the time. With Zhuo Xiaoyuan injured and resting at home, she was the happiest in the family.

 

“There’s someone here who says he’s your classmate,” Zhuo Jinjin climbed onto Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s neck, gesturing animatedly. “A really handsome guy.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan was annoyed. “Handsome is handsome; why say ‘pretty’ too? Can’t you talk properly?”

 

Zhuo Jinjin pouted and reluctantly climbed off him to open the door. When she saw Ji Qinyang come in, Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s face darkened.

 

“What are you here for?” Zhuo Xiaoyuan asked coldly, his hair sticking up stiffly from being long.

 

Ji Qinyang handed the fruit he brought to Zhuo Jinjin and patted her head. “Good girl, go wash the strawberries and eat them?”

 

Zhuo Jinjin, having no resistance to handsome guys around her brother’s age, happily ran to the kitchen, leaving her brother alone.

 

“Just checking if you’ve grown moss,” Ji Qinyang lazily smiled, eyeing Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s casted leg. “Almost healed? Get back to school soon and stop causing trouble.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan frowned. “Who am I troubling?” He snorted. “Don’t you wish you didn’t have to see me?”

 

“Just because I don’t want to see you doesn’t mean others don’t.” Ji Qinyang pulled out his earphones and draped them around his neck. “Trying to act tough when you can’t win. Do you think you’re a hero?”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s face twisted, but he refused to show weakness. “That scum wasn’t any better. Even with more people, didn’t I still put him in the hospital?”

 

Ji Qinyang scoffed. Zhuo Xiaoyuan glanced at him and couldn’t help asking, “That scum hasn’t been bothering Xie Meng, right?”

 

Ji Qinyang responded coolly, “Not with me around.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan: “Don’t think that’s because of you. Han Dong just didn’t want Xie Meng to cause more trouble. If it came to a fight, even a few people couldn’t handle Xie Meng.”

 

Ji Qinyang raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan didn’t want to explain further. “You’ll understand eventually.”

 

Ji Qinyang squinted, thoughtfully swinging his earphones. “You seem to know him well.”

 

“Xie Meng?” Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s eyes lifted. “I know more than you. This was our S School’s issue. I don’t know why you’re interfering.”

 

Ji Qinyang sneered. “It’s W High now. He’s in our Class Three. Know who the real outsider is.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan was so angry he laughed, but he couldn’t find a good retort.

 

Ji Qinyang put in his earphones, stood up, and put his hands in his pockets. “Your leg seems mostly healed. Be at school tomorrow, or don’t blame me if I drag you there.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan: “…”

 

Xie Meng and Zhang Ganggang arrived at school around the same time and met Zhuo Xiaoyuan, who was already waiting at the door of Class Three.

 

Xie Meng’s gaze fell on Zhuo Xiaoyuan’s leg, still in a cast.

 

“That scum won’t be teaching ever again,” Zhuo Xiaoyuan said expressionlessly. “Ask Han Dong for details. I’m just the messenger.” With that, he hobbled past Xie Meng on his crutches, but before he could go downstairs, Xie Meng called out to him.

 

“Zhuo Xiaoyuan.”

 

He turned back impatiently. “What?!”

 

Xie Meng smiled. “Thank you.”

 

Zhuo Xiaoyuan glared at him, muttering, “Lunatic!”

 

Xie Meng waved him off with a smile. Zhang Ganggang looked at them, puzzled. “What’s going on?”

 

“Nothing.” Xie Meng noticed Ji Qinyang coming upstairs with earphones around his neck. Ji Qinyang raised an eyebrow when he saw him.

 

“Morning,” Ji Qinyang greeted.

 

“Morning.” Xie Meng glanced at his chest and casually asked, “What are you listening to?”

 

Ji Qinyang handed him an earbud. “Want to hear?”

 

Before Xie Meng could react, the earbud was already in his ear. A strange, clear melody filled his ears, the small vibrations like a web tangling his senses, making his heart lightly tremble.

 

“Nice?” Ji Qinyang leaned in, watching Xie Meng’s expression.

 

“Yeah.” Xie Meng nodded instinctively. “But I’ve never heard it before…”

 

Ji Qinyang smiled proudly. “I composed it.”

 

Xie Meng blinked, and Zhang Ganggang had already taken the other earbud.

 

Ji Qinyang handed him the entire MP3 player. “Remember to return it.” He pointed at Xie Meng.

 

Qi Fei, who had just finished his chores and came out of the classroom, saw the MP3 in Zhang Ganggang’s hand and exclaimed, “Wow!”

 

“You should record it,” Qi Fei bragged. “Future student works of China’s top music producer. Blackmail material!”

 

Ji Qinyang kicked Qi Fei playfully, and Qi Fei exaggeratedly yelped.

 

Xie Meng and Zhang Ganggang, each with an earbud, followed behind. Zhang Ganggang danced to the music, and Xie Meng quickly grabbed the nearly pulled-out earphone cord, shaking his head helplessly.

 

The morning sunlight shone through the windows, highlighting the tiny dust particles in the air. The warm spring light brightened the youthful faces of the boys.