Chapter 18 — But Very Cute
Zhang Xianjing had sworn to herself, “Before the monthly exams, I am definitely going to win you over,” and charged to the front of the water brigade.
Chen Jingshen glanced at her, then suddenly stood and strode over, fast enough that you would not think he had just finished the 3000 meters.
Zhang Xianjing lifted her red lips in a smile. This was what you called a long-harbored wish answered at last.
Just as Chen Jingshen was about to stop in front of her, he veered, brushed past, and toppled straight into Yu Fan’s shoulder.
Zhang Xianjing: “…”
She looked at Yu Fan’s stormy face and thought, he's done for. If she remembered right, the last person who got this close to Yu Fan while covered in sweat had been one of those troublemakers from the neighboring school. Rumor said that guy missed class for a week afterward.
Zhang Xianjing was about to rush in and stage the rescue that would seal a destined bond, when Yu Fan lifted a hand and wrapped it around Chen Jingshen.
Zhang Xianjing: “?”
Yu Fan held him stiffly, weighing whether to drop him on the floor or kick him there. “If you cannot stand, then lie down. There are no cars here to run you over.”
“I do not want to affect the others,” Chen Jingshen said, voice hoarse.
“Are you afraid of being hit?”
The person on his shoulder was quiet for a moment. He slowly pushed himself upright and stood straight. “Sorry.”
Chen Jingshen’s lips were pale. He stepped back as if to clear a path so Yu Fan could leave. The next second his body listed and Yu Fan’s shoulder had another head on it.
Yu Fan: “…”
A few seconds later, Yu Fan, under many watching eyes, roughly adjusted the pose. He shifted Chen Jingshen to his side, grabbed an arm and set it over his own shoulder, and with a cold face hauled him off.
The infirmary was not far from the track. By the time Yu Fan got there, the line for treatment had already spilled to the door.
There were only three chairs and one cot inside, and all were taken, so Yu Fan could only stand, supporting Chen Jingshen.
The school doctor was crouched, rubbing medicine into another student’s calf. Hearing the noise, he looked up. “What happened?”
“Just ran three thousand,” Yu Fan said coolly. “He might be done for.”
“…”
It is enough if you are not the one who did him in.
The school doctor knew Yu Fan well from all the times Zhuang Fangqin had dragged him in for disinfectant and gauze. He looked to Chen Jingshen. “Where are you uncomfortable? Does your heart hurt?”
Chen Jingshen gave a slight shake of the head. “Dizzy. No strength. I cannot stand steady.”
“That is fine. Normal. You probably do not exercise much and got wiped out. It will ease up in a bit.” The doctor jerked his chin at Yu Fan. “Go make him a warm drink with a little sugar and a little salt. Less salt. About a third of a spoon. Stir it and have him drink. Everything’s on my desk.”
Yu Fan did not move. “Me?”
“You want him to go get it himself?”
“.”
The doctor scanned the room for a free seat and found none. He was about to suggest letting Chen Jingshen lean against the wall when Yu Fan hitched him up and, one-armed, went to mix the drink.
The school doctor: “…”
Yu Fan had a heavy hand and no idea what a third of a spoon was. He scooped a heaping one.
“Less,” came the weak voice from his shoulder.
“Say one more word and make it yourself.” Yu Fan flicked half the salt back into the jar, stirred perfunctorily, then lifted the cup to Chen Jingshen’s mouth. “Drink.”
Chen Jingshen took it and sipped very slowly.
“Do you want a beating?” Yu Fan said. “Finish it.”
Chen Jingshen obeyed and drained the cup.
Students nearby knew both of them. They all held their breath, staring in shock.
Once he finished dressing a wound, the school doctor stood. “How is it now? Better?”
“Mm,” Chen Jingshen said under his breath. “Still a bit unsteady.”
“You will need a little longer to recover. Go back to the classroom and rest. No strenuous activity for now.” He looked at Yu Fan. “Yu Fan, did you also run the three thousand? Want a cup too?”
Yu Fan was about to ask where to put it when he frowned. “No. I did not run.”
“That so? Then why is your face red?”
“…”
Yu Fan tossed out, “I am taking him back to the classroom,” and dragged Chen Jingshen away.
Most students were either on the track or in classrooms. The stairwell was almost empty. Worried he would faint again on the way up, Yu Fan gripped him, guiding him step by step.
“Do you still have strength?” Chen Jingshen asked suddenly, voice low. “If you cannot keep this up, I can walk myself.”
Who exactly was the one who could not keep up here?
“Shut it,” Yu Fan said through his teeth, ears buzzing. “Do not talk next to me.”
His mouth still tasted like that odd mix of sugar and salt. Chen Jingshen swallowed, breath going deeper.
Yu Fan said, “Do not breathe either.”
“…”
Chen Jingshen’s eyes flicked over the curve of Yu Fan’s ear. He closed his mouth.
The Class 7 room was empty. Not a soul.
Yu Fan deposited Chen Jingshen on two pushed-together desks and let him lie there, then sat beside him and played on his phone.
Wang Lu’an had blown up his messages, his pocket buzzing nonstop.
[Wang Lu’an: I feel better. Where are you guys?]
[Wang Lu’an: There is something wrong with this ice cream brand. I am going to sue. Once the compensation comes in, I am buying this school and we will hold sports meets every day.]
[Wang Lu’an: I’m done for. Zuo Kuan says the 3000 was run by the top student for me. With that worn-out body, is he going to keel over?]
[Wang Lu’an: Where are you? Why are you not in the stands?]
Just as Yu Fan finished reading, Wang Lu’an called. Yu Fan hung up instantly.
[-: Classroom.]
[Wang Lu’an: What are you doing in the classroom?]
[-: Keeping vigil.]
[Wang Lu’an: ?]
There was a small sound from the front. Yu Fan shifted his phone aside and met the gaze of the person he was guarding.
Chen Jingshen was lying flat on the desks. They were too short. Half of his long legs hung in the air. The pose should have looked goofy. On Chen Jingshen it did not.
He turned his head. “How was your long jump?”
The desks and chairs were spaced a little apart. There was plenty of room. Yu Fan lounged with one leg crossed over the other, expression blank. “Are you going to sleep?”
“I cannot fall asleep,” Chen Jingshen said. “I—”
Bang. A light thump cut him off.
Yu Fan had lifted his crossed leg and given the desk a not-too-light kick. The flimsy table shifted a fraction.
“Chen Jingshen,” Yu Fan said after a long pause, voice cold, “you said you started paying attention to me in freshman year, right?”
Chen Jingshen’s gaze moved slightly. He watched him quietly.
“You also said you watched my event at the sports meet.”
Yu Fan’s everyday cold face and his truly angry face were not the same. When he mouthed off to Hu Pang or ran into the shakedown punks from the neighboring school or even bumped into Ding Xiao at the milk-tea shop, he was distant and lazy, never really taking it to heart.
Not now. Every look was a blade. His face said one punch would put you down for good. Even his voice carried ice.
“I did not attend the sports meet in freshman year. What event did you watch? Cool Boys?” Yu Fan’s tone was flat. “Those lines of yours. You learned all that from Zhang Xianjing, right?”
“Chen Jingshen, were you playing me?”
The room went silent for a while. Chen Jingshen lay still, staring at him, lips pressed a little tight.
Forget it. Just hit him.
Yu Fan waited, then made up his mind. He drew his leg back and stood, looking down, fingers closing on Chen Jingshen’s collar. “Get up. We can settle this at lunch.”
“Seventh grade,” Chen Jingshen said suddenly.
Yu Fan froze. “What?”
“Seventh grade, at Chengshan Middle School,” Chen Jingshen said, still lying there, voice calm. “You competed in the long jump.”
“…”
“I went to your school for an exam. I saw you.”
Was that true?
Yu Fan’s eyelid twitched hard. It f***ing did sound true.
“You rolled your pant legs up and were barefoot. You tripped during the run-up, went down in the sandpit, and did not get a valid jump. Then you tried again.”
Yu Fan: “…”
“The second jump was not very far either.”
“…”
“Then you stood to the side to watch others jump and refused to leave. As you watched, you cried—”
“I did not cry.” Yu Fan’s grip on the collar tightened. He gritted each word. “I got sand in my eye.”
“Mm.”
After that soft answer, Chen Jingshen turned his face a fraction, silent.
Yu Fan’s heart gave a jolt. He was about to tell him to shut up when Chen Jingshen looked back at him. “But it was very cute.”
“…”
The fists in Yu Fan’s hands clenched harder in the fabric. The murderous look had not faded from his face. His ears were scarlet as he glared down, for once a little dazed.
“Then during the first freshman flag-raising, you read a self-criticism on stage, and I realized we went to the same high school.”
“Shut up,” Yu Fan snapped.
“I did not copy anyone. I was not playing you,” Chen Jingshen said. “I—”
“Do you not understand human speech—”
Bang.
The classroom door slammed open from the outside. Wang Lu’an came in with a huge plastic bag, Zuo Kuan and Zhang Xianjing behind him. “Yu Fan, why did you never answer my messages? The sun is brutal out there. Sister Jing said we should order in. I got you braised beef brisket. Make do with—”
All three stopped dead.
Yu Fan had one hand bunched in Chen Jingshen’s collar, as if to drag him up from the desks. His other hand was clamped hard over Chen Jingshen’s mouth. His whole face was red, his eyes held three parts menace, three parts shock, and four parts flustered. Every inch of him looked awkward.
The boy under his hand lay there composed, one arm hanging naturally over the side, letting Yu Fan cover his mouth. It looked like surrender, but there was no fear.
They both looked over at the door at once. One pair of eyes cold, the other hot.
What were they doing? Wang Lu’an blinked. Fighting? No. He had never seen Yu Fan fight with a red face. He had definitely never seen Yu Fan cover anyone’s mouth.
But if it was not a fight, what was it?
Silence hung oddly over the room.
After a long beat, Wang Lu’an asked in a small voice, “Are you two… playing around?”
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