Chapter 52 – That Tooth of Yours Is Pretty Sharp
After-school rush hour filled the school gates with students.
“It’s so damn hot. Why won’t the school install air conditioners in the classrooms?” Zuo Kuan complained, drenched in sweat after basketball. He grabbed his shirt and suggested, “Wanna hit the milk tea shop, chill under the AC, play some cards?”
Wang Lu’an immediately nodded. “I’m down.”
Yu Fan said, “I’m not going.”
Zuo Kuan glanced at him. “Why not? Your face is all red.”
Yu Fan wanted to say he wasn’t hot, but the words stuck in his throat.
Wang Lu’an snorted. “You don’t get it. He’s not red from the heat.”
Yu Fan: “?”
Zuo Kuan: “Then what is it?”
“Who else? That girl in your class,” Wang Lu’an said with a grin, raising his brows. “Her love letter was dripping in perfume. My fingers still smell like it. Here, smell it.”
“F*** off.” Zuo Kuan slapped his hand away in disgust. “Damn, that stuff’s strong. Still red after a whole class?”
Yu Fan frowned. “Shut up. It’s the heat.”
As they stepped outside the school gate, Wang Lu’an glanced around. “Hey, don’t you guys think it’s been a lot quieter around here lately?”
“No kidding. Ever since Yu Fan got cornered by those guys from the neighboring school, Fat Tiger’s been on full patrol mode. Two security teams a day, meetings with the other school’s dean… no one dares to mess with us anymore.” Zuo Kuan stretched his neck left and right and sighed. “Tch, kinda boring though. Right, Yu Fan?”
Yu Fan rubbed his thumb along the cover of his workbook and stayed silent.
The group chatted their way to the milk tea shop. Ignoring Zuo Kuan’s pleas for a third player for cards, Yu Fan walked off without a glance back.
He made his way to the familiar old street.
As he walked, he bundled his papers and stuffed them into his pocket, his pace slowing. A flicker of regret crept in.
…He really should’ve smacked Chen Jing Shen with those books earlier.
It had been right after school. With all those students around, hopefully no one heard them.
Why did he even agree to let Chen Jing Shen come over?
Maybe he should text him to call it off. Or better yet, lock him out when he arrived. Or drag him inside, beat him up, and throw him out again—
Yu Fan was still lost in thought when he stepped into the convenience store.
“What do you need?” The lady at the counter asked.
“Fan.”
“What kind?”
“Strong wind, rotating head, enough for two people without feeling hot.”
“…So basically, a standing fan? Wait here, I’ll grab one. Any brand you want?”
“No. Anything’s fine.”
The old fan in his room had been running for seven years. Even at max power, it barely puffed two weak gusts. It was long overdue for replacement. He was buying it for himself—had nothing to do with Chen Jing Shen.
The shop’s storage room was a cluttered mess. As the owner rummaged through boxes, Yu Fan’s gaze drifted around the store and landed on a foldable chair in the corner.
He didn’t have many chairs at home. The last one broke during a fight with Yu Kaiming. When Chen Jing Shen came over last time, he’d had to sit on that tiny wooden stool with no backrest, barely wider than Wang Lu’an’s face. Must’ve been uncomfortable.
Yu Fan quickly looked away. Whatever—let him be uncomfortable. Maybe then he’d stop showing up uninvited.
Ten minutes later, Yu Fan walked out of the store, one hand carrying the fan and the other holding the chair, his expression blank.
It was evening, the time when neighbors came down to chat or stroll. Under their curious stares, Yu Fan lugged the two bulky items upstairs to the second floor, set them down, and reached into his pocket for his keys.
The cigarette box slipped out and hit the floor with a clatter.
“Smoking too much turns your lungs black,” a small voice piped up from the stairwell. “That’s what my teacher said.”
Yu Fan glanced over at the little girl sitting on the steps. He bent to pick up the box. “Your parents still not home?”
“I just called them on my watch. They said they’re on their way.” She propped her chin in her hands. “Brother, you smoke even more than my dad. Every time I do my homework by the window, I see smoke coming from your place.”
Yu Fan: “It bothers you?”
“Nope, that window’s broken, it won’t open.” The girl tilted her head, voice sing-song sweet. “But you shouldn’t smoke! What if you get sick? Then you won’t be able to beat up your dad anymore!”
“….”
Can those two upstairs stop gossiping about his family where their kid can hear it?
Yu Fan couldn’t even remember when he’d started smoking.
There was a time he smoked like crazy—when life was just… dark. Without cigarettes, he wouldn’t have made it through. But addicted? Not really. Lately he could go days without wanting one.
“Mind your own business, brat.”
If it were someone else, they might’ve invited her in to wait, but given his reputation in the neighborhood, he thought better of it. “You eaten yet?”
She shook her head, her ponytail swaying. “No, but I don’t want your food. The dumplings you gave me last time were gross! I’ll steal something from our fridge next time and bring you some.”
“….”
Yu Fan carried his things inside, muttered, “Don’t steal from home,” and shut the door with a bang.
From experience, Yu Kaiming wouldn’t be back for at least two weeks.
Still, Yu Fan glanced at his door out of habit. Dark and quiet.
He set up the new fan and chair, made a bowl of instant noodles, ate, and took a shower.
When he came out, towel slung around his shoulders, he grabbed his toothbrush and started brushing his teeth. Two strokes in, he froze, staring at himself in the mirror.
Who the hell brushes their teeth at seven-thirty in the evening?
Outside Yu Fan’s door, Chen Jing Shen checked the time on his phone, adjusted his backpack strap, and lifted his hand to knock.
Before he could, the door creaked open.
Yu Fan peeked out, scanned the hall, then grabbed Chen Jing Shen by the shirt and yanked him inside.
Once in, he double-checked the lock. Twice. Maybe three times.
Chen Jing Shen watched silently.
This was way too serious. Like he’d come here for something more than a kiss.
When Yu Fan turned around, he caught Chen Jing Shen staring. “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Chen Jing Shen swallowed his smile. “How’d you know I was here?”
“Heard your footsteps.”
“You can tell just by footsteps?”
“…”
Yu Fan’s expression darkened instantly.
Sensing he was about to be kicked out, Chen Jing Shen calmly took off his shoes. “Should we go to your room?”
“…”
Yu Fan’s face reddened a little more.
He followed him in, awkwardly standing like he was the guest.
Where were they supposed to kiss anyway?
Yu Fan’s eyes flicked around the room. The desk was too small and high, unlike the one in the lab classroom, that one was perfect for kissing. Sitting face-to-face on chairs? Too weird. Against the wall? Tiring.
Chen Jing Shen sat on the new folding chair, set down his bag, and looked up. “Why’re you standing?”
Yu Fan’s thoughts were flying all over the place.
He muttered an “oh,” closed the door, and sat. Just as he was figuring out how to position his legs so Chen Jing Shen could get closer—
A rustle broke the silence. A blank math test appeared in front of him.
“You forgot this one at school. I brought it back. First period tomorrow’s math, so let’s do this one tonight,” Chen Jing Shen said casually.
“.”
Yu Fan stared at the paper, his mind blank.
Chen Jing Shen took out his own test and pen. Seeing Yu Fan frozen, he asked, “Or would you rather start with physics?”
I’d rather punch you in the face.
After a few seconds, Yu Fan stiffly turned away, opened his drawer, grabbed a pen, and scribbled his name. “Fine. Math.”
After the Dragon Boat Festival, schoolwork had doubled.
By the time they finished two math papers, Yu Fan was exhausted. Then came physics. Then chemistry.
The boiling kettle on the new fan’s breeze turned into a pot of lukewarm water over three hours.
When it was all finally done, Yu Fan was slumped, eyes drooping.
Chen Jing Shen checked the last paper. “Wanna review—”
“No.” Yu Fan tossed his pen on the desk, stood, and said flatly, “Pack up and get out.”
Chen Jing Shen blinked. “Where to?”
Yu Fan ignored him, grabbed his cigarette pack, and headed for the balcony.
His room was the only one with a balcony, his grandfather had kept it for him. Small, simple, just enough for a couple of shirts and a little breeze.
Yu Fan leaned against the railing, lit up, took a drag, and exhaled toward the metal grating.
F*** homework. Why couldn’t he do it at his own house? Was his room the night self-study hall now?
Did Chen Jing Shen forget what he said last time?
Top student, my a**.
Yu Fan took another long drag.
Inside, he heard a zipper. Then Chen Jing Shen’s voice: “I’ll head out then?”
“Go.” Yu Fan didn’t look back.
“You’re not gonna walk me out?”
“What, should I carry you downstairs on a palanquin?”
Yu Fan pointed lazily toward the courtyard. “The main gate’s locked. Use the side one, it’s to the right of the one you came in from.”
Footsteps approached. Yu Fan thought Chen Jing Shen was just confirming directions. He lifted his hand, cigarette between fingers, and said, “That one—”
The familiar scent of mint drifted in. Chen Jing Shen stepped closer and tilted his head, kissing him.
The balcony fell silent.
When his lips were lightly brushed, Yu Fan’s hand trembled. He instinctively parted his lips—
Then Chen Jing Shen pulled back, coughing softly.
F***.
Yu Fan blinked, realizing what happened. “You! Didn’t see me smoking?”
He slapped his back hard. “You brushed your teeth and wouldn’t kiss me, but the moment there’s smoke you rush over? Trying to steal a drag or what?”
Chen Jing Shen wasn’t really choked, his back just hurt from the slaps.
Eight o’clock brushing his teeth?
In the dark, Chen Jing Shen gave a low chuckle. “No. If I kissed you earlier, we couldn’t do homework. I’ve been holding back. Got impatient when you started smoking.”
“…”
Why would kissing make homework impossible?
Yu Fan’s brain, thawing from hours of work, heated up again. “Then I’ll… go brush my teeth again…”
He turned to leave, but Chen Jing Shen caught his wrist.
“No need. It doesn’t smell bad. I just wasn’t used to it at first.” His voice was low and rough in the dim light. “Can I kiss you inside your room?”
The fan creaked as it turned.
Yu Fan half reclined against the headboard, silent as Chen Jing Shen kissed him. The air from the fan felt like it passed straight through, leaving no coolness behind. His face and neck still burned.
Yu Fan still hadn’t learned how to breathe properly. Chen Jing Shen kept pulling back to let him catch his breath, then leaned in again. After a few cycles of this, Chen Jing Shen brushed a thumb along his lips and murmured, “I figured it out.”
Yu Fan, breathing unevenly, swallowed. “Figured what out?”
“Your toothpaste. Strawberry flavor.”
Chen Jing Shen’s finger curled and traced along one of his teeth, rubbing gently.
“Yu Fan,” he said softly, “that tooth of yours is a little sharp.”
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