Jiang Wen returned to the dorm. The main lights were off, with only two desk lamps still on. He lifted the magazine carelessly tossed by Zhao Binlin and sat down in his chair.
Zhao Binlin rolled over in bed, poking his head down to whisper, “Xi Gaoyuan went to watch the Avengers premiere with his girlfriend last night. He fell asleep before 9 PM today.”
Jiang Wen nodded.
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“What did you do with Cheng Jiajia?”
“Studied in the classroom.”
“Keep pretending,” Zhao Binlin’s face was full of mischief, like an instigator. “You need to be more proactive with girls. How can you get to first base if you’re not proactive? How can you experience life’s pleasures without getting to first base? If you put your mind to it, today’s date in the classroom could be tomorrow’s date in bed. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Jiang Wen fiddled with his phone, ignoring the crude joke.
Long used to his cold demeanor, Zhao Binlin wasn’t bothered: “Texting Cheng Jiajia? You seem so focused?” His neck was nearly twisted trying to see, but from a different angle he finally saw the colorful screen of Jiang Wen’s phone – it was a new racing game.
“How boring, really boring,” Zhao Binlin sighed deeply, muttering to himself, “Well, I suppose dating couldn’t be more interesting than playing games.”
The sports meet arrived as scheduled.
Qide School traditionally allowed students to not wear uniforms for three days during the sports meet.
After briefly gathering at the field, the Iron Lady had the class monitor lead them to sit in Class 9’s bleachers.
Because someone had snuck out during last year’s sports meet and got into an accident, causing parents to make a huge fuss at school, this year’s management was especially strict. The Iron Lady repeatedly emphasized that no one was allowed to leave and they needed to check in at specific times.
The weather was scorching. Several girls sat together in groups, chatting to pass the time.
Jiang Wen had an injured knee and hadn’t signed up for any events. He wore a white baseball cap to block the sun while watching videos on his iPad. As lunchtime approached, large clouds gathered, suddenly darkening the sky – it was going to rain again.
Jiang Wen looked up to find someone standing before him. His reaction was delayed as his gaze traveled upward.
Ripped jeans, black t-shirt, with a fierce skull necklace – a very cool outfit. Jiang Wen’s surprise gradually built up. After a brief silence, he asked, “Why are you standing here?”
They had been giving each other the cold shoulder for many days.
Feng Ning’s eyes and brows lifted slightly as she countered with her own question: “Remember these clothes? I wore them especially for you to see.”
His expression changed as he stubbornly replied, “Don’t remember.”
“How could you not remember? I don’t believe you.” Feng Ning smiled happily, very confident. “Didn’t you fall in love with me at first sight? How could you not remember what clothes I wore?”
“Who fell in love with you at first sight?” Jiang Wen shot to his feet, extremely agitated. “This is so ridiculous!”
Jiang Wen didn’t even grab his iPad. He was annoyed and embarrassed, walking away angrily with hurried steps like someone fleeing a disaster, while she followed unhurriedly behind.
The two walked one after another out the school gate, around several corners, down several streets, until they reached that familiar alley entrance where Feng Ning leisurely blocked his path.
Jiang Wen finally slowed his pace, his tone unfriendly, “Stop following me.”
Feng Ning kept smiling, her almond eyes sparkling, “You get angry when I follow you, you get angry when I don’t follow you, what do you really want?”
“I want you to stop following me.”
“Don’t you want to know why I came looking for you?”
“No.”
She lifted her head, pushing his shoulders one step at a time, “You’re lying again. How long are you going to keep pretending? Hmm? Liars will grow long noses, you know.”
Jiang Wen was a head taller than Feng Ning, yet he stumbled backward until she had him pressed against the wall with nowhere to retreat. “What do you want?”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed his earlobe, light as a dragonfly touching water, leaving just a touch of warmth. “This is what I want.”
Jiang Wen’s back went rigid, his heart pounding violently until his face betrayed him by turning red. He was at a loss, so shocked he stumbled over his words, “You… you…”
Feng Ning acted like a rogue, whispering seductively in his ear, “That mole on your abs is so sexy, let me touch it.”
Jiang Wen’s body stiffened, feeling like his chest had caved in, his vision becoming blurry.
She wasn’t done yet, moving even closer until they were pressed together, the skull necklace digging painfully into his chest.
Seeing no reaction from him, Feng Ning dropped her casual demeanor and said sadly: “Jiang Wen, I regret it. Please don’t be with other girls, okay? I don’t know what to do anymore. My heart hurts so much I can’t focus in class or sleep. I think about you every day, think about how hot and cold you are with me, how you ignore me.”
“You feel hurt?” He accused her as if in a daze: “You’re not hurt at all. If you were hurt, why were you still watching comedy shows?”
“I was trying to find joy in suffering, forcing myself to smile.”
In the distance, thunder rumbled dully from the clouds, and within a minute, large raindrops began to fall. People on the street hurried by, walking then breaking into runs, rushing to find shelter under eaves. No one paid attention to what was happening in this corner.
“You’re lying.” Jiang Wen finally lost it, his head spinning, his voice especially aggrieved, “You clearly don’t like me.”
Looking steadily at him, Feng Ning said softly through the rain, “I do like you, you’re my little prince.”
They were both soaking wet.
Jiang Wen watched helplessly as she tenderly took his hand, their fingers intertwining, making his heart sink.
Feng Ning held his hand, placing an intimate kiss on it before moving to kiss his lips.
He couldn’t resist for more than two seconds before actively extending his tongue. A tingling sensation spread from his tailbone throughout his entire body.
— Ring ring… Ring ring…
Apple’s alarm clock rang punctually in the dim dawn, waking him from this absurd and nonsensical dream.
Like a blackout, Jiang Wen’s back was drenched in sweat. As he caught his breath, half awake and half asleep, his mind was still foggy, unable to process what had happened.
Disappointment, embarrassment, frustration – various complex emotions mixed together. He lay in bed, closed his eyes, then opened them, staring at the ceiling until his mind finally cleared.
Reaching down under the covers, he found a sticky mess. After a few seconds, he punched the bed and cursed under his breath.
Friday, the eve of the weekend, the class was especially restless.
Today was Feng Ning’s turn for cleaning duty. After the last self-study period ended, she diligently swept and mopped, making the tile floor shine. By the time she finished cleaning, everyone had left the classroom.
After closing the doors and windows, turning off the fans, and checking the power, Feng Ning satisfyingly dusted off her hands and headed downstairs with her backpack.
Shuang Yao had plans to eat with family today, so she had to take the bus home alone.
Leaving the school gates, passing by roadside shops, she sneaked over to pick out a chocolate-flavored popsicle. After walking a few steps, she suddenly heard someone calling.
Feng Ning licked the sugar from her lips and turned around to see an SUV slowly decelerating. The window rolled down and Zhao Binlin leaned out from the passenger seat, “Feng Ning, where are you going? Want a ride?”
“The bus stop is just fifty meters away, straight to my doorstep. No need for a ride!”
“Who all is with you? Are you going out to play?” She asked curiously, bending down to look. She didn’t recognize the driver, but the person sitting in the back was quite familiar.
Jiang Wen sat in the car. Seeing Feng Ning holding a nearly melted black ice cream, wearing her usual smile, their eyes met inadvertently.
He stiffened and immediately looked away.
Zhao Binlin cheerfully said, “We’re coming to play with you tomorrow after eating, at Simple Sugar?”
Feng Ning nodded, “Right, you’re coming, aren’t you? I’ll help book seats when I get back.”
“Can we bring two more people?”
“Sure.” Feng Ning agreed readily, then put on a serious face, “But not too many, don’t drink me under the table.”
A car behind them honked, and Feng Ning waved, “Alright, see you tomorrow. You better go, don’t block the road.”
“Hahaha, okay, see you tomorrow.”
Feng Ning hummed in agreement, “Also, you guys shouldn’t be driving as minors, be careful, don’t get caught by traffic police.”
Ji Chiyang laughed gleefully, “She’s so interesting.”
“Right? Super funny.”
Ji Chiyang was eager to join, “Where are you guys drinking tomorrow? Take me along!”
After saying this, he unconsciously glanced at Jiang Wen. Seeing no expression from him, Ji Chiyang secretly sighed in relief.
He hadn’t forgotten Jiang Wen’s dark face when he said he wanted to pursue Feng Ning, and had felt regretful about it at the time. However, Jiang Wen quickly got together with Cheng Jiajia just two days later, so his attention shifted and he didn’t think much of it anymore.
After all, he himself changed girlfriends weekly. Everyone was just playing around, why take it seriously?
Dinner was at Xi Gaoyuan’s family’s new chain restaurant. Today was a family gathering – those with girlfriends brought their girlfriends. With more than ten people, they got a private room and had a lively meal.
After dinner, some single people stirred things up, insisting that all couples present kiss. This suggestion heightened the atmosphere even more.
Everyone was in a playful mood. Xi Gaoyuan took the lead, holding his girlfriend for a one-minute kiss. The others followed suit.
While they were laughing and making noise, Jiang Wen stared at the messy table, his mind elsewhere.
Zhao Binlin tilted his head and asked, “What’s wrong with you today? You’ve been distracted all day.”
The group’s attention had just reached Jiang Wen. The girls pushed Cheng Jiajia, the boys pushed Jiang Wen, all shouting in unison: “Kiss, kiss, kiss, do it! Do it!”
“Everyone else has kissed, you can’t get out of it!”
Pei Shurong smiled faintly, not rushing at all. Others might not understand, but having grown up with Jiang Wen, she could tell at a glance whether he had any feelings for Cheng Jiajia.
Cheng Jiajia hesitantly moved forward, blushing, pushed by others.
She tilted her face up slightly, and just as they were about to kiss, Jiang Wen turned his head away.
Cheng Jiajia froze, then turned away, appearing calm.
The crowd, disappointed at missing the show, deflated and sighed. Xi Gaoyuan, angry at his cowardice, couldn’t help cursing, “Damn, Jiang Wen, how can you be such a wimp?”
Zhao Binlin grabbed his shoulders and shook him, imitating a movie protagonist’s lines through gritted teeth, “Jiang Wen, I hate how you’re like a stone!”
Jiang Wen pushed him away and stood up, “You guys continue, I’m going to the bathroom.”
His departure left Cheng Jiajia alone in an awkward position. The atmosphere froze for a moment before Pei Shurong comfortingly patted her, “It’s okay, that’s just how Wen is, he might still be getting used to it.”
It was true – for over a decade, Jiang Wen had lived ascetically, rarely showing emotion, so cold towards girls that people suspected he was gay.
Several childhood friends knew about Jiang Wen’s “love tribulation” predicted by a Taoist priest his family had consulted. They had finally hoped he would find love, but he remained the same as always, playing hard to get.
Xi Gaoyuan sighed: “Ah, we all thought Jiang Wen’s iron tree had finally bloomed, but in the end, it only sprouted buds.”
Isolated from the noise, he washed his face with cold water. As water flowed loudly, Jiang Wen looked at himself in the mirror, still feeling irritated and restless.
Just moments ago, when Cheng Jiajia was about to kiss him, he couldn’t help thinking about last night’s dream again.
Every detail was vivid, replaying in his mind.
But the person before him had changed.
After washing his hands, Jiang Wen found a terrace alone to catch some air, staying there for a long while.
He suddenly slammed the railing, still not feeling relieved. Turning in circles, as if venting his anger, he kicked the wall.
No one knew that in this spring season, in this lonely corner,
The young master iron tree had bloomed spectacularly, earth-shatteringly loud.
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