ATLAS TRANSLATES

Xu Si, September 1, 2015

The summer in City A was unbearably hot. Tian Ling packed milk into Jiang Qiao’s bag and reminded her: “Qiao Qiao, I’ve put the milk in your backpack, along with hot water and medicine.”

“Okay, I’m leaving, mom.” The girl smiled sweetly, wearing a light-colored dress that showed her slender, fair calves.

Even after Jiang Qiao disappeared from sight, Tian Ling remained lost in thought, feeling worried. In her first year of high school, Jiang Qiao was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. The doctors said there was no chance of cure, and she had at most three years left. They suggested letting her do whatever she wanted.

Tian Ling and Jiang Zhien worked away from home most of the time, leaving Jiang Qiao alone. When they did come home, it was just endless arguments. The day she fainted, it was Auntie Liu who took her to the hospital and called her parents back. Her parents argued for a long time at the hospital entrance, holding her diagnosis report.

Her father said, “It’s your fault for never being home to take care of her. You didn’t even know she was this sick.”

Tian Ling retorted sarcastically, “And you’re always home? When have you ever cared about anything regarding her?”

Her father just snorted coldly.

Jiang Qiao’s head hurt from their arguing. She weakly said, “Can you stop? I want to rest.”

Both parents fell silent immediately.

Tian Ling tucked her blanket and, watching her closed eyes, silently shed tears.

In the hospital corridor, two people argued in low voices. Jiang Qiao wasn’t really asleep. She listened to their voices outside, gripping and releasing the bedsheet. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling for a long while.

Later, when Jiang Qiao said she wanted to study in City A, her parents immediately arranged her transfer. When the transfer was complete, Jiang Qiao immediately called Jiang Zhixu. After hearing her news, Jiang Zhixu paused before asking, “Which school?”

“Sixth High School in City A.”

“Which class?”

“Class 17.”

“Alright, take care of yourself. I’ll visit when I can, kiddo. Don’t let me see you getting thinner.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Zhixu was Jiang Qiao’s best friend. One appeared bright and dazzling, while the other seemed quiet and well-behaved. The seemingly dazzling one was actually very gentle and caring, while the quiet one had a rebellious side, just like a thorny little rose.

“Brother Si, we’re getting a new student in our class,” Yang Shikun turned to tell the boy behind him.

The boy wore his school uniform with one button undone at the collar, revealing his refined collarbone. He had phoenix eyes and pale skin. Hearing this, he barely lifted his eyelids and said flatly, “Where’d you hear that?”

“Just today, Brother Si. I heard it’s a male student, and apparently a top student too.”

Male student, top student. Xu Si repeated these words. He wasn’t interested and tapped Yang Shikun’s head, “Eavesdropping again?”

Yang Shikun looked hurt: “No, Brother. I heard Teacher Fang talking about it in the office with someone else.”

All morning, word spread through the class that Class 17 was getting a new male student, supposedly a top student.

That afternoon.

“Class, we have a new student joining us. Let’s welcome them,” said the thin man at the podium, glancing at the door.

Many students craned their necks to see what this top student looked like.

Jiang Qiao slowly walked to the podium and said gently, “Hello everyone, I’m Jiang Qiao.”

Xu Si looked up – this was Yang Shikun’s male top student? The girl looked very well-behaved, with a slender figure, wearing a light purple dress. Her eyes were especially beautiful, like water chestnuts, and when she smiled, she had subtle dimples.

“Wow, she’s beautiful!” some boys cheered.

Xu Si noticed the new student’s ears turning slightly pink.

Teacher Fang looked around and pointed in one direction, telling Jiang Qiao, “There’s an empty seat in the back. Would that be okay?”

“Yes, thank you, teacher.”

Jiang Qiao smiled at Teacher Fang and walked straight towards Xu Si’s direction, pulled out the chair, and sat beside him.

Xu Si was a problem student who fought, skipped classes, slept during lessons, and often ignored classroom rules, which was why Teacher Fang had him sit in the back without a desk mate.

As Xu Si was about to put his head down to sleep, he felt the person next to him lean closer, asking in a small voice, “Classmate, what’s your name?”

“Xu Si.”

After he answered, he saw her smile briefly before turning away.

The first class was English, taught by a strict middle-aged man who had quite a reputation. He entered the classroom, looked around, placed his English book on the desk and said, “Open your English books to page 130, we’ll study this text.”

He walked to the last row and saw Xu Si sleeping again, while the girl next to him had no book on her desk. Furious, he first slammed the desk hard, then spoke, “Xu Si, sleep, sleep, sleep. Don’t you know class has started? You seem to be sleeping so comfortably, should I get you a blanket? Don’t catch a cold.”

“Sure, thanks teacher.”

The class wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, their faces hurting from holding it in.

Chen Song felt humiliated and turned his anger towards the girl: “And you, class has started but you don’t even have your book. Is this how you study? What’s wrong with this class? You’re all in second year, there’s no study atmosphere at all, and some students don’t even bring books…”

Before he could finish, an English book landed on Jiang Qiao’s desk. Xu Si said flatly, “She’s a new student. I’ll go stand outside.”

He left without giving Chen Song a glance.

Chen Song was so angry his chest hurt. He looked at Jiang Qiao who had lowered her head: “I’m sorry for wrongly accusing you.”

Jiang Qiao responded with a soft “mm” and looked outside at the boy, who was standing straight against the wall, lost in thought.

As soon as class ended, Yang Shikun ran out, making Chen Song curse behind him: “You’re in second year and still don’t know how to study, running out as soon as class ends. It’d be a miracle if you get into university.”

Only after Chen Song left did the class breathe easier.

Xu Si looked up at Yang Shikun: “What?”

“Brother Si, I’ve never seen you stand up for a girl before. Do you like her?”

Xu Si cursed “damn you” and shook his head: “No.”

He just didn’t want to stay in class, and besides, if someone kept getting scolded, that kind of good student would probably cry.

Jiang Qiao had somehow appeared behind them, calling out softly: “Xu Si.”

Xu Si looked at her, his tone lazy: “Need something?”

“Thank you for today.” The girl’s voice was tiny and soft.

Xu Si chuckled: “It’s nothing, go back inside.”

Jiang Qiao looked at him, seeming to want to say more, then slowly went back in.

She looked back once more at Xu Si outside the door – he had stood outside for an entire class period, was he really okay?

When Xu Si returned to class, he saw several girls gathered around his desk.

Luo Xing saw Xu Si come in and hurriedly got up from his seat, moving away and sitting in front of Jiang Qiao, talking to her quietly.

According to Luo Xing and the others, Xu Si was fierce, often got into fights and skipped classes. He had even put some thugs from the neighboring school in the hospital, allegedly causing a lot of bloodshed. He was cold towards girls, and there were rumors he liked boys. Everyone was surprised that he helped Jiang Qiao, a new student.

But Luo Xing also joked: “Though if it was someone as pretty as Jiang Qiao, I’d want to help too.”

Their chatter made Jiang Qiao blush.

Xu Si sat down casually in his chair and reached for his phone in the drawer, but felt something hard with plastic wrapping instead.

He frowned and pulled out the items – they were candies, strawberry flavored. Just as he was about to ask who they were from, he looked up to see his new desk mate hurriedly lower her head.

Xu Si looked down and saw a note in the desk that simply said: “Thank you.”

Without thinking, he knew who it was from.

Xu Si looked up to see his new desk mate’s ears turning red again.

–PS: This is an angst story. The style is slice-of-life. It’s a slow burn. There might be typos sometimes, thanks to all the readers who help spot them. There’s one male couple in the story, I know some readers might not accept this. If you can’t accept it, you can close the tab, please don’t argue about this. I believe love is just love, regardless of gender, it’s just one soul resonating with another.