I have no idea how much warning Fang Meimei actually did any good, but with Lin Yuchen’s “help,” Bai Xue’s life has gotten a lot calmer. Maybe the drama just evaporated. Or maybe Chen Zifeng is finally behaving himself.
Chen Zifeng, in the original story, is the ultimate campus heartthrob. Everywhere he goes, girls’ eyes follow him like he’s a rockstar. His obvious crush on Bai Xue naturally draws all kinds of unwanted attention—and trouble—to her.
But lately, Bai Xue hasn’t been as cute as usual.
She laughed at me for an entire evening after seeing me buy hair growth serum.
I was so mad, I made her buy me ice cream for three days straight before I forgave her.
At the school store, I stare into the freezer, pick out a fancy popsicle, and ask at the counter: “How much is this?”
“Twelve yuan.”
“That’s too expensive. Never mind.” I’m about to put it back when Bai Xue grabs my arm. “Xiaofeng, I can afford it. Don’t put it back.”
I mumble, “Putting it back isn’t embarrassing.”
Bai Xue just sighs and pays.
As I’m about to leave, I feel a cold draft behind me. Out of the corner of my eye, someone’s opening the drinks fridge.
Outside, someone calls my name: “Chen Xiaofeng.”
I turn around. It’s Lin Yuchen.
He’s holding a drink and a popsicle. He tosses the popsicle at me: “Picked the wrong one. Nowhere to throw it.”
Bai Xue seems a little scared of Lin Yuchen. She whispers, “I’m going to the basketball court to watch your brother play.”
I nod. Then I tell Lin Yuchen, “There’s a trash can right behind you.”
Lin Yuchen rolls his eyes.
Then I realize—the popsicle he gave me is the twelve-yuan one I almost put back.
YES! I get to eat the fancy popsicle after all.
I sit on a stone bench under a tree and wave at Lin Yuchen, who’s still standing there looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. But, like magic, he gets closer and closer.
I drag him onto the bench and hand him the three-yuan popsicle I bought for myself: “Here, have this.”
Lin Yuchen puts his water bottle aside, rips open the wrapper, and finishes the popsicle in three bites.
I wince. “Does it taste good?”
“Didn’t notice.”
I roll my eyes. “What a waste.”
Lin Yuchen smirks. “What do you taste, then?”
“I—” I suddenly feel something cold and sticky on my palm. The popsicle is melting. “Tissue! Tissue!”
Lin Yuchen twists the cap off his water bottle with one hand, veins showing on his knuckles. The cap clatters to the ground.
“Give me your hand,” he says.
He pours water over my hand, washing away the stickiness. Then, just like that, the bottle is empty.
I wipe my hand on my school pants and, copying Lin Yuchen, finish my popsicle in a few bites.
I realize: Lin Yuchen has only been losing money and drinks today.
Back in class, Bai Xue asks quietly, “Xiaofeng, why are you hanging out with Lin Yuchen so much lately?”
I answer seriously, “Making friends.”
“Be careful. His temper isn’t great.”
That’s when I perk up.
I know exactly why Lin Yuchen’s temper is bad.
In the novel, Lin Yuchen is the classic “raised but not nurtured” kid. His mom was a rich beauty who got tricked by his dad, a gold-digging guy. After his dad cheated and stole all her money, his mom got so angry she got sick and died. Lin Yuchen’s been living with his dad and stepmom ever since.
I reassure Bai Xue: “Don’t worry, he won’t hit me. I bought him ice cream today… well, he bought me one too.”
Bai Xue nods. “Just be careful.”
After school, I stay in the classroom to do homework. My deskmate stays behind and asks me to help him with a problem.
“Call me ‘Dad,’” I say.
“What?!”
I burst out laughing, then lean over his desk and start explaining.
But he keeps cracking jokes every five minutes. An hour later, we’ve accomplished absolutely nothing.
My eyes are tired and my mouth is dry, so I wander to the cafeteria.
Behind me, someone’s kicking a pebble, making a “tick-tick” sound. It even hits my shoe.
I turn around and immediately lose my confidence. “Lin Yuchen, aren’t you going home?”
Lin Yuchen’s voice is hoarse and cold. “I don’t have a home.”
I just say, “Oh.”
“Chen Xiaofeng,” Lin Yuchen asks slowly, “are you this nice to everyone?”
“Huh?” I’m confused.
“Are you?” Lin Yuchen’s dark eyes stare at me. The pebble under his foot makes a crunching sound.
“Um… maybe?”
“Never mind.” Lin Yuchen appears and disappears just as suddenly.
I’m left scratching my head.
During night study, I chew through two pen caps trying to figure out what’s going on in a handsome guy’s brain.
I run to Bai Xue for advice.
Bai Xue’s eyes widen like dinner plates. She barely stops herself from calling Chen Zifeng, and just keeps repeating: “Oh no.”
“Oh no” definitely isn’t about me.
Because Lin Yuchen disappears for days.
It seems like something’s happened.
My deskmate casually mentions, “Xiaofeng, why hasn’t he come to see you lately?”
“Who?”
“Lin Yuchen. Everyone knows about you two sitting together eating popsicles on Monday. The whole basketball court saw it.”
“Oh? Didn’t I tell you? He’s always asking me for protection money.”
My deskmate’s face wrinkles like he’s smelled something bad. He gives me a look that says, “What kind of nonsense is this?”
“Are you done copying?” I nudge him. “I need to take the homework to the chemistry teacher. He wants it before the last class.”
“Fine, fine.”
When I get to the office, Chen Zifeng is standing with his head bowed, being lectured by the homeroom teacher about his drop in the district exams.
I really want to take a photo.
…But my phone got confiscated because I kept taking ugly pictures of Chen Zifeng and he ratted me out to Mom.
At the chemistry teacher’s desk, he’s too busy chatting to notice me.
Chemistry teacher: “What’s up with Lin Yuchen in your class? He’s skipped two days now.”
Homeroom teacher: “Family trouble. He can’t come.”
Just as I’m eavesdropping, the chemistry teacher notices me. He takes the homework, gives me more tasks, and sends me away.
Mission failed.
Chen Zifeng comes back from the office and shoves my deskmate aside. He says mysteriously, “Guess what I heard in the office?”
“Lin Yuchen.”
Chen Zifeng looks disappointed. “Can’t you just guess?”
“Good brother.”
Chen Zifeng lowers his voice. “People always said Lin Yuchen’s family is messed up. Turns out it’s true. And then some. I heard from the teachers that Lin Yuchen smashed a bottle over his dad’s head. Wow.”
“And then?”
“Then his stepmom called the police. Said Lin Yuchen is an adult now and can be held responsible. That’s why he hasn’t been at school.”
My eyes widen. “He’s in jail?”
“Maybe. But I’m not surprised. I don’t know why the teachers are so shocked. Everyone knows he’s crazy.” Chen Zifeng shrugs. “Then I got called back, so I didn’t hear why he fought with his dad.”
Life’s been so peaceful lately, I’d almost forgotten the plot. Thanks to Chen Zifeng, I remember: Lin Yuchen came home to find his dad and stepmom drinking wine. His dad, trying to impress his stepmom, badmouthed Lin Yuchen’s dead mom—right in front of him.
Lin Yuchen isn’t impulsive.
But he will calmly do things most people would call crazy.
His stepmom called the police.
But Lin Yuchen’s grandparents rushed from the countryside and forced his dad to sign a statement saying he wouldn’t press charges.
“What day is it today?” I ask Chen Zifeng.
“Thursday.”
Thursday? That fits.
After the last class, I grab my bag and head out. Chen Zifeng stops me. “Where are you going?”
“To… eat. I’m going out to eat.”
“You’re not going to night study?” Chen Zifeng mimics my voice. “You’ll have no future.”
“Jinx!”
I steal Chen Zifeng’s phone, use the GPS to find the way, take the bus, and walk a long way to my destination.
Chapter 04
*
Comments
Post a Comment