Chapter 87
IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY SENIOR class aside from Class Eight was participating in this year’s sports festival. The reason there weren’t any athletes from Class Eight wasn’t because they were all working hard to prepare for the university entrance exams—it was simply because Class Eight had exactly zero chance of winning any event. The way they’d played in the last basketball tournament would probably go down in the school annals as the one and only time the underdogs struck back.
Even so, Gu Fei was excited. The event spanned three days from Friday to Sunday, which meant that, starting this afternoon, he could skip class with the excuse of watching the games. During the self-study period on Friday afternoon and extra classes over the weekend, it would be a miracle if even ten out of fifty people showed up.
All morning, the loudspeakers on campus broadcast updates on the results of various events, including the announcement scripts each class had drafted, which all sounded more or less the same. Gu Fei thought it was no different from the announcements he’d heard in elementary school.
On this crisp autumn day, we welcome the something-eth annual Fourth High sports festival. Colorful flags flutter in our field, crowds are converging, and excitement is in the air! Our students are all full of anticipation to show off their skills and secure honor for their class. Just take a look at the racetrack and see the hundred-meter dash…
“You’re not coming back to school this afternoon, are you?” Jiang Cheng asked from beside him.
“Nah.” Gu Fei turned to him. “I’m gonna try to take a set of photos this weekend—street scenes. The weather’s been nice lately, so I wanna walk around in the afternoons.”
“Is it for a magazine?” Jiang Cheng asked.
“Yeah, some newfangled thing. I know one of the editors—he came from around here. I used to take photography lessons from him,” Gu Fei said quietly. “It’s a pretty big spread this time, so if they use it, it’ll be good money.”
“That’s great!” Jiang Cheng looked even happier than Gu Fei. “Is there a theme?”
“‘The hidden side of the small industrial city.’ Shuttered factories, laid-off workers, that kind of stuff,” Gu Fei said. “I feel like it’s tailor-made for the steelworks.”
“Will you still be taking photos tomorrow?” Jiang Cheng asked. “I wanna come along and watch.”
“Watch me, or watch me take photos?” Gu Fei teased.
“Mostly you, and your photos on the side.” Jiang Cheng grinned. “I’ll try to keep a low profile.”
Gu Fei nodded, smiling back. “All right.”
The award ceremony and concert were scheduled for Sunday afternoon. For the last couple of days, Wang Xu had been dragging Jiang Cheng off to practice every chance he got. He was very enthusiastic and determined when it came to showing off, especially since this time he was going to be showing off something positive. It’d be a big help with leveling up Yi Jing’s opinion of him.
Gu Fei wondered how Jiang Cheng was going to find the time to watch him take photos, but he didn’t ask.
He still hadn’t brought up the concert to Jiang Cheng, not even once. He figured that if he did, it would inevitably lead to the question of why he didn’t want to participate, and there was no right way to answer that.
Besides, his boyfriend had ordained that if he really didn’t want to talk about something, he should keep it to himself and keep it well. He had no choice but to comply.
✦ ✦ ✦
Jiang Cheng didn’t skip the extra class on Saturday, but looking at Gu Fei’s empty seat beside him made him feel a little empty inside.
The majority of the seats in the classroom were just as empty. Most of his peers were either downstairs watching the games or had snuck out of school to hang out. But even if the whole class was empty, he wouldn’t have felt anything. His eyes just kept flitting back and forth between the lectern and the Gu Fei-less seat beside him.
It was a little scary if he stopped to think about it. Only a day or two without seeing Gu Fei, and he was already experiencing withdrawal. What about after the university entrance exams next year, when they’d probably have to be apart…? He wasn’t afraid of a long-distance relationship, but he was very afraid of turning around and not seeing Gu Fei there.
He figured this kind of panic and melodrama was probably common in a first romance, especially at the start of a first romance.
Tsk.
How powerful it had to be, to turn a full-grown guy into a total wuss who did nothing but think about his boyfriend all day long.
And where was his boyfriend?
Out taking pictures, that’s where. Who knew if he’d thought about anything other than composition and lighting and whatnot the whole morning.
His phone vibrated. Jiang Cheng glanced down. A message from Good Little Bunny.
- Wanna see some photos?
- duh. show me
So Good Little Bunny sent over a few photos. Just a glance had Jiang Cheng stunned.
The photos showed a few dilapidated buildings. In the sun, shards of broken glass reflected scattered flecks of light. Miscellaneous junk was strewn haphazardly across the rooftop, but it didn’t look dirty, only sad. The scene was bleak and quiet under the sunlight, and there were no signs of life.
Jiang Cheng was very familiar with this place. It was where the Steelworks Morons had gone hurdling. And Gu Fei must’ve taken the photo from the rooftop where Jiang Cheng hid.
- you went all the way there?
- Yup. Look what I found.
Good Little Bunny sent him another picture. It showed Gu Fei’s outstretched hand, and in his palm was a walnut. Jiang Cheng was a little shocked. He must’ve dropped it on the rooftop when he was taking walnuts out of the bag, and after all this time, Gu Fei had found it.
Not to mention…
- you have such pretty hands
- …Is that relevant? Overachiever?
Jiang Cheng laughed at himself. He looked through the photos again, then sent another message.
✦ ✦ ✦
- how many did you find?
- Two. I’m keeping them
- they must’ve gone bad already, what are you keeping those for
- They won’t rot if I preserve them. Then I can look at them whenever I miss you
Jiang Cheng stared at the message for a long time. It took Lao-Lu bellowing at Wang Xu to shake his mind back to the present. He swiftly typed a reply.
- you can look at ME whenever you miss me. what good are walnuts?
- Send me a pic of yourself then. I miss you already
Jiang Cheng hesitated for a moment and opened up his camera app. He might have been a narcissistic overachiever, but he rarely took selfies, especially in class. He had never done such a dorky thing before. Then again, when he was with Gu Fei, he’d done more than his fair share of dorky things, so what was one more?
When he flipped the camera to the front view, the abrupt appearance of his nostrils and a gigantic chin almost made him drop his phone. He nearly shit bricks.
Front-facing cameras really were the perfect stealth weapon.
After he’d gathered himself, Jiang Cheng set the phone on the desk in front of him. He might not have been a frequent selfie taker, but he understood very well which angles flattered him best. And right now he was the only student in the back row, so he didn’t have to worry about anyone seeing him. He angled his face for the camera and pressed the shutter.
It made an audible click-clack sound.
Lao-Lu had just finished one of his tirades, and so the few students left in the classroom were quieter than usual. To Jiang Cheng’s ears, the shutter sound rang like a clap of thunder.
Clickity-BOOM!
Clackity-BANG!
It probably wasn’t quite as loud to his classmates, but several people turned around all the same. Jiang Cheng quickly flipped his phone down onto the desk and stared straight ahead, fixing a stoic expression onto his face.
Zhou Jing chose this moment to turn around. “Jiang Cheng. Hey, Jiang Cheng, are you taking…”
Upon reflection, Jiang Cheng realized it was unfortunate that he had overlooked Zhou Jing’s presence. As someone sitting one row in front of him—not to mention someone who was bored out of his mind—he wouldn’t be Zhou Jing if he didn’t turn around and ask.
Before Zhou Jing could finish his sentence, Jiang Cheng picked up his English textbook to swat him with it. “Shut up.”
“I—!” Zhou Jing blinked, a shocked expression frozen on his face.
“ZHOU JING!” Lao-Lu roared from the front of the class. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! TRYING TO TAKE PRIVATE LESSONS FROM THE OVERACHIEVER?! WELL, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOU! GO ON, MAYBE YOU CAN GO STAND BESIDE MR. JIANG THERE SO YOU CAN LEARN UP CLOSE!”
Zhou Jing quickly turned back and flopped down on his desk, scribbling furiously.