As the evening bell rang, Guo Jingyu and Li Tongzhou went to the small art supply store near the school gate to buy pigmented paint. The shop was tiny, and as soon as the owner saw them looking for paint, he spoke up, saying, “The paints are not fully stocked today. The commonly used ones are also out of stock, and they’ll only be available in a couple of days.”
Guo Jingyu casually bought a few pens and left with Li Tongzhou.
Guo Jingyu’s cooking skills were top-notch, and in no time, he whipped up a pot of mini wontons. This time, he used fish filling that was particularly fragrant. The soup, too, carried a fresh and sweet taste. As they ate a few steaming hot wontons, sweat began to bead on the tip of their noses, but it was so delicious that it kept them eating without pause.
During the meal, Guo Jingyu chatted with Li Tongzhou. Bringing up Li Tongzhou’s approaching birthday, he asked, “Is there anything you want?”
Li Tongzhou replied, “Nothing.”
Guo Jingyu glanced at him, “Think about it. Once we pass this opportunity, it might not come again.”
Li Tongzhou seriously thought about it, and only after finishing the meal did he say, “On my birthday, could you cook me a bowl of noodles?”
Guo Jingyu agreed, but soon furrowed his brow, “Will there be no one at your home that day?”
“En.”
Guo Jingyu was also moved. With his family absent on his birthday, he felt for Li Tongzhou and said, “No need to wait until your birthday. I’ll start cooking noodles for you from today, one bowl a day, guaranteed satisfaction.”
Li Tongzhou smiled, nodded, and agreed.
Li Tongzhou’s home was very tidy, or rather, it felt desolate with hardly any signs of life. Guo Jingyu couldn’t assist much in that regard, so he decided to pack some extra mini wontons for him. After storing them in the refrigerator, he advised, “Have these in the next couple of days for breakfast. After you finish, I’ll come and make more for you.”
“It might disturb your studies.”
Guo Jingyu closed the refrigerator, looked up with a grin, and said, “Don’t be silly. My mom’s afraid I’ll delay your studies!”
Li Tongzhou wanted to say something, but Guo Jingyu waved him off, asking, “Just tell me if the food I made is good, and if it suits your taste.”
“Delicious.”
Guo Jingyu proudly said, “There you have it. Just wait, from now on, if you ever feel like eating, just give me a call, and I’ll be there in a moment.”
Li Tongzhou looked at him, a bit surprised, but soon smiled and nodded, “Alright.”
Guo Jingyu felt a sense of accomplishment. He enjoyed seeing Li Tongzhou sitting there, eagerly waiting for him to eat, and the way Li Tongzhou looked at him expectantly for a second serving after finishing a bowl. It filled him with confidence and satisfaction, more than any words of praise could.
Guo Jingyu was reluctant to leave, but his mom had already called two or three times, urging him to come back. The private tutor had arrived and was waiting for the student.
He had no choice but to head home first.
Li Tongzhou put on his coat and went out with him, insisting on seeing him off. “It’s the end of the year. It’s not very safe. There might be thieves around.”
Guo Jingyu remarked, “I look like a broke student. No one would bother stealing from me.”
Li Tongzhou insisted and got on the bus with him. The evening brought fewer passengers, and Li Tongzhou spoke in a hushed tone, “Recently, the art students who went on a study trip are back. They’ll be taking their final exams.”
Guo Jingyu replied, “Yeah, I know. I just went to the studio today to sign up.”
Li Tongzhou looked at him, “Fan Jiali is also in the art class. She’s the class monitor.”
“Who told you that?”
“He Xiangyang.”
Guo Jingyu’s head throbbed. His small decision, like a butterfly flapping its wings, had led him to choose science courses, bringing significant changes to his surroundings. He recalled that there was no Fan Jiali in the art class before. He used to be the class president. But now he happily bounced over to Class Seven to find Li Tongzhou, and even the art class underwent a transformation along with him.
Time had passed too long. At first, Guo Jingyu had hopped through several art studios, and eventually, he went to the capital city to study painting. Remembering a few classmates from the art class in the southern part of the city was already a challenge. He couldn’t recall much more.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Li Tongzhou asked him, “I heard there will be another group of students going on a study trip next month. Are you going too?”
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Li Tongzhou nodded, “Yeah, I’m participating in a math competition. The exact schedule hasn’t been announced yet, but it should be soon.”
Guo Jingyu immediately thought of the guy who had been hovering around these past few days and inquired, “Is Song Zhuoran going too?”
Li Tongzhou looked at him and said slowly, “He’s going too.”
A sour feeling bubbled up in Guo Jingyu’s heart. For the first time, he deeply despised being academically mediocre. If he had better grades, would Song Zhuoran have the chance to be with Li Tongzhou?
Guo Jingyu rubbed his chin as he thought. He adjusted his plans in his mind a little earlier than originally intended.
The journey home was just two stops away, and they arrived quickly. Li Tongzhou followed Guo Jingyu all the way to the entrance of the residential area, standing there and saying, “I’ll watch you go up.”
Li Tongzhou’s serious attitude stirred Guo Jingyu’s emotions. He almost didn’t want to leave. He wished he could hold Li Tongzhou’s hand right now and just elope. As he was about to make a move, a rustling sound came from the flower bed beside them. Guo Jingyu lowered his head for a glance, but before he could see clearly, Li Tongzhou had already shielded him.
A Border Collie emerged from the flower bed, adorned in black and white, its fur beautifully groomed. It held a dog leash in its mouth.
Guo Jingyu chuckled, “This is Grandma Fan’s little dog. Don’t worry, it won’t bite. When my mom used to go grocery shopping, it would even escort her all the way!” He waved and called out, “Doudou, over here!”
The Border Collie, Doudou, tilted its head to look at him but didn’t approach. Instead, it took a couple of steps forward, still holding its leash, and wagged its tail continuously.
Guo Jingyu was still puzzled by the dog’s unexpected enthusiasm when he heard someone approaching along the path, “Sorry, sorry, Doudou came to pick me up.”
Guo Jingyu thought he was seeing things. Surprisingly, he saw Fan Jiali right at his doorstep.
Fan Jiali had just returned from evening self-study, draped in a coat with a furry collar that made her round eyes. She curiously glanced at them and nodded in Guo Jingyu’s direction, “Hello, remember me? I’m Fan Jiali.”
Li Tongzhou looked at him, his eyes fixed, waiting for an explanation.
Guo Jingyu was utterly shocked, “How did you end up here?”
Fan Jiali explained, “I came to see my grandmother.” She pointed to the adjacent unit and then gestured towards the Border Collie frolicking nearby, “Doudou probably heard my footsteps and came to greet me.”
The girl greeted him and walked away, but after a few steps, she turned back, “Guo Jingyu, did you fail to get watercolor pigments? I happened to pass by the store on my way back and asked for white pigments, but the owner said they were out. You can use mine for class tomorrow, and we can go to the department store over the weekend to find another shop.”
On the side, Li Tongzhou remained silent, still looking at him.
Guo Jingyu didn’t dare to agree under his gaze and immediately shook his head, “No need, I know where to get them. I’ll go on my own.”
Fan Jiali didn’t insist, nodding, “Alright, see you at the studio tomorrow.”
With that, the girl waved and walked away.
Li Tongzhou looked at Guo Jingyu and said after a while, “I’m heading back.”
Guo Jingyu appeared innocent. Although he had lived in this neighborhood for several years, everyone kept to themselves. His mom only knew Grandma Fan because the old lady helped collect utility fees voluntarily. How could he have known that Grandma Fan’s granddaughter was Fan Jiali?
He went home and attended a private tutoring session for a while, thinking about this matter. His academic performance wasn’t particularly good because of this.
After the private tutor left, he went over and asked, “Mom, does Grandma Fan’s granddaughter live around here? How come I’ve never seen her before?”
Mother Guo pondered and replied, “She doesn’t live in this neighborhood. Grandma Fan lives alone here. I’ve bumped into her one or two times during the weekends when her parents brought her. The girl is about your age, also studying in the southern part of the city.”
Guo Jingyu said, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Mother Guo said, “Why are you asking about someone else’s girl?”
“… I was just asking. I ran into her downstairs.”
“Let me tell you, don’t even think about it. Focus on your studies, understand?”
Guo Jingyu said confidently, “Don’t worry, I’m not getting a girlfriend !!”
Mother Guo was relieved and said to him, “That girl doesn’t come around often. Maybe Grandma Fan’s rheumatism is acting up. It’s getting cold, after all. Come and take a look. But the last time I heard from Grandma Fan, she mentioned that the girl is transferring to No. 6 High School to specialize in art. They’ve arranged a special teacher for her over there. It’s not easy, you know. She has been studying art for many years, aiming to get into a good university.”
Guo Jingyu gathered some information, compared it with what he knew, and tried to find a clue.
If he didn’t remember wrong, Fan Jiali should have gone to No. 6 High School to study art directly after the class divisions. He wondered why she continued to stay at Chengnan High School this time. But it wasn’t really his concern. Having an additional neighbor didn’t pose any hindrance, as his initial focus was on Li Tongzhou, and he paid no attention to anyone else.
He didn’t care about others, but it seemed like some people were keeping a close eye on him.
Li Tongzhou made two trips to the studio to bring him a notebook and a complete set of watercolor pigments. Guo Jingyu wondered where he had found them. The box was full of various colors.
In the relatively free atmosphere of the studio, Guo Jingyu waved him over and whispered, “Where did you buy these?”
Li Tongzhou lowered his head, arranging them neatly, “I took two class periods off this morning and went out to buy them. If you need anything, just let me know, and I’ll get it for you.”
A playful smile curled at the corner of Guo Jingyu’s lips. “Did you specifically make a trip for me?”
“En.”
After setting things up for him, Li Tongzhou stood up and looked at the still life in front. His gaze wandered around the still life and his classmates, then he asked, “Can you see from here?”
Guo Jingyu smiled, “Why are you just like Song Zhuoran? He said the same thing when he came yesterday…”
Li Tongzhou lowered his head, speaking softly, “Song Zhuoran.”
“…”
Guo Jingyu cleared his throat. “I can explain that. He’s from the student council, and came to change classrooms.”
Li Tongzhou looked at him for a moment, showing a hint of displeasure, “I’m going back to class.”
Although he said that, he remained standing there without moving.
Guo Jingyu stood up. “I’ll walk you back.”
Li Tongzhou walked with him, only allowing Guo Jingyu to accompany him downstairs. It seemed like he just wanted to confirm that Guo Jingyu cared about him. He didn’t let Guo Jingyu come out again, waving his hand and walking away.
Guo Jingyu rarely witnessed this little thoughtfulness from him, watching Li Tongzhou’s beautiful back.
At the end of the month, the inter-school basketball competition between Chengnan High School and No. 4 High School heated up, with an intense clash on the court.
No. 4 High School was a tough opponent. Both school teams were among the top teams in the city, and this time, the competition was fierce. It wasn’t just about basketball. No. 4 High School had been competing with Chengnan in various contests. They considered each other rivals, with no room for courtesy.
Guo Jingyu was drenched in sweat, leaning on his knees, panting heavily. His eyes remained fixed on the ball, and he didn’t even have time to wipe away the sweat dripping down his forehead. Not for a moment did he dare to relax.
He remembered the last match against No. 4 High School when he was away for study. They had lost terribly, and He Xiangyang and the others, lacking any sense of shame, had come to him crying.
Now that he was here, he absolutely couldn’t afford to lose.
Li Tongzhou and he took the court together, displaying seamless coordination. Additionally, since Li Tongzhou was a newcomer, the No. 4 High School team was not familiar with him, and they were caught off guard.
The players from No. 4 High School were confused. They couldn’t discern any tactics from this newcomer from Chengnan. Li Tongzhou didn’t seem like someone who would fake his movements. His dribbling was too serious, not the kind that could deceive anyone!
In a split second, Guo Jingyu turned around and, amidst the double-team, tossed the ball to a teammate. Almost as soon as the ball drew an arc, Li Tongzhou was in position. With a quick pull-back, he regained control of the ball, pulled his right foot back beyond the three-point line, jumped straight up, and released the ball!
The spectators held their breath, their gaze fixed on the court. Even the coaches watching the game not far away unconsciously followed the trajectory of the orange-red basketball. Li Tongzhou’s shot felt just right. He had a premonition, this shot was going in…
Swish! Another three-pointer!
The coach couldn’t help but shout, “Nice!” His face flushed with excitement!
Chengnan High School hadn’t won a basketball championship for several years, earning them the mocking title of forever second place. Although the coach didn’t openly express it, who in competitive sports didn’t care about rankings? Were they here on the court to talk about friendship, or were they here to win the championship?
The coach from No. 4 High School also directed his players to focus on Li Tongzhou. This newcomer was quite tricky. He could exploit almost any minor mistake, executing spin moves and accurate shots, scoring repeatedly. All of his feints were natural, making it difficult for anyone to detect flaws. It was as if he had just taken a step, yet he had already precisely calculated the movements of everyone on the court. As the game progressed, he played more smoothly.
In the second half, Chengnan High School, traditionally focused on defense, unexpectedly turned into an aggressive force.
Guo Jingyu played as the forward, charging forward rapidly, becoming the most dazzling player on the entire team. Li Tongzhou, positioned as the center, displayed remarkable stability and excelled in long-range three-pointers with an incredibly high shooting accuracy.
In the last ten seconds, Li Tongzhou sealed the deal with a three-pointer, bringing the score level.
In the moment that ball dropped, it felt as if hearts were finding their place, and the arena erupted into enthusiastic cheers!
The coach tossed aside whatever he had in his hands, laughing heartily as he ran over to embrace this group of smelly kids. The entire team was drenched in sweat, but surprisingly, they felt happy. They roared, releasing their excitement, they had won! Chengnan won the championship!
Guo Jingyu took the opportunity to hug Li Tongzhou. He felt Li Tongzhou’s hand placed behind him. It started as a gentle embrace, but then other classmates rushed over, forming a pile, pressing them down to the bottom.
Li Tongzhou covered him protectively, but soon they pressed close intimately. Lips brushed against his cheek, their chests were close enough to feel each other’s heartbeat, the rhythms intertwining, thump-thump—thump-thump—
Their voices gradually melded into one.
“Jingyu—”
Li Tongzhou called his name, but his next words were drowned in cheers.
Guo Jingyu’s eyes glistened with moisture as he looked at him.
At Chengnan’s home court, after sending away the team from No. 4 High School, the coach remained excited. He distributed prizes to the team, offered some encouragement, but being a rough and straightforward man, the coach couldn’t articulate anything particularly special. He scratched his head and summed up in his own way, “Tonight, hot pot on me. I’m treating you all, eat as much as you want!”
A group of high school students erupted into cheers.
Guo Jingyu went to the locker room to change his clothes. He took his time, while He Xiangyang and the others, eager for the hot pot treat, quickly changed and dashed out.
Guo Jingyu moved slowly, and Li Tongzhou stood by, waiting for him. Li Tongzhou had his sports bag slung diagonally across his body, and he was leaning down, fiddling with his MP3 player. One ear was plugged with a single-sided earphone, and the other side’s red earphone wire hung down. The headphones were adorned with a splash of red flames, matching the pair that Guo Jingyu had.
Guo Jingyu walked over, placing a hand by Li Tongzhou’s side, and leaned in, saying, “Li Tongzhou, say those words again.”
Li Tongzhou hesitated for a moment, “I said I want to continue playing basketball with you, to be your teammate…”
“What’s the point of being just teammates? How about finding a boyfriend?” Guo Jingyu chuckled lightly, getting a bit closer. He brushed his nose against Li Tongzhou and whispered, “I promise you, no one is better for you than me.”
The changing room was empty, and even the slightest sound echoed clearly in their ears.
Li Tongzhou stared at him for a while, his Adam’s apple bobbing, “Alright.”
The author has something to say:
Yu Ge: Can’t hold back anymore, I want to start a shameless life!
Li Tongzhou: Okay.
K: Want to see their shameless life ~~
K…we cannot see a single letter from the past 3 chapters!!! 😭 Just the chapter title and a blank space
Now I can see the chappie…and wanna see their shameless life too!