Miao Jing tore off a small meal ticket and headed to the cafeteria before it closed for dinner.
—
Returning home over the weekend, Miao Jing stayed for one night. After lunch the next day, she set down her bowl and said, "I'm heading back to school."
Wei Mingzhen took a red hundred-yuan bill from her wallet and handed it to her. Miao Jing obediently accepted the money, pushed back her chair to leave, then turned back and casually asked, "Mom, what about brother’s living expenses?"
Wei Mingzhen and Chen Libin, who were still eating, paused in surprise, their chopsticks halting mid-air.
"What’s going on?" Chen Libin set down his wine glass, speaking kindly to Miao Jing. "What about your brother?"
"Nothing much, it’s just that ninth grade is really busy. Brother hasn’t been home for months. Does he have enough for living expenses?" Miao Jing’s voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. "He’s grown taller again—his pants are already too short."
Chen Libin studied Miao Jing for a moment, then smiled gently. "Is that so? It has been a long time since he’s been back. Tell him to come home for a couple of days when he has time."
Before she left, Chen Libin went to his room and took out a thousand yuan, asking Miao Jing to pass it to Chen Yi. She carefully tucked the money into her backpack, but as she stepped out, Wei Mingzhen subtly poked her forehead.
It was a large sum, and Miao Jing didn’t dare keep it on her for long. Back at school, she searched for Chen Yi but couldn’t find him. After evening self-study, she waited in front of the dormitory building. Just as curfew was about to start and room checks were imminent, Chen Yi vaulted over the wall, brushing past her in hurried strides.
"Brother," she called out to stop him.
Chen Yi halted and looked at her quizzically.
She handed him the stack of money. "Uncle gave this to you for living expenses—a thousand yuan."
His eyes swept from her face to the red bills in her hand, then back to her face. His brows furrowed deeply, his gaze intense, a calm yet irritated coolness in his expression. After a stiff pause, he let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Thanks, little sister."
He snatched the money from her hand, and the atmosphere grew inexplicably tense. Chen Yi turned and strode away. Miao Jing stood watching from behind, his silhouette appearing especially gaunt and shadowed against the brightly lit dormitory ahead.
That thousand yuan was squandered by Chen Yi within two days.
—
As time passed at school, Miao Jing gradually got to know the group around Chen Yi. Besides Bo Zai, the dark-skinned boy who had stopped her that day was Shen Hong, and the fair, chubby one was A Yong—all part of the same clique. Another group was led by Da Tou Yuan. These names were well-known throughout the school, but they kept to themselves and didn’t bother the ordinary students.
The school showers and hot water room were next to the dormitory building. The girls’ floors were higher up, and at night, standing in the corridor with the room lights on, they could vaguely make out the boys below in flip-flops, tank tops, and athletic shorts going in and out of the showers. They often gathered in the open area in front of the building to chat, chase each other, and roughhouse—Chen Yi was frequently among them. Many girls at school had crushes on him, but it was said that while the flowers may fall with intent, the stream flows on unfeeling: he only cared about video games and playing pool, showing no interest in girls. The ninth-grade girls were more mature; sometimes, they would collectively sneak glances at him emerging damp from the showers, his loose tank top unable to conceal his broad shoulders and the firm biceps on his arms.After evening self-study, there was always a queue for the showers. Miao Jing preferred to go later, just before the bathrooms closed, when it was quieter and the water pressure was stronger. She would take the opportunity to wash her dirty clothes. By the time the cleaning lady came to shoo everyone out, Miao Jing had already changed into her clothes and jacket, carrying her small pink basin back to the dormitory. The lights in the teaching building and the sports field were all off, leaving only the dormitory building illuminated. The gentle evening breeze made the walk back particularly pleasant and serene.
If it weren’t for the boys from the first and second floors being herded out for a search, gathering in the open area like a school of fish, with the principal and four or five male teachers inspecting the dormitories, it would have been a beautiful, intoxicating spring night for Miao Jing.
She saw the crowd of boys in front of her and knew it was a surprise dormitory inspection. The school was cracking down on school spirit and discipline, aiming to weed out the troublemakers. To get back to her dormitory upstairs, she had to take a detour around the group and head toward the staircase.
"Xiao Jing." Chen Yi’s eyes lit up as he called out to her loudly from the crowd.
Miao Jing continued walking steadily until she spotted Chen Yi, doubting her own ears. Since childhood, she had always been called Miao Jing—no one had ever called her "Xiao Jing." And this person in front of her had never even used her full name, at most calling her "Hey."
"Chen Yi, stay where you are! It’s not your turn yet," the dorm supervisor shouted sternly. "Where do you think you’re sneaking off to?"
"She’s my little sister," Chen Yi said casually, pointing at Miao Jing. He was wearing only a loose black T-shirt, grinning cheekily with his hands on his hips. "I’ve been looking for her for a while. She’s going home tomorrow, and I need her to bring something back for me."
"Teacher, I’ll just say a few words to her right here. One minute—you can keep an eye on me. When it’s my turn for the search, I’ll rush right over."
Chen Yi took two steps forward and waved at Miao Jing. "Little sister, when you go home tomorrow, help me look for something in my room…"
Miao Jing stood frozen in front of him. He wore an awkward smile, his voice clear and bright, but his eyebrows were furrowed heavily over the corners of his eyes, his gaze unusually sharp and alert.
"Got it? Come back to school early tomorrow—I need it urgently." Chen Yi reached out and ruffled her damp hair, messing up her short locks. His voice was unexpectedly gentle. "Why didn’t you dry your hair? It’s still a bit chilly out—don’t catch a cold."
Miao Jing stood rigidly, blinking a few times before nodding blankly. "Got it, Brother."
"Stay still, let me dry your hair for you. You’ve always had a weak constitution—catching a cold would be troublesome."
He took a step closer, lifting the hem of his T-shirt. Miao Jing caught a glimpse of his iron-hard, light honey-colored skin and the defined muscles before Chen Yi’s frame completely enveloped her. He was so close that she shut her eyes in shock. The scent of soap, clean water, skin, and a faint hint of tobacco washed over her—healthy and crisp, not unpleasant at all.
Then, a piece of fabric, warm with body heat, was draped over her head, and a hand roughly tousled her wet hair.
"Take this, don’t let anyone see it." The suppressed voice from the boy’s throat was audible only to her. With his other hand, Chen Yi quickly retrieved a cloth bundle from his waist—hard, rectangular, still warm with body heat—and shoved it heavily into her hand.
"Hide it in your clothes."
OpenNovel