Chi Wang found himself in quite a dilemma.
Money or face, that was the question.
If he accepted it, it would be announcing to the world that he had a crush on someone. How would he explain if asked? What if Su Lian pressed for details?
Moreover, it seemed absurd to pretend he saw someone leaving a gift, only to turn out to be the gift-giver himself moments later.
It was like Schrödinger's gift-giving - impossible to know if it was alive or dead.
But if he didn't accept it, the watch cost several thousand yuan - not cheap for a student.
Besides, he had carefully selected the watch style, feeling it would suit Su Lian perfectly.
This was difficult, even harder than the last advanced math problem of the day.
All he could do was write down "Solution", with no clue how to proceed.
Su Lian stuffed a piece of meat in his mouth: "You heard, I just handed it over to the broadcast room."
"Mm, well done." Chi Wang responded slowly, swallowing down countless bitter feelings.
He knew that if he showed up at the broadcast room, the news would spread like wildfire throughout the school within seconds.
No, after much deliberation, he couldn't go himself.
Chi Wang quickly got up, bending his legs, and tapped Gu Anjiu's shoulder, saying quietly: "Little Nine, come out, I need to talk to you about something."
Gu Anjiu struggled to squeeze out of the narrow seat, slowly following behind him as they left the cafeteria.
"What can I do for you, Boss Wang?"
"Little Nine, when a brother's in trouble, shouldn't you have his back?" Chi Wang lowered his head slightly, looking at his only hope today with anticipation.
Gu Anjiu's internal alarm bells immediately went off, and he unconsciously took two steps back: "Well, it depends on what it is. I don't have that many ribs for you to stab..."
Tch, what a coward.
Chi Wang moved closer, lowering his voice persuasively: "The broadcast just said that watch was mine. Since we're such good friends, you go claim it for me."
"So it was you after all, how generous." Gu Anjiu had a look of sudden realization, then changed his tone, "However, the whole school will think I have a crush on someone. I'm just an innocent, pure-hearted high school boy. It'll ruin my reputation. That's not right."
Chi Wang: "."
Your self-perception might be a bit off.
After some thought, he tried a different approach: "At least people will think you're quite generous in pursuing someone. That's a positive impression."
Gu Anjiu wavered slightly: "That does make some sense."
Chi Wang nodded, pressing on: "Besides, there's nothing shameful about liking someone. It might even become a beautiful story, showing how devoted and faithful you are."
Something seemed off about that. Gu Anjiu countered: "Then why don't you go yourself?"
The chubby boy was quite quick-witted. Chi Wang choked for a moment: "If Su Lian finds out I like him, and we can't even be friends anymore, wouldn't that be really awkward?"
Gu Anjiu thought for a few seconds, then slapped his forehead: "I've got it! After you claim it, just say it was all a prank from the start. You were just teasing him. It's normal for friends to joke about confessing, right?"
Chi Wang: "........."
The bell for evening self-study was about to ring. The crowd around them finished their meals and hurried past, leaving little time.
He stared at Su Lian through the glass door, who was packing up his things, and said seriously: "Liking Su Lian is a very serious matter. I don't want to treat it as a joke."
These words came from the heart. Even if the worst outcome was him having to go himself, he didn't want to label it as a prank.
He didn't want to leave Su Lian with any impression that he wasn't serious about his feelings. A romance should be perfect from the very first flutter of the heart.
Perhaps, to some degree, he was a bit obsessive about relationships.
It was the first time Gu Anjiu had heard such words from this usually carefree person. He thought to himself that this must be true love, truly touching, almost bringing tears to his eyes.
Alright then, he had to help his Boss Wang keep this closet door shut tight. No one should find out.
So, he lifted his chin and patted his chest righteously: "Okay, give me the style details and purchase record. I'll get it back for you."
"You're a true friend." Chi Wang sighed in relief, taking the receipt from his pocket and carefully tearing off his signature before handing it over.
Gu Anjiu patted his shoulder, saying earnestly: "Remember, you owe me a big one."
"Mm, when it works out, I'll treat you to my wedding banquet." Chi Wang put his hands in his pockets, smiling as he stood in the night breeze.
Things were far from settled, but he was certainly thinking ahead.
Su Lian came out of the cafeteria with Lin Yan and the others, staring at the chubby boy sprinting away, and asked puzzled: "Why is he running?"
With someone else claiming it, Chi Wang felt quite confident replying: "He's going to get the watch."
"The watch is his? How did it end up in my desk?"
"I just asked him. He originally wanted a friend to buy it and put it in his own drawer. Since you two sit one behind the other, they weren't careful and put it in yours by mistake. It's all just a coincidence."
The little story was quite reasonable and coherent, seeming to have no flaws. Su Lian thought of the confession note: "Is Little Nine experiencing his first love? Who is he giving it to?"
"Don't know, but winter's coming soon. Single people all want to find someone to keep warm with." Chi Wang's gaze fell on him, hinting at something.
Su Lian looked confused, not responding.
Lin Yan got goosebumps again, glancing at him exasperatedly: "Feeling cold? Should I get a wholesale deal, an army coat for everyone?"
Song Jiaci nodded: "O-okay, army coats are warm."
The two people listening to the conversation both burst out laughing. He was truly innocent.
Chi Wang quickened his pace to walk alongside Su Lian, stepping on a golden leaf. In autumn, the school's trees all turned yellow, with ginkgo leaves carpeting the ground. It was impossible to sweep them all up, so they were left as scenery.
He made small talk: "Are you still helping me review tonight?"
Su Lian made an affirmative sound: "I stayed up late last night, so we'll try to finish earlier today."
Chi Wang's gaze fell on the lotus pond beside them, remembering when they had stumbled upon a couple kissing on the small path last time. It had been quite thrilling.
He wondered if he'd ever have the chance to steal a romantic moment with Su Lian in the small woods.
-
During evening self-study, news of Gu Anjiu claiming the watch spread like wildfire, with rumors flying. Seven or eight versions emerged, but no one knew the truth.
Suddenly becoming the center of gossip, the chubby boy felt a bit uncomfortable. He turned to the desk behind him and lowered his voice: "So this is what it feels like to be famous? I gotta say, it's pretty nice."
"You're easily pleased." Chi Wang laughed, not looking up as he continued reviewing for the next day's comprehensive science test.
Su Lian bowed his head to unlock his phone, switching to his alternate account to sneak into the Taro Pudding Bobo Support Group, to see what this group had been up to lately.
However, as soon as he entered the group chat, he felt suffocated by the conversation content.
[Taro Pudding Bobo #2]: Sisters! I've found more sweet moments! As a classmate in Class 6, I can responsibly say that Gu Anjiu and Chi Wang are like brothers who grew up wearing the same pants. The broadcast room girl said Su Lian brought the watch over. Do you know what this means?!
[Taro Pudding Bobo #373]: Please analyze in detail, expert!
[Taro Pudding Bobo #294]: Waiting eagerly
[Taro Pudding Bobo #189]: So anxious, hurry up and tell us
[Taro Pudding Bobo #2]: Are you all stupid? It means Chi Wang wanted to give it to our handsome Su through Gu Anjiu! Isn't this the sweetest thing ever?! Ahhh I'm fangirling so hard!
[Taro Pudding Bobo #45]: OMG OMG OMG, so that's the truth!
[Taro Pudding Bobo #477]: Wait, doesn't Su Lian refusing to accept it mean he's not interested? Sudden bad ending...
[Taro Pudding Bobo #2]: You're so wrong! He must have thought it was from someone else, so he refused. Isn't this the most beautiful love story?! I only want gifts from you, coldly rejecting all others
Su Lian, who had witnessed the whole thing: "......"
He looked up at Liu Youyou in the fourth group, who was smiling broadly, her fingers frantically tapping on the keyboard.
They were really using a microscope to find sweet moments. To be able to imagine all this, he had to admit defeat.
Catching a flash of light from the corner of his eye, Chi Wang warned: "Be careful, Old Li might confiscate your phone. He likes to make his rounds at this time."
Worried someone might see the group name, Su Lian panicked and quickly tossed his phone into his desk drawer, randomly opening a book to pretend he was solving problems.
Sure enough, a minute later, Li Guoqing arrived on the scene.
He meandered slowly around the classroom, then walked to the podium and tapped on the desk: "Everyone stop for a moment, I have something to say."
The entire class, in the midst of reviewing, looked up in unison, puzzled by what was happening.
"Some students are still thinking about romance during exam periods. This is not right. The task in high school is to study hard, not to think about puppy love all the time. When you get to university, you'll have plenty of choices."
Li Guoqing coughed once, his gaze sweeping casually over the second-to-last row: "If there's a fire of love burning in your heart, extinguish it quickly, or I'll be chasing after you with a fire extinguisher."
The class, well-versed in inside gossip, erupted into uproarious laughter.
"Teacher, you're making insinuations!"
"Teacher, your jokes are on point. We love it!"
"Just asking, but does university include girlfriend allocation?"
"Sorry, I'm not interested in romance. I'm studying for the rise of China."
...
As the topic touched on adolescent interests, everyone's enthusiasm soared. Those with secret crushes exchanged smiles across the room, stretching the ambiguity infinitely.
Chi Wang tore a piece of paper from his notebook, writing and erasing repeatedly. After quite a while of editing, he crumpled it into a ball and glanced sideways at Su Lian.
The expressionless young Mr. Su was leaning casually against his chair, listening to the class's commotion. His long-fingered right hand rested lightly on the edge of the chair, suspended in mid-air.
Chi Wang gripped the note in his hand and slipped it into Su Lian's palm, his fingertips brushing against the warm skin.
Sensing the movement, Su Lian turned his head, raising an eyebrow in silent inquiry.
Chi Wang pressed his fingers gently once more, a large patch of skin making contact, soft in his grip.
He lowered his gaze, glancing at the note, gesturing for Su Lian to read it.
Su Lian curled his fingers, bringing the note back to his desk. He unfolded it, struggling to decipher the scrawled handwriting.
Then he picked up a pen, jotted down a few characters, and passed it back.
Chi Wang's posture was still a bit unruly, his long legs bent, his body unconsciously leaning closer to the side.
Though he appeared nonchalant, his heart was filled with irrepressible excitement.
As he pondered the contents of the note, a fingertip inadvertently grazed his palm. Chi Wang instinctively caught the mischievous finger, suddenly reminded of their interlocked hands from the previous night.
His heart fluttered, but he lacked the courage to be completely brazen, so he reluctantly let go.
Seeing the reply, Chi Wang smiled wryly and continued writing on the note.
They went back and forth several times. Before their primitive chat could conclude, a hand picked up the crumpled piece of paper.
"I've been watching you two for a while now. What can't wait until after class that you have to hold hands and pass notes during the lesson?" Li Guoqing glared, his face full of disbelief that they would dare ignore him standing right there.
Chi Wang flashed a smile, looking up at him: "It's urgent, couldn't be helped."
Hearing the mention of hand-holding, curious glances fell upon them from nearby. Liu Youyou was so excited she nearly ascended to heaven on the spot, her face brimming with enthusiasm.
Li Guoqing slammed the note down on the desk, saying coldly: "Come on, read it out loud to the class, one sentence each."