Su Lian saw the newcomer, and the face flashed through his memory, seeming familiar but without leaving a deep impression.
He raised his eyes slightly and asked, "Classmate, who are you?"
"We've seen each other many times in the last exam room, don't you remember?" Chi Chenfeng leaned against the streetlight, smiling as he said, "I have a deep impression of you, cold and cool."
Not used to this kind of familiarity, Su Lian just gave a light "Mm" and asked, "What do you want from me?"
The boy scratched his head, hesitating for a few seconds before speaking: "The Eighth high school is about to have monthly exams too. I heard your grades have improved dramatically. Where did you get such an awesome cheating method? I want it too, I'll pay whatever it costs."
Su Lian: "..."
Coming all this way to fish for cheating methods, it seems the reputation of his perfect score had spread quite far.
He shook his head and replied concisely, "No methods."
Chi Chenfeng took a step forward, grabbing Su Lian's sleeve and lowering his voice pleadingly, "I won't tell anyone else, don't worry. Everyone in our circles knows I'm the most tight-lipped. I really have no choice, my dad recently froze my card and will only unfreeze it if my grades improve."
The night wind was strong. Su Lian clutched his coat and stepped back half a step, creating distance: "Really, there's nothing."
"Not treating me like a brother, huh? We were in the same school for years, don't be so distant." Chi Chenfeng's expression changed slightly, then he put on a fake smile, "Well then, just tell me who helped you cheat, I'll go find them myself."
Who's your brother? I don't even know you.
Su Lian was quite exasperated: "No one helped me cheat. I studied on my own."
"Impossible. In the first year's final exam, we were in the same exam room. I remember it clearly. How could this be?" Chi Chenfeng made a pleading gesture, "Just do a good deed and help me out."
Su Lian's patience was exhausted: "If you want difficult point notes, I have some. I can give you a copy."
Previously, because of selling materials, he had compiled a set of notes for various subjects, which was actually quite comprehensive, basically covering all the important and difficult points that would be tested.
As for the other version with question-guessing techniques, he didn't want to spread it around to avoid trouble.
Chi Chenfeng looked very disappointed: "Damn, who among us looks at notes... Forget it, no fun."
Su Lian nodded, not wanting to stay a minute longer: "Then I'm leaving."
Late at night, encountering such a person was really annoying.
Finally getting rid of him, Su Lian turned and walked upstairs in his slippers. Before he could enter room 403, he was grabbed by the wrist and dragged to the next room.
He pulled his loose coat back onto his shoulders and looked up at the person: "What are you going crazy about?"
"Who was that person looking for you?" Chi Wang asked directly, suppressing a jumble of messy thoughts in his heart and picking out the most important one.
Thinking of the previous conversation, Su Lian scoffed lightly: "An idiot I don't know."
He wasn't wrong. Not even knowing the name, he really couldn't say he knew him.
Chi Wang released the wrist he was gripping and stood there stunned for a moment, his heart sinking.
It seemed that last time Su Lian had cursed his ex in the same way.
Saying he didn't know him, then it definitely wasn't about revenge. It was probably a case of love and hate entangled in his heart, unable to let go.
It really was an ex, and a clingy one at that. How troublesome.
"I saw he seemed to have some urgent business with you, kept holding on and wouldn't let go." On the last few words, Chi Wang deliberately emphasized, almost with a tone of gritted teeth.
Su Lian snapped back to reality and quickly walked towards the bathroom: "You reminded me, I'm going to wash my hands."
Chi Wang stared at his back, feeling very sour inside, but not daring to show it too obviously.
He slowly followed, leaning against the doorframe, and asked: "Will he come looking for you again?"
Su Lian frowned, feeling that this person must have some problem tonight. Why did he keep fixating on a stranger?
He shook his head: "Probably not."
Chi Wang let out a sigh of relief, his serious expression relaxing a bit: "That's good."
Just now upstairs, seeing Su Lian's very cold reaction, he probably rejected that person's request to get back together. Looking at it from all angles, it could be considered a good thing.
However, that person's surname was Chi.
Was it possible that in the past, when love was intense, Su Lian had called him "Chi-ge" in such a soft voice?
Chi Wang couldn't help but think of the first time he heard Su Lian call him "ge". That time in his family's car, the person was sleepy and muddled, unclear in consciousness, and vaguely called out. At that time, because they had just met, out of consideration for boundaries, he didn't pursue it further.
Later when he was sick, clinging to his hand and acting coquettish, he also called "Chi-ge". At that time, he instinctively thought Su Lian was calling him.
So, was it actually this person called Chi Chenfeng that he was calling every time?
The answer to this guess was somewhat heart-wrenching.
Chi Wang felt as if he was trapped by an emotion, his heart suddenly sour and astringent, all his internal organs feeling as if they were being squeezed tight. It was a discomfort he had never experienced before.
He couldn't quite describe it, it wasn't exactly anger, just a feeling of how could one person so coincidentally get there first, occupying this title.
He had originally thought he was special, but now it seemed more like he was a poor substitute.
Chi Wang pressed against the door crack and said in a low voice: "Teacher Su, I'm not in a good mood. Request permission to smoke a cigarette."
Su Lian looked up, seeing the person standing by the door through the mirror. For the first time, he lacked his usual arrogant air, looking lost and dispirited, not very energetic.
Probably in his subconscious, he felt that the teenage Chi Wang was always smiling mischievously, never serious.
Suddenly being so emotionally low, it was really quite unfamiliar.
"What's wrong with you? Didn't do well on today's integrated science and English exams?"
"Just assume I didn't do well." Chi Wang felt stifled inside, but couldn't directly say he was jealous.
Even if Su Lian might like boys, he didn't know what his attitude towards himself was now. Impulsively confessing would only make their relationship awkward.
Liking someone for the first time, being cautious, treading on thin ice, Chi Wang was at a loss.
Because he cherished it too much, he didn't dare to act rashly.
He grabbed the cigarette box and lighter from the table, walked straight to the small balcony, lowered his head to bite a cigarette, and stared blankly at the moon in the sky.
What was so good about looking at the moon? Had they also looked at many nights' moons together?
Besides admiring the moon, what else had they done?
The more he thought about it, the more depressed he felt.
Su Lian finished washing his hands and went out, standing on the other side of the balcony looking at the person enveloped in smoke. In the moonlight, his whole face was shrouded in darkness, half of it hidden in the night, his expression unclear, but his whole being emanating a very dejected mood.
It was just doing poorly on an exam, was there really a need to be so depressed? Was this still the little tyrant that struck fear into people's hearts?
He stood shoulder to shoulder with him and tried to comfort him: "It's okay, just work harder next time. Besides, the results aren't out yet, why are you in such a hurry?"
The cigarette tip flickered, and Chi Wang mumbled unclearly: "I'm not in a hurry, just a bit troubled."
They weren't talking about the same thing, in short, a cross-server chat.
The two were silent for a while. Su Lian hesitated to speak several times, really not knowing how to comfort people, and swallowed his words back.
He turned and went into the room, grabbed a candy he had bought last time from the small tea table, and stuffed it into Chi Wang's palm.
"Eat something sweet, it'll make you feel much better." This was what Chi-ge had taught him.
"You're comforting me with my own candy, huh." Chi Wang pulled out a faint smile, lowered his hand to extinguish the cigarette, unwrapped a piece and tossed it into his mouth. A sweet taste spread in his mouth.
Su Lian raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat mischievously saying: "Once you gave it to me, it became mine."
"Fine, it's all yours." Chi Wang said with a faint smile, the smile not reaching his eyes, his mood very chaotic.
He stood in the wind thinking for a while, feeling that there was no need for him to dwell on the past, whining like this, not like a man.
Anyway, Su Lian had already broken up with that person, and judging by tonight's attitude, he had no intention of getting back together. So let it become the past.
Having figured this out, Chi Wang's mood lightened a bit: "I'm fine now, don't worry."
"You adjust your mood pretty quickly." Su Lian stared at the bright moon in the distance, inexplicably recalling some past events.
At that time, Chi Wang's company had just been established, with a bunch of trivial problems. Sometimes he would encounter difficult clients. Being so young in the medical industry, he would occasionally even be treated as a scammer and chased away, which was quite embarrassing.
But Chi Wang never mentioned these heart-wrenching details, burying them in his heart. Many times it was Gu Anjiu who secretly told him before he knew.
Every time he came home, he would loosen his tie with a very relaxed demeanor: "It's fine, everything at the company is normal."
Though only in his early twenties, Chi Wang had already learned to hide all his negative emotions.
Su Lian felt that he had probably been protected too well by Chi Wang. Surrounded mostly by classmates and teachers while studying medicine, he took many things for granted.
If only he had asked more about work and family matters back then, would the outcome have been different?
Chi Wang's illness struck without warning. He suddenly collapsed at home and was rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered to be late-stage.
Who knows if similar incidents had occurred before? He always liked to keep everything to himself.
After a long time, Su Lian belatedly fell into self-blame.
He looked up at the person on the other end of the balcony and moved a few steps closer.
"Are you really okay?"
"Mm, it's nothing."
Su Lian persisted: "If you're worried about your grades, I can help you. If we need to extend tutoring time, we can set aside an hour after evening self-study every day."
"You're going to work me to death." Chi Wang crunched the candy, deflecting as he turned the other's shoulders, "No need. It's eleven, go to bed."
Su Lian nodded and was pushed towards the door: "Don't stay up late. Good night."
"Alright, I know." Chi Wang watched his retreating figure. The fierce little Teacher Su, he liked him this way too.
-
Before the monthly exam results came out, everyone was enjoying a last hurrah, with students from all classes particularly rowdy lately. Su Lian was no different, going about his usual routine of classes.
At noon, a few of them went out to eat beyond the school gates. Gu Anjiu had been going on about a newly opened small restaurant with excellent food.
Just as they walked out of the school gates, Su Lian glimpsed a boy standing at the entrance, trying to sneak into Third High School.
Chi Wang's footsteps halted, his gaze following. His smile faded as he narrowed his eyes slightly.
Damn, that ex who had worried him for two days appeared again, smiling and waving at Su Lian from afar, gesturing for him to come over.
Not only an idiot, but also persistent, Chi Wang inwardly criticized.
"I'll go over for a bit, wait for me two minutes," Su Lian said softly before stepping over to stand with the person at the roadside.
He furrowed his brows in exasperation: "Why are you here again? Wasn't I clear enough the other day?"
"Lian-ge, the exam is tomorrow. I'm begging you, give your little brother a lifeline," Chi Chenfeng said, his face full of worry, all his usual arrogance gone. "My dad said if I'm at the bottom of the class again, he'll really break my legs."
Su Lian: "...How many times do I have to say it? I didn't cheat."
Chi Chenfeng agreed perfunctorily, not taking it seriously: "Okay, okay, you didn't. Then do you have any exam questions for me to look at? For some last-minute cramming."
He winked and hinted, suggesting Su Lian had direct access to the exam papers.
Seeing no response, Chi Chenfeng added: "I'll give you ten thousand. I don't have more than that, I'm really broke lately."
Su Lian's patience was exhausted. He repeated once more: "I only have key points material, nothing else. And stop coming to find me, I can't help you."
"I can't understand the key points material. Damn, this is so annoying." Chi Chenfeng raised his hand to wipe his face, his heart full of uncontrollable frustration.
With no time to care too much about a stranger, Su Lian quickly ended the conversation: "My friends are waiting for me. I'm leaving."
He stepped back, turning to rejoin the group, his face full of exasperation.
Noticing the two had been whispering for a while, Gu Anjiu asked curiously: "Who's that? He's come looking for you twice now."
Not wanting to discuss it further, Su Lian said irritably: "He must be sick or something."
Indeed, persistent and clingy. Typical playboy tactics.
Chi Wang hooked an arm around his shoulders, saying quietly: "You guys go to the restaurant first. I just remembered I have something to do. I'll catch up with you later."
"Something to do again?" Su Lian watched him leave, muttering, "Why's he been so secretive lately?"
After the others left, Chi Wang turned and ran quickly back, hands in his pockets as he followed Chi Chenfeng for a stretch.
Just as they turned into an alley near the school, he called out: "Wait."
Chi Chenfeng turned back, staring at the newcomer with some confusion: "Do we know each other?"
"We don't, I'm just here to pass on a message. Since you've already broken up, stop pestering him," Chi Wang said, his expression cold as he suppressed his anger. "Over and over again, I'm embarrassed for you."
Broken up? So that little bitch found a big brother to help out.
Chi Chenfeng thought of the ambiguous relationship he had just ended a few days ago and smiled meaningfully, speaking cockily: "We weren't even really dating. At this age, there's no such thing as true love, it's all just for fun. Besides her, I have several backups. Don't worry, I definitely won't cling on."
As he spoke, his face showed disdain.
"Fuck, you're even cheating?" Hearing this, Chi Wang nearly exploded with anger, his fists clenched.
What kind of eyesight did Su Lian have, to find such an idiotic player?
And he's still hung up on this guy? Does he have some kind of masochistic tendency?
Chi Chenfeng walked closer with a grin, patting his shoulder and saying with an ambiguous look: "I see you're quite handsome too. You should be able to empathize, right? Dating is only fun when you're seeing multiple people at once."
"Fun my ass." Unable to hold back any longer, Chi Wang suddenly raised his hand and punched him in the face.
Not expecting the sudden attack, Chi Chenfeng's head was knocked to the side, his brow furrowing in pain.
He turned his face slightly, raising a hand to wipe the blood from his mouth: "Did she send you to teach me a lesson? I thought you were Su Lian's classmate when I first saw you."
These words falling on Chi Wang's ears only fueled his rage further.
He pressed his lips tightly together and spoke coldly: "I'm here to teach you a lesson for him. Got a problem with that?"
Chi Chenfeng pulled at his wrist, revealing a section of his arm as he put away his joking expression: "You think I wouldn't dare hit you? These days, how can you be a school bully if you can't fight?"
As he spoke, he swung a fist towards Chi Wang's face.
Before the punch could land, it was swiftly caught, the grip surprisingly strong.
Chi Wang deftly dodged to the side, using the grip to throw the other to the ground. His knee swiftly pressed down, firmly controlling him.
The series of movements were smooth and fluid.
Chi Wang's chest heaved violently as he grabbed the other's hair, forcing his head up: "I'm warning you. If you harass him again or two-time anyone, I'll beat you up every time I see you."
Although he was properly dressed in a school uniform, with the light behind him, his face was shrouded in the shadow of sunlight. His whole being exuded an extremely dangerous aura, instilling fear in others.
The opportunistic Chi Chenfeng immediately cowered: "It's all my fault. I won't dare do it again. Please spare me."
"Get lost." Chi Wang roughly pulled him up from the ground and shoved him aside, not wanting to look at him for another second.
He dusted himself off and made his way back to the small restaurant through the alley.
Due to the fight, his palms were stained with some blood. As he entered the bathroom to clean up, he bumped into Su Lian, who was washing his hands.
Su Lian stared at his disheveled clothes with their irregular creases, his expression cooling: "Did you just get into a fight?"
Chi Wang grunted in affirmation, admitting with lingering anger: "Yes, I beat up your idiot ex. He even cheated. What trash."
Su Lian: "?"
It took him several seconds to react. Somewhat shocked, he slowly said: "Who did you beat up?"
Chi Wang snapped irritably, enunciating each word: "Your. Cheating. Ex."
Su Lian frowned. Isn't my ex you? Did you beat yourself up?
Chi Wang took off his school uniform and shook it casually, then turned on the faucet to splash some cold water on his face: "If you want to scold me, go ahead. I just can't stand garbage who aren't faithful in relationships."
Su Lian belatedly asked: "So, who do you think my ex is?"
Chi Wang looked up, meeting his gaze in the mirror, his eyes still clouded: "The one who just came looking for you. Chi Chenfeng."
Su Lian couldn't help but laugh, leaning on the sink: "Who the hell told you he was my ex? He's just someone trying to cheat by asking me for answers."
Water still dripping from his fingers, Chi Wang stood frozen in place, his hands damp.
Fuck, it was all a misunderstanding.