Fifty-two

The School Gate was packed with students at dismissal.

'This weather's killer, why doesn't our school install AC in the Classroom?' Zuo Kuan had just finished playing Basketball and was drenched in sweat, tugging at his shirt. 'Let's go to the Bubble Tea Shop and cool off with some cards?'

Wang Luan'an immediately said, 'I'm down.'

Yu Fan said, 'Not going.'

Zuo Kuan glanced at him. 'Why not? Your face is all red from the heat.'

Yu Fan wanted to say he wasn't hot, but the words died on his lips.

Wang Luan'an scoffed. 'What do you know? That's not from the heat.'

Yu Fan: '?'

Zuo Kuan: 'Then what is it?'

'It's that girl from your class,' Wang Luan'an said with a grin, raising an eyebrow. 'That love letter of hers was drenched in perfume. My fingers still smell like it. Here, take a whiff.'

'Dude, get that away from me,' Zuo Kuan said, shoving Wang Luan'an's hand aside in disgust. 'So the aftereffect is that strong? It's been a whole class period and he's still red?'

Yu Fan frowned. 'Piss off. It's the heat.'

As they walked out the School Gate, Wang Luan'an couldn't help scanning the area. 'Hey, don't you guys think it's been a lot quieter around School lately?'

'No shit. Ever since those guys from the neighboring school cornered Yu Fan at the back gate last time, Fat Tiger's been cracking down hard. Two patrols a day, plus he had a meeting with their school's administration. Who'd dare come cause trouble here now...' Zuo Kuan twisted his neck left and right, then sighed. 'Man, life's been boring lately, right, Yu Fan?'

Yu Fan's fingers rubbed against the cover of the workbook in his hand, but he didn't say anything.

They chattered all the way to the Bubble Tea Shop entrance. Yu Fan ignored Zuo Kuan's pleas to stay and play Dou Dizhu since they were short one, and walked off without looking back.

Yu Fan soon reached the familiar Rundown Alley.

He walked through the crowd, casually bundling the test papers and workbooks he'd brought back and stuffing them into his pocket. His pace slowed, a belated regret creeping in.

...Why hadn't he just smacked Chen Jingshen with that book?

It was right after school, and a few classmates had been passing by. No one heard, right?

Why had he agreed to let Chen Jingshen come over?

Maybe he should text Chen Jingshen now and tell him not to come. Or when he showed up, just lock him out. Or drag him inside, beat him up, and throw him out—

Yu Fan walked into the supermarket with his head full of ideas.

'What do you need?' the shopkeeper looked up at him.

Yu Fan said, 'A fan.'

'What kind?'

'Strong wind, oscillating head, and it won't feel hot when two people are using it together.'

'...Just say a Floor Fan, why not? Hang on, I'll get it,' the shopkeeper said as she stood up. 'Any brand in mind?'

'No, just grab whatever.'

The broken fan in his room had been used for seven years. Even on the highest setting, it only gave off a weak breeze. It was long overdue for a replacement, or he'd die of heat by next month.

He was buying it for himself. It had nothing to do with Chen Jingshen.

The small supermarket's storage room was cluttered and messy. The shopkeeper rummaged around inside for a while. Yu Fan stood at the register, casually scanning the store, and his eyes landed on a Folding Chair in the corner.

He didn't have many chairs at home. One had even been broken during a fight with Yu Kaiming. Last time Chen Jingshen came over, he'd had to sit on a backless wooden stool with a seat smaller than Wang Luan'an's face. It must have been pretty uncomfortable.

Yu Fan looked away, thinking, good, serves him right. That's what he gets for always barging into other people's homes.

Ten minutes later, Yu Fan walked out of the supermarket expressionless, holding a fan in his left hand and a Folding Chair in his right.

It was the time of day when people finished dinner and came downstairs to chat and take a walk. Under the cautious and surprised gazes of the neighbors, Yu Fan carried both items up to the second floor, set them down, and fished out his keys.

But he accidentally knocked the Cigarette Pack out of his pocket, and it clattered to the floor.

'Smoking too much will turn your lungs black,' a childish voice rang out in the stairwell. 'That's what our teacher said.'

Yu Fan glanced at the little girl sitting on the stairs, then bent down to pick up the pack. 'Your parents still not home?'

'I just called them on my Little Genius watch. They said they're on the way.' The little girl rested her chin on her hands. 'Big brother, you smoke even more than my dad. Every time I do my homework by the window, I see so much smoke.'

Yu Fan: 'Does it bother you?'

'No, that window's broken. It won't open.' The little girl said in a sweet voice, 'Big brother, don't smoke anymore! If you get sick, you won't be able to beat up your dad!'

'...'

Could the couple upstairs maybe not gossip in front of the kid?

Yu Fan couldn't quite remember when he'd started smoking.

There was one year he smoked like a chimney. Those days were so dark he couldn't have gotten through them without cigarettes. But addicted? Not really. At least recently, he could hold back when he didn't feel like smoking.

'Mind your own business, kid.'

Anyone else might have invited the little girl inside to wait, but Yu Fan thought about his reputation in the neighborhood and decided against it. 'Have you eaten?'

The little girl shook her head, her ponytail swinging. 'No, but I don't want yours. The wontons you bought last time were terrible! Wait, next time I'll steal some food from my fridge for you.'

'...'

Yu Fan picked up his things and went inside, tossing over his shoulder, 'Don't steal from home,' before slamming the door shut.

Based on past experience, Yu Kaiming wouldn't be back to bother him for at least half a month.

But once inside, he still instinctively glanced at the crack in Yu Kaiming's door. It was dark.

Yu Fan took his purchases to his room and set them up, quickly made a bowl of instant noodles, ate, then turned around to take a shower.

After his shower, Yu Fan grabbed the towel draped over his shoulder, roughly dried his hair a couple of times, and stopped in front of the bathroom mirror to squeeze out toothpaste.

He shoved the toothbrush into his mouth and scrubbed vigorously for a couple of seconds, then froze. He stood there for a few seconds, processing, before he couldn't help lowering his head and rubbing his face hard—

Who the hell brushes their teeth at seven thirty in the evening...?

-

When he reached Yu Fan's door, Chen Jingshen glanced at the time on his Mobile Phone screen, then adjusted his backpack strap and prepared to knock.

His hand was barely raised when the door creaked open by itself.

Yu Fan poked his head out to check if anyone was around, then grabbed Chen Jingshen's T-shirt and hurriedly pulled him inside.

Once inside, Yu Fan carefully locked the door and even double-checked it a few times.

He didn't think Yu Kaiming would come back, but better safe than sorry.

Chen Jingshen watched him silently.

What a weird setup. Made it seem like he was here for more than just kissing.

Yu Fan turned around and met Chen Jingshen's gaze. He frowned. 'What are you looking at?'

'Nothing.' Chen Jingshen held back what he wanted to say and asked, 'How did you know I was here?'

'I heard your footsteps.'

Chen Jingshen: 'You can recognize me by my footsteps?'

'...'

Yu Fan's face instantly soured. Sensing that if he kept talking, he might get kicked out of the room, Chen Jingshen took off his shoes and put them aside. 'Go to your room?'

'...'

Yu Fan's sour face instantly gained a hint of red.

Yu Fan followed him into the room like he was the guest, standing there for a long time without sitting down.

Where did Chen Jingshen want to kiss?

Yu Fan couldn't help scanning his room. It was too small, the desk too narrow and high. Sitting on it definitely wouldn't be as good for kissing as the desk in the Experimental Building Classroom. Sitting face-to-face on chairs would be too weird. Leaning against the wall... standing too long would get tiring.

Chen Jingshen sat down on the new Folding Chair, took off his backpack, and set it at his feet. He looked up at Yu Fan. 'Why aren't you sitting?'

Yu Fan's thoughts were all over the place.

He gave a cool 'Oh,' closed the door, and sat down on the chair. He was just thinking about how to position his legs to make it easier for Chen Jingshen to lean in—

A rustling sound interrupted his thoughts. A blank test paper was placed in front of him.

'You forgot to bring a math test today. I brought it back for you,' Chen Jingshen said flatly. 'First period tomorrow is math. Do this one for tonight's homework.'

'.

Yu Fan stared at the test paper without moving, his mind a little blank.

Chen Jingshen took out his own test and pen. Seeing that Yu Fan hadn't moved, he asked, 'Or do you want to do physics first?'

I want to punch you first.

A few seconds later, Yu Fan stiffly turned his head back, opened the drawer, took out a pen, wrote his name on the test paper, and answered without any emotion: 'I'll do math.'

After the Dragon Boat Festival, the pressure of sophomore year intensified, and even the nightly homework nearly doubled.

After finally grinding through two math tests, Yu Fan turned his head and saw Chen Jingshen pulling out a physics workbook.

Physics finished, then chemistry.

The freshly boiled water, still bubbling, sat in front of the newly bought Floor Fan for three hours, cooling down to room temperature.

By the time all the homework was done, Yu Fan was wilted, his eyelids drooping with exhaustion.

Chen Jingshen finished checking his last test paper and said, 'Want to do some memorization—'

'No.' With a clatter, Yu Fan threw his pen onto the desk and stood up. 'Pack your stuff and go home.'

Chen Jingshen: 'Where are you going?'

Yu Fan ignored him, picked up the Cigarette Pack, and headed for the Balcony.

Yu Fan's room was the only one in the house with a Balcony, which his grandfather had specifically left for him. The Balcony was very simple and very small, just enough to hang a couple of pieces of laundry and catch a breeze.

Yu Fan stood with his back against the balcony, lit a cigarette, took a drag, then turned his head and blew the smoke out through the security grille as if it were Chen Jingshen.

Fuck the homework. Couldn't he do his homework at his own place? Was his room a study hall?

Did Chen Jingshen forget what he'd said?

With a memory like that, and he's top of the grade? Yeah, right.

Yu Fan took another harsh drag.

From inside the room came the sound of a backpack zipper. Chen Jingshen said, 'Then I'll head back?'

'Get lost.' Yu Fan didn't even look at him.

'Not going to see me out?'

'Should I carry a sedan chair to take you down?'

Yu Fan followed his gaze toward the Residential Complex Entrance and said lazily, 'The main gate's closed today. Take the Little Iron Gate. It's to the right of the gate you used last time.'

Footsteps approached. Yu Fan thought Chen Jingshen was coming to see where the gate was. He raised the hand holding the cigarette and pointed downward, turning his head. 'It's right—'

The familiar scent of mint drifted down. Chen Jingshen stopped in front of him, tilted his head, and pressed his lips to Yu Fan's.

The Balcony suddenly went quiet. Feeling a very light lick at the seam of his lips, Yu Fan's hand holding the cigarette trembled involuntarily. He opened his mouth on instinct—

The next moment, Chen Jingshen pulled back, turned his head, and coughed a few times softly.

Fuck.

Yu Fan was stunned for a second, then quickly caught on. 'Are you fucking... didn't you see I was smoking?'

He reached out and slapped Chen Jingshen hard on the back. 'I brushed my teeth and you didn't kiss me for ages, but the second I touch a cigarette you come over... Are you just here to mooch a smoke?!'

Chen Jingshen wasn't really choked by the smoke, but his back was stinging from the slaps.

Brushed his teeth at eight?

The Balcony light wasn't on. Chen Jingshen seemed to smile in the dark. 'No. If I kissed you, I wouldn't be able to do homework. I held back for a long time, and I couldn't wait for you to finish your cigarette.'

'...'

Why would kissing make it impossible to do homework?

Yu Fan's brain, which had gone cold from doing problems, started to warm up again. He stood there blankly for a long moment before saying, 'Then I'll go brush my teeth again...'

He'd only taken two steps when his wrist was caught.

'No need. It doesn't smell bad. I just wasn't used to it at first.' The Balcony light was off, and Chen Jingshen's voice came through the half-lit, half-dark space, low and deep. 'Can I kiss you in your room?'

The Floor Fan whirred as it turned. Yu Fan half-lay there, his back against the headboard, being kissed quietly. The breeze from the fan seemed to pass through without leaving any coolness; his head and neck were still hot.

Yu Fan still wasn't very good at regulating his breathing. Chen Jingshen would kiss him for a while, then pull back. After a few rounds of this, Chen Jingshen reached up and wiped the corner of his mouth. 'I tasted it.'

Yu Fan's breathing was a little heavy. He swallowed and asked, 'What?'

'Toothpaste. Strawberry flavor.' Chen Jingshen curled his finger and slipped it into Yu Fan's mouth, rubbing against one of his teeth. 'Yu Fan, this tooth of yours is a little sharp.'